Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Sprinkler systems

Many existing properties across the UK could be better prepared for the risk of fire if sprinkler systems were fitted. However, with retrofit installations, pipework is surface-mounted onto ceilings and walls meaning systems can look unsightly, as well as being left open to damage. Gavin Byram, National Sales Manager at Pendock, explains more about the challenges, and how pre-formed sprinkler pipe boxing can be easily fitted by installers to ensure systems are discreet, aesthetically pleasing and well protected.

Sprinkler systems widely recognised as the single most effective method for fighting the spread of fires in their early stages can help to protect life, property and livelihoods. The National Fire Chiefs Council has found that people are up to four times safer and 50% likely to be harmed or injured in instances where sprinklers are installed. While there is currently no requirement to retrofit sprinkler systems in existing buildings in England (though this may change with the upcoming Fire Safety Bill), the list of organisations backing, recommending or campaigning for retrofit installations is long.

There have been calls for sprinkler systems to be fitted in many types of existing public sector and commercial buildings. The most well-publicised are, understandably, social housing tower blocks, following the Grenfell Tower disaster. A fire safety expert and others have said sprinklers would have stopped the fatal fire from spreading, and an independent review from the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee recommended that, where structurally feasible, sprinklers should be retrofitted to existing high-rise residential buildings to provide an extra layer of safety for residents. It also suggested that government should make funding available to fit sprinklers into council and housing association owned residential buildings above 18 metres.

Increased focus has been placed on schools too. Home Office statistics for England show the Fire and Rescue Services attended 524 fires in education premises in 2019/2020, and research from insurer Zurich Municipal suggests that schools in England are nearly twice as likely to suffer from a fire as other types of non-residential buildings. The company has also recently launched a parliamentary petition to urge MPs to change the law on sprinklers in schools. The National Fire Chiefs Council has recently reiterated its call for all schools to have sprinklers fitted, following the loss of two schools in Derbyshire (which did not have sprinklers) in early October 2020.

The installation of sprinkler systems has been recommended for many other types of public sector buildings, including care homes and hospitals, as well as commercial buildings. As a consequence, many property owners have therefore invested in retrofit sprinkler systems. In particular, we have seen local authorities and housing associations committing to fitting sprinklers in their high-rise residential properties, despite a lack of funding from government. Birmingham City Council, for example, is installing them throughout its 213 high-rise residential properties (at a cost of 31 million).

Exposed sprinkler pipework

Retrofit sprinkler installations can, however, be more challenging than new build projects, with the equipment needing to be fitted around existing structures, layouts and materials. With a retrofit installation, lengths of sprinkler system pipework are mounted onto ceilings and walls, rather than being concealed as would be the case in a new build property. As sprinkler pipework is usually made from chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), and is orange, it can be really unsightly.

Its essential for building occupants to feel comfortable with sprinkler system installations, but plans are not always met with immediate acceptance. Anecdotal evidence suggests that social housing landlords in particular can face resistance, especially in terms of aesthetics. While many tenants welcome sprinklers, some have refused to have them fitted in their homes because they believe the unattractive pipework would have a detrimental impact.

Aesthetics are also important in education environments, with it being suggested that interior design can influence learning. As for hotels, B&Bs and guest houses, the propertys interior tends to be an important factor for guests in terms of their experience, and whether they choose to return.

Sprinkler system pipework is therefore often concealed, or boxed in, so the visual impact is minimised. This goes a long way towards ensuring the sprinkler system is discreet and unobtrusive and complements the existing dcor. Concealing pipework also protects the system; accidental, or even deliberate, activation of sprinkler heads can have major consequences, including huge refurbishment costs.

Fitting sprinkler systems within live occupied sites is another challenge. In schools and hotels, installations can be carried out over holidays or during quiet periods, respectively, but social housing tower blocks will usually be constantly occupied. This makes it essential to carry out sprinkler system installations as quickly and efficiently as possible, with minimal disruption and inconvenience to tenants. In addition, the less labour-intensive the installation is, the lower the cost will be an important consideration for social housing landlords with limited budgets.

Pipework boxing is one area where savings can be made, by making a switch to pre-formed solutions. Some sprinkler system companies employ carpenters or joiners to fabricate boxing in solutions on site. This involves constructing a wooden frame around the pipework and then fixing lengths of wood or MDF to it. The materials will need to be cut to size and shape and the boxing will need to be primed and painted. This approach will usually involve a lot of measuring and adjustment; flats in tower blocks typically have different internal layouts or architypes, and sprinkler system designs also vary from one company to the next. On-site fabrication can therefore be time-consuming which can prove costly and can delay completion.

