Climate Action

Living Edition

Climate Change Impacts and Resilience: An Arctic Case Study

  • S. Jeff BirchallEmail author
  • Seghan MacDonald
Living reference work entry

Climate change is defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as an observable change in the state of the climate taking place over an extended period of time that may be caused by natural processes (i.e., volcanic eruptions) or external forces (i.e., anthropogenic changes to atmospheric composition, land use) (IPCC 2014). The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) takes a different approach, defining climate change as a change in climate that can be attributed directly or indirectly to anthropogenic activity and that changes the composition of Earth’s atmosphere. According to the UNFCCC, this change is in addition to observed natural climate variability over a similar period of time (United Nations 1992).

Earth’s climate has naturally fluctuated over the course of history due to internal forces such as variations in ocean currents, volcanic eruptions, and atmospheric circulation. However, since the postindustrial era, anthropogenic activities have led to a large increase in the concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG) such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) in the Earth’s atmosphere (IPCC 2014). These GHG emissions (largely due to the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and agriculture) have resulted in an increase in global average temperatures.

Climate change impacts: Climate change can manifest in a variety of ways, with impacts ranging in occurrence and severity. Globally, a number of climate change impacts have been observed:
  • Earth’s land and ocean surface temperature increased 0.85 °C between 1850 and 2012, with each of the last three decades successively warmer than any preceding decade since 1850 (IPCC 2014).

  • Thermal monitoring in northern Canada indicates that warming of permafrost has occurred in recent years, with summer thaw penetration increasing as early as the 1990s (Prowse et al. 2009). Approximately half of the permafrost in Canada is at risk of disappearing under projected global warming (Prowse et al. 2009). Warming and thawing of permafrost is causing engineering concerns related to infrastructure stability, for example, increased creep of foundations and frost heave on pilings (Instanes et al. 2005).

  • The extent of sea ice in the Arctic has decreased in every season and in every successive decade since 1979 (IPCC 2014). The annual maximum ice area has reduced by about 2% per decade, and the annual minimum ice area has declined by about 5.6% per decade (Prowse et al. 2009). Variations in sea ice thickness and extent put a strain on indigenous communities in the Arctic who rely on safe travel over the ice for successful hunting expeditions (Ford et al. 2017).

  • Ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica have been losing mass over the last two decades, with the rate of ice mass loss from both ice sheets increasing substantially over the period from 1992 to 2011 (IPCC 2014). Melting of land-based ice sheets along with thermal expansion of the warming oceans contribute to sea level rise globally (IPCC 2014).

  • Global mean sea level rose by 1.7 mm/year from 1901 to 2010 with that figure nearly doubling between 1993 and 2010 (IPCC 2014). Approximately 75% of observed global mean sea level rise since the early 1970s can be attributed to thermal expansion of the world’s oceans and increased melting rates of glaciers and ice caps due to warming (IPCC 2014). Reef islands such as the Maldives with elevations of only 1–2 m above mean sea level are at risk of disappearing within this century if climate-induced sea level rise continues (Woodworth 2005).

  • Storm surges, defined by the IPCC as a temporary increase in the height of the sea in excess of the expected level of tidal variation in a particular location, have increased since 1970 (IPCC 2014). Studies show that there could be a larger number of intense storms due to climate change, with mid-latitude oceans in particular projected to experience increases in extreme wave height (Hallegatte et al. 2011). Storm surges associated with climate change can lead to the flooding and erosion of coastal areas, stressing urban development and tourism industries in coastal communities (Toubes et al. 2017).

  • Increased coastline exposure to waves and storms will lead to greater coastal erosion throughout the twenty-first century (IPCC 2014). In the Arctic, thawing of permafrost leads to hydrologic and geomorphic change making coastal areas more vulnerable to erosion (Chapin et al. 2006). Coastal erosion in Alaska has led to a loss of terrestrial habitat, causing some communities to relocate to safer areas (USGCRP 2018).

  • As sea levels rise, saltwater is pushed further inland through rivers, deltas, and coastal aquifers (Hall et al. 2008). Saltwater intrusion is the infiltration of saline water into fresh groundwater aquifers in coastal areas (Werner and Simmons 2009). High demand for groundwater during the summer and fall months in California can result in saltwater intrusion as aquifers are depleted (Hall et al. 2008). Saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers can threaten drinking water supplies, infrastructure, and coastal and estuarine ecosystems (USGCRP 2018).

  • Low-elevation delta regions, such as those in heavily populated areas in South Asia, are at a high risk of flooding as sea levels rise and precipitation patterns change (McGranahan et al. 2007). Future climate scenarios suggest that an increase in the frequency, magnitude, and extent of flooding in South Asia can be expected (Mirza 2011). Densely populated cities in South Asia tend to have heavily developed delta regions. These flood-prone areas are often populated by vulnerable communities without the means to relocate (McGranahan et al. 2007).

  • Changing temperatures and shifts in the timing and magnitude of precipitation events are leading to increasingly large and destructive wildfires around the world. In California, for instance, wildfire frequency, size, and overall burned area annually are collectively increasing (Miller et al. 2009). The increased frequency and intensity of wildfires leads to increased risk to property and lives and a rising economic cost of fire suppression efforts (USGCRP 2018).

  • As anthropogenic climate change progresses, there is a risk of increased frequency, intensity, and duration of droughts (Kiem and Austin 2013). Southeastern Australia, for example, has been experiencing an extended period of drought since the mid-1990s (Sherval and Askew 2012). Persisting drought leads to low financial returns in agricultural sectors, quickly spreading to associated industries and economies (Kiem and Austin 2013).

Resilience comes from the Latin root resilire, meaning to “spring back” (Davoudi et al. 2012). Multiple definitions of the term have since evolved, beginning in 1973 when C.S. Holling defined the difference between engineering and ecological resilience. Holling defined engineering resilience, or stability, as the ability of a system to return to an equilibrium state following a disturbance. The rate at which a system returns to equilibrium, along with its resistance to fluctuation, dictates how stable or resilient it is (Holling 1973).

Ecological resilience on the other hand is a measure of the persistence of a system despite an added stressor. It measures the magnitude of a disturbance that a system can absorb while still maintaining the same fundamental function and structure (Holling 1996). Ecological resilience allows for a system to change and acknowledges the presence of multiple states of equilibria with a greater focus on the ability to persist and adapt (Adger 2003).

Evolutionary resilience is a more recent iteration of the concept. In this view, natural and social systems are considered nonlinear (Folke et al. 2002). Evolutionary resilience therefore places a greater importance on the ability of a system to change, adapt, and transform in response to stressors (Walker et al. 2004). The IPCC, when defining resilience, takes the evolutionary approach. It places an emphasis on the capacity of social, economic, and environmental systems to manage a hazardous event, trend, or disturbance and to respond in ways that maintain the system’s essential function and structure while also fostering the capacity for adaptation, learning, and transformation (IPCC 2014).

Climate Change Impacts

Anthropogenic contributions of GHG emissions into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and agriculture have been shown to cause increases in global temperature (IPCC 2014). Global climate, over the last six decades, has been changing rapidly when compared to natural variations that have occurred throughout Earth’s history (USGCRP 2017). As of 2018, human activities are estimated to have caused approximately 1.0 °C of global warming above pre-industrial levels (IPCC 2018). However, changes in climate can vary drastically across the planet with some regions experiencing warming greater than the global average and, at the same time, lower average temperature changes over the ocean than over land (IPCC 2018). There has also been a significant decrease in total precipitation (rainfall) in southern Europe, China, and southwestern Australia, while precipitation has increased in much of Canada, northern Europe, and Scandinavia (Dore 2005). The annual extent of snow cover in the northern hemisphere has been steadily decreasing due to increased spring and summer melt, yet the United States, Canada, and Russia have all experienced an increase in annual snowfall (Dore 2005).

Historic emissions commit Earth to some degree of future warming regardless of efforts to mitigate climate change. Indeed, models suggest that global temperatures could increase by 1.5–2 °C by 2100 (IPCC 2014). Mitigation efforts, largely via emissions trading schemes and carbon markets, have been the primary focus of climate change policy (e.g., Birchall et al. 2015; Birchall 2014). Yet GHG emissions continue unabated throughout much of the world. With extreme climate impacts rising temporally and spatially, the need for adaptation is becoming increasingly important. Recent reports released by the IPCC and the US National Climate Assessment (NCA) show growing evidence that climate change impacts will have a significant effect on both natural and human systems globally. Addressing issues of vulnerability will be crucial to the resilience of communities and urban centers across the globe and will require radical social and economic shifts (Carter et al. 2015).

