Tag: Europe

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Unveiling the Narrative: Language, Perception, and the African Identity

In the complex tapestry of human interactions, language has become a lens through which we perceive, label, and categorize ourselves and others. This thought-provoking exploration delves into the intricacies of language and its role in shaping perceptions, particularly in the context of Africans and their global counterparts. From the terminology surrounding migrations to the biases ingrained in linguistic norms, let’s unravel the layers of a discourse that questions our shared humanity.

Blog:

Voyages of Discovery vs. Illegal Immigrants:

The journey from Europe to Africa is romanticized as a “voyage of discovery,” invoking images of exploration and curiosity. However, when the direction reverses, Africans moving to Europe are often labeled as “illegal immigrants,” laden with connotations of criminality and transgression. Here lies the first thread in the fabric of linguistic bias.

Refugees vs. Tourists:

A group of Africans seeking refuge in Europe is termed “refugees,” underscoring their dire circumstances and the humanitarian need for assistance. Contrastingly, a group of Europeans in Africa engaging in leisurely pursuits is benignly dubbed “tourists,” emphasizing their privilege and choice of exploration. Language subtly influences our perception of their circumstances.

Poachers vs. Hunters:

Venture into the bush, and the terminology takes a stark turn. Africans in the same environment are branded as “poachers,” echoing criminality and environmental harm. On the other hand, Europeans engaged in similar activities are adorned with the more benign term “hunters,” implying a connection to nature and tradition.

Foreigners vs. Expats:

Black individuals working abroad are often relegated to the label of “foreigners,” emphasizing their perceived distance from the norm. In contrast, white individuals in similar positions are graciously titled “expats,” conveying a sense of expertise and cultural exchange. The contrast raises questions about the power dynamics embedded in language.

The Language of Intelligence:

One of the most poignant observations centers on language proficiency. When individuals from various countries struggle with English, Africans often face stigmatization, being labeled as unintelligent, illiterate, or even dumb. This reveals a deep-seated bias, where English proficiency becomes a misguided measure of intelligence, perpetuating a harmful narrative.

Breaking the Chains of Mental Slavery:

The blog concludes with a powerful call to action. It challenges the normalized prejudices woven into our language, urging Africans to reclaim their narrative. Embracing native languages and rejecting the imposition of foreign linguistic norms is posited as a path to breaking free from mental oppression.

Conclusion:

In this nuanced examination of language, perception, and identity, we confront the biases embedded in our linguistic choices. The blog invites readers to reflect on the impact of language on our understanding of the world, urging a collective effort to dismantle stereotypes and foster a more inclusive, enlightened discourse.

#AfricanNarrative #LanguageMatters #CulturalPerceptions #MigrationDiscourse #LinguisticBiases #BreakingChains #Inclusivity #GlobalConversations #AfricanLanguages #ColonialLegacy #HumanityShared

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Muslim Lands: Where Are Your Jews?

“I declare a Holy War, my Moslem brothers! Murder the Jews! Murder them all!" ⁃ Haj Amin al-Husayni, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Chairman of AHC

We are all aware of the growing anti-Semitism in Europe, but we fail to address the persecution of Jews at the hands of the Muslims. From ancient times the Arab world has sought to remove the existence of Jews, thus it is understandable that the Jews desired a nation of their own to escape from the hands of the Muslims.

Many anti-semitic massacres have been carried out by the Muslims for centuries:

– Year 627- In Medina, Saudi Arabia Muhammed beheads 900 Jewish males
– Year 628- In Khaybar, Saudi Arabia, 93 Jews are killed
– Year 1013- The Jews of Cordoba are slaughtered when Sulayman ibn al-Hakam attacks
– Year 1033- A Muslim leader conquers Morocco’s former capital city Fez and massacres about 6,000 Jews
– Year 1066- A Muslim mob stormed Grenada in Spain and slaughters 4,000 Jews
– Year 1090- Again in Grenada 2,000 Jews are slaughtered in another massacre
– Year 1146- The Almohads conquer Tiemcen in Algeria and slaughter any Jew that doesn’t convert to Islam
– Year 1146-The Almohads take Sijilmasa in Morocco and slaughter 150 Jews who refuse to convert
– Year 1146- The Almohads capture the Moroccan cities Fez and Marrakech and slaughter over 100,000 Jews
– Year 1232- The Jews are allowed to return to Marrakech, but this enrages local Muslims who slaughter all of them
– Year 1247- Jews were again offered Islam or death in Meknes, many were massacred
– Year 1275- Moors massacre 40 Jews in Fez
– Year 1290- The Jews of Baghdad in Iraq are massacred
– Year 1465- The entire Jewish community of Fez is massacred
– Year 1492- Abd al-Karim al-Meghili orders the destruction of Touat synagogues and massacres many Jews
– Year 1518- Ottomans rape and massacre Jews in Hebron, Israel
– Year 1736- The Jews of Algiers in Algeria are massacred
– Year 1776- The Jews of Basra in Iraq are massacred
– Year 1785- Ali Gurzi Pasha murders hundreds of Jews in Tripoli, Libya who refuse to convert to Islam
– Year 1790- Sultan Yazid orders the murder and rape of dozens of Jews in Tetuan, Morocco
– Year 1805- Muslims massacre 500 Jews in Algiers, Algeria
– Year 1815- Muslims burn 8 Jews at the stake in Algiers
– Year 1828- The Jewish community of Baghdad in Iraq are massacred
– Year 1830- The Jews of Algiers are massacred
– Year 1830- The throats of 400 Jews are slashed in Tabriz, Iran
– Year 1834- Half of the Israeli city of Safed were Jewish, but the city was subject to a vicious massacre in which Muslims raped, murdered and expelled the Jews
– Year 1839- In Mashad, Iran 36 Jews were murdered and 7 young girls kidnapped and forced to become Muslim brides
– Year 1864-1880- There are continuous pogroms against the Jews of Marrakech
– Year 1867- In Barfurush, Iran 22 Jews were murdered, with women and children being kidnapped and forced to become Muslim brides
– Year 1903- 60 Jews were slaughtered in Settat and Taza, Morocco
– Year 1907- 30 Jews were slaughtered in Casablanca, Morocco
– Year 1910- 12 Jews were slaughtered in Shiraz, Iran
– Year 1912- 42 Jews were slaughtered in Fez, Morroco
– Year 1925- Numerous Jews were massacred in Damascus, Syria
– Year 1934- In Constantinople, Algeria 34 Jews were butchered
– Year 1941- Inspired by Nazi Germany, the Muslims of Baghdad massacre 750 Jews
– Year 1945- The Tripolitania pogrom in Libya leaves 140 Jews dead
– Year 1947- 75 Jews dead after the Aleppo massacre
– Year 1947- Muslim mob slaughtered 82 Jews in Aden

This is by no means a thorough and comprehensive list of anti-semitic massacres carried out by Muslims- there were many other gruesome killings that took place. To date, over one million Jews have fled to Israel from Muslim lands.