Example of pre-formed pipework boxing for a sprinkler system

The end result especially in terms of aesthetics and consistency of fit and finish are not always satisfactory (or acceptable) either. Subcontractors often find themselves under pressure to complete jobs within a fixed (and usually tight) budget and timescale, which can affect the level of quality and workmanship that can realistically be achieved.

An alternative is pre-formed, pre-finished sprinkler pipe boxing, which provides a neat, uniform finish while reducing the time and costs involved and minimising tenant disruption. It effectively covers lengths of sprinkler pipework running along ceilings and walls, with a small decorative cover plate concealing the sprinkler heads.

Its simple to fit and doesnt require painting, making it a cost-effective, quick solution. In fact, we estimate it takes half the time to fit pre-formed pipe boxing compared to on-site fabrication. In our experience, a full sprinkler system installation in a flat (including the pre-formed pipe boxing) should be completed within three days.

While boxing in was traditionally the realm of carpenters or joiners (being regarded as a specialist skill), todays pre-formed solutions mean a sprinkler system installer can carry out this work, even if carpentry and decorating skills dont come naturally. Installers can maximise their productivity and profitability on each job, which is particularly important in todays economic climate. Some installation companies report theyve been able to easily upskill their workforce, with the majority of installers being able to fit pre-formed boxing.

Sprinkler systems protect people and property, and retrofit installations have therefore been recommended for many types of existing buildings. The aesthetic impact of retrofit systems will however need to be mitigated, with exposed pipework being unsightly. Pre-formed pipe boxing is a simple, neat, cost-effective, quick solution that minimises upheaval and maximises profitability.

Pendock offers a range of sprinkler system pipe boxing and accessories, as well as assistance with drawing take offs and site visits.

Revisit this unmissable webinar to hear from ASFP's Niall Rowan, FPA's Jonathan O'Neill, FSF's Dennis Davies and FIA's Ian Moore on how COVID-19 has affected the fire safety sector. It's essential listening for the current moment.

Improving the aesthetics and appeal of retrofitted sprinkler systems with pipework boxingGavin Byram from Pendock explains how pre-formed pipework boxing can improve the aesthetics and ease of installation of retrofitted sprinkler systems.

IFSEC Global

ACM cladding remediation works begun or completed on 77% of identified high-rise buildings

October legislation update from SHP includes latest from Fire Safety and Building Safety bills

Modern methods of construction and fire performance time for a rethink?

See more here:
Improving the aesthetics and appeal of retrofitted sprinkler systems with pipework boxing - IFSEC Global

From sunny days and warm temperatures to anticipated overnight freezing ahead, fall weather will arrive over the next few days around the Carson City region, prompting a freeze watch by the National Weather Service and a warning for gardeners to bring in the tomato plants and other fall vegetables that haven't been harvested.

Multiple periods of widespread sub-freezing temperatures are likely the end of this week through early next week. While sub-freezing temperatures are expected Thursday night, a much colder air mass will plunge lows into the low-mid 20s in the warmest of valleys, with single digits and teens for colder valleys Sunday and Monday nights.

This is going to be quite the shock to the system after the warmth as of late, forecasters say, advising people to take the necessary precautions by protecting sensitive vegetation, prepping irrigation systems, protecting vulnerable populations, and be sure not to forget about pets.

The Freeze Watch is in effect for Thursday night through Friday morning and affects Carson City, Douglas, Lyon, Washoe and Storey counties and much of northern and western Nevada. Forecasters say to expect frost and freeze conditions that could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.

The weather service warns this is the first of a series of upcoming anticipated freezes. After a warmer night Friday night, sub-freezing temperatures will return for Saturday through Tuesday nights. Lows may easily drop into the teens for valleys outside of urban centers Sunday and Monday nights.

To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes, they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing.

Greenhouse Garden Center and Gift Shop in Carson City suggests homeowners take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.

Watering can still happen twice a week for trees, shrubs and perennials. If you have herbs, they should be OK but vegetables should be harvested now. Sprinkler systems should be shut down entirely by the end of the month.

When shutting down the sprinkler system at the end of the month, you can still hook up your hose and water by hand. People should also check weather forecasts regularly, and make adjustments if necessary.

See more here:
Carson City region braces for hard fall freeze; forecasters say bring in the pets, tomato plants - Carson Now

Our warm weather pattern will come to an end on Thursday. Weve had such a warm October, that this will be quite the shock to the system when this cold hits later this weekend.

