The pandemic has hurt many industries throughout the United States. For local news media, the COVID-19 public health emergency was nearly catastrophic. Already threatened with economic demise because

The pandemic has hurt many industries throughout the United States. For local news media, the COVID-19 public health emergency was nearly catastrophic. Already threatened with economic demise because of the rise of digital advertising and how consumers use free social media tools to consume news, the pandemic put further financial stresses on local news outlets by impacting advertising from shuttered restaurants, bars and small businesses. All of this came at a time, of course, when local news—with information on the immediate impact of the public health emergency, among other topics—was more important than ever. However, despite the strong challenges for local news outlets, the future may not be so bleak for the industry. Why? A growing number of nonprofit news media ventures are seeking to fill the void for quality local news efforts. Across the country, citizens are increasingly getting local news from new digital ventures focused on a specific region or city. Perhaps most important, philanthropists and major foundations are investing in these new efforts, increasing the chance for sustainability and impact and creating a new future for local news, even at this challenging time. This program will introduce viewers to two nonprofit efforts—MLK50 (covering the intersection of poverty, power and policy in Memphis), and Cityside (with the Bay Area outlets Berkeleyside and The Oaklandside)—as well as to the co-founder of a new venture philanthropy nonprofit, the American Journalism Project, created to make local sites more financially sustainable. Please join us for an important conversation on the future of local news and why the future may be in a new generation of nonprofit news outlets. SPEAKERS Lance Knobel CEO, CItyside Wendi C. Thomas Editor and Publisher, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism John Thornton Founder Texas Tribune; Co-Founder American Journalism Project Moderator TBA💯SUBSCRIBE for more VIDEOS: https://www.youtube.com/user/commonwealthclub 📆 UPCOMING EVENTS: https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events 🎉 BECOME a MEMBER: https://www.commonwealthclub.org/membership 💰 DONATE NOW: https://support.commonwealthclub.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=298 📺➕📻 Watch & Listen https://www.commonwealthclub.org/watch-listen CWC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecommonwealthclub/ CWC Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cwclub/ CWC Twitter https://twitter.com/cwclub The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum 📣, bringing together its 20,000 members for more than 400 annual events on topics ranging across politics, culture, society and the economy. Founded in 1903 in San Francisco California 🌉, The Commonwealth Club has played host to a diverse and distinctive array of speakers, from Teddy Roosevelt in 1911 to Hillary Clinton in 2010. Along the way, Martin Luther King, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton have all given landmark speeches at the Club.

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The Regional Forum for Europe “Accessible Europe: ICT 4 ALL” is scheduled to take place in Madrid, Spain on 13-14 December 2023. The Forum is organized by the International Telecommunication

The Regional Forum for Europe “Accessible Europe: ICT 4 ALL” is scheduled to take place in Madrid, Spain on 13-14 December 2023. The Forum is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the European Commission (EC) and is co-organized by the AccessibleEU Resource Centre. It will be hosted by Fundación ONCE, supported by the Government of Spain and conducted as part of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Each year, Accessible Europe serves as a valuable knowledge and networking platform to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is celebrated annually on December 3rd. The Forum is organized in response to the ITU Regional Initiative for Europe “EUR 3: Digital inclusion and skills development” and its objectives, defined and adopted by member states during the 2022 World Telecommunication Development Conference, jointly with the Resolution WTDC 58 (Rev. Kigali, 2022) “Telecommunication/information and communication technology accessibility for persons with disabilities and persons with specific needs”. The 2023 edition of the Forum, spanning across two days, will serve as a convergence point, bringing together policymakers, members of civil society, academia representatives and key players from industry. The first day will focus on strengthening knowledge on the ICT accessibility topic as a fundamental requirement to build an inclusive digital society, economy and environment. The day will further delve into the European regulatory landscape, and UN approaches to digital accessibility. It will conclude with a pitching session featuring innovative solutions. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a public vote to recognize the most impactful solutions presented. The second day will begin with a session on the current state and good practices in web accessibility, followed by sessions on universal design, Artificial Intelligence (AI), emerging technologies, and the Metaverse. The forum will provide an unparalleled opportunity for all involved stakeholders to strengthen knowledge, identify partnership opportunities, join forces, share good practices, and establish a strong foundation for future cooperation in advancing digital accessibility. The exchange of ideas and insights at the Forum will be an inspiring step towards an inclusive digital future for ALL, aligning with global commitments and regional priorities. Accessible Europe 2023 is an inclusive platform that welcomes a diverse range of participants, including policymakers, academia representatives, members of civil society, and the general public to engage in meaningful discussions about digital inclusion and accessibility.​ The registration link is available for all interested parties to join in this conversation. Please be aware that the registration deadline for on-site participation is December 10. ​​

