Activision exec tries to dissuade employees from unionizing in a leaked Slack message


SOPA Images via Getty Images


Jessica Conditt
·Senior Editor
Mon, January 31, 2022

Since a group of 34 quality assurance testers at Raven Software voted to unionize earlier this month, the studio's parent company, Activision Blizzard, has been making moves that will undermine that support and make it harder for workers to organize. This morning, Activision VP of QA Chris Arends sent the clearest message yet about where executives stand on the unionization effort, and (spoiler) it's firmly against.

In an internal, locked Slack channel on Monday morning, Arends asked himself six questions about the potential union and provided answers for employees from Activision's point of view, as shared on Twitter by union organizer Jessica Gonzalez. Employees were unable to respond to the message. Each answer diminished the benefits of unionization, but the fourth prompt offered the most explicit takedown of the organization process. It reads as follows:

We heard that the union will protect employees and provide employees with job security?

Job security here at ABK rests with our ability to produce epic entertainment for our fans. A union doesn't do anything to help us produce world-class games, and the bargaining process is not typically quick, often reduces flexibility, and can be adversarial and lead to negative publicity. All of this could hurt our ability to continue creating great games.

The fifth answer argued that union-driven bargaining takes too long to be effective, stating the obvious in the process: "A unionized company cannot act quickly on its own if the union does not agree with its position." The final answer reminded employees that they don't have to vote in favor of the union when an election takes place.

On Twitter, Gonzalez called the post "sad."

This is the latest move from Activision designed to halt momentum on the unionization process at Raven. Just three days after employees announced they had gathered a supermajority of signatures required to unionize under the name Game Workers Alliance, Raven head Brian Raffel revealed a reorganization plan that breaks up the studio's QA department, moving employees to disparate teams.

Communications Workers of America, which is backing GWA, said on Twitter that the shuffle was "nothing more than a tactic to thwart Raven QA workers who are exercising their right to organize."

Activision also failed to voluntarily recognize GWA, which means they'll have to seek a vote through the NLRB, a process that can take years. Additionally, Activision is pushing for the vote to include all employees at Raven, rather than only QA workers, reducing the potential for success.

Arends' Slack message — trying to convince employees that unions will make their works lives slower and crappier — falls in line with Activision's previous tactics.

Activision Blizzard is currently the subject of intense scrutiny from multiple angles. GWA will be the first union at a AAA game development studio in North America, potentially setting the stage for more organization across the industry. Plus, Activision Blizzard is the subject of a lawsuit and multiple investigations into reports of systemic gender discrimination and sexual harassment at the studio, with incidents allegedly dating back decades.

And finally, Microsoft is in the process of buying Activision Blizzard, Raven Software and all, in a deal worth $69 billion. It'll be the largest acquisition in video game history and it marks the industry's era of consolidation. One day after news of the acquisition went live, Activision told the SEC that there were no unionization efforts underway at its studios, though in the months before, executives told Raven employees to "consider the consequences" of signing union cards.

Red-hot gaming market to breach $150 billion in deals, fundraising - report


A view shows Blizzard Entertainment's campus, in Irvine, California

Mon, January 31, 2022
By Nivedita Balu

(Reuters) - After kicking off 2022 with two mega acquisitions, the video gaming sector is racing to a new record of $150 billion in deals, financing and IPOs this year, according to investment banking firm Drake Star Partners.

In just the first few weeks of 2022, Microsoft Corp pitched nearly $70 billion for Activision Blizzard and Take-Two Interactive bid $11 billion for Zynga.

That has helped the total value of deals this year already near 2020's record haul of $85 billion from more than 1,159 announced or closed deals. Last year's figure was almost three times higher than in 2020.

The pandemic has ushered in a new era for mobile gaming. It opened an accessible gateway for new gamers when lockdowns first struck, while easing curbs pushed even seasoned players to switch from consoles to phones as they stepped out more.

The industry is also consolidating in the pursuit of new revenue streams, blurring the lines between PC and mobile gaming companies.

"We're in the middle of a large number of deals right now and the state continues to stay very hot," Drake Star's Michael Metzger said.

