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Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens > Blog > global citizens
Ban Ki-moon Global Citizen Scholars 2020 – Closing Ceremony
On December 15, 2020, the Ban Ki-moon Global Citizen Scholarship Program 2020’s Closing Ceremony took place. The BKMC, together with RELX & University of Bordeaux awarded, six extraordinary African Global Citizen Scholars – Akosua Pepra, Oduor Kevin, Hikmat Baba Dua, Tafadzwa Sachikonye, Barbara Nakijoba, and Ruvimbo Samanga – for successfully completing the scholarship program and implementing outstanding SDG Micro-Projects in their communities.
The Ceremony was opened by Co-chair Ban Ki-moon, who greeted participants in a video statement and welcomed the scholars to the alumni family of the BKMC, expressing support and gratitude for the scholars’ contributions to the Agenda 2030: More than ever the world needs young leaders like yourselves. It makes me proud that you have chosen to be ambassadors of global citizenship and that we can consider you as a valued member of the BKMC family.
Márcia Balisciano, Global Head of Corporate Responsibility at RELX Group and a valued member of the BKMC Board, also addressed the audience. Márcia Balisciano expressed RELX’s enthusiasm for funding the Ban Ki-moon Global Citizen Scholarship Program 2020 while sharing exciting news, “We are thrilled to have participated in this program and we would like to announce that we would like to fund this program again next year.”
BKMC CEO Monika Froehler also congratulated the scholars and emphasized the impact they have created with their projects: This is exactly what a global citizen mindset is about: global citizen values and 21st-century skills. We are honored that we had the chance to have worked with you.
The University of Bordeaux, represented by Vice President for External Relations Stéphanie Debette, shared her words of congratulations and also positive feedback from professors at the university who mentored the scholars during their SDG Micro-project implementation.
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentations by our GC scholars where they shared the impact they have created in their communities.
To improve the livelihoods of widows and orphans involved in farming, GC Scholar Akosua Pepra developed the SDG Micro-Project “Climate Resilient Agriculture for Widows and Orphans in Rural Communities in Ghana” (SDGs 1, 2, 5 and 13).
Barbara Nakijoba, deeply passionate about youth empowerment, conceptualized the “Youth take the lead” in the Rugaba Division in Uganda to create a more peaceful society by reducing crime by 2021 (SDG 16).
Action4Periods by Hikmat Baba Dua, created a safe space for 60 women and girls in rural communities in Mbanaailiy (Ghana) by engaging elders, women and girls to discuss the stigma of menstrual hygiene and produced 60-70 reusable pads, improving access to menstrual products (SDG 3, 4, 5 and 13).
GC scholar Oduor Kevin founded INFO4FOOD, as he realized that food waste was dumped on the roads by vendors contributing to environmental degradation. With his project he prevented post-harvest losses, reaching 87 households in Kenya.
Ruvimbo Samanga’s project Agrispace, helps farmers in Zimbabwe gather missing agricultural data by using satellite technology to monitor agricultural productivity, leading to more sustainable and climate-resilient practices. The program can map different agricultural zones providing soil data, weather soil analysis, and monitoring crop health and irrigation, allowing farmers to have better time and yield tools for crops. Agrispace contributes to many SDGs, particularly SDG 2 for “zero hunger” and target 2.1.2 for “food insecurity”.
Tafadzwa Sachikonye raised public and private awareness for improved urban wastewater system in Zimbabwe with her project Waterclix for sustainable urban water systems in Zimbabwe (SDG 6 and also 3, 5, 13).
In the last part of the evening, Program Officer Julia Zimmerman awarded the scholars with their certificate of achievement, and Co-chair Heinz Fischer offered closing remarks, commending all GC scholars 2020 on their efforts, “You showed resilience, passion and transformed challenges into opportunities.”
We want to congratulate all of our GC scholars 2020! We are immensely proud of the results of your hard work and look forward to seeing what you do next! Additionally, we want to thank our partners RELX Group and the University of Bordeaux again for their wonderful support and collaboration for the program this year!
Turning challenges into opportunities – Global Citizen Scholars engage in inspiring talk with Arrey Obenson, CEO of Transformunity
Last week, our current Global Citizen Scholars and Alumni from the program had the chance to attend an expert workshop with Arrey Obenson, CEO of Transformunity. Transformunity is a consulting company that tackles the opportunities of organizations, drawing on expertise in movement building and citizens engagement to accelerate positive change and sustainable development for a better future.
Based on his experiences from the past 20 years, Arrey shared his personal theory of change, kicking off the workshop with an inspiring speech on how we can choose between two roles when we approach challenges: spectator or actor. He emphasized that only one role will lead to finding solutions and living a prosperous life.
“I choose to be an actor rather than a spectator. I see life as a stage where we have a choice to be in the audience cheering others on or can use the opportunity to play a role”.
During the workshop, Arrey prepared a thought-provoking exercise for our scholars and alumni and asked them to write down what challenges they saw standing in the way of their success. Afterwards he asked them to determine opportunities within those challenges.
We all know how incredibly challenging this year has been, as our realities were significantly altered by the global pandemic Covid-19. But as Arrey and our global citizen scholars discussed, the crisis has also brought with it many opportunities, including new ways of learning through increased access to online education globally as well as opportunities for international cooperation and gatherings without burdening our resources, both in the financial sense as well as the environmental sense. These are just a few of the opportunities that were shared.
Instead of focusing on challenges alone, Arrey advocated looking at the possible opportunities and solutions. Arrey exemplified Africa as a case where challenges often overshadow the opportunities in the global dialogue. However, he sees so many opportunities! To Arrey, it is a “land of a billion opportunities”, vastly rich in 1.2 billion human resources.
Moreover, he illustrated how his theory has proven successful in his own work. After the outbreak of Covid-19 in Cameroon, Transformunity organized a massive education campaign on health and wellness: “Covid-19 was the challenge, but the opportunity was to build resilience in Cameroonian communities against infectious diseases”.
To conclude his presentation, Arrey encouraged everyone to turn every challenge into an opportunity.
Following the workshop, the scholars had the chance for peer-to-peer exchange with the alumni of the scholarship program who joined the call. After a round of introductions, the scholars were sorted into breakout rooms to connect and network.
At the end of the breakout room rotations, Program Officer Julia, thanked the scholars for their participation and shared ways for them to stay in contact!
We are very excited to celebrate the closing of this year’s scholarship program on December 15th! Stay tuned for information for how you can join the virtual event and watch our scholars present their SDG Micro-Projects!
Second Expert Workshop with our Global Citizen Scholars!
“Start small, start with something and have trust that it will grow.”
Zoe Kelland
This week, our Global Citizen Scholars had the opportunity to attend their 2nd Expert Workshop hosted by the BKMC featuring Zoe Kelland, Digital Campaigns Director at Global Citizen.
During the workshop, Zoe shared her experiences working with both Global Citizen and her own NGO Nakuru Children’s Project in Kenya and offered advice on how to scale a movement. She also had the opportunity to hear from each scholar about their own SDG Micro-Project for their communities.
During her presentation, Zoe shared some background information about Global Citizen, including their mission and the tools they use to activate over 4 million global citizens around the world.
Zoe also highlighted the organization’s tremendous impact over its’s 10-years of existence.
Additionally, to illustrate the way that Global Citizen works, Zoe exemplified a case-study in Sub-Saharan Africa where 1 in 10 girls miss school during their menstrual cycles. In 2018, Global Citizen organized a massive music festival in Johannesburg, South Africa in honor of Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday. In the lead-up to the festival, Global Citizens sent 86,000 emails and 22,000 tweets to the South African Government demanding removal of the tax on sanitary products, funding for adequate sanitation in schools, and the provision of quality menstrual hygiene education for boys and girls. As a result, President Ramaphosa appeared on the stage during the festival and committed to taking action to provide sanitary products to girls with vulnerable backgrounds across the country.
Zoe also shared a bit about her NGO Nakuru Children’s Project in Kenya. Nakuru works in partnership with government schools to support vulnerable children through every stage of their education: providing free school meals; building classrooms; paying their school fees; and establishing extra support for children with special needs.
Since its founding over 10 years ago, Nakuru Children’s Project has directly impacted an estimated 2,000 children — through providing 330,000 free school meals; sponsoring 148 kids through secondary school; building 20 classrooms and other facilities; and creating a special needs unit where 42 children now learn.
To conclude her presentation, Zoe offered her advice for how to scale a movement:
Find a gap in the Market
Make it accessible
Tap into influencers
Use the power of storytelling
Start small and it will grow
To learn more about Global Citizen visit: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/
To learn more about Nakuru Children’s project: https://www.nakuruchildrensproject.org.uk/
The second BKMC x UNESCO APCEIU collaborative online course is now available on GCED Online Campus!