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The Regional Forum for Europe “Accessible Europe: ICT 4 ALL” is scheduled to take place in Madrid, Spain on 13-14 December 2023. The Forum is organized by the International Telecommunication

The Regional Forum for Europe “Accessible Europe: ICT 4 ALL” is scheduled to take place in Madrid, Spain on 13-14 December 2023. The Forum is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the European Commission (EC) and is co-organized by the AccessibleEU Resource Centre. It will be hosted by Fundación ONCE, supported by the Government of Spain and conducted as part of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Each year, Accessible Europe serves as a valuable knowledge and networking platform to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is celebrated annually on December 3rd. The Forum is organized in response to the ITU Regional Initiative for Europe “EUR 3: Digital inclusion and skills development” and its objectives, defined and adopted by member states during the 2022 World Telecommunication Development Conference, jointly with the Resolution WTDC 58 (Rev. Kigali, 2022) “Telecommunication/information and communication technology accessibility for persons with disabilities and persons with specific needs”. The 2023 edition of the Forum, spanning across two days, will serve as a convergence point, bringing together policymakers, members of civil society, academia representatives and key players from industry. The first day will focus on strengthening knowledge on the ICT accessibility topic as a fundamental requirement to build an inclusive digital society, economy and environment. The day will further delve into the European regulatory landscape, and UN approaches to digital accessibility. It will conclude with a pitching session featuring innovative solutions. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a public vote to recognize the most impactful solutions presented. The second day will begin with a session on the current state and good practices in web accessibility, followed by sessions on universal design, Artificial Intelligence (AI), emerging technologies, and the Metaverse. The forum will provide an unparalleled opportunity for all involved stakeholders to strengthen knowledge, identify partnership opportunities, join forces, share good practices, and establish a strong foundation for future cooperation in advancing digital accessibility. The exchange of ideas and insights at the Forum will be an inspiring step towards an inclusive digital future for ALL, aligning with global commitments and regional priorities. Accessible Europe 2023 is an inclusive platform that welcomes a diverse range of participants, including policymakers, academia representatives, members of civil society, and the general public to engage in meaningful discussions about digital inclusion and accessibility.​ The registration link is available for all interested parties to join in this conversation. Please be aware that the registration deadline for on-site participation is December 10. ​

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This interview is an episode from ‪@The-Well our publication about ideas that inspire a life well-lived, created with the @JohnTempletonFoundation. Subscribe to The Well on YouTube ►

This interview is an episode from ‪@The-Well our publication about ideas that inspire a life well-lived, created with the @JohnTempletonFoundation. Subscribe to The Well on YouTube ► https://bit.ly/thewell-youtube Watch Mary Helen’s next interview ► The powers of transcendent thinking, explained by a neuroscientist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxoVhcvun7g Can the power of community transform our educational systems for the better? This neuroscientist says absolutely. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang is a neuroscientist and USC professor, and she has spent her career studying education and the ways we can enhance it. Her findings claim that diversity has a huge impact on brain growth and even life experience. She explains that similarly to how fabric is composed of thousands of intricately woven threads, our schools need the active coordination of many people and skills, making them stronger together. Immordino-Yang stresses the importance of this strong social fabric, explaining that spending time around those who differ from us can help us become adaptable and truly deepen our understanding of the world around us. This idea calls for a new approach to education, where teachers and students work together to create systems of learning that help them grow alongside one another, instead of on confined and isolated paths. Read the full video transcript: https://bigthink.com/the-well/human-development-principles-could-unleash-our-collective-potential ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Mary Helen Immordino-Yang: Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, EdD, is an expert on the psychological and neurobiological foundations of social emotion, self-awareness, and culture, and how they impact learning, development, and education. She is a Professor of Education at the USC Rossier School of Education, a Professor of Psychology at the Brain and Creativity Institute, a faculty member in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at the University of Southern California, and the Director of the USC Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning, and Education (CANDLE). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About The Well Do we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? What is love? Is evolution directional? There are no simple answers to life’s biggest questions, and that’s why they’re the questions occupying the world’s brightest minds. Together, let's learn from them. Subscribe to the weekly newsletter ► https://bit.ly/thewellemailsignup ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Join The Well on your favorite platforms: ► Facebook: https://bit.ly/thewellFB ► Instagram: https://bit.ly/thewellIG