Vulnerability to Climate Change

Sources of anthropogenic GHG emissions have historically been concentrated in a small number of developed countries, while many of the populations that are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change have contributed little to global GHG emissions (IPCC 2014). Climate change is not limited geographically, and GHG emissions from one country or region can lead to global changes in climate. Urban areas with high population density and infrastructure development are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change (Carter et al. 2015).

According to the United Nations, more than 50% of the world’s population currently lives in urban areas (United Nations 2018). This figure is expected to rise to more than 60% over the next three decades, with most future urban population growth expected to occur in developing countries (Wilby 2007). As urban populations increase globally, cities and their elected officials will be important actors in future direction and decision-making on climate change. Not only do cities account for more than 40% of global GHG emissions, they are also uniquely vulnerable to the effects of climate change (Rosenzweig et al. 2011). Due to high concentration of land development in urban areas, cities experience unique microclimates that can magnify the effects of climate change. The urban heat island effect, which causes urban areas to be warmer than the surrounding countryside, can be exacerbated by more frequent heat waves associated with climate change (Rosenzweig et al. 2011). Further, replacement of vegetated surfaces with impervious built surfaces leads to reduced infiltration of rainwater runoff, which will cause a higher risk of flooding with projected variations in the frequency and intensity of precipitation (Carter et al. 2015).

Vulnerability to climate change is not solely determined by climate impacts, it is also largely subject to various non-climate-related elements, including socioeconomic factors, demographic shifts and trends, and resource accessibility (Baker et al. 2012). In developing countries urbanization is occurring more rapidly, with the challenges described above exacerbate pronounced stressors such as ageing infrastructure, improper land use, and income inequality.

Pressure on land in developing countries often leads to development of vulnerable spaces such as flood-prone areas, with the poorest of the population living in these locations (Nicholls 1995). Climate change impacts tend to have a greater effect on vulnerable populations such as the elderly or those with low income. Inequities among socioeconomic groups are projected to become even more pronounced as climate change progresses (Rosenzweig et al. 2011).

Poverty, gender, ethnicity, and age have all been documented as factors that affect vulnerability of urban populations to climate hazards (Tyler and Moench 2012). These social elements, when combined with the physical processes of climate change impacts, can lead to various, potentially poorly understood, secondary effects such as displacement of vulnerable populations (Carter et al. 2015). Moreover, populations that do not have the resources to adapt to climate change impacts will experience higher exposure to extreme weather events. This is particularly true for low-income populations in developing countries and also remote locations such as the Arctic (IPCC 2014). Arctic communities are often located in isolated areas with limited seasonal accessibility and experience greater social, health, and economic disparities, compared to communities in more populated regions. These disparities, along with a strong dependence on the environment, make Arctic communities especially vulnerable to climate change impacts (Larsen et al. 2014).

Climate change impacts have the potential to affect communities globally, disproportionately impacting low-income and socially vulnerable populations. Adaptation programs are thus becoming increasingly necessary to address vulnerabilities and build resilient communities.

Restrictions to Adaptation

While communities around the world are developing adaptation programs, efforts remain largely uncoordinated and inconsistent (Wallace 2017). There is often a deficit in local, relevant, and easily accessible research to support the development of adaptation plans (Baker et al. 2012). If the public and local government decision-makers are not well educated on the impacts of climate change, barriers can arise that impede policy action and implementation. Many adaptation policies and plans involve expensive investments and long-term commitments, which can be financially restrictive. Indeed, uncertainty surrounding the timing and severity of climate-related impacts, combined with limited resources and funding, and conflicting objectives among interest groups, can lead governments to prioritize more concrete and short-term issues over climate change adaptation (Baker et al. 2012; O’Brien et al. 2006). Even when a community and local government are engaged and supportive of adaptation policies, implementation can be hindered by jurisdictional conflicts over who can or must take action on a particular initiative (Rosenzweig et al. 2011). Inconsistencies in legislation across state and federal levels of government and even among local governmental departments can form constraints on policy development and execution (Wallace 2017).

Improving Urban Resilience to Climate Change

Mitigation, through management of anthropogenic contributions to GHG emissions, has been the primary approach when responding to climate change; however, with projections committing Earth to at least some degree of warming, the need for adaptation is becoming increasingly apparent (Wallace 2017). Community resilience to climate change can be seen as the basis for increasing adaptive capacity (Bulkeley and Tuts 2013). Determining the adaptive capacity of a community requires considering the potential impacts of climate change in the context of social, physical, and governing structures already in place. Stressors such as resource scarcity can affect a community’s resilience and capacity to adapt to future climate hazards (Bulkeley and Tuts 2013).

Creating resilient communities prepares them for future known and unknown impacts of climate change. A more resilient community is able to absorb larger climate stressors without changing in fundamental ways. If and when massive transformation occurs, a resilient community will be able to successfully reorganize (Folke et al. 2010).

Climate Science

Reliable research is essential in supporting successful adaptation planning and policy. Uncertainty with regard to local climate change projections, however, has the potential to form barriers to action (Ford et al. 2017). Policy-makers and stakeholders need access to data on regional- and local-scale climate change impacts and vulnerabilities in order to effectively plan long-term adaptation responses (Carter et al. 2015). Despite the prevalence of large-scale climate models and data, there is often a lack of relevant research on local-scale climate impacts. This makes it difficult to project how climate change will affect individual communities, which hinders decision-makers’ ability to negotiate and assemble resources for local adaptation policy (Baker et al. 2012; Picketts et al. 2016). Improved knowledge, covering a range of disciplines, is essential to support government action in developing effective adaptation responses to climate change (Nicholls 1995; Baker et al. 2012).

Political Leadership

Political leadership is critical for climate change adaptation and resilience. However, there are often various limiting factors in developing successful government adaptation policies. As mentioned above, a lack of reliable research paired with the inherent variability associated with climate change impacts can make it difficult to gain political buy-in for adaptation. Further, local governments are often dealing with limited resources and tend to focus on more immediate and short-term issues; planning for future and uncertain climate change impacts can be overwhelming (Baker et al. 2012; Wallace 2017).

Research suggests that mainstreaming of climate change policies so that they are integrated into existing procedures and policy goals can help to enhance community resilience to longer-term climate impacts while still dealing with present-day issues (O’Brien et al. 2006; Ford et al. 2007; Wallace 2017). In order to increase effectiveness, developing comprehensive and achievable climate change adaptation policies requires consideration of, and integration with, current government policies (and coordinated across governance scales). Additionally, the process of developing policy should be consistently revisited and improved as experience grows; a successful adaptation policy will remain responsive to changing conditions and human requirements (Nicholls 1995).

The sharing of information and resources is crucial to identifying and implementing successful policies (Baker et al. 2012; Bulkeley and Tuts 2013; Carter et al. 2015). Climate adaptation policies should be supported by consistent legislation at all levels of government with additional collaboration and engagement among various public and private stakeholders in the community (Baker et al. 2012; Bulkeley and Tuts 2013; Picketts et al. 2016; Wallace 2017). Local governments, while critical players in adaptation planning, cannot act fully independently of external forces. Often, a community’s adaptive capacity is tied to global and regional economic, technological, and environmental trends (IPCC 2014). At the same time, policies established at higher levels of government without consultation with local governments or institutions can lead to unforeseen consequences down the line (Baker et al. 2012; IPCC 2014). To improve efficiency, standards for climate adaptation plans should be coordinated by national governments, while consulting local governments and acknowledging the highly variable context of different communities (Baker et al. 2012; IPCC 2014). National governments can also facilitate local government efforts through ongoing funding to help enable long-term planning around climate change preparedness (Baker et al. 2012).

In order to be successful, resilience-building processes must be inclusive, allowing participation and involvement by all invested parties including vulnerable community members most affected by climate change (Tyler and Moench 2012; Bulkeley and Tuts 2013).

Adaptive Measures

Adaptive measures that build resilience to climate change can take many forms depending on the specific vulnerabilities of a community. They can come in the form of institutional, educational, and behavioral change; development of early warning and proactive planning information systems; physical infrastructure development; integrated natural resources management; etc. (IPCC 2014).

Harman et al. 2015 discusses three main categories of adaptation to climate change: planned retreat, accommodation measures, and protective measures. Planned retreat involves organized withdrawal or regulated restrictions on development in hazardous coastal areas affected by sea level rise, erosion, storm surges, etc. (Harman et al. 2015).

Accommodation measures consist of revised building codes and changes to urban design, allowing populations to continue to develop and live in areas affected by climate change impacts while reducing sensitivity and/or exposure to those impacts (Harman et al. 2015). Increasing green space in developed urban areas is considered a valuable accommodation response, as green spaces can mitigate the urban heat island effect by reradiating less heat than built surfaces and providing cooling through evapotranspiration while also creating attractive spaces within urban centers (Carter et al. 2015).