At the UN Human Rights Council, March 20, 2017, many Muslim countries had much to say against Israel:

Palestinians- “Israel has used the worst kind of abuse, ethnic cleansing and imposing a regime of apartheid…”
Qatar- “Israel continues to exercise apartheid in Palestine which constitutes a crime against humanity.”

Sudan- “Violence and Terrorism are being exercised against the Palestinian people…”
Syria- “Violations include building apartheid walls to legitimize the theft of land and to Judaize Jerusalem…”

Bahrain- “Separation wall is an example of the apartheid policy practiced by Israel…”
Saudi Arabia- “Israel’s practices of discrimination and extremism…”

When Hillel Neuer of UN Watch took the floor to respond, he effectively silenced the U.N.: “Egypt, Iraq and the others, how many Jews live in your countries? How many Jews lived in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco? Once upon a time, the Middle East was full of Jews. Algeria had 140, 000 Jews- Algeria, where are your Jews? Egypt used to have 75, 000 Jews- where are your Jews? Syria, you had tens of thousands of Jews- where are your Jews? Iraq, you had over 135, 000 Jews- where are your Jews? Mr. President, where is the real apartheid? Why is there a U.N. Commission on the Middle East that does not include Israel? From the 1960s and the 70s, they refuse to include Israel. Where is the apartheid, Mr. President?…”

The wall that they speak of is the Israeli West Bank barrier. It is a separation barrier in the West Bank or along the Green Line. Israel says it is a security barrier against terrorism, while the Palestinians call it a racial or apartheid wall. Being South African and knowing all about apartheid (seeing as how the term originated here), I do not see that wall as an expression of apartheid. This regime was inflicted upon the people of color to remove them from areas that the Afrikaaners deemed worthy for white people alone- it was not done for security purposes. Israel, on the other hand, is trying to protect its people. Is it wrong for Israel to protect itself against those who seek its annihilation?

Recently, Hamas leaders in Gaza have offered a long-term ceasefire to Israel, which would lead to a green light for large-scale infrastructure projects and a prisoner exchange. The only reason why they are more open to discussing such a cease-fire is that they are in dire and unprecedented strategic distress. This does not sit well with me. Back in 2012, a top Hamas official, Sheik Akhmad Bahr, called for the annihilation of Jews and American alike in a sermon broadcast on Hamas’s Al-Aqsa TV. He even prayed “Oh, Allah, destroy the Jews and their supporters,” and “the Americans and their supporters.” With such a deep-seated hate for Jews, I cannot help but think that this is a strategy on their part to fool Israel into dropping their offenses and attack them at a more opportune time. People such as this would not hesitate to use any opportunity to get rid of Jews.

At the end of the day, GOD has continued to protect His people. During 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict, an Iron Dome commander explained that a missile was fired from Gaza, which could have killed hundreds of Israeli civilians. The commander said, “We know where the missiles are going to land down to a radius of 200 metres. We fired two interceptor rockets. They both missed. This is very rare. I was in shock. At this point we had just four seconds until the missile lands. We had already notified emergency services to converge on the target location and had warned of a mass-casualty incident. Suddenly, Iron Dome (which calculates wind speeds among other things) shows a major wind coming from the east, a strong wind that… sends the missile into the sea. We were all stunned. I stood up and shouted, ‘There is a GOD!’ I witnessed this miracle with my own eyes. I saw the hand of GOD send that missile into the sea. If that Hamas strike had succeeded, it would have been the worst terrorist attack in Israel’s history.”

Also, Col. Ofer Winter, commander of the Givati Infantry Brigade, described a mysterious fog that favorably covered him and his troops as they advanced on an enemy position in morning light after their nighttime raid was postponed. Winter labeled the covering as “clouds of glory.”When most of the modern world is against Israel, we, as Christians, must continue to support Israel.

Resources: Europe’s Rising Anti-Semitism Forces Jews to Leave or Hide

 

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Europe’s Rising Anti-Semitism Forces Jews to Leave or Hide

Study: Europe's Rising Anti-Semitism Forces Jews To Leave Or Hide

The rise of violent anti-Semitism in Europe has made Jews justifiably concerned about their personal safety. In 2017, a study authored by Dr. Johannes Due Enstad of the Center for Research on Extremism was released, providing the public with a methodological and comprehensive report that dissected the growth of Europe’s anti-Semitism problem.

The study spans the years 2005-2015 with seven countries being analyzed. The countries include France, the U.K., Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Russia. Due to a direct consequence of violent anti-Semitism, one in five Jews in Sweden and the U.K., one in four in Germany, and half of the Jews in France have considered emigrating. In 2015, many Jews took action and about 10,000 Western European Jews left Europe for a better life in Israel, the largest number leaving the continent since 1948. What was interesting was that the period measured did not show an upward or downward trend level of anti-Semitism. When compared with data from the 1990s, there is a consistently elevated level of anti-Semitism.

It seems that French Jews are more likely to have personally experienced a violent attack during the last five years of the study. The Swedish and German Jews are not far behind in their experience of personal attacks, but the largest gap in anti-Semitism lies between British Jews and Jews living in Norway, Denmark and Russia.

Out of all the European Jews mentioned, it is those living in France and Sweden that are less likely to attend Jewish events or even visit Jewish sites because they do not feel safe. More than half of them will avoid wearing, carrying or displaying anything that would reveal their identity as Jews. Although this behavior is not reported to be at the same levels in Germany and the U.K., nevertheless a growing number of Jews in those countries also tend to avoid doing things in public that would label them as Jewish out of fear for their safety.

French Jews have more of a reason to be fearful for their lives as France has experienced more violent, dramatic and fatal anti-Semitic incidents than any other European country. In 2012, three Jewish children and a rabbi were murdered in Toulouse. Mohammed Merah, a 23-year-old al-Qaeda terrorist, had carried out the Toulouse attack, stating that he wanted to kill the Jews because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Fearing for the lives of the Jewish people in France, the head of the Jewish community of Marseille cautioned his fellow community members not to appear in public in any way that would identify them as Jews.

The main people responsible for these attacks are of Muslim background. These attacks are on the increase due to certain trigger events happening in the Middle East. What has been surprisingly dumbfounding is German authorities refusing to classify anti-Israeli incidents as anti-Semitism. Germany should know better, especially with their history.

The only country where the perpetrators were not necessarily of Muslim background, was Russia. In Russia, the Jewish and Muslim populations are separated by a vast expanse of land, with most Jews living in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, and most Muslims living in the Eurasian Caucasus region.