Some companies that have not made any big plays so far - including Amazon and Netflix - are expected to make new bets, Metzger said. In Asia, Tencent, Byte Dance, Netease, South Korea's Krafton and Japan's Sony are on the radar.

"Metaverse", long part of the gaming lexicon, has now entered the tech zeitgeist after Facebook changed its name to Meta Platforms in a nod to its focus on the online realm where people can connect through augmented or virtual reality.

Private placement deal value, volume and financing at or above unicorn level are set to break records, with investments from the likes of Tencent and Netease.

In IPOs, EPIC Games and Discord are the names to watch, according to the firm, whose clients include Codemasters and Echtra Games.

(Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath and Aditya Soni)

Trucker convoy protest: 'I have never seen such a display of hate,' Canadians say as demonstrators crowd Ottawa for third day

Elisabetta Bianchini
Mon, January 31, 2022, 10:41 AM·4 min read

Ottawa is still filled with demonstrators and trucks blocking downtown streets as the protest, initially aimed against COVID-19 public health measures, continues for its third day.

On Sunday, Ottawa Police Service confirmed policing costs alone are estimated to be $800,000 a day.

"Police are aware that many demonstrators have announced their intention to stay in place," a statement from Ottawa police reads. "This will continue to cause major traffic, noise and safety issues in the downtown core. We urge all residents to avoid travel to the core."

"Police have avoided ticketing and towing vehicle so as not to instigate confrontations with demonstrators. Still, confrontations and the need for de-escalation has regularly been required."

A number of schools, businesses in downtown Ottawa, including the city's Rideau Centre mall, and vaccine clinics have closed.

Police also stated Sunday that investigations are underway, looking into the desecration of the National War Memorial and the Terry Fox statue.

A local homeless shelter, Shepherds of Good Hope, shared that staff and volunteers were harassed and assaulted by demonstrators who were demanding food.

"While we are not certain of exact numbers, the demands for meals and verbal altercations continued for several hours over the dinner period," a statement from Shepherds of Good Hope reads.

"One member of our shelter community was assaulted by protestors. A security guard went to his aid and was threatened and called racial slurs."

Several Canadians have taken to social media to condemn the actions of these demonstrators.

Some Canadians have questioned when police will take stronger actions.

'Canadians were shocked...and disgusted': Justin Trudeau says we 'won't give in' to individuals who are violent, 'spew hatred' in Ottawa


Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at a news conference on the Covid-19 situation, January 12, 2022, in Ottawa, Canada. (Photo by Dave Chan / AFP) (Photo by DAVE CHAN/AFP via Getty Images) (DAVE CHAN via Getty Images)

Justin Trudeau
Elisabetta Bianchini
Mon, January 31, 2022

After confirming he and two of his children tested positive for COVID-19, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the actions of the demonstrators in Ottawa.

"Over the past few days, Canadians were shocked and, frankly, disgusted by the behaviour displayed by some people protesting in our nation's capital. We are not intimidated by those who hurl insults and abuse at small business workers, and steal food from the homeless. 

We won’t give in to those who fly racist flags, we won’t cave to those who engage in vandalism or dishonour the memory of our veterans... There is no place in our country for threats, violence or hatred." 

PM Justin Trudeau

 

He confirmed that he will not meet with this convoy of protestors.

"I have attended protests and rallies in the past when I agreed with the goals, when I supported the people expressing their concerns and their issues, Black Lives Matter is an excellent example of that, but I have also chosen to not go anywhere near protests that have expressed hateful rhetoric, violence towards fellow citizens and a disrespect, not just of science but of the frontline health workers, and quite frankly, the 90 per cent of truckers who have been doing the right thing to keep Canadians safe, to put food on our tables," Trudeau said.

"There is always a right to protest peacefully that I and others will defend fully as part of this democracy. There is not a right to incite violence, to perform acts of violence or to spew hatred."

The prime minister said that all individuals who have engaged in this behaviour over the past days "need to stop."

"To anyone who joined the convoy but is rightly uncomfortable with the symbols of hatred and division on display, join with your fellow Canadians, be courageous and speak out," Trudeau said.

"To the nearly 90 per cent of truckers across the country who have gotten vaccinated, who continue working hard to keep us fed and keep our economy moving, thank you... We have relied on you and you can rely on us to continue to stand with you and allow you to do your jobs safely."

