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Schmitz Cargobull has taken on 150 additional employees to ensure it can meet the strong demand for box body and reefer trailers from across Europe
which has pushed production at its Vreden factory in Germany to approximately 1,500 trailers per month
In a market which has seen some competitors reduce production capacity
Schmitz Cargobull's Vreden plant is bucking the trend and working three shifts per day
Over the last few months the company has seen a steady increase in orders
Compared to the same months in the previous year
production has risen by around 30 per cent
The increase in demand has been bolstered by a heavy presence at major trade shows across a number of key markets
Board Member for Sales at Schmitz Cargobull
says: "At the Comtrans trade fair in Moscow we received more than 1,600 orders
1,200 of these were for the trailers we make in Vreden
The next big show is the Solutrans commercial vehicle exhibition in Lyon (France) – it’s not taken place yet
but already we are receiving positive signals."
Schmitz Cargobull has increased the flexibility of its factories through modularisation across product lines and has structured processes so that production can respond quickly
even in the case of volatile market demand
This ensures that customers can place an order for a trailer
Schmitz Cargobull does not produce stock trailers – every trailer is manufactured to a customer’s own requirements
Ulrich Schöpker puts the success of Schmitz Cargobull's box body trailers down to the high quality and reliability of its products
and to the company's European-wide aftersales support
Schöpker explains: "Our temperature-controlled trailers have been the benchmark on the market for more than 60 years and
This drives us to maintain and further our competitive edge
“The high demand we are experiencing is a great sign of the confidence customers have in our innovations and services.”
Schmitz Cargobull (UK) is a subsidiary company of the German-owned Schmitz Cargobull Group
the biggest and leading manufacturer and supplier of semi-trailers in Europe
The Schmitz Cargobull Group has manufacturing plants in Germany
Lithuania and Russia and employs over 4,500 people
Schmitz Cargobull had a turnover of approximately €1.512 billion and produced more than 43,000 trailers
A number of additional services complete the company profile: Cargobull Finance for leasing and lease purchasing; Schmitz Cargobull Parts & Services for vehicle servicing and spare parts; Schmitz Cargobull Service Partners for repairs and maintenance; Schmitz Cargobull Telematics for trailer telematics and Schmitz Cargobull Trailer Store for used trailers
Schmitz Cargobull refrigerated units are constructed using the company’s FERROPLAST® Thermo Technology modular steel-skinned panels to keep loads at the desired temperature
Visit Schmitz Cargobull UK’s dedicated online press room at http://news.cision.com/schmitz-cargobull
Press Contact UK:
James KeelerGarnett Keeler PRTel: 020 8647 4467Email: james.keeler@garnettkeeler.com
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The negative health consequences of truck driving are well documented
despite the distinct occupational challenges between long- and short-haul driving
limited research has been conducted on how the health profile of these drivers differ
The aims of this study were to characterise the physical and mental health of Australian truck drivers overall
and to identify any differences in factors influencing the health profile of long-haul compared to short-haul drivers
1390 Australian truck drivers completed an online survey between August 2019 and May 2020
Questions included validated measures of psychological distress
work ability and health-related quality-of-life
Participants driving 500 km or more per day were categorised as long-haul and those driving less than 500 km as short-haul
The majority of survey respondents were classified as either overweight (25.2%) or obese (54.3%)
Three in ten reported three or more chronic health conditions (29.5%) and poor general health (29.9%)
The most commonly diagnosed conditions were back problems (34.5%)
high blood pressure (25.8%) and mental health problems (19.4%)
Chronic pain was reported by 44% of drivers
Half of drivers reported low levels of psychological distress (50.0%)
whereas 13.3 and 36.7% experienced severe or moderate level of psychological distress respectively
There were a small number of differences between the health of long- and short-haul drivers
A higher proportion of short-haul drivers reported severe psychological distress compared to long-haul drivers (15.2% vs 10.4%
Long-haul drivers were more likely to be obese (63.0% vs 50.9%
< 0.001) and report pain lasting over a year (40.0% vs 31.5%
Having more than one diagnosed chronic condition was associated with poor mental and physical health outcomes in both long- and short-haul drivers
Australian truck drivers report a high prevalence of multiple physical and mental health problems
exercise and preventing chronic conditions and psychological distress
that can also be implemented within the unique occupational environment of trucking are needed to help improve driver health
Further research is needed to explore risk and protective factors that specifically affect health in both short-haul and long-haul drivers
it is crucial for the transport industry to invest in their workers and address the health and lifestyle risk factors associated with truck driving
Improving the health of the workforce will benefit drivers directly
but also help to ensure the future stability of road freight transport
further compounding the negative impact of pre-existing health conditions
Most prior research on driver health has focused on long-haul drivers
with few studies examining the health of short-haul drivers
In order to determine the value of tailored approaches to intervention design between these occupational roles
the industry requires greater knowledge around how work factors differentially affect the health of long- and short-haul drivers
Any intervention to improve the health and wellbeing of drivers must be implemented in the Australian context
so it is essential to understand the specific health challenges Australian drivers face
There is limited research on the health profile of Australian truck drivers overall
and health differences between long- and short-haul drivers are unknown
the aim of this paper is to a) characterise the health profile of Australian truck drivers b) compare the health profiles of long- and short-haul drivers; and c) determine if there are differences in the factors influencing health outcomes of long- versus short-haul truck drivers
This cross-sectional online survey was administered via the Qualtrics Insight Platform [22] and was designed to be completed within 10 min
are a hard to reach population for research
so it was essential that the survey was brief
contained language drivers would recognise and understand
and drivers could choose to participate and remain completely anonymous
Recruitment occurred through a multi-pronged sampling approach designed to reach drivers as directly as possible
industry specific publications and study partner internal communications with employees and union members
Study partners included a large national private transport company operating a fleet of more than 5000 vehicles
the peak national transport workers’ union representing over 70,000 Australian transport workers
and a state government work health and safety department
Targeted paid advertisements on Facebook were also used to capture a broad distribution of ages and work types
Drivers were eligible to participate if they were: a) Employed in a job involving the transport of goods in the 12 months prior to the survey
and b) Drove a vehicle (van or larger) for their job (> 4.5 t)
Drivers must have been able to complete the survey in English
Personal and work characteristics were captured to provide information on the study cohort and allow characterisation of work type into long- (driving ≥500 km/shift) and short-haul (driving < 500 km/shift) drivers
This definition of long- and short-haul driving was tested with partners and drivers before being implemented in the survey
Work characteristics included questions about working conditions and factors specific to driving (i.e.
