What is the single most important component of a Sonoran hot dog The instinctive guess would be the bacon-wrapped dog you can still use the cheapest wiener and the cheapest bacon and it would still taste right But something will feel wrong if a Sonoran hot dog vendor serves you their creation in a grocery store American hot dog bun The Sonoran hot dog bun is a touch sweeter and softer Since you can’t find these treasured buns at a grocery store Peek into the kitchen to see a box or bag and you might be lucky to find the label for El Triunfo Bakery & Tortilleria Estanislao “Tanis” Lona grew up in Guanajuato he moved to the United States in search of a better life Tanis honed his baking skills with several bakeries including over a decade baking for the University of Arizona which translates to “the triumph.” He began with his Mexican breads and pastry then his wife Maria Jesus “Chuy” Lona joined with her family’s flour tortilla recipe they expanded by producing tortilla chips and their now signature hot dog buns Today, their goods make their way throughout Tucson, with Sonoran hot dog making it to stands like La Carreta del Rorro and tortillas to restaurants like Charro Steak & Del Rey Tanis died in 2023 — his son Joaquin Lona now carries on the family legacy When I was a chef in a shared commissary kitchen three years ago I saw the El Triunfo van pull up daily with their bread and tortilla deliveries I drove to their bakery deep in the south side I took photos of the mural outside as an older man in a cowboy hat sat next to packages of tortillas in front of the building and peeked at me out of curiosity carrying what looked like two dozen rolls of bread I saw the display cases filled with colorful pan dulce Bags of bread and buns lined a shelf to the side A refrigerator displayed bags of nixtamal — corn treated with lime (calcium hydroxide not the citrus) to make it ready for processing into masa for fresh corn tortillas or tamales I asked someone behind the counter if she spoke English — she didn’t I asked her for permission to photograph and look at the baking operations She went back to the kitchen and brought out a baker He happily accommodated and showed me the trays of bread cooling he asked if I wanted to see them pull fresh bread out of the oven I gazed at the giant industrial rotating rack oven as another baker rapidly pulled out trays of buns as the crust hit their ideal shade of golden brown As I finished and stepped out of the kitchen Joaquin happened to have stepped into the bakery craving Sonoran hot dogs at 9 in the morning I ended up ordering three of them at 9:30 p.m El Triunfo Bakery and Tortilleria is located at 6348 S Love Tucson food? So do we. That’s why our stories are free to read — and focused on the chefs, farmers, and restaurants that make Tucson so delicious.👉 Get exclusive perks & support local with the Foodie Insiders Club and learn how to eat local year-round and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light His favorite drinks include morning micheladas visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com WAPPINGERS FALLS ― Jasmine Triunfo watched the route develop and having picked up on a tendency in the offense she anticipated where the pass might be headed With a read of the quarterback and faith in her instincts the defensive back redirected as the ball was released she dashed in front of the receiver for a highlight-worthy interception It was the kind of play a seasoned defender might make capitalizing on years of experience and hours of film study “I think I learned that from basketball,” the Arlington High School senior said April 23 “It’s like being in a zone and you’re paying attention to the passing lanes You’re watching for where the ball might go.” And that’s one way to compensate for never having played football… not even in the backyard Triunfo turned that turnover into a fast break returning it 46 yards for the clinching touchdown with 1:22 remaining as the Admirals beat Wappingers She had two second-half interceptions and four pass breakups including a deflection that forced a turnover on downs to end the game What followed were her teammates’ chants of “grilled cheese,” playfully hinting at Triunfo’s preferred celebration meal “She has basketball eyes,” Arlington coach Michael Schoonmaker said of Triunfo who also excelled defensively for the basketball team and she came up big for us in the clutch.” Last year: Poughkeepsie glad for bolstered roster as flag football grows in popularity Visual proof: Arlington wins in dramatic fashion, continuing lacrosse turnaround Up to par: Deserre, Arlington shine in Mid-Hudson Regional golf tournament Chase Harris threw a touchdown to Scarlett Cavallo and Gianna Martin rushed for a score accounting for the Admirals’ earlier points They’re among a cadre of rookies on this team which is a month into its inaugural season When Arlington announced last fall that it would add the sport it piqued the interest of several talented and intrepid novices a district team combining players from John Jay-East Fishkill and Roy C that made its flag football debut this spring the Pace-bound soccer star throwing two touchdowns and getting an interception in the red zone but my dad played football for Arlington and I know a little about the sport through him,” said Gia Ramputi a member of the Section 1 champion girls soccer team it’s cool to be a part of something brand new.” Arlington’s roster includes athletes from a range of sports including swimming each of whom have shown the confidence to learn before an audience “As soon as I heard we were getting a team I jumped at the chance,” said Evelyn Warner captain of the Wappingers gymnastics team who now also moonlights as a free safety where we’re working together and depending on each other Showcased throughout was their athleticism as players sprang to their feet after some inadvertent collisions As impressive has been the players’ ability to grasp the basics and some football terminology in short time Wappingers coach Jim Phelan discussed with his players route combinations out a trips formation That would’ve sounded like a foreign language two months ago Phelan previously coached football at Our Lady of Lourdes and Beacon Schoonmaker has coached baseball and football at Arlington guided the Marlboro softball team to a state title last June starting with formations and position names,” said Schoonmaker who worked with assistant coach Brendan Hunt to teach the fundamentals during open-gym sessions in the winter “We’re still coming up with things in practice we hadn’t gone over before What does that mean?’ They’re learning as they go but doing a great job with it.” Martin played football against boys as a child hadn’t thrown a football before this year and the sophomore developed a spiral during preseason practices “It’s a little tricky going from a sport that you play with your feet to one that uses mostly your hands,” said Ramputi “But we’re committed to learning and our coaches have done an amazing job.” Arlington (3-5) went up 13-0 on Martin’s touchdown with 15:23 left in the first half before the Titans rallied Kaleigh Horos was elusive out of the backfield and Jordan threw touchdowns to Charlotte Guzzo and Megan Terralavoro Jordan slipped a pass rusher and rolled right before throwing a 15-yard curl to Terralavoro in the end zone pulling them within 13-12 with 8:01 remaining Arlington’s defense stiffened after that and Triunfo’s pick-6 created the margin the bragging rights matter and “we’re 3-0 against them this year,” jokingly including the girls soccer team’s two wins over John Jay in that total The rivals will meet again at Arlington on May 2 The New York State Public High School Athletic Association partnered with the NFL to introduce girls flag football in 2022 with eight sections creating leagues for what began as a pilot program It quickly became popular and there now are about 200 varsity teams in the state Poughkeepsie was the first Dutchess County school to add it in 2023 and some local Section 9 schools joined last year including Rhinebeck “I knew a little about the rules from watching my brother play,” Evelyn said “He hurt his knee badly as a sophomore and had to give up football and part of the reason I wanted to play this sport.” Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4 The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its annual Triunfo Gala on Saturday as testament to a quarter-century of celebrating Hispanic culture and community impact the gala will honor County Commissioner Joel Flores recognizing his historic election as the first Hispanic commissioner in Palm Beach County part of the proceeds will help further the mission of the Luciano “Lou” Martinez Scholarship Fund to provide financial support to promising Hispanic high school seniors as they pursue higher education themed “Noche de Cultura: Celebrating Hispanic Culture,” will start at 6:30 p.m at the West Palm Beach Marriott (1001 Okeechobee Blvd.) with a cocktail hour featuring signature cocktails cigar rolling and performances highlighting Hispanic artistic expression A formal dinner and an evening of dancing will follow a growing local medical transportation service company Additional support is provided by FPL and Florida Crystals as platinum sponsors; Baptist Health South Florida and Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital as gold sponsors; Wellington Regional Medical Center as silver sponsor; the City of Greenacres the Mall at Wellington Green and WPBF25 as bronze sponsors; and the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce REG Architects and the South Florida Fair as community partners To secure tickets, visit https://cpbchamber.chambermaster.com/events/details/25th-annual-triunfo-awards-gala-6001587. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Ana Alegre at ana@cpbchamber.com We use cookies to analyze user behavior in order to constantly improve the website for you. Learn more (TSXV: CTV) (OTCQB: CTVFF) ("CleanTech" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has identified multiple occurrences of antimony in select drill core from the El Triunfo gold and antimony project (the "Triunfo Project") located 75 km east of La Paz city While conducting due diligence on the Triunfo Project drillhole database the Company observed several intervals of antimony mineralization from nine inspected diamond-drill-holes recently drilled in 2020 and 2022 The assays of the drill holes are tabulated below All nine drill holes contained several intersections of antimony grading higher than 0.1% Hole TR010 contained 1.2-meter intersection grading over 1% antimony The Company is highly encouraged by the antimony results and will continue to evaluate this potential by reviewing and assaying prior historic drill core The Company is optimistic about exploring Triunfo Project's potential to meet the increasing demand in critical sectors like energy storage military and industrial alloy manufacturing Antimony price has reached over US$40,000 per ton in 2025 representing over a 250% increase since January 2024 according to S&P Global[1] This surge follows China's announcement on January 1 restricting antimony exports to the United States as part of broader controls on critical minerals Antimony is a crucial material in flame retardants and various metal alloys critical for industrial and defense applications global annual antimony production was approximately 83,000 metric tons in 2023 China currently dominates global antimony supply accounting for around 50% of total production and most of the world's exports The United States currently has no domestic antimony production and relies entirely on imports to meet its antimony requirements Bolivia produces approximately 3,000 metric tons of antimony annually accounting for about 3.6% of global supply according to USGS CleanTech entered into an Option Assignment Agreement with Silver Elephant Mining Corp 2025 pursuant to which Silver Elephant proposes to assign its rights to an option agreement dated July 10 2020 (the "Triunfo Option Agreement") to acquire 100% of the equity interests in the capital of Mururata S.R.L a commercial society existing pursuant to the laws of Bolivia which owns certain Bolivian mining rights that comprise the El Triunfo Project to CleanTech in consideration for the payment of CAD 155,000 in cash (the "Transaction") Closing of the Transaction is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent thereto including satisfactory completion of due diligence in respect of the Triunfo Project by CleanTech the receipt of the requisite regulatory and stock exchange approvals by each of Silver Elephant and CleanTech and the execution of an amendment to the Triunfo Option Agreement in form and substance acceptable to CleanTech CleanTech paid Silver Elephant a refundable deposit in the amount of $155,000 which deposit shall be repaid in the event the Transaction is not completed by December 31 2025 or if the Triunfo Option Assignment Agreement is otherwise terminated Triunfo Project drilling results (drilling conducted by Silver Elephant): Triunfo Project Drillholes Map To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8597/248936_59610519d4f4ab67_002full.jpg The Triunfo Project lies within Bolivia's Cordillera Real an area with complex geology including Paleozoic metamorphic and igneous formations This region has experienced multiple tectonic and orogenic (mountain-building) events creating fractures and faults that host hydrothermal mineral deposits A Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) program consistent with industry standards was implemented during the various drilling campaigns The procedure involved cutting the core in half and sampling one half with each sample weighing between 6 and 10 kg The laboratory used for analysis was ALS Global and assays requested for silver (Ag) and 41 elements using the ME-ICP41 method The remaining 50% of the split sample is securely stored at a dedicated facility Sample preparation is carried out at the ALS Global laboratory in Oruro and the analyses are performed at the ALS Global laboratories in Peru or Canada Standards and blanks were inserted at regular intervals within each sample batch prior to shipment to the laboratory These accounted for between 3% and 5% of the analyzed material depending on the phase of the drilling campaign The technical contents of this news release have been prepared under the supervision of Carlos Zamora,is a member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) and a Certified Professional Geologist (CPG) since 2024 Zamora is an independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 CleanTech is an exploration-stage mining company focused on critical mineral resources The Company owns a 100% interest in the Gibellini Vanadium Mine Project in Nevada United States and has the right to acquire the El Triunfo gold-antimony project in Bolivia Further information on CleanTech can be found at www.cleantechvanadium.com For more information about CleanTech, please contact:Phone: 1.877.664.2535info@cleantechvanadium.comwww.cleantechvanadium.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws Forward-looking information is generally identifiable by use of the words "believes," "may," "plans," "will," "anticipates," "intends," "could" which reflects management's expectations regarding CleanTech's future growth is based on certain factors and assumptions and involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results or achievements to be materially different from future results or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information Forward-looking information in this news releases includes: the forward looking market data relating to antimony,that all conditions precedent to the Transaction will be met and the realization of the anticipated benefits derived therefrom for shareholders of each of CleanTech and perception of (i) the quality and the potential of the El Triunfo Project (ii) the consideration offered by CleanTech for the El Triunfo Project and (iii) the potential of CleanTech's businesses following completion of the Transaction Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management of CleanTech at the date the statements are made and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of CleanTech there is no assurance they will prove to be correct and are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions by management as of the date of this news release and there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with any forward-looking information included herein Readers are cautioned that all forward- looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information in this news release to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date of this news release except as required by applicable securities laws [1] https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/research/china-responds-to-us-restrictions-with-export-ban-on-select-critical-minerals [2] https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/antimony-statistics-and-information To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248936 SOURCE: CleanTech Vanadium Mining Corp. Sign Up Company Profile Mining and Metals Explore careers at Edelman and join a global team committed to shaping conversations Whether you're looking for strategic guidance or specific expertise Contact us to explore how Edelman can partner with your business I took a journey back in time this week in El Triunfo Imagine a town called the Triumph and you get the idea of how important marketing was for the funding of the mining industry The first mine was established in the late 1700s with ownership eventually transferred to the Spanish Crown in the early 1800s when miners came from California after the Gold Rush The mine was taken over by the El Progreso Mining Company in 1878 a British concern that raised money for a more sophisticated exploration effort through bond offerings in France The processing facility boasted a 47-meter-high smokestack called La Ramona El Triunfo became the largest town in Baja California Sur for the fifty years 1870-1920 It has a large performing arts center that has been transformed into a Museum of Music containing pianos from old homes in the area It was the first town in the province to have