Protective measures can be used to shield coastal communities from the impacts of climate change. These can be implemented through hard defenses, such as dikes or sea walls, or soft defenses such as beach nourishment or coastline naturalization (Harman et al. 2015). As sea levels rise and the potential severity and frequency of storm surges increases, hard defenses can prevent flooding and reduce coastal erosion (Harman et al. 2015). Coastline naturalization can help to protect developed areas from the impacts of climate change (Harman et al. 2015; McDougall 2017). Allowing a coastline to either remain in or return to its natural state can reduce the risk of flooding associated with sea level rise and storm surges while also providing a form of erosion control (Cormier-Salem and Panfili 2016).

Successful implementation of adaptive measures should involve public disclosure at all stages. Open communication with at-risk populations allows the public to be involved in adaptation planning while also making them aware of any hazards associated with climate change in their community (Bulkeley and Tuts 2013; Harman et al. 2015).

A Case Study of the Arctic

Vulnerability in Arctic Communities

The Arctic is warming at a rate two to three times that of the global average (IPCC 2018). Since the 1950s, average annual temperatures in the Arctic have risen by about 2 –3 °C and in the winter by up to 4 °C (ACIA 2005). The effects of climate change in the north are not going unnoticed; communities, governments, and indigenous organizations in the Arctic have all expressed concern over the risks associated with climate change and the urgency for appropriate action (Ford et al. 2007).

Climate variability in the Arctic has always affected the way of life of northern populations. High winds, fog, and ice breakup in the summer and extremely low temperatures and blizzards in the winters heavily influence daily activities (ACIA 2005). In recent years, seasons have become less consistent, with shorter spans of extremely low temperatures and an increasing daily temperature variation (ACIA 2005). As the climate continues to change in the north, warmer seasonal temperatures have led to increased unpredictability of sea ice conditions, melting permafrost, and, subsequently, coastal erosion (Ford et al. 2008). These changes are impacting infrastructure, food systems, livelihoods, and human health and well-being (Ford et al. 2017). Thawing permafrost and coastal erosion have already damaged infrastructure and heritage sites along the Beaufort Sea coast and caused planned retreat and relocation of entire coastal communities in Alaska (Shaw et al. 1998; Bronen and Chapin 2013). Reductions in the extent, stability, and seasonal duration of sea ice, along with less predictable weather patterns, have affected traditional hunting and subsistence activities of Arctic indigenous groups (Krupnik and Jolly 2002).

Both indigenous and nonindigenous peoples in the Arctic have traditionally been quite resilient to climate variability. For instance, hunters will adjust their hunting trails, the timing of their excursions, and even the animals they hunt in an effort to cope with large seasonal and inter-annual fluctuations in weather patterns and natural resources availability (Chapin et al. 2006; Ford et al. 2007; Larsen et al. 2014). However, with more extreme projected climate impacts, the resilience of northern communities will depend heavily on successful implementation of strategic long-term adaptation policy.

In Canada, for example, most of the funding allocated to adaptation by the federal government is used for climate research with very few examples of the research translating over to concrete implementation of adaptation policy (Ford et al. 2017). In order to develop adaptation programs and strategies that build a community that is resilient to both the physical and socioeconomic impacts of climate change, it is imperative that policy-makers and local leaders focus on understanding the nature and scale of climate impacts on their local community.

Resilience and Adaptation in the Arctic

Arctic communities, with small populations and limited industrial activity, contribute little to global GHG emissions (Ford et al. 2007). However, these communities are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to their strong cultural ties to the environment and a heavy dependence on hunting and fishing to support their way of life (Larsen et al. 2014). As the climate in the Arctic becomes increasingly variable and extreme, adaptation is quickly becoming a necessity for building and maintaining resilience in these communities.

Coastal erosion caused by a combination of sea level rise, increased storm surges, and changing winter sea ice patterns affects a large number of coastal communities in the Arctic. In fact, the US Government Accountability Office found that flooding and erosion affect 184 of the 213 Alaska indigenous villages. Thirty-one of these villages are imminently threatened, and 12 communities are planning to relocate (Bronen and Chapin 2013).

As coastal communities experience increasingly devastating effects, local governments find themselves allocating greater resources to infrastructure repairs and shoreline defenses such as sea walls. In the past, sea ice protected coastal communities by creating a barrier to storm-related waves and surges; however, the intensity of storms combined with changing sea ice conditions has resulted in elevated rates of coastal erosion and significantly damaged engineered defenses (ACIA 2005; Bronen and Chapin 2013).

Determining appropriate adaptive responses requires ongoing assessment of a community’s vulnerability and its capacity to adapt through protection in place, managed retreat of at-risk structures, or community-wide relocation (Bronen and Chapin 2013). In the United States, for example, erosion control and flood protection efforts have not been sufficient to eliminate risk in some communities, despite significant state and federal resource expenditures (Bronen and Chapin 2013). When engineered controls are no longer feasible, many communities are forced to relocate to areas of lower risk. Relocation and managed retreat can be extremely costly as infrastructure, housing, and livelihoods must be rebuilt (Bronen and Chapin 2013).

As climate change progresses, it is important to create a governance framework to help communities faced with relocation to understand how they can access funding or technical assistance to support adaptation (Albert et al. 2018). Government should be able to dynamically respond to communities faced with coastal climate change impacts and provide support through post-disaster recovery, protection in place, hazard mitigation, and relocation while considering the humanitarian needs (Bronen and Chapin 2013).

For many Arctic indigenous groups, more than just their homes and infrastructure are affected by climate change. Traditional daily activities such as hunting and fishing are almost entirely dictated by environmental conditions such as sea ice thickness, snow depth, and winter storms (ACIA 2005). Financial limitations can restrict hunters from purchasing equipment such as GPS devices, immersion suits, and personal locator beacons needed to keep them safe in unpredictable conditions (Ford et al. 2007). Economic and institutional support through government funding and public programs can help to build resilience in Arctic communities where there are often high levels of unemployment and limited job opportunities and where much of the population is reliant upon hunting as a source of income or subsistence (Ford et al. 2007). The small equipment fund from Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the disaster compensation fund from the Government of Nunavut are examples of programs that provide hunters with the means to purchase safety equipment, to help better prepare for climate variability (Ford et al. 2007).

Communities throughout the Arctic, depending on their geography, infrastructure, and economic drivers, will experience vulnerability to climate change in different ways. This discrepancy highlights the need for local stakeholder engagement when planning adaptation policies in the Arctic. Engaging with local communities throughout the planning process allows the most vulnerable individuals to have a voice. Stakeholder engagement is especially important in Arctic communities due to the ongoing value placed on Inuit traditional knowledge, or Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Ford et al. 2017). The high adaptive capacity of northern indigenous peoples in the past has been largely attributed to the dynamic nature of traditional knowledge (Larsen et al. 2014). The long-term success and implementation of climate adaptation plans in the Arctic is more likely if policies are closely tied to indigenous cultural values and historical knowledge (Ford et al. 2007). Policy-makers should engage local community members and elders throughout the planning and development process to ensure policies appropriately address vulnerabilities and cultural values.

Climate change research in the Arctic has become increasingly widespread as the region has been recognized as an early warning opportunity to understand how climate change may impact other areas around the globe (Ford et al. 2012). While a majority of climate research conducted in the Arctic is related to physical climate change impacts, research on the human dimensions of climate change in the Canadian Arctic is on the rise (Birchall and Bonnett 2018; Birchall 2019). Research has also begun to focus on the importance of indigenous traditional knowledge and the impacts that climate change is having on human interactions with the environment (Ford et al. 2012). Despite these increases, there are still geographic disparities limiting local research across the widely dispersed communities and regions of the Arctic (Ford et al. 2007). Due to the significant differences in vulnerability and adaptive capacity between regions, geographic disparities in research can lead to large knowledge gaps that may then affect local policy-makers’ ability to develop successful adaptation policies. Remote Arctic communities often struggle with a lack of access to reliable, up-to-date research and climate projections (Ford et al. 2017). Increasing the geographic scope of climate research in the Arctic will help to improve access to accurate and reliable climate data and projections.

With climate change impacts already influencing communities in the Arctic, indigenous peoples have begun to implement their own adaptation strategies (Larsen et al. 2014). Indeed, hunters have adapted their activities to account for environmental change, including changing the timing and location of hunting and fishing areas, combining new technologies with traditional knowledge, taking more supplies while hunting, and constructing permanent shelters on land as refuge from storms (Larsen et al. 2014). Communities in the Arctic are well equipped with a long history of resilience and adaptation to change. However, with environmental variability exacerbated by current (and projected) climate change, historical adaptation methods may no longer be sufficient. Proper government funding and support along with continued scientific research will be needed to supplement traditional knowledge and foster ongoing resilience in future generations.

