The gender-neutral ‘X’ designation is finally becoming a third standard option on US passports. It is available without medical documentation, and even if their gender is different on other government issued documents.
It begins on April 11. The option of a third gender on US Social Security records will start later this year, As part of White House’s policy changes, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will be implementing new procedures and new scanners to better serve trans and nonbinary travelers.
AIR CANADA PLANS GENDER-NEUTRAL GREETING, PORTER, UNITED CREATE GENDER X CATEGORY
Transgender activist says it’s time for all airlines to revise their gender categories.
In an effort to be more inclusive, Air Canada plans to drop gender references when welcoming passengers. That means no more onboard announcements opening with, “Ladies and gentlemen.”
The move follows a growing awareness and acceptance — including in the travel industry — that some individuals are non-binary, meaning they don’t identify as male or female.
An excerpt from an Air Canada employee memo announcing that passengers will soon be greeted with the gender-neutral term ‘everyone’ instead of ‘ladies and gentlemen.’ (Air Canada)
TRAVEL NEWS in Bulk
EASYJET
Easter flight cancellations are set to drag on for days.
EasyJet says it will likely have to cancel more flights this week as it struggles with short staffing.
At least 60 flights are expected to be scrapped on Tuesday.
…“We expect to make similar levels of pre-emptive cancellations over the coming days, due to the ongoing high level of sickness.”
British Airways cancelled dozens of flights on Monday.
Manchester and London Heathrow airports have experienced hours-long delays.
Lengthy Covid document checks are impacting passenger flows, which are causing flight delays and frustration.
Local MP Graham Stringer called on Manchester Airport management to ‘get a grip ’and sort out passenger bottlenecks swiftly.
NORWEGIAN AIR
Norwegian has dropped the requirement to wear face masks on its flights.
The rule change took effect on Monday April 4.
It covers all flights across the carrier’s current network. …It urges passengers ‘to check the local requirements and guidance at their destination before travelling, including stops and connecting flights in Europe.
RUSSIA FLIGHTS
Russia said it will reopen flights to 52 ‘friendly’ countries.
It will end restrictions on flights to and from the 52 countries which haven’t participated in sanctions.
These include Algeria, China, Lebanon, Argentina, South Africa, Peru and Pakistan.
It is part of measures to open up after stringent Covid-19 restrictions, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said.
It will also lift restrictions on land border travel between Russia and China.
Russia closed airspace to air travel from 36 countries, which includes all 27 EU members in its response against sanctions targeting its airlines.
Sanctions have forced lessors to cancel leasing contracts with Russian airlines for about 500 aircraft.
What is the Cradle of Humankind?
The Cradle of Humankind (originally known as Cradle of Mankind) is an area in South Africa. Fossilised remains of ancient forms of animals, tools, plants and most importantly, hominids have been found in many dolomitic limestone caves.
These traces provide valuable information about human evolution. The oldest evidence dates back three (3) million years or more.
The Cradle of Humankind was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999. It is one of eight World Heritage sites in South Africa.
Where is it Located?
The Cradle of Humankind is located around 50 kms from Johannesburg. It covers an area of around 470 km2 in the provinces of Gauteng and North West. There are 13 major fossil sites in the region. Sterkfontein, near Krugersdorp, is the best known of these sites. Other sites include Swartkrans, Kromdraai, Drimolen, Bolt’s Farm, and Gondolin. Sites excavation is underway.
Thousands of fossils including hominin (i.e. modern humans and their ancestors) were discovered in 1930 in the Cradle of Humankind.
Sterkfontein has proven to be one of the richest sources of information about human evolution.
Fossils were first discovered there when the area was being mined for lime deposits.
In 1936 a palaeontologist from Pretoria, Robert Broom, began collecting fossils found by lime miners. Eventually, remains of early humanlike creatures, now called Australopithecus africanus, were uncovered. Australopithecus africanus is one of several extinct hominins.
The most famous fossils discovered in the Cradle of Humankind are known as Mrs. Ples and Little Foot. Both were in caves at Sterkfontein. Robert Broom uncovered Mrs. Ples in 1947, an Australopithecus africanus skull that is estimated to be between 2.5 and 2.8 million years old.
Courtesy of: Private Safaris
Images & Facts Sourced: wikipedia.com; heritagecollection.co.za; maropeng.co.za; visi.co.za.
EARTHSHIP
What is Earthship?