Today on February 21st, 2020, the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens is pleased to officially launch its second collaborative online course with UNESCO APCEIU on GCED Online Campus. Those who are interested in learning about the issues surrounding gender equality and how to effectively tackle the issues and contribute to empowering women and girls are cordially invited to take the course. This course provides global citizens an opportunity to learn from global leaders, experts and advocates from across sectors: international organizations, universities, NGOs, governments, and corporations. While our first course introduced the overall concept of global citizenship and the SDGs, our second course focuses on the topics of gender equality and women’s empowerment with a combination of the series of lectures by renowned international experts on concepts, theories and thematic areas, interviews with scholars, UN representatives, change makers, case presentations of innovative approaches and practices by global citizens all around the world. Understanding the 5th SDG – the multifaceted issues around it and the efforts put forth worldwide to achieve it – is the foundation for this course. Particularly, the course aims to examine and critically reflect on the revolving issues around both gender equality and women’s empowerment with sustainable development by providing a platform where learners can virtually meet and learn from one another. It brings a critical eye to gender inequality and how it is addressed in the field of sustainable development. Learners will be able to deepen their understanding of gender equality and women’s empowerment, exchange and embrace different perspectives, and challenge their own assumptions. The course invites those who see themselves as global citizens as well as who aspire to assume active roles in bringing meaningful changes to oneself and so the society they are in. “Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: A Pathways to Sustainable Development” is comprised of five modules: (1) Introduction to Gender Equality and Women’s Rights (2) Gender Equality in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (3) Women’s Empowerment (4) Critical Issues on Gender Equality (5) Plan for Action Paving the Way to Equality After completing all courses, students will received a Certificate issued by UNESCO APCEIU and the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens. Requirements for the completion are as followed: 1) Watch all lectures / videos 2) Participate in Form / Discussion 3) Take a quiz 4) Final Assignment 5) Course Evaluation Please invite those around you, who see themselves as global citizens as well as who aspire to assume active roles in bringing meaningful changes to oneself and to global society! Register HERE.
Co-chair Ban Ki-moon’s acceptance speech for Sunhak Peace Prize
Speech by Co-chair Ban Ki-moon
Sunhak Peace Prize
Thank you for your warm introduction.
Dr. Hak Ja Han, Universal Peace Federation Founder,
Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation Members,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my great privilege to stand before you this evening and humbly accept the 2020 Sunhak Peace Prize.
I’m incredibly grateful for this esteemed honor, and it is quite meaningful to follow in the footsteps of the previous luminary awardees you have bestowed this honor upon.
My special recognition goes to Dr. Hak Ja Han for her visionary patronage of this award, as well as for her longtime advocacy efforts in support of world peace, global citizenship, and sustainable development issues.
I also take this opportunity to commend the impressive work and forward-thinking vision of the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation.
The critical efforts by the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation are essential as we collectively strive to expand essential understanding, cooperation, and tolerance on the road to world peace and global sustainability.
In this connection, I simply couldn’t be more proud to receive this award intended to further the ideals of such a pioneering individual who so firmly believed in the importance of peace, human development, coexistence, and environmental protection.
My deepest gratitude goes to the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation Members for this very special honor.
Our world is changing and this is bringing many new challenges and uncertainties to the geopolitical and economic order.
Multilateral cooperation is viewed with increasing skepticism just as the world needs it the most. Human rights are under threat as nationalism spreads. Development and humanitarian funds are being slashed.
And our climate crisis is deepening as wildfires burn, sea levels rise higher, and temperatures continue to surge.
Under this backdrop of instability and waning internationalism, I firmly believe that we must work together through expanded partnerships and cooperation, as well a driving commitment to global citizenship, to cope with these seemingly insurmountable challenges.
During my ten-year tenure as United Nations Secretary-General, I strived to execute my leadership duties by leveraging the power of partnerships and promoting the spirit of global citizenship.
This was critical in bringing the entire world together to agree to the UN’s 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the Paris Climate Agreement.
These were two of my biggest achievements leading the UN as they provide humanity, and our planet, with a collaborative blueprint to ensure the future we want.
And global partnerships, including the active participation of nonprofit organizations, civil society groups, religious organizations, philanthropists, and other key stakeholders like you, are necessary if we are to deliver on the United Nations’ development and climate commitments.
But to establish long-term solutions, achieve world peace, and save our rapidly warming planet, we need inclusive and participatory action from all global citizens.
This includes, especially, young people, as they are absolutely essential to solving so many of the world’s challenges such as achieving the SDGs, tackling climate change, and building peace and resolving conflicts.
As such, I’ve been trying my best to help elevate global citizenship as a driving vision for young, transformative leaders to help us forge a more peaceful and sustainable world.
In this regard, two years ago I launched the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, based in Vienna, Austria to help provide young people and women with a greater say in their own destiny, as well as a greater stake in their own dignity.
The actions we take in the next ten years will be critical to ensure the future viability of both humanity and our planet. So we must work hard to illuminate true peace.
What type of peace? I am reminded of the words of President John F. Kennedy who said, “I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and hope and build a better life for their children …not merely peace in our time, but peace for all time.”
In 2020, the year of the rat, and beyond, we all share a common destiny grounded in sustainability, peace, and prosperity. Let’s expand our unified efforts to realize this shared destiny for all global citizens in the years to come.
I thank you for your attention and this great honor.
Co-chair Ban Ki-moon gives a special lecture at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
“Nature is sending us a strong warning: we must listen to its voice. Nature does not negotiate; it does not wait for us. Unless we work together as one, we will never be able to fight climate change.” – Co-chair Ban Ki-moon
On January 31, Co-chair Ban Ki-moon gave a special lecture on the topic of “Addressing Climate Change and Air Pollution in Asia-Pacific” as a part of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)’s Distinguished Person Lecture Series. The special lecture was opened with UN ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Alisjahbana’s opening remark.
“In Asia-Pacific, it is our historic opportunity to consider how we can be a solution-provider, raise ambition and take transformative action in response to the climate crisis.”
In his lecture, Co-chair Ban Ki-moon expressed his concerns on the gravity of climate change. To warn that we are running out to time, he referenced the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s report, which reported that we are left with only 12 years to make a massive and unprecedented change to mitigate the consequences of global temperature rise to its moderate levels. Moving on, Co-chair Ban underscored the deadly health hazards resulted from air pollution as a global challenge. He said,
“There is clear evidence that links particulate matters to various illnesses such as respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and even cancer.”
He also referred to the findings of the World Health Organization (WHO) that 92% of the Asia-Pacific population – roughly 4 billion people – are already exposed to high levels of air pollution. He noted how these two serious matters are linked together and are like two sides of the same coin. He said,
“Not only they share similar emission sources, but they also influence and exacerbate each other.”
Despite the complexity of these issues, Co-chair Ban showed a sense of optimism.
“Fortunately, the close link between the two challenges means that collective action can maximize impact effectiveness. The intertwined nature of the two challenges also means that effective action cannot be pursued separately. Joint action is an absolute must.”
During his speech, Co-chair Ban commended the efforts and actions taken by the UN ESCAP in adopting the resolution on ‘strengthening regional cooperation to tackle air pollution challenges in Asia and the Pacific’. Moreover, he spoke highly of Italy for taking the first step in making climate change mandatory in early education, and said,
“Last year, we witnessed the power of a single young person. After hearing Greta Thunberg, I’m emphasizing quality education on environment for young people. When they are educated, they will be equipped with leadership and ready to take action.”
As he concluded his lecture, Co-chair Ban said,
“This decade will be the final decade where we can turn the tide against the irreversible destruction of our climate. If we miss that deadline, ALL of us will meet the consequences. A ‘me versus you’ mentality has no meaning in climate action. Remember, that it should be ‘us versus climate change’.”
Watch the full lecture Source Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future © UN ESCAP
Co-chair Ban Ki-moon’s speech during opening session of PMAC 2020
Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) 2020
Your Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Your Royal Highness Princess Dina Mired, Prince Mahidol Award Laureates, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am honoured to speak to you today at the opening ceremony of the Prince Mahidol Awards Conference, which has become one of the most important events on the global health calendar. This conference has had a profound impact in shaping the global health agenda – most notably through initiating and spearheading the campaign for Universal Health Coverage. Leading health activists and policy makers have been championing UHC at PMAC for almost a decade now and your collective efforts helped ensure that UHC was incorporated into the Sustainable Development Goals. I congratulate you all for this tremendous achievement. This year, PMAC is taking place at a time of acute public concern about the global health risks posed by the corona virus in China, which has already spread to other countries and continents. As with SARS and avian flu, this epidemic highlights the critical importance of achieving UHC through resilient health systems that can protect all citizens, regardless of income or background. The WHO has just declared corona virus to be a global health emergency. The way to overcome the corona virus is through countries working together in a spirit of solidarity and coordination. This is the same spirit that informs the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, of which UHC forms an integral element. Ladies and gentlemen, today I am speaking to you as the Deputy Chair of The Elders. The Elders believe that the best way to achieve the health SDG is though UHC, where everybody receives the quality health services they need, without suffering financial hardship. By 2030, there should be no one dying needlessly from preventable diseases; no one should be left behind. That is the philosophical motto of the SDGs. Three times over the last decade, all countries have committed themselves to achieving UHC at the United Nations –most recently at the High-Level Meeting on UHC in September 2019. At this, dozens of heads of state said that they would ensure that their countries reach UHC by 2030 and made bold announcements about the health reforms they will implement to achieve this goal. But if we are being honest, we have to acknowledge that since the signing of the SDGs, progress towards UHC has been inadequate and uneven. The latest WHO and World Bank UHC Monitoring Report shows that although health service coverage has been improving, levels of out-of-pocket health spending have been rising, meaning that more people are being impoverished because of health costs. This shows that governments are not meeting their obligations to finance UHC properly – too much of the burden is falling on households. This not only undermines achieving UHC, it is also a threat to global health security, because out-of-pocket-spending on medicines is one of the main drivers of anti-microbial resistance. High private health spending also inhibits progress towards other SDGs including eliminating poverty, reducing inequality and achieving gender equality. Women and their children often suffer most when health services are underfunded, as they have higher healthcare needs but often lower access to financial resources to pay for services themselves. This is why, when implementing UHC reforms, countries must prioritize delivering the health services women and children need most and provide them free at the point of delivery. With the clock ticking to the SDG deadline in 2030, it is therefore appropriate that the theme of this year’s PMAC is “Accelerating Progress Towards UHC”. To achieve this target, many countries will require massive investments in their health systems and radical changes in policies to improve access to care for the poor and vulnerable. The good news is that, by learning from UHC success stories from around the world, including Thailand, we know what works and what doesn’t. Take for example the tricky issue of how to finance UHC. As my fellow Elder, Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway and former Director-General of the WHO, highlighted at the United Nations High-Level Meeting in September: there was a time when some development agencies and Western countries used to discourage higher government spending on health and instead promoted private voluntary financing like user fees and private insurance. But thankfully across the world political leaders, and the heads of international financial institutions and lenders, have now listened to the needs of their people. They have rejected these failed policies and instead switched to a health financing system dominated by public financing – either through general taxation or compulsory social health insurance. This is the only way to ensure that healthy, wealthy members of society subsidize services for the sick and the poor, so that nobody gets left behind. As Dr. Brundtland said in New York:
“If there is one lesson the world has learned, it is that you can only reach UHC through public financing.”
