The Great Metagration, a New Blockchain Life NFT Collection, Launches Engaging Thousands of Top Celebrities, Businesses, and Brands in Hopes of Saving the New Metaverse

“The metaverse is red hot,” says Wall Street Journal bestselling author Kary Oberbrunner. “Look no further than The United States Patent and Trademark Office.” However, there’s another side too. Web3 should scare the hell out of humans. This is why a new NFT collection, dropping on March 14, is engaging thousands of the world’s biggest businesses, brands, and celebrities, in an effort to imagine how humans and machines might live peacefully and wholly in our inevitable metaverse reality.

New NFT Collection

COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Blockchain Life has partnered with the artist known as “the metagration” to create a unique NFT collection—The Great Metagration—which reimagines a new future of opportunities. The official drop takes place on March 14, at 1 PM ET on OpenSea, the world’s largest NFT marketplace.

“The metaverse is red hot,” says Wall Street Journal bestselling author Kary Oberbrunner. “Look no further than The United States Patent and Trademark Office. The past 90 days, many brands officially entered the metaverse, a new immersive reality.”

Businesses (like Disney) appointed chief metaverse officers. Celebrities (like Snoop Dogg) bought virtual properties. Designers like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Nike created digital lines of clothing and shoes. And artists like Marshmello, Travis Scott, and Ariana Grande hosted virtual concerts for millions of fans in recent times.

What’s the context for the new NFT project? 

“Web3 opens a world of possibilities—literally,” says Oberbrunner, CEO of Igniting Souls Publishing Agency and creator of Blockchain Life.

However, there’s another side too. Web3 should scare the hell out of humans—and—borrowing a line from Star Trek, “resistance is futile.” Headlines swirling around the metaverse reveal a disturbing, darker picture of humanity.

From virtual Nazi concentration camp digital reenactments, to strip clubs where kids’ avatars are invited to get naked to do “unspeakable” things, this new digital world is in desperate need of saving, even before it officially begins.

What’s the NFT Collection?

The new NFT collection—The Great Metagration—offers a moment in time when people can create an ideal third reality, the culmination of digital and physical worlds. By wrapping these NFTs with strategic domain names, stakeholders will decide which worlds to unlock within the metaverse and which ones to shut forever. And according to Oberbrunner, “The elements they choose to include could decide our future as a species.”

This NFT collection is engaging thousands of the world’s biggest businesses, brands, and celebrities, in an effort to imagine how humans and machines might live peacefully and wholly in our inevitable metaverse reality.

How did the NFT project come about? 

The metagration’s initial minting— 60 digital assets and domain names—started appearing on OpenSea the morning of February 25, 2022. Thousands of unique NFTs will be available at the official launch on March 14, at 1 PM ET. Insider updates can be obtained at the NFT project website: TheGreatMetagration.io

Although none of the NFTs are presently for sale, this collection of who’s who includes celebrities from many industries such as film, art, sports, music, entrepreneurship, and fashion.

“The metagration has already secured nearly 10,000 more of the hottest domain names associated with leading businesses, brands, and influencers, collectively representing billions of followers and trillions of dollars,” said Oberbrunner, a spokesperson for the metagration.

Evidently, the metagration noticed an emerging trend with new tech. In recent years, he saw more and more brands and businesses using .io extensions for websites. Examples include etherscan.iometamask.io, and autograph.io Even the latest Matrix movie references .io, a new underground human city.

His timing was spot on because December 2021 through February 2022, proved to be a popular time for corporations to onboard into the metaverse.

Why is the NFT project important?

Oberbrunner said, “The metagration has several essential forthcoming twists that demonstrate the true utility of the NFT collection and how together humans could create a safer Web3 world.”

When he asked how, the NFT artist gave Oberbrunner an example. Evidently disgusted by the headlines of the recent sexual assault of a mother in the metaverse, the metagration purchased several domain names with the purpose of minting them as NFTs and forever retiring them, symbolically abolishing what they represent.

MetaverseRape.io, MetaverseRape.com, and MetaverseRape.xyz will never be used for evil in the new world. Instead, these NFTs and domain names will be leveraged to provide financial, emotional, and spiritual support for victims of rape in the real world and the digital world.

the metagration is not naïve. He knows owning a domain name and NFT will not eliminate evil. However, through the deeper message and movement intrinsic to his new NFT art collection, he aims to bring hope and healing to the new Web3 world.

