UNFCCC - COP 26 in Glasgow (UK) Oct. 31st - Nov 12th - 2021

 Copright © Françoise Herrmann

Beginning October 31st, and for the next 12 days, the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Conference of the Parties serving as Meeting for the Parties to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol (CMP16), and the Conference of the Parties serving as Meeting for the Parties to the more recent  2015 Paris Agreement (CMA3), will be meeting to discuss urgent topics, to review existing commitments and targets, and to secure more international, national and local pledges on the matter of climate change, at a time variously qualified as humanity’s “last best hope” (Jordans, 2021), “a critical moment for leadership” (Hitchings-Hale, 2021) and "one minute before midnight on the Doomsday Clock” (Johnson, 2021). A conference bringing together more than 30,000 delegates, with representatives from 200 countries, including 120 world leaders. Indeed, a summit on the topic of climate change with an agenda, including the following:

• finalizing the Rulebook for the (controversial) flex-mex carbon exchange market  
• increasing investments in clean energy sources
• increasing joint action of the private and public sectors for accelerating the implementation of  mitigation and/or resiliency plans  
• reforestation, planting trillions of trees
• elimination of coal power plants
• conversion to electric vehicles (EV)
• securing rich nation grants (vs. loans) within the context of the 2015 Paris Agreement on an annual pledge of 100 billion USD for nations who are not responsible for the anthropogenic causes of climate change [UNFCCC - Paris Agreement]
• detailing the costs and implementation of a “just transition” within the context of a global “Green New Deal” to a clean (non-fossil fuel) and sustainable economy, considering that visionary Labor Union leaders have endorsed the conversion, and the workforces of whole sectors of the fossil fuel industry (coal in particular) are implicated (Chomsky & Pollan in Polychroniou, 2021, Chomsky & Pollan with Polychronou, 2021).
• developing resiliency plans, considering that the consequences of climate change are already causing drought, famine and floods, impacting millions of people, creating a new category of refugees, designated climate refugees (UNHCR,)
• compensating and remedying existing climate-related losses and damages, per the African Youth Climate Leader, from Burundi,  Vanessa Nakate.
• "turning the tide on coal, cash, cars and trees" (Johnson, 2021);  panic, action, and no more empty promises, to mitigate and remedy the catastrophic scenarios of global warming that science has already specified, per the Swedish Global Youth Leader Greta Thunberg, on behalf of future generations, who might inherit irremediable situations.   

Concretely, however, the new Glasgow COP 26 Summit takeaway will, at least, result in a sector-specific Declaration on Climate Change in the Tourism Industry. A Declaration bringing together members of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in an effort to scale up efforts to control the tourism sector’s emissions, which are predicted to increase 25% by 2030 (from 2016 levels). Specifically, the working session draft of the  Glasgow Declaration calls for:

• monitoring of the CO2 emissions from tourism operations
• decarbonizing tourism with greener transportation and infrastructures
• removing carbon
• promoting science-based targets in view of meeting the Paris Agreement targets, which call for cutting emissions back 50% by 2030 and achieving net zero(1) by 2050, to prevent global warming in excess of 1.5 degrees Celsius, above pre-industrial levels (per the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  (IPCC ).
• setting forth the One planet Sustainable Tourism Programme to host the Tourism Section action plan. A program designed to implement transition to a circular economy, invoking recycling, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing, and repurposing to reduce waste and pollution, and as a pathway to sustainable development.  The creation of a circular economy to bring added value, to promote creativity and new business models, with efficient use of water and resources. A program also arising within the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), in particular Goals No. 13, 14 and 15 on climate action, and the protection of marine and terrestrial ecosystems (UNDP - SDGs).
• promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in tourism policies
• supporting global tourism initiatives against plastic pollution
• supporting green travel
• promoting sustainable recovery from COVID 19, according to 6 lines of action (UNWTO- Climate action).

The COP26 conference is taking place at the Scottish Event Center (SEC) campus, in Glasgow, Scotland (UK), a location that has become as much a transformative architectural landmark. as it is currently a destination for crucially important Climate Change action. For example, the monumental 3000-seat Clyde Auditorium, known as the Armadillo because of its eight, overlapping,  aluminum-clad roofs, was inaugurated in 1997, specifically as a highly distinctive site, that still remained efficient and easily maintained. On a  shipyard location, the scale of the Armadillo is that of a  large ship or warehouse. Together with the other monumental conference venue building, designated the OVO Hydro, with a capacity for 13,000 patrons, the site offers special synergy for the twelve conference days ahead.