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Dr.Prasad Rao advocates for a safe and clean transport system. He feels that the modern transport system is a big threat for environment as carbon emissions from vehicles are spoiling the atmosphere

Dr.Prasad Rao advocates for a safe and clean transport system. He feels that the modern transport system is a big threat for environment as carbon emissions from vehicles are spoiling the atmosphere beyond imagination. He appeals all the countries to come together to work for reduction of carbon emissions binding themselves to the Paris Agreement. He emphasizes that countries need big hearts to move parallel with the Paris Agreement. He announced establishment of Eco-Clubs in his Institutions so that the young minds will carry the movement forward with greater dedication for future generations. Dr.Prasad Rao Enuganti is the Founder and Chairman of Paramita Group of Institutions, I.R.I.S World School(I.C.S.E) and Explorica(Cambridge Affiliation). He has been the Academic Advisor for Telangana Recognized Schools Management Association(T.R.S.M.A.) having membership of around four thousand schools, since 2015 and has been Advisor for National Independent Schools Alliance(N.I.S.A.) since 2019. More than Five Thousand students are accessible to world class education under his mentorship. Established Paramita High School in 1996 with 250 students. His strong commitment and dedicated efforts helped The Paramita Group to expand beyond expectations in 25 years. He strongly believes that economic conditions, socio-cultural aspects may affect cognitive development of Children marginally whereas right exposure to holistic education coupled with right mentoring and scaffolding contributes to nurturing of talent in diverse disciplines. Emphasizes the need for disruption and is prepared grounds for hooking to the changes in Education happening locally and globally. Conducted Professional Development Programmes for Teachers and Principals for two decades across various institutions in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh and in few other states in the country. Had been the part of delegation to study Finland Education in 2009 and been to study New Zealand Education in 2018. He drives the institutions with inherent value system and is always on a mission mode to offer the child its right place in learning through assessment, experimentation, understanding and discovery. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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Maritime transportation emits approximately a billion tonnes of CO2 annually. Under new regulations issued by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) the maritime industry has to cut emissions

Maritime transportation emits approximately a billion tonnes of CO2 annually. Under new regulations issued by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) the maritime industry has to cut emissions by 50% by 2050. The maritime industry is slow to innovate. What makes the problem difficult is that water is a dense fluid, so new electric boats have very limited range and commercial adoption is slow. This talk presents an exciting new class of boat that combines transformative America’s Cup hydrofoiling technology, with an optimised Formula One electric drivetrain, coupled with aerospace autonomous flight control systems. A hydrofoil is simply an underwater wing that allows us to fly the boat on the foils and lift the boat’s hull out of the water, thereby dramatically reducing drag by over 90% and therefore extending the range by over an order of magnitude. This new class of exciting fast foiling boat will revolutionise the maritime industry and bring with it additional benefits of improved ride comfort, quiet operation and zero wake (no river bank erosion, or wash). Let’s find out how flying boats can help save our planet. Katrina is an aeronautical engineer with 30 years of engineering experience in a broad range of sectors. Across offshore, telecommunications, aerospace and marine, the consistent theme is a passion for numerical methods and analysis. Her PhD research was in Computational Fluid Dynamics and she has an MSc in Finite Element Analysis. Katrina is a Chartered Engineer, and a two-time winner of the Amelia Earhart Fellowship from Zonta International. Katrina works for Artemis Technologies whose mission is to lead the decarbonisation of the maritime sector, primarily utilising their transformative Artemis eFoilerTM system. She is the Technical Coordinator for the 13-strong Belfast Maritime Consortium’s UKRI funded Strength in Places Programme, led by Artemis Technologies, that is focused on developing zero emissions passenger ferries. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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Read the full details here: https://www.corporateleadersgroup.com/news/more-than-100-business-finance-leaders-urge-new-PM-strengthen-economy-prioritising-response-climate-nature-crises More than 100