How can you find out more about the NFT Project?

The manifesto, core values, and updates related to this project can be found at the website. the metagration posts new NFTs regularly on social media via Twitter or Instagram. To see the growing list of engaged influencers, brands, and businesses, visit the collection. All relevant links are below:

SOURCE: Blockchain Life

Media Contact
Email: support@theblockchainlife.io
‭Phone: (646) 397-7702‬
Related Images

Image 1: New NFT Collection

The Great Metagration could become the most valuable art collection on the planet and for good reason. It includes the hottest domain names associated with leading brands, collectively representing billions of followers and trillions of dollars.

Image 2: Blockchain Life

The metaverse opens up a world of possibilities. But, there’s another side too and it’s scaring the hell out of people. New NFT project engages thousands of top celebrities and businesses to help bring good.

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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Propeller Health accelerates push towards value-based care with new digital health solutions for patients, providers and health systems

  • Announces integrations with multiple leading Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems
  • Introduces a new solution to enable Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) by healthcare providers
  • Launches digital platform updates to enable respiratory care at home, in-clinic, and on-the-go

MIAMI, March 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Propeller Health, a leader in digital health for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), today announced three exciting updates and new solutions to bring its clinically proven, FDA-cleared platform to more patients, providers and health systems.

Integrations expand the reach of Propeller’s digital platform to more health systems
Propeller announced integration with leading EHR systems to expand in-EHR access to its digital platform to more health systems. This includes integration with Cerner Millennium EHR as a validated CODE application and access to Epic EHR through Propeller’s integration engine powered by Redox.

These EHR integrations enable:

  • Streamlined provider workflows with the Propeller clinician portal accessible within the EHR
  • Seamless data transmission so patient data collected by Propeller can be made available in the EHR
  • Integrated experience for physicians and clinical staff to enroll and monitor patients onto the Propeller platform, receive notifications, and adjust treatment decisions as needed. At CommonSpirit’s Dignity Health, Propeller’s EHR integration resulted in a 75-80% reduction in time to enroll a patient – down to just two minutes

New solution to support health systems on RTM
Propeller announced a new solution for respiratory care for independent clinics, physician groups and health systems to provide remote monitoring for eligible Medicare patients that may be reimbursable under the new RTM codes added to the 2022 Physician Fee Schedule in January 2022 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)1.

The solution, which may be provided under an RTM arrangement or as a chronic care offering sponsored by a clinic or health system, offers physicians and clinical staff:

  • Web-based Propeller clinician portal to enroll patients with chronic respiratory conditions who could benefit from remote monitoring
  • Templates for patient education materials and platform education through Propeller’s self-study training library
  • Insights for ongoing patient monitoring, including data and messaging on medication use and adherence

The solution was designed especially for older individuals with chronic respiratory conditions such as COPD, with plans to expand to the asthma population.
Enrolled patients benefit from:

  • Propeller sensors that attach to their maintenance and rescue inhalers and cellular hub that automatically collects and transmits medication use data to their provider
  • Patient and caregiver access to actionable insights through Propeller’s web portal or smartphone app
  • Propeller’s guided onboarding and support for clinicians and to engage and motivate patients

Digital platform updates expand accessibility to more patients to improve health equity
Propeller also announced significant updates to its digital platform that improve health equity by making it accessible to more patients, particularly vulnerable populations and older adults. These include:

  • Expanded availability of Propeller sensor for AstraZeneca’s SymbicortⓇ, a leading solution in today’s market for inhaled prescriptions for COPD and asthma in the U.S.
  • Improved medication management in the smartphone app including tracking for generics and expanded prescription refill options in Propeller’s My Pharmacy tool
  • Propeller’s Virtual Care Team, adding high-touch support and coaching shown to promote improved outcomes such as reduced rescue inhaler use and better retention2

About Propeller Health
At Propeller Health, our mission is to empower every person living with a chronic respiratory disease to take control of their health so they can live a better life. As a leader in digital health and therapeutics for asthma and COPD, we work to improve clinical outcomes, healthcare costs, and quality of life by supporting patients in managing their condition with their healthcare provider.

Propeller’s platform includes FDA-cleared medical devices, consumer apps and access to clinical data for provider monitoring throughout the care journey, to create value to all stakeholders. We enable a personalized digital experience with a human touch used by patients, caregivers, providers, payers, pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare organizations across the US, Europe and Asia.