An Earthship is a style of architecture developed in the late 20th century to early 21st century by architect MICHAEL REYNOLDS. Earthships are designed to behave as passive solar earth shelters made of both natural and upcycled materials such as earth-packed tires.
The Earthship is an autonomous self-sufficient house built with natural and recycled materials with energy conservation in mind. Designed to produce water, electricity, and food for its own use. Earthships are defined by six basic design principles, all of which take advantage of the existing natural phenomena of the earth: building with natural and repurposed materials, using thermal and solar heating and cooling, solar- and wind-generated electricity, water harvesting, contained sewage treatment and self-sustained food production.
BUILDING WITH NATURAL AND REPURPOSED MATERIALS
Earthships incorporate many natural and reclaimed materials in their construction. Used Automobiles Tires are the perfect form for a rammed-earth brick. There’s no shortage of USED TIRES—at least 2.5 billion are currently stockpiled in the United States, with 2.5 million more discarded every year. Tires can be seen as a globally available “NATURAL RESOURCE.” Other materials such as CANS and BOTTLES are optional, although bottle brick walls are a familiar stand-out feature of many Earthships. All interior walls are packed out between the tires and plastered with adobe MUD. Mud can also be used for floors, and reclaimed WOOD and metal are often used.
Global Model Earthships have been built in France, Germany, Mexico, Canada and across the United States. For more Details, please click on the below link:
Did you Know Who is the Biggest Flower Exporter in the World?
The NETHERLANDS: The Dutch auctions provide about 60% of all global floriculture trading volume, while the Netherlands itself is the world’s largest flower exporter by value, accounting for about 34% of the world’s total flower exports every year.
The Netherlands is called the LAND OF FLOWERS.
Where is the Flower Capital of the World?
The town is sometimes referred to as the flower capital of the world, as the largest flower auction in the world is based in AALSMEER, the Netherlands.The NEW CENTERS OF PRODUCTION are typically developing countries like ECUADOR (The Biggest producer and export of roses worldwide), COLOMBIA (second largest exporter in the world and with a market of more than 40 years old), ETHIOPIA, KENYA, and INDIA.
Did you know that a garden is considered incomplete without a ROSE plant, which is sometimes called the “QUEEN OF FLOWERS”
5G Developping Story
Despite an announcement by AT&T and Verizon that they would pause the 5G rollout near airports, several airlines still cancelled flights or switched aircraft models….Dubai’s Emirates: Suspension of flights to nine (9) U.S. destinations from Jan. 19, the planned date for the deployment of 5G wireless services. Emirates flights to New York’s JFK, Los Angeles and Washington DC will continue to operate.Japan’s (Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines): curtail Boeing 777 flights. …Germany’s Lufthansa: cancelled a flight from Frankfurt to Miami; and switching aircraft used on some U.S. services from Boeing 747-8 to 747-400. Austrian Airlines: switch from a 777 to a 767 to Newark. Korean Air Lines: switched away from 777s and 747-8s on six (6) U.S. passenger & cargo flights, Taiwan’s China Airlines: reschedule some flights…Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways: deploy different aircraft types if needed.The airlines said they were acting in response to a notice from Boeing (BA.N) that 5G signals may interfere with the radio altimeter on the 777, leading to restrictions.
To read the full story, please click on the link: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/airlines-scramble-rejig-schedules-amid-us-5g-rollout-concerns-2022-01-18/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=The%20Reuters%20Daily%20Briefing&utm_content=19-1-22&utm_campaign=19-1-22
WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) – The chief executives of major U.S. passenger and cargo carriers on Monday warned of an impending “catastrophic” aviation crisis in less than 36 hours, when AT&T (T.N) and Verizon (VZ.N) are set to deploy new 5G service.The airlines warned the new C-Band 5G service set to begin on Wednesday could render a significant number of widebody aircraft unusable, “could potentially strand tens of thousands of Americans overseas” and cause “chaos” for U.S. flights….However, the FAA said it “will continue to ensure that the traveling public is safe as wireless companies deploy 5G. The FAA continues to work with the aviation industry and wireless companies to try to limit 5G-related flight delays and cancellations.”The other government agencies did not comment.
