New Report From World Animal Protection Says Improving Animal Welfare on Farms Is Key to Fighting Superbugs

New Report From World Animal Protection Says Improving Animal Welfare on Farms Is Key to Fighting Superbugs (image via World Animal Protection)

The world is facing a public health crisis because of antibiotic resistance. According to the United Nations, currently at least 700,000 people die each year due to drug-resistant diseases. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, also known as "superbugs," can even be found in the food you eat.

That's because antibiotics are vastly overused in raising farmed animals globally. Superbugs can start on farms and then enter our food chain and environment. When antibiotic resistant superbugs are passed to people, they make us less able to fight disease.

A new report from the global charity World Animal Protection has found superbugs in pork sold at Walmart stores in the United States. The report showed that 80% of the bacteria isolated from Walmart's pork products were resistant to at least one antibiotic, with significant resistance to classes of antibiotics considered highly important or critically important by the World Health Organization.

• Last year the charity released a report where pork products tested in five countries, including Spain and Thailand, also had superbugs resistant to antibiotics.

Pork products sold at Canadian Walmart stores have not been tested, but Canada does import pork from the US. According to the US Meat Export Federation, last year, 205,568 metric tonnes of US pork valued at USD$765 million was exported to Canada.

As of December 2018, in Canada, a veterinary prescription is required for antibiotics given to farm animals and antibiotic use in the livestock industry has decreased. However, administering antibiotics to farm animals for disease prevention is still commonplace.

The results from the Walmart pork testing come on the heels of a Canadian study from the Council of Canadian Academies warning of the potential rise in the percentage of bacterial infections that are resistant to antibiotic treatments. The report states that overuse of antibiotics on farm animals raised for food contributes to this. It's estimated that about 400,000 Canadians are likely to die from drug-resistant infections by 2050.

One solution to help stop this and the overall global superbug crisis, would be to keep farm animals in better conditions.

"We know that raising animals in low welfare farms with crowding and unsanitary conditions makes the animals stressed and more vulnerable to illness. Mother pigs (sows) are still largely housed in cages where they cannot even turn around. That is why it is important to transition from these environments to higher welfare farms where animals have space to move and can live in an enriched environment. It's better for them and they are healthier and less prone to disease in the first place," says Lynn Kavanagh, Campaign Manager at World Animal Protection Canada.

Farmers who raise pigs in better conditions, agree that the health is much better for the animals. In Canada, all producers are expected to eliminate the practice of confining mother pigs in gestation (pregnancy) crates by 2024 and the Retail Council Of Canada, which includes companies such as Walmart Canada, has committed to sourcing pork from mother pigs raised in group housing by 2022. However, Walmart Canada has still not made a public commitment to this on their website. World Animal Protection encourages them to do this as consumers expect companies to be transparent about their animal welfare commitments.

World Animal Protection is also calling on global supermarkets to improve the lives of pigs by only sourcing pork from high welfare farms. World Animal Protection's Raise Pigs Right campaign wants pigs to be freed from cages and not left to suffer in barren environments that promote disease and increase the risk of superbugs. Rather, these highly intelligent, social animals should be allowed to live in groups, with room to move around naturally.

"Change is possible and higher welfare systems are good for the health of animals and people and it's good for business too," says Kavanagh.

The Video:

Around the world pigs are raised in intensive farm conditions ,which includes overcrowding,unsanitary conditions and being kept in cages. This leads to increased stress and illness for the animals. However, some farmers choose to raise their animals in better conditions with space to move freely, have access to the outdoors, and have comfortable straw bedding, allowing pigs to simply be pigs. This video profiles one Canadian farmer doing just that.

Notes:

World Animal Protection's report, US pork and the superbug crisis: how higher welfare farming is better for pigs and people, follows global testing conducted by the organization of Walmart pork products in Brazil. In December 2018, World Animal Protection released a global report on the results of pork samples tested for the presence of bacteria resistant to specific antibiotics. The project was prompted by research suggesting a link between low-welfare farming systems and overuse of antibiotics. Bacteria resistant to antibiotics considered most critically important to human health by the World Health Organization were found in samples sold by major supermarkets in Brazil, Spain and Thailand, including samples sold in Walmart stores in Brazil.

Key Findings

Amongst the 32 batches of samples, 51 total isolates were detected: E. coli was detected in 14 (43.75%) batches; Enterococcus in 27 (84.38%) batches; Listeria in four (12.5%) batches; and Salmonella in six (18.75%) batches.

Of the 32 batches tested, 30 (94%) were positive for at least one of the four bacteria.

• Twelve (37.5%) batches were positive for Enterococcus only;
• one (3%) batch was positive for Listeria only; and,
• one (3%) batch was positive for Salmonella only.

