The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today..

 

Statement by the Prime Minister on Global Dignity Day

October 28, 2020
Ottawa, Ontario

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement to mark Global Dignity Day in Canada:

“Today, students and young people in Canada are marking Global Dignity Day. On this day, we reaffirm that everyone – regardless of who they are or where they come from – deserves a fair and equal chance at success, and acknowledge that together, we still have a lot of work to do in achieving a fairer and more inclusive world.  

“This year, the Global Dignity movement’s #UniteKindness campaign aims to connect young people around the world through positive actions during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign is also a reminder to be kind to one’s self and to others. Demonstrating that by being there for others and by showing compassion, and recognizing everyone’s worth, we can appreciate that everybody deserves dignity – no matter their identity, beliefs, or circumstances.

“As Canada and the world continue the fight against COVID-19, let us remember that we must all do what we can to uphold and respect the dignity of every human life. That includes ensuring Canadians can put food on the table, pay their bills, and have access to the supports they need to keep themselves and their families safe and healthy. During this difficult time, Canada will also continue to work with our partners to help build a world guided by compassion, equality, and dignity – because we know that we can’t end the pandemic in Canada without ending it everywhere. Together, we can build a more resilient Canada and a world that is fairer, safer, and more inclusive for everyone.

“As one of Global Dignity’s National Role Models, I call on Canadians and everyone around the world to rally behind young people and to show that, by working together as a global community, we can help advance human rights and dignity for all.  

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I applaud all those involved in the Global Dignity movement for their passion and hard work, and wish them success with this year’s activities.”

Déclaration du premier ministre à l’occasion de la Journée mondiale de la dignité

Le 28 octobre 2020
Ottawa (Ontario)

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION update

Science Topics



Photo credit: Ringo Chiu/Shutterstock

#NSFStories: Fighting fires with supercomputers

By Vincent Tedjasaputra, PhD
October 23, 2020


Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Tim Werle cranked the temperature up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit, tuned the Santa Ana winds to swirl hard from the northeast, and dropped the humidity down to a bone-dry 5%. He carefully picked his target, a mostly uninhabited grasslands preserve just outside San Diego.
LAFD Capt. Tim Werle at Fire Station 85 in Harbor City, California. Photo Credit: Tim Werle

With a click of his laptop's mouse, he dropped a match into conditions perfect for a disaster. His eyes widened as the brushfire burst angrily across 1,500 acres in just two hours. Looking across the WIFIRE Firemap, a satellite image map overlaid with terrain and access roads, Werle could instantly strategize exactly where to send his crew to get ahead of this fast-moving, simulated blaze, to practice for the real thing.

The WIFIRE Firemap is a real-time interface that simulates and projects how quickly a real wildfire might spread and can even make projections on how many structures or people might be affected. It currently shows the location and status of every active wildfire in the US, and such advanced computer-based tools are now just as essential as a firehose in the current era of fighting wildfires.
At a training test session, Capt. Brian Wall reviews the downlinking capability of command vehicles and capability of field commanders to see live modeling.

When a fire is reported, emergency dispatchers input live data into WIFIRE, such as location, temperature, and wind speed and direction. This technology gathers all of the information in one place, and enables firefighters such as Werle to better target the deployment of fire trucks, planes or digging crews. From the resulting data, dispatchers relay the information within minutes to teams on the ground and in the air. In a firefight, every second matters, and quick response saves lives and homes.

The ‘crystal-ball’ capability of WIFIRE to crunch all the relevant information in real time is far from magic. This technology, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, is made possible by a cyber-infrastructure that connects real-time weather information, infrared images from fire planes, satellite maps of terrain and brush, and other data to predict what a seemingly fickle wildfire might do next. If you think that’s smart, WIFIRE also learns from past inaccuracies and quickly evolves its ability to predict fires with each bit of new data in real time.
Battalion Chief Thomas Gikas (left) and Capt. Timothy Werle (right) using the WIFIRE Firemap to predict the path of an active wildfire. Photo Credit: Ilkay Altintas

The deployment of WIFIRE is an incredible confluence of technology, science and old-school firefighter experience, says Werle. The WIFIRE team is led by Ilkay Altintas, an NSF-funded computer scientist at the University of California, San Diego, who uses her expertise in workflow to connect data science with fire science in collaboration with the San Diego Supercomputer Center. Altintas says that the nuts and bolts of the technology behind WIFIRE is the interconnectedness of the inputs. In fact, another NSF-funded project, HPWREN, was the tinder for WIFIRE. It provided inputs for predicting and spotting fires by connecting the existing network of cameras and weather stations scattered throughout San Diego County.