Conservatives 'exploiting people’s fears'

Canada's prime minister also called out politicians who are "exploiting people’s fears," particularly Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, who met with truckers on Friday.

"I think all politicians need to think very carefully about who they’re supporting, about what messages they’re putting out," Trudeau said.

"We have seen over the past many, many months, Conservative politicians sharing disinformation about vaccines, encouraging conspiracy theories online and I think Erin O’Toole is going to need to reflect very carefully on how he’s walking a path that supports these people who do not represent truckers, let alone the vast majority of Canadians."

When asked specifically about individuals in Canada who have questions about COVID-19 vaccines, the prime minister stressed that vaccines are safe and effective, and are "the way to get through this pandemic."

"Yes, the concerns expressed by a few people gathering in Ottawa right now are not new, not surprising, are heard, but are a continuation of what we’ve unfortunately seen in disinformation and misinformation online, conspiracy theorists about microchips, about god knows what else that goes with the tinfoil hats," Trudeau said.

"We have been clear every step fo the way that the work our frontline health workers, the work our scientists and researchers are doing, the people at Health Canada, the people working on these vaccines all around the world, is the work that will get us trough this, get us back to the things we love."

Police launch criminal investigations into 'illegal' acts at Ottawa anti-vaccine-mandate trucker protests

People gather to support truck drivers on their way to Ottawa in protest of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine mandates for cross-border truck drivers, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos Osorio (Carlos Osorio / reuters)

Jennifer Hassan
Mon, January 31, 2022

Police in Canada said "several criminal investigations are underway" into "threatening" and "illegal" behavior that occurred over the weekend during huge protests in the capital, Ottawa, where truckers and thousands of supporters gathered to denounce coronavirus vaccine mandates and other public health measures.

While many protested peacefully, Ottawa police said they would investigate after monuments were defaced and some demonstrators displayed "threatening/illegal/intimidating behaviour to police/city workers and other individuals."

"Illegal behaviour will not be tolerated and will be fully investigated," police said.

There were reports of urination on the National War Memorial and desecration of other monuments, including the statue of Terry Fox, a Canadian athlete and cancer research activist, who died in 1981 after dedicating his life to raising funds to cure the disease.

Brad West, mayor of Port Coquitlam, the city in British Columbia where Fox was raised, tweeted that "you don't touch his statue. Ever."



Some demonstrators held signs featuring swastikas. Others angrily called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to quit, chanting in unison on Parliament Hill.

Canada's minister of defense, Anita Anand, called some of the scenes from Parliament Hill and the National War Memorial "beyond reprehensible," as footage emerged of protesters dancing on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and screaming "freedom."

Canada's chief of the defense staff, Wayne Eyre, said he was "sickened" by scenes of people disrespecting key monuments. "Generations of Canadians have fought and died for our rights, including free speech, but not this," Eyre tweeted Saturday. "Those involved should hang their heads in shame."

A self-described "Freedom Convoy" of trucks and their supporters began arriving in Ottawa last week to protest a federal vaccine requirement for cross-border truckers, after Canada and the United States announced that truck drivers entering their respective countries must be fully vaccinated.

Footage shared to social media alongside the hashtags #TruckerConvoy2022 and #TruckersForFreedom2022 showed semis honking long into the night and crowds dancing in the street below signs that read "segregation is not Canadian" and "mandate freedom."

Ottawa's mayor, Jim Watson, said Sunday that convoy members had acted unacceptably and called on protest organizers to denounce their "outrageous actions," which he said included the harassment of city workers.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance said in a statement over the weekend that it condemned "in the strongest possible terms" the desecration of what it called "sacred sites." The organization said it had made a donation to the Terry Fox Foundation and the Soldier On program, which is run by the Canadian Armed Forces to support the recovery of members and veterans dealing with physical or mental injuries from their service.

On Sunday, Ottawa police urged people to work from home Monday and "avoid travel" downtown while officials work to "facilitate the safe departure of individuals and vehicles" from the demonstration site.

Police said they had towed vehicles blocking key roadways - while the soup kitchen Shepherds of Good Hope said staff members had been "harassed for meals" and others had been verbally assaulted during what they called an "incredibly difficult weekend."