Propeller Health is a wholly owned subsidiary of ResMed. For more information, visit www.propellerhealth.com.

1 Providers are responsible for determining the tools and practices that they need to use to achieve reimbursement for remote therapeutic monitoring
2 Passive Monitoring of Short-Acting Beta-Agonist Use via Digital Platform in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: https://formative.jmir.org/2019/4/e13286/

For media
Cate Layne
+1 608.466.2444
cate.layne@propellerhealth.com

Alpine Optoelectronics introduces 100G QSFP28 O-band xWDM PAM4 Transceivers for Passive Multiple Channel Interconnects

Enabled by nCP4™ Silicon Photonics Optical Engine

100G QSFP28 xWDM PAM4 Optical Transceiver

Alpine Optoelectronics’ Single-Wavelength 100G QSFP28 O-band xWDM PAM4 module will support passive fiber links up to 1.6Tbps and reach up to 25km.

FREMONT, Calif., March 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Alpine Optoelectronics, Inc., a leading innovator of optical networking technology, introduces a new Single-Wavelength 100G QSFP28 O-band xWDM PAM4 transceiver.

The 100G QSFP28 xWDM transceiver is built on Alpine’s patented nCP4 Silicon Photonics Optical Engine. Featuring 16 wavelengths from 1295-1312nm at 200GHz spacing aligned to the LAN-WDM grid, the product supports up to 1.6Tbps of data capacity and up to 25km reach over single-mode fiber without dispersion compensation or amplification. Additional wavelengths and spacing may be available on a custom basis. The module offers low latency for delay sensitive applications, and its low power consumption and CAUI-4 host interface are compatible with common 100GE switches.

In addition, the company introduces a 100G QSFP28 ER Lite version to support single channel applications up to 30km or more.

“Alpine’s new 100G QSFP28 xWDM PAM4 transceiver expands our portfolio of silicon photonics-based transceivers and addresses the need for a straightforward and scalable high-speed, low-cost solution for long to extended reach optical interconnects,” said Tongqing Wang, President and CEO of Alpine Optoelectronics. “It provides our partners in datacenter and wireless markets with another innovative and effective tool to meet their increasingly diverse and cost-sensitive requirements.”

Alpine Optoelectronics plans to demonstrate its 100G QSFP28 xWDM technology and other optical connectivity solutions in Booth #3750 at OFC 2022 in San Diego, California from March 8-10.

About Alpine Optoelectronics
Alpine Optoelectronics, Inc. is a US-based innovator in photonic products headquartered in Fremont, California. The company develops and commercializes Silicon Photonics, PAM4, and Coherent optical technologies to deliver advanced solutions for next generation optical networks to our customers and partners.

nCP4 is a trademark of Alpine Optoelectronics, Inc.

For more information visit Alpine Optoelectronics at www.alpineoptoelectronics.com or email us at sales@alpineoptoelectronics.com.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2364cab3-4147-4b53-ab57-9411038c4499

Hitachi Energy selected as technology partner for the world’s longest AC power-from-shore project in Norway

World-first solution will combine two power quality technologies to deliver renewable energy reliably and safely from the mainland power grid

Zurich, Switzerland, March 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hitachi Energy, the global technology and market leader in power grids, announced today that it has been selected by Aker BP, the Norwegian oil and gas exploration and production company, as technology partner for the NOAKA power-from-shore project off the Norwegian coast. The entire project will be powered by up to 150 megawatts of power from the mainland grid – making it the world’s longest power-from-shore AC connection at around 250 km.

Hitachi Energy will perform detailed front-end engineering and design (FEED) studies for a power quality solution that will enable the Aker BP operated NOA Fulla field and the Equinor operated Krafla field in the North Sea to be powered from the mainland. The contract awarded to Hitachi Energy includes an option to deliver the power quality solution when the FEED studies are completed.

By using power from the mainland grid, which is mainly renewable hydropower,  minimizes NOAKA’s carbon footprint. To ensure the smooth, reliable and safe transmission of electricity to the offshore platforms, Hitachi Energy’s solution combines two power quality technologies that have never been used before for this type of application: a high-performance STATCOM, called SVC Light®, and thyristor-controlled series capacitors. The MACH™ control and protection system, will enable the two technologies to work in harmony as a single synchronized solution. This will be made possible by leveraging Hitachi Energy’s extensive and unique know-how in power quality solutions as well as its domain integration capabilities.