electricity and telephones But the American decision to go onto a singular metallic reserve in the mid-1890s was the beginning of the end of the mine Workers ebbed away and the mine closed for good in 1920 part of the legendary family who founded Walmart which explains the 500-year heritage of cattle ranching in Baja California plus the Museo Ruta de Plata on the history of the mine straight from a John Wayne and Anthony Quinn movie and large mansions now converted into boutique hotels a sign that capitalism has been here and gone and may yet return I celebrated my 70th birthday with my family and closest friends Edelman won its first Titanium and three gold Lions at Cannes I am reminded of the Kipling quote that sits above the player’s entrance at Wimbledon “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two imposters just the same.” I am fired up for 2025 (SILEF) has announced an agreement to assign its rights to the El Triunfo Gold-Antimony Project in Bolivia to CleanTech Vanadium Mining Corp The transaction involves transferring Silver Elephant's option to acquire 100% equity in Mururata S.R.L. The deal's closing is contingent on several conditions and an amendment to the original Triunfo Option Agreement CleanTech has provided a refundable deposit of $155,000 returnable if the transaction isn't completed by December 31 The transaction is classified as Non-Arm's Length due to overlapping leadership positions between the companies with several executives and directors serving both entities Key officers John Lee and Greg Hall declared their interest and abstained from voting on the transaction (SILEF) ha annunciato un accordo per cedere i suoi diritti sul Progetto Oro-Antimonio El Triunfo in Bolivia a CleanTech Vanadium Mining Corp La transazione prevede il trasferimento dell'opzione di Silver Elephant per acquisire il 100% delle azioni di Mururata S.R.L. La chiusura dell'accordo è soggetta a diverse condizioni tra cui il completamento della due diligence le approvazioni normative e una modifica all'originale Accordo di Opzione Triunfo CleanTech ha fornito un deposito rimborsabile di $155.000 restituibile se la transazione non viene completata entro il 31 dicembre 2025 La transazione è classificata come Non-Arm's Length a causa di sovrapposizioni nelle posizioni dirigenziali tra le aziende con diversi dirigenti e direttori che servono entrambe le entità I funzionari chiave John Lee e Greg Hall hanno dichiarato il loro interesse e si sono astenuti dal votare sulla transazione (SILEF) ha anunciado un acuerdo para ceder sus derechos sobre el Proyecto de Oro-Antimonio El Triunfo en Bolivia a CleanTech Vanadium Mining Corp La transacción implica la transferencia de la opción de Silver Elephant para adquirir el 100% de las acciones de Mururata S.R.L. El cierre del acuerdo está condicionado a varias condiciones incluyendo la finalización de la debida diligencia las aprobaciones regulatorias y una enmienda al Acuerdo de Opción Triunfo original CleanTech ha proporcionado un depósito reembolsable de $155,000 que será devuelto si la transacción no se completa antes del 31 de diciembre de 2025 La transacción se clasifica como No Relacionada debido a las posiciones de liderazgo superpuestas entre las empresas con varios ejecutivos y directores que sirven a ambas entidades Los funcionarios clave John Lee y Greg Hall declararon su interés y se abstuvieron de votar sobre la transacción 실버 엘리펀트 마이닝 주식회사 (SILEF)는 볼리비아의 엘 트리운포 금-안티몬 프로젝트에 대한 권리를 클린테크 바나듐 마이닝 주식회사에 CAD 155,000의 현금으로 양도하는 계약을 발표했습니다 이 거래는 볼리비아 광산 권리를 소유한 무루라타 S.R.L.의 100% 지분을 인수할 수 있는 실버 엘리펀트의 옵션을 이전하는 것을 포함합니다 엘 트리운포 프로젝트는 볼리비아 라파즈에서 동쪽으로 75km 떨어진 곳에 위치하며 클린테크는 거래가 2025년 12월 31일 이전에 완료되지 않을 경우 환불 가능한 $155,000의 보증금을 제공했습니다 주요 임원인 John Lee와 Greg Hall은 자신의 이해관계를 선언하고 거래에 대한 투표를 기권했습니다 (SILEF) a annoncé un accord pour céder ses droits sur le projet d'or-antimoine El Triunfo en Bolivie à CleanTech Vanadium Mining Corp La transaction implique le transfert de l'option de Silver Elephant d'acquérir 100 % des actions de Mururata S.R.L. La conclusion de l'accord est soumise à plusieurs conditions y compris l'achèvement de la diligence raisonnable les approbations réglementaires et une modification de l'accord d'option Triunfo original CleanTech a fourni un dépôt remboursable de 155 000 $ qui sera restitué si la transaction n'est pas finalisée d'ici le 31 décembre 2025 La transaction est classée comme non indépendante en raison de la superposition des postes de direction entre les entreprises plusieurs dirigeants et administrateurs servant les deux entités Les responsables clés John Lee et Greg Hall ont déclaré leur intérêt et se sont abstenus de voter sur la transaction (SILEF) hat eine Vereinbarung bekannt gegeben um seine Rechte am El Triunfo Gold-Antimon-Projekt in Bolivien an CleanTech Vanadium Mining Corp Die Transaktion umfasst die Übertragung der Option von Silver Elephant die die bolivianischen Bergbaurechte besitzt Der Abschluss des Deals hängt von mehreren Bedingungen ab regulatorische Genehmigungen und eine Änderung des ursprünglichen Triunfo-Optionsvertrags CleanTech hat eine rückzahlbare Anzahlung von 155.000 $ geleistet Die Transaktion wird als Nicht-Armlängen-Transaktion eingestuft da es überlappende Führungspositionen zwischen den Unternehmen gibt wobei mehrere Führungskräfte und Direktoren beiden Einrichtungen dienen Die Schlüsselbeamten John Lee und Greg Hall haben ihr Interesse erklärt und sich der Abstimmung über die Transaktion enthalten (TSX: ELEF) (OTCQB: SILEF) (FSE: 1P2) ("Silver Elephant") and CleanTech Vanadium Mining Corp (TSXV: CTV) (OTCQB: CTVFF) ("CleanTech") are pleased to announce that they have entered into an option assignment agreement (the "Option Assignment Agreement") pursuant to which Silver Elephant proposes to assign its rights in and to an option agreement dated July 10 2020 (the "Triunfo Option Agreement") pursuant to which through a wholly owned subsidiary of Silver Elephant to acquire 100% of the equity interests in the capital of Mururata S.R.L which owns certain Bolivian mining rights that comprise the El Triunfo Gold and Antimony Project (the "Triunfo Project") to CleanTech in consideration for the payment of CAD 155,000 in cash (the "Transaction") CleanTech has provided Silver Elephant with a refundable deposit in the amount of $155,000 which such deposit shall be repaid in the event the Transaction is not completed by December 31 2025 or if the Option Assignment Agreement is otherwise terminated For purposes of Policy 5.3 of the TSX Venture Exchange the Transaction is Non-Arm's Length as John Lee is a Director and Chief Executive Officer of Silver Elephant and CleanTech Greg Hall is a Director of Silver Elephant and CleanTech Andrew Yao is the Chief Financial Officer of Silver Elephant and CleanTech Sara Knappe is the Corporate Secretary of Silver Elephant and CleanTech and Alex Bayer is the Chief Legal Officer of Silver Elephant and CleanTech Hall declared their interest and abstained from voting on the Transaction The Triunfo Project is a Gold-Antimony project located in the Bolivian department of La Paz about 75km to the east of Bolivia's capital city of La Paz and spans an area of approximately 256 hectares Silver Elephant is a mineral exploration company with precious metal projects in Bolivia Further information on Silver Elephant can be found at www.silverelef.com CleanTech is an exploration-stage mining company focused on vanadium and critical mineral resources Further information on CleanTech can be found at www.cleantechvanadium.com SILVER ELEPHANT MINING CORP.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD For more information about Silver Elephant, please contact Investor Relations:Phone: 1.604.569.3661 ext. 101info@silverelef.com www.silverelef.com CLEANTECH VANADIUM MINING CORP.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD For more information about CleanTech, please contact:Phone: 1.877.664.2535info@cleantechvanadium.comwww.cleantechvanadium.com Forward-looking Statements and Cautionary Disclaimers References to $ herein refer to the lawful currency of Canada Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions and execution of an amendment to the Triunfo Option Agreement the Transaction cannot close until the required approvals are obtained There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all Trading in the securities of each of Silver Elephant and CleanTech should be considered highly speculative Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor the TSX Venture Exchange has in any way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release This news release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian and United States securities laws Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include statements with respect to the Transaction the composition of consideration for the Transaction the terms of the Transaction and the closing of the Transaction (including the timing thereof) and the ability of each of Silver Elephant and CleanTech to obtain the requisite stock exchange regulatory and other approvals in connection with the Transaction Except for statements of historical fact relating to each of Silver Elephant and CleanTech certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates," "may," "can," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "targets," "intends," "likely," "will," "should," "to be" or statements that certain events or conditions "may" that all conditions precedent to the Transaction will be met and the realization of the anticipated benefits derived therefrom for shareholders of each of Silver Elephant and CleanTech and perception of (i) the quality and the potential of the Project (ii) the consideration offered to CleanTech by Silver Elephant for the Project and (iii) the potential of each of Silver Elephant's and CleanTech's businesses following completion of the Transaction Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management of each of Silver Elephant and CleanTech at the date the statements are made and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Silver Elephant and CleanTech Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include changes in market conditions; cash flow and availability of financing; the ability of each of Silver Elephant and CleanTech to obtain the requisite stock exchange regulatory and other third party approvals; risks relating to the availability and timeliness of permitting and governmental approvals; supply of and demand for metals; fluctuating commodity prices and currency exchange rates; the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry These factors are discussed in greater detail in CleanTech's and Silver Elephant's most recent MD&As filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca which also provide additional general assumptions in connection with these statements Each of Silver Elephant and CleanTech cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements contained herein should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail Each of Silver Elephant and CleanTech believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon These statements speak only as of the date of this news release Although each of Silver Elephant and CleanTech has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements there may be other factors that cause actions There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements Neither Silver Elephant nor CleanTech undertakes any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements future events or otherwise except as required by applicable securities laws The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered as the property is developed each of Silver Elephant and CleanTech may make changes to its business plans that could affect results To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/247790 Already have an account? Login the Triunfo do Xingu Environmental Protection Area in the Brazilian Amazon was supposed to preserve the region’s rich biodiversity and nearby protected areas the reserve has lost over 40% of its rainforest and become a conduit for deforestation into nearby protected areas satellite data and imagery indicate deforestation in Triunfo do Xingu is continuing to soar in 2024 — and is spreading into nearby protected areas The Triunfo do Xingu reserve encompasses some 1.7 million hectares (4.2 million acres) — an area more than half the size of Belgium — and sits in the verdant Xingu Basin a biodiverse region home to 28 conservation areas and 18 Indigenous territories landowners are allowed to clear up to 20% of their land but must leave the remaining forest intact But satellite data and imagery reveal a far higher rate of deforestation From 2006 to 2023, the reserve lost 41% of its primary (old growth) forest cover, according to the Global Forest Watch (GFW) platform That’s equivalent to 617,000 hectares of forest or 6,170 square kilometers (2,382 square miles) Primary forest loss peaked in 2020 with nearly 70,000 hectares of forest destroyed Deforestation declined somewhat in 2021 and 2022 with more than 50,000 hectares of forest lost each year From January to November deforestation alerts from the Global Forest Watch platform speckle the reserve and are especially concentrated in its southern portion Triunfo do Xingu straddles the municipalities of Altamira and São Félix do Xingu, the heart of Brazil’s cattle country. Previous reporting by Mongabay found that cattle ranching has long been one of the primary drivers of deforestation in the reserve Landowners clear forest to expand existing holdings or to shift to new areas when existing plots become unproductive Most cleared land is turned into cattle pasture Those familiar with the situation told Mongabay that most landowners don’t abide by the limits on how much can be cleared “Today, you will struggle to find a farm — large or small — that has preserved 80% of its forest,” a state official told Mongabay in 2023 ranchers and farmers clear the forest by felling the trees then burning the land during the dry season Those fires can quickly get out of hand and spread to neighboring areas with more than 2,700 fire alerts detected by the U.S National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) — the highest number since measurement began in 2012 illegal mining and land grabbing have surfaced as growing threats in Triunfo do Xingu Previous reporting by Mongabay found wildcat mines known as garimpos scattering across the reserve with prospectors searching for gold and cassiterite with hopes that one day their claims will be recognized “There are a lot of roads being opened up, and further into the reserve, we’re seeing a lot of garimpos,” an enforcement agent, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Mongabay in early 2023 the clearing has become more aggressive and it’s less out in the open conservationists hoped it would shield other more strictly protected areas from exploitation much of which appears to be bleeding across the boundary it shares with Triunfo do Xingu Invaders have also carved out an illegal road from Triunfo do Xingu, through Terra do Meio, and into Iriri State Forest, according to analysis by Rede Xingu+, a network of nonprofits monitoring deforestation in the Xingu Basin Conservationists say that if the road is extended all the way to Novo Progresso “The impact would be enormous,” Ane Alencar science director at the Amazon Environmental Research Institute “The consolidation of this route would be an attack on the heart of Terra do Meio.” Banner image: A herd of cattle roams over a denuded Amazon FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the editor of this post The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] adidas have revealed the new Messi F50 Triunfo Estelar pack which will be worn on pitch exclusively by Leo and 10 of the World’s top young players View this post on Instagram A post shared by adidas Football (@adidasfootball) The F50 Triunfo Estelar Elite arrives in a “Ftwr White/Core Black/Unity Purple” colourway so on the underside you’re getting the Sprintframe 360 – a specifically designed soleplate built to provide optimised stability and traction and help facilitate multidirectional speed and acceleration lightweight material that offers a moulded fit to provide comfort at high speeds The closure of the ‘burrito’ style tongue is adapted to Messi’s preferred fit and has been engineered with knit material for maximum comfort the other players who will lace up in the new Triunfo Estelar are: Claudio Echeverri “Football is my passion and being able to develop my own collection of boots with adidas is another dream come true I am very grateful that all these young talents liked the boots and chose to wear them on the pitch.” The adidas Messi F50 'Triunfo Estelar' will be available from prodirectsport.com/soccer from 10 October Arriving as the only F50 available to the public to feature tech specifications unique to the man himself adidas unveil Lionel Messi’s latest signature edition boot The eight-time Ballon D’or winner receives his latest signature boot with ‘La Vida Rapida’ This F50 model will be worn exclusively by Lionel Messi as well as ten young ballers that have been chosen to ball out in them Arriving as the perfect off-pitch partner to Messi’s signature ‘Triunfo Dorado’ F50 adidas have also released a signature Samba to go with it Adidas have unveiled the Argentine’s next signature boot taking inspiration from his time in the Miami sun the F50 is dressed in signature Miami pink and turquoise and will be worn exclusively by Lionel and ten of the world’s best young ballers Lionel Messi guided Inter Miami to a 6-2 victory over New England Revolution with an 11-minute hat-trick and he did while debuting a pair of upcoming adidas Messi x Bad Bunny F50 boots Rolling out some serious signature style for what could very well be his last time on the World Cup stage adidas have officially unveiled the X Speedportal ‘Leyenda’ for Lionel Messi but Lionel Messi is certainly living up to the hype following his move to Inter Miami came in his latest pair of signature boots from adidas World’s collide as the goat meets the bunny with adidas Originals officially revealing the Bad Bunny & Messi Collection which celebrates the incredible connection between music and sport Sign up to our newsletter and we'll keep