Privacy Policy | About Our Ads
Stephen Van Bueren has been appointed as the resources management coordinator for Ho‘ōla iā Mauiakama Long Term Recovery Group (Ho‘ōla LTRG)
strengthen disaster case management partnerships and welcome new funders
He previously led The Salvation Army’s Long-Term Maui Recovery Project
coordinating programs and services while managing a donation budget of approximately $12 million
His work with National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and Hawai‘i Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster has focused on building government and nonprofit partnerships
Van Bueren will continue to serve as the chair for the Resources Roundtable
“Stephen’s unwavering commitment to our community and his extensive experience in disaster recovery make him an exceptional addition to our leadership team,” said Rhonda Alexander-Monkres
“His dedication and strategic vision will be instrumental as we continue our mission to support Maui’s recovery and build a more resilient future.”
More information is available at www.mauilongtermrecovery.org
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
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article
which states that an activity is not allowed when there is a chance that the consequences are irreversible
Since the early 1970s, environmental policies have made a shift from end-of-pipe solutions to prevention and control. Such solutions rely on the mitigation of negative effects. In addition, if a negative effect was unavoidable, it could be compensated for by investing in nature in other places than where the damage was caused
a city where some districts flood each year
The residents of flood-prone districts were relocated to higher and dryer places
and their former living areas were transformed into parks that could be flooded without disrupting city life
Numerous instruments have been developed to influence the behaviour of actors who contribute to environmental problems
public policy theories have focused on regulation
and information as the tools of government
new policy instruments such as performance requirements and tradable permits have been used
are more likely to be controlled by a federal or national authority
When regulations demand standards that are difficult or impossible to meet—because of a lack of knowledge
or finances on the part of the actors or mismanagement by policymakers—regulations will not be effective
One common improvement in environmental regulation made since the 1970s has been the development of performance requirements
which allow actors to determine their own course of action to meet the standard
they are not required to purchase a particular piece of equipment to meet an emissions standard
such as developing a technology or process that reduces emissions
The advantage of performance requirements is that actors addressed by the regulation are encouraged to innovate in order to meet the requirements
performance requirements cannot keep actors who lack incentives from achieving more than the minimum requirements
A final drawback is that subsidies are expensive instruments
EIAs allow decision makers to include environmental information in a cost-benefit analysis
Although all EIAs cannot stop initiatives from taking place
they can reduce the negative environmental impacts
I asked her if it has lived up to its promise
and what her message is to children fighting to be heard today
Jolie: We’ve known each other for several years
but I’ve never actually heard how you became involved in drafting the convention
Van Bueren: I was invited by Amnesty International to represent them at the United Nations in the drafting process
when she walked across Europe from Lithuania to the English Channel
I never heard her talk about how hard this must have been
Most of my Eastern European and Dutch family
I wanted to be a human-rights lawyer to prevent the same thing happening to other people
I told you my children had a summary of the convention on the wall of their schoolroom
but that I had explained to them that so far
America’s refusal to ratify is puzzling as the country was one of the leading drafters
It protects children’s right to free speech and religious freedom
the founding principles of the Bill of Rights
It’s based upon the best interests of the child
which has been a fundamental principle of American law since at least the 19th century
The convention tells us to look at the child’s right to participate in decisions affecting them through a child’s eyes
and to provide information in a format appropriate to a child
So it also helps build an educated citizenship
What difference does the lack of ratification make to children in the U.S.
Because childhood was invisible to the Founding Fathers
the Constitution makes no provision for children
but other countries have added legal protection for the rights of children by accepting the convention
which all children need to have in case their government fails them
the leading United Nations children’s agency
but UNICEF’s work is based around a treaty which America hasn’t ratified
Carl Smith and Alexandria Villaseñor
have joined Greta Thunberg and children from 10 other countries in filing a complaint arguing that carbon pollution violates their rights
Is this an example of the convention at work
a treaty additional to the main convention
but only after they have exhausted all possible national remedies
state and federal legislators and state and federal courts would have opportunities first to remedy the violation.This is just common sense
Could children apply the convention to other areas
The main aim of the convention is to act as an early warning system
so that children and adults can point out that any particular policy or law
has a detrimental impact on children—for instance
We’ve discussed the importance of children’s being made aware of their rights
The convention is for the children of the world
American schoolchildren lobbied governments to persuade them to include the abolition of the death penalty
and Canadian First Nation children successfully called for the protection of indigenous children’s rights
Children can use the provisions in the Convention to call for their rights to be protected
Children can help other children and prevent their rights being violated
children need to know their rights and be supported in how to use them
There is a disconnect between what the U.N
Convention says are fundamental rights for children and the way governments pick and choose which ones they will or will not uphold
How do we get to the point that upholding children’s rights is seen as an absolute responsibility
You are right that there is often a disconnect between what children are entitled to and what is happening to them
particularly to child refugees and children caught up in armed conflicts; situations for which they are not responsible
What the Convention does is to provide an avenue for children not to be targeted
The challenge is to make children the central plank of our policies
Do you ever despair at the gap between the ideals of U.N
It’s not helpful to children to be despairing when so much more still needs to be done
We do not focus enough on the Convention’s successes
providing necessary healthcare or creating ways in which children can and have effectively participated in policy—from children’s parliaments to children contributing to the shaping of budgets
If we keep in mind the successes as well as what needs to be done
then it gives us the energy to do more and to do it better
system is imperfect but it is the best we have
whilst simultaneously trying to improve it
Contact us at letters@time.com
'#' : location.hash;window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery = location.search === '' && location.href.slice(0
location.href.length - window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash.length).indexOf('?') !== -1
'?' : location.search;if (window.history && window.history.replaceState) {var ogU = location.pathname + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash;history.replaceState(null
"\/author\/geraldine-van-bueren\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=bDhKx.RXr4K2h__VKQuK5q8CcVqUXOsKq48HtFZB6W4-1746531722-1.0.1.1-P0vItSDvUQvcCSS7vAbR6tPPGk_lynsExG8DVoeJn3w" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null
ogU);}}document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(cpo);}());
Air Force 2Lt Evan Parsons Papp of Dighton
and Jessica Ashley Van Bueren of Colorado Springs
2018 at the Air Force Academy Chapel in Colorado Springs
The bride is the daughter of Mark and Elizabeth Van Bueren of Colorado Springs
and granddaughter of Jorge and Susanna Jirikils of Las Vegas
Nevada; and the late Natalie Van Bueren of London
She is a 2014 graduate of Liberty High School of Colorado Springs and is attending the University of Colorado