The organization said that trucks had parked in ambulance drop-off areas for about 12 hours and that the commotion and noise caused by the protest had caused "significant anxiety and stress" among staff members and service users.

At least 33,722 people have died of covid-19 in Canada since the coronavirus pandemic began, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

RCMP say border blockade in southern Alberta no longer lawful, preparing for arrests

COUTTS, Alta. — Obscured by a veil of blowing snow, about 100 commercial trucks, vehicles and camper vans continued to block a busy U.S. border crossing Monday in protest of COVID-19 health measures.

© Provided by The Canadian Press

RCMP said the blockade, which started Saturday, was no longer lawful and resources were in place to make arrests and tow away vehicles if they were unable to resolve the conflict in Coutts, Alta.

"These folks have a right to lawful protest," said Cpl. Curtis Peters. "I've encouraged them to return to that and, if that takes place, there will be no need for those enforcement actions."

Some demonstrators told The Canadian Press they have no plans to leave.

Peters said about half the number of vehicles that were at the barricade on Sunday, many which were not part of the protest, had left.

Late Monday, RCMP issued a statement saying negotiations for a peaceful resolution had not been successful.

"While we thought we had a path to resolve this, the protesters chose not to comply," it said. "We will continue to actively resolve the situation."

The mayor of Coutts, a small village with roughly 250 people, said the "Freedom Convoy" was isolating residents and blocking a crucial commerce chain on Highway 4.

"I want them gone," said Jim Willett. He added that he was initially told by members of the convoy that their protest would briefly slow down traffic.

Mail delivery was halted to the village and some kids were forced to stay home from school because their bus could not get into the village. The nearest grocery store, gas station and hospital are only accessible by county roads.

Holding back tears, the mayor said his biggest worry is for older residents who may feel intimidated driving near the blockade or its supporters, who he called "strangers in the community."

RCMP asked truck drivers and travellers to turn around about 15 kilometres from the border. People trying to enter on the U.S. side were also asked to find alternate routes.

Meanwhile, loads of Canadian beef were stuck at the crossing, said the Canadian Meat Council.

"The longer this takes, it will cause more supply chain issues and this will affect everyone from producer to consumer," said the council in a statement.

A mega-convoy of trucks and other vehicles converged in Ottawa this weekend and smaller demonstrations, like the one in Coutts, have been held in towns and cities across the country to protest COVID-19 restrictions.

Big rigs in Coutts displayed Canadian flags with an upside down Maple Leaf, United States flags and at least one Gadsden flag — a yellow banner with a snake reading "don't tread on me," which is sometimes used in support of far-right ideology.

"Freedom or death to our nation," read one sign.

"We are as strong as we are united," said another.

Chelle Landry, who travelled from Lethbridge to support the convoy in Coutts, said participants are fighting for the rights of everyone.

"(Vaccine mandates) are affecting our livelihoods, our families and that of all Canadians," said Landry. "It's just unacceptable for the government to be pushing this on us."

Landry said she was in it "for the long haul" and would stay until all mandates are lifted, especially as they pertain to mandatory vaccinations in certain workforces.

She spoke to The Canadian Press from inside the Smuggler's Saloon. Members of the convoy rented out the space, which was filled with dozens of unmasked protesters at various times on Monday.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said on the weekend that it is up to local authorities to enforce provincial legislation, which allows for additional penalties against protesters blockading highways and other infrastructure.

A law, passed by his United Conservative government last year, protects railways, highways and pipelines from anyone trespassing, interfering with operations and construction, or causing damage.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 31, 2022.

— With files from Fakiha Baig in Edmonton

Alanna Smith, The Canadian Press

Climber from Idaho slides into ‘Devils Kitchen’ pit on Oregon volcano, cops say


Hood River County Sheriff’s Office

Maddie Capron
Mon, January 31, 2022, 12:35 PM·2 min read

A climber trying to make it down Mount Hood slid several hundred feet into a volcanic pit in rock that vents toxic gases, Oregon officials said.

George Stevens, a 28-year-old from Idaho, fell into the Devils Kitchen fumarole on Jan. 26, the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office said. He had serious injuries.

Stevens and two friends started their climb “late in the day,” deputies said.