you in the loop with everything good going on in the world of Creative Soccer Culture From the plethora of celeb cameos to the great one-liners is careening through the Hollywood Hills in his convertible racing to the set in time to catch the director’s virtuoso oner which – in this case – must also be completed in “the magic hour” before sunset when the light is just so As Matt and fellow executive Sal (Ike Barinholtz) make their clumsy entrance (patronising a PA debating whether the oner really is “the ultimate cinematic achievement” or “just a director jacking off”) it becomes clear that the episode will itself unfold in a oner You are, in fact, quite a lot like Matt, a man whom corporate big boss Griffin Mill (Bryan Cranston) suspects of unsuitable instincts: “You’re obsessed with actors and directors liking you, rather than being obsessed with making the studio as much money as possible.” Griffin’s got Matt bang to rights there, as we see in another episode when Matt delegates, delays and otherwise weasels his way out of delivering a necessary note to famous nice-guy director Ron Howard. Rogen and Goldberg seem to be managing, at least judging by The Studio’s crammed cameo list, which overflows with the friends they’ve made – and kept – along the way. I mean, they managed to get Scorsese for the first episode. And let me tell you, no one plays “Martin Scorsese” like Martin Scorsese. This guy’s got talent! Indeed, every cameo in The Studio is a career-best, and every supporting actor is perfectly cast. It’s a treat whenever Kathryn Hahn enters a room as marketing maven Maya, giant adult sippy-cup in hand, to ream out Matt for even aspiring to cool (“Who are you? The fucking Fonz?”). Or when ex-studio head Patty (Catherine O’Hara) turns up to reminisce – very respectfully, mind – about some dearly departed dick (“He had a package like a caramel leather sofa … rest in peace”). One evergreen criticism is that, like La La Land or Entourage, The Studio is another example of the industry’s self-obsession which risks alienating the average audience member, who’s never set foot on a soundstage nor sampled the delights of on-set catering. Not even a single M&M. Your Ads Privacy ChoicesIMDb WE INDEPENDENTLY CHOOSE ALL PRODUCTS FEATURED ON OUR SITE. WE MAY RECEIVE A COMMISSION WHEN YOU CLICK ON LINKS TO THOSE PRODUCTS. YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR AFFILIATE POLICY IN OUR TERMS OF USE 94.30°Rate This ReleaseBuy NowThe Messi x Adidas Gazelle “Triunfo Dorado” Releases June 20Release Adidas Gazelle honoring the legendary Lionel Messi by introducing the Adidas Gazelle “Messi Triunfo Dorado.” golden brown shade that mirrors Messi's numerous accolades the Gazelle “Messi Triunfo Dorado” combines the classic silhouette of the Gazelle with luxury touches that reflect the soccer star's legacy The sneaker features Messi's name delicately placed on the mid panels in gold as a subtle nod to his storied journey in the sport A premium suede upper pairs seamlessly with a contrasting black midsole elevating the sneaker’s overall elegance and making it a sought-after piece for fans and collectors The pair will also release alongside a matching Samba on the day. Your best opportunity to get these right now is\",\" \",\"by purchasing on secondary market sites such as Flight Club or GOAT.\"]}],false,false]}],false]}]}]}]}]\n"])Where to Buy The adidas Gazelle Messi Triunfo Dorado was released on Thursday Your best opportunity to get these right now is by purchasing on secondary market sites such as Flight Club or GOAT adidas has unveiled a new pair of Messi F50 Triunfo boots The boots take inspiration from the F50 Chameleon Pack that Lionel Messi wore back in 2010 breaking records and taking the world by storm to turn them into a footy grail white and neon yellow colourway and inverts it to create a mostly white base highlighted by a bold neon stripe and matching studs ten of the world’s brightest young talents will debut the boots – Linda Caicedo The new F50s are available to purchase now on the adidas website As Argentina look to defend their Copa America title the visual design is inspired by one of the franchise’s most iconic boots – the F50 Prime.The Prime was originally released in season 2014/15 Cup and Champions League treble while breaking the all-time record for goals scored in the Spanish top division (43 in 38 appearances – and 21 assists) crest on the heart, boots in gold. ​ready. let's go! 💪 ​​el escudo en el corazón, botines en oro. ​listo. vamos! 💪 pic.twitter.com/ttZlDVHhL2 Presented in a “Gold Met/Ftwr White/Core Black” colourway the look is a nod to Messi’s historic recent achievements on the international stage with Argentina and his status as current champion of both the World and the Americas the boots available for retail include some of the exact unique design specifications Messi chooses for his own on-pitch footwear This includes the closure of the ‘burrito’ style tongue which has been adapted to Messi’s preferred fit with it also being engineered with knit material for maximum comfort The Hybrid Touch upper updates the recently released inline F50 with a synthetic suede and foil material with soft haptic designed for vamp stability and comfort when touching the ball at speed adidas have also released a signature Samba perfectly complementing the on-pitch boot with an off-pitch look that inverts the former's colourway to sleek effect The adidas F50 x Messi 'Triunfo Dorado' and Samba are coming soon to prodirectsport.com/soccer A decade of dominance from Ronaldo and Messi in the Ballon d’Or came to an end last night as Luka Modric scooped the prestigious award Marking the end of an era we're taking a look back at every CR7 and Messi signature Ballon d'Or boot since the rival brands began the trend in 2010 For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States Today's profile is Zenei Triunfo-Cortez Zenei Triunfo-Cortez is an RN who serves as one of the presidents of National Nurses United (NNU) and one of the presidents of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (the state affiliate of NNU) She is an inspiring advocate for Asian Americans in the labor movement. Her work has long inspired nurses of Filipina descent which has been especially critical during the pandemic when COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on Filipina registered nurses who compromise nearly one-quarter of all RN COVID-19 deaths Lionel Messi is no stranger to the odd signature edition boot here and there, but signature sneakers have not been as regular in their appearances over the years. But adidas have been leaning into them a lot this year, with the ever-popular Samba often being the silhouette of choice for the Messi logo to appear on with the launch of the new F50 ‘Triunfo Dorado’ for Messi there’s also a signature Samba dropping to complement the launch The adidas Originals Samba x Messi comes in a “Core Black/Metallic Gold/Gum 4” colourway, with black taking up the primary role and base colour. The look is a bit of an inversion of the ‘Triunfo Dorado’ F50 in that gold is then the accent It features on the Three Stripes branding and “Samba” wording Suede overlays on the forefoot provide a classic feel and look to the shoe While Messi will be wearing the ‘Triunfo Dorado’ F50 on Friday night as Argentina get their Copa America title defence underway against Peru there’s no word on whether he will wear these sneakers at any point Shop the adidas Samba x Messi from 20 July at prodirectsport.com/soccer Looks like adidas are set to once again pay homage to their GOAT by releasing a couple of special pairs of signature Sambas Been over three months since Lionel Messi last had a signature pair of boots – high time he had a new pair with the Argentinian debuting a new pair of boots in Inter Miami’s preseason friendly with Newell’s Old Boys This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Organize of National Nurses United (NNU) was honored to speak at today’s celebration of the anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington Triunfo-Cortez issued the following statement honoring the march the on-going fight for Black liberation and justice “It’s an honor to be in Washington honoring Dr King once spoke of a “radical revolution of values” that put people before profits Nurses live this revolution every day as workers who care for people while our employers only care about profits “Nurses know health care doesn’t stop at the hospital walls and class mean the most at-risk people are exposed to the unhealthiest conditions These injustices are harming and killing our patients But nurses will never stop fighting for justice we WILL radically revolutionize our culture to care for people.” National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with nearly 225,000 members nationwide NNU affiliates include California Nurses Association CE courses are free to National Nurses United members See all classes See all issues © 2010 - 2025 National Nurses United    |    Privacy Policy The Hispanic Chamber of Palm Beach County will host its 23rd annual Triunfo Awards Gala on Saturday The event will take place at the West Palm Beach Marriott in the Regency Ballroom One of the main purposes of the Triunfo Gala is to raise scholarship money to assist Hispanic high school seniors achieve the dream of obtaining a college education A call to the heart will be initiated during the Triunfo Gala to benefit the Luciano Martinez Scholarship Fund the Hispanic Chamber has awarded thousands of scholarships totaling more than $160,000 Event sponsors this year are: Florida Crystals Corporation (presenting sponsor); Baptist Health South Florida and the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital (gold sponsors); Wellington Regional Medical Center (bronze sponsor); WPBF Channel 25 Discover the Palm Beaches and Good Samaritan Medical Center (community sponsors); PNC Bank (business sponsor); and Searcy The 23rd annual Triunfo Gala will take place on Saturday Amigos de Triunfo sponsorships are $1,000; a business sponsorship is $1,500; and a community sponsorship is $1,800 For more information, and additional sponsorship details, call (561) 790-6200, e-mail info@cpbchamber.com or visit www.hispanicchamberpbc.com The not-for-profit Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County is the gateway to connecting and growing business to the Hispanic community The chamber assists businesses in reaching the growing Hispanic market in Palm Beach County and is the voice of the Hispanic business community in the Palm Beaches The chamber supports educational activities and works closely with the Hispanic community supporting the advancement education and economic growth of the Hispanic community in general Forest loss in Brazil’s lush Triunfo do Xingu Environmental Protection Area marches on Triunfo do Xingu lies in the ecologically rich Xingu Basin in the Brazilian Amazon and spans some ​​1.7 million hectares (4.2 million acres) — an area more than half the size of Belgium The area came into federal protected status in 2006 landowners are required to keep 80% of forests intact The protected area was created not only to preserve the flora and fauna within but also to serve as a protective buffer for vulnerable surrounding areas such as the Apyterewa Indigenous Territory and the Terra do Meio Ecological Station losing 476,000 hectares (1.18 million acres) of humid primary forest between 2006 and 2020 according to satellite data from the University of Maryland (UMD) 2020 saw the highest amount of forest loss since the creation of the protected area nearly 70,000 hectares (173,000 acres) — an area nearly the size of New York City Preliminary satellite data collated by the Global Land Analysis and Discovery at UMD show clearing of Triunfo do Xingu’s forests has continued into 2021 with “unusually high” levels of deforestation detected the week of March 15 “[The area] has been under partial environmental protection for more than a decade with the aim of preserving the rich biodiversity of the region while allowing for some very moderate development in a small part of it,” journalist Ana Ionova reported in a 2019 video for Mongabay “In reality what has actually happened is the territory has lost about one-fifth of its forest cover in that time period.” Previous reporting in 2020 found that deforestation in the region is largely driven by cattle ranching there are nearly 20 times more cattle than people Farmers and ranchers in the Amazon use slash-and-burn techniques to clear forest for pasture and as the dry season begins in July and August these deforested areas can be set on fire and burned over clearing the way for pasture Protecting Triunfo do Xingu from illegal deforestation and fires has proven extra challenging because it is remote accessible primarily by boat from the town of São Félix do Xingu Local sources say on-the-ground monitoring and the capacity to prosecute those who deforest and set illegal fires has been limited across Brazil as government agencies and law enforcement that once operated in the Amazon have been largely defunded under the current administration “The problem is that a lack of land oversight led to this area being more and more occupied, more and more threatened,” Francisco Fonseca, who works for The Nature Conservancy (TNC), a conservation NGO, said in a July 2020 interview “And this will now only worsen going forward.” Bolsonaro has also vowed to open Indigenous lands to development and spoken out against environmental protections “These signals from the government of tolerance towards deforestation and towards land-grabbing — this is feeding the invasion of these Indigenous lands,” Danicley de Aguiar, an Amazon campaigner with Greenpeace, said in a 2020 interview with Mongabay The surrounding Xingu Basin is made up of 28 conservation areas and 18 Indigenous territories Advocates say that as forests here and elsewhere in the Amazon are lost and fragmented Indigenous people face increased pressures and threats to their survival “When we see destruction of the forest … what you’re seeing is the destruction of the ability of these people to continue their way of life,” Christian Poirier, program director at the nonprofit Amazon Watch, told Mongabay in 2019 “They need to have enough forest in which they can practice traditional hunting and gathering and continue their nomadic lifestyle.” According to Brazil’s national space research institute, INPE more than 1.1 million hectares (2.7 million acres) of forest cover loss was detected in the Brazilian Amazon between July 2019 and July 2020 — an area the size of Jamaica Half of this deforestation was in the state of Pará “While Brazilian deforestation has decreased significantly over the past 15 years,” Mikaela Weisse and Katie Lyons of the World Resources Institute told Mongabay in 2018 “the clearing in Triunfo do Xingu and elsewhere in the Amazon indicate that the battle against clear-cutting of primary forest is not over.” Banner image: Cattle in Triunfo do Xingu Environmental Protection Area Editor’s note: This story was powered by Places to Watch a Global Forest Watch (GFW) initiative designed to quickly identify concerning forest loss around the world and catalyze further investigation of these areas Places to Watch draws on a combination of near-real-time satellite data automated algorithms and field intelligence to identify new areas on a monthly basis GFW is supporting data-driven journalism by providing data and maps generated by Places to Watch Mongabay maintains complete editorial independence over the stories reported using this data Feedback: Use this form to send a message to the editor of this post While the first three have already been unveiled the company has now taken the wraps off the fourth and final model known as the Senna XP El Triunfo Absoluto (The Absolute Triumph) Designed to celebrate Ayrton Senna’s win at the 1989 Formula One Mexican Grand Prix the model served as a press car before being sent back to the UK to be rebuilt in 2021 the car was given a new look as it now features a Graphite Grey exterior with Accent Red and Mexico Green flourishes that pay tribute to the race Also Read: A McLaren Dealer Created Three New Senna XP Editions From Factory Prototypes They’re joined by an assortment of special touches including MSO Bespoke Gloss Visual Carbon Fiber and Anniversary White center locking wheel nuts A closer inspection also reveals Ayrton Senna’s signature a hand-painted Mexican flag on the rear wing Even the gas cap is unique as it features a Mexican flag design there’s an MSO Bespoke Jet Black leather interior that features seats with Pure White and Bright Red contrast stitching as well as headrests with an embroidered Mexican flag and carbon fiber sill plates with an “airbrushed depiction of Ayrton Senna on the podium in 1989.” Other highlights include a multicolored steering wheel, polished accents, and a bespoke accelerator pedal that has a laser-etched version of the Mexican Grand Prix track layout. Capping things off is an a MSO Bespoke dedication plaque etched with “EL GRAN PREMIO DE MEXICO DE 1989.” One thing that hasn’t changed is the car’s twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine that pumps out 789 hp (588 kW / 800 PS) and 590 lb-ft (799 Nm) of torque. It’s connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which enables the model to rocket from 0–62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 2.8 seconds and hit a top speed of 211 mph (340 km/h). Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article Print Nancy Iskander was in the crosswalk of a quiet Westlake Village street with three of her children when she heard engines roaring Two sport utility vehicles were barreling toward them Iskander put up her right hand in a desperate effort to stop the speeding vehicles and dived for safety, grabbing her 5-year-old son. Her next memory is of her two older boys — Jacob, 8, and Mark, 11 — crumpled on Triunfo Canyon Road 2024An earlier version of this article failed to include attribution to original reporting done by the Acorn including comments made by prosecutors during a pretrial hearing in December California Rebecca Grossman was ‘frantic’ after the crash and video shows her repeatedly asking a deputy about the children’s fate Grossman, 60, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death in connection with the fatal Sept The murder counts are somewhat unprecedented as Grossman was not charged with driving under the influence which is typically used to prove gross negligence in vehicular fatalities says the evidence will show she wasn’t speeding and another vehicle struck the boys A sign outside the Van Nuys Courthouse in 2022 shows an image of Mark Iskander, 11, and his brother Jacob, 8. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) Grossman was driving behind Scott Erickson, a former Dodgers player who earlier in the day had been drinking cocktails with Grossman at a nearby restaurant sheriff’s investigators testified during a preliminary hearing in 2022 Grossman’s on-site breathalyzer test showed a blood-alcohol content of 0.076% slightly below California’s legal limit of 0.08% A blood sample taken three hours after the crash registered at the 0.08% mark Prosecutors Ryan Gould and Jamie Castro plan to introduce evidence that Valium was also found in Grossman’s system, and that together with the alcohol, the prescription drug impaired her driving. “Justice needs to be done,” the children’s father Jurors will be allowed to hear that Grossman — who is married to Dr a renowned plastic surgeon who heads the West Hills-based Grossman Burn Center — was in a romantic relationship with Erickson at the time of the crash according to a recent ruling by Brandolino According to a story first reported in the Acorn newspaper, prosecutors say Grossman and Erickson, 55, were driving separately from Julio’s restaurant to a nearby lakeside home when the two “raced” through the Westlake crosswalk. Until last month, prosecutors had never revealed the nature of their relationship. But that changed, Castro said, because “the defense intends to argue that the black car that is at issue in this particular scenario is not Erickson’s,” the Acorn reported. Grossman’s lawyers maintain that the lead vehicle was driven by someone else who could have struck the boys first. “The people intend to put forth evidence that it was, in fact, Erickson,” Castro said during a pretrial hearing in December, according to the Acorn. “We’re not looking to get into any salacious information.” An attorney for Rebecca Grossman offered a preview of her defense disputing prosecutors’ allegations of her speed during the fatal 2020 crash and calling the pedestrian crossing a known danger with a judge ordering him to make a public service announcement geared toward high school students about the importance of safe driving Jurors are expected to begin hearing testimony in a week or two and the proceedings could last six weeks or longer Graphic testimony from Iskander is expected at the trial she testified that she and Jacob were on inline skates 5-year-old Zachary was on his scooter and Mark was on his skateboard as the family crossed the residential boulevard Her husband and daughter were jogging nearby Iskander said she could not tell whether it was Grossman’s white SUV that struck her children because she was diving out of the way with Zachary or whether it was the black vehicle driven by Erickson “The speed was insane,” she said of the two SUVs “They were zigzagging with each other as if they were playing or racing “They didn’t stop before the intersection. They didn’t stop at the intersection. They didn’t stop when an 11-year-old was on the hood of the car. … Nobody stopped,” Iskander testified. Rebecca Grossman’s legal team argued she did not have implied malice when her vehicle killed youngsters Mark and Jacob Iskander in a crosswalk She said Jacob was lying near the curb, and Mark was lying on the road with his “arm broken” and “blood coming out his mouth.” She testified that her 5-year-old watched paramedics perform CPR on his brother Jacob. Mark died at the scene, and Jacob died hours later at the hospital he testified that he calculated Grossman was driving 71.7 mph when she struck the boys and that the car computer showed 73 mph was struck by the vehicle and thrown 254 feet the farthest he has known a human to be tossed in a crash testified he had found Grossman a third of a mile away from the crash stopped at the curb and saying she didn’t know why her airbag had been triggered But in pretrial motions, Grossman’s legal team has sought to undermine Mejia’s credibility, noting the law enforcement officer is accused of inappropriately distributing photos from Kobe Bryant’s fatal helicopter crash. The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department investigated the crash involving the vehicle shown here. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department) Buzbee, a larger-than-life Texas attorney who ran for Houston mayor, is likely to try to poke holes in the science of the crash data, upon which much of the prosecution is built. In addition to bringing in experts to dispute the speed of Grossman’s vehicle, Buzbee said he has evidence showing that the city of Westlake Village knew the crosswalk on Triunfo Canyon Road was dangerous and described by the city engineer as a “blind curve” for motorists. co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation faces murder charges after a September car crash that killed two boys To get a second-degree murder conviction, Gould and Castro must prove that Grossman acted with implied malice and knew the act of driving at a high speed in a residential area was dangerous to human life. John Hobson, one of Grossman’s attorneys, said that “the evidence supports we have a tragic traffic accident,” but there was no implied malice, and Grossman was not “driving with proximity attempt to kill.” Prosecutors argue that that knowledge comes from her prior incidents. Jurors will probably hear from a California Highway Patrol officer who pulled over Grossman in 2013 after she was clocked going 92 mph on the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills and warned her she could kill someone. Prosecutors have not offered a plea deal to the socialite, who has been out on $2-million bond. If convicted of all charges, she could face up to 34 years in prison. Richard Winton is an investigative crime writer for the Los Angeles Times and part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for public service in 2011. Known as @lacrimes on Twitter, during almost 30 years at The Times he also has been part of the breaking news staff that won Pulitzers in 1998, 2004 and 2016. 2024: An earlier version of this article failed to include attribution to original reporting done by the Acorn Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map swaths of lush forest have been engulfed by flames in recent days a patch of untouched jungle has been almost entirely cleared this year In countless other parts of this vast protected region the Amazon is being cut down and burned at a dizzying speed The Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA) Triunfo do Xingu spans some ​​1.7 million hectares (4.2 million acres) across the municipalities of São Félix do Xingu and Altamira long strongholds of Brazilian cattle ranching It encompasses thousands of hectares of dense jungle and boasts a rich diversity of plant and animal species It is also home to Indigenous groups and traditional peoples the territory is supposed to be used only for sustainable development with landowners required to keep some 80% of the forest intact When it was created more than a decade ago Triunfo do Xingu was intended as a buffer that would protect vulnerable areas beyond its boundaries like the Apyterewa Indigenous Territory and the Terra do Meio Ecological Station The ecologically-rich Xingu Basin – within which it is nestled – is made up of some 28 conservation areas and 18 Indigenous territories becoming one of the most deforested regions in the Amazon in recent years It lost some 436,000 hectares of forest between 2006 and 2019 the territory has lost nearly 30% of its forest cover who works for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) a nonprofit focused on environmental conservation “The problem is that a lack of land oversight led to this area being more and more occupied more and more threatened,” Fonseca said in an interview in late July The incursion into Triunfo do Xingu has only intensified this year amid a wider surge in deforestation and burning across the Brazilian Amazon some 6,973 hectares of forest were cleared in APA – accounting for two-thirds of deforestation in protected areas within the Xingu Basin a network of environmental and Indigenous groups working in the region “These are areas where there definitely should not be any burning,” said one advocacy source who asked to remain anonymous due to security concerns the surrounding territories it was meant to protect have also come under pressure the deforestation is now chipping away at the Apyterewa Indigenous Territory the clearing is edging into the Kayapo Indigenous Territory – “something we had never seen before,” Fonseca said In the Trincheira Bacajá Indigenous Territory deforestation rose tenfold in May and June it has become easier to reach conservation parks indigenous territories beyond,” Fonseca said “It ultimately didn’t end up becoming the buffer it was supposed to become.” The destruction in Triunfo do Xingu is emblematic of a wider assault on the Amazon that is picking up speed this year. While large-scale burning captured international headlines in 2019, there are already signs it could worsen this year: in July, fires surged 28% over the same period last year, according to data from INPE Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research The number of fires has soared in Triunfo do Xingu too NASA satellites picked up 3,842 fire alerts in the territory August and September – when Brazil’s fire season is normally at its peak – are expected to bring even more intense burning perpetrators had previously invested in deforesting the land and are now back to finish clearing it by setting it ablaze director of science at the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM) The bulk of the deforestation and burning across the Amazon is taking place on public lands that are “directly the responsibility of the government,” Alencar said She added that many of the areas under attack have not yet been demarcated or are shielded by weak environmental protection “We’re seeing a huge volume of deforestation it signals there are people investing in deforesting the Amazon,” she said during a press briefing in late July the drivers of deforestation in Triunfo do Xingu are diverse and complex About two-thirds of the protected area lies within São Félix do Xingu Brazil’s largest cattle-producing municipality and home to nearly 20 times more livestock than people the biggest threat to the conservation area was cattle ranching as more and more of its forests gave way to sprawling pastures But environmentalists warn that new threats are gaining ground the area has emerged as an epicenter of land-grabbing and illegal mining amid a surge in invaders who are betting that protections on the land they are occupying will eventually be loosened or scrapped altogether “We have seen a wave of land-grabbing,” Fonseca said “The pattern has changed – many of these openings are now for speculation only “The main driver is the total lack of environmental policy from this government,” said Romulo Batista “People who are disposed to invading are feeling emboldened.” Under Bolsonaro’s leadership, environmental enforcement has also taken a hit. The far-right president has repeatedly slashed budgets for environmental enforcement agencies like Ibama and ICMBio, while also attempting to stop their agents from destroying equipment found during raids on illegal operations in the Amazon feeling that the government is on their side Invaders have increasingly been razing small lots of land in patterns “typical of land-grabbing,” the advocacy source noted in the hopes that this activity will eventually be legalized “They arrive there and start clearing – it’s completely illegal,” the source said a rejection of these indigenous territories and an expectation that the land they claim will eventually be legalized the miners have resumed operations in both of these territories recently “People see this as an incentive to begin invading again,” the advocacy source said they return knowing that nothing will happen to them.” the federal government also imposed a moratorium on burning across the Amazon and Pantanal for 120 days in a bid to curb illegal fires that have been spreading out of control ranchers often burn degraded pastures to renew them and small producers prepare their plots for planting agricultural crops by setting them ablaze these blazes spread further than intended and add more pressure on forests But these government measures appear to have had little impact on deterring illegal deforestation and criminal burning. In June – when the federal government’s crackdown on forest clearing was in full swing – Brazil registered its highest level of deforestation in 13 years for that month satellites recorded some 1,314 fire alerts across the Amazon between July 15 and July 21 even though the moratorium on burning had already been in place for two weeks Some 46% of these alerts were registered in the state of Pará “Combating deforestation has to be done year-round,” Batista said “Combatting burning doesn’t happen only in the moment when the forest is already on fire.” Meanwhile, the invasion of Indigenous lands carries even more risk now, as the COVID-19 pandemic ravages Brazil. Because of their relative isolation, Indigenous peoples tend to be more vulnerable to even common diseases. With a highly infectious virus like COVID-19, the risks are even greater for these communities which have a history of being decimated by disease brought in from the outside There have already been 22,021 confirmed cases and 625 deaths among Indigenous people due to the novel coronavirus with 148 communities affected across Brazil has the highest number of COVID-19 cases of any Indigenous territory as the pandemic spreads into rural parts of Brazil worries are also mounting that underfunded health networks that are already struggling to cope with COVID-19 may be further strained by patients sickened by ash and smoke the plumes of smoke darkened the skies of Sao Paulo thousands of kilometers away from the Amazon “We already have hospitals overflowing with people,” Batista said Banner image of a White-nosed saki (Chiropotes albinasus) by Valdir Hobus via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SE 2.0) Can tourism regenerate a distressed slice of Mexico guests can hike along creeks that have re-emerged thanks to the property’s water conservation efforts Sebastian Del Valle had serious reservations about even applying to be head guide for Rancho Cacachilas a tourism venture with glamping and outdoor activities that was created by Walmart heiress Christy Walton in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur He had heard that the enterprise stole water from the nearby towns of La Ventana and El Sargento He was told there was a mining operation inside the ranch A dedicated environmentalist and knowledgeable naturalist Del Valle wanted to get to the truth behind the rumors and agreed to meet the managing director of the venture the umbrella company that operates Rancho Cacachilas Palacios took Del Valle to the ranch to show him that the project is in essence a huge research laboratory to study how to conserve and retain water Baja California Sur is the driest state in Mexico; an average of just over seven inches of rain falls each year and the area where the ranch is located receives just under four inches annually What rain does fall typically comes in hard bursts that erode the land bringing topsoil down the coastal mountain range and into the Sea of Cortes a system of gabions (rocks bundled in wire) on Rancho Cacachilas slows the flow of the runoff and enables more water to seep into the ground Del Valle was surprised to see water in creeks that he would have expected to be dry at that time of year the umbrella company that operates the ranch but in the 98,000-plus acres the company manages it consumed about as much water as a tomato farmer would utilize in two-and-a-half acres of plantings the operation puts more water into the ground than it takes out Palacios next addressed Del Valle’s concerns about mining: True the company paid millions of dollars for mining rights (the region was heavily mined for gold until about 1917) land ownership does not include what’s below the surface and if an underground resource isn’t being exploited by the owner the government can auction the rights to mine or drill someone else could come and build open pit mines and use toxic chemicals that would hit the water table To satisfy the government requirement that the resources actually be exploited iAlumbra does “research mining” that sends rock and soil samples to labs The company has successfully petitioned to reduce the size of land covered by the mining concession from 86,500 acres to 8,650 and is currently petitioning to have it reduced to 125 To the question of who owns and is profiting from the land Palacios said Walton is not an owner of Walmart Palacios opened the company books to show Del Valle that iAlumbra was still deep in the red and that Christy Walton was personally underwriting significant land stewardship and regenerative projects Del Valle accepted the job and is now an enthusiastic advocate of the venture’s vision There are three accommodation options at Rancho Cacachilas The four Ranch Family Suites have electricity and queen and bunk beds within permanent structures triple- and quadruple-occupancy in semipermanent tents; only one has electricity installed to accommodate guests who rely on an oxygen machine (The ranch is off the electrical grid and relies 100% on solar energy.) Toilets for these two accommodation options are not en suite and showers are taken with warm or cold buckets of water explains how guests take showers with warm or cold buckets of water the interior of one of the Ranch Family Suites and near the suites and casitas there is a large palapa for group meetings Visitors who want to immerse themselves in nature might instead choose Los Pisos Remote Camp Guests staying there sleep on cots with mattresses in eight safari-style tents which are also