The Armadillo @ The Scottish Event Center  (SEC) 

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Note

(1) Definition for Net-zero:  Net-zero emissions are achieved when anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere are balanced by anthropogenic removals over a specified period. [IPCC Report  Glossary]

References

Chomsky, N. & R. Pollan (with C.J. Polychroniou)  (2021). Climate Crisis and the Global Green New Deal. London, UK & Brooklyn, NY:  Verso Books. 

De La Garza, A.,  Nugent, C., Baker, A.,  Duggan, J. and C. Wilson (Oct 28,2021). Here Are the Goals of the COP26 Climate Change Meetings—and Where the World Stands in Accomplishing Them. Time Magazine   https://tinyurl.com/jekhcmyd

Foster + Partners - SEC Armadillo
https://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/sec-armadillo/

Foster + Partners - https://youtu.be/MIc3tZ7HIIk

Glasgow Climate Change Conference -  https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/glasgow-climate-change-conference

 

Greta Thunberg full speech at UN Climate Change COP25 - Climate Emergency Event  https://youtu.be/Eo_-mxvGnq8

 Hitchings-Hales, J.  (Aug. 16, 2021). What Is COP26 — and Why Is the Summit a Critical Moment For Leadership on the Climate Crisis? Global Citizen   https://tinyurl.com/3xne33sk

IPCC – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/

IPCC - Report Glossary.  https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/glossary/ 

Johnson, B. (Oct. 31, 2021). Opening Ceremony Speech. https://youtu.be/SOaZP0YND6c

Jordans, F. (Oct.  31, 2021). Last best hope: Crucial Climate summit open in Glasgow. AP News.   https://apnews.com/article/cop26-climate-summit-un-glasgow-fbe482ba15f0c83dbe784d73b92f5817

Maizland, L. (Oct. 22, 2021). COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow: What to Expect. Council on Foreign Relations   https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/cop26-climate-summit-glasgow-what-expect

One Planet Network - Sustainable tourism -  https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org/sustainable-tourism

One Planet Network - Covid 19 - How tourism can recover responsibly.  https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org/sustainable-tourism/covid-19-how-tourism-can-recover-responsibly

OVO Hydro -  https://www.ovohydro.com/about 

Polychroniou, C. J.  (Oct. 28, 2021). Chomsky and Pollin: COP26 Pledges Will Fail Unless Pushed by Mass Organizing. Truthout  https://tinyurl.com/2dhptbyn

Rapold, N. (Nov. 12, 2020). ‘I am Greta’ review: Birth of a Climate Warrior. NYTimes. https://tinyurl.com/hbadkuf4

Scottish Event Center (SEC) -  https://www.sec.co.uk/

UKCOP26.org  - https://ukcop26.org/ 

UNDP - United Nations Development Programme - Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).  https://tinyurl.com/87k3js5c

UNFCCC - https://unfccc.int/ 

UNFCCC - What is the Kyoto protocol? - https://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol

UNFCCC - 2015 Paris  Agreement [full text English version]  https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/english_paris_agreement.pdf

UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Climate change and disaster displacement.   https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/climate-change-and-disasters.html

UNWTO - United Nations World Tourism Organization. - https://www.unwto.org/

UNWTO - The Glasgow Declaration - An Urgent global call for commitment to a decade of climate action in tourism.   https://www.unwto.org/news/the-glasgow-declaration-an-urgent-global-call-for-commitment-to-a-decade-of-climate-action-in-tourism

UNWTO - Transforming tourism for climate action. https://www.unwto.org/sustainable-development/climate-action

UN  (Sept. 29, 2021). Vanessa Nakate's Full Keynote Speech at Youth4Climate Pre-COP26 | Doha Debates. UN Youth4Climate -   https://youtu.be/W71eBGN2iSw

Vanessa Nakate: You cannot leave this responsibility to young people. Youtube video. https://youtu.be/bXH--TDGId8

Oh, patents! Balenciaga Hourglass handbag

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Available in an array of sizes, finishes and colors, the Balenciaga Hourglass top handle handbag, with a removable and adjustable, crossbody strap, is a patented design. The US Design patent, USD904014S, titled Handbag, was awarded to Demna Gvasalia, and assigned to Balenciaga, on December 8th, 2020.