As refugees continue to make their way into Europe due to the war in the Middle East, anti-Semitic attacks are rising. On the 14th of May, 2018, The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv was moved to Jerusalem, sparking outrage among the Palestinians. This move coincides with the 70th anniversary of Israel as a state- a prophecy from the Bible that came to pass in 1948. We, as Christians, need to open our eyes to the world events taking place. It is alarming that there are so few people today, especially in the Church, who recognize how important the modern state of Israel is in GOD’S plan. GOD has predicted many times in Scripture that the sons and daughters of Israel would return to the land of Israel just before Jesus would come again. What more do you need to convince yourself that our LORD and Saviour is on His way?

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Why Followers of Jesus Should Care About Fair Trade

A year ago, I was actively involved in the oppression and enslavement of men, women, and children around the world. Every day, decisions that I made and money I mindlessly spent supported evil businessman that used people in desperate situations to get rich. And I had no idea.

One fall afternoon I was looking for something to watch on Netflix and began streaming the film  The True Cost. What I saw over the next hour and a half incited feelings of nausea, devastation, and rage. And the way I view clothes has not been the same ever since.

The film gives an overview of the fashion industry, and how the majority of clothes around the world are produced. They interviewed actual factory workers who told of their experiences. One woman’s story, in particular, chilled me to the bone. She told of how she tried to unionize for fairer pay, as most garment workers make roughly $2 per day. Due to her request, she and her coworkers were locked in a room, beaten, struck with scissors, and forced to continue working. As she told her story, choking back tears, she cried, “I don’t want people to wear clothes that were made with our blood.”

This is a normal occurrence around the world in garment factories and cotton farms. Children are forced out of school to pick cotton in brutal conditions. People are forced to work in dangerous conditions for little to no money.  

On the other side of the globe, we are fueling this horrible industry. We buy clothes as a hobby, and we never have enough. We trample people for the best Black Friday deals, as if the stuff we can buy is more important than the people around us, and the people making these items for us to purchase.  

Google “Rana Plaza Collapse”. Rana Plaza was a building that housed multiple garment factories in Bangladesh. The factory owners received several warnings about the structural integrity of the building, as large cracks in the building were discovered. Regardless, the garment factory bosses ordered their workers to continue coming to work.  It collapsed in 2013, killing 1,134 people and injuring thousands more.    Many companies were having clothes made in these factories, including J.C. Penney, Walmart, The Children’s Place, Primark, Zara, and more.  

Isaiah 1:17 says, “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”

Injustice and oppression are the driving forces of much of the clothing industry. Let’s refuse to turn a blind eye to this. Instead, let’s commit to seek justice and defend the oppressed. Here are a few steps that I have found helpful in this journey:

1.  Buy less.  How many clothes do you  actually  need? Most people around the world, outside of North America and Europe, have a minimal number of outfits if they have more than one. I’m not saying get rid of all your clothes and become a minimalist. But before you buy your fourth pair of black shoes or your seventh blue t-shirt, ask yourself, “Do I  really  need this?”

2.  Buy Fair-Trade.  Clothes that are certified Fair-Trade ensure that people are treated well. By buying these clothes, you can actually support the garment worker themselves, and allow them to continue their craft.

3.  Find a few companies that are committed to treating people well, and become a committed customer.  A few that I have started shopping at are Everlane, Krochet Kids International, Pact, and Oliberte.  

This may be all new for you, and you are processing the devastating reality of the clothing industry. If you are coming to grips with this reality, I encourage you to commit to the charge of Isaiah 1:17. Seek justice. Defend the oppressed.

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Hamilton Opens in London to Rave Reviews

Hamilton, An American Musical, at the Richard Rodgers Theatre

Hamilton is no longer just an American sensation. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash hit Broadway Musical opened last week in London, at the Historical Victoria Palace Theatre.   The musical has been met with five-star reviews from the London media, crossing a cultural boundary with little resistance.

Manuel didn’t sense much difference from the audiences across the Atlantic.

“I was here for all of tech (rehearsals) and I was here for the first few previews, and the audience is exactly like New York,” he said.

Miranda believes that making the jump to London would make Alexander Hamilton smile. “Alexander Hamilton had so much admiration for Britain and Europe but never left US soil. So to have his story on the stage here in London, well – I think he would be very proud.”

The overwhelming response of London wasn’t a slam dunk.   Some wondered if a story about the Founding Fathers of America, fighting for their independence from Britain would resonate as deeply with London crowds.   But the London success points to the reality that this story resonates with audiences, even across national and cultural boundaries.

Matt Trueman writes in his Variety review, “Hamilton is going to be just fine here in London”¦Reviewing it feels like sizing up the Mona Lisa or Beethoven’s Fifth and, in truth, Hamilton lands on the London stage looking every inch the classic.”

He closes his review with the thought that “it is Hamilton’s story that stirs.”

Hamilton’s story does indeed stir something powerful in us, a point I make in my upcoming book, God, and Hamilton: Spiritual Themes From The Life of Alexander Hamilton & the Broadway Musical He Inspired.

One universal reason this musical stirs audiences so deeply is that Hamilton’s story is a deeply spiritual one.   His story intersects with our lives across a number of significant spiritual themes.

His story is a story of grace, as his entire life in America was made possible by a generous financial gift by someone who saw great potential in him.   His story is a story of shame, as he never quite escaped the stigma from being an illegitimate orphan.   His story is a story of forgiveness, as his wife Eliza wrestled through forgiving Alexander for betraying her in the worst possible way.   His story is a story of redemption, as the musical ends with Eliza singing about the orphanage she built out of love for her late husband.

This story stirs us because it is a spiritual story.   It stirs us because it is our story.   We too live our lives built on the foundation of grace.   We too struggle mightily with shame from our failures and shortcomings.   We too must give and receive forgiveness for all the mistakes we make in our lives.   Hopefully, our story is one of redemption, where God takes all the broken pieces of our lives and makes them beautiful.

The story Hamilton tells stirs audiences, no matter the culture, the nationality, the race.   It does so because it tells a deeply spiritual story, one that intersects with our lives, and has the power to transform our lives if we let it.

Even, apparently, across the great expanse of the Atlantic Ocean.

God and Hamilton

My  upcoming book: God and Hamilton is available June 2018 on Amazon.com, (www.godandhamilton.com).

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BPS World Research Highlights Challenges Facing Employers in 2017 Following Brexit

Global resourcing specialist BPS World has warned that one of the main challenges facing employers in the UK in 2017 will be the impact of Brexit on the ability to attract talent, particularly in the high-value digital, technical and engineering industries where recruiters are already struggling with severe skills shortages. This follows the publication by BPS World, of: “Brexit: What the World is Saying” which, for the first time, researched the global impact of Brexit and how other countries believe it will impact on skills.  

Simon Conington, Founder of BPS World, has urged the government to ensure that the UK continues to have access to skilled professional from Europe, particularly in the sectors where there are already skills shortages, or face a sharp decline in the UK’s ability to compete.