furnished with tables and chairs and a new cluster of accommodations is being planned for the remote Caonas area of the ranch situated between the mountains and a gully solitude and hiking will be the main attractions Rancho Cacachilas is an interesting mix of the sophisticated and rustic Happy hours are held on the roof of the suites to watch the sun set over the mountains and the Sea of Cortes and not far from the suites and glamping are a bar a small pool and a clubhouse with a game room Accommodations currently cost approximately $420 per night for those age 13 and older As regards iAlumbra’s lack of profitability He is the former head of the state tourism board and as head of iAlumbra’s for-profit division he sees significant potential not only in a hospitality operation that has been established at Rancho Cacachilas but in attractions in the nearby former mining town of El Triunfo where a museum and two restaurants have been opened by iAlumbra (the museum operates as a nonprofit) Palacios sees complementary benefits between the conservation efforts and the tourism projects that can bring visitors to the area And the scenic features on the ranch that have been created by the retained water have become a draw for guests There are now year-round shallow creeks flowing through the mountainous terrain Del Valle’s small team of naturalists leads hikes on trails along the banks of the creeks Water conservation techniques have revived shallow creeks and cascades in the driest part of the driest state in Mexico There’s a wide range of amenities and activities included in the daily rate among them mountain biking (guides are provided though the bikes need to be rented from the ranch or brought by guests) And among the many hiking trails are ones that lead to the old mine that once operated on the ranch apiary and organic vegetable gardens are on the land and can be visited The products from these as well as from the ranch’s cattle provide some of the ingredients found on the menu of the on-site gourmet restaurant “and we’ll try to accommodate special requests if we can,” Del Valle said the restaurant will work to satisfy special diets The ranch also organizes events; recent examples are a three-day camp for bird-watchers Under consideration now are writing retreats bow hunting for wild hogs and horseback riding Rancho Cacachilas offers daytrips to local attractions some of which are also iAlumbra enterprises iAlumbra has brought three tourism projects to fruition El Triunfo was once the regional center for gold mining with smelting done right in town; an enormous chimney and other large infrastructure has been preserved The Museo del Vaquero de las Californias is a state-of-the-art and the rich tradition of ranching in the area is showcased from the perspective of the people who worked with cattle visitors view artifacts and exhibits in the museum a cook in Las Alforjas (the Saddlebags) Cafe in the Museo del Vaquero de las Californias prepares fresh tortillas To say that the museum punches above its weight in the sleepy little town is a great understatement While costumes and artifacts are on display the bulk of the focus is on telling the stories of the people who shaped the ranch culture Visitors can try their hand at roping in the museum’s open courtyard There is a restaurant in the museum that serves food associated with the area iAlumbra also operates a full-service restaurant and bar which wouldn’t seem out of place in Mexico City a fast-casual restaurant serving dishes from the company’s fish and oyster farms which thrive in desert conditions and were the first cattle bred in the region have been reintroduced on Rancho Cacachilas and are tended under a holistic livestock management program.  Visitors may come across free-grazing goats just about anywhere on the property (the cheese made from the nanny goats’ milk has won international awards) The bee workshop offered as an activity visits only one cluster of several hives established across the land which are monitored by staff to ensure the health of the bees which in turn help ensure the health of the local flora Honey produced by the bees is packaged and sold All of what’s described above is what’s visible to a guest at Rancho Cacachilas and in sum it’s an extraordinary amount of offerings for a 54-bed property But in addition to what can be readily seen there’s quite a bit more going on that isn’t apparent to visitors Research led by the San Diego Natural History Museum The central focus for research and land stewardship Working with federal and local agencies and universities the ranch’s water conservation staff explores which practices are most effective in the region It is hoped that best practices can be shared with local ranchers some of whom express interest and some of whom having heard the same rumors Del Valle had heard Overgrazing is a serious contributor to soil erosion but local ranchers may not be keen to embrace recommendations to reduce the size of their herds to give plants an opportunity to regenerate even if the practice is to their long-term benefit Walton fell in love with the area around Rancho Cacachilas after she and her husband had sailed their boat to La Paz She is keen to “retain the nature of the place the history of the place and to celebrate the traditions and the environment.” Her interests and holdings in the state extend beyond the ranch and El Triunfo and include the Sol Azul oyster farm and the Earth Ocean Farms fish hatchery Walton’s original intention when purchasing Rancho Cacachilas and adjacent ranches was to develop homes in the watershed but designed in such a way that they would contribute more water to the land than they would draw from it at the opening of the Museo del Vaquero de las Californias Her shift to tourism was predicated in part by concerns that the mining concession would present difficulties for the development though she still would like to see some home development on the periphery of the ranch She sees tourism as part of a diversified local economy She said she believes a regenerative approach makes economic sense “You can make the same amount of money with less infrastructure less use of resources and create local employment,” she said the criollo cattle and the organic farm that emphasizes traditional produce is “part of the foundation for creating a food system that is the taste of the place,” Walton said “One comes here for the food and for this experience So much of tourism is the same model over and over and has little to do with where one is there are places “you visit to create a memory and a story And you may only need to visit these places once or twice in a lifetime.” It is her desire that Rancho Cacachilas be such a place and apparently she’s willing to spend an extraordinary amount of time energy and money to make that dream come true Brazil — Lenice Divina Ramos weaves through knee-high weeds and scorched shrubs before halting abruptly near the slice of jungle where she found the charred carcass of her pet monkey “The little fellow had no way to escape,” she says wistfully waving toward the burnt-orange patch of vegetation that remains They burned the farm; they burned the forest out-of-control flames swept through her 20-hectare (49-acre) plot in the Triunfo do Xingu reserve including the roughly 2,000 cocoa trees that Ramos had planted two years earlier on land razed by her father some three decades ago who had planted the cocoa in hopes of earning a sustainable income in the future She’s not certain how the fire started but suspects it came from one of the neighboring ranches that sprawl for miles across Triunfo do Xingu a sustainable development reserve that has in recent years become the epicenter of the forest destruction gripping the Brazilian Amazon Cattle ranchers routinely use slash-and-burn farming techniques to renew degraded pastures while speculators seeking to expand their landholdings set fires to finish clearing freshly deforested areas “They set one area on fire and it ends up invading their neighbor’s plot,” says one state official involved in managing the reserve who asked to remain anonymous because he isn’t authorized to speak to the media so it should be better protected,” says Thaise Rodrigues an analyst at the Instituto Socioambiental a nonprofit that defends environmental diversity “But what we see is deforestation that is completely out of control.” As our truck snakes along the dirt road slicing through Triunfo do Xingu we slide past toppled trees and sprawling pastures where cattle graze in the scorching midday sun surrounded by the smoldering remains of rainforest About two-thirds of this reserve falls within São Félix do Xingu the idea was to promote sustainable development within it while shielding the region’s rich biodiversity from the frenzied destruction advancing toward it Triunfo do Xingu’s protected status allows for some human activity; landholders may officially deforest up to 20% of their land and must leave the rest untouched deforestation and burning have become far more widespread you will struggle to find a farm — large or small — that has preserved 80% of its forest,” the official says Most of the razed forest is quickly replaced by cattle pasture here As ranchers seek to expand their landholdings many are encroaching deeper and deeper into the forest Others are looking to deforest and burn new areas as their existing plots of land become less productive it’s more convenient for them to just clear another area of forest,” the official adds other threats have been rapidly advancing too Advocates say land grabbing in Triunfo do Xingu is on the rise as invaders rush to occupy slices of the reserve in the hopes that their land claims will be recognized eventually And illegal gold mining has exploded within the territory with speculators digging deep into the mineral-rich earth in search of gold and cassiterite some 157,300 hectares (388,700 acres) of forest have been razed within the reserve since 2019 a network of nonprofits monitoring deforestation in the Xingu River Basin And there are signs that the destruction is picking up pace: between January and September 2022 41,552 hectares (102,603 acres) of land were cleared in Triunfo do Xingu Environmentalists blame the rapidly advancing destruction on a lack of strict environmental enforcement within Triunfo do Xingu Some 16 years after the reserve was created authorities still have not implemented a concrete land management plan which would set in stone best conservation practices and define the rules of developing land within the reserve While state officials are now drafting the document it’s unlikely to come into force for years leaving the door open to more ambiguity and destruction you need a management plan,” says Rodrigues whose organization has repeatedly denounced failures to protect the reserve to federal prosecutors some half a dozen trucks carrying environmental enforcement agents pile onto the barge back to the town of São Félix do Xingu they lean wearily onto their muddy vehicles chattering as the behemoth vessel drifts slowly across the Xingu River according to one enforcement agent involved is part of an ongoing operation dubbed “Amazônia Viva” (Amazon Alive) which state authorities first launched in June 2020 in a bid to crack down on illegal encroachments on Pará’s protected areas authorities have carried out 30 missions across Pará placing more than 324,000 hectares (801,000 acres) of land under embargo the state’s Secretariat of Environment and Sustainability (Semas) said in an emailed statement destroyed mining equipment and shut down illicit mines we’re trying to show that the state is present here,” says an enforcement agent who agrees to speak on the condition of anonymity “So people know they can’t just deforest anywhere they want.” But despite this heightened presence by authorities detecting and halting the destruction hasn’t been simple often barring agents from reaching areas deep in the forest that are being razed illegally we’re seeing a lot of garimpos,” the agent says Advocates say that those seeking to encroach on the forest have been emboldened by friendly signals from Brazil’s previous president a proponent of opening up protected areas to farming and mining who held office from 2019 through 2022 deforestation in the Amazon surged to its highest level in 15 years has become challenging as Bolsonaro’s government slashed the budgets of enforcement agencies like IBAMA the federal environmental protection agency leaving fewer resources for policing of protected reserves with newly sworn-in Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva promising to crack down on illegal deforestation across the Amazon authorities and advocates worry that it may be too late to rein in the rampant destruction “I don’t think it’s possible to control anymore,” says the enforcement agent the situation here is just too out of hand.” As the destruction in Triunfo do Xingu advances advocates warn that it’s also spilling into other protected areas nearby threatening the rich biodiversity of this ecologically important region The reserve is nestled in the Xingu River Basin a mosaic of 28 conservation areas and 18 Indigenous territories that together form a crucial ecological corridor boasting a rich variety of plant and animal species some of which are at risk of extinction in other parts of the Amazon When it was placed under federal protection in 2006 Triunfo do Xingu was intended as a protective buffer for other vulnerable areas beyond its borders But as the forest in the reserve gives way to cattle ranching and wildcat mining, this crucial buffer is fast diminishing and outsiders are encroaching on neighboring protected areas too, says Rodrigues. Invasions have been particularly intense in the Apyterewa Indigenous Territory which lost 8,189 hectares (20,235 acres) of forest between January and September “We see that [Triunfo do Xingu] is acting as a vector for destruction it is adding pressure on these other reserves,” Rodrigues says “It’s completely the opposite of what it was supposed to do The advancing destruction in Triunfo do Xingu is also undermining efforts to build a more sustainable future “We’re already swimming against the current trying to reforest and plant cocoa,” she says her family arrived long before the reserve was created at a time when razing the forest was the only model of development And that’s what my father did in the 1980s.” agroforestry projects are trying to slowly usher in a new kind of economic model in the region With the help of nonprofit groups like The Nature Conservancy (TNC) farmers are recreating the forest by planting cocoa and other plant species which require vast swaths of clear-cut land capturing carbon and generating an income for farmers and it can help areas recover their biodiversity,” says Jessé Ramos Bezerra who is helping farmers plant cocoa on degraded slices of the reserve “It gives small farmers a way to use degraded soil This more sustainable way forward has appealed to Ramos she nearly gave up — but recently she decided to try one more time “I’ll have to start from zero now,” she says a sustainable development reserve in the Brazilian state of Pará has in recent years become the epicenter of the forest destruction gripping the Amazon Rainforest Cattle ranching is responsible for much of the destruction but wildcat mining and land grabbing are fast advancing too open-pit mines and charred jungle are a common sight Feedback: Use this form to send a message to the editor of this post Metrics details the growing demand for chitin and chitosan has stimulated the market to find more sustainable alternatives to the current commercial source (crustaceans) as chitin is a side stream of insect farms for feed applications This is the first report on production and characterization of chitin and chitosan from different biomasses derived from H valorizing the overproduced larvae in feed applications both for chitin and chitosan yields and for their abundance and easy supply from insect farms X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope analysis revealed the similarity of insect-derived polymers to commercial ones in terms of purity and structural morphology and therefore their suitability for industrial and biomedical applications illucens chitin suitable for producing fibrous manufacts after conversion to chitin nanofibrils A great versatility emerged from the evaluation of the physicochemical properties of chitosan obtained from H which presented a lower viscosity-average molecular weight and a high deacetylation degree fostering its putative antimicrobial properties The present work aims to characterize the process of chitin extraction and chitosan production from larvae the objectives are: (i) isolation of chitin and production of chitosan from the three different H pupal exuviae and dead adults); (ii) assessment of the effectivity of the chitin purification process; (iii) evaluation of the physicochemical properties of the obtained chitosan; (iv) characterization of both polymers by FTIR XRD and SEM; and (v) comparison between the characteristics of the samples obtained from H illucens and those of the commercially available polymers Results regarding composition of larvae, pupal exuviae and dead adults of H. illucens related to the dry mass of the samples are reported in Table 1 These differences could be due to the different feeding substrate of larvae and to the different methodology used for the analysis of lipid content (a) Unbleached (A,B,C) and bleached (D,E,F) chitins extracted from H Commercial chitin produced from crustaceans is also shown (G); (b) unbleached (A,B,C) and bleached (D,E,F) chitosan produced from H Commercial chitosan derived from shrimp shells is also shown (G); (c) films obtained from unbleached (A,B,C) and bleached (D,E,F) chitosan produced from H Film obtained from commercial chitosan is also reported (G) a higher protein and lipid content (about 70%) than that reported for pupal exuviae (about 35%) These compositional differences can be explained considering that larvae and adults catabolize lipids and proteins to produce the energy necessary for growth and reproduction respectively; pupal exuviae on the other hand represent a waste product resulting from the moulting process and are mainly composed of chitin It should be