The handbag’s designation ’Hourglass’ comes from the curvilinear, hourglass-shaped, bottom of the handbag. The "B" clasp of the marketed handbag is unpatented. 

Below, the patent Figures 1, 3, 4, 6 and 8 are included, respectively depicting: a front left perspective view of the handbag (Fig. 1), a top view  (Fig. 3), and bottom-up view (Fig. 4), a right side view (Fig. 6), and a rearview (Fig. 8). Also included below, four marketed, top handle, Hourglass Balenciaga handbags, small models (L9 x W5.9 x H3.9 inches), in forest green, dark red, navy, and black, shiny crocodile-embossed calfskin, with brass hardware, and the adjustable, removable, crossbody strap, measuring 21.6 inches. 

  

Reference

Balenciaga https://www.balenciaga.com/en-us/

Oh, patents! Balenciaga track shoes

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The below-listed luxury sneakers, from the Spanish Basque fashion design house Balenciaga, founded in 1919 by Cristóbal Balenciaga, are patented. The US design patent USD909020S titled Track shoe was awarded to the designer and inventor Demna Gvasalia, on February 2nd 2021, and assigned to Balenciaga.

As a reminder the difference between a US design patent and a US utility patent is the following:

“a “utility patent” protects the way an article is used and works (35 U.S.C. 101), while a "design patent" protects the way an article looks (35 U.S.C. 171)” (USPTO – MPEP)

The patent Figure 5 is included below, together with a few versions of the actually marketed Balenciaga track shoes. 

References

Balenciaga

https://www.balenciaga.com/en-us

USPTO - MPEP – Chapt. 1502-01 – Distinction between design and utility patent
https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1502.html  

International Pronouns Day! Journée Internationale des Pronoms!

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The Third Wednesday of October, since 2018, is International Pronouns Day ! However, you might be wondering: Why an International Pronouns Day?  Why do pronouns suddenly matter so much?

This is a day of celebration and action, designed to raise awareness, to educate, to recognize, and to include all individuals, particularly transgender, non-binary or fluid gender, who do not identify with binary (male/female) modes of expression, whether the absence of identification arises in the use of English pronouns, or the more system-wide features of Latin languages. Indeed, in English, it may even be discriminatory to address an individual by a pronoun, with which they do not identify, or in ways that deny their stated identity and preferences in terms of address.  

In English, the matter of ‘he’ or  ‘she’ failing to represent the way an individual might perceive themself, is now commonly resolved using the pronoun ‘they’ (and associated grammatical requirements), already used as singular references in many instances. For example, in the last sentence of the preceding paragraph: “Indeed, in English, it may even be discriminatory to address an individual by a pronoun, with which they do not identify, or in ways that deny their stated identity, and preferences in terms of address.” Both “they” and “their” refer to “an individual”, even if the verb remains in the plural. Thus, for individuals who do not relate to the use of “he” or “she” (his or her) in English, the pronoun “they” is one easy and commonplace preference. A stated pronoun preference, according to Mypronouns.org, among many additional options in English language use, such as Ze/Hir (e.g.; Ze is transgender. Hir pronouns are Ze/Hir), No pronouns/use my name (e.g.; Sterling is transgender, preferring No pronouns/Use My name), per/pers, ey/em, xe/xem, plus more (cited at Mypronouns.org). Thus, you will see more than one sign-off in your mail messages, and otherwise, where individuals will be kind enough to specify their preferences in terms of address, saving you the embarrassment of a faux pas, or of an unintended offense.

Fair enough, providing that everyone subscribes (this is the only hard part). The matter of binary pronouns in English is fairly easily resolved, using existing unmarked plural pronouns in the singular, or completely new ungendered, unmarked terms. But what happens when the whole language (e.g.; French) is grammatically inflected in a binary mode. What happens when not only pronouns are binary, but also nouns adjectives, articles and verb endings? How do you handle the feminine or masculine (plural and singular) morphology of adjectives, such as  «big » (grand(s)/grande(s)) or « small » (petit(s)/petite(s))? Alternatively, (according to Martel, 2019) how do you address the petitioner (demandeur/demanderesse), and defendant (défendeur/défenderesse) in a trial, when the noun referencing them, marked for the feminine or masculine, is referring to a non-binary, fluid-gender, or transgender individual, referencing themself as « they/them/their » in English. In other words, how do you handle the more extensive, system-wide, grammatical binarism, in regards to individuals who do not identify themselves in the feminine or masculine, and most importantly, who are willing to fight for linguistic expression correlated to their identities? That is the issue.