16 (50%) batches were positive for at least two bacteria:

• eight (25%) were positive for both E. coli and Enterococcus;
• two (6%) were positive for Enterococcus and Salmonella;
• one (3%) was positive for E. coli and Listeria;
• two (6%) were positive for E. coli, Enterococcus, and Salmonella;
• one (3%) was positive for E. coli, Enterococcus, and Listeria; and,
• one (3%) was positive for all four bacteria.

Antibiotic resistance results by species

Enterococcus:
Twenty-six (96.3%) of the Enterococcus isolates were resistant to at least one class of medically important antibiotics. The most common resistance was to lincosamides (lincomycin), streptogramins (quinupristin/dalfoprisitin), and/or tetracylines (tetracycline). All three classes are categorized as highly important.

Seventeen of those isolates (65.38%) were multi-drug resistant:

• Thirteen isolates were resistant to lincosamides, streptogramins, and tetracyclines.
• One isolate was resistant to lincosamides, streptogramins, and oxazolidinones.

Oxazolidinones are categorized as critically important.

• One isolate was resistant to lincosamides, streptogramins, tetracyclines, and macrolides.

Macrolides are among the classes categorized as HPCIAs.

• One isolate was resistant to lincosamides, quinolones, and nitrofuran derivates.

Quinolones are categorized as HPCIAs

• One isolate was resistant to lincosamides, streptogramins, tetracyclines, amphenicols, macrolides, and aminoglycosides.

Aminoglycosides are categorized as critically important; amphenicols are considered highly important.

Listeria:
All four (100%) Listeria isolates present in the sample batches were resistant to lincosamides, which are listed as highly important.

One isolate (25%) was resistant to six total classes of antibiotics: lipopeptides, penicillins, streptogramins, macrolides, lincosamides, and glycopeptides.

Macrolides and glycopeptides are listed as HPCIAs.
Penicillins and lipopeptides are categorized as critically important.
Lincosamides and streptogramins are highly important.

Salmonella:
Two of the Salmonella isolates (33.33%) were resistant to one antibiotic class, while the rest of the isolates were pan-susceptible.

The two resistant isolates were resistant to quinolones, which are categorized as HPCIAs.

E. coli:
Nine E. coli isolates (64.29%) were resistant to at least one class of medically important antibiotic.

• Four (28.57%) were resistant to tetracyclines alone, and one (7.14%) was resistant to tetracyclines and sulfanomides.

Tetracyclines and sulfanomides are considered highly important.

• Another isolate (7.14%) was resistant to both tetracyclines and aminoglycosides.

Aminoglycosides are considered critically important.

Three E. coli isolates were multi-drug resistant:

• One (7.14%) was resistant to tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, and penicillins.

Penicillins are categorized as critically important.

• One (7.14%) was resistant to tetracyclines, sulfanomides, aminogylcosides, and amphenicols.

Amphenicols are categorized as highly important.

• One (7.14%) was resistant to tetracyclines, sulfanomides, aminoglycosides, penicillins, macrolides, and cephalosporins (1st/2nd generation).

First and second generation cephalosporins are categorized as highly important.

For further information, please access the full report here.

SOURCE: World Animal Protection

His Dark Materials: How To Decode The Story's Linguistic Secrets

The mysterious world of His Dark Materials (BBC/Bad Wolf/HBO)

The BBC dramatisation of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy has brought to the screen a universe that the author describes as “like ours, but different in many ways”. One of the ways Pullman achieves this eerie blend of similarity and strangeness is through his use of language.

Countries are given archaic spellings: Brytain, Eireland, Corea and Groenland. Alternatively, they are identified by historical names such as Nippon for Japan (from the Japanese “land of the rising sun”) and Cathay for China (from the medieval Latin Cathaya).

The Pacific Ocean is renamed the Peaceable Ocean, a direct translation of the Latin name which it was given in the 16th century in recognition of the calm seas experienced by the explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

In English, scientific terms are typically formed using the suffix -logy; this goes back to the Greek logos (“word, discourse”). Instead, Pullman draws on the Old English practice of using cræft (“skill”) – as in Old English tungol-cræft (“star-skill” or “astronomy”) – hence atomcraft “particle physics”. Scientists are known as philosophers (literally “lovers of wisdom”), drawing on an earlier use of the word to refer to scholars working in any field of research.

Pullman also revives words that have fallen out of use in contemporary English, such as gyropter – from the Greek gyros (“circle”) and pteron (“wing”) – as an alternative to helicopter – from Greek helix (“spiral”).

The photogram – from the Greek photo (“relating to light”) and gram (“written”) – has been replaced by photograph in modern English, while aeronaut – from Greek aer (“air”) and nautes (“sailor”) – was an early term for a balloonist.