“When they reached the steep Hogsback snow ridge on their descent, the surface was slick with frozen ice,” deputies said in a news release. “The climber attempted to snowboard down from this ridge, but lost his edge and slid out of control.”

Stevens fell into the fumarole hundreds of feet below and onto its rocky bottom. A fumarole is a pit in volcanic rock that vents toxic gases below.

“(It) melts large cavities deep underneath the snow that can open up into steep holes,” officials said. “Two of these fumaroles are located in the direct fall lines for the most popular climbing routes on Mt. Hood.”

More than 20 rescuers climbed up the mountain to help the climber who was trapped at the bottom of the fumarole cavity.

“A rescuer wearing a respirator and using gas monitors was lowered to … Stevens around midnight,” deputies said. “The team stabilized Stevens and hoisted him to the surface where he was loaded in a litter.”

Rescuers then lowered Stevens down the slopes and took him to an ambulance that was waiting in a lodge parking lot.

Officials did not disclose Stevens’ current condition.

“Having sustained serious injuries when he fell to the rocks at the bottom of the fumarole cavity, he spent a long night (more than 8 hours) breathing toxic gases before rescuers could haul him out,” Portland Mountain Rescue said on Facebook. “We know the skies have been fair over the mountain lately, but it’s still winter and climbers need to carry ... all the other technical gear that goes with advanced mountaineering.”

The rescue was the third in five days on Mount Hood, the sheriff’s office said. Many people were exploring the volcano in clear weather.

“Even on a clear day, however, Mt. Hood’s winter is a severe and unforgiving environment,” officials said. “Climbing in these conditions requires technical equipment and advanced mountaineering skills.”

Mount Hood is Oregon’s highest peak. The volcano has had two major eruptions in the past 1,500 years, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The most recent eruption was in 1865.

Mount Hood is about 70 miles east of Portland.

Canada's CGX Energy reports oil and gas discovery off Guyana coast

Mon, January 31, 2022,

(Reuters) - Canada's CGX Energy on Monday reaffirmed it and parent Frontera Energy discovered an oil and gas reservoir off the coast of Guyana and said drilling on a second well could begin later this year.

Its Kawa-1 well found approximately 177 feet (54 meters) of hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs based on an initial evaluation of logging data, the company said. It did not disclose the size of the potential find.

"We are very pleased to have successfully drilled the Kawa-1 well with our partner CGX, said Orlando Cabrales, Frontera's CEO. Frontera is the majority shareholder of CGX and its joint venture partner in the exploration of Corentyne block, offshore Guyana.

Last month, CGX said the Kawa-1 results suggested the presence of oil and gas, but warned it may be required to seek additional financing to continue drilling. Costs associated with the well had risen to between $115 million and $125 million, it said.

Final well cost estimates and additional results of the discovery will be disclosed in the future, the company said.

Guyana produces about 120,000 barrels per day of crude from an offshore project controlled by a consortium that includes Exxon Mobil, Hess Corp and China’s CNOOC Ltd.

(Reporting by Gary McWilliams; Editing by Aurora Ellis)

FLORIDA

Removing Rodman dam would be manna from heaven for manatees


Robert Knight
Tue, February 1, 2022


The Sun recently published an opinion piece by Kip Frohlich and David Hankla, two of Florida’s top manatee experts, on the science and protection of this iconic Florida marine mammal. They rightly decry the state government’s failure to protect water quality in the Indian River Lagoon and the state’s equally poor response to the growing crisis facing the future of these precious wild animals.

Manatees are starving to death by the thousands. I have looked into the innocent eyes of these massive but gentle giants. Yet I cannot possibly understand the pain and agony of the starvation they are enduring.

Perhaps it is just a coincidence that manatee and manna have the same root. The definition of “manna” is an unexpected aid, advantage or assistance, as in the biblical phrase “manna from heaven,” referring to the miraculous food The Lord provided to the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness. In Florida’s springs, there is indeed manna for manatees.


In the mid-1980s I censused the manatees living in the Lower St. Johns River from Jacksonville upstream to Palatka. From a light airplane, manatees were quite visible even in the tannic waters and it was possible to record their numbers and favored habitats by flying up and down the study area.