Therefore one of the simplest ways we can hold political leaders to account in reaching UHC is tracking how much public financing they allocate and disburse to their health systems. Transitioning from a health system dominated by private out-of-pocket financing to one mostly financed by public financing has become one of the defining steps in achieving UHC. It’s a transition my own country, the Republic of Korea, made in 1977 and was also seen as the key step to bringing UHC to the United Kingdom in 1948 and Japan in 1961. And of course one of the most celebrated and impressive transitions to publicly financed UHC happened right here in Thailand in 2002, with the launch of the Universal Coverage scheme. It’s worth remembering that this was implemented in the immediate aftermath of the Asian Financial Crisis, when the World Bank advice was that Thailand couldn’t afford to increase public health spending to cover everyone. But as my good friend and former World Bank President, Jim Kim, said at the World Health Assembly in 2013, the Thai Government wisely ignored this advice and in one year injected around half a percent of GDP in tax financing into its health system. In the process, the country swiftly moved from around 70% coverage to almost full population coverage – a shining example of how to accelerate progress towards UHC. In fact, during my time as Secretary-General, I have introduced this story every time we talk about public health and UHC. What Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Japan, the UK and many other countries have also shown is that UHC reforms are so effective and so popular, they can become part of a nation’s identity and prove resilient in the face of changes of government. So what are the implications for the theme of this year’s PMAC: accelerating progress towards UHC? On a global level, we need to prioritize helping countries that are still to make the transition to a universal publicly financed health system. Here our focus should be on countries with low levels of public health spending, often less than 1% of GDP, where up to three quarters of health spending is in the form of user fees. These countries need to double or triple their public spending on health over the next decade and prioritize funding a universal package of services, focusing on primary care services provided free at the point of delivery. These low-spending countries tend to be in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia but there are already shining examples of countries in these regions using public financing to extend health coverage – for example Sri Lanka in South Asia and Rwanda in Africa. Also, it is perfectly feasible to increase public spending on health this quickly, if there is political will, as shown by Thailand and China. This reinforces the point made by the WHO Director-General Dr Tedros that UHC is a political choice. Your Royal Highnesses, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, let me conclude. The focus of our UHC program at The Elders is to encourage political leaders to make this choice, by helping them appreciate the health, economic, societal and political benefits of achieving UHC. Some of my fellow Elders have spearheaded successful UHC reforms themselves, like former President Ricardo Lagos of Chile and former President Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico – so we are speaking from experience. In doing this we are very keen to work with you, the UHC community, to identify opportunities to promote UHC reforms at the highest level of government. We have already engaged with political leaders in Indonesia, India, South Africa, Tanzania and the United States to promote UHC and are always on the lookout for windows of opportunity to champion UHC to the next generation of global leaders. So if you feel political commitment to UHC is lacking in your country and we can be of assistance, do please let us know, as we want to play our part in accelerating UHC as a means to deliver the SDGs. UHC makes medical, economic, political and social sense. But as the founder of The Elders, Nelson Mandela, so powerfully stated:
“Health cannot be a question of income; it is a fundamental human right.”
At the start of a new decade which also marks the 30th anniversary of Mandela’s freedom from prison, let us commit to work together to realize his vision and make UHC a reality for all. Let us join our hands together to help make the world healthier and stronger Thank you. Source: The Elders
Op-Ed by Ban Ki-moon: “A new generation of global citizens gives hope to humanity”
Op-Ed by Ban Ki-moon, Special to Gulf News Published: January 25, 2020
I was recently in Dubai for a Model United Nations conference where students from across the United Arab Emirates gathered to participate in simulated sessions of the UN Security Council to address key issues that directly impact the world we live in. The title of the conference was ‘Challenges of Intervention in a Complex World’. Our world is complex, yes, and it faces unprecedented global challenges that require unprecedented global responses.
Maintaining peace is invariably challenging given there are always many sides to any issue. Conflicts and wars run the risk of becoming protracted, and dialogue often slows things down. When inflammatory words are used, angers flare and emotions go unchecked. The risks to humanity and the world as we know it must always be at the forefront of any decision. Dialogue, if used correctly, can play a crucial role. Agreements can be formed.
Take, for example, the 2016 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which was backed by more than 200 governments after a process of dialogue. Strong international support and unwavering commitment was reflected in the consensus of governments around the world that robust global cooperation — and action — was essential to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects.
Students’ leadership skills
In Dubai, I was hugely impressed by the young men and women I met. Their passion for the world and its future was clear to see as each sought to find realistic solutions to some of the biggest issues facing our planet. Finding solutions that are acceptable to a majority of representatives requires incredible skills of negotiation, conflict resolution and cooperation. I was interested to see what leadership skills these students would portray and if they would explore solutions that world governments, NGOs and others might not have thought of before.
What impressed me most was the way they looked at the issues from multiple viewpoints — a key trait that all United Nations members must have. In fact, these students, made up of more than 100 nationalities, were not unlike the United Nations itself. Many have lived outside their home countries for years, yet they maintain great pride in their heritage and have the upmost respect for the country in which they live as well as the wider Middle East region, which is no stranger to conflict. It made me think that these students are truly global citizens with a strong global vision. And this is what our world needs. They are receiving quality education that is preparing them to be future leaders, rooted in global citizenship. Their eyes are wide open to their surroundings and they respect the views of their peers.
Former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon addresses a Model United Nations conference in Dubai recently. Image Credit: Supplied
“The best advice I can give students, who could one day be our leaders, is to always consider each person’s point of view and find dialogue that takes everyone’s needs into consideration.” – Ban Ki-moon
As the conference got under way there were reports circulating of an escalating crisis between the US and Iran. Fortunately, the crisis is now de-escalating, and dialogue is the only way to resolve it going forward to ensure permanent solutions are found. Forging an international consensus, at the best of times, is not simple, and even harder when tension sets in.
The best advice I can give these students, who could one day be our leaders, is to always consider each person’s point of view and find dialogue that takes everyone’s needs into consideration. For that, they must be armed not with weapons or threats, but with two key traits — passion and compassion.
When I left the United Nations, I founded the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens based in Vienna along with Heinz Fischer, former president of Austria. The centre focuses on the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals for empowering women and youth. Gender equality and quality education are critically important for the future of our planet. The reason is that women make up half of the world’s population, while half of the world’s population is also under the age of 25. Yet, despite best efforts, in many developing countries, primary, secondary and tertiary education for girls remains a challenge. Currently 264 million children are not at school, and a majority of them are girls. The world is also home to the largest generation of youth ever, with 1.8 billion young people worldwide. Nearly 90 per cent of which live in developing countries. More than 70 million youth are currently unemployed, and around 40 per cent of the world’s active youth are either jobless or living in poverty — despite working. As we all know, unemployment breeds many problems, ranging from inequality and crime to terrorism.
It is up to us as individuals to go out into the world and work for the betterment of humankind. To be a global citizen and act with passion and compassion so we can make the world a safer and more sustainable place for generations to come.
The youth I encountered in Dubai gave me hope, and filled me with great pride, that together we can make a difference and drive change. A brighter future depends on global citizens like you.
— Ban Ki-moon is 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and Co-founder of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens.
Original source: https://gulfnews.com/opinion/op-eds/a-new-generation-of-global-citizens-gives-hope-to-humanity-1.69230614#
CEO Monika Froehler hosts a Panel at the 2020 RAUN Conference
2020 RAUN Conference kicked off in Vienna, Austria on January 15th. In cooperation with the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, University of Vienna, and the International Security and Conflict Analysis Network (iSCAN), this 2-day annual conference was hosted by the Regional Academy on the United Nations (RAUN). This year, the conference had the theme of “Environmental and Socioeconomic Sustainability: How to Create Lasting Impacts,” and was attended by BKMC CEO Monika Froehler and COO Katrin Harvey. Today, on the 2nd day of the conference, Froehler chaired a panel session on “Innovations for Sustainable Development.” During the session, two research groups actively presented their ideas and the research outcomes and raised critical questions, highlighting the importance of community engagement, needs assessment, clear communication, and courage.