Alongside these, Pullman introduces his own coinages, such as the chthonic (or “underground”) railway station and the alethiometer, which Lyra uses to determine the truth (Greek aletheia).

Here be dæmons

A striking feature of Lyra’s world is the dæmon, an animal embodiment of a human’s soul, an idea partly inspired by paintings like Hans Holbein’s Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling and Leonardo da Vinci’s Lady with an Ermine.

Although the word is pronounced identically with English demon, its distinctive spelling is intended to evoke the older sense of an “attendant spirit” and thereby distinguish it from the Judaeo-Christian use to refer to an evil spirit or devil.

Leonardo da Vinci’s The Lady with an Ermine. (via Wikimedia Commons)

The names of the characters draw on a similar array of etymological sources. Some are named after identifiable historical individuals, such as Lee Scoresby, after the Arctic explorer William Scoresby. John Faa is the name of a historical Scottish figure who was formally acknowledged as King of the Gypsies during the 1500s. Gyptian is an archaic form of Gypsy, itself a reduced form of Egyptian – when Romany peoples first appeared in Britain in the 16th century, they were wrongly thought to be of Egyptian origin.

The surname of Ma Costa recalls English occupational surnames, such as Brewer and Baker: coster is an abbreviated form of costermonger. Originally a name for an apple-seller (from costard “apple”) it later came to be applied to any street trader. More ominously, Mrs Coulter has a name linked with ploughing: a coulter being the iron blade attached to the plough used to slice up the soil (from Latin culter “knife”).

Lyra’s origins

The unusual name of the heroine, Lyra Belacqua, sets her apart from these naming practices. Given the influence of the poet and artist William Blake, some have seen connections with Lyca, “The Little Girl Found” from Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Experience. Others, meanwhile, have proposed links to the Lyra constellation.

‘I owe something to Norse mythology, you know…’ (BBC/Bad Wolf/HBO)

Pullman himself has explained that he took the name from what he mistakenly understood to be the author of his favourite childhood hymn: Lyra Davidica. Although he later discovered that this was the Latin for “Harp of David”, he used it as the name for his heroine anyway. The appeal of the character has since led to its popularity as a girl’s name. Lyra’s surname, meanwhile, is that of a Florentine craftsman trapped in ante-purgatory in Dante’s Divine Comedy.

The most important literary source, however, is John Milton’s Paradise Lost, a poem which has held a lifelong fascination for Pullman and which provides both the metaphorical and literal “Dark Materials” for Pullman’s cosmology – the title is, in fact, a quotation from the poem, specifically Book Two, lines 910-19:

… into this wild abyss,
The womb of nature and perhaps her grave,
Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire,
But all these in their pregnant causes mixed
Confusedly, and which thus must ever fight,
Unless the almighty maker them ordain
His dark materials to create more worlds,
Into this wild abyss the wary fiend
Stood on the brink of hell and looked a while,
Pondering his voyage…

Norse mythology, meanwhile, is the source for the name of the armoured bear Iorek Byrnison, whose surname fittingly draws upon the Norse word brynja (“mail coat”). But not all names are so carefully chosen.

In a radio interview, Pullman, perhaps in jest, claimed that the name of the witch Serafina Pekkala was plucked from a Finnish telephone directory.

Well, we do live in the real world, after all.

About Today's Contributor:

Simon Horobin, Professor of English Language and Literature, University of Oxford

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. 

First Ever Climate-Resilient Nation: Dominica Amazes World With Formidable Eco-Conscious Economic Model and Inspiring Survival Stories After Hurricane Maria

Dominica aims to become the world's first climate-resilient nation, with critical support from the Citizenship by Investment Programme - (www.cbiu.gov.dm)

Affectionately called the 'Nature Isle of the Caribbean', the Commonwealth of Dominica leaves a lasting impression on those who visit it, conquering more and more travel journalists. Enthusiastic reviews keep pouring in, especially about the people on the beautiful island, who are known for their kindness, peacefulness and strong community sense.

Having resiliently survived several natural disasters in recent years, there is little now that shakes the 75,000 inhabitants of the island. The small but resolute country is winning over a wide spectrum of international stakeholders, ranging from nature lovers to economic experts.

A National Geographic article this week paid tribute to Dominicans' resilience and unity in the face of adversity, noting the government's formidable turnaround pace following mass devastation worth 226% of GDP in the wake of Hurricane Maria in 2017, at a time when the island was still recovering from 2015's Tropical Storm Erika. Despite the magnitude of the destruction and the psychological cicatrices, Dominica not only prevailed, but exceeded all expectations. Immediately after Maria, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit called on the international community to join Dominica's fight against climate change and support its goal to become "the world's first climate-resilient nation". The response was instantaneous.

Dominica after Hurricane Maria and two years later. The infrastructure was rehabilitated using Citizenship by Investment funds.

