Published just recently, a new open access EU BON article discusses the need for additional research efforts beyond standard biodiversity monitoring to reconstruct the impacts of major anthropogenic pressures and to identify meaningful temporal baselines for biodiversity.

The article, published in Scientific Reports, reports on the temporal baselines that could be drawn from biodiversity monitoring schemes in Europe and compares those with the rise of important anthropogenic pressures.

With most biodiversity monitoring schemes initiated late in the 20th century, well after anthropogenic pressures had already reached half of their current magnitude, the team of scientists found that setting temporal baselines from biodiversity monitoring data would underestimate the full range of impacts of major anthropogenic pressures.

The authors stress that these limitations need to be explicitly acknowledged when designing management strategies and policies as they seriously constrain our ability to identify relevant conservation targets aimed at restoring or reversing biodiversity losses.

Find out more in the original research paper:

Mihoub J B, Henle K, Titeux N, Brotons L, Brummitt N A, Schmeller D S (2017) Setting temporal baselines for biodiversity: the limits of available monitoring data for capturing the full impact of anthropogenic pressures. Scientific Reports. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep41591

The SETAC Europe 25^th Annual Meeting will be held in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, from 3-7 May 2015.  

The innovative use of chemicals and nanomaterials in new technologies, industry and agriculture challenges many aspects of the ecosystem functioning of the global environment. However, these new technologies and materials also offer opportunities to remediate or minimise these anthropogenic insults. Finding innovative solutions to environmental problems is ever more important in the current economic scenario.  This international conference brings together experts from government, industry, consultancy and academia to meet this challenge. The conference will focus on the most recent advances in environmental sciences and will provide platforms for implementing this knowledge, for improving the protection of our environment and to shape policies from current viewpoints to future needs.

Learn more here: http://barcelona.setac.eu/general_info/welcome!/?contentid=790&pr_id=766&last=769&sub=790

"We're brothers for life.”

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Spoiler alert: it "looks like a whole store."

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International observers will determine if the right to defense and impartial trial are respected

VILAWEB

18-12-2018

A group of judicial and human rights experts, as well as professors throughout Spain, have set up a platform called ‘International Trial Watch – Catalan Referendum case’ to supervise the trial against independence leaders, presented on Monday.

At the event, criminal law professor Iñaki Rivera stated that they are creating reports to determine if the “right to defense, the existence and duration of pre-trial incarceration, and impartial trial, balance between parties, and the taking of evidence” are respected, along with the competency of the Supreme Court in the trial.

You'll find it in Fall River.

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The Maine initiative doesn't attempt to limit independent spending on behalf of candidates. It focuses instead on limits on individual donations to super PACS, an area the Supreme Court has not ruled on, observers say.

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“We didn’t play well enough to deserve the win, and they did.”

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The bands paired up to take the house down on their Take Me Home Tour Thursday night.

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The Texas-raised neo-soul singer gave Boston a performance that was both intimate and jubilant.

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After openers by Boston's DJ P1no and local singer Raveena, streaming sensation Tinashe very successfully brought 'Nasty' back.

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The audience devised much of the setlist, but Folds was very much in command at a stellar Cabot Theatre concert.

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Titled “Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition, Culture, Theory & Politics Through Music,” the one-credit class will focus on the period from her 2013 self-titled album through this year's genre-defying “Cowboy Carter.”

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Visitors can go on a "candy-coated" adventure in search of a golden ticket.

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"I think it was a great play to start Jacoby Brissett, let Drake [Maye] develop."

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A Tufts professor reportedly said they would no longer send students to Moulton's office for internships, but the university refuted the report.

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In a flurry of announcements, Trump also named Bill McGinley, his Cabinet secretary in his first administration, as his White House counsel.

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*** SPOILER ALERT! You will not find that list here, but you will find what hopefully will be some thought-provoking tips on putting yours together and even some resources to help in the process.