We start with our first cold front on Wednesday night through Thursday. This will unfortunately whip up the wind even more as it passes through. We have Red Flag Warnings in place for the foothills down to southern Colorado thanks to this wind and dry vegetation.

This front brings cooler temperatures and maybe a little light snow to the mountains, with just a slight chance for a few flurries in Denver.

We are cold on Friday with highs in the 40s! We rebound quickly to the 60s on Saturday, but that wont last long. Saturday will also be very windy, which again is not good for our fires.

Sunday is when we wake up to the big, major changes. Snow could start late Saturday night and will be going through the day on Sunday. Our temperatures will also plummet to the upper 20s! Ahead of this storm, youll want to at least drain your sprinkler system.

We could see snow through early Monday morning before we clear out with cold temperatures.

If youre wondering if the snow will help with our fires, the answer is yes. However, it wont be enough to put them out or really reduce their size. Any moisture is helpful, but the wind ahead of the snow will not be good at all.

Read the rest here:
Denver Weather: Major Weather Changes Start Thursday - CBS Denver

By Oliver Lazenby

For the first time, the Blaine Farmers Market will continue into the fall, using the old Wolten and Montfort grocery space at 648 Peace Portal Drive to host some vendors out of the weather.

Starting Saturday, October 24, about 10 market vendors will be open in that building, which is next to the Black Forest Steak House. Depending on weather, some vendors will also set up at the G and H Street plazas, said Donna Raimey, Blaine Chamber of Commerce program and events coordinator. The market will continue to be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., she said.

The space could potentially host more vendors once its overhead sprinkler system is installed, as city code would allow vendors to get farther from the door. Mike Mulder, who owns the property through Nimbus Properties, said hed allow the market to use the space through the end of the year for free.

The Blaine Farmers Market has grown this year through the chamber of commerces effort. Raimey said the chamber put a lot of effort into the market because theres little else going on in town.

Its such a positive thing for our community to have and its a sign of life downtown that we desperately need, she said. I think everyone was just really excited to be a part of something at a time when nothing is really going on.

Nimbus bought the property in January 2019 from the Jacaranda Land Corporation and the company is nearly finished renovating. Mulder said the interior is like a Whole Foods or Trader Joes. With the Covid-19 pandemic and border closure, Mulder is waiting for the right tenant or opportunity, he said.

Read this article:
Blaine Farmers Market going indoors for the rest of the year - Blaine Northern Light

Illustration by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters; istock, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

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The tax revolt started in California in 1978, but it never really ended.

Four decades ago mad-as-hell voters banded together to pass Proposition 13, capping property taxes, slapping a constitutional muzzle on state government and wringing local budgets like a washcloth. The electorates anti-tax fever may have broken in the years since, but the legacy of Prop. 13 is still very much with us.

Need proof? Check your ballot.

This year, Californians are being asked to weigh in on two more changes to the tax-slashing constitutional amendment that has done more than any other California ballot measure to reshape the states fiscal landscape and the politics of taxation.

Proposition 19 would pop open one new property tax loophole for older or disabled homeowners, while sewing shut another for people who inherit their parents and grandparents homes. And Proposition 15 would raise property taxes on many businesses the largest change to Californias property tax structure since Prop. 13 campaign leader Howard Jarvis was railing against high taxes and marinated bureaucrats.

If it seems like California voters are perpetually being asked to redefine, clarify, overhaul or rewrite the terms of the 1978 tax revolt, its because we are. Since Prop. 13, the state has voted 33 times on potential amendments to it. These offshoots of Prop. 13 have sprouted their own offshoots, adding additions to revisions to edits of the original text. Forty-two years later, the tree first planted in 1978 has gotten mighty tangled.

Its an evergreen story, said Jason Cohn, whose Jarvis documentary The First Angry Man, premiered last week. Cohn and his wife, Camille Servan-Schreiber, began working on the film in 2010 when voters were considering Proposition 26 a successful Prop. 13 patch that made it even harder for state and local governments to raise revenue through fees.

Its never not relevant, said Cohn.

There are few areas of California economic or political life that Prop. 13 hasnt touched. To recap, it:

In the short term, the measure gave homeowners a lasting tax cut and, amid skyrocketing real estate prices, made it much easier for homeowners to stay in their homes. In exchange, property tax payments plummeted 60% in a year, cutting $7 billion from city and school district budgets.

Longer term, Prop. 13 had a number of unintended consequences. State government assumed a much bigger role in school financing. Local governments suddenly had a bigger incentive to approve commercial real estate over residential development. Governments across California turned to other sources of revenue including income taxes, use taxes and fees to make up the difference.