To date, Dominica attracts foreign direct investment from reputable individuals and families around the world through its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme. Investors are willing to contribute with significant amounts to Dominica's economy and receive its citizenship in return, along with a sense of pride for supporting the island's ambitious pledge to become fully climate resilient. The solidarity among investors grows with the completion of more and more luxury eco-resorts, currently counting Marriott, Hilton, Kempinski, Jungle Bay, Secret Bay and Sanctuary Rainforest, whose shares qualify for citizenship, provided the applicants first pass a rigorous due diligence process. The latter was marked with 10/10 points in this year's CBI Index, released by Professional Wealth Management (PWM) magazine, a publication from the Financial Times.

In August, multinational firm PricewaterhouseCoopers produced an extensive assessment of Dominica's CBI Programme for the past five years. The report concluded that "CBIP-funded public expenditure generated tangible impacts on almost every aspect of life in Dominica" and that "it was instrumental to the post-Maria recovery effort".

Earlier this year, leading accounting company Ernst & Young, British financial firm Smith & Williamson, and eminent Queen's Counsel Balraj Bhatia all pledged for Dominica's integrity, concluding that CBI could not be used as evidence of tax residence, therefore dispelling any myths where the two concepts were often confused. In fact, Dominica scored so well against various indicators valued by investors and was called a model for transparency and accountability of CBI funds, that it was officially declared as offering the world's best economic citizenship.

A few weeks ago, the Financial Times' PWM released a documentary unravelling just how much the CBI funding helped transform the island into a pristine ecotourism destination, ripe for sustainable investment opportunities. The 5-part series notes that Dominica is very selective about the CBI-approved hotels it allows to be built and prioritises quality over quantity, similar to whom it accepts as citizen through CBI. Dominica's strategy is by far not a race to the bottom, but quite the opposite – it is establishing a league of its own by building a sustainable ecotourism sector that educates visitors, citizens and businesses to respect the island's natural surroundings and way of living.

Importantly, the documentary notes that the Dominican diaspora, many of whom left after Maria and Erika, is slowly returning home. The CBI hotels are creating thousands of jobs in construction and hospitality, whereas those with an entrepreneurial spirit have the chance to set up their own businesses in ancillary services in travel and tourism. Dominica's thriving luxury ecotourism will further bring employment and business opportunities to farmers; fishermen; taxi drivers; tour operators; wellness specialists; artists specialising in handcrafting, culture and heritage; the Kalinago tribe; street food vendors; local artisans; restaurant and bar owners; Air B'n'B hosts; etc. Moreover, the National Employment Programme, also sponsored by CBI, tackles youth unemployment and was also involved in a post-Maria "Community Clean-Up and Beautification" action.

Meanwhile, the government has been putting aside millions from the CBI Programme to raise funds for the construction of a new international airport, "the only missing link" to catapult Dominica onto the global tourism scene, though still keeping in mind the quality-over-quantity principle. A new cruise village and port, also CBI-funded, will complement the island's regional connectivity and put Dominica firmly on the cruise map.

In addition, the new 7MW geothermal plant, partly funded by CBI, would provide the island with clean energy, lower electricity costs for the public and private sector, and ensure energy security in the long term.

SOURCE: CS Global Partners

Seventeenth Century French Artifact Arrives In Seattle For An Immersive Exhibition

By donning a HoloLens, guests are taken into a 15- to 20-minute experience where the Mont-Saint-Michel model comes to life.

Seattle's Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) and Microsoft Corp. on Thursday announced the opening of a new exhibit, "Mont-Saint-Michel: Digital Perspectives on the Model," which features a unique blend of 17th and 21st century technology.

Powered by Microsoft AI and mixed-reality technology as well as the recently released HoloLens 2 device, the interactive exhibition transports visitors into a holographic tour of the picturesque Mont-Saint-Michel, a medieval monastery perched atop a remote tidal island off the coast of Normandy, France.

The virtual experience is complemented by a physical relief map of the Mont-Saint-Michel, an intricate, three-dimensional model of the landmark. Entirely crafted by hand in the 1600s by the resident Benedictine monks, the 1/144-scale model precisely depicts the monument in such intricate detail that maps like this were considered valuable strategic tools to leaders like Napoleon and King Louis XIV, who considered the maps military secrets and hid them from public view.

"The Museum of History & Industry is honored to share this icon of world history, enhanced by leading-edge technology, to create a unique experience born of innovations both past and present," said Leonard Garfield, MOHAI's executive director. "More than 300 years separate the remarkable relief map and today, but the persistent human drive toward invention and creativity bridges those years, reflecting the unbroken quest for greater understanding and appreciation of the world around us."

The opening of the exhibit is timed with the 40th anniversary of the Mont-Saint-Michel being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the first time the relief map, as well as the mixed-reality experience, has been in North America.