As the Arctic continues to warm, some changes in the physical environment will eventually provide new opportunities and benefits to industries such as agriculture, biofuels, forestry, and shipping (ACIA 2005; Chapin et al. 2006). Warmer summer months and longer growing seasons will increase the productivity of many crops in the Arctic, allowing for development of agricultural industries. In Iceland, for instance, the production of grain has increased over the last two decades (Larsen et al. 2014).

Warmer seasonal temperatures open up the Arctic Ocean to longer shipping seasons and additional shipping routes. A decrease in sea ice thickness will positively affect shipping operations by reducing the need for ice breakers and thereby reduce overall shipping costs. An increase in shipping in the Arctic Ocean could also enhance economic trade of natural resources in the region. With improved transportation conditions to bring products to market, industries like mining and agriculture will be much easier to sustain and develop (ACIA 2005).

While most opportunities arising from climate change in the Arctic tend to benefit commercial industries, there will be some benefits to traditional practices as well. Increased prevalence of storm surges, for example, can benefit some hunting and harvesting activities: late-season storm surges wash clams onto beaches, making it easier to harvest them; whitefish can be trapped uprivers behind sand dams formed by the storm surges. In addition, later freeze-ups can provide hunters with a longer period to use boats to hunt spotted seals and caribou; however, this does come with increased risk as hunters must face increasingly variable weather. Storm surges and late-season high water also provide remote communities with a source of fuel in the form of logs that wash up on mud flats (ACIA 2005).

Despite the benefits to small communities and indigenous peoples in the Arctic, the negative impacts are likely to outweigh the opportunities. Moreover, positive development for commercial industries in the Arctic may result in future conflict with smaller communities and indigenous groups.

Future Directions

The degree of future climate change is dependent upon both anthropogenic and natural responses. Mitigation strategies, along with the response of ecosystems to the changing climate, will dictate the extent of global warming and climate change impacts (Carter et al. 2015). How urban areas and communities adapt to these changes in climate is largely in the hands of government decision-makers and stakeholders and their action in the coming years.

Programs to enhance resilience to climate change are emerging. The Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities (BARC) program, for instance, was designed by ICLEI (Canada) to help local communities to respond to the impacts of climate change by developing and implementing adaptation plans. ( The 100 Resilient Cities program, launched by the Rockefeller Foundation, provides cities from across the globe with the resources necessary to adopt and incorporate resilience planning into their government processes. The long-term goal of 100 Resilient Cities is to build a practice of resilience among governments, organizations, and individuals around the globe. (

The 2014 IPCC Fifth Assessment Report on climate change warns that the ongoing emission of GHG’s will lead to continued warming and long-lasting changes in all components of the climate system. These changes increase the likelihood of severe, pervasive, and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems (IPCC 2014). Building resilient communities around the world is crucial to maintaining the well-being of human and natural ecosystems in the face of a changing climate. Increasing the inherent capacity of a community to manage future unknown stresses and shocks through strategic preparation will facilitate a more resilient system better able to deal with unforeseen hazards (Tyler and Moench 2012).

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Copyright information

© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.School of Urban and Regional Planning, Department of Earth and Atmospheric SciencesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonCanada

Section editors and affiliations

  • Anabela Marisa Azul
    • 1
  1. 1.Center for Neuroscience and Cell BiologyUniversity of CoimbraCoimbraPortugal


Overseas Pakistanis have a good news from PTI government

Overseas Pakistanis have a good news from PTI government

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday chaired a follow-up meeting regarding facilitating overseas Pakistanis particularly for easing and providing incentives on home remittances through legal channels.

In order to further facilitate overseas Pakistanis, the prime minister allowed State Bank of Pakistan and authorised banks to implement Business to Customer (B2C) and Customer to Business (C2B) transactions through foreign correspondent entities under their existing home remittance agency arrangements.

As regard B2C transactions, freelance and information systems services are allowed up to US $1500 per individual per month, while transaction services other than computer and information services are also allowed to transact up to $1500 per individual per month. Pensioners can now receive up to Rs. 250,000 per individual per month.

For C2B transactions, direct payments from overseas Pakistanis abroad can be received to pay for utility bills, education fees of universities, superstores, insurance companies, and credit card payments.

Furthermore, remittances received by real estate builders, developers and housing societies from overseas Pakistanis on purchase of property such as residential and commercial houses, plots, flats and building are also allowed except remittances for equity and participation in an enterprise.

Moreover, the prime minister approved incentive payment by the government on Mobile Wallet use to the tune of Rs2 on each transaction of one dollar remittance as airtime that was previously one rupee.

Exchange companies and banks who bring in 15pct more remittances than the previous financial year will also have the incentive of one rupee against each one dollar incremental remittance transaction. These incentives will have a significant impact towards increasing remittances.


Trauma can be a painful trial for anyone to experience. At Christian Counseling Professionals, we offer a life class for individuals struggling to cope with the trauma they have experienced in hopes of effectively dealing with the emotions that come with trauma, and offer healing.

The class will meet for 8 weeks and individuals will have an opportunity to learn about how to manage anger and stress appropriately.  Over the course of the 8 weeks, we will be working through Anger Control Workbook, by McKay and Rogers.

This class is designed to help those individuals who have experienced trauma or a traumatic situation, work through their feelings. As well as effectively, cope and manage their emotions.

Contact us to schedule with one of our counselors

We offer individual, family, and group counseling and can create a counseling program to meet your specific challenge.


Thursday 23 May 2019

10 tools to help you stay calm when someone's pushed your button

We all get stressed at times, but you can cultivate a relaxed mindset with these tips

These are the tips and tools will help you to stay calm, no matter what's happening.

Ewa Pietrzak

Let's face it, keeping a calm mind at all times can be challenging for most of us. When our buttons are pushed we become irritated, and this can escalate into stress and negativity. But learning to keep a cool head is key, because when we have chaos in our mind, it will trigger chaos outside too, which can send us on a downward spiral of unpleasant happenings.

Have you ever felt impatient when the person in front of you is taking ages chatting to the shopkeeper, even though there is a long queue, and you are in a hurry? Little things like this can rattle the cage of a busy person feeling short on time, but a person in a relaxed state of mind is at ease no matter what's going on.

When we are calm we think clearly, allowing ideas and solutions to naturally flow into our mind. We are also more thoughtful and kind to others and don't tend to overreact.

Challenges can arrive at any hour or minute of the day, so it's a good idea to be prepared. The following tips and tools will help you to stay calm, no matter what's happening.

1 Planning

Planning and allowing enough time to do tasks is key to maintaining calmness of mind. When we have too much to do and not enough time to do it, we tend to panic and fuel chaos in our mind, which in turn creates an unhealthy mental attitude that makes us vulnerable and easily agitated.

Sit down and write out all the tasks you need to do during the week/day ahead and allocate time for them in your diary. Always tackle the most challenging jobs first, and once they are completed you will have a clearer headspace and the mental ability to deal with remaining tasks in a calm and productive manner.

2 Understanding

When people are negative or critical, it usually stems from habitual behaviour, and when we understand this we can stay calm and in control. Habit actually controls 80pc of what people do each day, and we all have established behavioural patterns dating back to our childhood, which may or may not be productive and positive. This doesn't mean we should condone bad behaviour, but use tools to stay calm especially around family members or work colleagues.

If someone is negative or complaining, don't engage or fuel the conversation, but say in your mind "this is who they are, they do that out of habit and I'm not taking it on board". Secondly, you can say "I get it" or 'that's interesting' and change the topic. Best of all is to completely change the subject and to compliment them on what they do well. For example, if your mum gets negative, you could say, "I meant to say the birthday cake you baked was amazing". Start using this approach and watch it work like magic.

3 Don't React, Respond

The truth is, we often react without thinking when something goes wrong or someone does something to upset us. It's an instinctive reaction, based on fear and it's neither rational nor appropriate and can cause upset to others and our selves.

When we encounter a situation or a person who puts us on edge, a good way to stay calm is to take 10 deep breaths. Excuse yourself if necessary, then ask yourself: Is this doing me any good? Will reacting make me feel better? This simple interruption clears your mind and allows you to think rather than act on impulse.

4 Meditation

Meditation is a reliable way to train the mind to stay calm. Many believe it's too difficult or only monks can meditate but really we can all meditate. Walking, singing and listening to guided meditation recordings are among the many techniques. There are numerous practices that can be explored via online research, in self-help books or local classes. The aim of the game is to quiet the chitter chatter in the mind and switch off, using a tool that works for you.