For details, please click on the link:https://www.reuters.com/technology/exclusive-major-us-airline-ceos-urge-action-avoid-catastrophic-5g-flight-2022-01-17/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=The%20Reuters%20Daily%20Briefing&utm_content=18-1-22&utm_campaign=18-1-22https://www.reuters.com/…/exclusive-major-us-airline…/
AIR FRANCE – KLM Air France-KLM hikes fares for sustainable flights:As from the beginning of 2022, French regulations will require the incorporation of an average of 1% Sustainable Aviation Fuel on flights departing from France. A “Sustainable Aviation Fuel” contribution will be included in the price of each ticket from 10 January, from €1 to €4 in the Economy cabin and from €1.50 to €12 in the Business cabin, depending on the distance.
Air France #AF342 A350-900 is partially using used cooking oil as fuel from Paris to Montreal.
At 3:40 p.m. today (18 May 2021), Air France Flight 342 took off from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport’s Terminal 2E for Montreal with its tanks filled for the first time with sustainable aviation fuel produced in Total’s French plants.
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a blend of conventional aviation fuel (JET-A1) and biojet fuel made from waste and residue sourced from the circular economy (animal fat, used cooking oil, etc.).
The biofuel used for this flight was made from waste and residue sourced from the circular economy. Total produced the SAF from used cooking oil at its La Mède biorefinery in southern France and at its Oudalle factory near Le Havre, without using any virgin plant-based oil.
For more details: https://www.airlive.net/air-france-af342-a350-900-is…/
from the States to Latin America; from Europe to Asia…
RUSSIA: Spice Up Your Champagne. Write a wish down on a piece of paper, burn it, and add the ashes on your Champagne. Cheers!
GREECE: Hang an onion on the front door of homes as a symbol of rebirth in the New Year.
GERMANY & AUSTRIA: Offer lucky charms to bring good fortune e.g. pigs, mushrooms, clovers, chimney sweeps. They could be bought at a Christmas market or edible made out of marzipan.
BELGIUM: Walloon and Flemish farmers rise early on January 1st to wish a “Happy New Year” to all the cows, horses, pigs, chickens and other farm animals. That way, they’ll have a good farming year.
SPAIN: Eat 12 grapes – one at each stroke of the clock at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Each grape represents good luck for one (1) month of the coming year. Madrid and Barcelona, people gather in main squares to eat their grapes together and pass around bottles of cava.
DENMARK: Throw old plates and glasses against the doors to banish bad spirits. Also, stand on chairs and jump off at midnight to “leap” into January in hopes of good luck.
FINLAND: Cast molten tin into a container of water thus interpreting the shape of the metal after it hardens. E.g. heart/ring is wedding; ship is travel; pig is food.
IRELAND: Christmas bread banging to chase bad spirits out of the house.
SCOTLAND: New Year’s Eve celebration of Hogmanay, … Scots also hold bonfire ceremonies where people parade while swinging giant fireballs on poles, symbolizing the sun to purify the coming year.
USA: Singing “Auld Lang Syne” to greet the New Year, and eating black-eyed peas for good luck. (Song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=acxnmaVTlZA)
BRAZIL: In Brazil, everyone wears white for good luck and peace. In Latin America (e.g. Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela): wear special underwear on New Year’s Eve. i.e. red color for love; yellow for money.
PANAMA: Burn effigies (muñecos) of well-known people such as television characters and political figures in Panama.
CUBA: toss buckets of water out the door to signify renewal.
PUERTO RICO: Dump a bucket of water out the window drives away evil spirits; and sprinkle sugar outside houses to invite the good luck in.
COLOMBIA: In hopes of a travel-filled new year, residents of Colombia carry empty suitcases around the block.
TURKEY: pomegranates are symbols of abundance. Smash it on your doorstep e.g. the more pieces there are and farther they spread, the more prosperous you will be. And for a little extra luck, sprinkle salt to bring peace.
PHILIPPINES: Round Shapes like coins to symbolize prosperity in the coming year. Many also wear Polka Dots for luck.
SINGAPORE: decorates its Singapore River with the wishing spheres containing the hopes and dreams of new year revellers.
JAPAN: It’s traditional to eat “Toshikoshi Soba,” a dish with long, buckwheat noodles which symbolize longevity and resilience.
Other Traditions:
MAKE A RESOLUTION: This tradition dates back 4,000 years ago. Historians believe Babylonians — one of the first cultures to celebrate the changing of the year — made promises to pay debts or return borrowed objects.
MAKE A FISH DISH: Fish is considered another good New Year’s entrée, since fish only swim in one direction — forward, like the movement of time.
OPEN THE DOORS AND WINDOWS to let the old year out, and the new year in unimpeded.