The groom is the son of Scott and Joy Papp of Dighton and grandson of Robert and Mary Papp (both deceased) of Rye
New Hampshire; James (deceased) and Jean Wetherell of Chelmsford
He is a 2013 graduate of Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School and he graduated in 2017 from Air Force Academy of Colorado Springs
Papp has a BS in Behavioral Sciences & Leadership and is employed by the U.S
Air Force stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford
Jake Van Bueren and Daniel Van Bueren; maid of honor
Jennifer Van Bueren; bridesmaids Victoria Papp and Macie Christian
The bride and groom planned a honeymoon to Jamaica
professor of international human rights law at Queen Mary University of London
spent her infancy in the east London borough of Hackney in the days when
and her mother was a bookkeeper at Smithfield meat market
But her working-class background was something she kept quiet about among academic colleagues
a distressed student came to see her “torn between what she wanted to be and her community
the student leapt up and shouted: “How dare you
You couldn’t possibly know.” The student was astonished when Van Bueren said she
I got shy knocks on the door from other working-class students wanting to talk,” she says
Now Van Bueren has started the Association of Working Class Academics, which has recently met the vice-chancellors’ body, Universities UK
to discuss how the class backgrounds of British academics could be widened
is essential for students from poor homes to have role models to make them feel they belong at university and help with awkward social adjustments
But one problem is lack of data. No large-scale study has been done since 1989, when the late Oxford sociologist AH Halsey reported that 17% of academics
had fathers in routine and manual occupations
Read moreHer views on what the law should do are diametrically opposite to those of this year’s Reith lecturer
the former supreme court judge Jonathan Sumption
who argued that lawyers are usurping the role of politicians
people don’t feel able to talk about their backgrounds freely because they think it will negatively affect their career,” she says
Most of the prejudice is unconscious – such as academics talking about “bog-standard comprehensives” and the need to invite “clubbable” people to university gatherings
Those who complain are accused of having a chip on their shoulder
is young working-class academics’ lack of economic
They don’t have a financial cushion to help them through postgraduate study
the hours of unpaid research needed to get published in a scholarly journal
poorly paid contracts now common at the start of an academic career
“Universities are increasingly putting time limits on completing PhDs,” Van Bueren says
“which makes it harder for those who have to work while studying.”
Young academics may also be handicapped by not knowing how to write a CV or who to use as a referee
Even the academic style of discourse may be difficult to master
“Academia is very theoretical,” Van Bueren says
“People like me come from backgrounds where people resolved problems with their hands.”
Van Bueren has observed in the past that, while gender diversity in university faculties has increased, class diversity has, if anything, declined. Feminism and diversity are celebrated, but there is no equivalent celebration of working-class intellectuals.
Read moreVan Bueren decided her to become a human rights lawyer at age 11, after reading the inside cover of Babi Yar
a novel based on the massacre of 33,000 Jews in Ukraine in 1941
“I thought I wouldn’t want this to happen to anyone else,” she says
Her own Jewish family suffered relentless persecution: her maternal grandparents walked from the Lithuanian-Polish border to the English Channel in the early 20th century
while all but one of her Dutch father’s family were murdered in Auschwitz
So how difficult was it to achieve her ambition
“I thought that if they didn’t believe in me
I would be better off teaching myself,” she says
Her parents told her that if she had piano lessons
money might not be available to support her through post-compulsory education
Her father opposed her plans to do a PhD at Trinity College
following her master’s at University College London
and said she should study to become a barrister because that entailed clearer income prospects
She agreed to do so because he was dying of cancer
She was not brought up in grinding poverty
The family earned enough to make a small means-tested contribution to her student maintenance grant and she hardly lacked cultural capital
When she went to Cardiff University for her first degree
literally from the first day … It was the 1960s
Shouldn’t we worry more about the paucity of academics who come from families in what is sometimes called the “precariat” or the “underclass” – people on zero-hours contracts
who frequently endure spells on zero income
Van Bueren says she doesn’t use terms such as “underclass”
preferring “terminology that encapsulates people’s dignity”
though some social scientists would say the term is obsolete
A former lead commissioner on the Equality and Human Rights Commission
alongside discrimination on grounds of race and gender
Don’t we need a more precise definition of working class
in the way other forms of statutory discrimination are defined – through case law
But one of the hardest parts of drafting the convention on children’s rights was defining a child
“I want people to feel able to talk freely about their background and not suffer prejudice because of it.”
The Swiss private bank is shutting down a six-year effort with the ultra-rich and family offices, finews.com can reveal
Union Bancaire Privée is closing FOSS, a service which had sought to advise super-wealthy families on setting up their own family offices or choosing a multi-family office. «FOSS Family Office Advisory has stopped its advisory activity,» according to its website
The move ends a ten-year effort in Zurich under co-founders Jan van Bueren and Thomas Ming
who is also head of UBP’s life insurance platform
according to a person familiar with the matter
UBP confirmed the move and van Bueren's exit
«UBP will continue to develop its value proposition towards high net worth families and family offices
leveraging on its wealth planning and asset management capabilities,» the bank said
the Swiss bank had set up FOSS in 2014 as an integral part of its wealth and estate planning process for ultra-high net worth individuals
FOSS maintained data on most Swiss-based multi-family offices
finews.com publishes on its own Web-TV-Channel interviews with well-known figures of Swiss finance.
+ More on this topic
+ More on this topic
+ More on this topic
Curiosity and a sense of intrigue wash over me as I sit across Rolf von Bueren and his son Nicklas in their peaceful abode in Bangkok,Thailand
which could’ve been easily mistaken for Bali
It seemed as though I would need a good two days
to admire every nook and corner in their house that is adorned with captivating artefacts
Celebrating a four-decade-long legacy bound by Asian culture and mythology
Lotus Arts de Vivre is the creation of Germany-born Rolf von Bueren and his better half
Lotus is known for its bold and modern yet one-of-a-kind intricate designs made using rare and opulent natural materials
the materials are met with unparalleled crafting techniques to produce truly marvellous hand-crafted pieces
Lotus began as a passion project by Helen von Bueren when both her sons left home for further studies
It was grown by Rolf von Bueren as a tangible manifestation of his undying love and passion for preserving cultural heritage
the reins of the business are in the hands of their sons
Rolf von Bueren’s vast knowledge and the love with which he speaks of his present home made it difficult for me to believe his confession; that he completely misunderstood the rich cultural heritage back when he moved to Thailand in the early 1960s
his European background compelled him to view Thai art and culture as gaudy
it didn’t take him long to fall so much in love with that very culture that he now has a space dedicated to narrating exotic stories of Asia through unique art pieces
Rolf von Bueren has a natural flair for narrating his global explorations
As intrigued and captivated as I am with his stories
has managed to preserve cultural heritage in the fast-paced present age
“Globalisation has a lot of positive points
but if we all start believing that a hamburger and a t-shirt is our identity
then I think that is a very poor identity,” he shrugs
and we express our identities through different aspects like our clothes
and these are the very things that make us different
but there has to be a line where you protect your own identity
That is where being proud of your identity and preserving your culture comes in the picture.”