CEO Monika Froehler said,
“RAUN research groups looked at sustainable development and innovation through the lens of cities and SMEs. One group explored best practices in Vienna, Hamburg, and Prague. The other explored SMEs in Vietnam and how the 4th Industrial Revolution impacts them.”
Learn more about RAUN 2020: http://ra-un.org/2020-raun-conference.html © RAUN
CEO Monika Froehler holds a meeting with Ambassador Prakash Kumar Suvedi of India
Yesterday, Ambassador Prakash Kumar Suvedi of the Embassy of Nepal to Austria visited the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens. In his meeting with CEO Monika Froehler, Ambassador Suvedi was briefed on the work of the Centre. Then they talked about the challenges and pressures existing in Nepal, including the climate issues, natural hazards and issues with a good number of qualified workers leaving the country. Ambassador Suvedi also introduced SAGARMATHA SAMBAAD, a permanent global dialogue forum initiated by the Government of Nepal.


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Given my passion for strategic thinking and problem-solving, it made sense that I go into strategy consulting, and I’ve been fortunate to spend the past 40 years focusing on the automotive industry. One of my greatest accomplishments at the firm has been establishing our team as a global leader in the automotive industry through thought leadership and speaking engagements in countries like Mexico, Japan, India, and Germany. I’m currently writing a book on how technology is shaping both automotive and manufacturing sectors. I like looking forward — and to me, a good strategy means one that’s applicable today, tomorrow, and 10 years from now.
Outside of work, my true passion lies with my family. The success of my wife and children motivates me every day, and it’s a personal goal of mine to help them reach theirs. I’m also involved in the community — I like to volunteer with my wife to support the South Oakland Shelter, and I’m associated with the Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, where I’m chairman of the board of trustees, and the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish, where I’m a finance committee member.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in industrial administration from Kettering University and an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia, Darden Graduate School of Business.
My mother is Japanese — she and my father met in Tokyo during the Korean War — and in December 2016, I was able to take her back to Japan to reunite her with her sisters after 31 years of separation. It was truly a joy to see them all together again!
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The Oxford Real Farming Conference celebrates its tenth year
Conferences and events Knowledge centre
by Ryan Johnson
2 January 2019, at 12:00am
UK - Taking place on 3-4 January 2019 in the Oxford Town Hall, the 2019 Oxford Real Farming Conference will be the biggest yet – with more sessions, more delegates and an additional venue
The conference is open to all who are interested in working towards a more sustainable food and agricultural system, from farmers and growers to scientists and policy-makers.
As always, the conference features sessions on a wide range of important themes, from practical management to in-depth policy debates. As well as showcasing new techniques for best practice in agroecological farming, there will be broader discussions on what must happen to create real, worthwhile change in our food system. Speakers will include pioneering organic farmer Eliot Coleman; Vivien Sansour, founder of the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library; and agroforestry expert, Steve Gabriel.
This year’s programme stands out with its timely discussions around key issues for the future of UK food and farming, including sessions on the Agriculture Bill and life after Brexit, a theme around public goods, including a debate on natural capital, and of course we don’t shy away from addressing controversial issues with a discussion about veganism and what constitutes a sustainable diet.
For practitioners there is a wealth of knowledge, with sessions exploring agroforestry, soil management, pasture regeneration, mulching, drought resilience, business advice and much more.
The conference delves into some hot topics, including honest food labelling, rewilding and problems of pollution, from chemicals to plastics. There’s also an emphasis around local food systems, with discussions on direct sales, box schemes, community supported agriculture as well as a session exploring how we can save local abattoirs.
And as always with ORFC we intersperse this with things not often covered by a farming conference! This year we’ve got singing, explorations of spirituality and empowering women.
Co-founder, Ruth West, said: “I’m looking forward to that moment when after all the preparation the doors finally open and the two days begin of debating, listening, learning; catching up on old friendships, making new ones. But while we celebrate our 10th and the growth in recognition and acceptance of the importance of ‘real’ farming aka agroecology, there’ll be a sombre note to proceedings as we prepare for the inevitable challenges the year ahead will bring.”
Conference Manager, Tom Simpson, said: “It has been exciting putting together this year’s programme and the demand for tickets shows that the issues we are exploring are hugely relevant to people, 10 years after the first ORFC – maybe more than ever. There is a good balance between sessions organised by those who have been with ORFC from the start and new faces; there really is something for everyone. The addition of St Aldate’s Church as a conference venue will mean that there is lots of space for the networking and chats that go on between sessions, which are just as important as the stuff in the programme.”
All tickets for ORFC 2019 are now sold out. The programme can be viewed here.
The ORFC would like to thank the following funders, sponsors and partner organisations, without whose support this event would not be possible: Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Riverford, Compassion in World Farming, Lush, A-Team Foundation, the Soil Association, Agricology, Cotswold Seeds, Triodos Bank, Landworkers’ Alliance, the Pasture-Fed Livestock Association and Sustain.
Editor at The Poultry Site
Ryan worked in conservation from 2008 to 2017, during which time he operated a rainbow trout hatchery and helped to maintain public and protected green spaces in Canada for the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. As editor of The Poultry Site, he now writes about challenges and opportunities in agriculture across the globe.


Justia Dockets & Filings Ninth Circuit California Eastern District O'Connor v. Lizarraga Filing 3
O'Connor v. Lizarraga
Filing 3
ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Michael J. Seng on 8/17/2017, CASE TRANSFERRRED to Sacramento Division. New Case Number 2:17-cv-01704-KJN. (Lundstrom, T)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 GLENN O’CONNOR, 12 1:17-cv-01101-MJS-(HC) Petitioner, 13 v. 14 ORDER TRANSFERRING CASE TO THE SACRAMENTO DIVISION OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA J. LIZARRAGA, 15 Respondent. 16 17 18 19 Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a habeas corpus action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ' 2254, together with a request to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ' 1915. 20 Venue for a habeas action is proper in either the district of confinement or the 21 district of conviction. 28 U.S.C. § 2241(d). It is preferable for petitions challenging a 22 conviction or sentence to be heard in the district of conviction and for petitions 23 challenging the manner in which the sentence is being executed to be heard in the 24 district of confinement. Dunne v. Henman, 875 F.2d 244, 249 (9th Cir. 1989). 25 Here, Petitioner is challenging the manner in which his sentence is being 26 executed as a result of prison disciplinary proceedings. Accordingly, it is preferable for 27 his challenge to be heard in the district of confinement. Petitioner is housed at Mule 28 1 1 Creek State Prison, located in Amador County, which is part of the Sacramento Division 2 of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. Therefore, the 3 petition should have been filed in the Sacramento Division. 4 Pursuant to Local Rule 120(f), a civil action which has not been commenced in 5 the proper court may, on the court’s own motion, be transferred to the proper court. 6 Therefore, this action will be transferred to the Sacramento Division. Good cause 7 appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 8 9 10 11 1. This action is transferred to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California sitting in Sacramento; and 2. All future filings shall reference the new Sacramento case number assigned and shall be filed at: United States District Court Eastern District of California 501 "I" Street, Suite 4-200 Sacramento, CA 95814 12 13 14 15 3. This court has not ruled on petitioner's request to proceed in forma pauperis. 16 17 18 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: August 17, 2017 /s/ 19 Michael J. Seng UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 2


Denver investigates license for guard arrested in shooting
DENVER (AP) — Denver officials were investigating Monday how an armed security guard for a television station who is suspected of fatally shooting a man following an altercation following opposing protests was able to work in the city without a license.
Matthew Dolloff, 30, was being held in jail for investigation of first-degree murder following Saturday afternoon’s shooting near Civic Center Park as protesters filed out of the park following the demonstrations — a “Patriot Muster” and a “BLM-Antifa Soup Drive” counterprotest. He has not been charged and no lawyer was listed as representing him in court records.
Under rules adopted by Denver in 2018, both security companies and the guards they employ must have city licenses. Guards must undergo 16 hours of training and an FBI background check to get a license and complete eight hours more training to renew their license each year, said Eric Escudero, a spokesman for the city’s Excise and Licenses Department. Guards that carry firearms must also be screened by police, he said.
Dolloff did not have a license at the time of the shooting and there is no record of him applying for one, Escudero said. Companies that employ guards without licenses can have their licenses suspended or revoked and face fines. Individual guards who do not have licenses can be punished with a $999 fine and up to one year in jail.
Dolloff did have a permit to carry a concealed weapon in Colorado issued by his local sheriff’s office but it was suspended Monday because of the allegations against him. Elbert County Sheriff Tim Norton said he will decide whether Dolloff will get the five-year permit back based on what happens in the criminal case.
According to state business records, Dolloff was listed as the registered agent for a farm that raises animals including turkeys, sheep and goats in Elizabeth, a town just beyond the Denver metro area. No one answered the phone at the farm on Monday and a message left for another person listed in business filings was not returned.
KUSA-TV said Sunday that it has been hiring private security to accompany its staff at protests for a number of months. It said Dolloff had been hired through the Pinkerton security company. However, in a statement, Pinkerton said Dolloff was a contractor, not a Pinkerton employee. The company did not reveal the name of the contract company Dolloff worked for.