Although the UK will not be leaving the EU until 2019 we can expect an announcement this year on the shape of Brexit and what it will mean in practice.   Under so-called ‘hard-Brexit’ freedom of movement would be restricted and it would be as difficult for talent to be recruited from France as from the US. It is this that alarms those at the sharp end of skills shortages, such as BPS World. Recruits themselves are already showing signs of being aware of these new competitive forces: research revealed that almost half (48 per cent) of UK jobseekers were more concerned about finding a job than before the referendum.

Last year BPS World spoke to business leaders, representative bodies and professionals in the recruitment and retention sectors in Europe, India, Australia and the USA. The research focussed on the sectors most affected by skills shortages in the UK and overseas. It is in these sectors that the impact of Brexit and any restrictions or changes to work permits, is likely to be most keenly felt.

One of those they spoke to was Marco Dadomo, from the Verein Deutscher Ingenieure (VDI, Association of German Engineers) in Düsseldorf: “As we know, Britain has already problems finding enough specialists in this sector. Brexit will make it less attractive for international experts to work in Britain for a British company. We have also heard that quite a lot of UK experts of different sectors plan to leave Britain when Brexit will be implemented.”

Simon Conington, Founder of BPS World argued;

“2017 is going to be a pivotal year for the UK economy. The decisions the government makes now on the implementation of Brexit will affect our ability to attract the talent we need to grow. The impact will be felt immediately as talent will not come to the UK if they know they will have to leave within two years.   We urge the government to continue to ensure we have access to skilled people, particularly in sectors where we’re already struggling to find the talent we need.”

Kevin Green, Chief Executive of the REC welcomed the report:

“This review of the international community’s fears and needs following the EU referendum contains warnings about the challenges employers could face in the future. The prospect of skill and talent shortages intensifying in higher-end sectors is a huge concern. The government must ensure that any changes to immigration policy as a result of the EU negotiations reflect immediate labour market needs so that businesses can continue to grow.”

Brexit: What the World is Saying is available free to download from www.bps-world.com

Notes to Editors

BPS World are global resourcing experts who work across a number of sectors, specialising in technology, marketing and engineering.

For further information:

Julia Barton
Onyx
E: julia@onyxcomms.com
T: + 44 20 7048 2700

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The Brexit Vote Is Set to Cause a Second Revolution in the City of London, But What Would Jesus Do?  

London Mayor Boris Johnson has said £1.3tn of investment is needed over the next 35 years in order for London to retain its world class status

On the morning of June 24, the world awoke to a changed Europe. For over 40 years Britain has been part of the European Economic Community and then the European Union.

The leave-vote has caused an “immediate and profound” economic shock in the UK. This  has, in turn,  had a devastating effect on a number of businesses in the last month.

Christianity in the UK is split, confused, scared of the future and fighting with itself – much like the rest of the country. So what happens now?

David Cameron said “It Was A “Self-Destruct Option” for the Country, Whilst George Osborne Said It Will Tip the UK Into a Year-Long Recession, With up to 820,000 Jobs Lost Within Two Years.”

Brexit campaigners believe that British voters have taken a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restore Britain’s sovereignty. However, the Brexit job losses have already begun.  A number of construction firms and management consultants throughout England have been forced to downscale and many feel as if they are desperately clinging on, waiting for things to get better.  Tech companies are also putting projects on hold, which means a slowdown in hiring of software developers, IT architects, and project managers, according to Robert Grimsey, director of Harvey Nash.

If your Facebook feed looks anything like mine, you’re seeing a lot of anger. Remain voters are furious, accusing the Leave campaign of lies and the Leave voters of xenophobia, ignorance, stupidity and worse.  Of course, it’s not just the people who voted to stay who are angry. Reports of racist attacks are rising too.

What would Jesus do?  

Jesus might have been the Prince of Peace, but he also knew how to get mad. His outbursts against corruption, hypocrisy and bad leadership are hair-raising. We’ve heard a lot of arguments from the UK’s political parties this month, but no one has actually made a whip and driven their opponents out of the House of Commons (so far, anyway).

The people of Britain voted for Brexit in a decision which will transform this nation and Europe forever.

As a former consultant, I want to consider how management consultants, in particular, can continue to not just survive but thrive in these difficult financial times.

At first glance, the prognosis might seem gloomy. The International Monetary Fund has  predicted  that Brexit will lead to a British recession, which would inevitably hit poorer people hardest. But snap reactions from the markets aren’t a reliable guide to long-term economic effect. And just as British trade didn’t begin  in 1973 when Britain entered the EU, it won’t end in 2016 with Britain’s vote to leave. Many smaller nations trade successfully without participating in wider trading blocs; the world’s fifth-biggest economy will be able to do the same.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,  for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and  dignified in every way.  (1 Tim. 2:1,  2)

1. Embrace the Change and Innovate

There is ongoing uncertainty over what will happen once Britain leaves the EU because it needs to make new  trade agreements  with the rest of the world.

The secret to success in a recession is innovation. It’s time to improvise, adapt and overcome.  In fact, in a study by Forrester, 70% of business executives said that in a recession, innovation is a top priority.  However, to successfully innovate, companies  have to be open to the idea of change – and that’s why the success stories of the recession are the innovators who are open to change.

This is the best time to change, but how?  If you find yourself desperately treading water in an attempt to keep staff occupied in the wake of stalled projects, don’t panic. You will have to make some changes, improvise, adapt and seek out the advantages to overcome. It really is a sink or swim mentality.

2. A Long-Term View of  the Financial Game

Successful companies look for ways to reduce costs creatively.  Start by reviewing your financial model. Review  existing contracts and seek to add value and expand.  If your biding on a 3-year contract, do you really need to make a profit in year 1. Wouldn’t it make sense to take a long-term commercial view and instead seek to win a contract at cost in order to  retain talent  as recruiting new  employees  is so expensive? You can then concentrate your efforts on  developing  strong client relationships, building trust, performing well and adding value.    Pay much more attention to critical components of your client’s operations activities that may often appear to be mundane.    This will  invariability enable you to make further recommendations that are approved and generate profit in future years.

“In the Corporate World, There Is a Growing Recognition That Strong Relationships With Customers Can Form the Bedrock of Future Innovation.”

Consider though that whilst it is a knee-jerk reaction to cut costs, try not to rely on this as your only business tactic as  your competitors will be doing exactly the same thing.  The way to succeed in the current  market is to be a leader, not a follower, so ensure you have a carefully prepared game plan.

Look at what makes your propositions unique? What do you offer that no one else can? How do you add real value to your customers, rather than just a half-price bid? Focus on what your competitors aren’t offering, and vigorously market it.

3. Be Clever With Your Marketing

Your marketing strategy is more important than ever before – Think creatively and find different ways to grab people’s attention and keep them coming back for more.