More from Robert Knight:

Restoration will only be achieved by significantly reducing groundwater pumping

Stop subsidizing those who harm springs through pumping, pollution

Making sense of conflicting environmental messages

I especially remember seeing manatees nibbling on boat anchor lines while the fishermen appeared to be unaware the large animals were so close. At that time, manatee populations in the St. Johns were expanding from their historic lows due to increased awareness of the need for manatee no-wake zones to reduce motor boat impacts to the slow-moving mammals.

The recovered St. Johns River manatee population is now one of the most productive and successful in the state. Just last month, the Volusia Blue Spring winter manatee population set a new record of 663 individuals in the spring run.


But seagrasses have disappeared over much of the St. Johns River. The same problems decimating eelgrass in the Indian River Lagoon are occurring in the Lower St. Johns — elevated nutrient pollution, blooms of floating algae and shading of the submerged aquatic plants that manatees favor.

Manatees may soon be starving in the St. Johns River due to similar issues observed in the Indian River Lagoon. One way to support and maintain the St. Johns River manatee population is to make sure the springs and their ample aquatic plant communities and warm water refugia are accessible to the manatees.

Silver Springs, the Silver River and the 20 “lost springs” of the Ocklawaha River must be opened to succor these manatees. The Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam must be breached to allow more manatees as well as other migratory aquatic species such as striped bass to reclaim this historic habitat area.


Like manna from heaven, the entire Silver River and much of the Ocklawaha River are full of rapidly growing submerged aquatic vegetation favored by manatees. The outdated and on-the-brink-of-structural-failure Rodman dam is the only obstacle to this manatee Garden of Eden.

Florida’s artesian springs are likely the principal reason the state has long had a year-round, breeding population of manatees. Thermal effluents from coastal power plants have offered refuge from winter cold stress but have not provided suitable food resources.

With increasing pollution of these waters by Florida’s growing human population and lax water quality enforcement, manatees are not able to thrive. Continued reliance on power plant thermal effluents and lettuce buffets is not a long-term assurance of a healthy manatee future.

Accessible springs are an important part of the solution to the plight of starving manatees. And breaching the Kirkpatrick dam to allow manatee access to extensive feeding areas is a critical next step for manatee viability.

Dr. Robert Knight is director of the Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute in High Springs. His newest book, “Saving Florida’s Springs – A Prescription for Springs Health,” is now available at www.floridaspringsinstitute.org.
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This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Robert Knight: Removing Rodman dam would help manatees, other species

Geologists Have Redefined the Present Age, Calling the Last 4,200 Years the "Meghalayan Age"


Avery Thompson
Mon, January 31, 2022

What era are we in? Geologists have redefined the present age that human civilization is living in, deciding to call the last 4,200 years the "Meghalayan Age." This new classification will help scientists better understand the events of the last few thousand years.

Geologists break down our planet's history into eras, periods, epochs, and ages. Our current era is the Cenozoic, which is itself broken down into three periods. We live in the most recent period, the Quaternary, which is then broken down into two epochs: the current Holocene, and the previous Pleistocene, which ended 11,700 years ago.

🌎 Science is on our side. We'll help you make sense of it all.


The Holocene began at the end of the last Ice Age, when glaciers started retreating. In that time, humans learned how to farm, built cities, and started launching rockets into space. From a human perspective, the end of the Holocene looks very different from the beginning. But from a geological perspective, has much really changed?

The 2018 announcement, from the International Commission on Stratigraphy, is an admission that there have been, in fact, significant transformations in Earth's geography. While the broader trend of warmer temperatures and receding glaciers holds just as true today as 11,700 years ago, there are other changes in the geologic record.

Around 4,200 years ago, a devastating drought lasted for at least 100 years and caused the collapse of civilizations around the world. It ended Egypt's pyramid-building Old Kingdom, the Akkadian Empire in modern-day Iran and Iraq, the Indus Valley Civilization in modern-day India, and the Liangzhu civilization in modern-day China.

Not only did this drought alter human civilization, it even left an imprint in the rock record. The drought can be seen in stalagmites in India, where the lower monsoon levels are represented by changes in oxygen isotopes. The global nature of the drought, the permanent record visible in rock layers, and the lasting effects to life on Earth mean that this moment in history is enough to qualify as the beginning of a new age.