The von Bueren family has travelled the world no only to discover raw materials but also to meet and build a community of highly trained craftsmen skilled in traditional techniques
What drove their love for the exploration of ancient cultures was the rapid speed at which cultural heritage is disappearing today
It made them realise how important it is to preserve local crafts and techniques to create their pieces
The philosophy at Lotus Arts de Vivre is not to convert nature to art but to find art through nature
Natural elements that would otherwise be burnt or disposed of are reclaimed and converted into masterpieces of art
These artefacts are then decorated with sterling silver and semi-precious gemstones
“The aim is to keep doing something different and unique
The design identity should be strong enough for you to see a piece and identify it as a Lotus product without seeing the tag
Our pieces are so unique and culturally driven that people often tell us that these pieces will be in museums one day!” For a man who carries so much knowledge in his pockets
I wonder if there was anything about his journey that he wishes he would have done differently
then it would have to be about being more commercial
there is somewhere else that you lack… I am quite happy with what I have done and managed to achieve.”
I leave the place musing about India’s immensely rich art and culture
It is such an integral part of our individuality
and yet we choose to be lackadaisical when it comes to its preservation and protection
How wonderful would it be to treat art as an impactful element of every walk of life
Visit them at their Colaba Store: Regal Cinema
Find ELLE’s latest issue on stands or download your digital copy here
Lean, rangy and in his prime, 48-year-old Nicklas von Bueren
steps into the room and towers over everyone
laconic voice and relaxed bearing reflecting his confidence as chief executive officer of Lotus Arts de Vivre
jewellery and collectable handicrafts business established by his parents almost four decades ago
But then the youngest son of Rolf and Helen von Bueren developed confidence from a young age because he had to
“I was sent to board at an English prep school when I was eight years old
it’s an experience that either breaks you or toughens you up very quickly,” he chuckles
“I went on to Gordonstoun School in Scotland in 1985
If you’ve ever watched The Crown you’ll know it was the school the young Prince Charles attended
See also: Dato' Sri Bernard Chandran's Stunning Jewellery Collaboration With Lotus Arts De Vivre
An international upbringing meant Nicki’s youth was an exciting tour of different parts of the globe
“In winter my family would visit me in the UK and we would go skiing around Europe
Summers were often spent in Bali where we have a home
The travel meant that elder brother Sri and I were exposed to various Asian and European cultures
especially via their art because mum and dad are collectors,” he explains
gesturing to the many items that decorate the room around us
Nicki returned to Thailand and worked briefly as a translator for the Population and Community Development Association
a non-profit outfit founded by Mechai Viravaidya
Fluent in Thai—picked up during his primary school years at Bangkok Patana—the young man got to see a different facet of Thailand on a posting to the northeast
“I think it’s why I have always enjoyed trips to obscure places,” he says
in 1992 he decided to return to Europe to further his studies at the Business School Lausanne and after graduating he came home to work for Siam Commercial Securities
He describes the experience as invaluable in terms of understanding how business is done in Thailand and emerged from the 1997 financial crisis battle-hardened and finally ready to join the family firm
Lotus Arts de Vivre was run partly as a hobby
When I joined in 1998 I wanted to take it up a notch but of course
Learn he did and while much has changed since he joined
the doting husband of Rekha and father of Arri
also says much at Lotus has remained the same
our use of natural materials and handcrafted artisanal techniques
We visited local craftsmen around the region frequently in the early years and it’s something we still do now
The family brand is what it is today because of the respect and rapport built up over the years between our clients
our skilled artisans and us.” Now a globally renowned brand
Lotus Arts de Vivre has expanded its reach with stores dotted across Asia
A goal now is to use technology to reach a wider audience for its products
we offer pieces that tell a story,” says Nicki of the brand’s unique style
which highlights cultural and historical influences in rare natural materials
inimitable works that deserve to be seen and admired by many more people than just the collectors who see them now
so we are focusing on developing an online platform—including social media channels—to create greater recognition and avenues for our artisans.”
See also: Les Jardin's Cherrie Chin And Her Love Of Jewellery
As the European center left’s political strategist
Van Bueren’s job has become a lot more challenging in 2023 ahead of next year’s European Parliament election
the Qatargate bribery scandal hit the Parliament’s social democrats; while in capitals
once high-flying socialist figures like Spain’s Pedro Sánchez and Finland’s Sanna Marin have suffered major electoral losses
Van Bueren was co-manager of EU climate chief Frans Timmermans’ second-place campaign to lead the European Commission in 2019
so the urgency for a strong performance is arguably even greater in 2024
The center-right European People’s Party is moving toward breaking an uneasy EU-level alliance with socialists in favor of tighter ties with the far right — meaning second place could no longer be good enough for the Socialists and Democrats to have a governing role
Check out the full Power 40 — Brussels class of 2023 list, and read the Letter from the Editors for an explanation of the thinking behind the ranking
he even secretly asked Pope Innocent III to annul it
More than 400 years later, the Magna Carta, celebrated by modern British governments of all political persuasions, was considered so unacceptable by King Charles I that chief justice Edward Coke's analysis of it was suppressed for almost a decade after Coke's death
despite Britain's founding role in the European convention on human rights
there appears to be a campaign to scapegoat human rights and to repudiate our proud history
This comes dangerously close to undermining our rule of law
who in 1607 ruled that only the courts could decide legal cases
defended the rule of law – a British principle which has since been upheld by Strasbourg
and it took parliament more than 30 years to abolish the slave trade
The Somersett case was a major British contribution to article 4 of the European convention on human rights
The European court interpreted this to prohibit the trafficking of 15-year-old girls into domestic servitude
This is what the court means by "a living instrument": applying universally held fundamental principles to present-day conditions
Why would we want to oppose such a common sense and practical approach
nor will there be compensation in the future for prisoners who could not vote
Strasbourg did not order compensation in either of the two British cases
The only payment was for legal costs which the UK government
just as it would have paid in British courts
There is no court in the world that has a 100% approval ratings of its judgments by everyone in the country
However it is reckless leap to conclude from this that the UK ought to withdraw from the European convention
or even just to rebalance the relationship between national courts and the European court
it would become the first country in Europe to do so
The ramifications of this would be immense
It would also irreparably damage our reputation as a supporter of democracy and human rights globally
When Britain takes over the chairmanship of the Council of Europe in November, the government should focus on constructively helping the European court of human rights to deal with its huge caseload, rather than weakening its authority.