4. Leading With Clarity and Commitment

Don’t lie to employees and hide the magnitude of the situation. Honesty is the best policy. Business functional leads at these firms should establish concrete milestones to gauge progress toward clear goals. You can inspire employees not only with motivational messages, but also through incentives such as wage hikes, and investment in developing talent. This approach is as crucial as improving processes and deploying new technology. Though this may sound like a platitude, management must treat employees with respect and dignity if they want exceptional  performance and occasional sacrifice during tough times.

5. Embrace the Power of Online

Social media is an incredibly powerful tool through which to reach your target audience. You should  start to unlock the power of blogging, building a solid readership and becoming a thought leader in your industry using websites like LinkedIn. As your readership continues to grow, so will your social media following – and by communicating frequently with your followers and potential customers online, you have more chance of drumming up more business and closing that deal. As the economy improves, your loyal followers will stay with you.

These five  practices are of equal value for  organisations to remain competitive in the long slow climb toward economic recovery.

Although times are very tough for organisations recently, there is light at the end of the tunnel – and those who have been clever and innovative in their business strategies will continue to thrive long after the Brexit recession.

Britain will almost certainly have a new Prime Minister  and their first job will be forming our new relationship with Europe.

Learning from the lessons of 2014, UK churches also have a crucial role to play following the EU referendum vote. But it is about more than a church service of unity. Reconciliation requires accepting the hurt and the pain but also working to rediscover and celebrate the image of God in each other.

 

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Europe’s Biggest Stadium Will Be Even Bigger Within Five Years at a Reported Cost of Nearly ┚¬420 Million

 

A Japanese architecture firm Nikken Sekkei and Barcelona studio Pascual i Ausió Arquitectes have been selected to renovate the  Camp Noustadium, home of FC Barcelona following a joint bid.

Europe’s Biggest Stadium Will Be Even Bigger Within Five Years at Reported Cost of Nearly ┚¬420 Million ($460 Million)

Camp Nou, often referred to as the “Nou Camp” in English is a football stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It has been the home of FC Barcelona since its completion in 1957. With a current seating capacity of 99,354  and  is the largest stadium in Spain by capacity. It’s also the largest stadium in Europe and the second largest association football stadium in the world in terms of capacity. In additional it  has hosted numerous international matches at a senior level, including a 1982 FIFA World Cup semi-final match, two UEFA Champions League finals and the football competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Barca is expected to sell the stadium’s naming rights to help fund the new construction.

Nikken Sekkei,  one  the world’s third largest architecture firm according to the World Architecture 2016,   is  known for its construction of stadiums and skyscrapers  and  were  chosen out of a list of 26 candidates. Nikken  is over 100 years old and has offices in China, Vietnam, Korea, Saudi Arabia and Dubai, in addition to its headquarters in Japan.

Construction is  to start  in the 2017-18 season and be completed for the 2021-2022 season, but  will not keep the club from hosting games.

The iconic home of the Spanish and European champions will involve increasing  seating capacity from 99,354 to 105,000.  The reigning European and Spanish champions promise that every seat will offer an unobstructed view of the pitch and new high-definition video scoreboards.  Barca is on course to repeat its treble of last season, winning the La Liga title, Spanish Cup and European Champions League.

A Statement on the Club’s Website Said, “the Nikken Sekkei [and] Pascual I Ausio Arquitectes Proposal Stands out for Being Open, Elegant, Serene, Timeless Mediterranean and Democratic.

“The proposal presents a very subtle attempt to intervene in the environment to facilitate circulation and achieve diverse urban usage in the Barça Campus and guarantees a clear and safe construction.” according to the club.

The new roof will measure more than 47,000 square meters and the stadium will have an emphasis on energy saving technology and environmental sustainability.

The triple-tier structure will remain, but the third tier will be extended and a roof covering more than 47,000 square metres will be added to make sure all seats are sheltered from the weather.

The project also includes an ice rink, basketball court and an auxiliary multipurpose court capable of hosting 2,000 spectators.  The Espai Barça also foresees construction of an underground parking lot.

Other current high-profile football stadium projects include the new Chelsea FC ground by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, a stadium for Tottenham Hotspur by Populous, and Arup’s design for AC Milan’s new building.

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Professor Pavel Matousek – Laser Man

Using micro-SORS for non-destructive analysis of painted layers in Art

Professor Pavel Matousek – Laser Man
Professor Pavel Matousek – Laser Man

Professor Pavel Matousek, a Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Senior Fellow and Chief Scientific Officer of Cobalt Light Systems Ltd, has pioneered revolutionary techniques for analysing the chemical composition of materials and co-founded a highly successful spin-out company. He has helped develop and commercialize award-winning laser technologies that detect liquid explosives at airports, rapidly check the quality of pharmaceutical products, and that may one day non-invasively diagnose breast cancer. Pavel states:

“I Am Very Excited about What I Do and Driven to Answer Questions in Front of Me, Unravel Complex Problems and Deliver Something Useful to Society.”

STFC science writer James Doherty meets the Laser Man.

Pavel, what first got you interested in physics?

I became fascinated by the stars and Universe while growing up in the Czech Republic. I joined an astronomy society at secondary school and it became clear I wanted to study physics. I got very interested in laser physics during my MSc at the Czech Technical University in Prague. It is a very dynamic field.

When did you arrive at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL)?

I joined as a research associate in 1991, and went on to complete my PhD in ultra-fast Raman Spectroscopy at RAL, awarded by the Czech Technical University. I’ve been here almost 25 years to the day.

So what is Raman Spectroscopy?

It is a technique that involves shining a laser beam at the surface of a material, and then observing the colour of light scattered from the point of illumination. This typically provides information about the chemical composition of the material’s surface. C.V. Raman observed the effect in 1928 and subsequently won a Nobel Prize.

You pioneered a technique called Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS): What is it and how does it differ from normal Raman Spectroscopy?

“We couldn’t have developed the SORS technique without the instrumentation and long term research continuity available at the Central Laser Facility at RAL”

SORS is a technique that we stumbled across in the Ultrafast Spectroscopy Laboratory (ULTRA) by chance. We had assumed that photons could only be detected at the illumination point but we were wrong. Some photons migrate sideways through the material then emerge adjacent to the illumination point. As these photons have interacted with molecules deeper inside the medium, they provide information about internal chemical make-up: SORS probes deeper into the material. And the further you move from the illumination point, the deeper you see into the medium. The process

involves large photon migration distances, often extending to several centimetres or more. This came as a big surprise.

“SORS involves probing at one location and detecting at another. Our minds, and those of others, were constrained by our perception of how the Raman Spectroscopy process worked but once we made this serendipitous discovery, we quickly realised it had potential major applications.”

What kind of applications?

“The Range of Potential Applications for Sors Is Staggering.”