For French, a history of gender-inclusiveness already exists. Many generations of feminists have grappled for decades with the inclusion of feminine forms in a system that was heavily weighted in the masculine. Masculine forms that are actually even perceived as "the generic or unmarked form" (per the French Academy, Oct 10, 2014). Thus, after many years of combat, manuals of style now designate gender-inclusive forms of writing “rédaction épicène”, favoring the use of both feminine and masculine references (e.g. le ou la patient(e), l’employé(e)), or the use of neutral terminology, and the plural  (e.g.; le personnel, les malades). However, despite the setting of new standards, the debate is still active. For example, is a female doctor, in France, addressed, in writing, (since the difference is unvoiced) with the feminine form Docteure, or with the age-old masculine form Docteur? A question that begs a gentle answer, considering that some parties, even generation Z, are bound to be offended, one way or another. Likewise, the debate is unsettled for the age-old masculine term Professeur (professor), and its newer feminine form Professeure. A feminine form that the French Academy firmly rejected, on October10, 2014, considering such feminine form a “barbarism", whereas the same form was finally accepted by the Academy, on Feb. 28, 2019, on the grounds that such a feminine form as Professeure was already common usage.   

Thus, it could be too arduous to ask French language use to accommodate yet another change. A change inserted within an entrenched linguistic system, emerging into more female gender-inclusiveness. A change, this time inclusive of non-binary, transgender and fluid gender identities, beyond the de facto insufficiency of female-inclusion for referencing such multiplicities of identity. However, despite such perceived inadequacy of the former female gender inclusiveness, which in fact created a more equalitarian binary system, the difficulty of such sweeping changes (post-female gender-inclusiveness), is hardly the case. The bid for more gender-variety inclusion is no longer so far out, considering just how much trailblazing has already occurred, under the political and legal pressures, exerted by older generations of feminists, and new generations of LGBT groups, asserting, and securing, their (human) rights (to self-expression, in this particular case).

While solutions have yet to promote the requested, radical and system-wide changes in the binary French grammatical system, several new forms are emerging, that precisely rely on previous female gender-inclusive standards. Solutions discussed, for example at the Quebec French Language Office, which does not so far support overhauling the complete binary grammatical system, in alignment with the French Academy, allegedly bent on capturing usage, rather than imposing new norms (French Adademy, 2014, 2019).

The first solution discussed consists in combining masculine and feminine nouns, pronouns and adjectives, into new words. For example, combining the pronouns il (masculine 'he' in English) and elle (feminine 'she' in English), into ille or iel, or even phoneticized into yel. Thereby creating a much used bi-gendered singular pronoun option in French language use. Similarly, the LGBT in-group combination of nouns, such as frère (brother) and soeur (sister), into freure or froeur, has been cited, with corresponding combinations even for adjectives. In-group adjective combinations that join, for example,  such an adjective as valeureux (masculine form of 'valued' in English) and valeureuse (feminine form of 'valued' in English) into the new adjective valeureuxe (a bigendered adjective). WikiTrans cites many more bi-gendered examples in French, such as acteurice, corresponding to the combination of the masculine acteur and the feminine actrice ('actor' and 'actress' in English, yielding 'actoress', a new bi-gendered word.)

The second solution discussed by Martel (2019) consists in non-gendered forms, introducing completely new pronouns and morphemes to create non-binary, transgendered, or fluid gendered terms, perceived as more adequately correlated with the expression of multiple, converging and fluid gender identities. For example, the use of the new pronouns ul or ol, respectively for il or elle in French ('he' or 'she' in English), or the use of the possessive adjective mo for mon or ma ('my' in English). Likewise for the inflection of verbs, non-gendered, in-group morphology might consist in the use of the single letter suffix T or z to inflect a verb (e.g.; ul est aimeT). And so forth, since endless such options of language use might be generated as possibilities of non-binary self-expression or address, in both oral and written forms, with a ripple effect on the complete linguistic system.  