"I have started collecting since 1965 -- 56 years ago -- and would like to share with everyone the beauty of handicraft works.”
Pashmina shawls are valuable collection items that Rolf keeps in a well-controlled lighting and moisturising room with air-conditioning on 24 hours a day, besides regular cleaning to protect the items from insects and bugs. Pashmina shawls displayed at the exhibition are unique in boteh or paisley pattern that is currently very famous in the fashion world. It originated from Persia, and means flowers or bouquet of flowers.
Boteh pattern came to India in the 16th to 19th century during the Mughal empire and was mostly used as shawls representing social class of high society as well as nobility. In the mid-17th century or colonisation era, boteh reached Europe and became one of the most famous patterns in the fashion world.
DPU trains 98 game designers to promote Thai-made games as new soft power
NEPC sets electricity price cap at 3.99 baht per unit until end of 2025
RTAF scrambles F-16s to intercept aircraft near Thai-Myanmar border
More troops deployed to deep South following surge in violence, says PM
13 still missing as search continues at collapsed building in Bangkok
Thirty years ago, the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted, recognising for the first time that children have their own rights, distinct from adults. Professor Geraldine Van Bueren was one of the drafters of the convention
Angelina Jolie asked her if it has lived up to its promise and what her message is to children fighting to be heard today
Read the interview here.
The Financial Express
Lotus Arts de Vivre is the legacy of German-born Rolf Von Bueren
who immigrated to Thailand in the 1960s and has made the Asian nation his home. Presently
this legacy is being continued by his son Nicklas Von Bueren who wishes to expand the presence of the brand in India
Lotus Arts de Vivre has multiple stores across Thailand
and two stores in India’s Mumbai and New Delhi
Taking inspiration from the region’s nature
and mythology, Lotus Arts de Vivre creatively utilizes rare and auspicious materials like coconut shells
Lotus Arts de Vivre is all set to launch the all-new ‘Unleash Your Dragon’ Collection in March 2024 – to celebrate the Year of Dragon according to the Chinese Calendar and will be showcasing their spectacular designs in Hyderabad
What factors led Lotus Arts de Vivre to choose India for expansion
With a family connection spanning over 40 years and a deep appreciation for India’s rich culture
Our first shop in India opened more than 30 years ago
solidifying our ties and recognizing the immense growth potential
How will your brand adapt to India’s unique cultural and consumer landscape
At the core of our brand is the emphasis on unique designs using local crafts and materials
Recognizing the cultural diversity of India
we plan to integrate more locally inspired pieces into our collections
ensuring our brand resonates with the Indian consumer
Q3. What influenced your decision to enter the Indian market at this time
Our decision is deeply rooted in personal connections and frequent visits to India
These experiences serve as our primary form of market research
providing invaluable insights and reinforcing our confidence in entering the Indian market
and how do you plan to address them during your entry into India
Educating new customers about the essence of Lotus Arts de Vivre and competing with larger luxury brands pose challenges
Our strategy involves a focused effort on emphasizing our unique designs
and leveraging the active promotion by the founding family to build brand recognition
What’s your strategy for positioning Lotus Arts de Vivre in the Indian market
Our global strategy remains unwavering – personal engagement
and active involvement of the founding family in India
we aim to position Lotus Arts de Vivre as a distinguished choice in the Indian market
What opportunities make India an attractive market for your brand
India’s culture of luxury living and gifting aligns seamlessly with Lotus Arts de Vivre
We see opportunities to cater to a growing segment that appreciates luxury and unique designs
positioning our brand as a sought-after choice in the evolving Indian luxury market
Sustainability and ethical sourcing have become increasingly important in the luxury industry
How does Lotus Arts de Vivre approach these aspects in your creations
I’ve noticed that the luxury industry is making a shift to try and incorporate sustainable materials
and often rely on various synthetic alternatives
we sourced 25 cm wide mother of pearl leaves for pearl creations
The diminishing availability of materials and the consideration of appearance pose challenges in maintaining sustainability
Balancing material costs while prioritizing sustainability remains an ongoing struggle for us
Lotus Arts de Vivre has gained a global following
What challenges and opportunities have you encountered while expanding your brand internationally
The immediate challenge of course was COVID and being relevant for the new generation
admirers are now at an age where they don’t buy so much
The next generation of course has a different worldview and buying patterns
More people prefer online and media platforms. But
our products are best perceived when touched and felt
We are happy to have events in Hyderabad and Chennai where we can provide customers with a unique experience
and show the new generation the grandeur of Lotus Arts de Vivre
Zendaya stunned at the Met Gala in a white Louis Vuitton suit
flaunting Tom Holland’s engagement ring
who met on the set of ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’
Tom’s father shared their proposal story
Fans also spotted a “t” tattoo on Zendaya
but the couple is currently focused on their careers
Nicklas von Bueren is an introspective man
Listening to the musical quality in his accented voice that conveys his Thai roots
I cannot help but to feel impressed by the intellect and eloquence that he possesses
it soon becomes evident that von Bueren harbours strong feelings for the country he calls home
He recounts an instance in his youth when he signed up to join an NGO named PDA which stands for Population and Community Development Association founded by Thai businessman Mechai Viravaidya
“My father thought it would be a good idea for me to go outside of Bangkok to work and see for myself what is going on in Thailand,” he explains
he joined a Thai bank and later a security firm
Von Bueren revealed that he chose these career options because he was driven by his desire to understand his home country better through the lens of a financier
He eventually made the decision to join his family-owned business
Together with his parents Rolf and Helen von Bueren and his brother Sri
he now takes pride in nurturing the company step by step along the way
Founded as a hobby by von Bueren’s mother
Lotus Arts De Vivre produces exquisite jewellery as well as handbags
“There are a few Thai brands in the luxury business
Most local shoppers look to the West to find something that they can find here in their backyard—craftsmanship and expertise,” says von Bueren ruefully
I suppose it takes a foreign eye to appreciate the beauty of what we have in our own backyard
We have great encouragement from our friends and customers abroad to keep promoting and preserving Asian arts and crafts
my family and I see our work as presenting tradition and beauty in a contemporary form through our eyes
Our philosophy is to create unique products made from longstanding craftsmanship reformed into modern designs.”