asking drivers to identify which conditions they had been diagnosed with by a health professional
The number of conditions for each driver was then summed to identify drivers with multiple health conditions
asking participants to describe their ability to work on a scale of 0 (completely unable to work) to 10 (able to work at their best) and categorised as poor (0–5)
Data cleaning and analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, V26 [37]
Variables with groups < 20 were combined with larger categories or collapsed into “other” categories
Participants with missing responses in key questions (n = 416)
such as work type were removed from analyses
Missing values or “Prefer not to say” responses comprised < 3% of the remaining items and were therefore not included in results
Counts and percentages were used to summarise the survey data
The characteristics of long- and short-haul drivers were reported separately to enable comparisons
The Chi2 statistic was used to determine statistical significance between group proportions
The HRQOL utility score and EQ-VAS mean score was compared using independent t-tests
In order to establish differences in the factors influencing mental and physical outcomes for long- versus short-haul truck drivers
psychological distress and HRQOL were chosen as dependent variables for further regression analysis
Ordinal logistic modelling was used to examine predictors of severe psychological distress
and generalised linear regression modelling was used to examine predictors of decreased HRQOL
HRQOL utility score was converted to a disutility score (1-HRQOL score) and log transformed (log (disutility score) + 1) to be entered as the dependent variable in linear regression model
An increase in Disutility score was indicative of a decreased HRQOL and worse health outcome
Independent variables entered into both models included: age
The measure of effect was reported in Odds Ratio (OR) for ordinal logistic models
and in exponentiated coefficient (Exp(β) for linear models
Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05
Professional experience driving a truck ranged from > 20 years (41.2%)
Half of the drivers (50.4%) reported working between 41 and 60 h/week
The most common working shift was multiple trips between the same location or “home base” (56.8%)
followed by a long single trip between two locations (24.0%)
More long-haul drivers reported working > 60 h/week compared to short-haul drivers (58.9% vs 24.1%
Half of the long-haul drivers had shifts of a single long trip (50.3%)
whereas the great majority of short-haul drivers took multiple trips between the same location (78.0%) per shift (χ2(2) = 423.4
Vehicle type also differed between long- and short-haul drivers (χ2(3) = 289.8
Diagnosed health conditions by work type
with a mean (SD) EQ-VAS score of 72.2 (19.9)
Long- and short-haul drivers had comparable self-rated general health
Age and number of diagnosed conditions were associated with psychological distress in both work types (Table 4)
those < 35 had approximately 4.3 times greater odds of having severe levels of psychological distress for both long- and short-haul drivers
The impact of diagnosed conditions on psychological distress was amplified
with large increases in the odds of having severe psychological stress for both long-haul (more than 7 times) and short-haul (more than 14 times) drivers for those reporting ≥3 conditions
Short-haul drivers working ≤40 h/week had lower odds of having severe psychological distress than those working between 41 and 60 h
Number of diagnosed conditions was a significant predictor of increased Disutility score (i.e. reduction in HRQOL) in both long- and short-haul drivers (Table 5)
and reporting ≥3 conditions was associated with a 16% increase in Disutility score
Being overweight or obese was associated with a 3 and 2% increase respectively in Disutility score in short-haul drivers
Working ≤40 h/week and driving a rigid truck was associated with a reduction in Disutility score in short-haul drivers
whereas long-haul drivers working a shift type of “a single long trip between 2 locations” had reduced Disutility score
No other factors were significantly associated with Disutility score in either work type
The poor physical health profile demonstrated in our survey reflect many of the health risks drivers face at work
A consequence of the absence of policy in this area is that we see the space being filled by community and industry-based organisations
which often leads to initiatives that are not fully evaluated so their effectiveness remains unclear
Strategies such as prioritising younger drivers in road safety actions plans or ensuring that health care providers integrate this knowledge into their management plan for truck drivers could provide a way forward in the prevention and management of truck driver ill health
Educating general practitioners and allied health on the different risk factors long- and short-haul drivers are exposed to would contribute to a preventative approach in the management of truck driver health and wellbeing
Regulators could also use this information in their guidance material and inspections in an effort to prevent these injuries
Future studies focused on driver health should aim to measure more comprehensive work
personal and environmental factors to establish the impact of these factors on driver health
The application of validated measures such as the K6
these results highlight areas for further investigation and cannot be used as a basis for establishing causal relationships
This study provides baseline data that establishes the health profile of Australian short- and long-haul truck drivers
This will add to the growing body of research into the health of truck drivers which will allow employers
regulators and government to make evidence-based decisions when designing and implementing interventions aimed at truck drivers
The health profile of Australian truck drivers appears to be worse than the general Australian population
Truck drivers are more likely to be overweight
report poor general health and be diagnosed with multiple chronic health conditions
Long haul drivers are more likely to experience chronic pain
whereas short-haul drivers are more likely to experience high levels of psychological distress
Across both driver types under the age of 35
the levels of severe psychological stress were higher than the national average
This study highlights the need for interventions targeted towards the prevention and management of mental and physical health conditions
in order to help drivers to be healthy and stay healthy at work
The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to confidentiality clause contained in the explanatory statement provided to participants
Only Monash University Driving Health Researchers with ethics approval can access the data
Aggregated and de-identified data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request
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Prevalence of affective states in Australian truck and train drivers
Truckies’ nutrition and physical activity: a cross-sectional survey in Queensland