Thus, the quest for a non-binary linguistic reform has begun. Indeed such research appears very much alive in-groups of LGBT communities. Far more radical than the movement for female gender-inclusion that worked tirelessly to include females in a male world, creating a more equalitarian binary linguistic system, the non-binary quest is nonetheless emboldened and supported by precedence, in their own appropriation of language use for self-expression. Self-expression that now justly seeks to correlate language uses with newly, perfectly legitimized experiences of reality, invoking fluid, bi, trans, lesbian, or gay gender identities. 

Time will have the final word on how language shifts, on how ingroup language use might transition to the vernacular, and on which forms will survive to dominate non-binary language use. Indeed, the call for endorsement at Pronouns.org, on the Third Wednesday of October, International Pronouns Day, is a true call to arms. Just two years ago, the almost 150 year-old American Dialect Society (ADS) elected (My) Pronouns, Word of the Year (WOTY 2019), and they (singular) Word of the Decade, lending the full weight of their established, institutional power to non-binary language use. It will be no less fascinating to see how such monolithic institutions as the French Academy, might “flip flop” anew, this time on the issue of systematic grammatical overhaul. Indeed, if the French Academy is to stick to their controversial mission to capture, rather than to dictate language uses; then, depending on the strength of the non-binary movement, and perhaps the elegance of their proposed solutions, the French Academy might also espouse some more radical systemic linguistic changes. Changes that the French Language Office of Quebec, might then also endorse.

References

American Dialect Society (ADS) www.americandialect.org

International Pronouns Day https://pronounsday.org/

Lipson, M. (Sept. 1, 2021). ‘How Language Classes Are Moving Past the Gender Binary.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/crosswords/gender-language-nonbinary.html

Martel, S.  (August 12, 2019). Il, elle, iel ou ille? Quel langage neutre utiliser en français? | Gender neutral language in French, does it exist? Rubin Thomlinson LLP for Lexology
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=7412a455-adb2-4054-bb30-d0c655878d28

Mypronuns.org : Ressources  on personnal pronouns.

 https://www.mypronouns.org/ 

Pronouns/Minus 18

https://pronouns.minus18.org.au/ 

Staff (Oct 15, 2021). Journée internationale des pronoms : utiliser un langage inclusif en milieu de travail. Ministère de la Défense – Gouvernement du Canada.
https://www.canada.ca/fr/ministere-defense-nationale/feuille-derable/defense/2021/10/journee-internationale-pronoms-utiliser-langage-inclusif.html

Staff (Feb. 28, 2019) La féminisation des noms de métiers et de fonctions (Rapport, version pdf) Académie Française.
https://www.dictionnaire-academie.fr/annexes/feminisation

Staff (Feb. 28, 2019). Féminisation des noms des métiers. Rapport du 28 février 2019. Académie Française
https://www.dictionnaire-academie.fr/article/QDL038

Staff (Oct. 10, 2014). La féminisation des noms de métiers, fonctions, grades ou titres - Mise au point de l’Académie française. Académie Française
https://www.academie-francaise.fr/actualites/la-feminisation-des-noms-de-metiers-fonctions-grades-ou-titres-mise-au-point-de-lacademie

Staff (Jan 3, 2020). 2019 Word of the Year is “(My) Pronouns,” Word of the Decade is Singular “They” American Dialect Society
https://tinyurl.com/mne88kze

Staff (2019). Désigner les personnes non binaires. Banque du dépannage linguistique. Office québéquois de la langue française.
http://bdl.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/bdl/gabarit_bdl.asp?id=5370

Staff (2018). Rédaction épicène, formulation neutre, redaction non-binaire et inclusive. Banque du dépannage linguistique. Office québéquois de la langue française.  
http://bdl.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/bdl/gabarit_bdl.asp?id=5421

WIKITrans – Comment parler d’une personne non-binaire ?
https://wikitrans.co/2019/12/25/comment-parler-dune-personne-non-binaire/

Oh patents! Chouinard river wading crampons

Copyright© Françoise Herrmann

Inspired by mountain crampons, designed to prevent mountaineers from slipping and falling on hard ice, Yvon Chouinard (2016), the famous environmentalist, inventor of mountain climbing tools, and founder of the sportswear company Patagonia Inc., designed river wading crampons. River wading crampons are intended to provide traction, preventing fishermen from slipping, on the wet, slimy, algae-covered rocks, beneath their feet. The Chouinard wading crampons invention is recited in the US utility patent US9918518B2, titled Wading crampon, awarded March 20th 2018 to Yvon Chouinard, and assigned to Patagonia Inc. 