The Prop. 13 campaign reverberated across the country. Jarvis, the garrulous, pipe-smoking political gadfly who had been tilting at Californias tax code, Don Quixote-like, for decades, became a magazine cover-gracing populist hero overnight. Tax-capping measures sprouted up elsewhere, augering the landslide election of Ronald Reagan. In its wake, Jerry Brown, the states governor at the time, came to rebrand himself a born-again tax cutter one of many Democrats who would see taxation and government spending as four letter words for decades to come.

The era of the tax revolt, I think, has largely ended in California, said Cohn. But Prop. 13 has its own status outside that liberal-conservative spectrum.

Of the 33 changes put before the voters, 24 have passed. They come in three varieties:

Under Prop. 13, a homes value is reassessed whenever theres a change of ownership or the property owner makes an addition or improvement. Property owners can find themselves slapped with a much higher tax bill if they opt to fix up their current place or move to a new one. As soon as Prop. 13 passed, people began scrambling for exemptions.

If someone is forced to move after a natural disaster, dont they deserve a tax break? What if someone inherits a home from a parent is California going to impose an orphans tax? And what about the responsible homeowner who installs a sprinkler system? A solar panel? A rain barrel?

Since 1978, the vast majority of the Prop. 13-related initiatives have carved out highly specific exemptions for niche investments and transactions, expanding the tax breaks protections one ballot measure at a time.

Another key feature of Prop. 13: Legislators hoping to raise taxes need to convince two-thirds of their colleagues to agree. For local taxes, two-thirds of voters are needed to approve special taxes.

But what if the taxes were used to pay off debt? If a regulator imposes a fee or a fine, is that a tax too? And whats a special tax anyway?

Eight more measures have gone before the California voter to answer such questions.

Proposition 13 makes it really hard for governments to raise revenue. That was the point. So when interest groups are particularly strapped, sometimes they go to the voters directly asking for a loophole.

Despite everything, Prop. 13 still retains its basic structure, said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, one of the states most influential anti-tax groups. Property taxes are still capped at 1% of a propertys value, they can increase by only 2% each year and reassessment still occurs only with an ownership change or upgrade. Those are the three legs of the stool and those have not changed, said Coupal.

What makes Prop. 13 such a moving target, constantly in need of more modest revisions and clarifications, he said, is its brevity. The 1978 effort took place before California proposition campaigns became the half-a-billion-dollar, professionalized business they are today.

Overly-strict in some places and ambiguous in others, Prop. 13 was particularly poorly drafted. Darien Shanske, law professor at UC Davis

Jarvis and his co-drafters were not insiders and they wanted a quick immediate fix that was really needed at the time, said Coupal. It was sparseso there were a lot of unanswered questions. You can criticize Prop. 13 for that but remember, the United States Bill of Rights is very sparse too.

Darien Shanske, a law professor at UC Davis, agrees that Prop. 13s repeat presence on the ballot is a product of the way that it was written. But he doesnt liken its lack of specificity to the genius of the Founding Fathers.

Overly-strict in some places and ambiguous in others, the measure was particularly poorly drafted, he said, which has led to continual efforts to prune or graft modifications onto it. Thats to say nothing of the frequent court battles over its precise meaning.

Critics of ballot box budgeting contend that the Legislature is better equipped than voters to make complex taxation and spending decisions, and believe Prop. 13 has resulted in an infuriating catch-22. By making it more difficult for lawmakers to raise taxes, Prop. 13 makes it more likely that increases will require yet another ballot measure. And because constitutional amendments can only be changed through the popular vote, any direct changes to Prop. 13 have to go before the voters.

Tax policy and refined spending decisions shouldnt be done within the Constitution, Shanske said but once weve started down this road, were stuck with it because now we cant fix it except through the Constitution.

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Via the Post It, CalMatters political reporter Ben Christopher shares frequent updates from the (socially distanced) 2020 campaign trail.CALmatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Excerpt from:
Why Do We Keep Voting on This? Exploring the Prop. 13 Tax Revolt Family Tree - Lost Coast Outpost

ORLAND PARK, IL Officers of the Orland Park Police Department will soon be testing out an officer-worn body camera program. Village officials unanimously passed the memorandum of agreement between the village and the Metropolitan Alliance of Police the union representing Orland Park's police officers.

According to the memorandum, the village is committed to the body worn camera pilot program, and body cams are an effective law enforcement tool that can reduce violent confrontations and complaints against officers.