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The work organization of long-haul truck drivers and the association with body mass index
Psychosocial work stressors as antecedents of musculoskeletal problems: a systematic review and meta-analysis of stability-adjusted longitudinal studies
Associations between musculoskeletal conditions risk
and markers of mental health: a cross-sectional observational study in heavy goods vehicle drivers
Musculoskeletal conditions risk in HGV drivers
Risk factors associated with self-reported musculoskeletal pain among short and long distance industrial gas delivery truck drivers
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Short trips and long days: safety and health in short-haul trucking
Work characteristics associated with injury among light/short-haul transport drivers
Trucking organization and mental health disorders of truck drivers
A program in safety management for the occupational driver: conceptual development and implementation case study
Multiple conditions increase preventable crash risks among truck drivers in a cohort study
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Fighting against a shortage of truck drivers in logistics: measures that employers can take to promote drivers’ work ability and health
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Driving Health acknowledges the support of Comcare
supported by NHMRC Partnership Project grant number GNT1169395 and is co-funded by study partners the Transport Workers Union (TWU)
Linfox and the Centre for Work Health and Safety
DL is supported by a NHMRC Investigator grant (1196892)
AC is supported by an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (LP190100218)
School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine
Eastern Health and Monash Addiction Research Centre
Elizabeth Pritchard: Writing-review and editing
The author(s) read and approved the final manuscript
All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations
use and disclosure of the data for this study was approved by Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (MUHREC) on 12 June 2019 (Project ID:19191)
All participants were provided with a study explanatory statement and provided informed consent prior to completing the survey
The authors declare they have no competing interests
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12850-5
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two contrasting sets of attitudes have become prominent: unsureness yielding to indifference
The first may be attributable to a lack of specificity as to what is being proposed
Lawyers describe a contract as unenforceable because of being void for uncertainty
If provisions are unspecified or can be given no determinate content
then parties cannot reasonably be held either to have satisfied them or not
does not stop acrimony or protracted wrangling
The suspicion that a contract may be void — or that it may provide carte blanche — is reason
In the context of a referendum in the UK or the United States
the likely outcome where the electorate is unsure or indifferent is low turnout
the expression of uncertainty is either a spoilt or unmarked ballot
If that were to be the outcome of this referendum
the cause of according full recognition to the rights of Indigenous peoples would not be lost
Treaties and constitutional options would remain available
but they would require substantial and precise specification before being brought before Parliament or submitted to a second referendum
it would be important to acknowledge that “no to this proposal” should not be assumed to imply “no to anything”
More troubling is the second set of attitudes: disagreement transformed into mutual accusation
Western democracies have moved into an unstable and reactionary phase
and economic disruptions over the last two decades — including the global financial crisis
mass migration and the displacement of persons
and the intensification of disagreements over serious cultural and ethical issues
It is common to cite such factors when attempting to explain the rise and electoral success of illiberal reactionary movements
Initially these movements acquired merely local and regional influence
but then they exploded into public consciousness when they began enjoying national success — first with the elections of Viktor Orbán and Jaroslaw Kaczyński in Hungary and Poland respectively
and then with the outcome of the Brexit referendum in the UK and the election of Donald Trump in 2016
far-right parties have entered government or governing coalitions in Finland
and they are leading in the polls in Germany and Holland
It seems clear that a change in the politics of the West is underway that looks to threaten the consensus commonly described as “liberal”
public discourse in those democracies has become increasingly accusatory
So much so that what passes for political commentary is generally facile and self-serving
actively eschewing intellectual humility and mutual understanding in favour of seizing opportunities to signal the purported moral and intellectual superiority of the pundits over the “irrationality” of their opponents
my academic life has been divided between the UK
I was in Britain during the Brexit campaign and referendum
and in the United States in the period leading up to and including the 2016 election
the self-assured view of the centre- and left-leaning media and politicians alike was not only that the insurgents were abhorrent but that they were aberrant and would be defeated
you could put half of Trump's supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables
What struck me about Clinton’s remarks at the time was the fact that she and her audience seemed to have no qualms about speaking of millions of their fellow citizens in such disparaging terms
Subsequently I had the chance to tour a number of US states and
that Trump was likely to win the presidential election; and second
that many of those who would vote for him — including women in blue-collar communities — had no illusions about Trump’s character
Their primary reason for voting for Trump was that this was their only chance to counter the coastal “progressivism” which they rightly believed held them in such contempt
A similar story could be told about the lead up to and outcome of the Brexit referendum — and about the enraged response in the “liberal” media to the outcome in each case
The success enjoyed by the “Leave” campaign was due to “deception”
Every time the No cases raise their arguments
if you start pulling it apart you get down to base racism
every one of them says the No case is substantially false
Even though they were evidently directed at the tactics of “No” campaigners and not the values of “No” voters
it is hardly surprising that Professor Langton’s comments called to mind the similar language used to cast aspersions on Brexit voters and Trump supporters
The growing tendency in Australian public debate about contested issues is to regard opponents as either malign or ignorant (or both) — as “knaves or fools”
This trend needs not only to be resisted but reversed
and the means of achieving such a reversal is to recover the idea of reasonable disagreement