Altintas says this technology would not be possible without funding from the National Science Foundation. Her team’s work is more relevant than ever as devastating wildfires are occurring more frequently and more intensely because of drastic changes to the climate, and more homes are being built near wooded or grassy areas away from cities.
Ilkay Altintas and her WIFIRE research team at UC San Diego. Photo Credit: Altintas Lab, UCSD

Together with local firefighters, the WIFIRE project combines modern technology with years of firefighting know-how to shape the future of emergency wildfire response.

About the Author


Vincent Tedjasaputra, PhD
AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow


Vincent Tedjasaputra, PhD is an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at NSF in the Office of the Director, Office of Legislative and Public Affairs. He is a science communicator and public speaking coach. Prior to coming to NSF, Dr. Tedjasaputra studied healthy aging of the lung in his Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. He is a former collegiate track athlete-turned exercise physiologist, earning his Ph.D. in Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Canada, where he studied the pulmonary vascular response to exercise in health and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Outside of science, Vince is a professional vocalist, having sung the Canadian national anthem for collegiate and professional sporting events and performs classically as a lyrical baritone internationally.
Science Topics

AHEPA marks 80th anniversary of Oxi Day

 

Vol. 14 Issue 43 | Wednesday, October 28, 2020

AHEPA E-News

AHEPA marks 80th anniversary of Oxi Day

Supreme President George G. Horiates issued a statement on the 80th anniversary of "Oxi Day" when Greece issued a defiant "No" to the fascism of the Axis powers, opting instead to say "Yes" to freedom on October 28, 1940. The Greeks successfully fought the Italian army, pushing the invaders back into Albania after one week. It would prove to be a costly military campaign for the Axis powers. read entire statement

Mavroyannis scholarship recipients announced

The AHEPA National Educational Foundation is proud to announce three recipients of the Constantine and Patricia Mavroyannis Scholarship for 2020. They are: Dimitrios Kosmopoulos, University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA); Georgios Palkanoglou, University of Guelph, Canada; and Maria Papageorgiou, University of Waterloo, Canada and the University of Patras, Greece. Each student will receive a $5,000 award to support doctoral research in physics for the 2020-2021 academic year. read the announcement

Past Supreme Governor Fotis mourned

AHEPA mourns the passing of Past Supreme Governor Frank P. Fotis, announced Supreme President George G. Horiates. Brother Fotis, 79, passed away October 20, 2020. He was a 52-year Life Member of Athens Chapter 24, Boston. "We are deeply saddened by the news of Brother Frank's passing," Supreme President Horiates said. "A tremendous asset to the community, Brother Frank was especially passionate about philanthropy, education, and service, important ideals that guide our mission. He strived to meet those ideals and principles to better our communities and make them stronger. His warm and kind demeanor also will be missed greatly. Our deepest sympathies are with the Fotis family. May his memory be eternal." obituary

The Ahepan is live!

The fall 2020 edition of The Ahepan is live! This jam-packed issue features coverage of "AHEPA Live! 2020," AHEPA-backed COVID-19 research, Hagia Sophia, and AHEPA's mobilization to address Turkey's provocations. And catch all the latest news from districts and chapters from across the AHEPA's global domain, AHEPA's Housing and National Educational Foundation programs!