"The relief maps were technological marvels of Louis XIV and Napoleon's time. It's exciting to see how we can blend old and new technology to unlock the hidden treasures of history, especially for younger generations," said Brad Smith, president of Microsoft. "This exhibit provides a unique model for preserving cultural heritage around the world, something Microsoft is committed to through our AI for Good program."

The Mont-Saint-Michel experience is an example of Microsoft's AI for Cultural Heritage program, which aims to leverage the power of AI to empower people and organizations dedicated to the preservation and enrichment of cultural heritage. 

Microsoft is working with nonprofits, universities and governments around the world to use AI to help preserve the languages we speak, the places we live and the artifacts we treasure. For example, earlier today Microsoft announced it is working with experts in New Zealand to include te reo Māori in its Microsoft Translator application, which will enable instant translations of text from more than 60 languages into te reo Māori and vice versa. This will be one of the first indigenous languages to use the latest machine learning translation technology to help make the language accessible to as many people as possible. 

• The AI for Cultural Heritage program is the fourth pillar of Microsoft's AI for Good portfolio, a five-year commitment to use AI to tackle some of society's biggest challenges.

The relief map is on loan to MOHAI from the Musée des Plans-Reliefs in Paris, which houses more than 100 historically significant and well-preserved relief maps. The relief map of Mont-Saint-Michel is considered the museum's crown jewel.

"One of the challenges in the history of art is the relationship with the public. To gain the attention, to capture the view or the interest of the public, is not always evident," said Emmanuel Starcky, director, Musée des Plans-Reliefs. "With the HoloLens technology, you have now the possibility to realize immersive experiences in art, where you still see the reality but have more information about it. It will be a unique experience for the American public to discover the relief map, its condition in the 17th century and its evolution through three centuries, as well as reflect on the purpose of those relief maps."

Drawing from hundreds of thousands of detailed images, Iconem, a leader in the digital preservation of cultural heritage sites, used Microsoft AI to create a photorealistic 3D digital model of the historic structure. Then, French mixed-reality specialists at HoloForge Interactive developed a unique Microsoft HoloLens experience to draw people into the artifact like never before.

• The "Mont-Saint-Michel: Digital Perspectives on the Model" exhibit, including both the original relief map and mixed-reality experience, will be on display at MOHAI Nov. 23, 2019 through Jan. 26, 2020.

SOURCE: Microsoft Corp.

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Peace 4 Animals & Wildlife SOS Launch "Refuse to Ride Elephants" Campaign to End the Cruel Practice of Riding Elephants in India

Peace 4 Animals and Wildlife SOS have joined forces to launch the campaign "Refuse to Ride Elephants: End The Abuse," in India, which is aimed to raise awareness to the abuse and enslavement of the exploitative "elephant riding" tourism industry.

Peace 4 Animals and Wildlife SOS have joined forces to launch the campaign "Refuse to Ride Elephants: End The Abuse" in India, which is aimed to raise awareness to the abuse and enslavement of the exploitative "elephant riding" tourism industry.

While a pervasive problem throughout Asia, this campaign focuses on the elephant riding industry in Jaipur, India, the epicenter of the abusive trade. Sadly, in Jaipur, more than 100 elephants are enslaved and exploited to carry tourists up to the Amer Fort.

Beginning this month, messages from "Refuse to Ride" are being distributed across billboards, auto rickshaws, and print advertising in travel and airline magazines, as well as on digital media throughout Jaipur, India, and the world.

"Riding elephants might appear to be innocent, but the industry is driven by money and greed, and can be very deceiving to tourists. What transpires before the elephant ride is animal cruelty and torture at its worst. Once stolen as babies from their families in the wild, they are beaten until they can't take it any more in order to break their spirit and force them into a life of enslavement to line people's pockets," said Katie Cleary, Founder of Peace 4 Animals and World Animal News. "Our goal is to raise awareness about the horrors that elephants are subjected to so that people around the world can make an educated and compassionate decision to help end this abhorrent industry by refusing to ride elephants."

Most tourists are unaware that the elephants exploited by tourism are put through a cruel practice called "phajaan" or "breaking of the spirit." The elephants, which now cower and obey commands to avoid further beatings, are forced into hard labor for up to 18 hours per day for 50 years or more until they finally collapse or die. The elephants are often starved and deprived of medical care for acute injuries.

"We have found that most tourists would be horrified if they knew the mistreatment that these beautiful elephants endure just to provide them with a few hours of entertainment," stated Nikki Sharp, Executive Director of Wildlife SOS. "Our hope is that this message will resonate with animal lovers around the globe and that people who love elephants won't ride them."