For the worship leader, one of the year’s highlights but most difficult tasks is that of putting together the set list for Easter weekend. We’d venture to say that most start thinking about it as soon as they get on the other side of the current year’s celebration. We keep a running list of possible songs and then as soon as Christmas is over we hit the ground running mulling over every possible combination of titles. But there are so many moving parts and components to consider that it’s just not as easy as whipping out the 5 most popular songs from that year. Some of the things we have to think about are:

• The personality of the worshippers in your church
  • Are they more expressive or more subdued? This question is very important. If you lead a more passionate, charismatic congregation, you definitely want to allow them plenty of opportunities to worship freely, but you also want to pick songs that will draw them to a place of introspection and contemplation. For the more reflective and meditative crowds, you don’t want to make them so uncomfortable that you lose them by doing a bunch of high energy songs, but you also want to get them out of their comfort zones to celebrate in a way that challenges them a little.
• The prominent age and demographic of your people
  • If you serve at an older church whose majority is made up of those from the more “experienced” generations, you may find that they respond more to the older hymns but are open to one or two newer songs. Whereas, if you are leading a group of those not raised in the church, songs of more than about five years old may not resonate. 
• The theme of the weekend
  • This may seem like a no brainer given that it’s Easter, but your pastor may be approaching the weekend from a very specific perspective (i.e. love, grace, salvation, etc . . .). So you will want to choose songs that draw the people’s minds and hearts to that particular idea.
• Those first-timers or twice-a-yearers (not a Webster-approved word, but I’m working on it)
  • Obviously we are not going to let this piece take the wheel of decision-making too much, but it does need to be considered. One way to accomplish this is to make sure there are at least a couple of songs that are well-known enough that they may have heard it, or are easy to catch onto by someone who is brand new to it.
• The number of new songs
  • In that same vein, a good general rule of thumb is to not introduce more than one or two new songs per week, and the same goes for Easter. There are few things that will bum churchgoers out more than arriving Easter Sunday only to do a bunch of songs they’ve never heard before. So make sure you’ve started introducing any newer songs you want to incorporate well before that weekend and maybe just save that one zinger for the actual celebration.
• The level of difficulty
  • Unless you’re hiring in a bunch of professionals, the skill level of your band is going to be the same on Easter weekend as it is the rest of the year. So don’t pick a bunch of songs they aren’t going to be able to pull off, simply because they’re “perfect for Easter Sunday”. If there’s a song that you just HAVE to do and it’s more challenging than your normal roster, consider introducing it to your band months in advance and working it until they’ve got it, or create an arrangement of it that is less complex.

There are plenty of other things to take into consideration as you prepare for this special weekend in the life of the Church, but these are some of the more common ones. We’d love to hear other things that influence your process in the comments.

Let’s talk actual songs now. For those of you who don’t have a lot of time on your hands to research, we’ve compiled a handful of lists that might help get your creative juices flowing with regard to the right set list for your church body’s Easter services. These lists are by no means exhaustive and we’re 100% confident there are songs out there that we’ve missed. Again, we’d love for you to put more ideas in the comments. Our hope and prayer is that, as Easter quickly approaches, God would put the songs on your hearts that will stir and move His people to life-changing encounters with His Presence, and that your own hearts would be filled to overflowing as you prepare to lead the Church. 

Top 10 Brand New Songs
(These are all songs that have been released since last Easter)

Top 20 Fairly Recent Songs
(These are all songs that were released between Easters of 2012 and 2016)

1. Resurrecting – Elevation Worship
2. Forever – Kari Jobe
3. Praise The King – Corey Voss
4. O Praise (The Only One) – Michael Farren
5. My Victory – David Crowder
6. Salvation’s Tide – Passion
7. Great Are You Lord – All Sons and Daughters
8. The Wondrous Cross – Christy Nockels
9. This I Believe (The Creed) – Hillsong Worship
10. Break Every Chain – Jesus Culture
11. Lamb of God – Vertical Church Band
12. Because He Lives (Amen) – Matt Maher
13. Hallelujah For The Cross – Newsboys
14. How Can It Be – Lauren Daigle
15. Grace To Grace – Hillsong Worship
16. Jesus, Only Jesus – Matt Redman
17. No Longer Slaves – Bethel Music
18. Come As You Are – David Crowder
19. For The Cross – Bethel Music
20. O Come To The Altar – Elevation Worship
     