“We are delighted that Aker BP has selected our pioneering power quality solution, enabling this vital energy project to be powered with emission-free renewable energy,” says Niklas Persson, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy’s Grid Integration business. “This world-first solution will also enable progress toward mega-scale offshore renewable power installations, offering viable alternative pathways for connecting power from shore with AC over long distances.”

“Our ambition is to develop the NOAKA area with a minimum carbon footprint and a prerequisite for this is that the fields are supplied with power-from-shore,” says Lars Høier, Senior Vice President and Asset Manager for NOAKA at Aker BP. “We selected Hitachi Energy as our trusted technology partner to provide a reliable and flexible grid connection and power quality solution to secure high reliability in our operations.”

Hitachi Energy’s proposed solution comprises a new grid connection to house the STATCOM, thyristor-controlled series capacitors, shunt reactors and gas-insulated switchgear. The solution will also increase the transmission capacity of an existing 420 kV mainland grid connection with new gas-insulated switchgear and a power transformer. These are all technologies made by Hitachi Energy to secure exceptional levels of grid availability and reliability.

Hitachi Energy: proven track record in long-distance power-from-shore

Hitachi Energy supplied the world’s first long-distance power-from-shore installation in Norway in 2005 using its HVDC Light® high-voltage direct current technology. Since then, Hitachi Energy has supplied four of the five HVDC power-from-shore installations, all of which supply platforms off the Norwegian coast. In December 2021, Hitachi Energy won a contract to supply the most powerful power-from-shore solution in the Middle East and North Africa. The solution will deliver 3,200 MW of low-carbon power to two offshore production clusters, reducing the clusters’ emissions by up to 35 percent.

About Hitachi Energy Ltd.

Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We serve customers in the utility, industry and infrastructure sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value chain. Together with customers and partners, we pioneer technologies and enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future. We are advancing the world’s energy system to become more sustainable, flexible and secure whilst balancing social, environmental and economic value. Hitachi Energy has a proven track record and unparalleled installed base in more than 140 countries. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ around 38,000 people in 90 countries and generate business volumes of approximately $10 billion USD.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, contributes to a sustainable society with a higher quality of life by driving innovation through data and technology as the Social Innovation Business. Hitachi is focused on strengthening its contribution to the Environment, the Resilience of business and social infrastructure as well as comprehensive programs to enhance Security & Safety. Hitachi resolves the issues faced by customers and society across six domains: IT, Energy, Mobility, Industry, Smart Life and Automotive Systems through its proprietary Lumada solutions. The company’s consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2020 (ended March 31, 2021) totaled 8,729.1 billion yen ($78.6 billion), with 871 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 350,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at https://www.hitachi.com.

 

 

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Rebecca Bleasdale
Hitachi Energy Ltd.
+41 78643 2613
rebecca.bleasdale@hitachienergy.com

Iveco Group and Hyundai Motor Company sign Memorandum of Understanding to explore future collaboration

IVECO GROUP N.V.

Iveco_Group_Hyundai_Motor_Company_MoU_signing

Turin, Italy and Seoul, South Korea, 7 March 2022. Iveco Group (MI: IVG) and Hyundai Motor Company (HYMTF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the 4th of March to explore possible collaborations on shared vehicle technology, joint sourcing, and mutual supply.

The signing took place at Hyundai Motor Company and the major participants include Gerrit Marx, CEO of Iveco Group; Marco Liccardo, Chief Technology & Digital Officer of Iveco Group; Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor Company; and Martin Zeilinger, Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Vehicle Development Tech Unit of Hyundai Motor Company.

The MoU is a preliminary step in assessing the potential for the two groups to cooperate in the domains of technology and platforms, encompassing components and systems. Areas of possible mutual interest pertain to electric powertrains and platforms including fuel-cell systems, vehicle automation and connectivity for commercial vehicles.

This agreement is a further step in Iveco Group’s and Hyundai Motor Company’s independent strategies to create leading innovative solutions in today’s fast-changing environment by building an ecosystem of mutually beneficial partnerships.