Step into any of Lotus Arts de Vivre’s niche boutiques in Bangkok
Singapore or Indonesia and you will feel as if you were transported into a cabinet of curiosity
elephants and jungle birds are apparent in the products’ design
What is impressive though is the great lengths the von Buerens go to in sourcing the perfect material for their products coupled with craftsmanship expertise
From wood carvers in Java to lacquer talents from Japan or China
expect to find an estimate of five to six materials in one jewellery piece
Together with his Malaysian wife Rekha von Bueren is a father to three young children
He admits that finding a good work-life balance is important to him at the moment
you don’t realise that you are constantly working
You are always engaged and it can get difficult to switch off sometimes
My work is my lifestyle; I love art and I also love my family
I am lucky to be in a business that part of my free time can be part of my work as well,” he concludes.
Longtime expat Rolf von Bueren creates objets d'art inspired by his global travels
NEWSPAPER SECTION: Life
there's no boredom in staying at home for Rolf von Bueren
whose residence on Sukhumvit 23 is a tranquil retreat with elegant Thai-style pavilions nestled amid lush vegetation
Rolf von Bueren at home with his treasured objets d'art
The urban abode seems to be sandwiched between high-rise buildings
but he hardly looks up and instead enjoys the surrounding soothing greenery
rooms are pretty much like an art gallery displaying a fine collection of antiques
paintings and sculptures related to great memories that make engaging stories to share with family members
the German art connoisseur began writing a blog on the website of Lotus Arts de Vivre
which he co-founded with his wife Helen in 1982
Having lived in Bangkok for almost 60 years
he defines Thainess in the first blog post of a bimonthly series that started in May 2020
"I understand that we're living in a different time
who seem to have lost a lot of Thainess," he noted
"I personally feel that there are many things in Thainess that the rest of the world
Thais on average are much happier people."
The blog post is based on his observations as an outsider who can compare differences in culture and attitude to life
they are very poor in advertising themselves," he said
Rolf and Sri von Bueren at Lotus Arts de Vivre store in Anantara Siam Hotel Bangkok
The 20-something von Bueren came to Bangkok in the early 1960s
and worked for a leading German chemical company
the native of Frankfurt has absorbed Thainess over the years
"I came from a home with very strict rules and had a very rigid outlook on people as well as what should be right or wrong," he said
"I must be thankful that Thais tolerated me
I learned how to overcome my narrow-mindedness and intolerance
I also learned how to laugh and not to be serious
Having listened to many of his amusing stories of the past
his sons Sri and Nicklas encouraged him to write the blog
"I don't know of any food which applies so many ingredients as Thai food
Each of these ingredients represents a taste
which needs to be harmonised into one dish
And such harmony is orchestrated by the cook [the director
Not one of the many spices and ingredients should dominate
and all should be in harmony to demonstrate the craft of Thai cooking," he wrote in the blog post
Photos are from a Thai curry festival organised by Lotus Arts de Vivre in 2013
at a time when many Thais turned their appetite to foreign cuisines
The memorable event had gourmet guests sharing and cooking authentic recipes
in order to preserve the culinary heritage
but Thailand has been a fine example in preserving its crafts
such as through the Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques (Support Foundation)
founded by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother
Below Chefs Duangporn Songvisava and Dylan Jones joined Lotus Arts de Vivre's Thai curry festival in 2013
"Thais are incredibly good with their hands
I am lucky to be surrounded by marvellous craftsmen
Some of them have been with us for a long time
and they are like family members," he said
Lotus Arts de Vivre is known for handcrafted jewellery
inspired by nature and the region's culture and mythology
he will be sharing stories of his global travels and tireless search for new materials as well as inspirations for Lotus Arts de Vivre's beautiful creations
Each country offers something special," he said
The lockdown allows him to take a break from his travels and dream up the next objets d'art
antique burl wood can be turned into sculptures
valuable huanghuali wood into pieces of art
and household bamboo placemats into handbags
Lotus Arts de Vivre masterpiece in teak wood
with the monk holding an ingot symbolising wealth and fortune
Lotus Arts de Vivre is doing well during the Covid-19 crisis
as people look for items to decorate their homes
The business and the blog writing has thus kept him busy
But I haven't been able to do that yet," he said
I am also mindful that this window is my limited memory and there are thousands of other panes with as many views."
he says that it's all about family and friends
"It's wonderful in life if you have a nice family and good friends
There's nothing better than this," he said
"If you have good food and wine on top of that
Lotus Arts de Vivre jewellery featuring scarab beetle wings
American architect Richard Buckminster Fuller
By subscribing, you accept the terms and conditions in our privacy policy
on the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.","publisher":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","name":"The Jewish Chronicle","url":"https://www.thejc.com","description":"Founded in 1841
Professor Geraldine Van Bueren QC is a barrister in Doughty Street chambers and professor of international human rights law at Queen Mary
Professor Geraldine Van Bueren
To learn about our own contributions to human rights protection will strengthen us to contribute more
on the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
This year is the 70th anniversary of a world-changing document
the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
It is rarely acknowledged but there is a special relationship between Jews and human rights
It is not an exclusive relationship but special because many Jews have contributed
to the illuminating progress towards equality and dignity
If this was known more widely it might even help against antisemitism
Rene Cassin was one of two people who played a significant role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The other was the equally impressive Canadian
For his contribution to human rights and peace Cassin was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1968
He said he was happy but would be happier “if there were a little more justice in the world.”