A simple technique I use with my clients is to close your eyes and focus on breathing. Be aware of your lungs, diaphragm and stomach as they fill with air and then slowly empty. When focusing on your breath, your thoughts pass by and you don't engage with them. At the beginning I use a timer, set for 30-60 seconds and gradually increase the amount of time day by day. If you repeat daily, you will naturally progress and find yourself more in control, even in very challenging situations.

5 Focus exercises

In addition to meditation, focus exercises are an excellent way of training the mind to do what you want, like staying calm in a crisis. Focus is a skill that can be developed, with practice at any age.

Sit down in a comfortable chair, either at home or work, and find a point or picture on the wall across from you. Time yourself for 30 to 60 seconds initially and hold your gaze on this point. You will find your mind wandering off into other stories going on in your life, but bring it back to the point. If you do this exercise every day for 30 days, you will find your self-control and focus will be ten times stronger.

6 Recharge and Reset

As we go through the ups and downs of the day it is useful to have a go-to place or activity to reset and recharge the mental batteries and maintain inner calm. Personally, I work indoors so prefer to recharge outdoors and get some fresh air. I walk to my local park and watch the ducks, and this transports me to a calm and beautiful place away from the computer and other demands.

Pick an activity that is feasible and works for you, and preferably ejects you from your seat, like a jog around the block or a walk with the dog if you work from home. Physically moving from the desk for just fifteen minutes of mental relaxation can make a big difference in the middle of a busy day and reset your mind to calm mode.

7 Visualisation Exercise

I recommend this short and effective exercise that you can practice daily or whenever you need an extra injection of calmness.

Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths and think of a place that makes you feel happy and at peace, every time you go there. This could be a favourite holiday spot by the sea or sitting with your pet or loved one in a relaxing chair. Immerse yourself into the picture and observe as if you are actually there. Take a couple of minutes and you will naturally become more relaxed in body and mind. This is a short and sweet exercise that you can do as often as you need to, and it will help maintain your inner peace.

8 Physical Exercise

Physical exercise is a marvellous way of calming the mind. Whether it is yoga, walking, cycling, rowing or running or any other energising routine, the physical movement naturally brings about calmness and clarity, as well as happiness helped by the endorphins that are released when we work out. If you don't already have a daily physical exercise routine, get one.

9 Good Influences

Be good to yourself. Spend time with people that nourish you and make you feel happy, and avoid spending time with the ones that stress you out. Naturally this can be difficult when it comes to family members or work colleagues, so apply the tools above.

Also filter your intake of news and social media to ensure that it is entertaining not draining you. Perhaps you need to increase your diet of positive reading and inspiring movies. If you need information on something, think about asking a well-informed friend which may be more relaxing than trawling the internet for hours. In general, keep an eye out for what is causing you upset and irritation and eliminate as much as you can.

10 Affirmation

Affirmations are positive statements and great tools to help us shake off old established ways of thinking and behaving. When a statement is repeated over and over, eventually our mind starts believing it, and in turn this impacts our behaviour and results.

Write your own personal positive affirmation around staying calm, such as "I'm in control of me and I love being calm and relaxed at all times". Say this out loud several times per day. Whenever you feel tested by people or circumstances, this affirmation will naturally flow into your mind and put you in a relaxed state.

* Dublin-based success coach Ewa Pietrzak offers one-to-one coaching and webinars.

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What we're about

This is a book club for non-fiction only. We wouldn't set a specific agenda for what to read but you can discuss any non-fiction books you have read.

Upcoming events (1)

3rd Meetup: Biography

Café La Bohème

Our first theme: Biography Talk about any 'biography' books you have read, you are reading, or you will read. Please bring an actual book so we can see the cover of that book (Kindle is fine). It'd make a big difference while you're talking about that book. Only *8* spots & one rule - you RSVPed, you show up. If you can't make it, please simply change it to 'No.'

Past events (2)

2nd Meetup

Café La Bohème

Photos (1)


Cultural history

Culture in Enontekiö would be nothing without nature. Elements of the traditional and nomadic cultures can still be seen today.

First reindeers

Enontekiö was already settled in the early Stone Age, some 8000 years ago. The first people in Enontekiö were hunters and fishers. Reindeer herding became an important livelihood in the last half of the 17th century. The reindeer is a semi-domesticated arctic animal that pastures in search of its food. Reindeer herders were nomads, following the reindeer herds. The nomadic way of life has disappeared elsewhere in Lapland, but it lives on in Enontekiö.

Enontekiö herders own 20,000 reindeer

Reindeer herding is still an important livelihood for us. There are about 20,000 reindeer in Enontekiö. The reindeer pasture freely, but every animal has an owner, indicated by an earmark. Herding reindeer requires a deep understanding of both nature and reindeer, the knowledge being handed down from one generation to the next. Gathering the herd for earmarking in the summer is a good example of these skills. Today’s reindeer herding makes use of the modern technology ranging from snowmobiles to GPS devices.

Reindeer has played an important role in traditional handicrafts, either as a source of inspiration or as a source of raw materials. Bones and horns of reindeer have been used as a raw material of tools and jewellery as long as the bond between human and reindeer has existed. Tanned leather of reindeer, sisna, has been used in making pieces of clothing, different kinds of bags and shoes, from all the way back until today. Leather is still tanned in respect of traditions, but sewing methods have occurred some changes. Sisna gets its beautiful, warm brown color from willow tannic, and long elaboration phase with multiple steps makes it feel pleasant and soft.

Nature will provide

Elements of the old livelihood – hunting, fishing and berry picking – are still part of our life. Cloudberries and grouse in particular are highly wanted products from Lapland. Thus, they don’t only mean food for us, but also bring in a bit of extra income. Berries, herbs and plants in Lapland grow in arctic circumstances and ripe under the midnight sun, which gives them high concentration of nutrients, cloudberry one of the most popular of these superfoods of Lapland.


Ascension symptoms changes in mind, body and spirit sandra walter – ascension path electricity 1 7 pdf

The Ascension process is the union of our higher and lower levels: the soul, spirit and body becoming one. For many, this means gas 66 you are changing your cellular structure to accommodate a higher frequency within the physical body. I say for many because the Ascension process is unique o gosh to each individual. Your higher self has chosen how you will attain this integration of higher and lower levels. I’ll address those choices in another post. For now, let’s focus on symptoms electricity review worksheet answers and the confusion over these mystery aches and pains.

Dimensions are based on frequency; the higher the frequency, the higher the dimensional level. As the Earth changes frequency during the Shift, the physical beings which live on her surface must vibrate at the same frequency in order to exist (or survive). Since the Earth la gasolina mp3 is raising her vibrational rate, so must we. It’s a cooperative effort bp gas locations, but for simplicity’s sake, let’s just talk frequency.

This crystalline state is becoming embodied by our physical selves. This is the return of the Christ, a.k.a. Cryst, Christ consciousness, or crystalline crystalline consciousness that everyone has been talking gas tracker about. The return of the Christ is the return of the divine HU-man (God-man). It’s you, it’s happening within you, with the support of the universe and many cosmic factors, and it’s a beautiful process.

All life forms on Earth are becoming crystalline. We have a big acceleration happening electricity physics pdf right now as we cross the galactic dark rift. This affects everything we know. Ocean, plant and animal kingdoms are evolving; we are all moving gas stoichiometry worksheet answers into a new state of being. Paths to this higher frequency are abundant, and if you’re aware of the symptoms, you can assist your own process as well as that of others.

Basic symptoms often reflect Kundalini symptoms, or the rise of crystalline life force within the body. These are adjustments; energetic adjustments to integrate the new frequency electricity png. You do not have to be aware of the Ascension process at all in order to experience these symptoms. Many mystery ailments go mis-diagnosed or medicated into suppression (which typically causes disharmony in another area; that energy has to go somewhere).

As always, check gas unlimited houston texas with a doctor or healer if you cannot confirm symptoms with your higher levels just yet. Ask someone power outage houston report you trust if you feel they are causing you any physical harm or any conditions you are not comfortable with. For many, these basic symptoms are a wake-up call when the doctors can gas stoichiometry problems’t find a cause. If you’re someone Googling for answers, I extend a warm welcome to you.

These basic symptoms are early signals of the Ascension process. You might blast through them in a few months, they may linger and pop up on occasion for a while. It is unique to everyone, so don’t feel you’re at a “beginner level” because gas vs electric oven temperature you’re in the basic category. It’s not a race, there is no enlightenment triathlon to win. Remember these are big energetic and physical adjustments happening in your body.