Officers will be testing cameras by three separate vendors, according to Orland Park Police Chief Joe Mitchell. The Axon body camera system is set to begin field testing in early November for 30 days, followed by Watch Guard and lastly, Panasonic in early 2021.

The agreement states that body worn cameras provide additional documentation of police and public encounters and may be an important tool for collecting evidence and maintaining public trust.

Mitchell said that due to considerable expenses in implementing the program, the department is doing its due diligence in determining the best platform for eventual permanent field use. He added the departments will be looking at the proper hardware, software and storage requirements, seeking to be fiscally responsible in the use of taxpayer funds.

"The department will be putting each body worn camera through its paces to determine the strengths and ultimately the weaknesses of each system in the field," Mitchell said.

Both the union and the village agreed to discuss the appropriate use of body worn cameras, if the program is successful and results in the expansion to all sworn-in officers, according to the agreement.

The overall goal of the pilot program is to understand the need for cameras, anticipated benefits, costs, uses and privacy impact, according to the memorandum. The program will mainly have traffic control officers wearing these cameras, but say the program is not limited to traffic use.

Mitchell said the decision to implement the program was his and didn't come due to any previous incidences, nor was it suggested from any residents.

"The department has and will always continue to be proactive in the use of technology to accomplish our mission of protecting and serving the residents and people who chose to come to the Village of Orland Park to visit, work, eat or play," Mitchell said.

The police chief said this new tool is useful because it will help police gather evidence of crime and support the actions of officers, and potentially "safeguard" officers and the department from any false allegations of wrongdoing.

"Time and time again, department equipped vehicles with in-car video systems, have unequivocally refuted claims of violations of policy and procedures made by people that are stopped by the men and women of the Orland Park Police Department. Body worn cameras will be able to capture video far away from a department vehicle. Additionally, the union and sworn members of the department are in complete support of this pilot program," Mitchell said.

More here:
Orland Police Officers To Wear Body Cameras, Test New Program - Patch.com

Tropical forest and peatland areas bigger than the Netherlands have burned in Indonesia in the past five years, Greenpeace has said, lambasting President Joko Widodos government for allowing the pulpwood and palm oil sector to act with impunity despite bearing considerable responsibility for the fire crisis.

In a new report on Thursday, the prominent environmental group said some 4.4 million hectares (9.9 million acres) of land have burned in Indonesia between 2015 and 2019.

About a third of those areas were located in palm oil and pulpwood concessions, it said, citing an analysis of official maps.

However, despite government promises to punish companies found to be deliberately burning concessions particularly in the aftermath of the 2015 crisis that caused trans-boundary haze, affecting tens of millions of people across Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore palm oil and pulp firms continue to operate with few or no sanctions, Greenpeace said.

There has been no action against eight of the 10 palm oil companies with the largest burned areas in their concessions from 2015 to 2019, despite fires burning in multiple years within their concessions, it added.

Further exacerbating the situation, Indonesias government and legislators recently passed a new law that dismantles environmental protections, Greenpeace said. The omnibus Job Creation law, drafted with the involvement of the plantation sector approved by parliament earlier this month, weakens liability for environmental crimes, the group said, as the palm oil and pulp sectors will be relieved of responsibility for prior damage they have inflicted on Indonesias peatlands.

People protest against the new so-called omnibus law, in Jakarta, Indonesia, October 13, 2020 [File: Willy Kurniawan/Reuters]The law which drew huge protests in Indonesia over fears of weakened labour rights will also protect the plantation sector from future liability for damage to the environment and fires in their concessions, the report said.

Palm oil and pulp multinationals have practically set the rules in recent decades. Year after year they have broken the law by allowing forests to go up in flames, yet they evade justice and go unpunished, said Kiki Taufik, global head of Greenpeace Southeast Asia Forest campaign.

Measures like the pro-business Omnibus Law that ignore people and see nature as a bottomless resource to be extracted for short-term profit, can only have a catastrophic outcome for human health, human rights and the climate, he added, urging the Indonesian president, who is also known as Jokowi, to end this madness and veto the law.

Palm oil plantation is pictured next to a burned forest near Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan province, Indonesia, September 29, 2019 [File: Willy Kurniawan/Reuters]Indonesia, which has the biggest forests outside the Amazon and the Congo, is the worlds largest producer of palm oil and each year fires are linked to slash-and-burn practices used to clear areas for palm oil cultivation.