The patent discloses a non-cleated crampon that attaches to a wading shoe or boot, alternatively that could be permanently fixed to the outer sole of a wading shoe or boot. The crampon is made of a soft, malleable metal, such as aluminum, designed to “resiliently conform” or “grab” slippery, wet rocks, beneath the surface of the water. The crampon is attached with a binding system, which is strap-like in the embodiments depicted, although unlimited to this particular type of attachment system. 

The abstract of the invention is included below, together with the invention Figure 3, extracted from the patent, and an image of the Patagonia river wading boots, equipped with the invention wading crampons.

Specifically, according to the Figure 3 drawing, extracted from the patent, and the recitation of the invention, a perspective view of an embodiment the invention 200 is depicted, where the invention traction device 204 is strapped to a wading boot footwear item 202. The traction device 204 comprises a front shank 206 and a heel shank 208, joined with a hinged connecting bar 210, allowing rotation of the front shank 206, relative to the heel shank 208. The traction device also comprises front L-shaped brackets 212, and heel brackets 214, respectively attached to the front (206), and heel (208) shanks. Front and heel semi-rigid attachment members, 216 and 218, designed to conformingly receive the footwear 202, are respectively secured to the L-shaped brackets 212 and 214. A strap 220 and cinching buckle 222 are further provided to adjust and tighten the traction device 204 to the footwear 202.

A non-cleated, soft metal traction device reduces or eliminates slippage on wet and hard surfaces , such as mossy rocks beneath the water surface of a body of water . The traction device includes at least one external metal shank, plate or bar attachable to a footwear item with a desired binding system. The shank is preferably made from a soft metal material, such as a non-heat- treated aluminum alloy, so it is soft enough to grip and elastically conform to moist , wet or otherwise slippery rock and shale . The contact surface of the shank may include grooves, ribs, spaced apart ridges , or other small surface variations to improve the traction of the device in transition environments. [Abstract US9918518B2]

References

Chouinard, Y (2016). Let my people go surfing: The Education of a reluctant business man. New York, NY: Penguin Books.

Patagonia Inc. https://www.patagonia.com

Oh, patents! Chouinard Hexentric chocks

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia Inc., the company that helped to write the book on B-certified corporations(1), was awarded, together with the recently deceased, famous mountain climber, and photographer, Thomas Frost,  a mountain climbing chock patent. in 1976. The patent, US3948485A, titled Irregular, polygonal mountaineering chock, disclosed an irregular hexagonal chock invention, in series of increasing sizes, designed to be wedged between the cracks and openings of mountain rock of varying widths. In particular, the irregular polygonal shape was designed to accommodate cracks that tend to gently and variously converge, whereas the varying lengths of the chock series was designed to accommodate cracks of variable width. (See below, the photograph taken by Frost, where  Chouinard is wearing the chocks around his neck and across his body.)

The invention addressed the problematic situation of rock scaring (flaking or splintering) caused when spikes (called pitons) were hammered into the rock to support climbers. The irregular polygonal shape of the chocks, with side faces of two different widths, also offered more than one attitude for positioning the chock within a crack.  (See the technical drawing above, showing the various attitudes of a chock position within a crack.)

According to the patent, mountaineering chocks were originally ordinary machine nuts collected near the Snowdon Railway,  at the Clogwgn du'r Arddu cliffs, in the North West of Wales, one of the most renowned mountaineering sites. However, because ordinary machine nuts are regular in size, they could not be fitted properly inside irregular, and variously sized cracks that tend to converge. 

Anecdotally, Thomas Frost, who had a mechanical engineering background, made dies for mass production of the invention chocks and other mountaineering equipment, such as carabiners and pitons, some of which Chouinard originally blacksmithed himself. and sold from his car (Patagonia Inc., history). A hardware business that initially operated as Chouinard Equipment, prior to the establishment of the more lucrative "software" sports clothing company Patagonia Inc. A sports clothing company for mountain climbers that trailblazed both the layering of clothes (moisture transport against the skin, middle layer for insulation, and outer shell for protection against wind and moisture), and the use of synthetic fabric (Synchella® and Capilene®), instead of wool and cotton for mountain climbing. A sports clothing company that was also steered at the helm of environmental, community and social activism, including philanthropy. Patagonia Inc., offers 1% of sales for the Planet, for projects involving preservation and restoration of the natural environment.  