“Pinkerton is fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities in their investigation of this matter,” it said.
Authorities have not identified the man who was killed, but his son told the Denver Post it was his father, Lee Keltner, a 49-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who operated a hat-making business in the Denver area.
“He wasn’t a part of any group,” Johnathon Keltner said of his father. “He was there to rally for the police department and he’d been down there before rallying for the police department.”
A man — appearing to be Keltner — slapped and sprayed Mace at a man who appeared to be Dolloff, the Post reported, based on its photographs from the scene.
Carol Keltner, who said she was the victim’s mother, wrote in a social media post that her son was shot in the head.
Police have said two guns and a Mace can were found at the crime scene.
Police declined on Monday to release any more details about what happened, including who the guns belonged too, because they do no want to harm their ongoing investigation, department spokesperson Jay Casillas said. The document laying out the reasons for Dolloff’s arrest has been sealed.
An organizer of the patriot demonstration, John Tiegen, said on Instagram on Sunday that it was not clear if the man who was killed attended the demonstration or was just nearby but he extended his condolences to his family.
“It’s tragic that Americans find themselves in danger just by coming together and showing support for their country,” he said.


A study investigating patient decision making in the light of 'evidence'
Prof T Newton
Department of Dental Public Health
18th Floor Guy's Tower
tim.newton@kcl.ac.uk
In this study we intend to determine, on what basis patients make decisions about whether or not to have dental treatment carried out, when faced with information from two sources. The aim of the study will be to identify the relative effects of research evidence and clinical evidence on patient decision making.
Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet
The study will take place in the waiting areas of King's College Dental Hospital. All participants will be asked to give their consent to participating in a study examining patient decision making about whether or not to have dental treatment carried out, when faced with information from two sources.
The experimental design will be a two-factor independent group design. The two factors will be the type of information given to patients, informed by the clinician's judgement and the research evidence. Each factor will have two levels: strong evidence for and strong evidence against. The participant will be randomly assigned to one of the four combinations of the two variables. Participants will be given a cover letter explaining the purpose of the study, demographic questions and a case vignette. The participants will be asked to complete the vignettes, making judgements and decisions about treatment and use of information given. Additionally participants' will be asked to rate their oral health using a standardised scale (Atchison and Dolan, 1990)
The scenario will be identical in each vignette. Each vignette will describe a visit to their dentist for treatment of a large hole in one of their back teeth. The nature and purpose of the visit will be identical in each vignette. The first paragraph will describe our study. The second paragraph will describe the context of the visit to the dentist. The next paragraph will describe the strength of research evidence available. The fourth paragraph will describe the dentist's clinical judgement of the possible outcome. The two factors will be manipulated to express two levels of each variable; the evidence strongly supports the intervention, the evidence strongly suggests no effect. The four vignettes will correspond with all four factorial combinations of the two factors. Participants will be asked to read their vignette. After reading their vignette they will be asked to indicate their decision about possible treatment based on the information they will have been given in the vignette and their confidence in the decision.
The vignettes were reviewed as a result of the Research Ethics Committee's comments given on 27th February 2004. In response to these comments, the vignettes were reviewed by three dentists and subsequent modifications were made to encompass the need for clinical reality.
The outcome variable will be the proportion of patients to undergo the treatment described in the vignette.
The outcome measures will be assessed by:
1. Patients' willingness to engage in treatment with the binary of unwilling/willing
2. Patients' confidence
No secondary outcome measures
1. Patients from the waiting areas of King's College Dental Hospital
2. Gave consent
Does not meet inclusion criteria
dhmail@doh.gsi.org.uk
http://www.dh.gov.uk/Home/fs/en
Kings College Hospital NHS Trust R&D Consortium (UK)
NHS R&D support funding (UK)
05/07/2016: No publications found, verifying study status with principal investigator.


On The Subject of Nick Castellanos’ Defense
By Neil Weinberg on July 28, 2014
The numbers don’t look good. Your eyes might disagree, but hold onto that thought for a moment. Let’s consider the data first and our perceptions second. Nick Castellanos was never heralded as a good defender at any time coming up through the system and he spent a year and a half playing the outfield prior to 2014, so the expectations weren’t terribly high. No one expected Castellanos to be Evan Longoria at third this year. The goal was simply to be better than what Cabrera over the last couple of years.
To date, by the numbers, this is the worst case scenario. Twenty eight third basemen have at least 500 innings at the position this year and Castellanos ranks last in DRS (-19), last in UZR (-10), second to last in UZR/150 (-17.4), and last in RZR (.611). No one is going to tell you that defensive statistics are perfect over the course of a half season, but when so many different methodologies line up like this, it’s probably safe to say that you’re not doing very well. We don’t have to say that Castellanos is terrible, but he’s definitely performed poorly during this 100 game sample.
But maybe you think these defensive stats are garbage. They’re not, but I’ll indulge you. Forget ball tracking and comparisons to average and all of the things that go into advanced metrics. Let’s go back to school on the most basic measure of defense. How well does Nick turn ground balls into outs? Let’s look at BABIP on ground balls to third.
Now the available data only allows us to grab Tigers’ 3B, so there are a few Cabrera and Kelly games mixed in, but Castellanos has played in close to 90% of the team’s games so this is a fine estimate.
To do this, I went to Baseball Savant and looked at ground balls toward third base and carved up the field by a few different cutoff points to make sure we had it right. The left field line is at -45 degrees and the second base bag is a 0 degrees, just to give you an idea. Let’s look at -45 to -25 degrees. This assumes that the 3B has about 45% of the left side of the infield.
BABIP on ground balls from -45 to -25 for the Tigers is .398, which is by far the worst in the league. Let’s try .-45 to -30 and ask that our 3B only covers 33% of the left side. That leaves the Tigers at .343, which is 29th in baseball. It’s also nice to see Cleveland in last because that’s who the other defensive stats look poorly upon. Finally, let’s go -45 to -35, which calls on Nick to cover just 22% of the field. Again the Tigers are last at .339.
You might think advanced defensive stats are still in beta testing, but there’s nothing advanced about looking at how well a player turns ground balls into outs. This is as basic as it gets and Castellanos is baseball’s worst third baseman in this department.
There are a couple of reasons to pump the breaks, however. First, Nick just spent 18 months playing a different position. It’s possible that he just doesn’t have his bearings back. When you think about it, that’s totally fair. You shouldn’t expect him to pick the position right back up, meaning that even if his performance this year has been bad, it’s fair to say this is his floor and not his ceiling.
Second, this is all about range. That matters, but his hands and arm and such don’t grade out poorly. He’s not getting to a lot of balls, but he’s converting the ones he gets to. You can’t necessarily teach him to be more mobile, but I’d rather he have one big problem that four medium sized problems.
Third, he doesn’t look as bad as the numbers. I don’t think you can throw out the numbers just because you don’t like what they say, but Castellanos doesn’t look like he’s worse than Cabrera was. My guess is that when all is said and done, this is going to regress a little. He’s more of a -8 than a -18. It’s not hard for a few bad plays to haunt you on defense just like a bad week can sink your offensive stats.
The scouting reports are positive enough on his defense to the point where most see him staying at 3B for at least the next few seasons. I’m not so sure, but that’s because the Tigers might not need him to be there. Pretty much the only area of depth on the farm for the Tigers is middle infield and if Suarez is going to swim at the big league level, he’s going to need a new position next year. That might be 3B and he’s not the only one knocking on the door behind Iglesias and Kinsler.
It doesn’t sound like the plans are in place or anything but Castellanos could move to RF as early as 2015. Not necessarily because he’s so horrible that he has to move off the position, but because he’s not good enough there for it to matter. I can see a world where Castellanos is a serviceable gloveman at third, but that might not be the best way to line up the defense. He’s never going to be a plus defender, so it’s just a matter of finding a place for his glove so that his bat can shine.
I think he’s going to be a big time contributor at the plate, but while his defense doesn’t look as bad from a tools perspective as it has from a performance perspective this year, there’s not a lot of reason to think he can be a positive contributor at third base. It’s been bad this year. I think it can and will get better, but the simple fact of the matter is that it might not have to.
Your Dream Roster for 2015 - Page 4 October 22, 2014 at 2:11 pm | Reply
[…] numbers around the trade deadline. Short answer is no improvement, got slightly worse actually. On The Subject of Nick Castellanos’ Defense | New English D We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. – DDE Those who take the […]


Developer eyes Snoqualmie for new Hilton hotel, February public hearing set
January 12, 2017 by Danna McCall 35 Comments
UPDATE | February 6, 2017
The City of Snoqualmie has confirmed a public hearing about the amendments needed for a proposed hotel development to move forward on Snoqualmie Ridge. It will be held during the February 6th Planning Commission meeting at City Hall, 38624 SE River Street. That meeting begins at 7PM and will also include a presentation about the proposed amendments and design renderings.
** Due to inclement weather, there will also be a continuation of the hearing on another evening. The city hopes that second public hearing opportunity will happen later this week, but will be determined at the Feb. 6th meeting. **
How to Testify:
In summary, there are three options to testify on the proposed hotel:
Attend the public hearing/presentation tonight February 6th at 7PM
Attend the continued public hearing/presentation with date to be determined tonight (hopefully in the next week)
Submit written comments to bswanson@ci.snoqualmie.wa.us.