This is an overview of basic symptoms that have been collected over the last decade. You don’t have to have all of these electricity per kwh symptoms in order to sense the Ascension process. There gas welder salary are many environmental, lifestyle, spiritual and DNA factors involved in how and why people experience the process. For some, the symptoms are a sign of progress; for others, these symptoms are a burden. It completely depends upon the journey you desire.


Guest post: The effects of parental MS on children

By Julie Moberg, MA, RN, PhD, postdoc. at the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry and the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.

How multiple sclerosis (MS) among parents affects their children in childhood has been reported in some studies, but little is known about the consequences later in adult life.
The potential influence on the children can arise from the variety of symptoms of the chronic illness, including fatigue and disability, which can restrict daily life of the persons with MS and might result in less energy for activities and loss of job with social implications for the family.

In my PhD thesis, we identified all persons with MS from the Danish MS Registry with onset between 1950 and 1986 to be used in two register-based studies. The Danish Civil Registration System provided the anonymized identity of their 4,177 children along with 33,416 randomly chosen people from the Danish population of the same sex and year of birth. Statistics Denmark provided information about school grades, education, employment, income, and disability pension of all the persons in our study on the individual level in an encrypted anonymized dataset.

In addition, we also performed an interview study about young adults’ experiences with parental MS. I interviewed 14 persons between 18 and 25 years with parental MS. This age group was chosen because they were young enough to remember their childhood vividly and mature enough to reflect about it.

Children with a parent with MS compared with other children achieved a higher grade point average in basic school. They attained similar levels of education. There was a strong tendency toward more of them attaining health-related educations.

We found that at age 30, the children of MS patients had 11% lower chance of being employed. At age 30 they had a 31% higher risk of receiving disability pension than the children of non-MS families, and at age 40 the risk was 20% higher. The mean income at the age interval of 45 to 49 years was similar, but children of MS patients had a 9% lower chance of belonging to the high-income group (earning more than EUR 33,650 annually amounting to about GBP 30,500).

The interviewed participants revealed that one of the greatest challenges of having a parent with MS is achieving a balance between caring for others and asserting one’s own desires.

Having a parent with MS might have social consequences later in life: in spite of attaining the same educational levels, it seems that they had a greater risk of low income and higher risk of transfer income than children from families without MS.

However, one unexpected benefit of having a parent with MS was the higher school grades. This might indicate character building with a greater sense of responsibility because of the role as a caregiver. Also, the young adults interviewed had experiences of caring for others, and putting them first (above their own wishes and needs). Amongst those being cared for and coming first in the young people's lives were: the parent with MS, the other parent, and siblings, and they continued this pattern of care and self-sacrifice toward friends and partners. This was also in keeping with the tendency that more children of parents with MS were more likely to study health-related education.

The results of caring and self-sacrifice might partly explain some of the findings in the register-based studies. The children might continue taking care of their parents while striving to find a balance between helping others and fulfilling their own adult lives.

Parental MS influences the life of their children far into adulthood.

COI: None.

Photographs by Dorthe Stauning Rasmussen


Microstructure observations of turbulent heat fluxes in a warm-core Canada Basin eddy

Fine, EC, MacKinnon JA, Alford MH, Mickett JB.  2018.  Microstructure observations of turbulent heat fluxes in a warm-core Canada Basin eddy. Journal of Physical Oceanography. 48:2397-2418.

Date Published:

anticyclones, Arctic, arctic-ocean, beaufort sea, diapycnal mixing, double-diffusive intrusions, eddies, inertial, internal waves, kinetic-energy dissipation, mediterranean salt lens, mixing, observations, Oceanography, pacific water, sea-ice, ship, thermohaline steps, wave-propagation

An intrahalocline eddy was observed on the Chukchi slope in September of 2015 using both towed CTD and microstructure temperature and shear sections. The core of the eddy was 6 degrees C, significantly warmer than the surrounding -1 degrees C water and far exceeding typical temperatures of warm-core Arctic eddies. Microstructure sections indicated that outside of the eddy the rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy epsilon was quite low . Three different processes were associated with elevated epsilon. Double-diffusive steps were found at the eddy's top edge and were associated with an upward heat flux of 5 W m(-2). At the bottom edge of the eddy, shear-driven mixing played a modest role, generating a heat flux of approximately 0.5 W m(-2) downward. Along the sides of the eddy, density-compensated thermohaline intrusions transported heat laterally out of the eddy, with a horizontal heat flux of 2000 W m(-2). Integrating these fluxes over an idealized approximation of the eddy's shape, we estimate that the net heat transport due to thermohaline intrusions along the eddy flanks was 2 GW, while the double-diffusive flux above the eddy was 0.4 GW. Shear-driven mixing at the bottom of the eddy accounted for only 0.04 GW. If these processes continued indefinitely at the same rate, the estimated life-span would be 1-2 years. Such eddies may be an important mechanism for the transport of Pacific-origin heat, freshwater, and nutrients into the Canada Basin.


Louis Chenevert’s Aerospace Revolution

Louis Chenevert is one of the most well known entrepreneurs in the aerospace engineering sector. His decades of experience culminated in changes for airplane construction. He has very humble origins with a typical childhood in Montreal, Québec. Louis Chenevert went on to major production management during college, and this opened the path to his first job. A recent article on the website Release Fact goes into greater detail on his success story.

The first job Louis Chenevert obtained was at a General Motors plant in the region. Together with the individual who hired him, they performed quality work and moved up the ranks of the company. After more than a decade, Louis Chenevert made the jump to Pratt & Whitney, where he revolutionized their production process. He cut coasts by nearly 10 percent. In addition, the time to create a plane was reduced significantly. During his tenure, the company explored new technologies and ideas constantly. It was at this time when Louis Chenevert discovered the geared turbofan.

His experience in the industry was truly acknowledged when he landed the position of CEO at United Technologies Corporation. They were heavily involved in the creation of everything from elevators to security systems. This was the moment where he acted on his geared turbofan concept. Years later, the project was completed and the benefits exceeded expectations. It was extremely fuel efficient. The part required less tools, and created less noise when in use. It was an industry changing invention.

In each industry there is always someone who changes how fundamental concepts are approached. Louis Chenevert is that person in the aerospace industry. The geared turbofan was an idea that forever changed how the standard is made. Presently, he enjoys a peaceful retirement. He still remains active in the industry with his wealth of knowledge. His legacy will inspire individuals for generations to come.


Strategic vision:

Create a century-old pharmaceutical brand;

Adhere to the excellent quality, care for the health of the company!

Gradually realize the strategic goals of diversification, branding, grouping and cross-regional management;

Continuously improve the research and development of new drug products, broaden the product field, and enrich the product sequence of their respective varieties;

Continuously introduce advanced production lines and equipment to continuously improve the automation of production equipment;

Through continuous technological transformation and technical input, it achieves reasonable planning, advanced technology and advanced technology, all of which meet the requirements of GMP certification;


A series of small comics dealing with „the pocess of making art“ and „the artist in residence“.

h2o hamletmonologue

performative installation/2015

in collaboration with anna-sofie lugmeier

H2O is an installation-based representation of a mental state in relation to the story of hamlet. It is coupled to a specific architectural situation as a cubator to summon fragments of memory. The expedition-like guided tour through the basement of the old Viennese theaterdepot gives an insight into a story-encrypted system, that can be seen as an archive and is always linking and relinking parts of a story. You hear a lost dialog, re-narrated and transmitted via walkie-talkie at the basin accompanied by the synthetic sounds of a theremin.

live-installation and performance/2014

in collaboration with Magdalena Meindl

The installation „O“ establishes a connection between multiple spaces: an exhibition space and a model of the same space situated in another building. Doubles, copies and forgeries are being formed in the process. The body of the performer functions as the exposed object which influences, manipulates and controls the other exhibits. The amplified breathing of the performer is sometimes invasive sometimes protective but omnipresent and also transmitted into the mockup-object. A video transmission of eyes that are glaring into the model watch determinantly over the performance itself.

performed in the Ateliers Kurzbauergasse and Semperdepot (VIE)

lecture performance/live vj-set/digital archive-platform/2017

design and content archive-platform/performance: anna-sofie lugmeier, evamaria liane müller; design and programming archive-platform: peter paul aufreiter/text „das drama“: anita lerke-lugmeier/actor „magische worte“: christoph müller/video-documentation: zeno legner

The digital staged archive RENDEZVOUS3000 deals with the topic of contemporary story-telling and is furthermore asking for new ways of building up or reconstructing narratives. This multimedia-based pool of narrative elements was created by the two artists themselves and is continously growing. It is dedicated to the fundamental questions about contemporary storytelling and its multilayered implications and contradictions within.
Nations were founded on myths of origin, that often mask ideologies and although the time of the big narratives is seemingly over, we are confronted with an infinite variety of interpretations.
So how do we tell these stories today? Who tells what kind of story and what is the intention behind it?