Insight100 (Cobalt Lights Systems Ltd) scanner for noninvasive analysis of bottles at airports.
Using micro-SORS for non-destructive analysis of painted layers in Art

We immediately realised SORS could determine the chemical make-up of substances by non-destructive means. This could have applications in bio-medicine, chemistry, security, forensics, heritage, and beyond. But we first focused on pharmaceuticals, and developed novel ways for analysing the chemical make-up of manufactured drugs.

We swiftly filed 8 patents, which became the basis of our company Cobalt Light Systems.

Cobalt Light Systems is perhaps best known for its airport security scanners. Can you describe how these work and their impact to  passenger travel?

Security scanners represent the second generation of technology developed by Cobalt. To date there are around 400 operational units in 70 airports across Europe and Asia. They are used to scan traveller essentials, such as medicines or baby milk, and compare their chemical make-up to a database of potentially explosive substances. Suspicious substances are automatically identified and flagged. For example, the technology avoids passengers having to drink liquids (e.g. baby milk) in front security officer to prove they are not dangerous, which is clearly safer and more hygienic. It has also contributed to new legislation, and is expected to lead to a relaxation of the complete ban of taking liquids on board a plane in the future.

The scanners are currently the size of a microwave oven but right now we are launching a SORS handheld device. This should have further applications for first responder teams called to spillages of unknown substances and fire fighters attending chemical fires.

Pavel Matousek Pioneered a Technique Called  Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS)

How did STFC help with this process?

First off, we used instrumentation at STFC’s Central Laser Facility to demonstrate the basic capability to detect the SORS subsurface signal. Once we made the discovery in 2004, we worked closely with STFC’s Technology Transfer Office SIL (formerly CLIK) and Business and Innovations (BID) to develop, optimise and protect our ideas. There was a complex path to navigate from discovery, to optimising SORS, building a prototype, and ultimately to securing investment in 2008. BID/SIL coordinated the company at all levels and provided the support necessary to achieve this goal.

“My story illustrates the national and international importance of STFC. If its determination to deliver impact on science was absent, the chain from a fundamental discovery to Cobalt Light Systems’ product would have been broken. STFC responded appropriately at every stage. And this is just one example of how STFC contributes to the UK’s know-how economy.”

What are you working on currently?

I’m focused on developing novel non-invasive medical screening techniques, including diagnosing bone disease such as osteoporosis (jointly with STFC’s Prof Tony Parker and University College London’s Prof Allen Goodship), and I’m working with Professor Nicolas Stone of Exeter University on non-invasive breast cancer screening.

In addition, I’m collaborating with Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche in Italy to apply the SORS technology to objects of art on microscales. For example, we can scan different layers of paint to determine compositional information essential in restoration and preservation of artefacts.

How will the medical applications benefit patients?

Patient benefit could be enormous. Current diagnosis techniques for osteoporosis are around 60-70% accurate as they sense only mineral content. SORS on the other hand has a high specificity for mineral and collagen content – both of which determine bone strength – and so holds considerable promise for providing improved diagnostic accuracy. SORS could also be used to classify breast or prostate tumours as malignant or benign without needle biopsy. This would reduce patient stress and save medical provider costs.

However, medical problems are challenging as the human body is complex and variable. These applications are probably still 7-10 years away.

Why do you do this research?

This is where my passion and interest lies – I’m very excited about what I do.

“As You Push the Boundaries of Technology and Make New Discoveries, the End Goal Always Changes. This Is the Nice Thing about Science.”
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10 Proposed Infrastructure Projects for London to Retain Its World Class Status

London hasen’t reached the density of Hong Kong, but it’s certainly heading that way as the cities population continues to expand. The “London Infrastructure Plan 2050″ aims  to tackle the problem and outlines the spending needed for the capital to remain one of the world’s leading cities.

London Mayor  Boris Johnson Has Said £1.3tn of Investment Is Needed over the next 35 Years in Order for London to Retain Its World Class Status

“This plan is a real wake up call to the stark needs that face London over the next half century. Infrastructure underpins everything we do and we all use it every day. Without a long-term plan for investment and the political will to implement it this city will falter.”

London School of Economics Professor Tony Travers Said: “the London Infrastructure Plan Is a Necessary Step Towards Understanding the Needs of the ‘10 Million City’ Which London Will Soon Become.

Transport is the biggest focus of the  “London Infrastructure Plan 2050” as the  population hit 8.5 million in 2014 the largest it has been since 1939. By 2050 it is predicted to  exceed 11 million, growing at a rate of 41,000 a year.

Some infrastructure project proposals  are already in development, others may not be approved at all, however, these  are some transport developments suggested for London by 2050.

Bridge House, Croydon

1. Air con on the Tube,   £900m

It was find  in the beginning, in fact, conditions were so pleasant in 1906 that the city  proclaimed the underground ‘The coolest place in hot weather’. But that was before deep lines and millions of passengers.

Better Late than Never, London’s Tube Is Getting Air-con

In summer, temperatures on parts of the London Underground can become very uncomfortable due to its deep and poorly ventilated tube tunnels: temperatures as high as  116   °F were reported in the 2006 heat wave. New Tube trains, which allow better access for customers, are being rolled out on the Circle line as part of the introduction of 53 new trains on both the Hammersmith & City and Circle lines.  By the end of 2016 there will be a total of 191 walk-through, air-conditioned trains covering  40% of the Tube network running on the District,Circle, Metropolitan and  Hammersmith & City lines.

2.  Inner orbital tolled tunnel,   £15bn-25bn

Mayor sets out plan for 22-mile ring-road tunnel under London, which is considered by many to be one of the most ambitious infrastructure scheme ever proposed in the city.

The tunnel  will cost an estimated   £30 billion to construct and will remove tens of thousands of cars from the crowded streets of London and  avert traffic gridlock. With subterranean dual carriageways linking key routes, from the A40 Westway to the A12 in the east, and the A1 route north to the A2 running south.

London Major Boris Johnson, who commissioned work to develop the idea, believes it could dramatically improve quality of life for residents. He said: “I would love the views of Evening Standard readers on this. There are big arguments in favour.   There are obviously arguments against.”

Transport for London is working on the concept.

Transport for London
Transport for London has invited Alstom, Bombardier, CAF, Hitachi and Siemens to tender to supply 250 new trainsets for the London Underground
Transport for London has invited Alstom, Bombardier, CAF, Hitachi and Siemens to tender to supply 250 new trainsets for the London Underground
Transport for London

3.  Northern Line extension, £1bn

Works commenced  on London Underground’s £1bn Northern Line extensionfrom Kennington to Battersea via Nine Elms in the UK in 2015.

Tunnelling work is scheduled to start in early 2017 and will take six months to complete, while the project is expected to be completed in 2020.

The project will reduce journey times to the West End and the city to less than 15min.

4.  Cycle Super Highways,   £2bn- £4bn

London’s New Superhighway Linking East and West London Will Open on 30 April, Says the Capital’s Mayor Boris Johnson

The route, which links Barking, Canary Wharf and Tower Hill to Westminster, will open less than a week before his term is set to end.