As explained in the original story below, the developer is not able to submit an application until the Planning Commission and the City Council consider amendments to the Snoqualmie Ridge Mixed Use Final Plan, Snoqualmie Ridge Development Standards, and Business Park Binding Site Improvement Plan.
Via press release, the City of Snoqualmie said:
‘The hotel could benefit Snoqualmie in many ways, including creating a significant source of revenue for the city to apply to capital projects, public safety, and services for residents.
It could also attract corporations considering opening or relocating their businesses to vacant lots and buildings in the business park, further increasing revenue sources and supporting economic health.
Visitors to Snoqualmie – including the nearly two million visitors that come to Snoqualmie Falls each year – currently have only one lodging option in Snoqualmie at the Salish Lodge & Spa. Many visitors to Snoqualmie come to Snoqualmie Falls via I-90 and head straight back out of town after visiting Snoqualmie Falls Park, many times not exploring the shops, restaurants, and other attractions throughout town.
With the addition of a second hotel, many of those tourists, as well as those coming to enjoy the Boeing Classic and other activities, can be accommodated, allowing them time to shop and dine to support our local merchants. Residents will also have a lodging option for family and friends visiting from out of town.’
If the City of Snoqualmie Planning Commission recommends some changes, made through amendments to the Snoqualmie Ridge (SR) Business Park Binding site improvement plan and the SR Mixed use plan – AND the city council approves them – next summer there could be a new hotel in Snoqualmie, at the corner of Snoqualmie Parkway and Center Street (across the Parkway from the IGA retail complex). Upper Snoqualmie Valley hotel options are currently limited to the Salish Lodge and some older motels in North Bend.
Next week the Planning Commission will look at the second set of [conceptual] design plans from a developer working with the Hilton Group to bring a 97-room Hampton Inn & Suites to Snoqualmie Ridge. Commission members saw the first designs at their December 22nd meeting where they requested some design modifications.
Conceptual drawing of new hotel/retail development – corner of Center Street and Snoqualmie Parkway. Not final design – only conceptual.
Required Code Changes for Development to Proceed
The first change required for the project to proceed is to decrease the 50-foot buffer setback to 15 feet for the edge of the property that borders Snoqualmie Parkway. This is needed because approximately 50% of the land parcel has a Puget Sound Energy (PSE) power line easement running through it, limiting the buildable area of the property to this portion near the Parkway. City of Snoqualmie Senior Planner Ben Swanson said PSE restricts buildings in their easements, explaining if transmission line repairs or other work is ever needed, PSE doesn’t want to work around structures.
Because the proposed hotel would essentially front Snoqualmie Parkway, the Planning Commission is requiring front of building design standards for the rear of the property. Swanson said they want the back of the building to look as nice as the front so it fits in with the rest of the retail area. The commission also asked the design be pedestrian-friendly to draw hotel patrons out and into nearby businesses.
The second required change is to add an access lane into the property from Snoqualmie Parkway. This is necessary because property’s current small entrance off Center Street is also located in the PSE easement area, which limits redesigning and grading the entrance. Swanson said the developer has already completed a traffic study, which deemed the access lane acceptable.
Access lane from Snoqualmie Parkway into the proposed site of new hotel/retail development.
Details on Proposed Snoqualmie Ridge Hotel and Retail Development
The four-acre site would house a 75,200 square foot, 97-room hotel complete with a breakfast area, 1,500 sq. ft. meeting room, 800 sq. ft board room and indoor swimming pool. The hotel would be four and five stories, with the five-story portion being on the lower end of the sloped property.
Next door would be a 16,600 sq. ft., two-story retail/office building. Half of the first level space would be for a restaurant/cafe and the rest for other retail. Office space would be on the second level. According to plans, both buildings would have a Northwest style design to “honor the beauty of the nature in the City of Snoqualmie.” The 200 stall parking lot would be located in the PSE easement area.
At the request of the Planning Commission, the developer is incorporating a large outdoor plaza, with seating areas, as gathering space for the community. Swanson said this is something the commission felt the existing retail area lacks. The entrance to the property would also included a water feature.
The portion of the hotel that fronts Snoqualmie Parkway would have a stacked design,with portions of the building jutting in and out (vs. a flat building), to create architectural interest. Potential siding materials include stacked stone and various colors of hardie and long board. There would be pedestrian street/sidewalk access to the property. Although some trees will have to be removed along the Parkway, large existing tree(s) will be kept at the property’s south end.
City of Snoqualmie Director of Community Development Mark Hofman explained, “Commercial development must be a true asset that fulfills community needs. Design guidelines act to create and preserve a sense of place.” He emphasized, “For example, in working for the community, we could not accept a stucco box hotel that looks like it should be along a highway in the desert Southwest. A hotel or any business in Snoqualmie needs to be respectful of residents’ expectations, as this well-designed concept for Parcel 20 of the Business Park does. We try to anticipate and support expectations, and always encourage people to voice their opinions through the public hearings.”
Development Timeline
These latest set of designs will be reviewed by the Planning Commission on Tuesday, January 17th at 7PM at City Hall. Planning Commission meetings are open to the public.
It’s anticipated that a Public Hearing on the proposed code changes will be held on February 6th. Residents can attend and comment in person or email comments to the city.
In mid February the commission will likely make a recommendation to the city council about the code changes and agree on a final conceptual design for the project. Swanson anticipated the city council could be asked to approve the code changes and a development agreement in mid March.
With council approval of the code change amendments, the developer could then move forward with other development requirements, like submitting a building applications and permits. Swanson said the developer hopes to begin construction this spring/summer.
** NOTE: All photos in this article are only conceptual design plans f(NOT final) that will be presented to the Planning Commission. Design plans created by Jensen/Fey Architecture and Planning in Redmond, WA **
Conceptual design for potential hotel and retail building, with large outdoor plaza for community to gather.
Conceptual design of proposed hotel. Front entrance to hotel.
Conceptual hotel design – side view of access lane.
Conceptual design – rear of proposed hotel recessed down into land parcel and fronting Snoqualmie Parkway
Conceptual design of proposed hotel – south end of building with existing tree and indoor pool on ground level.
Filed Under: North Bend, Snoqualmie, Snoqualmie Valley Info, Valley News Tagged With: Top Stories
Kendall Hunt says
I think the hotel is a great idea. I was just thinking the other day why Snoqualmie didn’t have a hotel/motel in the city. Probably should have two of them.
Really like the outdoor pedestrian area. I think the city lacks this and would make a great addition.
The Conceptual drawings for the Casino were nice looking as well. What was built was much larger and very different from the conceptual drawings used to gain public support.
A hotel would be nice. Given the location and the restrictions on that site, the hotel will be very visible and stand out like nothing else on the ridge. 4 and 5 stories? The city and all constituents should think long and hard about whether this is really what we want, or if we want to maintain the rural, open, tree-filled nature of our city.
futurist says
Rural, open, and filled with trees ? Do you really not know that Snoqualmie Ridge was once owned by Weyerhaeuser and then trees were cut and 5,000 people moved in ?
The population of Snoqualmie will increase. So will the populations of North Bend and Issaquah. The population of King County may double over the next 40 years. Designing a good future is difficult in part because people want what exists today to be maintained. Nothing in human history has ever been maintained. Nothing is sustainable; there is only ever change.
SHOBUZ IKBAL says
I agree with Mike – renderings look great until they’re built and we should be very careful about bringing in a hotel. The Ridge is all residential now and we have a great town center with small retails. Hotel will change this completely as it is a whole different kind of business – to bring in transient people for short stay. That’s why city collect “transient and occupancy tax” from hotels.
To “futurist” – all I can say is “if you build it they’ll come”.
Cameron says
Streganona says
You don’t have time to think long and hard. There’s already been one public hearing.
The hearing on code changes is February 6. Bring your lawyer!
A hotel of casino loving, “can’t make it home cuz I am wasted” guests and assorted family members not wanted at the cracker jack Ridge townhouse. A great place for the kids to walk past on their way to the library
Exactly! It boils down to a less expensive hotel stuck in the middle of our family oriented neighborhoods. This is a complete negative for our community. Really unwise. I have a feeling between this and the possible 800 resident adult community, there are going to be some unhappy owners that will be listing their homes. There may even be a flood of homes on the market up here the more residents that find out.
This would change the feeling of the Ridge. Very different looking then Salish Lodge.
My concern also regards crime, and the fact it’s so close to the new elementary school. I think the community and families should be priority, not revenue.
It looks as though homeowners in our area have nothing to say?? Big business has taken over and everyone is OK with that? I think a 5-story motel in the middle of the Ridge is an unwise choice for property owners. It may be convenient for travelers, but is that what our community is more concerned about accommodating? And, if we have to put up with this, why is it such undesirable architecture? And why is Snoqualmie OK with a Hampton? It’s lower end lodging. Snoqualmie residents, speak up if you’re against this. Remaining complacent will change the look of the Ridge forever. We will be left with a 5-story building that doesn’t belong here in a family neighborhood. It is one of the more ridiculous proposals I’ve seen. Instead of a motel, how about nice shops and a couple of decent restaurants?
Alissa says
So what happen to the hotel proposed in North Bend?
Danna McCall says
Sounds like it has been delayed, but is still in the works.
The developer got wrapped up in EIS tape. So he decided to build up
.on the Ridge, where no one would care.
The North Bend hotel project was originally applied for in 2011, the State EPA has an application for in in 2012, SEPA didn’t block it. Currently the ground hasn’t been graded to start.