Cassin was born in France to a Sephardi father and an Ashkenazi mother
her husband and other family members were murdered in Auschwitz
He came to London and offered his services to General de Gaulle who asked him to become his legal adviser: a critical role for a government in exile
It was Cassin who contributed the term ‘universal’ to the Declaration
All human rights belong to everyone — as an essential aspect of being human
He wrote that the “universal” came to him in a dream
This was appropriate as photographs show his resemblance to Sigmund Freud
A core of universality is that human rights are indivisible
Everyone is as entitled to social rights such as the right to an adequate standard of living and the highest attainable standard of healthcare
as everyone is entitled to civil rights including free speech and religious freedom
The civil rights in the Universal Declaration
which Cassin helped draft were included in the European Convention on Human Rights
Cassin served as a judge and was later President of the European Court of Human Rights
The European Convention was incorporated here in the Human Rights Act
There is a link between Cassin’s work and beliefs and the Human Rights Act
There could have been even greater Jewish contribution to the Universal Declaration
All countries were entitled to send representatives to the drafting
The most obvious choice for the United Kingdom was Hirsch Lauterpacht
An International Bill of the Rights of Man
the Foreign Office’s legal adviser opposed Lauterpacht
because Lauterpacht was “a Jew recently come from Vienna”
Ignoring the bitter irony of rejecting a drafter of a universal human rights declaration on the grounds of his religion
Lauterpacht was originally a Galician Jew but not “recently arrived” having arrived in London in 1923 and acquired citizenship in 1931
There may have been additional reasons for the exclusion because neither of these factors prevented his membership of the International Law Commission in 1952 and as judge on the International Court of Justice in 1955
Lauterpacht had called for some social rights such as the right to social security
which were not priorities for the United Kingdom
He also wanted a legally binding Declaration
Both Cassin and Lauterpacht drew inspiration from their Jewish heritage
The Universal Declaration enshrines the Talmudic “if I am not for others
who am I for?” Rabbi Hillel’s belief that everyone is obliged to deal with everyone justly is woven into its fabric
This heritage underlays Cassin’s support for rights such as food
There have been other Jewish contributors to human rights
including Sir Nigel Rodley whose work led to the universal prohibition of torture
Jews have also made major contributions to national human rights protection
Louis Brandeis became the first Jew to be appointed to the US Supreme Court
Brandeis also developed a method of proving discrimination
It allows those who believe they have been discriminated to prove the social context of discrimination
He based this on the Jewish importance of the relationship of the individual
Other Jews contributed to the fight against racial segregation
Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner from New York were two of the three civil rights workers abducted and killed in Mississippi in 1964
the outrage over their murders helped the passing of the US Voters Registration Act 1965
In South Africa there is a specific duty in the Constitution to “promote” and “ensure respect” for the Hebrew language
This is partially in recognition of the Jews who fought apartheid
This centrality of human rights in Jewish life led to the Declaration on Judaism and Human Rights adopted in 1974 by the American Jewish Committee
the Canadian Jewish Congress and the Consultative Council of Jewish Organizations — the latter co-founded by Rene Cassin
This Declaration reinforces the Universal Declaration and originates from the B’tzelem Elohim
that all human beings were created in the divine image
This is not to ignore human rights violations including slavery committed by people of all religions and none
common to see the Jewish experience through the lens of suffering from the gravest of human rights violations
who coined the word genocide from genos (Greek for family
As essential as it is to remember suffering
it is also important to acknowledge the bright light of other Jewish contributions
She is donating the fee for this article to the charity Rene Cassin
Practical insights from and foracademics and university staff
Everything you need for each stepof your study abroad journey
You recently set up a Social Mobility Advisory Group to make recommendations to the government on how to boost the number of students in English universities from under-represented groups
you are doing nothing about social mobility at the front of the lecture theatre
I am one of too few working-class academics in UK universities
Our scarcity means that poorer students lack role models and mentors with similar life experiences to theirs
As universities focus more on giving students a better experience
Traditionally, the route into academia is via postgraduate education. Although the government has recently announced more support for postgraduate study
their concurrent repayment with undergraduate loans could put off students from poorer backgrounds
UUK needs to consider how to expand financial support for would-be academics in postgraduate education
perhaps by paying off their postgraduate loans when they take up academic posts
Obviously all forms of discrimination overlap
so that social class may be tangentially considered in the context of addressing other modes of inequality
regardless of any other facet of their identity
which need to be acknowledged and acted upon
Social class discrimination is not limited to those of us from poorer backgrounds
Describing people as “toffs” is as derogatory as calling them “plebs”
part of the problem is that the Equality Act 2010 focuses on prohibiting discrimination against what are known as the nine “protected characteristics”: age
The Human Rights Act – echoing the European Convention on Human Rights
on which it is based – does include social origin and other status in its list of prohibited grounds of discrimination
But since neither document is primarily concerned with class discrimination in employment
although the Equality Challenge Unit has established the Athena SWAN and Race Equality Charter Mark to promote gender and racial equality in universities
there is no equivalent for social class equality
This also acts as an unintended obstacle as the perceived kudos from such awards means that other equally valid equality claims become either invisible or deprioritised
Yet there is nothing stopping universities from strategically tackling class discrimination
particularly given their ambitions to be at the forefront of contributing to the creation of a more enlightened
Universities also – and with justification – regard themselves increasingly as global players
But global players have global responsibilities
which include heeding the recommendations of Unesco
Unesco adopted the Incheon Declaration and Framework for Action
which calls for university education to be promoted for young people of all sociocultural backgrounds
One effective way of doing that would be to increase the diversity of professors’ class backgrounds
There is actually very little hard data on the current situation
it would be helpful if UUK published the percentage of UK university leaders from working-class backgrounds
One reason universities shy away from tackling social class equality is the problem of definition
When arguing for a United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
some states sought to block progress on the grounds that it is impossible to define who is a child
the convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1989 and has become the world’s most widely ratified human rights treaty
History consistently demonstrates that when traditionalists seek to block change
it is often by arguing that defining those who need protection is too complex
Yet an essential function of universities is to unravel complexity
One possible solution regarding who should be included in social class data would be to pilot a study linking a person’s date of birth to their postcode at birth
This would overcome the problem that using contemporary postcodes would be misleading as inner city codes
Other more effective solutions may also be found: it is not an insoluble problem
Recent Sutton Trust research demonstrated that a private school education can have an immediate beneficial effect on graduates’ pay progression
This ought to prompt UUK to examine university remuneration
and to consider the possibility that unconscious bias against working-class academics is operating