Narratives are no longer able to legitimize the pursuit of knowledge, economic growth or social and moral emancipation. They only work as expressions of a point of view or of specific interests. Those points of view can only become paramount by being convincing or not.
The computer database as a virtual space has become a cultural form that is used to represent human experience, the world and human existence in this world.

RENDEZVOUS3000 searches for „fragments of memory“ which shall be getting collected, dissolved, analysed and transformed. This „material“ is then being inter-linked via changing classification systems to generate new narratives that can vary every time. The current version of the online-platform is being used as a storage-container for sedimenting this material and is also serving as a base for the theatrical performance, as it expands the staged setting into the digital space.
These performances are guided tours through this created narrative-database by the artists themselves and thus generate a different and unique experience everytime.

supported by kulturreferat der stadt münchen
developed and performed at the hothouse for rough translations (MUC)

setting, text, livevideo-installation and objects: evamaria liane müller/performed by: andreas egele (klangforum wien) and evamaria liane müller

The installation consists of the split fragments of a simulation (text, video, livevideo, objects, music). The audience faces text on a teleprompter as well as a live-video of members of the audience reading the text. This is accompanied by a visual composition generated by the body temperature of the artist on thermocromatic material. This colour-composition is the basis for the musician`s improvisation who is wearing VR-glasses to see the instructions.

The installation was part of Echotecture, a space-expedition with “new music“ extending over two floors of the old theaterdepot in Vienna. A precisely timed collaboration with the klangforum Vienna, under the direction of composer Peter Jakober. The evening consisted of 18 musical/spatial arrangements that were partially reacting to or referring to each other.


Category: Uncategorized

Why am I Still a “Hobby Potter”?

Why am I Still a “Hobby Potter”?

Pottery For the Joy Of It!

LOVE this time of year! April is the Stanislaus Artist Open Studio Tour and I still get just as excited as if it were my first time! As I gear up to receive visitors,  I find myself reflecting on what people would like to experience in my studio.

During the tour I’ll share the pottery making process, throw on the pottery wheel and create a mosaic “guestbook” with all the names of my visitors. Sometimes I’ll answer technical questions from first timers  and the more experienced art seekers will inadvertently ask the same question, ‘Why do you call yourself “Hobby Potter”?

It seems since my skills have moved beyond the basic, people are concerned my artwork will be devalued because of the term “hobby”.  True, a respected title is important and it has crossed my mind on occasion to revamp my YouTube channel or materials and just use my name.  But then I remember why I started this journey and why it’s still relevant to me today.

Let me explain!

hob·by / noun
1. an activity done regularly for entertainment, joy or pleasure.

From forming to glazing to sharing, every aspect of pottery making thrills me! It’s all about keeping things light and joyful. I do take my ceramics seriously and enjoy the hard work it involves along with the elements of the unknown. So for me, the term “hobby” helps me continue in a “spontaneously creative” mindset.  It’s the core reason I work in clay….creativity at my own pace, in my own way.

There is a freedom to pursue what moves me, a “no boundaries” rule to play with the ever-changing ideas that inspire me. Because I started my whole clay journey after a long stint of serious illness, I also wanted to continue to feel like I had permission to pause when I needed to and resume when I was ready. Basically it means I am not a “production” style potter. Repetition of any magnitude is just not in my ENFP nature, so I carry a tremendous amount of respect for production potters who do what I can not! My concluding focus will be creating pieces that exude my enthusiasm for clay (even it it’s not in high volumes.)

 Being a “Hobby Potter” is not a “skill level”, or a definition of work quality or even a lack of ambition to do “serious ceramics”.

Hobby Pottery is my pursuit of creative freedom that fires me up with anticipation the second I step out into my studio!

So with that in mind, I’m heading out to Spring Clean the studio for guests, determined to remain just a “Hobby Potter”!

Please Help Me “Live Vicariously”- NCECA Conference

NCECANational Council on Education for Ceramic Arts!

Repairing After A Storm

Character Traits of the ULTIMATE Super-Hero

~ Tammy Jo 😀

“I’m Excitedly Overwhelmed!”

Adjectives & Verbs

Hobby Potter – Pottery Making and Ceramics

Plethora = Over 100!

2. MIXED BASIC COLORS (3 coats of color)
      A. Sample strip of each stand alone BASIC COLOR
      B. Sample strip of colors after they are mixed.
     B. Sample of wash effect.

Here we go folks! !!!


Sentier de Randonnée Sur les Crêtes de l'Alaric - Comigne

Sentier de Randonnée
Sur les Crêtes de l'Alaric

Sentier de Randonnée Sur les Crêtes de l'Alaric - Comigne

Sentier de Randonnée Sur les Crêtes de l'Alaric - Comigne

Sentier de Randonnée Sur les Crêtes de l'Alaric - Comigne

Sentier de Randonnée Sur les Crêtes de l'Alaric - Comigne

The territory of Piemonte Alaric in the heart of the Aude department, located at the foot of the Corbières and Minervois stretches on both sides of the river Aude.

It shares some of his particular landscapes with 14 neighboring municipalities.

Wandering around this district on foot or by bicycle is through contrasting scenery, the mountain of Alaric (600 m) and the scented garrigue to the bowl of dry pond of Marseillette with its history and its ornithological interest. It's also discover land and diversified agriculture.

So, while we only perceive the vine, we will find rice fields, apple orchards or Asparagus too. It is finally detect a rich local history through the ages from Roman times to the development of viticulture through the construction of the Canal du Midi or the difficulties of the drying up of Marseillette.

Let yourself go to small walks on both sides of the Canal du Midi and the river Aude, or on the paths of Alaric.

Sentier de Randonnée Sur les Crêtes de l'Alaric - Comigne

Sentier de Randonnée Sur les Crêtes de l'Alaric - Comigne

Sentier de Randonnée Sur les Crêtes de l'Alaric - Comigne

Sentier de Randonnée Sur les Crêtes de l'Alaric - Comigne
- Distance
- 13,5 km
- Mini Altitude
- 110 meter
- Departure
- Place du Château,
- Type
- Loop
a - Max Altitude
- 600 meter
- Vertical drop
- 411 meter
- Duration
- 4 Hours
- Markup
- Yes
- IGN reference
- 2246O
- Difficulty
- Average, not advisable on hot day
- Coordinates
- 43.17080000,
- Access
- Comigne Aude

- Click to enlarge
Opening Sentier de Randonnée Sur les Crêtes de l'Alaric - Comigne:

- 01 january to 31 december
Aude Tourisme Qualité Sud de France Le Pays Cathare Piémont d’Alaric Pays Touristiques de Corbières en Minervois

Gorges du Congoust

Gorges du Congoust

Château Fontenelles
Château Fontenelles - Douzens
A.O.C. CorbièresIn the family for five generations, the Domaine de Fontenelles now stretches over 40 hectares of Syrah, black Grenache, Carignan and Mourvèdre on the hinterland of Alaric, in the Corbières AOP and the Aude Côteaux Miramont PGI zone. Fontenelles is a family history but also the passion of a winemaking couple resolutely turned towards the future. Guided by their love of the vine and wine, Thierry and his wife Nelly endeavour each day to combine culture of excellence, respect for humans and the environment with quality approach. An historic land for great wines. The terroir of the Montagne d’Alaric is distinguished by dominantly clay and limestone soil and the presence of stony terraces. The character of the terroir expresses itself in red wines with a sublime purple and ruby robe, a powerful and complex nose, combining spicy and floral notes and revealing a harmonious palate on absorbed tannins...

Château la Baronne
Château la Baronne - Moux
A.O.C. CorbièresThe Alaric Mountain is a region where all the geological eras are represented. It's an enormous mass of limestone, a vast reservoir for groundwaters which emerge at Fontcouverte at a temperature from 18 to 22°C. The La Baronne vineyard is planted between 100 and 200 meters altitude on tertiary and quaternary limestone, clay or sandstone formations which are of marine, river or lacustral origin hence the large variety of "terroirs". Our 90 ha vineyard is surrounded by forests of holm oak, cypress and pine trees, and also by limestone "garrigue" or scrubland with a rich flora (shrub oak, rosemary, boxwood, juniper, broom, thyme, rockrose, or strawberry trees... plus two botanical curiosities: allium molly and genista villarsii.). At La Baronne, the traditional grape varieties of the Languedoc have always been the order of the day... the old Carignans (up to 115 years old!), Grenache Noir, Syrah and Mourvedre for the reds (90% of the vineyards), or Grenache blanc, Roussane, Vermentino and Bourboulenc for the whites. But the Lignères Family has a special affection for Carignan, constantly striving to heighten the expression, finesse and elegance of this emblematic variety of the region...