and policies draw upon experience and imagination which vary as between parties — they deal in interpretations and conjectures
in these arguments participants are trying to establish that one option is more reasonable than the other
not that one is demonstrably true and the other by implication certainly false
Reflection along these lines ought to bring home the fact of intellectual fallibility — that partial knowledge and imperfect perspectives are part of the general human condition
and not a peculiar trait of one side of a political divide
One needs also to understand what factors have produced polarisation
what patterns of relationship have resulted
and what features tend to intensify or diminish the sense of intractable difference
Grasping these points allows one to be less assertive in argument and to deflate the presumed certainty of an opponent
When there is some recognition of the symmetry of the situation
each party has reason to moderate their claims
They can then develop a sense of companionship in fallibility that begins to approach — and may even encourage — a kind of civic friendship and more general tolerance
The experience of the last seven years has taught us that incommensurable disagreement and deep mutual suspicion brings out the worst in our democracies
as things stand currently in the Voice referendum debate
2024·Snowboard Park & PipeThe FIS Freeski and FIS Snowboard Park & Pipe Europa Cup has finally wrapped up for the 2023/24 season
first with the final slopestyle and big air competitions in Corvatsch two weeks ago
and then this past weekend in Austria’s Kitzsteinhorn resort with a weather-effected week of halfpipe action to wrap up the EC campaign
An impressive collection of international riders have been on hand through the last few weeks of the Europa Cup season
looking to get a few more competition days in before hanging up the bib until 2024/25
a lucky few of those riders earned themselves a quota spot on next winter’s World Cup start list by claiming the overall EC wins for the season
since the World Cup season finale in Silvaplana at the end of March
the weather in the Alps has been challenging at best
with winter refusing to release her grip on the mountains
and stormy weather subjecting athletes and organisers to some frustrating difficulties
The Corvatsch Europa Cup competitions two weeks ago were able to go down in full for both snowboard and freeski
slopestyle and big air for both disciplines finishing with successful results
But organisers and officials at this past weekend’s Europa Cup season-ender in Kitzsteinhorn were not so lucky
as the persistently bad weather through the week lead to the cancellation of big air events for both snowboard and freeski
and for the cancellation of the freeski halfpipe competition
While the last few weeks were oftentimes difficult
overall it was another successful Europa Cup season
showcasing consistent progression and commitment from organisers and athletes alike
with some of the very best competition action we’ve ever seen at the Continental Cup level on display
Punching their tickets to full-time action on next season’s FIS Snowboard World Cup were Romy van Vreden of the Netherlands and France’s Romain Allemand
who topped the women’s and men’s slopestyle + big air rankings
Isabelle Loestcher (SUI) and Campbell Melville Ives (NZL) took the the overall wins on the halfpipe Europa Cup
as the 18-year-old finished in the top-10s in all but two of her seven EC starts on the season
it was one week of standout success that powered her to the top - the first week of January
where she took the slopestyle victory and runner-up in the big air competition at the Font Romeu Europa Cup
2023/24 was a breakout season on several levels
as the 17-year-old earned three victories and four total podiums in seven Europa Cup starts to take the overall title
while also claiming medals at both the Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympic Games and Livigno 2024 Junior World Championships
Allemand also earned the first World Cup podium of his career
with a second-place finish at the Tignes (FRA) slopestyle World Cup
it was Switzerland Isa Loetscher capping off a strong season with the Europa Cup title and a quota spot for the 2024/25 World Cup
a second and a third place finish in her three EC starts this past season
Loestscher stomped what was a competition first switch crippler in in Corvatsch two weeks ago
combining progression with results on a way to solidifying her status as a World Cup regular
For the men it was New Zealand’s Campbell Melville Ives eking out the overall EC halfpipe win
finishing just 10 points ahead of David Habluetzel (SUI)
With Campbell’s twin brother Finley taking top spot on the freeski Europa Cup rankings
it was a hugely successful season for the Melville Ives family
and 2024/25 is looking exciting for Snowsports NZ
It was a big Europa Cup season for the Swiss Freeski squad on the big air + slopestyle side of things
with Michell Rageth and Thierry Wili winning the overalls and assuring their World Cup spots for 2024/25
20-year-old Rageth was dominant on the women’s side of things
taking three wins and seven total podiums while finishing in the top-10 in all 11 of her EC starts
Also scoring two World Cup top 10s in 2023/24
Rageth looks well on her way to becoming the next big thing on the always-strong Swiss team
this past season was an important one to reestablish himself as World Cup regular
but aside from a podium at the thinly attended Bakuriani slopestyle World Cup in 2021/22
hasn’t seen a lot of success on the big tour
and will look to take things to the next level on the World Cup in 2024/25
On the halfpipe side of things it was an encouraging - and somewhat surprising - result for the Japanese freeski squad
as 27-year-old Nanaho Kiriyama took the women’s Europa Cup in what was he first season of EC competition
While it was Kiriyama’s first go on the European circuit
she is a World Cup veteran of over a decade
with the first of her 21 career starts coming back in the 2012/13 season
It will be interesting to see what she does with her World Cup spot secured for next season as the Japanese team builds towards the Milano-Cortino 2026 Olympic Winter Games
as Finley locked his overall win down by taking top spot at the lone halfpipe European Cup Premium competition of the 2023/24 season in Laax
The 17-year-old has been knocking at the door of a World Cup podium for two seasons now
with several top-3 qualification results and a fourth-place finish at the season finale in Calgary
Look for Finley to make some series noise on the big tour next season
Europa Cup snowboard standings
Full Europa Cup snowboard calendar and results
Europa Cup freeski standings
Full Europa Cup freeski calendar and results
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Young children engage in scientific thinking and actions long before they enter a classroom. They do all sorts of things in their pursuit of knowledge: poking, pulling, tasting, pounding, shaking and experimenting. This demonstrates their need to learn and naturally seek out problems to solve