considered that the yield of chitin can vary greatly depending on the species Composition of larvae, pupal exuviae and dead adults after each extraction step, as well as composition of the final chitin, were determined and presented in Table 3 Purity of chitin extracted from the three biomasses of H The chitin content increased as the extraction process advanced in all insect samples with the major rise recorded after the DP where unbleached chitin is obtained The unbleached chitins were very similar to each other (chitin content amounting to 73.4 except for the residual mineral and protein content which was lower in adults than in the other ones The bleaching treatment did not significantly affect the acid detergent fibre (ADF) value and These values highlighted the suitability of the applied purification method for the production of a bleached chitin with a degree of purity similar to the commercially available polymer (88.1%) (a) FTIR spectra of both unbleached (A,C) and bleached (B,D) chitin (A,B) and chitosan (C,D) samples extracted from H pupal exuviae (blue line) and dead adults (black line) Commercial chitin and chitosan (wine lines) derived from crustaceans also are reported (b) XRD spectra of both unbleached (A,C) and bleached (B,D) chitin (A,B) and chitosan (C,D) samples extracted from H Commercial chitin and chitosan (wine lines) derived from crustaceans are also reported No significant differences were observed between the spectra of bleached chitosan and the respective unbleached sample for adults only The N–H and O–H stretching bands in the 3000–3600 cm−1 region are more complex for chitin than for chitosan in agreement with the presence of different groups (amine or amidic N–H this region is affected by inter-macromolecular interactions that seem to be more complex in chitin These interactions are connected to supramolecular organization (presence of hydrogen bonds being a chemical reaction that affects the chitin morphological structure had reasonably affected intermolecular and supramolecular organization as deductible by comparing chitin and chitosan spectra XRD analysis was performed to determine crystallinity of chitin and chitosan from H The determination of the CrI from the XRD data revealed significant differences among chitins derived from various developmental stages, comparing them to commercial chitin (Table 5) all bleached chitins had a slightly lower CrI than the respective unbleached samples (although not significantly) This suggests a possible detrimental effect of the bleaching treatment on the crystalline structure of polymer Adults-derived chitin was the most crystalline and not different from commercial one, followed by larvae with slightly lower values, while the lowest CrI were obtained from pupal exuviae derived chitins with values below 70%. Crystallite size was similar among all chitins, including the commercial one (Table 5) XRD patterns of both unbleached and bleached chitosan are shown in Fig. 2b(C,D) The crystal dimension decreased due to deacetylation because of the chemical treatment crystallinity decreased in chitosan with respect to larval and adult chitin suggesting that in pupal exuviae samples recrystallization can more extensively occur the alkaline treatment with 12 M NaOH and the successive steps lead to a solubilization of chitosan in acetic acid solution the crystallinity is generated after the final reprecipitation of the polymer In the case of chitosan from adult chitin a higher order in the macromolecular chain is thus present allowing a more extensive organization in crystals SEM images of (a) honeycomb-like structure of chitin extracted from H pupal exuviae (PE) and dead adults (A) before (unbleached) and after (bleached) bleaching treatment Bars (L pupal exuviae (PE) and dead adults (A) before (unbleached) and after (bleached) bleaching treatment Bars in (L): 1 µm; bars in (PE): 500 and 3 µm; bars in (A): 1 All chitosan samples obtained from the larvae, pupal exuviae and adults of H. illucens (Fig. 3c) showed a rough but less fibrillated structure when compared to the respective chitin ones demonstrating that deacetylation step altered the chitin structure making it more homogeneous and less fibrillated the chemical chitin deacetylation deeply impacted its morphology Chitosan nanofibers can be formed after reprecipitation of the solid polymer from acidic solution or being generated by modifying the previously existing chitin ones Due to the higher morphologic complexity of adult chitin we can hypothesize that the latter mechanism dominates in this case can be more deeply modified resulting in a more effective formation of new nanofibrils this fibrillated structure was more evident in unbleached than bleached samples suggesting an influence of bleaching on the capacity of deacetylation to occur the chitosan samples also had some pores on their surface Due to the lack of studies on the surface morphology of chitosan produced from H it was not possible to compare results of the present work with others in the literature In an attempt to correlate the final physical–chemical properties of chitosan to the starting chitin structure showed a very high starting crystallinity and AD (linked to the high regularity of macromolecular structure) an intermediate value of viscosity average molecular weight (Mv) and a complex morphological structure resulted in a final chitosan showing the highest values of deacetylation degree (DD) and crystallinity the morphological complexity of the sample is not significantly affected by these parameters showing the lowest crystallinity (linked to the lowest AD) an intermediate morphological complexity and a low Mv resulted in the lowest DD and intermediate crystallinity A high starting AD seems another important element for having a high DD and crystallinity in the final chitosan determines an increase in crystallinity of the final chitosan despite different morphological structures were evidenced for the different biomasses they did not extensively affect these important chitosan features suggesting that the chemical attack due to deacetylation strongly modified the starting chitin morphological structure including commercial one: the unbleached chitosan film retained its dark brown colour whereas the bleached one was much lighter but still more pigmented than the other bleached chitosan films used for industrial protein feed production and organic waste management This process acquires greater economic value through the exploitation of the side streams resulting from the insect processing; indeed having no other destination than the disposal as waste could be inserted into a new productive cycle for the purification and production of valuable macromolecules which can then be functionalized and put back on the market This study is the first comprehensive report on the isolation production and characterization of chitin and chitosan derived from three different biomasses of H The latter two are among the main waste products readily available and easy to collect from insect breeding facilities the production of chitin and chitosan from insects is carried out on a laboratory scale using the same procedures as for crustaceans and lacking numerical data providing a quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of chitin extraction processes The method applied in this work was effective in significantly reducing the percentage of minerals and proteins contained in the insect raw samples resulting in a chitin of similar purity to the commercially available one with the highest yield of both chitin and chitosan thus representing the biomass of choice for the polymers production FT-IR and XRD spectra of all chitin and chitosan samples also confirm their similarity to commercial ones illucens as an alternative source of these biopolymers pupal exuviae and dead adults) provided the main driver for modulating the morphology of chitins as well as the physical–chemical properties of final chitosan products it will then be possible to proceed by relating the specific chemical-physical and morphological characteristics of the polymers with the applications of interest they represent ideal candidates for the chitin nanofibrils formulation applicable in the cosmetic and biomedical fields while their fibrillar structure makes them suitable for producing fibrous manufacts From the characterization of chitosan produced from H the optimal characteristics of this polymer change according to its use making it difficult to define univocal optimal parameters for its production Its filmogenic capacity makes it suitable to be used as preservative coating in the food industry; the low Mv associated with a low viscosity and a high DD could instead be encouraging features for antimicrobial activity and for future biomedical and pharmaceutical applications The results obtained from this work are encouraging and represent a starting point for further investigations oriented to the optimization of the current chemical purification and characterization processes to the development of "green" extraction processes as well as on the specific applications of the final polymer Pupal exuviae were taken after the adults emerged and dead adults were sampled from the flight cages at the end of their life cycle All samples were washed with distilled water dried in an oven at 60 °C for 24–48 h and then ground into powder with a lab grinder (Waring Commercial Stamford were purchased from MP Biomedicals (Irvine Lipid content of the raw insect samples was determined by Soxhlet (Sigma-Aldrich USA) extraction using n-hexane (Sigma-Aldrich St the powdered samples were suspended in 0.5 M formic acid (Sigma-Aldrich St USA) (solid: liquid ratio 1:10 (m/v)) and stirred for 1 h at room temperature The demineralized material was then filtered through a sieve cloth and washed to neutral with distilled water The washed samples were dried at 60 °C overnight in oven Proteins were removed from demineralized samples by treatment with 2 M sodium hydroxide (Sigma-Aldrich St USA) (NaOH) (solid:liquid ratio 1:10 (m/v)) The deproteinized material was again filtered through a sieve cloth washed to neutral with distilled water and dried at 60 °C overnight in oven The bleached samples were filtered using filter paper washed to neutral pH with distilled water and finally dried at 60 °C overnight in oven Samples were analyzed after each step of the chitin purification process to determine changes in their composition according to methods described in “Determination of proximate composition of raw samples” for raw insect samples The efficiency of DM and DP was measured by comparing the mineral and protein content of the samples before and after the respective treatment, according to the following Eqs. (3, 4): The yield of both unbleached and bleached chitin was also calculated as a ratio between the chitin dry weight and that of the initial insect sample (Eq. 5): The final product was freeze-dried and stored at room temperature The yield of both chitosan, unbleached and bleached, was firstly calculated for all the samples, similarly to chitin, according to the following Eq. (6): All chitin and chitosan samples were analysed in order to characterize them and assess their quality and suitability for potential applications Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed on both chitin and chitosan and film forming ability of chitosan were determined where D is the size of the crystallites (nm) β is the width at half height of the peak analysed while θ is the corresponding diffraction angle The surface morphologies of the chitin and chitosan samples were examined by analyzing the powder samples by using a field emission FEI Quanta 450 FEG electron microscope that exploits the pH sensitivity of the amino groups of the polymer chain which are protonated under acidic conditions To confirm the validity of the method used for DD determination a commercial chitosan (Sigma-Aldrich) with a known DD was used as a reference Briefly 0.1 g chitosan was dissolved in 10 ml of 1% (v/v) acetic acid and the solution was poured into a 100 mm diameter polystyrene Petri dish The solutions were left to dry at room temperature for 3 days The dried chitosan films were photographically documented visually evaluating their homogeneity and transparency All measurements were performed in triplicate and the data were expressed as average ± standard deviation The data distribution was first verified using the Shapiro-Wilk test in order to choose appropriate statistical tests to detect significant differences (p < 0.05) Normally distributed data were analyzed with the one-way Anova with Tukey’s post hoc test Data with non-normal distribution were analyzed with a non-parametric test (the Mann–Whitney U test) Pairwise comparisons of percentage data were performed with the Chi-square test with Yates’ correction For pairwise comparisons of non-percentage data the t-test with Welch’s correction was used All statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism version 6.0.0 for Windows (GraphPad Software The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available at the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rzsSX6DFYBiBDDnq5c0vpOhXbMKZ1GgW?usp=sharing Chitin and chitosan: Production and application of versatile biomedical nanomaterials Physicochemical characterization of α-chitin and γ-chitin separated from natural resources A review of chitin and chitosan applications Chitin and chitosan: Properties and applications Isolation and identification of chitin in three-dimensional skeleton of Aplysina fistularis marine sponge Production of chitooligosaccharides and their 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(Oniscus asellus) Comparison of chitin structures derived from three common wasp species (Vespa crabro Linnaeus Functional characterization of chitin and chitosan Insect chitin-based nanomaterials for innovative cosmetics and cosmeceuticals Characteristics of cricket ( Gryllus bimaculatus) chitosan and chitosan-based nanoparticles Isolation and characterization of chitosan from different local insects in Egypt physicochemical and pharmaceutical characterization of chitosan from Catharsius molossus residue Characterization of chitosan extracted from Mealworm Beetle (Tenebrio molitor Zophobas morio) and Rhinoceros Beetle (Allomyrina dichotoma) and their antibacterial activities Fluctuation in physicochemical properties of chitins extracted from different body parts of honeybee Description of a new surface morphology for chitin extracted from wings of cockroach (Periplaneta americana) Highly crystalline chitosan produced by multi-steps acid hydrolysis in the solid-state properties and applications in biomedical engineering Unprecedented chitin and chitosan: A chemical overview Preparation and antibacterial activity of chitosan microshperes in a solid dispersing system Growth inhibitory effect on bacteria of chitosan membranes regulated with deacetylation degree Parameters affecting the viscosity of chitosan from prawn waste Preparation and biological activities of chitosan from the larvae of housefly Preparation and characterization of chitosan obtained from shells of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei Boone) Antitumor activity of chitosan from mayfly with comparison to commercially available low medium and high molecular weight chitosans Molecular weight of chitosan influences antimicrobial activity in oil-in-water emulsions Characterization of chito-oligosaccharides prepared by chitosanolysis with the aid of papain and pronase and their bactericidal action against Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli New diets for production of house flies and stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae) in the laboratory Assays for determination of protein concentration Spectrophotometric and turbidimetric methods for measuring proteins Purification of chitin from pupal exuviae of the black soldier fly Characterization of chitosan with different degree of deacetylation and equal viscosity in dissolved and solid state – Insights by various complimentary methods An empirical method for estimating the degree of crystallinity of native cellulose using the X-ray diffractometer Bestimmung der inneren Struktur und der Größe von Kolloidteilchen mittels Röntgenstrahlen A new linear potentiometric titration method for the determination of deacetylation degree of chitosan Ultrasound-assisted extraction of chitosan from squid pen: Molecular characterization and fat binding capacity Determination of viscosity-average molecular weight of chitosan using intrinsic viscosity measurement Download references We thank the Centre for Instrumentation Sharing-University of Pisa (CISUP) for their support in the use of FEI Quanta 450 FEG scanning electron microscope This work was supported by University of Basilicata; Basilicata Region (Italy) within the Innovative PhD Program with specialization in enabling technologies in Industry 4.0-Basilicata within the PO FESR BASILICATA 2014–2020 “RETREAT” project D.D University and Research (MIUR) within the frameworks of Action 1.1 “Innovative PhD with Industrial Characterization” and Action 1.2 “Attraction and Mobility of Researchers” (PON R&I 2014–2020) These authors contributed equally: Micaela Triunfo Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering Luca Panariello & Maria Beatrice Coltelli The authors declare no competing interests Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10423-5 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Translational Research newsletter — top stories in biotechnology By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use The fans of Operación Triunfo – a talent-based reality competition series airing in Spain – have already fallen in love with what appears to be a showmance between season 12 contestants Martin Urrutia and Juanjo Bona Martin came into the competition as an 18-year-old from Getxo Juanjo introduced himself as being 19 years old and from Magallón Juanjo and Martin have made their way through the rounds and are still active in the competition as of Gala 5 these two are developing an increasingly close bond with each other and are practically inseparable whenever they’re hanging out Juanjo and Martin’s duet performance on Operación Triunfo, “God Only Knows,” has already reached a whopping 654,000 plays on Spotify