Three of the five companies, Greenpeace said, had the largest burned areas in their concessions from 2015 to 2019 are suppliers to Indonesias biggest conglomerate, Sinar Mas Group, and one of the countrys largest pulp and paper companies, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP).

A spokeswoman for APP, which is part of Sinar Mas Group, told Reuters news agency that APP has spent $150m on a fire management system, and that it continues to help local communities transition away from slash-and-burn land clearing towards more sustainable methods.

Indonesias Ministry of Environment and Forestry did not comment immediately.

In February, Widodo told government officials to find a permanent solution to the annual fires, and ordered more frequent patrols on the ground by security personnel across the country, especially in fire-prone areas.

But in June, the environment ministry said, it had to scale back fire patrols because of budget cuts owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

Link:
Area burned in Indonesia fires greater than the Netherlands - Al Jazeera English

Welcome to Climate Point, your weekly guide to climate, energy and environment news from around the Golden State and the country. In Palm Springs, Calif., Im Mark Olalde.

Let's start with some electrifying perhaps chargednews. Only weeks after California announced a goal to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine cars by 2035, New Jersey began speeding down the same turnpike. E&E reports that the Garden State is the second state to make the commitment, calling for a similar ban, also by 2035.Who's next?

Here's some other important reporting....

A plume of steam billows from a coal-fired power plant.(Photo: AP Photo/Jim Cole, File)

Fossil future.The future of oil, gas and coal continues to get stranger as governments around the world slowly push to break our addiction to hydrocarbons.Oregon Public Broadcasting reports that the state's last operational coal-fired power plant shut down the other day, 20 years ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, The Guardian writes that the warming climate is making it more difficult for oil companies to operate in Alaska because the ground under their equipmentis thawing. In response, they're looking to install chilling devices to cool the ground so their product, which is causing the warming in the first place, can get to market.

Something to chew on. The Center for Investigative Reporting and PBS NewsHour reportthat Nicaragua a beautiful but incredibly poor Central American countryis clearing land for cattle ranches to help feed the U.S. during COVID-19 outbreaks in American meat processing plants. The U.S. has sponsored multiple wars in Nicaragua, including a bloody coup in 1979. Now, ranchers selling to the U.S. appear to be destroying indigenous communities, killing peopleand stealing their land to meet demand.U.S. meat importers don't seem to be doing much about it.

Flooding the housing market.Climate change is exacerbating extreme weather, making it costlier for homeowners to keep cleaning up after major storms. An NPR investigation has found that only about half of all states require that information on flood risk be disclosed to buyers. And, they write, "the flood and fire disclosure laws that do exist provide information in confusing ways or give too little information too late in the homebuying process."

Swift & Co. miners creating slurry with pressurized water at a phosphate rock mine, photo dated 1941(Photo: File photo)

Radioactive roadways.The Tampa Bay Times writes that the EPA reversed a decades-old rule last week, allowing "radioactive byproduct of phosphate mining to build roads." Florida is home to many of the country's phosphate mines, and that's left a billion tons of waste called phosphogypsum sitting in stacks. The EPA says the decision will decrease these piles and put the waste to a productive use. Environmentalists argue it's dangerous to build with radioactive material.

Just sue, baby, sue.William Perry Pendley is one of the most controversial figures in an already controversial administration. Is he the director of the Bureau of Land Management? Is he just some guy who works there? Is his job illegal? It's unclear because the Department of the Interior where the BLM is housed keeps changing its answer. A judge said he had been acting illegally as the director without being confirmed by the Senate and revoked several decisions he made in Montana, leaving environmental groups champing at the bit to target more or his actions, Bloomberg reports.The judge recently denied that request, but WildEarth Guardians told me they're planning to move forward with separatechallenges to at least 16 resource management plans around the country.

Making the Lakes Great again.Are you still undecided on whether to vote for President Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden? Do you live in the Midwest? Well, you're in luck.Sarah Bowman and London Gibson of the Indianapolis Star are out with explainers analyzing what Trump would mean and what Biden would mean for the area. To boil it down, the candidates are diametrically opposed on the environment.

A fisherman pulls his nets from the Gulf of Paria in Trinidad and Tobago.(Photo: Mark Olalde)

Oil, gas, chemicals, mining. We've built a society reliant on materials that, when pulled from the ground or synthesized in labs, can make us and the environment sick. Even though our industries make a mess, we have never prioritized cleanup. This week's barrage of news provides examples of what happens when businesses are allowed to cut corners to maximize profits.