According to Gina Estep, Director, Community and Economic Development [North Bend]: “We do believe the owners of the site in North Bend plan to build out their planned and permitted hotel. Currently due to winter high ground water no ground work is able to be done until the spring, most likely April.”
Again, the application was originally submitted in 2011, and currently they are still looking at little to no progress. From the way that Gina has stated this, it sounds like they aren’t sure what the owner’s plans are.
Doug Walsh says
A hotel is desperately needed in the area HOWEVER… if you really cared about ““honor(ing) the beauty of the nature in the City of Snoqualmie.” you wouldn’t build a view-blocking hotel.
I’ve lived in Snoqualmie for 12+ years now and I am absolutely disgusted by the building taking place along the east side of Snoqualmie Parkway. First it was the giant white landing strip of a warehouse. Now, we’ve got Bartells and Safeway moving in, obstructing even more of the wonderful view, and now they want to add a hotel. Walking along Snoqualmie Parkway and admiring the view of the Cascades was one of the things that made living on the Ridge so enjoyable. And now it’s going to be obliterated.
Right idea. Wrong location!
David G says
Too high and too close to the Parkway. This will stick out like a sore thumb – you want the tallest building on the ridge right here, blocking views of the mountains? And you want to reduce the Parkway buffer in doing so? This will look completely out of place. Please make it stop – the city planners are out of touch. We do not want Snoqualmie to look like the dreadful Issaquah highlands. Snoqualmie is going downhill fast.
If you look closely at one of the photos – that’s where you can see the hotel is recessed into the property so the bottom two floors sit lower than street level… looks like three levels show from the Parkway. It is closer to Snoqualmie Parkway than other buildings, though, which is why the developer is requesting the code change.
Hi Danna – the setback for the tallest part of the building will be zero (right on the walkway), according to the documents submitted for the amendments. Again, 60 feet tall right on the pathway beside Snoqualmie Parkway at its tallest point. There won’t be any tall trees to screen the tallest part of the building, there may be some shorter trees.
Thanks David G., you couldn’t be more on point. What are they thinking? And I suppose the residents in North Bend care more about their community then we do?! How unfortunate for us. If people don’t think that pollution and crime will come with this hotel development they don’t have a clue. Fortunately, I don’t have a school-age child anymore, he’s graduated. But if I did, I would not stay if a hotel was built. Yes, I agree that Sammamish has changed entirely. But the 22 years we lived there, there wasn’t ever a conversation about a hotel being built smack dab in the middle of our family community. Now we will end up like some kind of pitstop off the freeway for who knows what. This completely changes the entire community and what people have worked so hard to build. Very disappointed. If any of you have a better idea of a community that is still unspoiled, let us know.
Ray Say says
The Ridge needs a broader tax base, and more retail can provide that. Currently, something like 75-80% of retail purchases by Ridge residents are made off the ridge. A community of 13k desperately needs more services on the Ridge, thus minimizing auto use and the attendant pollution, etc. a new Safeway, Bartells, along with a hotel is just what is needed to grow the tax revenue. As an aside, my understanding is the developer of the Ridge hotel is the same one who was supposedly moving forward with a hotel in North Bend. I would be curious to know what happened to that proposal, as an indicator of how credible and capable this developer is.
Great question Ray Say, what is the track record for this developer? I used to work for a city in California, in the building department. They had approved contractor lists, do they have anything like that for Snoqualmie?
Hawkfan says
The Ridge absolutely needs a broader tax base. Relying on homeowners to foot the bills isn’t realistic especially as Pulte is finishing up and moving out. More and more current and future homeowners would move to less expensive (tax-wise) nearby cities where goods and services are more easily attained. Normal stores (Safeway, Bartells, and hopefully others) with cheaper/more competitive prices will allow more revenue to stay in Snoqualmie rather than continue to go to Issaquah, Bellevue, and other nearby cities. This increased tax base will be something everyone living on the Ridge and in downtown Snoqualmie will benefit from.
What I heard on North Bend hotel project is that it got stalled because the developer couldn’t get the brand that it was originally proposed as. That one and the proposed one on the Ridge are not corporate project by any hotel chain, rather they’re private developer building to suit certain hotel chain. Ridge will be taking the same risk as North Bend.
Shobuz: It would be helpful to get a reliable source about this. Most of the pro Snoqualmie hotel are for it because of the potential revenue it will bring the city. Without the franchise, it’s unlikely the hotel will be profitable.
Peggy: I can tell you about the source for info. on North Bend project. Pls e-mail me at shobuz.ikbal@gmail.com. Thanks.
Remember this isn’t the Hilton, just a Hampton Inn and Suites owned by them. Hampton isn’t a high end hotel. This isn’t like Salish Lodge. There are existing homeowners and other buyers paying $700K-$850K+ to live in Eagle Point and some other areas on The Ridge. This in no way is fair to homeowners that have invested their life savings. And I’m not forgetting all homeowners on The Ridge. Just using that area as an example.
Public hearing in front of the City Council is scheduled for Monday March 13th at 7 pm. This is the last chance to make our voice heard on such significant project. This will unalterably change the character of our town center.
Thank you for letting us know, much appreciated.
The setback is actually zero if you read the proposal’s edits, it also has in places that it will be 15 feet average (which is not minimum).
There are two residents that are directly across from where the hotel will be built, I don’t believe they were notified of this project.
I ask people on the ridge if they are aware of the proposed hotel for Snoqualmie Parkway, and many of them still aren’t aware of the project.
We measured the diameter of one of the trees, it was 64″. You can calculate the age of a tree using its diameter and based on the kind of tree (douglas fir), it calculates to be 102 years old, which will be cut down for this project.
As I recall Peggy, I just found out mid Feb. How I missed this, I don’t know. I believe that many living on the Ridge aren’t aware, and the same with downtown Snoqualmie Residents. I understand and I’m in favor of Safeway and Bartell. It’s a 5-story lower end motel that’s unappealing. That will be an unattractive landmark here, if it goes through. Maybe most of the original owners have sold and left the area, because the people that purchased a home out here in 1998 moved here for a reason. Not to have some commercial mess sitting across from the library along with beautiful trees cut down. If those living up here are in favor, but only plan on living here for a few years, then it’s not fair to those of us that care more about our environment and the beauty of the Ridge. The Safeway center will bring jobs and revenue to our area, but we truly don’t need a motel. In the long run, it will prove to be one of the worst decisions for our community. All the hard work those before us have to done to preserve the beauty will be gone with this poor choice.
I am still running across residents that are not aware of the hotel proposal. I wonder if the residents that are for the hotel realize how close it will be to Snoqualmie Parkway and how tall it will be.
correction – the tree’s circumference was 64″.
For some the inches look like feet;
The tree’s circumference was 64 inches
using – http://www.cliftonparkopenspaces.org/treecalculator/
tree type: Douglas Fir, the tree we measured was 102 years old.
I cannot find the notes from the public hearing on February 9th, of the residents that came in person to the meeting and spoke against this proposal. One planning commissioner did thank us for coming to the meeting on February 9th, in opposition to the proposed hotel. We are just a few residents that have been going to meetings about this one project, the city council needs to see more residents show up at the meeting on March 13, 7 pm at City Hall 38624 SE River St, Snoqualmie, WA 98065; if you can’t show up – please email city hall at : jwarren@ci.snoqualmie.wa.us on or before March 13, 2017 at 5:00 PM.
Note: email and showing up in person is preferable!!


Frequency of American families having dinner together at home 2013
Published by Statista Research Department, Dec 26, 2013
This statistic shows the results of a survey, conducted in 2013, among adult Americans on the frequency of having dinner at home as a family. In December 2013, 53 percent of the respondents answered that their family eat dinner together at home on 6 to 7 nights a week.
How many nights a week out of seven does your family eat dinner together at home?
0 to 3 nights 21%
18 and older
Telephone interview
According to the source, "based on adults with children under 18 at home".
Average size of a family in the US 1960-2020
Number of married couples in the U.S. 1960-2020
Number of families in the US by number of children 2000-2020
Number of births in the United States 1990-2018
Statistics on "Families in the U.S."
U.S. - number of black families 1990-2019
U.S. - Number of Asian families 2002-2019
Number of white families in the United States 1990-2019
U.S. - Number of Hispanic families 1990-2019
Number of marriages in the U.S. 1990-2018
USA - Marriage rate 1990-2018
Marriage rates in the U.S., by state 2018
Marital status of the U.S. population, by sex 2020
Interracially married couples, by race and Hispanic origin U.S. 2020
Generation gap on social issues - attitude towards same-sex marriage in the U.S.