Read the full details here: https://www.corporateleadersgroup.com/news/more-than-100-business-finance-leaders-urge-new-PM-strengthen-economy-prioritising-response-climate-nature-crises More than 100 business and finance leaders urge new Prime Minister to strengthen economy by prioritising response to climate and nature crises. UK CEOs of businesses and finance institutions, including Amazon, the Co-op, Signify, Zurich Insurance, Coca-Cola, Bupa, IKEA, Siemens, BNP Paribas, Sky and Aviva, are calling on Prime Minister Liz Truss to build economic resilience through delivery of net zero emissions and restoring nature. With inflation predicted to top 20 per cent if gas prices continue to rise, and the Bank of England warning the UK is heading towards recession, a letter to the new Prime Minister from 116 businesses and finance institutions with more than 425,000 employees and a market capitalisation in excess of £1.8trillion underlines the urgent need for short and long term government delivery plans for net zero and nature restoration. The letter, which affirms business and finance sector commitment to support the UK’s climate and nature targets, comes nearly two weeks after the new Prime Minister announced plans to tackle the energy crisis which included a new round of oil and gas licences and lifting the moratorium on fracking. The letter text maps out what is needed to improve energy security, shield the UK from volatile fossil fuels prices and enable the country to deliver its climate promises. The letter states: “As skyrocketing energy bills inflict considerable costs on businesses and push vulnerable households into poverty, we would like to see you prioritise policies that will address this crisis, as part of a robust net zero strategy. […] Acting now to accelerate the energy transition, could both support UK households with the cost of living and deliver huge economic benefits, unlocking opportunities for the UK to be a leader in clean growth. Industry experts predict this action could reduce yearly household energy bills in the UK by 7 per cent by 2025, rising to a 50 per cent reduction by 2035. “At the same time, restoring nature through a comprehensive environmental improvement plan, a strong national adaptation plan, and setting ambitious long-term targets will help build the UK’s resilience and support the economy by reducing threats to food security and the economic and social damage of climate impacts.” The signatories, that also include CEOs from EDF, Triodos Bank, Cory Group, E.ON, Anglian Water, British Land, Amey, Salesforce, Arup and Nestle, and in addition, 12 business groups, including the Advertising Association, Lawyers for Net Zero, The B Team, Sustainable Energy Association, UK Green Building Council, RenewableUK, Aldersgate Group and We Mean Business Coalition, were coordinated by the UK Business Group Alliance for Net Zero (BGA) led by the UK Corporate Leaders Group (CLG UK), convened by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. Eliot Whittington, Director of CLG UK said: “The UK is facing severe economic headwinds. The best and only sensible way of facing up to them has to include investing in British renewable energy and helping homes and businesses be more energy efficient. Maintaining and strengthening our focus on net zero and nature protection can help us move beyond the rising costs of fossil fuels and deliver a better economy with more energy and food security, more jobs and greater social equality. What’s more, the Conservative Party has rightly enshrined net zero into law and in so doing reaffirmed UK leadership on climate action, further demonstrated at last year’s COP26 summit. UK business and finance leaders urgently want to see more leadership from government on this agenda, with clear, well-resourced and defined plans to get us on track for a more stable climate and stronger economy.” Last month a survey by the Confederation of British Businesses (CBI) found the energy crisis was putting net zero plans at risk as companies reined in green investment in order to manage soaring energy costs. The survey found three in 10 businesses were considering pausing or halting low carbon transition investment unless the new UK government acts to cut energy costs. Earlier this month a large group of NGOs wrote to the new Prime Minister calling for the creation of a secure, fair and green future and for the UK to lead on the world stage, while a group of MPs and peers also wrote to Liz Truss to urge her to hold to the UK’s net zero target. Today a new YouGov poll indicates strong business appetite for net zero regulation with 80% of CEOs surveyed in the UK believing that government policies will be required to bring about the changes required for the energy transition.

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Stop me if you've heard this one: Alice Algae and Freddy Fungi took a LICHEN to each other. Lichens are unique organisms. Traditional definitions describe them as a close relationship of fungi