The Meghalayan isn't the only new age that the International Commission on Stratigraphy identified. They also named the Greenlandian as the first age of the Holocene, ranging from 11,700 years ago to 8,200 years ago. This age ended when the planet abruptly cooled from melting glacial water flowing into the North Atlantic. There's also the new Northgrippan age, which sits between the Greenlandian and the Meghalayan.

These new divisions of geologic time will likely bring some order and clarity to an era defined by monumental change, but not all scientists agree that the new ages are the best way to reclassify recent history. In particular, some geologists are working on defining a brand-new era to succeed the Holocene, called the Anthropocene, or "human era."

"They've suddenly announced [the Meghalayan] and stuck it on the diagram," geography professor Mark Maslin told the BBC. "It's official, we're in a new age; who knew? We have lots of new definitions that perhaps now contradict the Anthropocene Working Group and go against what most scientists perceive to be the most important change on Earth in the last 10,000 years."

But it may be possible for both the Anthropocene and the Meghalayan to exist at the same time. And regardless, the Anthropocene is tough to define precisely—plenty of very smart people are struggling with the definition.

It's hard to say how this geologic debate will play out. Defining the past is clearly hard enough; what happens in the future is anyone's guess.

ECOCIDE
Thousands flee homes near N. Carolina fertilizer plant fire





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Fertilizer Plant FireAn angel statue faces in the direction of billowing smoke from a fire at the Weaver Fertilizer Plant on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Winston-Salem, N.C.

 (Allison Lee Isley/The Winston-Salem Journal via AP)


Mon, January 31, 2022

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — An uncontrolled fire raging at a North Carolina fertilizer plant forced the evacuations of thousands of people as firefighters warned early Tuesday that chemicals at the site could cause a large explosion.

Authorities drove through neighborhoods and knocked on doors asking residents to leave within a one-mile radius (1.6 km) of the Weaver Fertilizer Plant on the northside of Winston-Salem, where the fire started Monday night. No injuries were reported.

Most of the campus of Wake Forest University is just outside the evacuation zone. The university urged students living in dormitories to stay indoors and keep windows closed.


Bright orange flames could be seen shooting into the sky along with thick plumes of smoke as lights from firetrucks and other first responder vehicles surrounded the fully engulfed building. The evacuation area included about 6,500 people in 2,500 homes, the Winston-Salem Fire Department said.

“We want to make sure that right now we’re evacuating everybody in this one-mile radius," Winston-Salem Battalion Chief Patrick Grubbs told reporters early Tuesday. "There is still a potential for explosion.”

Firefighters had pulled back from the scene due to the danger of the uncontrolled fire, leaving behind an unmanned truck to pump water on part of the site, Grubbs said. Authorities were also flying drones over periodically to assess the fire.

At least 90 firefighters, along with emergency personnel from other agencies, fought the fire for about two hours Monday night, but they had to retreat because of the large volume of ammonium nitrate on the site, Winston-Salem Fire Chief Trey Mayo said. The fire department said that firefighters could not flow enough water to be reasonably certain of keeping it cool enough to prevent a detonation.

Grubbs warned that there was going to be a lot of smoke and poor air quality. He said that it could take some time for the fire to come under control.

Michelle Shepherd, who lives blocks from the plant, told the Winston-Salem Journal that after hearing and feeling explosions and seeing the flames Monday night, she didn't wait for the evacuation order to leave her house and head to a shelter opened by local authorities.

“We felt big explosions. The entire house shook,” she told the newspaper. “And I looked out my front door and I could see the orange glow.”

Less than two miles (3 km) away, Wake Forest canceled classes for Tuesday and opened a campus building for students and staff who live off campus but had to relocate. The university said only one campus housing building was within the evacuation zone.

The Forsyth Correctional Center, a minimum security prison with the capacity for about 250 inmates, also is in the evacuation area.

Winston-Salem officials said a shelter has been set up at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds. People who have evacuated should plan to be away from their homes for up to 48 hours.

The fertilizer plant was closed when the fire started and no employees were inside, local media outlets reported.

Grubbs said officials from the Weaver Fertilizer Plant have made no comment about the fire.