Caribbean catastrophe.Just north of Venezuela, the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago has had a booming oil and gas industry for years. Now, its lifeblood is threatening its environment, asa vessel called the Nabarima, loaded with 1.3 million barrels of oil, appears to be slowly sinking just offshore.The Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, the dual-island nation's oldest daily newspaper, has the details.This unfolding story caught my eye in part because I spent time there a few years ago investigating what the country's singulardependence on its oil and gas industry meant for its environmental movement. If you want more background, check it outhere (and forgive me, for I was still a young writer!).

Mountain State mayhem.Chemical giant Union Carbide likely knew for more than a decade the extent to which toxic chemicals accumulated at and around one of its dumping sites adjacent to West Virginia's capital. It didn't report the data as required by law, however. This finding comes afterWest Virginia Public Broadcasting and local conservation groups pushed the courts to unseal new documents.

Charged up about this battery recycler.The Los Angeles Times reports that a judge ruled last Friday that a bankrupt company called Exide Technologies could abandon its battery recycling plant in the middle of California's largest urban area. The decision, reporter Tony Barboza wrote, "marks the latest chapter in a decades-long history of government failures to protect the public from brain-damaging lead, cancer-causing arsenic and other pollutants from the facility."

A rendering depicts NASAs OSIRIS-REx mission readying itself to touch the surface of asteroid Bennu.(Photo: courtesy of NASA, Goddard and University of Arizona)

This story is outta this world.If you're like me, then for the past few months you've been tracking the progress of a little spacecraft that could. Called OSIRIS-REx, this machine is piloted remotely by NASA and is in the midst of a seven-year mission to touch down on an asteroid that's hurtling through space, collect a sample, relaunch and head back to Earth so we can analyze the material it picked up. The mission is the first of its kind, and OSIRIS-REx made contact with the asteroidBennu this week! Space.com has the story, complete with a video from NASA showing the moment of impact, which you should absolutely watch. It's not quite to the level of mining the moon like Trump wants no, seriously, I wrote about that here but it's one small step in that direction.

Scientists agree that to maintain a livable planet, we need to reduce the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration back to 350 ppm. Were above that and rising dangerously. Here are the latest numbers:

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are again at record highs for this time of year.(Photo: Karl Gelles)

Thats all for now. Dont forget to follow along on Twitter at @MarkOlalde. You can also reach me at molalde@gannett.com. You can sign up to get Climate Point in your inbox for free here. And, if youd like to receive a daily round-up of California news (also for free!), you can sign up for USA Todays In California newsletter here.Those COVID-19 numbers aren't looking great. Wear a mask! Cheers.

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/10/22/climate-point-killings-land-theft-surge-central-america-feed-our-love-beef/6005947002/

Read more here:
Climate Point: Killings, land theft surge in Central America to feed our love of beef - USA TODAY

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Forested areas greater than the size of the Netherlands have been burned in Indonesia in the past five years, with 30% of the fires occurring on pulpwood and palm oil concessions, environmental group Greenpeace said on Thursday.

Greenpeace said analysis of official data showed 4.4 million hectares (10.8 million acres) of land burned over 2015 to 2019, with 1.3 million hectares of that lying in the concession areas.

The groups report said eight of the 10 palm companies with the largest burned areas in their concessions for the five years have not been sanctioned.

Indonesias new jobs creation law, which activists say favours businesses at the expense of the environment, is rolling out a red carpet for more deforestation, it also said.

Year after year they (companies) have broken the law by allowing forests to go up in flames, said Kiki Taufik, head of the Greenpeace Southeast Asia forest campaign.

Indonesias environment and forestry ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

In February, Indonesian President Joko Widodo ordered government officials to find a permanent solution to prevent annual forest fires.

Indonesia has the biggest forests outside the Amazon and Congo and environmentalists say its remaining reserves may be exploited under the new labour law.

The government says the law aims to boost investment and competitiveness and create better quality jobs.

Among the changes in the new law that worry environmentalists is the removal of a minimum forest area.

Indonesian islands were mandated to have 30% forest cover per island, a benchmark policymakers call arbitrary and want replaced with more relevant metrics.

Three of the five companies Greenpeace said had the largest burned areas in their concessions from 2015 to 2019 are suppliers to Indonesias biggest conglomerate, Sinar Mas Group, and one of the countrys largest pulp and paper companies, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP).

A spokeswoman for APP, which is part of Sinar Mas Group, told Reuters that APP has spent $150 million on a fire management system, and that it continues to help local communities transition away from slash-and-burn land clearing towards more sustainable methods.

A spokeswoman for Golden Agri-Resources, the palm oil arm of Sinar Mas Group, could not immediately provide comment.