Iveco Group N.V. (MI: IVG) is a global automotive leader active in the Commercial & Specialty Vehicles, Powertrain, and related Financial Services arenas. Each of its eight brands is a major force in its specific business: IVECO, a pioneering commercial vehicles brand that designs, manufactures, and markets heavy, medium, and light-duty trucks; FPT Industrial, a global leader in a vast array of advanced powertrain technologies in the agriculture, construction, marine, power generation, and commercial vehicles sectors; IVECO BUS and HEULIEZ, mass-transit and premium bus and coach brands; Iveco Defence Vehicles, for highly-specialised defence and civil protection equipment; ASTRA, a leader in large-scale heavy-duty quarry and construction vehicles; Magirus, the industry-reputed firefighting vehicle and equipment manufacturer; and IVECO CAPITAL, the financing arm which supports them all. Iveco Group employs approximately 34,000 people around the world and has 29 manufacturing plants and 31 R&D centres. Further information is available on the Company’s website www.ivecogroup.com

Media Contacts:
Francesco Polsinelli, Tel: +39 335 1776091
Fabio Lepore, Tel: +39 335 7469007
E-mail: mediarelations@ivecogroup.com

About Hyundai Motor Company
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is present in over 200 countries with more than 120,000 employees dedicated to tackling real-world mobility challenges around the globe.
Based on the brand vision ‘Progress for Humanity,’ Hyundai Motor is accelerating its transformation into a Smart Mobility Solution Provider.
The company invests in advanced technologies such as robotics and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) to bring about revolutionary mobility solutions, while pursuing open innovation to introduce future mobility services.
In pursuit of sustainable future for the world, Hyundai will continue its efforts to introduce zero emission vehicles equipped with industry-leading hydrogen fuel cell and EV technologies.

More information about Hyundai Motor and its products can be found at:
http://worldwide.hyundai.com or http://globalpr.hyundai.com

Contact:
Jin Cha
Global PR Team / Hyundai Motor Company
sjcar@hyundai.com
+82 2 3464 2128

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Amazon Rainforest Nears Climate ‘Tipping Point’ Faster Than Expected

Hammered by climate change and relentless deforestation, the Amazon rainforest is losing its capacity to recover and could irretrievably transition into savannah, with dire consequences for the region and the world, according to a study published Monday.

Researchers warned that the findings mean the Amazon could be approaching a so-called tipping point faster than previously understood.

Analyzing 25 years of satellite data, researchers measured for the first time the Amazon’s resilience against shocks such as droughts and fires, a key indicator of overall health.

Resilience has declined across more than three-quarters of the Amazon basin, home to half the world’s rainforest, the researchers reported in the journal Nature Climate Change.

In areas hit hardest by destruction or drought, the forest’s ability to bounce back was reduced by approximately half, co-author Tim Lenton, director of the University of Exeter’s Global Systems Institute, told AFP.

“Our resilience measure changed by more than a factor of two in the places nearer to human activity and in places that are driest,” he said in an interview.

Climate models have suggested that global heating – which has on average warmed Earth’s surface 1.1 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels – could by itself push the Amazon past a point of no return into a far drier savannah-like state.

If carbon pollution continues unabated, that scenario could be locked in by mid-century, according to some models.

“But, of course, it’s not just climate change – people are busy chopping or burning the forest down, which is a second pressure point,” Lenton said.

“Those two things interact, so there are concerns the transition could happen even earlier.”

Besides the Amazon, ice sheets on Greenland and the West Antarctic, Siberian permafrost loaded with CO2 and methane, monsoon rains in South Asia, coral reef ecosystems, and the Atlantic Ocean current are all are vulnerable to tipping points that could radically alter the world as we know it.

Global fallout

Deforestation in Brazil has surged since far-right President Jair Bolsonaro took office in 2019, hitting a 15-year high last year.

Scientists reported recently that Brazil’s rainforest – 60% of the Amazon basin’s total – has shifted from a “sink” to a “source” of CO2, releasing 20% more of the greenhouse gas into the atmosphere over the past decade than it absorbed.

Terrestrial ecosystems worldwide have been a crucial ally as the world struggles to curb CO2 emissions. Vegetation and soil globally have consistently absorbed about 30% of carbon pollution since 1960, even as emissions increased by half.

“Savannification” of the Amazon would be hugely disruptive, in South America and across the globe.

More than 90 billion tons of CO2 stored in its rainforest – twice worldwide annual emissions from all sources – could be released into the atmosphere, pushing global temperatures up even faster.