That’s why creating opportunities for observations and actions through play could stimulate children’s emerging scientific thinking. Play offers a valuable way to help children learn basic scientific literacy. That’s because artistic expression is a natural part of early childhood
In a recently published study I explored whether there could be a rationale for music-inspired free play to foster scientific exploration in early childhood
I watched preschoolers during free play at two daycare centres in Mohadin in South Africa’s North-West province
Free musical play takes place in an environment that has been prepared by the teacher (though children themselves take the initiative for playing)
The space stimulates the young child to experiment with and explore the musical properties of sound
I specifically focused on music-inspired play because music in early childhood is one of the first natural and accessible “tools” for children to express their thoughts
Musical and artistic activity are especially important at an early age; they nurture the development of emotion
Not only is children’s innate musicality expressed and developed when they are given the time to explore: it also creates freedom, flexibility and facilitation in the early years and gives rise to unexpected moments when learners integrate music into their own learning
I was able to develop a model that illustrates the rationale for music-inspired play to foster scientific exploration which teachers in early childhood settings could apply if they want to use musical freeplay to boost children’s scientific learning
There is a difference between scientific thinking and the learning of scientific facts
Scientific thinking involves children in the process of finding out
leading them to make their own discoveries
Teachers can foster scientific thinking by viewing young children as active learners rather than simply as recipients of knowledge
They can offer varied opportunities to explore and experiment
which will allow children to construct meaning and develop understandings that are not only valid but also valuable in their ongoing intellectual development
pre-schoolers can learn about the scientific concept of momentum by rhythmically moving on swings – while singing at the same time
singing becomes faster to match the speed of the learners’ movements
sing the song at a slower tempo and stop moving their legs
the swing also slows down until it eventually stops
Young children can also learn about how sound production works by using their voices and vocal chords
This sort of voluntary learning helps to reduce the consequences of failure
Children feel less frustrated and are allowed to be creative and expressive in spaces where they make choices
It’s very important that teachers get involved in free play. Merely playing with no guidance won’t necessarily promote the desired learning
Teacher involvement does not mean that the teacher directs
interferes with or facilitates free play and exploration
But they can create appropriate environments
present opportunities and equip learners with musical experiences
knowledge and skills that can be used during free play
This allows teachers to extend their learners’ knowledge
They can also model skills and strategies for turning experiences in free play into learning
And musical free play doesn’t just have to take place outside
It can also happen during class: for instance
when children tap rhythms with their pencils on desks while waiting for time to pass as a teacher hands out books
I drew from previous research for the bulk of my study
This was supplemented by observations at two rural preschools
By watching the children at these schools during recess and in class
I was able to identify and explore practical examples of music–science relationships during free play
The children at both preschools produced a variety of spontaneous musical sounds
phrases and chants to accompany their play
Some children commented to me about sound production
describing how they experienced this scientific concept through music-inspired role-play – pretending to be other people or famous actors
One outspoken boy informed me that his tonsils had been removed and that this operation influenced what his voice sounded like when he copied other people’s singing
Afterwards he found it easier to copy people with lower voices with a raspy tone
I then created a model that encourages early childhood educators to create opportunities for constructivist learning to take place through reflection and exploration in free play
The idea is that once pre-schoolers are exposed to musical experiences
these can be integrated into their free play to foster scientific exploration
Constructivism, as academic Joseph Shively explained it, is “how we make meaning of our experiences and come to know the world”. I adapted this to explain how children make meaning of musical experiences and come to know the world through scientific exploration.
In the model, facilitation of and exposure to musical skills, experiences and knowledge is the first step. Learners are then able to use these musical skills, activities and knowledge in their free play in an interesting and rich environment created by an encouraging, responsive teacher, which could in turn foster scientific exploration.
where he made a number of stops to visit furniture maker Dula
the developers behind the Kitchen Stories app
Cook has been documenting his trip on Twitter, sharing a number of photos at each site. Before leaving France, he made one last stop to visit the Marché Saint-Germain Apple Store, where he met with staff, iOS developers, and Apple customers. It was his second visit to an Apple Store following a stop in Marseille earlier this week
Dula is a furniture manufacturer that works with Apple to create some of the furniture and hardware used in Apple's retail stores
During his time at Kitchen Stories, Cook also met with Refinery29 for an exclusive interview where he talked about women in the workplace
Cook was specifically questioned about the German start up scene
where just 13.9 percent of lead roles are held by women
improving that rate hinges on a work environment that "encourages and motivates women to participate." He went on to say that it's a problem that needs to be tackled early in life
with young women encouraged to enter the STEM field
and Cook explained that Apple pays all employees equally regardless of gender
And if we only notice once that someone earns only 99.8% of the salary of another
then we do everything we can to make up for it
It's just not right and not fair that women still earn so much less than men
Cook's full comments can be read over at Refinery29, but the original interview is in German and will need to be translated
Following his short trip to Germany, Cook will head to Scotland on Wednesday where he will accept an honorary degree from the University of Glasgow
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
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“This is the biggest civil rights movement of our time,” said Floyd’s uncle, Selwyn Jones
among those who attended the last of three services honoring his nephew’s life
“We have to figure out a way to make a stand.”