GAPKI, Indonesias palm oil association, declined to comment and referred Reuters to the environment ministry.

Reporting by Fathin Ungku; Editing by Martin Petty and Tom Hogue

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Nearly a third of Indonesia forest fires are in pulp, palm areas: Greenpeace - Reuters

opinion

Saeed R. Khan| Guest columnist

The idea of an international body to promote global peace started with President Franklin Roosevelt of the United States and Prime Minister Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom. In August 1941, they signed the Atlantic Charter outlining the goals of war against Germany, Italy and Japan.

The U.S. joined the war effort in December 1941 and on January 1, 1942, the Declaration by United Nations was signed in Washington by 26 allied nations led by the U.S., U.K. and Soviet Union. The United Nations Charter was finalized in April 1945 in San Francisco, signed by representatives of 50 countries on June 26 and finally became operational on October 24, 1945 75 years ago this weekend.

The General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice and the U.N. Secretariat are six main parts of the U.N. The central mission of the U.N. is the maintenance of international peace and security, which is accomplished by preempting and preventing conflict, and by persuading parties in conflict to make peace and improving the conditions to preserve peace.

Over the past 75 years the U.N. and its agencies have worked on a wide range of issues. They include maintaining peace and security, disarmament, clearing land mines, and the prevention of nuclear proliferation and genocide. The U.N. has also worked on counter-terrorism, the peaceful use of outer space, delivering humanitarian aid, providing food, sustainable development, environmental protection, disease control, human rights, gender equality and the promotion of rule of law in national and international relations.

The U.N. is credited with helping negotiate 172 peaceful settlements and helping more than 30 million refugees. It has provided safe drinking water to more than a billion people and food to millions of people across 80 nations. It has assisted countries with their elections, provided vaccinations for children, helped millions of women with maternal health and protected human rights through some 80 treatise and declarations.

Currently, approximately 100,000 peacekeepers from 120 countries are serving in 13 missions. The U.N. and its agencies have had success in coordinating global efforts against diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Ebola, cholera, influenza, yellow fever, meningitis and COVID-19, and has helped eradicate smallpox and polio from most of the world. Ten U.N. agencies and U.N. personnel have received Nobel prizes for peace.

Unfortunately, the U.N. also had many failures, such as stopping the Rwandan genocide in 1994. In addition, U.N. aid workers were blamed for spreading cholera in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. Allegations of sexual misconduct and rape were leveled against U.N. peacekeepers in Republic of Congo, Cambodia, Haiti and other countries. The U.N. oil for food program in Iraq was accused of corruption. U.N. peacekeepers were unable to stop the Srebrencia massacre of around 8,000 Bosnian Muslims who fled to a U.N.-declared safe-zone in 1995.

When the U.N. was established in 1945 and its charter was signed, there were 50 members. The great powers of the time, who were on the winning side of the world war the U.S., the U.K., France, China and the Soviet Union became permanent members of the Security Council, which currently includes an additional 10 members who are elected by the General Assembly for a two-year term.

Every member of the Security Council, from St. Vincent with a population of 111,000 to China with over 1.3 billion, has one vote, but permanent members have veto powers. The General Assembly is now composed of 193 members.

A few of the challenges facing the U.N. include a burgeoning bureaucracy, creeping unilateralism, the non-representative Security Council with abuse of veto power by permanent members, powerful members ignoring U.N. charter and resolutionsand a lack of youth involvement.

A number of ongoing crises are indicative of U.N. inaction and paralysis, including Russias takeover of part of Ukraine; China occupying disputed territories in South China Sea; the Iraq War; the Israel-Palestine conflict; civil wars in Syria, Yemen, Libya and the Democratic Republic of Congo; and the treatment of Rohingyas in Myanmar, Ughyurs in China and Kashmiris in India

Still, the U.N. and multilateralism are popular throughout the world. More than a million people U.N. survey and dialogues through global consultation, UN75: The Future We Want, the UN We Need. They found that over 87% considered global collaborations vital to facing global challenges and 74% deemed the U.N. essential in tackling those challenges. They showed major concerns for the environment and climate change.

A survey of U.S. citizens by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found 7 out 10 Americans would like the U.S. to more actively participate in global affairs. The Gainesville chapter United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) celebrated the anniversary on Oct. 24, and discussed some of these issues. For more information, visit http://una-usagainesvillefl.org.

Saeed R. Khan is president of UNA-USA/Gainesville.

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The United Nations at 75: successes, failures and challenges - Gainesville Sun