Regionally, “it’s not just the forests that take a hit,” said Lenton. “If you lose the recycling of rainfall from the Amazon, you get knock-on effects in central Brazil, the country’s agricultural heartland.”

Ominously, the new findings marshal data pointing in the same direction.

“Many researchers have theorized that a tipping point could be reached,” said co-author Niklas Boers, a professor at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany.

“Our study provides vital empirical evidence that we are approaching that threshold.”

‘Saving grace’

To assess change in the resilience of the rainforest, Lenton, Boers and lead author Chris Boulton from Exeter University analyzed two satellite data sets, one measuring biomass and the other the “greenness” of the canopy.

“If too much resilience is lost, dieback may become inevitable – but that won’t become obvious until the major event that tips the system is over,” said Boers.

There may be a “saving grace” that could pull the Amazon back from the brink.

“The rainforest naturally has a lot of resilience – this is a biome that weathered the ice ages, after all,” said Lenton.

“If you could bring the temperature back down again even after passing the tipping point, you might be able to rescue the situation.”

“But that still puts you in the realm of massive carbon dioxide removal, or geoengineering, which has its own risks.”

Just under 20% of the Amazon rainforest – straddling nine nations and covering more than 5 million square kilometers (2 million square miles) – has been destroyed or degraded since 1970, mostly for the production of lumber, soy, palm oil, biofuels and beef.

Source: Voice of America

As Hershey Raises Prices, Ivory Coast Cocoa Farmers Grapple With Climate Change

Chocolate makers are expected to raise prices this year due to higher costs of cocoa from exporters like Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer.

Hershey, the largest producer of chocolate products in the United States, said last month it will raise prices on its products across the board due to the rising cost of ingredients.

Meanwhile, chocolate makers like Dana Mroueh said they are seeing cocoa prices rise in Ivory Coast, the world’s biggest cocoa producer.

“We’ve noticed the price of cocoa is going up these few years, especially organic cocoa. So, from the beginning to today, those five years, we can say the price has risen 20 percent,” Mroueh said.

Demand for chocolate in America increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and cocoa producers in Ivory Coast are struggling to keep up with that demand.

Experts say one reason is the impact of climate change.

Harvard University says that by 2030, parts of West Africa will be too hot and dry to adequately produce cocoa. The West African countries of Ghana and Ivory Coast alone produce 70 percent of global supply.

Cocoa farmer Raphael Konan Kouassi took VOA to his plantation, a shady orchard where fat green and yellow cocoa pods hung from tree trunks. He said trees are yielding less due to rising temperatures and poor rains.

“Almost all of the young plants die in the high season. If you have not been able to get water to them, you have no cocoa,” he said.

Kouassi receives government assistance in the form of cocoa trees, which are more resilient to the fluctuations of climate change, but he said government distributions happen at the wrong time of year for the saplings to survive.

Christian Bunn of the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers, a global scientific organization, said information about how the climate is changing can inform farmers on how to better nurture their crops.

“What we’re seeing is that the onset of both dry and wet season can change. It’s less reliable. During the season, there may be breaks in terms of rain during the dry season, or there’s a dry spell during the wet season, and the overall distribution or amounts of rainfall they’re receiving may change,” Bunn said.

The data shows it may be better for farmers to stop producing cocoa and diversify into other crops, he said.

However, Olga Yenou, the CEO of an Ivorian company that supplies The Hershey Company, said higher prices for cocoa could be welcomed by farmers.

“My opinion is that these farmers should have better prices, should earn more, because they work hard. Most are poor,” Yenou said.

Her wish appears to be coming true. As climate change continues to bite, prices continue to surge.

Source: Voice of America

Speech By Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister For Foreign Affairs and Second Minister For Education Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman for Launch of “Mental Health In Asia” Webinar Series, 7 March 2022

Ladies and Gentlemen, good morning.

Let me begin by first thanking the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and Temasek Foundation for organising this event together with our friends from across the ASEAN region.

COVID-19 has certainly affected ASEAN, causing major disruptions not only to public health, but also impacting the economies of ASEAN Member States (AMS).

Nevertheless, in the early onset of the pandemic, ASEAN rallied together to address and tackle the challenges posed by COVID-19, both through ASEAN-led initiatives as well as in cooperation with its external partners.