The Video:

Statistics about rampant elephant abuse in Jaipur, India, include:

• Tourists are often lured in and fooled by false claims that the elephants are well-treated.
• Elephants usually carry the load of three riders and a heavy saddle.
• Nearly one-third of Jaipur elephants are more than 50 years old.
• Nearly 20% of Jaipur elephants are blind, yet are still forced to walk on the busy roads.
• 100% of Jaipur elephants suffer from foot problems such as deformation, arthritis, and cracks.
• Most elephants have been illegally trafficked from the wild for elephant riding.
• Asian elephants are an endangered species and the elephant tourism industry is having a negative impact on protecting them in the wild.

Peace 4 Animals and Wildlife SOS have joined forces to launch the campaign "Refuse to Ride Elephants: End The Abuse," in India, which is aimed to raise awareness to the abuse and enslavement of the exploitative "elephant riding" tourism industry.

SOURCE: Peace 4 Animals

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• Stars Speak up for Working Animals Overseas in New Animated Film for Charity SPANA [Video Included]
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• Award Winning Charity Reveals Travel Associations Could Do More to Protect Wildlife

Losing Lena: Removing One Image To Make Millions Of Women Feel Welcome In Tech [Trailer Included]

Losing Lena: Removing One Image To Make Millions Of Women Feel Welcome In Tech (PRNewsfoto/FINCH)

There's a secret hidden in almost every website and every digital image you've ever seen. That secret is Lena, a Playboy centerfold. She is "a face more studied than the Mona Lisa's" and has been called Tech's Original Sin.

But how did a centerfold from the 70's become the most used test image in the world? And what impact has it had on women studying or entering tech industries?

Introducing Losing Lena, a new film created by FINCH and Clemenger BBDO Sydney for tech organizations, Creatable & Code Like a Girl, that asks us to help remove one image to make millions of women feel welcome in tech.

Lena's story began in 1972, when the Swedish model posed as the Miss November centerfold. The next year, her centerfold was chosen by some men at the University of Southern California (USC) as an ideal test image for the algorithms they were working on to turn physical photos into digital bits. This research laid the groundwork for what would later become the jpeg, an image standard that revolutionized our digital world.

Incredibly, 46 years on, Lena is still the most infamous test image in the world. She is symbolic of how women were left out, and pushed out, of the industry.

Losing Lena is a compelling documentary that questions the very tenets of the tech industry and leaves us pondering: Why wasn't Lena retired years ago? It explores a thread that binds together so many similar challenges and biases women in tech have experienced around the world.

With appearance in tens of thousands of journals, educational resources and books, Lena has been taught to young women and men in schools and universities for decades. We need to question, what place does Lena's photograph have in the modern world of tech industry and education where women are still fighting for an equal place alongside men?

Losing Lena ends with a call on individuals, tech companies, universities and image processing facilities around the world to stop using Lena, and to help drive equal representation of, engagement with, and respect for women and girls across all areas of tech.

Code Like a Girl founder and CEO, Ally Watson, said, "The role of Lena's image in tech's history is representative of so many of our industry's shortcomings. Tech is used by everyone – no matter your age, gender, ethnicity, or sexual identity. But when our tech is developed by a small subset of homogenous individuals, it's impossible for the end product to be without bias.

This documentary illustrates just how much effort is still needed to increase diversity in the teams building tech. It's a call to the leaders of our industry to commit to Losing Lena. Because with the removal of one image, we're better positioned to welcome millions of women to the table."

FINCH's Kyra Bartley, the film's director, added, "I was struck by how succinctly Lena's story demonstrates the impact of small, seemingly inconsequential actions on the generations who come after - and of course the spotlight that throws on our current attitudes to recognizing and addressing problematic practices within STEM industries.

Far from being a finger-pointing exercise though, the film encourages people to engage with these ideas as part of a broader conversation on diversity, and to consider the ways in which their own actions could contribute to moving us all forward."

Lena added, "I retired from modeling a long time ago. It's time I retired from tech, too. We can make a simple change today that creates a lasting change for tomorrow. Let's commit to losing me."

As we rush into artificial intelligence and machine learning, some of the biggest technological changes of our time, Losing Lena questions whether we're able to learn from the unconscious biases of the past? Or are we doomed to repeat them?

• Members of the tech industry, businesses, universities and organizations can commit to Losing Lena at www.losinglena.com, as well as find substitute images that can be used for image processing testing.

'Losing Lena' - The Trailer:

The film will be available to view at a series of events hosted by Code Like a Girl, or exclusively on Facebook Watch from November 26. The full list of screenings and ticket purchase details can be found at codelikeagirl.com/events.

SOURCE: FINCH

Wonder Media's Sexual Abuse Prevention Animated Series Produced for the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center Foundation, Adopted by the Boy Scouts of America and the Crimes Against Children Research Center

The "Protect Yourself Rules," and "Stop the Secrets that Hurt" animated series produced by the edtech animation studio, Wonder Media, for the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center Foundation, has attracted 100 million views worldwide and has been adopted by The Boy Scouts of America to become mandatory viewing for every Cub Scout globally.