The abstract for this invention is included below, together with the patent Figure 1, showing an irregular polygonal invention chock wedged into the crack of a mountain rock. Specifically, the patent Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of the novel irregular polygonal invention chock 10, with a large cavity 42 at the center, in view of minimizing the weight of the larger size chocks. The invention chock 10 is further depicted wedged between opposing walls  14 and 16, and  supporting a portion of a rope sling 12.

A polygonal mountaineering chock with at least two sets of opposed faces in which extensions of each set of faces defines an acute angle, and the median distances between the two sets of opposed faces are unequal, whereby the chock can be received in holding position in cracks or openings of two different widths. A series of such chocks in graduated sizes is provided, with the distances between the sets of opposed faces being uniformly increased, such that at least one position of one chock of the series will fit into any crack of a width between the smaller end of the narrower set of faces of the smallest chock and the larger end of the wider set of faces of the largest chock. 
 [Absract US3948485A]

Note

(1) Certified B Corporations are “do-gooder” companies. They are legally required to consider all the consequences of their decisions, in terms of social, and environmental impact.  B-certified companies “meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose”. 

References

1972 - Y. Chouinard by T. Frost

BCertification https://bcorporation.net/

Patagonia Inc.  https://www.patagonia.com/

Patagonia Inc. Company History  https://www.patagonia.com/company-history/

Paumgarten, N. (Nov. 12, 2016) Patagonia’s philosopher-king. The New Yorker.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/09/19/patagonias-philosopher-king

Slotnik, D. E. (Sept. 12, 2018) Tom Frost, mountaineer who designed a cleaner climb, dies at 82. NYTimes.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/12/obituaries/tom-frost-dead.html

International Day of the Girl Child 2021 - Digital Generation. Our Generation.

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

October 11 is the International Day of the Girl Child, a celebration, since December 19, 2011, when the United Nations General Assembly voted for Resolution 66/170. A resolution designating this day in honor of the Girl Child, in recognition of the critical role she might play, in becoming a leader, and a change-maker, to drive change, and do good in the world, and to break the cycle of poverty, and extreme poverty.

The theme, Digital Generation. Our Generation, for this year's International Day of the Girl Child, addresses the gender gap in access, use, and the design of technology, for girls' work, leadership and activism. In support of this campaign, seeking to eliminate the digital gender gap, UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, cites 2018 figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In particular :

• Almost 50% of the world population is still offline. Women and girls are least likely to have access to this technology.
• In some parts of the world, 70% of women and girls do not have a mobile device, access to the Internet, and to digital literacy skills.
• Not all children can continue their education offline, when schools are closed due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

In general, the depicted gender gap situation in technology was exacerbated by the pandemic. Thus, UN Women calls for universal and affordable access to the Internet, for everyone, everywhere,  and on this day, specifically, for girls to be included at all levels of access, use, and design of technology.  In sum, to the rhetorical question: A digital revolution? The answer is emphatic and univocal: Not without girls!

At UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the figures quoted are even more compelling indicators of the digital gender gap. In particular :

• Some 2.2 billion people, below the age of 25, still do not have Internet access at home.
• The gender gap for global Internet users grew from 11% in 2013, to 17% in 2017. In the world's least developed countries, the gender gap hovers around 43%.  

UNICEF also points out that the gender gap is not only about connectivity, it is also about girls not owning, or using digital devices, and about not gaining access to tech-related jobs, and skills.

Investing in, and empowering all girls to achieve their true potential, in the spirit of the International Day of the Girl Child, becomes all the more pressing when you read some of the posted success stories. Stories of girls coding, girls trailblazing, using technology to advance computer literacy, to digitize savings, to dismantle the urban/rural divide; girls' satellite soaring to the stars from Kazakhstan, or one girl’s app, in Swahili, designed to connect patients with healthcare professionals, while maintaining privacy and dignity.

Cheers to all girls, everywhere! 