By the time the “homegoing service” started at the Fountain of Praise church on the southwest side of Houston
the sanctuary was nearly filled with more than a thousand people
It was an emotionally packed program that included tearful pleas for justice from the family
a video message from former Vice President Joe Biden and a eulogy by the Rev
1/17 Pallbearers carry the coffin of George Floyd from the sanctuary of the Fountain of Praise church in Houston on Tuesday. (Godofredo A
Vasquez / Pool) 2/17 Family and friends of George Floyd enter the Fountain of Praise church for his funeral on Tuesday in Houston
(Joe Raedle/Getty Images) 3/17 A man draws an image of George Floyd during Floyd’s funeral at the Fountain of Praise church in Houston on Tuesday. (David J
Phillip/AFP) 4/17 Families participate in a children’s march in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and national protests against police brutality on Tuesday in New York City
(Angela Weiss / AFP) 5/17 LaTonya Floyd speaks during the funeral service for her brother
Phillip / Pool) 6/17 Rep
Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) speaks at George Floyd’s funeral in Houston on Tuesday. (Godofredo A
Vasquez /Pool) 7/17 A mourner raises a fist during George Floyd’s funeral on Tuesday in Houston. (David J
Phillip / Pool) 8/17 Brooke Williams
speaks during the funeral service for her uncle at the Fountain of Praise Church on Tuesday in Houston
Philip/ Pool) 9/17 Rodney Floyd speaks during the funeral for his brother
on June 9 at the Fountain of Praise church in Houston
Vasquez / Pool ) 10/17 Ne-Yo sings at the funeral for George Floyd at the Fountain of Praise church in Houston on Tuesday. (David J
Phillip/ Pool ) 11/17 Cyril White talks about his friend George Floyd during Floyd’s funeral in Houston on Tuesday
Vasquez / Pool) 12/17 Family members grieve during the funeral for George Floyd in Houston on Tuesday
Vasquez / Pool) 13/17 The Rev
Al Sharpton speaks during the funeral for George Floyd on Tuesday in Houston. (David J
Phillip / Pool ) 14/17 The Rev
Al Sharpton speaks during the funeral for George Floyd in Houston on Tuesday. (Godofredo A
Vásquez / Pool) 15/17 Philonise Floyd
wears sneakers bearing a tribute to his brother during George Floyd’s funeral Tuesday in Houston
Phillip / Pool) 16/17 A child finishes a sign she will hold at a children’s march in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and national protests against police brutality on Tuesday in New York City
(Angela Weiss / AFP ) 17/17 Actor Jamie Foxx
righgt greets Rodney Floyd during the funeral service for George Floyd at The Fountain of Praise church June 9
Phillip / Pool) Among the crowd were relatives of other Black victims in high-profile cases in which extreme use of force by police or others was alleged
Also in the sanctuary were actors Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx
Watt; Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Police Chief Art Acevedo; and various members of Congress and of Floyd’s family
“No child should have to ask questions that too many Black children have had to ask for generations,” Biden said in a video address to Gianna and her family that played in the church sanctuary
“We cannot leave this moment thinking we can once again turn away from racism ..
from systemic abuse that still plagues American life.”
Floyd’s brother later led the crowd in a chant of Floyd’s name
whose pictures were featured in the funeral program
“We’re going to keep this fight on,” Rodney Floyd said
insisted that “justice will be served” for her uncle
despite what she described as a system that is “corrupt and broken.”
‘Make America great again.” But when has America been great?” she said
Sharpton decried “wickedness in high places,” alluding to President Trump and condemning his decision to clear protesters outside the White House with tear gas and rubber bullets
Sharpton vowed to continue protesting and urged others to maintain pressure on officials to prosecute
convict and sentence the four Minneapolis police officers who fatally restrained Floyd on May 25
“Lives like George’s won’t matter until they pay the cost for taking those lives…
How are you going to scare bad cops when bad cops don’t go to jail?” he said
Jones and other relatives said they planned to keep working not only to prosecute the officers charged with killing Floyd, but also to address police brutality and racism nationwide.
“He cannot die in vain,” Jones said. “I’m not going to let this one go. If we can’t make change now — forget about it.”
Jones’ sister Angela Harrelson, 58, who lives in a Minneapolis suburb and had welcomed her nephew when he moved to the area three years ago, had debated with her brother whether to dwell on their outrage or on hope. She favored hope.
“You can only stay in the tragedy so long. People want to feel better,” she said.
Jones said that for him, the pain of losing Floyd was still too fresh.
“Right now, everybody is in an ache,” he said.
Jones feared Floyd’s name would be forgotten, just one more addition to the list of Black men killed by police. He said he planned to do all he can to prevent that, to keep the legacy of this moment alive and his nephew immortal.
After the service ended, Jones waited with other family members to travel to the suburban cemetery where Floyd would be laid to rest beside his mother. The gold-plated casket was transferred from a black hearse to a white horse-drawn carriage near the cemetery.
“This is the end. There is no more,” Jones said. “But I’m not stopping.”
World & Nation
George Floyd’s ancestors lost land, education and their lives to racist U.S. policies
Molly Hennessy-Fiske was a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times from 2006 to 2022 in Houston, Los Angeles, Washington and the Middle East as bureau chief.
World & Nation
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New trailers from Schmitz Cargobull will ensure the show goes on for bands on tour with Stardes
the Sheffield-based specialist entertainment logistics provider
which transports equipment for concerts and touring artistes throughout Europe
has taken four Schmitz Cargobull FP25 dry freight box van trailers to provide more capacity for its operations
Stardes Transport Manager Tim Stansbury says: “Our trailer needs are quite different from that of a typical haulier and require a lot of customisation
Schmitz Cargobull offered us a very short lead time
He adds: “We plan to run our trailers for at least 15 years across Europe
and Schmitz Cargobull is probably the only manufacturer we know we can trust to have that kind of parts support and a reliable pan-European service network.”
The trailers were delivered right on time for the start of a busy winter touring season
The FP25 trailer is well-suited to Stardes operations where volume capacity is critical
as it sits lower on a unique Mega full chassis design
offering greater capacity while still remaining under the 4m height limit imposed for international European transport
The trailers were manufactured as a bespoke build from the factory in Vreden
and further modifications were carried out in the UK at Schmitz Cargobull’s Doncaster site
Lithuania and Russia and employs over 5,100 people
Schmitz Cargobull had a turnover of approximately €1.625 billion and produced more than 45,300 trailers
James Keeler or James BoleyGarnett Keeler PRTel: 020 8647 4467Email: james.keeler@garnettkeeler.com / james.boley@garnettkeeler.com
GerdRohrsen, Head of Corporate CommunicationsSilke Hesener, Manager Public RelationsTel: +49 02558 811501Email:silke.hesener@cargobull.com
13.6.2019 12:09:37 CEST | EMD - European Marketing Distribution | Press release
European Marketing Distribution AG (EMD) announces several changes to positions within its Board of Directors: during the shareholders' general meeting in Stockholm
the Swedish Axfood Manager Johan Neuman was elected vice-chairman
Neuman took the office over from Franz-Friedrich Müller from Markant AG
who retired after many years of actively supporting and guiding EMD as vice-president
Müller will remain member of the EMD management board
The management body also welcomed a new member: Jaap van Vreden (Dutch national
Van Vreden has extensive experience in buying
category management and merchandising and serves as Sourcing and Procurement Director at Lenta
Maniele Tasca will continue to be President of the EMD Board of Directors
Tasca: “We extend to Jaap van Vreden a very warm welcome and we look forward to a fruitful cooperation
Jaap has played a leading role in building up the internationally acknowledged purchasing divisions of Lenta and will strengthen our Board of Directors with immediate effect.”