The "Protect Yourself Rules," and "Stop the Secrets that Hurt" animated series produced by the edtech animation studio, Wonder Media, for the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center Foundation, not only has attracted 100 million views worldwide, but has been adopted by The Boy Scouts of America to become mandatory viewing for every Cub Scout globally.

Additionally, "Education for Justice," an initiative of the United Nations, has placed all of "The Protect Yourself Rules" animations in their video library. Educators in 15,000 cities have downloaded the printable extension lessons to share with their students.

The huge success of this animated series is based on research that shows children will mimic behaviors of an animated character before they absorb advice from an adult. Wonder Media was co-founded by Terry Thoren, the former CEO of Klasky Csupo, Inc, the studio that incubated The Simpsons and produced Rugrats and The Wild Thornberrys.

The Protect Yourself Rules was developed and scripted by child advocates, therapists, and national scholars under the guidance of Dr. Jon Conte, PhD.

The "Protect Yourself Rules," and "Stop the Secrets that Hurt" animated series produced by the edtech animation studio, Wonder Media, for the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center Foundation, has attracted 100 million views worldwide and has been adopted by The Boy Scouts of America to become mandatory viewing for every Cub Scout globally.

"ChildHelp reports that a child abuse claim is made every 10 seconds," said Terry Thoren, CEO and Co-Founder of Wonder Media, "This cannot go on. The medium of animation is a powerful tool that is obviously making a difference. We are dedicated to the well being of children and changing these statistics radically in our lifetime. We are not alone: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services created the Administration for Children & Families, and many private alliances such as the National Children's Alliance and organizations are deeply enrolled in creating awareness to bring these statistics down."

"When Terry Thoren approached the Foundation in 2015 he convinced us as to the powerful nature of animation," said John Thoresen, CEO of the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center Foundation. "We could not be more pleased with the success of our efforts that could not have occurred without the professional direction and animation of Wonder Media."

• Please click here to watch more "Protect Yourself Rules," and "Stop the Secrets that Hurt" videos

SOURCE: Wonder Media

Holiday Party Do's and Don'ts: Ten Ways to Stay off the "Naughty List"

Holiday Party Do's and Don'ts: Ten Ways to Stay off the "Naughty List" (PRNewsfoto/XpertHR)

The holiday season brings many reasons to celebrate, and some employers make merry by hosting an employee holiday party. This occasion presents an opportunity for employers to express appreciation for the hard work performed by staff all year.

Despite their laudable intentions, employers could face liability for the conduct of employees who behave inappropriately at a work festivity, according to XpertHR, an online compliance resource. A holiday party may create unintended negative consequences for employers in a variety of ways. The workplace holiday party can become a breeding ground for all kinds of regrettable and potentially unlawful behavior, from claims of religious discrimination to sexual harassment and drunk driving.

Employers should be especially careful when serving alcohol at a holiday party. Without safeguards in place, alcohol consumption can quickly transform a lively celebration into a minefield of inadvertent consequences. With lowered inhibitions, employees may make unwanted sexual advances, inappropriate gestures, or offensive remarks which can result in claims of harassment and discrimination. In addition, if an intoxicated employee drives away from the company party and injures someone, or causes property damage, an employer may be liable for negligence.

"Providing employees with the opportunity to socialize with co-workers in a relaxing environment is an excellent way to improve employee morale," explains Beth Zoller, Legal Editor, XpertHR. "However, serving alcohol to employees is a risk and a potential liability. Therefore, employers should ensure that employees are aware of the employer's code of conduct and policies regarding harassment and improper conduct. This is particularly true in the #MeToo era when the risk of liability is heightened."

Be aware that if alcohol is being served, attendees may be less likely to behave appropriately. Overindulgence in alcohol may also lead to negligence claims for property damage or physical and emotional injuries, whether the employee is on or off the clock. Management should make sure that all employees are completely sober before getting behind the wheel and avoid drinking and driving while intoxicated at all costs.

"Even though the event may be held away from the employer's premises and during what is generally considered to be nonworking hours, the employer should reiterate that the same policies are in effect and that employees should treat each other with respect and common courtesy," says Zoller.

Religious symbols, while seemingly innocuous, may appear culturally discriminatory and offend employees. Employers should avoid overly religious decorations and music as this may lead to religious discrimination claims. Further, attendance should not be mandatory and employers should be willing excuse an employee from attending a holiday party as a religious accommodation if it violates the employee's own religious practices.