I have the privilege of chairing Queen Mary law school’s Equality and Diversity Committee
We are seeking to go beyond the protected characteristics to achieve a supportive
But a UUK conference on advancing social class equality would both allow such complexities to be explored and symbolise universities’ determination to shatter the class ceiling
Geraldine Van Bueren QC is professor of international human rights law at Queen Mary University of London and is a former commissioner on the UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission
Print headline: Class half-empty: why aren’t there more academics like me
Already registered or a current subscriber
Government relaxes student loan eligibility rules but confirms plan to freeze repayment threshold
as student opportunity funding also targeted
Study finds that pay gap between graduates from independent and state schools grows by 11 percentage points in the first three years of employment
China’s Double First-Class project appears to be paying off as the country’s institutions continue to lead the rankings
Why have similar schemes elsewhere struggled to reap rewards
and can China keep advancing despite economic slowdown and an ageing population? Helen Packer reports
More research council funding in the humanities and social sciences should be distributed in the form of micro-grants
Survey of first-generation scholars finds many struggle with ‘unwritten rules’ of academic life
but post-pandemic conditions bring new priorities
Subscribe today to receive unlimited news and analyses
commentary from the sharpest minds in international academia
our influential university rankings analysis and the latest insights from our World Summit series
Esquire Middle East – The Region’s Best Men’s Magazine
Home | Interviews | Lotus Arts De Vivre opens boutique Dubai
The founder on Asian culture and statement pieces
Lotus Arts De Vivre is among the largest single-piece jewellry producers in the world
Having opened 31 years ago in Bangkok as a hobby for socialite Helen von Bueren
the homeware and jewellry store now spans across Asia and has a footprint in France
Co-founder and Chairman Rolf von Bueren has a goal to preserve heritage and return to the crafts
From bold animal themed homeware to handcrafted ruby and gold
the main is doing a doing a pretty good job at reaching that goal
Esquire Middle East spoke to Von Bueren at the opening of the City Walk Dubai store
ESQ: Thai and Asian culture lies at the heart of the brand
what is it about these cultures that you find so endearing?Rolf Von Bueren: I grew up in a German-like cult after the war
I would see this post card with tropical images on it
it became embedded in my head that I had to go to the tropics
a company approached me asking me to Thailand and set up its agency
That’s where my love of Asian culture began
Asia is so vast and vaired that it’s easy to get cultures confused
so the whole idea of decorating something is not existent
however that is a reflection of Chinese culture
where the decoration is textiles and wonderful coats
It is mainly for men and originated from the royal families as they wore big jewellry whilst sitting on big elephants
Asian culture as a whole can vary massively
can you talk us through some of the ones you use and why?Well the reason we use raw materials is partly to protect us from competition
a traditional jeweller has 40 plus partners which are all set for different pieces
the minute he adds another material the production process become very difficult
There are actually a few people in the jewellery world today
when we go to an auction house they say sorry we can’t sell that as it’s not mainstream enough
but that protects us from day to day competition
Tradition and culture seems at the heart of the brands history
how do you try and keep things relevant to a modern consumer?Well we have a big following of young people and produce pieces to suit them
things that are not for a faint hearted buyer
which are statement based and create a wow effect
So is the Lotus customer someone who is statement based?The lotus customer is very rare and would have the self-confidence to buy something bold and wear it with pride
How involved are you with the design process of the pieces?I do most of the design myself
Do you have a big team that works with you?Yes
Tell us about the production process?I give the team ideas which is called the concept phase
I then improve those sketches and we make a prop product
once that looks good in tri- dimensional terms
My son then comes in from a technical perspective and says what can and can’t be done
you need to design a dream then the system will strip it down to what it should be
Or are you not allowed to say…I love them all
How important is the Middle East for you as a market?We’ve done exhibitions in the region before, place like Saudi Arabia
Turkey and Egypt are actually important influencers to the Middle East culturally
How often do new pieces get introduced to the store or online
Is it seasonal?Every year we come up with three or four new ranges
We have such a narrow customer base so fresh product is very important
lots of customers come to the shop and say ‘do you have anything new?’ and if we don’t they close the door
But the minute we have something new they come in and look because they are collectors at the end of the day
Lotus Arts De Vivre is now open at City Walk Dubai
Subscribe to our newsletter now and you will be
we’ll give you Esquire’s A-to-Z of Men’s Fashion for FREE
Maybe later, thanks
Despite all the modern prohibitions on discrimination against numerous characteristics
the US and many other countries for universities to discriminate on the basis of class
Some academics report that they have found it harder to come out as working class in universities than to come out as gay. And evidence drawn from working-class academics and students, gathered during mentoring meetings and seminars held by the Alliance of Working Class Academics
demonstrates that the experience of prejudice and other hurdles is common
also found that there is only limited recognition of the scholastic importance of working-class culture
This is why the alliance, which I chair, has created the world’s first University Code on Equal Opportunity for Working Class Students and Academics
which can be adapted to different global cultures and terminology
calls upon universities to acknowledge that students and academics from a richly diverse range of working-class/blue-collar heritages add economic
the state and the global community – as well as enhance the scholarship
productivity and research impact of university communities themselves
The code also requires support for working-class students to access postgraduate qualifications
Although there are efforts around master’s programmes
the alliance’s support sessions revealed that many unacknowledged and unaddressed obstacles block the pursuit of doctoral studies
Social mobility policies mainly focus on undergraduate education
which limits the career options for many working-class students
They also stereotype these students’ intellectual capacities by assuming that they don’t and should not aspire to doctoral studies
Want to write for THE? Click for more information
Some of the code’s provisions are drawn from international law. These include the requirement that universities be guided by United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 (provision of inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all)
Institutions should ensure equal opportunity
improve equitable access and enhance mobility and accountability by the United Nations’ targeted date of 2030
An express prohibition of class discrimination is the desirable longer-term outcome
our code provides a practical and constructive beginning for dialogue
Its approach to class celebrates that to come from a working-class heritage is to come from a culture that is richly diverse and intersectional
in recognition of which it calls for universities to include black
white and Asian working-class scholars and students in their equality practices and policies
Since class is omitted from the UK’s Equality Act 2010
there is no legal duty on universities to gather data on the numbers
salaries and promotions of working-class academics
or on support for students of working-class heritage who wish to pursue doctorates
But the code requires universities to provide for equal treatment of working-class-heritage staff in relation to recruitment
salaries and promotion policies and practices
It also urges universities to guarantee equal treatment of working-class-heritage students and to assist them in overcoming hurdles to full participation in university life and to seeking employment
Find out more about how to get full unlimited article access to THE for staff and students.