there are endless social media posts shipping these two guys on TikTok Scroll through to see some of the best reactions to – and moments of – Martin Urrutia and Juanjo Bona on Operación Triunfo tarde #juantin : no pueden estar separados ya #ot2023 #martinurrutia #juanjoymartin #operaciontriunfo #parati dibujandole un corazon 😭 #juanjobona #martinurrutia #ot2023 #operaciontriunfo #juanjoymartin #parati Bernardo Sim is the deputy editor of Out. He's also a staff contributor to The Advocate, PRIDE, and other equalpride publications You can follow Bernardo Sim on Instagram. Otherwise, you can find him on Bluesky, Threads, X/Twitter, and TikTok in a city located in the northern part of the Vale do Pajeú site of a hospitable population surrounded by mountains and vegetation originated from a fight that took place between a powerful family from Campos Velhos from the city of Flores and the inhabitants of the village of Baixa Verde the municipality has the privilege of bringing together so many attractions which contradicts the arid northeastern hinterland with temperatures ranging between 8ºC in the winter and 28ºC in the summer It is located 400 km from Recife at an altitude of 1,004m it has different vegetation from that which predominates in the region and a variety of places to visit like no other throughout the Northeastern Sertão With all this climate variety it became known as “O Oásis no Sertão” but it was one of his sons that filled her with pride and made him famous all over the world by adopting his name as a surname we are talking about Nelson Gonçalves Campos Filho the boy from the country who made it in the world by being considered the father of Brazilian Hip-Hop started his artistic career as a soul and funk dancer in the 1970s without a doubt he has always been the key figure in the history of Hip-hop culture in Brazil STREETOPIA had the honor of having a long chat with him and we would like now to introduce him to you I wanted you to talk a little about your childhood and your family "Talking about my childhood comes a whole principle that I had which was very important in my entire career I was privileged when I was born there on the border of Pernambuco with Paraíba It was a boy's childhood from the countryside of a modest city my father used to visit the farming fields and at the same time I studied in Triunfo and only returned to sleep there at night At school I was always a very good student I was always one of the first in the class I saw many historical films with Gene Kelly at that time that I also learned to spin top and split I have very good memories of São João parties when I was 13 years old I was going to play forró with that accordion player my father was an accordion player and I was already initiating a little bit sometimes we went to parties that had a bonfire for a long time rapadura was the sugar of the northeast The smell of honey and sugar cane travels for miles Triunfo even had the third most important school in Brazil I liked to stay in the public square at night you paid to play the songs and could offer songs to anyone you wished It was in the 70's that black and white television arrived but the images were not completely visible yet at the time..." When the radio arrived inside your house a lot changed Go deeper into the cultural interests that you had at that time It had nothing to do with the samba they call pagode today Martinho da Vila was starting… I lived it all that's why I had a great eclectic cultural diversity The influences that I had with the types of dance but there are steps that are repeated between one and the other I started playing with a way that became true and everyone liked and applauded that's when I made the decision to make dancing my profession..." started to like James Brown very much at the same time and created your own dancing style what was going on and comment on the creation of the “Invertebrates” which was the first Black dance group from the Northeast "Black dancing was not a business in Brazil back then I was one of the first guys to make this a cultural product and if you wanted us in a venue you had to hire us Our dance is also a feeling that we carry along Children are an example: when you put on a sound and she starts shaking her head who taught the kid that she had to shake her/his head aged 16 to 17 and went to study in Paulo Afonso it was in the middle of a square and it had a cinema a beautiful stage and there was a program that was similar to the Chacrinha Program the name of the program was “O Coliseu Show” and then I started performing there and a guy from Rio arrived and had another friend of mine at Paulo Afonso who asked to go up on stage to dance with me and then we danced “Sex Machine” It was really cool and when we got off the stage Then she asked: “What is the name of the group?” And then I took advantage of her “no bones” I made it up right away and replied: “That's why our group's name is Invertebrates!” From that day on we became Invertebrates (laughs) here in São Paulo it was until 1986 because there were already other things popping up being the same people today that do ball of nostalgia it was more soul and in São Paulo it was soul and samba rock and the lyrics were cool these were the cities that concentrated the Black Balls Then it spread to the northeast and to some inland cities it happened in Barra Mansa and in Volta Redonda But in the 80's it all started to mix with Hip Hop..." creating an image that would follow you for the rest of your life Tell us about the importance of this look in the whole context "My style comes from aspects of my childhood Even though I was raised in the countryside I always wanted to be a little crazy and my parents wouldn't let me (laughs) I became a Black Power: it was beautiful and I liked it In the USA the Woodstock Festival was going on and I was always up to date with everything going on out there I spent three years working with the same hair I have been away from Paulo Afonso for so many years it was where I took the attitude of growing my hair I became so famous there that I left there in 1974 and until today the kids let their hair grow like mine (laughs) And when the hair gets big they call it Nelsão (laughs) My fans from all over Brazil and those who know me from outside they think there is something very cool about me which is that time when I start dancing and I take off my cap and let my hair down (laughs) because I played football and every time I scored a goal I took off my cap and waved my hair Without hair you are not the real Nelsão It is the real resistance that nobody managed to tie me nobody forced me to follow some empty trend Perhaps the only guy in Brazil who is Black Power from that time  In 1976 you arrived in São Paulo It was in that time that you completely dedicated yourself to dance "Starting in Paulo Afonso I had some groups that asked me to dance and when the time came I was a huge success studied at night and on the weekend I went to the balls we went to Rio to enjoy the Black Rio Balls I came to São Paulo a couple of times but I came to do television: Silvio Santos I finished my studies in Brasília and in the beginning of 1977 I came to São Paulo once and for all but when I came to São Paulo I decided that I didn't want to work with topography anymore and that I would dedicate myself to what I always liked Moisés da Rocha do Samba Pede Passagem I already knew the teams in Rio de Janeiro I was one of the first people to do Breaking movements here in Brazil it was already possible to see people here dancing Popping and in 1983 there is a very interesting video called “Gilberto Gil Funk-se Quem Puder” at that time we already danced in the streets Leaving Soul and entering the Street Dance we just got into Hip-Hop and we are still there today In 1977 the recording of Miguel de Deus's album took place and Mr Tell us about this work and about the group where today is the MTV and there I met Tony Tornado they invited me to a dance that was big in São Paulo at Associação Atlética São Paulo they even invited teams from Rio de Janeiro to make a sound with them and Miguel de Deus appeared there who invited me and even on his album there is a song that is mine Funk and we also created Black Soul Brothers it was the name of the first group that I formed in São Paulo it existed only for the work of Miguel de Deus' album I thought about forming a much bigger and more powerful group And in 1977 I started putting together Funk e Cia With the best dancers of Black Music in São Paulo They were the ones who participated in the Funk-Quem Quem Puder then came other formations of Funk and Cia Over the years the components have been changing But nowadays it is more dancing and singing But the heavy line-up was from 1978 to 1983 I went to the black dances and watched the guys dance get in the circle and sometimes painted the one who danced a lot then I talked to him and invited him for Funk and Cia They were the best dancers of Black Music in São Paulo..." How was it to participate in shows by such important artists as Tim Maia Is it true that Tony Tornado called you “The Tree Man” "It was important for me to dance with all these names of Brazilian Black Music so I felt at home and got along very well with everyone it was really cool and in the case of Tony Tornado the first time that he saw me the guys were with him he never presented me differently from that name and something else at the black dances in Rio and the South best dancers What was it like meeting James Brown in person Talk about the iconic photo taken by Penna Prearo in which you appear who was our interpreter and a few more guys from Chic Show I told him that I liked him and that I was a huge fan of his rhythm that there were black balls in Brazil and he said that he had seen reports about it and everything and I said for him that the show at Palmeiras was going to have a lot of people I danced a little for him to see and he said: “The best Then he presented me with a cape which I took to the show that I would perform after him and unfortunately when I went to change in the dressing room the cape disappeared Someone got in there and just out of wickedness took it The photo shows me in this show with the cape before it was stolen!" could you comment on the importance of James Brown to world culture and talk about the legacy he left and tell us what you felt when you received the news of his passing in 2006 "James Brown's music was undoubtedly one of the biggest revolutions of black music in the world Original Funk itself became several other things they were songs that became very well-known to the people who left almost nothing for anyone to do most of the Urban Dances it is the biggest original base for several styles which are the ones that happen even within our Hip-Hop Culture when we are at the parties that have Poppers he had no sign of being bad and suddenly he left .. it was December and I came crying inside the plane because I was listening to a radio and played that song "O Mundo dos Homens" The feeling of loss I experienced was unbearable!" Many consider you the father of Hip-Hop in Brazil talk about your connection with the whole culture and with the Breakdance And tell us about the days and the importance of São Bento even I had three people in the group who were capoeiristas they already had a lot of these things that today the B-Boys do there then the Six Step that was Footwork arrived there were guys doing Moinho de Vento and there started the first breakers in Brazil because up we had some things at Funk e Cia but connected to Soul and it was joining everything and but in the conception of those dances of the time It was during Beat Street that more movements and techniques and greater knowledge of all elements were improved there was already a magazine talking about the elements of Hip-Hop over time the guys were perfecting it to the point that I already said that Breaking had many young people who were better than Olympic gymnasts this thing about Breaking being at the Olympics I think that since 1999 we were already in a very capable evolution we danced in the past in various places in São Paulo it was when São Bento appeared that it was only on Saturday the meetings took place Saturday afternoon São Bento was busted and there was no room for anyone else in 1986 the great battles of the crews began the first Interstate Breaking Battle took place in Brazil then Thayde and DJ Hum formed the duo and started other works The two main bases of all this were the 24th of May with São José and São Bento this year Breakdance became part of the Olympic games And B-Boys and B-Girls are beginning to be seen as athletes all those who were against evolution were left behind: I was not I founded Casa do Hip-Hop in Diadema and others have founded other houses sometimes some complain about the notoriety and everything but there is no way to say that Breakdance Rap is all over the world and B-boy has always been in evidence in all these years there were wonderful battles before there was the Battle of the Year that was in Germany but today it is all over the world all over the world they have B-Boys and today the guys challenge even the law of physics the evolution and the precisions are awesome That is why I say that it is no surprise to me that Breakdance made it to the Olympics since we should have been there ever since 1999 Speaking of the Casa do Hip-Hop de Diadema talk about its importance in the scene and in the recovery and education of young people "Casa do Hip-Hop was born out of a project were the first classroom openings for Hip-Hop Culture and there was a person called Elisete who worked in education together with Paulo Freire and she was called to work in Diadema which was the first city that the PT elected their mayor in Brazil and it was the education people and there were kids there who asked to take the work that happened in São Paulo there and we started work in some cultural centers there Diadema was seen as one of the most violent cities in São Paulo the work grew and in 1994 we already had the Centro Cultural do Caema which later would become the Casa do Hip-Hop Marcelinho Back Spin and I wanted to make Casa do Hip-Hop and there it became a standard cultural center to perform there all the end of the month where all the workshops took place together in Caema and all the cultural centers we always worked on the 4 elements and it became something of ours that started to come people from all over Brazil to learn with us and already worked as Casa do Hip-Hop and showing social work with young people and there were many young people who left there and who are now all over the world there should have been more than 50 Hip-Hop Houses ours was the first Hip-Hop House in Latin America several multipliers of Hip-Hop through Casa do Hip-Hop..." you once declared that you wrote your story in “Brasil dos Preonceitos” (A Brazil of Prejudices) Is it true that during the dictatorship you were arrested and even beaten how do you see some people in the current government defending the return of the dictatorship "Today people who defend the dictatorship are people who go with the flow not knowing what they are talking about as these people have always existed in history they do not even know what the dictatorship was and they talk nonsense and others must be the children of the military because of course the children of the military were raised within a doctrine that they do not find a problem to see the country being governed by military and people who have this swastika this aversion to the left and want to be the best through stupidity and not through intelligence you see how many people know nothing and wants to discuss politics both on the side of good and on the side of evil in the case of these it is on the side of evil so they see the whole artistic side as a threat I was even prejudiced in food when I asked for flour in some places to put in beans the flour was hidden under the counter so no one could see it Another thing: I was the guy with the Black Power hair and they were prejudiced against my accent I represent the Northeastern of Brazil and also showed a lot of the knowledge that I had from abroad silly arguments and I just intellectually crushed them with my ideas and they couldn't do much with me I was one of the guys who got arrested the most in the city performing and for the police it was a trickster thing it was so much that they asked for a signed labor card How was I going to dance on the streets and have a labor card with a formal employment So I was one of the guys who got arrested the most for defending culture many new ones were left unattended on the streets Today I am 66 years old and I didn’t stop thank God I always helped everyone as much as I could Our work has always been one of help and advocacy How many kids were part of that work and today they are doctors Another interesting reminder is that when I went to dance at Chacrinha the guys said it wasn’t for me to speak but just for dancing at the time there were a lot of people who sang in English I left without talking to anyone and then I went to find out why the guy didn't want me to speak then on another occasion the same thing happened I was going to sing a song called 84 at 24 and when I sang a woman from the production said that I had a language problem and that it wouldn't work that way The language problem was my northeastern accent talk about the tributes you've received in your life "I have already received some awards and honors such as that of Hutuz for Best Community Leader I won in São Paulo in 2008 the title of Citizen Paulistano also in 2008 the Commendation of National Culture the recognition that the Ministry of Culture has for some people who develop very important works within the culture of the country there was the “Se Liga Mano” which was a play made in 96 to 97 they were all students of the Cultural Center of Diadema is an interesting film that tells a little about my story which was made by Gilberto Yoshinaga in March 2014 people had been thinking for a long time that they would pay homage to me and they made a statue there and that shows a change because in the past they paid homage in this person’s absence in my case they do a statue in life and I was very happy I see that things are a result of the seeds you plant The statue was made