To shore up ASEAN’s defences against COVID-19, Singapore has actively supported ASEAN’s efforts including through the contribution of our allotted vaccines to other ASEAN Member States under the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund and donation of SGD7.9 million worth of medical supplies to the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies.

Aside from responding to the prevailing pandemic situation, long-term recovery is also a priority for ASEAN. The ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework and its Implementation Plan, established in November 2020, sets five broad strategies for recovery including: Firstly, enhancing health systems; Secondly, strengthening human security; Third, maximising the potential of an intra-ASEAN market and broader economic integration; Fourth, accelerating inclusive digital transformation; and advancing towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

Moving forward, we are entering a “new normal” and adjustments will have to be made. Initiatives, like the establishment of an ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework, will allow the region to resume travel safely and consequently aid the region’s economic recovery in the longer-term.

The prolonged battle against the pandemic has tested the resiliency and endurance of people across the region, including in Singapore.

In particular, we should not overlook the impact of COVID-19 on mental health. The pandemic has naturally brought mental health discussions to the forefront.

This webinar series provides a timely opportunity for us to come together and discuss how the practice of mental healthcare in our respective countries has adapted and evolved in response.

In Singapore, an IMH study conducted amidst Singapore’s ‘Circuit Breaker’ period in 2020 found that, although Singapore fared better than several developed countries in the West as well as in Asia, about 13.3% of participants still reported experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety.

The top three sources of stress identified by participants were: Firstly, the risk of family members and friends contracting COVID-19; Secondly, financial loss, such as losing work opportunities or having to take unpaid leave; thirdly, of course, unemployment.

Singapore is making every effort to address the public health and economic causes of these stressors.

Similarly, we also understand the impetus for innovation in our mental healthcare systems, to build awareness around the importance of mental health and provide more accessible and effective mental health services for all, in this new normal.

To that end, the Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being will build on the work of the COVID-19 Mental Wellness Taskforce, formed in the initial stages of the pandemic, to lead the charge on this front.

Some of the areas being developed and explored include: Tele-psychiatry, Neurostimulation, and Trauma-informed and Crisis care. We have also started developing a standardised National Mental Health curriculum catering to different populations in Singapore in order to provide Psychological First Aid and Crisis Training, mental health literacy training, and peer training in the workplace.

Beyond treatment, it is equally important to foster an inclusive and supportive culture around mental health awareness in our societies.

Improving mental health literacy and social support systems, particularly among youth, can pave the way for more understanding and resilient societies.

Like pandemics, mental health issues also transcend geographical boundaries and age groups.

ASEAN and our partners have acknowledged the new challenges brought on by COVID-19 and the importance of regional and international cooperation in the field of mental health, in the East Asia Summit Leaders’ Statement on Mental Health Cooperation and the ASEAN Plus Three Leaders’ Statement on Cooperation on Mental Health Amongst Adolescents and Children in October 2021.

Critically, these Statements demonstrated our joint commitment towards advancing partnerships and collaboration on mental health through ASEAN-led platforms and mechanisms.

Nevertheless, there is much more that we can do together as a region and with our friends around the world,

to develop expertise and share best practices.

To further strengthen regional mental health capabilities, Singapore is committed to building partnerships with like-minded organisations in ASEAN, as we had previously done with South Korea’s National Centre for Mental Health and Japan’s National Centre of Neurology and Psychiatry under the Asian Consortium of National Mental health Institutes.

For example, through the Consortium’s annual meetings with members and invited guests, Singapore has been able to facilitate the exchange of best practices, develop policies on mental health, share latest research studies, and provide opportunities for expertise transfer via educational programmes.

This webinar series organised by Temasek Foundation and IMH is another important step forward in this respect.

As with the Consortium, I hope that this webinar will serve as a platform for participants to exchange best practices,

insights and latest data on mental health issues in the ASEAN region.

I also hope that it will catalyse further in-depth discussions as well as collaborations between ASEAN countries, act as a source of inspiration for a call to action in the region, foster the development of a network of mental health professionals, and be a fruitful experience for everyone involved. I encourage you to use this valuable opportunity to engage with and learn from your colleagues from across the region.

Our region is diverse, and we may each face different challenges unique to our respective countries and societies.

But I am confident that if we continue to engage in dialogue, and share experiences, knowledge, and expertise, we can find ways together to build a more resilient future for all of our communities.

Source: Embassy of the Republic of Singapore, Tokyo