Survey on the legalization of same-sex marriages in the U.S. 1996 to 2020
Number of divorces in the U.S. 1981-2018
U.S. - divorce rate 1990-2018
U.S. - divorce rate by state 2018
Americans' moral stance towards divorce in 2018
The most expensive divorces among celebrities, by settlement
Survey on blame for divorce among Americans in 2016
U.S. catholics - view on children being raised by divorced parents 2015
Children living with single divorced parents, by age of child U.S. 2020
United States - birth rate 1990-2018
U.S. - Infant mortality rate 1990-2018
Public opinion on adoption rights for same-sex couples in the U.S. 2014
Americans' moral stance towards having a baby out of wedlock 2018
Women's satisfaction with having a baby in the U.S. in 2016
Number of families with a single mother U.S. 1990-2019
United States - number of families with a single father 1990-2019
Number of Hispanic families with a single mother U.S. 1990-2019
Number of Hispanic families with a single father U.S. 1990-2019
Number of Asian families with a single mother U.S. 2002-2019
Number of Asian families with a single father U.S. 2002-2019
Number of white, non-Hispanic single mother households U.S. 1990-2019
Number of white, non-Hispanic single father households U.S. 1990-2019
Family income levels in the U.S. - percentage distribution 2019
Median family income in the United States by state 2019
Median family income, by ethnic group U.S. 2019
Poverty rate for families in the U.S. 1990-2019
Trend in attitude to family dinners in Great Britain 2005-2015
Selected opinions on family size in the U.S. in 2011
Satisfaction with family relationships U.S. in 2011
Living distance between American parents and children in 2011
Importance of selected family life aspects in the U.S. in 2011
Ideal number of children for a family to have 2003 to 2013
Thanksgiving meal in the U.S. - number of family members present 2010
Survey on person responsible for family dinner preparation in Norway 2014
Italy: parents dealing with the non-existence of Santa Claus 2016
People living alone in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018, by age and gender
Lifestyle question: Importance of family versus career in the UK 2012, by demographic
Growth rate of people who have a baby in their family in China 2013-2020
Italy: parents and children preparing for Christmas 2016
Share of family types in Australia 1976-2011
Lifestyle statement: Importance of family versus career in the United Kingdom 2012
Number of people who have a baby in their family in China 2012-2020
Italy: Christmas gift ideas for dads 2016
Families living in absolute poverty in Italy 2016-2019, by number of children
Families Homosexuality Demography Pets Weddings and Marriage
Gallup. (December 26, 2013). How many nights a week out of seven does your family eat dinner together at home? [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 15, 2021, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/284157/frequency-of-american-families-having-dinner-together-at-home/
Gallup. "How many nights a week out of seven does your family eat dinner together at home?." Chart. December 26, 2013. Statista. Accessed January 15, 2021. https://www.statista.com/statistics/284157/frequency-of-american-families-having-dinner-together-at-home/
Gallup. (2013). How many nights a week out of seven does your family eat dinner together at home?. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 15, 2021. https://www.statista.com/statistics/284157/frequency-of-american-families-having-dinner-together-at-home/
Gallup. "How Many Nights a Week out of Seven Does Your Family Eat Dinner Together at Home?." Statista, Statista Inc., 26 Dec 2013, https://www.statista.com/statistics/284157/frequency-of-american-families-having-dinner-together-at-home/
Gallup, How many nights a week out of seven does your family eat dinner together at home? Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/284157/frequency-of-american-families-having-dinner-together-at-home/ (last visited January 15, 2021)


F1 2018: A Review of an Unforgettable Season
In the twinkle of an eye (at least so it seems), the 2018 F1 season has come to an end.
Actually the final race of the year will take place in Abu Dhabi this weekend. It’s the final race of a 21-race season; an unforgettable season. When a driver wins the drivers’ championship title with a few races to spare, then you can understand what kind of F1 season it has been.
It all started with Sebastian Vettel’s two race wins in Australia and Bahrain. In both races, Lewis Hamilton, the reigning champion, finished in second and third respectively. This two wins brought some sort of competitive spirit to the sport. “Finally, someone to give Hamilton a run for his money”, most fans most have said.
Daniel Ricciardo, one of the only 3 other drivers, picked up the chequered flag in China, a race in which Hamilton finished in 4th place – one of his lowest of the season. Of course the narrative remained the same at this stage. Just with the addition of one more name to the battle for the championship title.
But to an extent, this competition did not last for too long. By the fourth race (Azerbaijan GP), Lewis Hamilton recorded his first race win of the season. He quickly followed it up with another win in Spain before finishing in third place in Monaco.
In the test practices, which driver will take pole position?
Click here to put your money where your mouth is and win.
In the first two races which Hamilton won, Sebastian Vettel failed to manage a podium finish. This was where the Englishman’s early started from. The German recovered a bit by winning the Canadian GP. But his inconsistency came to the fore when he finished in the race that followed in France, a race that Lewis Hamilton won.
Which driver do you think will win the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi this weekend?
Click here to back yourself and earn some extra cash this weekend.
Max Verstappen’s win in Austria gave us a break from the Hamilton-Vettel back-and-forth. While Vettel managed a third place finish, Lewis Hamilton did not finish. Hamilton’s slide continued when Sebastian Vettel won the British GP, to the surprise of the English fans who had wanted to see Hamilton win.
As if they were out to get each other, Lewis Hamilton won the race in Vettel’s home, Germany. And it was the first time that Vettel did not finish a race. The Team Mercedes driver would go on to win 6 of the 9 following races.
At this point, he had become unreachable and had claimed yet another title. His 10 race wins this season earned him 383 points. With 5 wins, Ferarri’s Sebastian Vettel earned 302 points.
Which of these drivers will win the race in Abu Dhabi?
Will it be another Hamilton win?
Or will Vettel manage a sixth win of the season?
What was the highlight of your 2018 F1 season? Leave us your comments and share your thoughts with us.
Another F1 Weekend: Which Driver Will be the Fastest?
Bet on More This Month with the Return of These 5 Sporting Events
March into More Money This Month by Betting on These 5 Events


Hardcover, 9.75 x 11.75 in. / 224 pgs / 5 duotone / 100 tritone.
Out of stock indefinitely
Catalog: SPRING 2012 p. 22
Atget
Text by John Szarkowski.
Eugène Atget (1857–1927) devoted more than 30 years of his life to a rigorous documentation of Paris, its environs and the French countryside, through more than 8,000 photographs. In the process, he created an oeuvre that brilliantly delineates the richness, complexity and character of his native culture. Atget’s uncompromising eye recorded the picturesque villages and landscape of France; the storied chateaux and the romantic parks and gardens of the ancien régime of Louis XIV; and, in post-Haussmann Paris, architectural details, private courtyards, shop windows, curious buildings and streets, and the city’s various denizens. Atget died almost unknown in 1927, although groups of his prints were included in various Paris archives. In 1925 Berenice Abbott discovered his work, and after his death she arranged to buy his archives with the help of art dealer Julien Levy; in 1968 that collection was purchased by The Museum of Modern Art. Originally published in 2000 and long unavailable, this classic, superbly produced volume surveys the collection through 100 carefully selected photographs. John Szarkowski, head of MoMA’s Department of Photography from 1962 to 1991, explores the unique sensibilities that made Atget one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century and a vital influence on the development of modern and contemporary photography. An introductory text and commentaries on Atget’s photographs form an extended essay on the remarkable visual intelligence displayed in these subtle, sometimes enigmatic photographs.
STATUS: Out of stock indefinitely.
FORMAT: Hbk, 9.75 x 11.75 in. / 224 pgs / 5 duotone / 100 tritone.
LIST PRICE: CANADA $79
PUBLISHER: The Museum of Modern Art, New York
PUBLISHING STATUS: Out of stock indefinitely
D.A.P. CATALOG: SPRING 2012 Page 22
Published by The Museum of Modern Art, New York.
VIEW MORE ONLINE AT: http://www.artbook.com/0870700944.html


U.S. says BP to pay $20 billion in fines for 2010 oil spill
BP Plc will pay more than $20 billion in fines to resolve nearly all claims from its deadly Gulf of Mexico oil spill five years ago, marking the largest corporate settlement of its kind in U.S. history, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said on Monday.
The agreement, first outlined in July, adds to the $43.8 billion BP had previously set aside for criminal and civil penalties and cleanup costs. The company has said its total pre-tax charge for the spill is now around $53.8 billion.
The total penalties Lynch announced on Monday sounded higher than the $18.7 billion deal reached to this summer, in part because she included $1 billion in restoration work BP had agreed to long beforehand.
BP’s shares rose nearly 3 percent in New York to $33.45 each. Investors have praised the agreement as essentially capping liabilities that could have been much larger.
The fines – to be paid to the federal government, five Gulf Coast states and hundreds of municipalities over 18 years – will fund environmental restoration and economic development programs to address the worst offshore spill in U.S. history.
“This agreement will launch one of the largest environmental restoration efforts the world has ever seen,” Lynch said.
The spill fouled 1,300 miles of coastline and dumped more than three million barrels of crude into the sea, hurting fishermen and prompting overhauls of safety rules and emergency plans in one of the world’s most prolific offshore oil basins.
The core of the agreement includes $7.1 billion for natural resource damages, $5.5 billion for Clean Water Act fines, and $4.9 billion in payments to states.
The Macondo well blowout and the fire on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig on April 20, 2010 killed 11 workers.
Federal and state officials formally filed the settlement on Monday and it should be approved by a U.S. District Court in Louisiana soon.
“The filing of the consent decree does not reflect a new settlement or any new money,” BP spokesman Geoff Morrell said.
In the past, BP has paid for liabilities by shedding assets, eroding about one-fifth of the earnings base it had before 2010.
Its smaller size among the bigger oil majors has made it vulnerable to potential takeovers, analysts have said.
BP has effectively settled all big claims from the spill. Previous settlements included a fund originally set at $7.8 billion to compensate individuals claiming economic harm from the spill.
Other settlements included one with contractors Transocean Ltd and Halliburton Co.
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