Chris Boardman, the former Olympic champion and  policy advisor to British Cycling, said: “This YouGov poll shows us, yet again, that the vast majority of the public want to see more cycle tracks on main roads.

“If this kind of evidence isn’t enough to give politicians and transport authorities the confidence to act, I don’t know what is.”

Last month, Boris Johnson pressed ahead with plans for three cycle superhighways.

5.  Bakerloo and Overground extensions,   £2.5bn-3.5bn

The extension of the Bakerloo line could help regenerate South East London from Old Kent Road to Catford, improve routes into London and relieve congestion on the main rail services into London Bridge.

6. Crossrail 2  and 3,   £23bn- £30bn

TRANSPORT chiefs say it is “full steam ahead” for Crossrail 2 after the Government made an £80million pledge towards the project – but it will be months before passengers find out if a station will be built at Balham or Tooting.

Construction work is due to begin on the rail link in the early 2020s, which would enable the service to be operational by 2033.

7. New Stations, £500m and  24/7 Night Tube service

New stations at Cricklewood, Beam Park in Rainham and Thames Wharf could be built to support redevelopment in these areas.  It has also been claimed that night services on the Piccadilly, Central, and Northern Lines are then due to start in September, with all major lines being served by the weekend night tube by September 23.

8. Another channel tunnel,   £1bn

The “London Infrastructure Plan 2050″ suggests an additional cross-channel rail tunnel would provide high speed links from the UK to the rest of Europe for passengers and freight.

9. 13 new crossings in London,   £1-2bn

The  vision for east London includes 13  proposed new river crossings include  Gallions-Thamesmead, Belvedere-Rainham, Woolwich- Royal Docks to replace the Woolwich Ferry, as well as the Silvertown tunnel.

Boris Johnson states “By creating more links between the north and south of the river, we won’t just improve day-to-day travelling across the capital, we’ll unlock areas for development and create thousands of jobs and homes.

  • Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf: Pedestrian and cycle bridge (feasibility).
  • North Greenwich to the Isle of Dogs: a passenger ferry linking North Greenwich and the Isle of Dogs (Blackwall) (conceptual).
  • Silvertown tunnel: Twin bore tunnel connecting Silvertown on the north side to the Blackwall Tunnel Approach on the south side (preparation).
  • Charlton: a passenger ferry crossing linking the Royal Docks and Charlton Riverside (conceptual).
  • Crossrail: New rail line linking Woolwich with Custom House and onward to Canary Wharf, central London and Heathrow Airport (construction).
  • Gallions Reach: Multi-modal crossing linking Thamesmead with Beckton along a safeguarded alignment (consultation).
  • Belvedere: Multi-modal crossing connecting Belvedere with Rainham (consultation)
  • Barking Riverside to Thamesmead: London Overground tunnel extension from Barking Riverside to Thamesmead (conceptual).
  • Lower Thames Crossing: New road crossing linking Essex and Kent (progressing).
  • Diamond Jubilee: Pedestrian and cycle bridge linking Fulham with Battersea (planning permission granted).
  • Crossrail 2: New railway line connecting Hertfordshire and Surrey via central London and providing a new cross river link between Victoria and Clapham Junction (consultation).
  • Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea: Pedestrian and cycle bridge (feasibility).
  • Garden Bridge: New pedestrian crossing linking the South Bank to Temple station (planning permission granted).

Thames Estuary Airport

10. Thames Estuary airport,  18bn-25bn

A new Thames Estuary Airport has been proposed at various times since the 1940s. Economic considerations have ruled out a new coastal airport, while political considerations have ruled out a new inland airport,  leaving planners with an as-yet-unresolved dilemma.

‘Bizarre proposal’ states  Rehman Chisthti, MP for Gillingham and Rainham  “The airport in the estuary was not the right thing do so we all worked together to oppose it. It’s really good news and we’re really pleased that common sense has prevailed.”

However,Boris Johnson refloats idea of Thames Estuary airport 18 months after it was rejected by Airports Commission. Mr Johnson believes a hub in the east of the capital would offer around double the number of long haul and domestic routes served by Heathrow while exposing 95 per cent fewer people to significant aircraft noise.

‘Grain isn’t the answer’ states  Rodney Chamber, Leader of Medway Council  “We have said all along that it should never have even been considered as it would have resulted in the mass destruction of habitat and wildlife that could never be replaced.”

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How To Deliver On The Promise of MegaProjects

Due to the large scale and outlook attached to them, mega-projects have a large opportunity for failure. Typically, the failure begins at the outset of the project, whether that be due to poor justification for the project, misalignment among stakeholders, insufficient planning, or inability to find and use appropriate capabilities.

Underestimated costs and overestimated benefits often offset the baseline for assessing overall project performance. This is why it is important for organizations to first establish social and economic priorities before even considering what projects will answer their needs. Once social and economic priorities are established, only then can a project be considered. Selecting projects must be fact-based and transparent in order to ensure accountability with stakeholders and the public.

Successful Megaprojects Must Have Robust Risk-analysis or Risk-management Protocols

It’s also important to maintain adequate controls. Successful megaprojects must have robust risk-analysis or risk-management protocols and provide timely reports on progress relative to budgets and deadlines. Typically, progress is measured on the basis of cash flow, which is less than ideal as data could be out of date and payments to contractors do not correlate construction progress. Instead, project managers should deliver real-time data to measure activity in the field. For example, cubic meters of concrete poured relative to work plans and budgets.

construction-646914_1920

Overall, improving project performance requires better planning and preparation in three areas: doing engineering and risk analysis before construction, streamlining permitting and land acquisition, and building a project team with the appropriate mix of abilities.

Project developers and sponsors should put more focus into pre-planning such as engineering and risk analysis before the construction phase. Unfortunately, most organizations and sponsors are reluctant to spend a significant amount of money on early-stage planning because they often lack the necessary funds, they are eager to break ground and they worry the design will be modified after construction is underway, making up-front designs pointless.

However, it’s proven that if developers spend three to five percent of capital cost on early-stage engineering and design, results are far better in terms of delivering the project on-time and on-budget. This is because through the design process, challenges will be addressed and resolved before they occur during the construction phase, saving both time and money.

It’s not unusual for permits and approvals to take longer than the building of a megaproject. However, if developers look to streamline permitting and land acquisition, that would significantly improve project performance. Best practices in issuing permits involve prioritizing projects, defining clear roles and responsibilities and establishing deadlines.

smoke-258786_1920

In England and Wales, developers applied these approaches to cut the time needed to approve power-industry infrastructure from 12 months to only nine months. On average, timelines for approval spanned four years throughout the rest of Europe. Likewise, the state of Virginia’s plan to widen Interstate 495 in 2012 was able to cut costs and save hundreds of homes thanks to land acquisition planning by a private design company.