Stop me if you've heard this one: Alice Algae and Freddy Fungi took a LICHEN to each other. Lichens are unique organisms. Traditional definitions describe them as a close relationship of fungi (the mycobiont) living together with algae (the photobiont). The fungi protects the algae, and the algae uses photosynthesis to make food. Recent research, however, highlights that this symbiosis is far more complex than we thought. It turns out that there may be even more organisms involved, forming a micro-ecosystem in every lichen. Even though lichens are biologically fascinating and ecologically important, they are regularly overlooked. People often associate lichens with lush fairy-tale forests of the Pacific Northwest, where these organisms are large, conspicuous and abundant. But even in hostile desert habitats of the Southwest, lichens are an extremely diverse and very common element of the landscape. In fact, the Greater Sonoran Desert Region supports more than a third of all lichen species found on the North American continent. In this Speaker Series talk by lichen expert Dr. Frank Bungartz, learn all about what lichens are, what they look like and where they can be found, as well as the fundamental role they play in ecosystems. Dr. Bungartz will share his research on lichen diversity and function in the Sonoran regions, Galapagos, and Ecuador. Dr. Frank Bungartz is the Collections Manager of Lichens and Digital Data at the Lichen Herbarium of the Arizona State University Natural History Collections. His research focuses on biodiversity, evolution, ecology and conservation of lichenized fungi in the Sonoran Desert Region, Central America, and the Galapagos. He has been a contributor and editor to the Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region and has published numerous treatments of lichens from the Galapagos, where he continues to work on a comprehensive inventory of the lichen biota of this archipelago. Dr. Bungartz always had a strong interest in how lichens affect rock surfaces that they grow on. With his graduate student Guillermo Ortiz, he has recently been using photogrammetry to create 3D models of lichen communities from high-resolution macro photos to better understand the dynamics of biodeterioration and biomineralization caused by these organisms.

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Aimee Delach, our Senior Policy Analyst, Climate Adaptation breaks down how climate change is already affecting humans, biodiveristy, and natural communities. You can learn more by visiting:

Aimee Delach, our Senior Policy Analyst, Climate Adaptation breaks down how climate change is already affecting humans, biodiveristy, and natural communities. You can learn more by visiting: dfnd.us/climatechange Video Transcript: Why should you care about climate change? Because climate change is already having devastating effects on both human and natural communities. Climate change is among the greatest threats to biodiversity on our planet. Triggered by our warming climate, extreme weather events – like intense heat waves, strong storms and prolonged droughts – are all on the rise, taking human and wildlife lives each year, and costing billions of dollars in damage. Habitats around the world are beginning to shift, shrink, melt and even disappear entirely due to climate change. Oceans are changing rapidly with higher temperatures and more acidic conditions affecting migration patterns, breeding, food sources and shelter for marine species. Rapid warming and melting ice in the Arctic could be devastating for the animals that depend on it - such as polar bear, walrus, seals, whales, and seabirds. Species like moose, pika and desert tortoise are also facing increased extreme heat and other threats to their survival. And the human costs are huge as well. In 2020 alone, the U.S. suffered 22 weather and climate disasters that cost over $1 billion each. We must act quickly to expand renewable energy and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to keep the planet from warming any more. But since the effects of climate change are already here now and already impacting wildlife and habitat we must also use the best available science to understand and reduce the specific threats that wildlife and ecosystems are expected to face. Defenders is: 1. Developing and implementing adaptive conservation and management plans 2. We're advocating on Capitol Hill for increased funding for programs combating climate change 3. And we're advising that renewable energy projects are responsibly sited and operated so that they don't threaten wildlife. You can learn more by clicking the link: dfnd.us/climatechange

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Labor unions are getting on board with carbon pricing because it will incentivize business innovation and job creation throughout the economy. Join us to learn more about labor union support for this

Labor unions are getting on board with carbon pricing because it will incentivize business innovation and job creation throughout the economy. Join us to learn more about labor union support for this policy, and how you can get started building relationships with labor unions. John Braxton, Co-President Emeritus AFT Local 2026, Community College of Phila. John worked for 20 years in the reform movement within the Teamsters union. He also began teaching at Community College of Philadelphia, where he was co-president of the union there. He was a founder of US Labor Against the War and has helped to build the Labor Network for Sustainability. He is one of the originators of the resolutions that the American Federation of Teachers has passed endorsing strong action on climate change, including support for the carbon fee and dividend approach. Peter Knowlton, Past President UE, Radio & Machine Workers of America Peter was a member of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) for 35 years until his retirement in 2019. He first became active in the labor movement in the late 1970’s as a union cab driver, rank and file activist, and organizer in Minneapolis, MN. He went on to become a Field Organizer, President of the Northeast Region, and eventually elected UE General President. Keon Liberato is a railroad track maintainer and the President & Principal Officer of BMWED-IBT Local 3012 Arlene Grant, an artist, humanitarian, coach, and speaker, is an active member of CCL, Braver Angels and organizations working to improve environmental, food, racial and social justice using art, communication and education. Arlene is the Creative Director and Founder of ArlieSpeaks Media, LLC and Cleanse Your Cache, which empowers advocacy resilience and helps people reclaim their lives. She's worked as arbitrator, educator, facilitator, mediator, and trainer in labor and employment disputes.

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