The EMD Board of Directors comprises now the following members and functions:
- President: Maniele Tasca
- Vice-president: Johan Neuman (Axfood)
- Franz Friedrich Müller (Markant AG)
- Jaime Rodríguez (Euromadi Iberica)
- Dick Roozen (Superunie)
- Jaap van Vreden (Lenta)
has been acknowledged since 1989 as an efficient and high-performing partner for Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) by the consumer goods industries
The leading associated group operates now together with its member companies in 20 countries in Europe
The member companies of European Marketing Distribution (EMD) are active in the following markets:
Italy: ESD Italia
Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com)
Subscribe to all the latest releases from EMD - European Marketing Distribution by registering your e-mail address below
Cooperation will start in the private label business Global supply chains offer increased opportunities for growth to the distributors and industrial partners involved – retail customers benefit from a larger assortment variety (Pfäffikon
Switzerland): The European Marketing Distribution AG (EMD) welcomes a new partner: Homeplus Co
is from now on closely cooperating in the sourcing of private label products with the leading European associated group
The agreement signed on Wednesday 23 January in Zürich by Homeplus’ CEO Lim Il-Soon provides also for the option of cooperation in other areas of intercontinental cooperation
– Cross reference: Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) - Homeplus
is the second largest company in the South Korean retailer market with a turnover of 9.7 billion US dollars (2017)
The Homeplus Group owned by the Asian private equity firm MBK Partners operates currently 752 retail outl
Icecat has announced the appointment of Bertrand Thomas and Rody de Vreden to Toys sales manager for France and account manager of Toys
Icecat’s commitment to serving its toy clients has been further strengthened by two new team members
Icecat has developed a comprehensive data model specifically for toy brands
including specifications and values associated with them
the data model supports over 70 languages and continues to expand
“With a good base of brands and retail customers in the toys industry
I am looking forward to further expanding the network of clients and celebrating new partnerships worldwide,” said Rody de Vreden
I look forward to cooperating with our current and potential clients in France
thriving together in the e-commerce industry,” said Bertrand Thomas
“Let this online journey begin.”
Icecat is the market leader in product content syndication for the online toy and entertainment industry
and helps brands deliver product content to their retailers
more than 100 toy brands are working with Icecat
Icecat aims to provide the toy industry with the best eCommerce content solutions for easy product content exchange and the best online experience
NEWS INSIGHTS EVENTS VIDEOS Search Home/IOT/5G: Why is this a game changer?5G: Why is this a game changer?The next iteration of mobile connectivity
But this will be more than just a step up in speed
5G will change how the world communicates and what we communicate with
the way we connect will start to change rapidly
This may seem like a big claim for an era already defined by connectivity's forces
But 5G may very well be worthy of that distinction: when it arrives and reaches mass adoption
we face two areas of scarcity: speed and capacity
As we connect devices and services that can think at the flash of an electron
the ways we are connecting them have real limitations
it curtails the ability to do certain things
delivering an entire workload backup into a remote environment within seconds is not practical; at least not yet
Even enterprise fibre still can't quite deliver on that promise
nor can it give near-instantaneous interactions with a remote system
delivering up to 10 gigabit-per-second (Gbps) data rates at a latency as low as 1 millisecond
It's this second statistic that is the most noteworthy
"Imagine you're an athlete and you're waiting for the shot to start the race
Your ability to respond to that gunshot going off is similar to the latency of connection
The advantage of responding faster in whatever technique we use becomes vital when you consider concepts like
high data transfers and autonomous vehicles."
They are detached from the vastly more powerful central systems and thus don't benefit from that extra muscle
Yet they are at the coalface and their actions have a direct impact on operations
yet must do so with less than the central benchmark
Different remedies are being applied to this
such as sorting data at the edge for faster transfers by sending less or developing facsimiles of central algorithms to manage certain complex tasks (local intelligence)
But ultimately the real power and action remains at the centre: not only the machines
remotely operating machinery isn't very practical
5G will rival the best latency fibre can offer
Considering the expense of adding a fibre link to every device
wireless alternative doesn't need any further qualification
a lot of our reliance on needing fixed assets
equipment and infrastructure reduces significantly," Van Vreden explains
"If the infrastructure in a corporate environment is decentralised into the cloud
5G will further increase employees' ability to interact with these cloud systems as if they were directly connected."
He raises a very basic yet relatable example: "Imagine video conferencing with ease
Just connect your device and be part of a HD quality video conference with perfect voice and video whether you're in an Uber or coffee shop
that's about to become even more connected."