by the City of Triunfo What have you been doing in this pandemic time doing my lives and I have behaved in this way I think it will take a while and this pandemic phase is still far from over…" What message would you leave for the new generation that will continue this history of Hip-Hop in Brazil there are B-Boys and new B-Girls that are wonderful I also know that there are a lot of B-Boys today that are at their peak which may not be there anymore and new ones will appear but I also think that some of the old ones will be mentors these things that I would like to tell young people because what you do not like being done with you should not be done with others is there anything in your life that you would change if you could "I would like to be remembered in some way as part of the representatives of Brazil who go to the Olympics I would like to be remembered for being part of this first team that will be chosen to represent Brazilian Breakdance at the Olympics because it is often the crazy people who positively changed the world the ones who changed the world once and for all In the past I did what I could and continue to do well in a nice and smooth way on this journey!" Luciana Mazza: Journalist, Filmmaker and Editor at Portal Breaking World Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times Satellites have detected forest clearing within Triunfo do Xingu this year an area that’s supposed to be a legally protected swath of Amazon rainforest in Brazil’s northern state of Pará the protected area was created in 2006 as a sustainable use reserve meaning that within its bounds (an area more than half the size of Belgium) landowners are legally required to keep 80% of their forests intact However, despite this requirement, 35% of the primary (or old-growth) forest within the Triunfo do Xingu Environmental Protection Area (APA) was lost between 2006 and 2021 — more than 533,000 hectares (1.32 million acres), according to satellite data from the University of Maryland (UMD), visualized on the Global Forest Watch platform That makes the Triunfo do Xingu APA one of the most deforested slices of the Brazilian Amazon in recent years, putting it in the top three of Brazil’s list of most deforested protected reserves. The highest amount of forest loss since the creation of the protected area occurred in 2020 at almost 70,000 hectares (173,000 acres) — an area nearly the size of New York City loss that year was still nearly twice the average rate between 2002 and 2021 Deforestation in the region is largely driven by cattle ranching, according to previous reporting in 2020 farmers and ranchers use slash-and-burn techniques to clear forest for pasture “The Triunfo do Xingu APA was created to allow some kind of human activity in a sustainable way,” Larissa Amorim, a researcher at Imazon, an NGO monitoring the forest clearing, told Mongabay in 2021 “But we see that it is not sustainable at all And the illegal activities that are taking place there end up spilling beyond it.” The Triunfo do Xingu APA was intended to protect wildlife and serves as a buffer for vulnerable surrounding areas such as the Apyterewa Indigenous Territory and the massive Terra do Meio Ecological Station “[The Terra do Meio Ecological Station] should be completely preserved,”  Rômulo Batista, a campaigner with Greenpeace Brazil, told Mongabay in 2021 “With this weakening of [Triunfo do Xingu] It ultimately didn’t end up becoming the buffer it was supposed to become.” Though cattle ranching remains the main culprit behind forest loss, the region has also emerged as a center of land grabbing and illegal mining by invaders who are betting on the continued loosening of environmental regulations and enforcement “We have seen a wave of land grabbing,” Fonseca said “The pattern has changed — many of these openings are now for speculation only Protecting Triunfo do Xingu from illegal deforestation and fires has proven extra challenging because it is remote and accessible primarily by boat from the town of São Félix do Xingu Bolsonaro has also blamed fires on Indigenous and traditional peoples 3.75 million hectares (9.27 million acres) of tropical primary rainforest were lost across the planet a rate of about 10 football fields per minute More than 40% of that primary forest loss last year occurred in Brazil “The main driver is the total lack of environmental policy from this government,” said Batista “People who are disposed to invading are feeling emboldened “These are regions that have the greatest ecological importance and that must be protected to ensure the integrity of the rainforest as a whole,” Batista added “And this is what we are ultimately losing with this surge in deforestation.” Liz Kimbrough is a staff writer for Mongabay. Find her on Twitter @lizkimbrough_ FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the author of this post four young land defenders were abducted from the Garífuna community of Triunfo de la Cruz The state has yet to provide any significant information regarding their whereabouts community leader César Benedith describes the Garifuna community’s continued struggle for answers and for its land a group of heavily armed men wearing uniforms of the Police Investigation Directorate (DPI) entered the Garífuna community of Triunfo de la Cruz The Garifunas are an oppressed national minority of mixed African and indigenous people who originally lived on Saint Vincent and speak their own language; they were exiled to Honduras in the 18th century The men abducted four young land defenders: Alberth Sneider Centeno Suami Aparicio Mejía García and Gerardo Mizael Róchez Cálix a young man who was close to the community Their families and communities still await answers from the state regarding their whereabouts the president of the patronato (community council) at the time was leading a struggle for the recovery of the community’s ancestral lands which have been under threat by corporations in the tourism and African oil palm industries that operate with the complicity of the Honduran state Threats against the Garífuna people have increased since 2015 when the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) issued a ruling in favor of the communities of Triunfo de la Cruz and Punta Piedra The decision demands that the Honduran state pay reparations to the Garífunas and return their communal lands under the new Honduran government led by Xiomara Castro the national congress repealed the law allowing the establishment of Special Economic Development Zones (ZEDEs) — areas of the country where private companies have been granted the right to establish their own legal systems The measure directly affects the Garífuna communities as most ZEDEs are located in their territory the repeal will not take effect until it is ratified by the next legislature and the companies involved will continue to defend the operation of the ZEDEs through the courts — so the Garífuna’s struggle to oust them once and for all continues Two years after the abduction of the young leaders of Triunfo de la Cruz a member of OFRANEH (Honduran Black Fraternal Organization) and former president of the patronato of Triunfo de la Cruz He spoke of the changes that have occurred in the last year and how the community is continuing its struggle you told us that the Garífuna communities in Honduras and especially the community leaders who are fighting for the recovery of their lands were facing increasing persecution and violence Has the situation changed in any way since then The number of murdered community leaders has decreased a little but what has not diminished are the threats and prosecution of some of the leaders of the different Garífuna communities The lack of justice for our people also continues and not much has changed after these events The Garífuna community remains vigilant and continues to fight The Garífuna and other indigenous communities in Honduras continue to suffer from the after-effects of the narco-dictatorship.  Do you feel that anything has changed for the Garífuna communities under the new administration of Xiomara Castro We expect this government to comply with the ruling of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and apply pressure to determine the whereabouts of the leaders who were abducted from their homes because the judiciary remains in the hands of the narco-dictatorship we’re hoping for the replacement of Attorney General Óscar Fernando Chinchilla and the authorities and judges who run the Public Prosecutor’s Office and Supreme Court They are operating under the orders of the narco-dictatorship to protect the corrupt which include the country’s millionaires — who are the ones interested in our lands We’ve been informed that the president has begun to set up a new commission to comply with the ruling we’re waiting for the commission to be formed and for the government to call us to establish a dialogue and start working toward the demarcation and recovery of the lands that belong to the communities of Triunfo de la Cruz and Punta Piedra A meeting with indigenous peoples is scheduled for August 1 and 2 at the presidential residence and we’re going to ask about progress of the commission and when it will begin to operate the community of Triunfo de la Cruz established a committee called “SUNLA” to investigate the case and search for the abducted leaders OFRANEH is demanding that Xiomara’s government include this committee in its investigations of enforced disappearances Can you tell us about the committee’s work over the last year and whether you expect the current government to include it in its search process we believe that SUNLA’s work is very necessary It works with international legal experts to investigate the cases further There are also members of our organization doing that work The state’s negligence has forced us to conduct our own investigations — ones we can trust We hope Xiomara Castro’s government will incorporate SUNLA in its work on the issue of the disappeared activists but in the nine indigenous communities of Honduras.  The appointment of a prosecutor for these types of issues is very important It will be very helpful for indigenous peoples There is a public prosecutor’s office for matters regarding the indigenous peoples the public prosecutor’s office for ethnic groups They argue that they have not been given the financial support they need to be able to operate When these cases [of violence against indigenous communities] arise we don’t believe the state intends to strengthen that prosecutor’s office are asking for a public prosecutor’s office that can handle these issues directly with the indigenous peoples the government repealed the law on the ZEDEs some of which are located in Garífuna territory How does the measure affect the Garífuna community and what more needs to be done to put an end to these zones the repeal of the law on ZEDEs was something to celebrate The Garífuna communities and the indigenous peoples of Honduras were in the eye of the storm when it came to the ZEDEs because they were trying to sell off pieces of the country The president promised that it would be repealed and she fulfilled that promise as a people who have always struggled for our rights The government has taken an important step by repealing the law on the ZEDEs but we know that the people have to continue to apply pressure so we can have governments that completely repeal it and the members of congress don’t sell out in the future — because it’s ultimately the people’s decision we’re working on the recovery of different areas of land that belong to our community We’re working with the [community] commission for compliance with the [IACHR] ruling After the leaders were abducted from our community many young people are afraid of doing this work They’re afraid because we still don’t have a security system to protect us We don’t have the protection we need right now But we discussed the issue of security in a meeting we held today We decided that we have to present a proposal to the state for its compliance with the ruling so that we can have cameras in our community but neither I nor my family have the protection that the state should provide us with Can you tell us about the threats you’ve received we’re leaders who are recovering our territory so we’ve received many threats— especially when I became president of the patronato after they abducted Sneider “Watch what you do” and “You’ll be next if you keep messing around with the land recoveries if you keep demanding compliance with the ruling.” So I no longer have the freedom I used to have I wasn’t able to go back to work in the mountains because I don’t have the security I need to go to work there alone But I had to stop doing that work because I don’t have the necessary security Have you had to look for new sources of income and when I don’t I get help from my brothers Can you tell us about the land recovery initiatives that are being carried out in the Garífuna communities We are taking these initiatives to recover our food sovereignty Our problem in Triunfo de la Cruz is that the millionaires have taken over the areas where we plant our crops Right now they’re filling them with African oil palms That’s why we’re asking the government to speed up the process to prevent them from planting more of these on our territory and continuing to ruin our lands where we grow our own crops We’re working as a community to recover our land so we can have a space in the center of our community for our children’s education We’re also building a technical school and an agricultural school Young people are being given land so that they can build their homes in the community at no cost What message would you like to send out to our readers regarding the situation of the Garífuna community The last thing I would like to say is that our struggle continues We know that the struggle for land is not easy and we ask that the international community remain vigilant and continue to show solidarity.  I would like to send my regards to the people of Brazil We recently welcomed a delegation of people from different universities in Brazil who came here to ask questions and learn about these issues It is often through international support and solidarity that we are able to make progress and be heard And we ask that people continue to show solidarity and respect for our Garífuna communities We thank you for your unconditional support and we hope that the struggle of our peoples in Latin America continues to grow every day First published in Spanish on July 18 in La Izquierda Diario an indigenous socialist deputy with the PTS was tear-gassed during a weekly pensioners protest in Argentina He offers a powerful example of socialists’ role in electoral politics hundreds of thousands in Argentina joined a national strike The country’s working class is showing the way to fight the Far Right at the Central American Security Conference Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged that the Trump administration would “take back” the Panama Canal to contest “China’s influence.” With a cabinet full of Latin American hardliners Trump’s second term has been geared towards reinforcing fraying U.S workers across the world turned out to organize and demonstrate against the growing global threat posed by Trump and the Far Right The United States has already killed hundreds of civilians in its imperialist bombing of Yemen the Trump administration is indicating that it may back a ground invasion threatening to throw the country into a civil war Leftists who claim the mantle of internationalism must speak out against the reactionary nationalism that the Russian and Ukrainian regimes are using to crack down on dissent and left organizations rallied across the United States showing the widespread anger at Trump’s reactionary agenda To defeat the Far Right workers and students need to organize from below — not rely on the Democratic Party that sabotages labor and capitulates to the right 5 Sep (EFE).- Lima’s so-called “Wall of Shame,” a wall of stones and barbed wire that separates a humble slum from a wealthy neighborhood will be demolished by order of the Constitutional Court for violating the rights to freedom of movement The decision has drawn mixed comments from both sides of the wall and will do little to heal Lima’s social divide has nothing to do with the issue of social segregation but with access to basic services,” Francis Dumler the municipal administrator of the La Molina neighborhood On the hill that marks the border between the wealthy La Molina neighborhood and the popular Villa María del Triunfo workers have been dismantling the wall for several days the mayor’s office of La Molina claimed that the wall was intended to protect the safety of citizens and prevent the installation of illegal settlements land occupations began more than a decade ago and reached the wall in recent years construction respected the park boundaries on the hillside The shock of crossing from one side to the other does not end there it reaches 100%” and all “houses have connections to public utilities and drainage systems people do not have these services because of structural problems,” says Dumler is that Lima is the only Latin American capital whose population has grown 100% in 30 years from 5.5 million in 1990 to 11 million today “Many of the residents who have arrived in the city do not have access to the urban land provided by the state or to the real estate development offered by the city through private companies so they have had to invade the hills,” he says he believes that solidarity between neighborhoods is the only way to fill the gaps I think there will always be a wall because of the social classes it is still seen as if it were there because of the social difference,” Luz Bautista like many of her neighbors who settled in Villa María del Triunfo 12 years ago cross the wall and use the road to La Molina every day There are also many residents who work on the other side and who no longer have to jump over the one-and-a-half-meter wall Rosario Flores told EFE that her neighbors’ greatest fear is “the land traffickers who are invading the entire area of La Molina.” There are also fears of a possible increase in citizen insecurity although she acknowledges that “there is also crime” in La Molina Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.