Investors and Owners Must Take an Active Role in Creating the Project Team

When it’s all said and done, projects cannot deliver the best possible return on investment without a well-resourced and qualified network of project managers, advisers and controllers. Investors and owners must take an active role in creating the project team.

It’s not enough to have a vague overview of what the project might look like in the end. Instead, it’s necessary to review risks and costs and draft a detailed, practical approach to tackle various issues. An experienced project manager cannot do it all alone. The project team must include individuals with the appropriate skills, such as legal and technical expertise, contract management, project reporting, stakeholder management, and government and community relations among others.

Failure to Properly Plan for These Projects Could Have a Negative Impact on Society

While mega-projects are important in filling economic and social needs, failure to properly plan for these projects could have a negative impact on society.  Take  Centro Financiero Confinanzas (Venezuela), the eighth tallest building in Latin America at 45 stories, located in the financial district of Venezuela’s capital, Caracas for example.

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To those unaware of its history, the Centro Financiero Confinanzas is actually home to over 700 families, a “vertical slum” that is a truly fascinating example of reappropriation of space in an urban environment. An ironic symbol of financial failure that was intended to represent the unstoppable march of Venezuela’s booming economy.

It’s much more than an unbuilt building, bridge or tunnel, failed mega-projects are a blow to the economic growth and social improvements of communities around the world.

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Top 6 Most Impressive Megaprojects of 2015

Megaprojects  are crucial to the future of most cities, states, and individual livelihoods,  however, they also  attract a lot of public attention because of the substantial impacts they have on  communities,  environments, and government budgets.  The objective of these projects is to unlock higher growth paths for the economy, as such, they require care in the project development process to reduce any possible  optimism bias  and  strategic misrepresentation.

The problem is that these projects often go off the rails, either with regard to budget, time or both.

The risks associated with MegaProjects,  those costing 1 billion or more,  are well documented. In one influential study, Bent Flyvbjerg, an expert in project management at Oxford’s business school, estimated that nine out of ten go over budget.

The first factor is that the size of a MegaProject  can be so large and unique that it is difficult to model the costs and logistics. Another factor is that MegaProjects  are backed by governments which are not typically known for their success in budgeting or efficiency.

 

In today’s post, we’ve identified  the Top 6  most impressive MegaProjects of 2015. These MegaProjects  will transcend time and continue to bestow wonder upon new generations.

1. Mall of the World, Dubai

Mall of the World in Dubai was announced in July 2014, location in Al Sufouh district, along Sheikh Zayed Road, different from Mohammed bin Rashid City.
Mall of the World in Dubai was announced in July 2014, location in Al Sufouh district, along Sheikh Zayed Road, different from Mohammed bin Rashid City.

Dubai  has a very ambitious project on its hands.  Dubai’s Mall of the World will have its very own Oxford Street and Broadway. It will also have galleons and waterfalls.  However, the most challenging part of this project is that the area will be covered by a giant retractable roof during the summer months and be climate-controlled creating the world’s first temperature controlled city.

Dubai Mall of the World Set to Put Uae Retail ’20 Years Ahead’ of Gulf Region

Launched with a fanfare by the emirate’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, it is the first state-sponsored mega-project to emerge from Dubai since the pre-crash bubble. After years of stalled projects  the big plans are back and they are more ambitious than ever before.

It is thought the huge construction will attract 180 million visitors a year and developers hope it will secure Dubai’s futures as a tourism hub.

2.  Mall of America, Minnesota

Mall of America, Minnesota
Mall of America, Minnesota

 

Mall of America, Minnesota
Mall of America, Minnesota

The  Mall of America  (MoA) is a gigantic  shopping mall  owned by the  Triple Five Group  and is by far the largest mall in the United States. However, the $325 million expansion of the nation’s largest shopping center is now underway. The project consists of a luxury 342-room hotel, an office tower and more than 50 shops and restaurants. Some 1,000 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase of the project, and 2,500 permanent jobs from retail, hotel and office operations.

The  Triple Five Group, owned by Canada’s  Ghermezian family, owns and manages the Mall of America, as well as the  West Edmonton Mall. MoA  is located in  Bloomington,  Minnesota  (a suburb of the  Twin Cities).

3. Zurich North America, Chicago, IL

Rendering of Zurich North America’s new headquarters in the northwest suburbs of Chicago
Rendering of Zurich North America’s new headquarters in the northwest suburbs of Chicago

Rendering of Zurich North America’s new headquarters in the northwest suburbs of Chicago
Rendering of Zurich North America’s new headquarters in the northwest suburbs of Chicago

The $333 million site is currently  under construction and will be the largest build-to-suit office project in Chicago. Zurich a north america insurance company headquarters includes a 735,000 square foot building rising to 11 stories at its tallest, shaped something like the letter A resting on its side.

Zurich looked at a multitude of factors and in the end made the decision that investing in a new state of the art regional headquarters would be the right choice. The project  is due to be completed  late summer of 2016.

4. Dubai World Central Airport

Al Maktoum International Airport
Al Maktoum International Airport

Al Maktoum International Airport
Al Maktoum International Airport

This massive  $32 billion structure sent its first commercial jet into the air in late October  2013.  The project isn’t scheduled for full completion until 2027  and is  expected to become the world’s busiest airport,  however,  with plenty of other contenders quickly taking shape in Asia and the Middle East, it’s has  stiff competition.

Dubai World Central Airport is  expected  to shuttle 160 million passengers through Dubai every year  making it the busiest airport on earth.

5. Bao’an International Terminal 3

Bao’an International Terminal 3
Bao’an International Terminal 3

Bao’an International Terminal 3
Bao’an International Terminal 3

Bao’an plays a pivotal role in the Pearl River Delta: It serves both Shenzhen and Hong Kong, via a connecting ferry. Terminal 3 is an expansion project designed by the Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas. The centrepiece of the expansion is a new runway, which is built on a 108,000-foot piece of land reclaimed from the River Delta.

6. Crossrail  

CROSSRAIL
Crossrail, London England

Crossrail tunnelling began in 2012 and ended at Farringdon, London in May with the break through of tunnelling machine Victoria. Eight 1,000 tonne tunnelling machines bored 26 miles or 42 km of new 6.2m diameter rail tunnels under London.

London is the fastest growing capital city in Europe and today it is home to 8.6 million people with the population expected to reach 10 million by 2030. TfL’s work is critical to supporting the continued growth and regeneration of London.

As we reflect upon these impressive feats by mankind, we can only imagine  what the next big wonder will  be. Is it the secretive Nicaragua canal? Could it be Elon Musk’s proposed  Hyperloop  concept? Or perhaps it will be a  new state of the art high speed train developed by China, USA or the UK?

Did we miss one?  Please let us know by  commenting below.

 

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