10 ways an employer can minimize the risk of liability when it comes to holiday parties:

• Notify Employees that All Workplace Policies Remain in Effect
• Have Supervisors Set a Good Example
• Exercise Caution if Serving Alcohol
• Keep Controlled Substances Under Control
• Keep the Focus Off Religion
• Do Not Make Attendance Mandatory
• Plan the Menu and Entertainment For a Diverse Group
• Be Inclusive of All Employees
• Consider Whether to Invite Spouses or Significant Others
• Respond to Complaints in a Timely Fashion

To download a free report on how to host a compliant holiday party, visit XpertHR.

SOURCE: XpertHR

Walt Disney World Resort Brings the Adventure of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge to Air Travelers at Orlando International Airport

First Order Stormtroopers appear to be on a terminal train at Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Fla., Nov. 16, 2019. Disney installed these wraps on the terminal shuttle stations to bring the adventure of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to airport travelers. (Steven Diaz, photographer)

The Force is strong today throughout Orlando International Airport with the debut of new décor that helps travelers feel as if they've stepped into Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, the new 14-acre land inside Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

Disney is the first organization the airport has invited to create artistic renderings that wrap shuttle stations within the airline terminals. It's a creative first for Central Florida's major transport hub that welcomes nearly 50 million passengers each year.

A traveler at Orlando International Airpott in Orlando, Fla., passes by a scene from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios prior to boarding a shuttle to the Main Terminal, Nov. 16, 2019. Disney installed artistic wraps on the shuttle stations to immerse airport travelers in scenes from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. (Steven Diaz, photographer)

"We are constantly evolving the airport experience to make it more service oriented, passenger friendly and fun," said Raymond Anderson, senior director of concessions and properties for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. "This new installation provides a preview of what vacationers and business travelers alike can expect at Walt Disney World. It's also the most recent in a long line of collaborations between the airport and Disney over the decades."

"Our Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge art installation reflects how very special the Walt Disney World Resort and Orlando International Airport relationship is," said Claire Bilby, senior vice president of sales, services and events for Walt Disney World. "We've had a string of fruitful projects with the airport, like having two supersonic jets land simultaneously to celebrate the opening of Epcot in 1982, creating the groundbreaking Disney's Magical Express service in 2005, today's first-of-its kind art installation and so much more. The airport is Central Florida's 'welcome' to visitors from around the globe. We're honored to put our Disney magic to work in making that welcome exciting and memorable."

A traveler at Orlando International Airpott in Orlando, Fla., passes by a scene from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios prior to boarding a shuttle to the Main Terminal, Nov. 16, 2019. Disney installed these artistic wraps on the shuttle stations to immerse airport travelers in scenes from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. (Steven Diaz, photographer)

As travelers arrive in Orlando and prepare to board shuttles for the airport's Main Terminal, they will see life-size depictions of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge that look as if visitors could step right into the new land.

A child prepares to board a shuttle to the Main Terminal at Orlando International Airport, Nov. 16, 2019, in Orlando Fla. Disney installed artistic renderings on the terminal shuttle stations to bring the adventure of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to airport travelers. (Steven Diaz, photographer)

One scene creates a dimensional landscape that feels as if visitors are standing inside Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, where travelers can see the iconic Millennium Falcon and other landmarks from the new land. In another scene, it appears as if First Order Stormtroopers are waiting to step off the shuttle as the train arrives in the station.

• Combined, these artistic representations of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge stretch longer than eight full-size buses. They will remain in place into 2020.

A guest at Orlando International Airport stops to take a selfie with droids from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge outside the airport’s Magic of Disney store in the Main Terminal, Nov. 16, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. The droids were brought to the airport to help travelers feel some of the fun and excitement of the new land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. (Steven Diaz, photographer)

More new fun and excitement from a galaxy far, far away can be had elsewhere inside Orlando International Airport. Also debuting today at the Magic of Disney store in the Main Terminal West Hall – available to all airport guests, with or without boarding passes – is a new photo location featuring droids from the Star Wars galaxy. When the airport's second Magic of Disney store, in the Main Terminal East Hall, reopens Nov. 22, 2019, it will feature a 36-foot-long video screen on an exterior wall showing scenes from Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. This will be another ideal photo spot, giving visitors an enticing glimpse of the new land.

A First Order Stormtrooper appears to stand outside the shuttle station at Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Fla., Nov. 16, 2019, in an artistic rendering installed by Disney at the airport to bring the excitement of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to airport travelers. (Steven Diaz, photographer)

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge invites guests to live their own Star Wars adventures at Disney's Hollywood Studios. They can take control of the Millennium Falcon, build a droid or a lightsaber, sample galactic food and drinks and discover much more. 

A groundbreaking new attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, opens Dec. 5, 2019, inside the land, bringing guests into a climactic battle between the Resistance and the First Order in an experience of cinematic scale.

SOURCE: Walt Disney World Resort