The code has been sent to the UK government and major political parties
the University and College Union and the Office for Students
What is in question is the real extent of university diversity
If some members are unable to raise matters central to their identity
this impoverishes not only the individual but the whole university community
Geraldine Van Bueren QC is professor emerita at Queen Mary University of London
She holds a Leverhulme Fellowship for her work on class
She is chair of the Alliance of Working Class Academics
Director of fair access warns that school-leavers from coastal and former industrial communities are less likely to see a degree as a way to improve their lives
Arden v-c Carl Lygo says panel judged universities against Oxbridge model and ignored value of widening participation institutions
White students from lower participation neighbourhoods account for fewer than one in 10 students at more than 70 per cent of English universities
While widening access is high on universities’ agendas at undergraduate level
class barriers still prevail in the academy
five working-class scholars describe their experiences of ‘otherness’
As people from non-traditional backgrounds become the majority in Australian universities
a legal academic argues that efforts to accommodate them can help the old guard too
Recent cases brought by gender-critical employees show that going beyond the law can easily turn into stepping outside the law
OfS finding that university failed to uphold its free speech duties prompts others into reviewing policies that some believe were ‘copied and pasted’
The Phoblographer may receive affiliate compensation for products purchased using links in this article. For more information, please visit our Disclaimers page
About two years later I started my own business as a photographer
I took me about four years when I rediscovered analogue photography
So I went on a 4 hour train ride to purchase my first analogue camera: a Mamiya c300
After using it for a year I found out I can only work on a tripod
I came across a 4×5″ view camera which I then could swap for a Canon 5d camera
Again I went on a train ride it took me over six hours this time
Meanwhile I went looking for a camera which I can handle better
So I found the Pentax 67 mk II a great camera
One day I found a complete set with three bodies
four lenses and accessories within my budget
Since then I also got a Mamiya 645 super set
My portraits are getting better by every roll
Paul: I love to shoot people in different settings
I like to discover what is ‘it’ that makes this person unique
I like to photograph them in an ‘authentic’ way
By that I mean the feeling / expression in the photograph needs to be real
I want to make every shot as good as possible
because I have the feeling it is my only chance
So I have to look twice if everything is good
the look and feel in the picture and so on
With the view camera for example I can work for twenty minutes before I even touch the shutter
Everything is more unique with analogue photography
I make sure I make contact with my subject
And can be just a nod or a little conversation about their day
While making a ‘posed’ portraits the conversation can really be about everything
Most of the ideas are rough ideas when starting a shoot
Most of the things like light and poses I think of while shooting
Sometimes I have sketched out some basic poses or images I really want to make
Paul: The most important thing is awareness
While shooting film I’m more aware of all the aspect that makes a good portrait
Second-generation Sri and Nicki von Bueren celebrated Lotus Arts de Vivre's 37th anniversary by presenting masterpieces at its boutique in Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel
The 90 pieces include home-decorative items and jewellery handcrafted by skilled Thai artisans using traditional techniques
the commemorative collection features rare and auspicious materials like seeds
sea shells as well as ostrich and emu eggs
Founders Rolf and Helen von Bueren joined the celebratory event
Sign In
Subscribe Now
Did you know that the body of your guitar be made with wood cut at a small Terrace mill
located 10 kilometres north of Terrace on Hwy 113
evolved from a recent merger of several mills and is now branching into a new market
the two-building sawmill has started cutting specialty timber used in pianos
It saws the lumber and ships it to a remanufacturing plant in Holland
where it is further processed and sent to factories all over the world to be crafted into special musical and transportation products
but the highest quality is here on the west coast between Bella Coola and the Alexander Archipelago on the south east end of Alaska
The rich soil conditions foster growth at the perfect pace to get the prime grain of wood
Logging companies harvest the spruce with a blend of other trees
and JCI Touchwood buys it off their logging trucks
JCI co-owner Warren Gavronsky says about half the spruce they buy comes from Skeena Sawmills in Terrace
which prefers hemlock wood for their processing
JCI Touchwood undertook significant renovations
installing a new horizontal band saw with the capacity of cutting up to 60 length boards
is produced in Switzerland and has a 72-inch depth of cut
the bandsaw allows JCI Touchwood to maximize their use of the quality spruce wood
The saw was introduced by John Lammerts van Bueren
a co-owner of the mill along with Warren Gavronsky and Warren’s father
John Lammerts van Bueren said that instead of cutting the wood to a set size in order to fit it into the mill
the massive bandsaw keeps the wood long and cuts the boards around the knots and cracks to preserve the largest and best pieces
“Say we have a board 30 feet long,” he said as an example
so we can get a 9-foot and a 21-foot (board) out.”
“It’s the opposite way of thinking,” Gavronsky added
‘I’m going to cut this out of this log.’ [Rather,] you’re asking the log
Once the timber is analyzed and cut for maximum use
it’s shipped to Vancouver where it’s dried and loaded into 40-foot containers
From there it travels via train and ship to Schijndel
to a remanufacturing plant called Touchwood BV
which is also owned by Lammerts van Bueren
When the Terrace wood reaches the Holland plant
it’s run through a planer and sized to suit particular uses
The first step is getting rid of all the blemishes
“We make sure we have all the sides of the board visible and clear and clean (no knots or cracks),” said Lammerts van Bueren
deciding how many of the multiple specialized products they can make from it
“Along that edge is a bit of aircraft spruce
and what’s in there is a piece of sound board material
and there’s a piece for a mast,” Lammerts van Bueren said
“There’s about 30 different products that we take out of that spruce.”
Sitka spruce is light weight but very stiff
and is perfectly suited to amplify sound in a stringed instrument like a guitar or piano
Plucking a string in an open room does nothing
Pressing the keys of a piano prompts hammers inside the instrument to strike the strings and create musical vibrations
But that sound needs to be amplified to be heard
“A good piece of sounding board spruce is super light
it starts vibrating with very little [effort],” explained the Dutch producer
“And it’s so stiff that it amplifies [the sound] right to back of Carnegie Hall.”
Certain grains of wood are better suited to musical instruments then others
and that’s how mill workers decide which pieces of a board to designate for each use
Another use of Terrace’s Sitka spruce is for pieces of wooden aircrafts
Parts are cut and sold to museums and restoration companies who repair displays of the wooden aircrafts used in the two world wars
But they’re also sold to private owners who still build and fly small wooden planes
“There’s a small market of people who build their own wooden planes,” said Lambert van Bueren
He added that one of those wooden aircrafts is called the de Havilland Mosquito
which was one of the fastest used in the Second World War
“It’s got 5,000 horsepower hanging off of a wooden wing,” said Lambert van Bueren
explaining that Sitka spruce is used for the wing spars which hold the weight of the plane
“The biggest piece in that wooden wing is a 2x3 (inch board)
and there’s 5,000 horsepower hanging off that,” he emphasized
Safety and strict rules demand a very specialized market for wood like the Terrace-grown spruce – lightweight
“These guys fly their little wooden airplanes and they fly at three kilometre heights — if that spar breaks
There’s an incredible amount of rules you have to adhere to and meet on quality control,” said Lambert van Bueren
The third main product made of the Sitka spruce is ship masts
which require long pieces of the same strong and lightweight wood
The JCI Touchwood grew out of the demand for these specialty products
they combined the special bandsaw owned by Lammerts van Bueren
with Warren Gavronsky’s Just Cut It sawmill and Percy Gavronsky’s PMG Sawmilling
Development of the new enterprise started in November 2015 and JCI entered a testing phase with the new equipment in November 2016
JCI Touchwood also cuts other high quality types of wood
cypress and hemlock which is used for bridges
Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines
NEWSPAPER SECTION: Muse
Anicha Hutaserani and Maylada Saruthibovorndej
[HIGHLIGHT] A fashion show featuring 24 designs from the new Karissa collection
an innovative ''crocodile textile'' designed by Sri von Bueren
who has turned lengths of the exotic leather into a glamorous shawl
Pirakit Valaiphatchra and Supatana Atorn-Phtai
Suchanya Thanalongkorn and Pisut Nitipaisalkul
Kongpat Jiramaneekul and Thananya Thanakitamnuay
Some of the designs in the new Karissa collection
Natee ‘‘Oui Buddha Bless’’ Akewijit with Natnicha Thanalongkorn
By subscribing, you accept the terms and conditions in our privacy policy.