This is why it's important for progressive enterprises to start including 5G in their connectivity discussions now
but the possibilities are of such a magnitude that they shouldn't be ignored
If black swans are possible events that couldn't have been foreseen for their outlandishness
perhaps 5G is a white swan: visible on the horizon and
a guaranteed new way of doing things in and around technology
At present 5G isn't a decided standard yet
though the building major blocks are basically in place
It's a significant change to mobile transmissions: radio waves from 4G
3G and the rest are measured in centimeters
requiring new types of antennas as well as a different level of density
Getting 5G going will take significant investment and availability will roll out steadily
It's not just focused on mobile networks: 5G will service a wide range of networks and applications
Its proposed low power levels also make it a natural fit for IOT deployments
"The standard and basic concept has a general consensus
There's a lot of investment in the States
companies like Huawei and Nokia have begun testing 5G systems with trials also kicking off here at home," says Van Vreden
adding that the reason why it must be considered now is because of what might follow in its wake:
"5G will more than likely only be a reality in 2020
SDWAN and other cloud solutions will become more of a reality for many companies
Early adopters of these technologies will more than likely benefit immediately as others catch up."
it will be a subtle gateway into a connected future we have not yet experienced
Make sure your business knows what this may mean to its future
Infoprotect is a leading ICT solution provider offering managed solutions in five pillars of the ICT landscape: IT security
Infoprotect has assisted customers in diverse sectors to increase productivity
For further information, visit www.infoprotect.co.za
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Moving To Singapore? Essential Guide - Expat Living in Singapore
Moving to Singapore - learn about neighbourhoods
We help make the most of expat living in Singapore
https://expatliving.sg/custom-engagement-rings-in-singapore-gems-diamond-rings/
Where can you buy engagement rings in Singapore – or create a diamond ring design for a special anniversary
From eternity rings to custom engagement rings
here are a few Singapore jewellers who can help create something that you or your loved one will cherish forever
Finding the perfect jewellery piece starts with finding the right jeweller – someone who truly understands your style and needs
You want a jeweller who can guide you on what works and what doesn’t
Whether you have a clear idea in mind or are still searching for inspiration
and designers Chris and Sara will do the rest
they can gather ideas and show you pictures and samples
sketch suggestions and even source diamonds or gemstones if required
They can also offer advice on wearability and stone size – all with the goal to craft a design you’ll love and a piece that lasts
Each piece is designed and handcrafted from scratch in 18K gold
Custom jewellery doesn’t have to be loud or expensive
More than Diamonds is known for its distinct minimal style and wearable designs
If you have inherited jewellery or old pieces you no longer wear
they can repurpose the gemstones to create something fresh and new for you to love again
Find out more about their process by reading the design stories on their website
and then make an appointment to discuss your ideas
Jewellery entrepreneur Aarti Sonawala of ART N ASH is a certified gemologist
diamond grader and designer with years of experience
her family’s diamond and fine jewellery business has been around for four generations
experiences and stories is important in crafting the perfect piece for you
beautiful gemstones and diamonds to weave magic into her jewellery whether it’s a custom-made engagement ring or something for a special occasion
Aarti likes to offer clients the biggest possible stones without compromising on colour and clarity
The design is then computer-generated with the estimated gold and diamond weight
The process usually takes four to six weeks
The “Everyday Elegance” jewellery line at ART N ASH consists of affordable gold and diamond jewellery ranging from $500 to $3,000
Email aarti@artnash.sg to discuss your jewellery ideas, and visit their Instagram @artnashsg
Gemstones in her mother’s treasure box sparked Amanda Ang’s passion for jewellery
And as the founder and head gem buyer of August Bespoke
she’s on a mission to bring clients that same delight when it comes to jewellery
The company specialises in custom engagement rings
eternity rings and jewellery where artisanship and individuality shine through
The company’s proprietary “Sherlock Holmes” Discovery Process allows the team to accurately analyse a client’s style and personality to craft a design that suits them to a tee
The team works often with GIA-certified fancy-cut diamonds and lab-grown diamonds that can be cut to exact specifications
They also help source any specific type of gemstone the client wants
a custom piece of jewellery – crafted in platinum or 18K gold (white
and yellow) – takes about six weeks to three months before it’s delivered to you
Discover more and schedule a one-on-one consultation with August Bespoke at augustbespoke.com
At homegrown jewellery brand Au Etoile Jewelry
Ling designs each piece of delicate fine jewellery herself
Her goal is to create timeless classics meant to be treasured for a lifetime for clients who appreciate the same aesthetics
Focusing on precious metals and gems such as 18k gold and natural stones like diamonds and sapphires
Ling works closely with an experienced local gem trader to source materials from around the world
local master craftsmen are brought into the process
They skillfully assemble each piece and transform Ling’s visions into realities
Ling finds inspiration for her designs in every corner of her life – from a piece of lace to a pearl necklace
She then turns ideas into creations that capture these precious objects and moments
It includes sourcing of precious stones and metals and assembly and polishing by local craftsmen
Jewellery at Au Etoile Jewelry ranges from $680 for a sapphire bracelet to $1974 for the Macrame necklace
Discover the collection at auetoile.com. You can also book an in-person appointment via email at auetoile@outlook.com
Rachel of Rachel P Jewels has a love for jewellery-making that was ignited as a young girl
Diamonds and gems sparkled in the office where her family worked alongside suppliers
This is where she would often be mesmerised by the skill of craftsmen creating beautiful pieces
This early exposure to the world of jewellery spurred a deep fascination that would shape her future
This led her to pursue a formal education in the field
Armed with creativity and a keen eye for detail
she stepped into the jewellery industry with a clear vision: to set a higher standard of quality for bespoke engagement rings and unique designs
Each creation from custom diamond rings to eternity rings would reflect her dedication to bringing dreams to life
capturing love stories and preserving cherished memories within the gleam of precious metals and carefully chosen rare gemstones and diamonds
But Rachel’s journey doesn’t end with her creations
With her vast expertise and team of highly skilled craftsmen
repurposing and traditional services for fine jewellery after the sale
The restoration services allow treasured heirlooms to regain their former glory
preserving their sentimental value and historical significance for generations to come
Discover more at rachelpjewels.com.sg or email enquiry@rachelpjewels.com.sg to schedule an in-person consultation
Now that you know where to buy diamond rings and engagement rings in Singapore
Check out more stories on our Style & Beauty page, plus Jewellery – where and what to buy for Valentine’s Day
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Cherry is a lifestyle editor from Hong Kong with a decade of experience writing about beauty
she loves curling up with a good podcast and hunting down the city’s best food spots with her husband