Top 10 Older Songs
(These are all songs released between 2000 and 2011)

1. Revelation Song – Gateway Worship
2. Your Great Name – Natalie Grant
3. Forever Reign – Hillsong
4. Mighty To Save – Hillsong
5. Worthy Is The Lamb – Hillsong
6. Hosanna – Paul Baloche
7. Hosanna (King Of Glory ) – Hillsong United
8. Happy Day – Tim Hughes
9. How Great Is Our God – Chris Tomlin
10. One Thing Remains – Bethel 
     

Top 10 Hymns
(These are all songs that are rebooted hymns or newer songs that have that hymn-like feel, regardless of age)

1. Jesus Paid It All – Passion
2. Turn Your Eyes (Jesus Won) – 121 Community Church
3. The Wonderful Cross – Chris Tomlin
4. All Hail The Power of Jesus’ Name – Paul Baloche
5. Cornerstone – Hillsong
6. Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) – Chris Tomlin
7. How Marvelous (I Stand Amazed) – Passion
8. How Deep The Father’s Love For Us – Stuart Townend
9. In Christ Alone – Stuart Townend
10. Crown Him (Majesty) – Chris Tomlin w/Kari Jobe

* Note that the content of these lists are in no particular order and are merely suggestions based on research done through a variety of music resources, online surveys, chart rankings, and probably a pinch of personal preferences.

Iran is reportedly preparing for an attack on Israel within days. 2024 is seeing record-breaking early voting as election day approaches. As election day gets closer, one Illinois church wants to encourage the next president -- with prayer. ...

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Washington — OSHA’s Federal Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health has scheduled a virtual meeting for Oct. 19.

Washington — OSHA is eyeing January for publication of a proposed update to its standard on emergency response to expand safety and health protections for first responders.

Washington — OSHA has scheduled a public hearing on proposed updates to its emergency response standard.

Washington – The safety of temporary workers will be the topic of discussion during a meeting, scheduled for May 9, of a National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health workgroup.

The SM1R Industrial Headset was designed specifically to enhance two-way radio communication in high-noise environments.

The HD•3 High-Definition, Noise-Isolating Headset combines HD•5 Safety Earphones with an in-line microphone for communication by smartphone.

Powered by DECT7 wireless technology, the Apex 3-Series Wireless Headset with Advanced Hearing Protection connects team members in full-duplex conversation, similar to a conference call.

Boston — Injury and illness prevention efforts are most needed in Massachusetts’ transportation and warehousing industry, results of a recent analysis of workers’ compensation claims show.

Alula announced the launch of its new Alula Pro Training Portal.

Alula has released the third edition of its Pro Roundtable Series.

Quincy, MA — Fire departments nationwide are being asked to pause all nonemergency activities during the 2024 Firefighter Safety Stand Down to focus on safety and health education.

Washington — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has published a final rule to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, including guidance to provide workers with more clarity on the law – and employers with a better understanding of their responsibilities.

Washington – OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet March 11 in Washington.

Washington — OSHA will host a public meeting to hear comments and suggestions on issues related to the agency’s Whistleblower Protection Program.

Washington — OSHA has scheduled a virtual public meeting for May 15 to hear stakeholder input on how it can improve its outreach and training efforts for its Whistleblower Protection Program.

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The ANSI-approved standard aligns with the enterprise security risk management (ESRM) approach, serving as a tool to safeguard cannabis organizations and their assets by taking a holistic perspective.

AVS-01 standardizes a classification metric for unauthorized human activity detected by alarm systems, helping law enforcement allocate resources and response prioritization.