AHEPA voter awareness materials

Since 1922, AHEPA has promoted good citizenship and civic responsibility through public service. November 3, 2020 is Election Day. Exercise the right to vote your conscience on issues affecting all of us as American Citizens and as members of the Hellenic American Community.   The most sacred right we have as citizens is the right to vote. Voting is the language with which democracy is spoken. In the spirit of civic responsibility, we are encouraging our chapters to advocate that community members go and cast their votes, volunteer to assist at your polling places, or perhaps help those individuals who may need a lift to the polls. As part of AHEPA's voter education effort, AHEPA released its 2020 Congressional Info-Card for the 116th Congress on the public policy priorities of the American Hellenic community. “Because the success of government depends on an engaged and educated citizenry, we are proud to provide the community with this helpful informational or educational tool,” Supreme President George G. Horiates said. “We encourage the community to utilize it and share it with family, friends, and colleagues.” read news release

Info-Card | U.S. House of Representatives Info-Card | U.S. Senate

Don't miss out! 100th anniversary member data project underway

AHEPA recently launched a comprehensive 100th Anniversary member data verification project, announced Supreme President George G. Horiates. "We are requesting all members of AHEPA to contact us for this important project and encourage you to be a part of the Centennial celebrations," Horiates said, adding that members should have received an email with detailed instruction this week. "We've assembled the information currently listed in our member files and now need your help to confirm the accuracy of your data and fill in any information gaps." Up-to-date member information is critical in helping AHEPA promote the ancient Hellenic ideals of education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, family and individual excellence through community service and volunteerism. That's why it's so important to call. Please call 1-888-827-6103 (toll-free) to take care of this important matter today.

Greece Is the Word in 2021 Athens Supreme Convention info released

AHEPA is preparing for the 99th AHEPA Family Supreme Convention to be held in Athens, Greece, July 25 to 31, 2021. The official convention hotel will be the Hotel Grande Bretagne. Greece will be celebrating the bicentennial of its independence in 2021 and the AHEPA family will be there to join in the celebration! See you there! learn more

AHEPA mobilizes against Turkey's provocations

In a September memo to organizational leaders, Supreme President George G. Horiates provided instruction for Ahepans to mobilize against Turkey's provocations. Turkey has escalated tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean to dangerous levels not seen since 1996 through violations of international norms and international and U.S. law, Horiates writes in the memo. "Turkey’s actions are not only illegal, but they are not in the best interests of the United States and place lives unnecessarily in harm’s way," Horiates states. The memo recaps actions taken by AHEPA to address Turkey's provocations and how Ahepans, and by extension, the community, can help going forward. "We stand ready to assist you with this most important mobilization to address this pressing matter that threatens NATO ally, Greece; strategic partner, Cyprus; and U.S. interests in the region, overall," Horiates concludes.

Mobilization Tool Kit

Memo to AHEPA Leaders Template Letter to Public Officials

Talking Points Boycott Turkey Info Sheet

AHEPA Emergency Relief Fund opened for natural disasters Hurricane Delta is the latest in a slew of storms to ravage the Gulf Coast

AHEPA has opened its Emergency Relief Fund to provide assistance to the victims of the wildfires that are devastating California and a slew of hurricanes and tropical storms, most recently, Hurricane Delta, announced Supreme President George G. Horiates (view video). “These natural disasters have caused widespread devastation affecting millions of people,” Supreme President Horiates said. “Our thoughts are prayers are with communities impacted by these natural disasters, and we must do our part to help and make an difference for those in need. We urge our AHEPA chapters, members, and supporters to provide assistance through our Emergency Relief Fund as we have done traditionally when natural disasters strike or most recently in response to COVID-19.” Supreme President Horiates has made the following appeal: Each chapter to donate a minimum $250 to the Emergency Relief Fund (a 501(c)3 donation), and For chapters and/or individuals to secure one (1) $500 donor from the community-at-large  AHEPA established the Emergency Fund 15 years ago. Since its inception more than $1 million has been donated from the fund to those affected by national disasters. read more | ICYMI AHEPA Housing donates $25K

Donate to the AHEPA Emergency Relief Fund

The Senate Must Act!

View our Action Alert

Contact Senators and urge them to: Uphold American values and security interests.  Hold Turkey responsible for its actions. Urge Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring sanctions legislation to the Senate Floor. The House acted. Now the Senate must. Contact the US Senate Today! Take Action: Learn More!