  Sentier de Randonnée
Sur les Crêtes de l'Alaric
Place du Château
11700 Comigne

Phone +33
Fax -
Email -

Website -

Le Clos De Mauzac

Le Clos De Mauzac - Camplong d’Aude

Restaurant M'11

Restaurant M'11 - Monze

Château de Floure

Château de Floure - Floure

Hôtel Restaurant
Ô Fil de l’Ô

Hôtel Restaurant Ô Fil de l’Ô - Marseillette

La Commanderie

Campsite La Commanderie - Rustiques

Côté Jardin

Hôtel Restaurant Auberge Côté Jardin - Conilhac-Corbières

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Competition for reform of the building

A. Montoya, G.Giacalone, M. Viladot

Barcelona d'Infraestructures Municipal S.A.

The proposal for the new facility "La Lleialtat Santsenca" is based on the aim to create a new socio-cultural space for organizations and associations of the neighborhood  where they can consolidate the development of a leisure activities according to the values of the organization. It also considers that the new facility could become a public space and meeting place that promnotes the relationship between the social groups of Sants.

The solution adopted is intended to recover the original spirit of the building in 1928, both with respect to the location of the primary uses such on terms to its initial shape. To this end, we propose to maintain and rehabilitate the original structural elements that give character to the building (facade and metal structure and roof), releasing it from attics and superimposed back later.

Regarding distribution of functions, there is a ground floor with a public and open nature and retrieve the original height and metal structure. On the first floor is proposed to recover the essence of the old Ateneo, placing the scene in the original space and recovering the balcony. Moreover, it also maintains the location of services and vertical communications, which despite being newly built intends to place them on the old strip of the original building services.

C09 001

C09 002

C09 003

C09 004

C09 005

C09 006

C09 007


Commentary and feedback from participants

Obtaining feedback from a breadth of participants is one of the core objectives of the CIF. As well as providing commentary from the floor, each of the 20 tables at the CIF reviewed the subject matter, summarized key points and made recommendations based on their analysis in discussions facilitated by CIRA staff.

There was near consensus that the success of Canada’s digital economy relies on strategic direction and funding. Participants overwhelming argued for a long-term federal broadband strategy that would acknowledge the important of broadband access for full socio-economic participation of Canadians in the new digital economy. Having the proper infrastructure in place would form the backbone of a policy that would ultimately offer financial support to skills development, research and strategic partnerships that drive innovation.

“Infrastructure without education and economic incentives is incomplete,” said one participant.

A federal broadband strategy would rely on the following principles:

1. Broadband infrastructure and access are preconditions to innovation in the digital economy

Recognizing that broadband is the platform upon which innovation to drive economic growth will occur, universal access to broadband should be a priority of a national innovation strategy. This starts with an updated definition of minimum universal access, participants said, and should include financial incentives for private industry to help remote communities access affordable, quality networks.

Where the Internet ends, so does prosperity,” said participant Lynn Hamilton, president of the Internet Society, Canadian chapter. “The minute you have slow speeds, the minute you are not an innovator; you are not moving forward.

“If we only have slow speed, we can only have slow-speed ideas,” said one participant. But they also noted, that “we need to have enough for everybody before we focus on the speed thing.”

2. Collaboration is integral to innovation

A federal broadband strategy should foster the collaboration of individuals, the private sector, communities and different levels of government to champion innovation.

One participant spoke of “removing barriers to the little guys,” including eliminating regulatory red tape, and offering small start-ups access to seed money, venture capital and other private sector partnerships. Another noted that support of open source technology is a key component of innovation.

When you have your innovators and you’re not giving them access to the same tools the big guys have, you’re disabling the people who are really changing the industry and pushing the industry forward,” said one participant. The little guys will be “the disruptors, who will drive the industry forward but they require access to all the same tools that the traditional players.”

Participants noted the “Importance of discoverability and commercialization and getting [innovation] of silos.” Others recognized the potential of supporting local communities in setting up their own broadband networks. Coquitlam’s municipal network, QNet, was presented as an example of how municipalities are well-positioned to develop and administer local broadband. Another participant noted that a lot of innovation happens locally, where communities come together to solve a collective problem. She pointed to the example of an aboriginal group in Sioux Lookout, Ont. that launched KNet, as Canada’s first indigenous-owned broadband network. iv

3. A focus on lifelong skills and education

Participants broadly agreed that lifelong skills development and training should be the focus of a comprehensive digital broadband strategy, with federal programs and money available to people who take part in qualifying programs. Recognizing that it’s difficult to predict the precise skills that will be required in the future, some effort should be made to define and articulate skill requirements and what kinds of career paths are available for people if they attain these skills, participants said.

There was recognition that Canadian elementary and secondary schools are lacking access to the tools, resources and training required to raise the next generation of IT professionals. There was broad consensus that, despite education being under the jurisdiction of provincial governments, the federal government must take some kind of lead on overseeing IT education in schools across the country.

One participant suggested every school in the country have a “digital advocate,” a member of staff whose only responsibility is to coordinate IT resources and training.

Others noted that any education program must be socially inclusive, recognizing that certain parts of the population are being inadvertently excluded from the digital economy. Efforts should be made to breakdown gender bias to encourage the full and inclusive participation of women. This includes moving away from public campaigns that seek only to scare kids, disproportionately girls, away from the Internet, by overemphasizing cyberbullying and personal safety.

If parents are fearful, they’re not going to teach their kids to code.

iv “K-Net is a unique First Nations owned & operated ICT Service Provider leading the way for rural and remote First Nations of Ontario into the ever growing world of information communication technologies. Based out of Sioux Lookout, Ontario, K-Net materializes a wide range of capacity building services visualized by First Nations; such as cellular service, broadband connectivity, and online applications.”


Jamie xx: Gosh (dir. by Romain Gavras)

Jamie xx never disappoints. His epic track “Gosh,” off of his 2015 album In Colour, first debuted alongside a set of images from NASA/JPL. Now, a new deep and intense music video (directed by Romain Gavras, whose resumé includes work for MIA, Kanye West, Justice) provides spookily mesmerizing complement. Starring Hassan Kone, the video is set in Tianducheng, China—a luxury development mostly gone abandoned, where a rusty replica of the Eiffel Tower looms—and has a distinctly dystopian vibe. At the same time, this ghostly atmosphere is beautiful, with incredible choreography, marching and breathtaking shots across the five-minute mini-film.


Thursday, April 12, 2012, Part 4

"Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be secret; and your Father who sees in secret will himself reward you openly" (Matthew 6:2-4).

IDEA: The God of the Bible and the people of God demonstrated a commendable concern for the needy.

PURPOSE: To help listeners understand that Jesus assumes a concern for the poor.

If you were guessing, what area of the United States has the lowest per-person rate of giving to charitable and religious causes?

What conclusions might you draw from that?

I. Would you agree that how people take care of the needy in their community reflects their deepest values?

How do Americans contribute to the poor?

They do so through government welfare systems and through private charities and churches that benefit from tax laws. Is that wrong?

What are the strengths of our system? What are the weaknesses?

In the first century the poor and needy were cared for by both public and private contributions that were collected and distributed on a regular basis (Matthew 6:2).

Offerings for the poor were collected in synagogue services (as we do in churches). There was a well organized system of helping the needy that depended on contributions from members of the community.

There was a “tithe for the poor.” In fact, there were rabbinic regulations to prevent a man from impoverishing himself and his family by giving away over 20% of his income (R. T. France, p 235).

Special festival days presented further opportunities to help the poor.

II. Is Jesus objecting to this concern for the poor in the Sermon on the Mount?

God Himself protected the poor through the Law in legislation regarding harvests (Leviticus 19:9-10), with particular concern for widows and orphans (Deuteronomy 16:9-11, 14).

Concern for the needy is also reflected in the New Testament: James 1:27, Galatians 2:9-10.

III. What specifically does Jesus warn against in Matthew 6:2?


Find the word definition

Papuk is the largest mountain in the Slavonia region in eastern Croatia, near the city of Požega. It extends between Bilogora to the northwest, Krndija to the east, and Ravna gora and Psunj to the southwest.

The highest peak is the eponymous peak at 953 m.a.s.l.

The area of Papuk is designated a nature park (park prirode), a kind of protected area in Croatia.

At the seventh European Geopark Network Open Conference, hosted by North West Highlands Geopark in September 2007, the Papuk Geopark became the first Croatian Geopark and 30th member of the European and UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.

Geopark Papuk was awarded licence second time from UNESCO in 2011.