References

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)  https://www.oecd.org/unitedstates/

 UNICEF - International Day of the Girl Child 2021
https://www.unicef.org/gender-equality/international-day-girl-2021

United Nations General Assembly - Resolution 66/170  -  International Day of the Girl Child    https://undocs.org/en/%20A/RES/66/170

United Nations - International Day of the Girl Child 2021

https://www.un.org/en/observances/girl-child-day

UN Women - International Day of the Girl Child 2021 

https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/girl-child 

World Vegetarian Day 2021

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

October 1st is World Vegetarian Day, celebrating plant-based diets, fashion, and lifestyles. In 2021, the vegetarian landscape is bountiful as ever. Plant-based products sold in supermarkets, co-ops, and even at major fast-food chains, such as Burger King, are now clearly rivaling animal products in taste, nutrition, and health. In turn, such products are making it easier for many prospective vegetarians to finally transition “painlessly” to a plant-based diet. 

Some of the most significant reasons for renewed interest in plant-based lifestyles, in particular the development of new food technologies at the service of vegetarian diets, include:

- core ethical issues of long-overdue kindness to animals (PETA)

- critical awareness of the unsustainable economy of animal husbandry, where 70 billion animals are bred and fed, under cruel conditions, to feed, 7 billion people worldwide (Gandhi & Pandya, 2017) and   

- the threat, and looming disasters of climate change, considering that animal agriculture is responsible for an estimated 14.5% of greenhouse gases (Staff, The Human League).

 Below, a sample list of some of the most popular brands of plant-based substitute meat, sausages, chicken, burgers, fish, eggs, cheese, and mouth-watering ice cream, plus more.

Veggies, and...

 

References

Animal Justice https://animaljustice.ca/ 

Arctic Zero® Vegan ice cream https://www.arcticzero.com/ 

Before the Butcher® https://btbfoods.com/

Beyond Meat® https://www.beyondmeat.com/

Brave Robot® Animal-free Ice-cream (1st pint free) https://perfectdayfoods.com/

Coconut Bliss Ice cream® https://coconutbliss.com/

Daiya Deliciously Dairy-free®  https://daiyafoods.com/

Doozy Pots™ Plant-based Gelato https://www.wonderlabdoozy.com/

European Vegetarian Union https://www.euroveg.eu/

Follow your Heart® Dairy-free cheese and Vegenaise® https://followyourheart.com/

Gandhi, P. and Ryan Pandya (Dec. 5, 2017) Changing the Dairy Industry by Perfect Day. YouTube video : https://youtu.be/P0hjMfoUpcY

Gardein® https://www.gardein.com/

Good Catch® Vegan fish https://goodcatchfoods.com/

Impossible™ Food - Meat made from plants. https://impossiblefoods.com/

JUST egg - Plant-based eggs https://www.ju.st/ 

Kind Frozen™ Treat Bars  https://www.kindsnacks.com/frozen-treat-bars/

Miyoko's Creamery - Vegan dairy https://miyokos.com/ 

Morningstar Farms® Meatless foods https://www.morningstarfarms.com/en_US/home.html

Nada Moo® Dairy-free Ice-cream https://nadamoo.com/

Oatly!® Icecream https://us.oatly.com/

O'MY!® Dairy-free Gelato https://www.omygelato.com/

PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals [*Reader beware - Difficult content*] https://support.peta.org/

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine https://www.pcrm.org/

Sorbabes® Women-owned, creamy dairy-free sorbet https://www.sorbabes.com/

Staff (May 31, 2021) What is animal agriculture & how does it affect global warming? The Human League. https://thehumaneleague.org/article/animal-agriculture

Staff (March 4, 2021) These are some of the most popular vegan cheese brands and where to find them near you. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)   https://www.peta.org/living/food/top-4-vegan-cheeses

Sweet Earth®  Plant-based meats https://www.goodnes.com/

Tofurky® Plant-based roasts https://tofurky.com/ 

Vegan Meat brands that are changing everything - PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) https://www.peta.org/living/food/meat-replacements/

Vegan ice cream brands and flavors to try. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)
https://www.peta.org/living/food/vegan-ice-cream-flavors-to-cool-you-down-this-summer/

Vegetarian Society (UK - since 1847)  https://vegsoc.org/

VioLife® 100% vegan cheese https://violifefoods.com/us 

World Vegetarian Day https://worldvegetarianday.navs-online.org/