Latest news with #BrianMorris
Daily Maverick
10 hours ago
- General
- Daily Maverick
Coal mining fear sparks unexpected conservation boom in Mpumalanga
The ecologically rich grasslands in Mpumalanga's highveld have become a front line in the struggle between biodiversity and coal mining. Fearful of open-cast mining's devastating impacts, a growing number of South African landowners are turning to an unconventional shield: biodiversity protection. While their motives may not be entirely green, the outcome has been, in the words of Brian Morris, 'a blessing in disguise' for conservation and South Africa's biodiversity conservation goals. Morris heads the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency's biodiversity stewardship programme, which allows for the declaration of 'protected areas on land owned by private individuals, by communities, by companies and trusts'. Unconventional shield These landowners commit to 'long-term commitments to essentially manage these areas as private protected areas.' Crucially, when formal protected areas are declared, they are legally protected from mining developments. This makes them an effective defence against open-cast coal mining, which 'is steadily eating away vast tracts of conservation-worthy grasslands', said Morris. Notably, these grasslands hold high biodiversity value, but also happen to be where 'most of the mineral reserves, the coal, and so on' are located, said Morris. He said this 'inevitable conflict' was a microcosm of a larger national struggle. Conservation, he said, had often been 'cast as an elitist luxury, something that gets in the way of jobs and housing and food production and other needs'. In this context, the Mpumalanga Parks' initiative — even with its mixed motivations — offers a practical path toward a 'more inclusive and more holistic vision and implementation' of conservation, one that recognises that 'land holds multiple values — ecological, economic, spiritual — and that these values can coexist', said Morris. Morris was talking at the latest Tipping Points webinar, titled Conservation beyond Borders. Hosted by Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation (OGRC), the webinar tackled a pressing global question: How can countries such as South Africa protect biodiversity without sidelining development and human rights? Joining Morris on the panel were environmental historian and conservation biographer, Simon Pooley, and Natasha Wilson, the South African National Park's expansion manager. The discussions were facilitated by Kina Murphy, the chief scientist and Africa director for the Campaign for Nature, which focuses on protecting 30% of the planet by 2030 — a goal set as a key conservation benchmark at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2022 in Montreal, Canada. Murphy highlighted the urgency of the task. With up to two million species at risk of extinction this decade, she stressed that new, inclusive models of conservation were essential. South Africa, which helped shape the goal during the negotiations, has committed to protect 1.4 million hectares through formal reserves and another 10 million via so-called OECMs (Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures). These include community and privately managed lands that support biodiversity, even if not primarily for that purpose. There was consensus among the panellists that while these goals were laudable, turning that vision into reality was anything but simple. The obstacles are many: complex land ownership and community governance issues; conflicting government plans; few real incentives for landowners — and conservation agencies stretched thin. On-the-ground realities Then comes the issue of managing protected areas amid thorny on-the-ground realities. Setting the scene, Pooley brought a hard edge to the conversation through a sobering historical lens. 'I'm slightly Mr Bad News today,' he quipped, as he recounted the layered, unresolved struggles at Ndumo Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal — one of South Africa's oldest protected areas, now under siege, 101 years after its proclamation in 1924. Pooley grew up in Ndumo, describing it as 'a little pocket of extraordinary biodiversity nestled in the confluence of the Usuthu and the Pongola rivers … teeming with water, birds, fishes, harumphing hippopotamus and crocodiles basking on the grazing lawns'. Like many others, Pooley's childhood, immersed in this natural world, led to him becoming a conservationist. But this was not the case for many of his childhood playmates, whose parents had once lived inside the reserve. 'Many South Africans were evicted from this fenced reserve. This was to maintain a refuge on the country's most biodiverse floodplain for animals which are difficult to live with, like crocodiles, hippos, rhinos,' said Pooley. This gave rise to deep, unresolved tensions. 'Locals had been living alongside the wildlife from the proclamation of the reserve in 1924 up until 1966,' Pooley noted. But during apartheid, animal conservation was prioritised over people's rights. When remittances failed to arrive back from the mines, 'mothers and children entered the reserve to catch animals for food. What had been subsistence use was now classified as poaching,' said Pooley. Rangers, he added, were caught between enforcing the law and sympathising with the hunger and hardship around them. In recent years, the reserve was handed to a new provincial authority, and a land claim was settled in 2008. Although 'co-management with communities commenced' and 'the era of fortress conservation was over,' Pooley said the practical management plans for the reserve were never clearly defined, and the terms of the land claim were disputed — and still are. Politicians' promises Then, 'during fierce political campaigning in national elections, politicians made rash promises to give locals land in the reserve,' said Pooley. These pledges to return land crossed the bounds of legality and were later abandoned. All of this, combined with high unemployment and the lack of much promised development, fuelled anger among the local population, leading to fence cutting and illegal occupation. The Ndumo Game Reserve — the most prominent local symbol of provincial authority — became 'a lightning rod for frustration', said Pooley. Today, despite the dedicated work of generations of conservationists, Ndumo is under serious threat. Its eastern region is under occupation by farmers, fishermen and cattle herders. It has suffered the loss of all its rhinos and a 'shocking decline' in crocodile and hippo numbers. Now, mineral prospecting applications are in progress. In conclusion, Pooley acknowledged that while it was important to find new land to conserve to achieve the 30×30 targets, a lot more could be done to better manage and preserve existing protected areas. 'Let's not forget to protect the land we've already got,' said Pooley. Morris agreed. 'We're kind of neglecting what we already have, and I see this as a serious challenge.' Morris acknowledged, too, that the process of declaring a protected area was 'by no means easy'. 'It takes time,' he said, 'anything from 12 months to two years.' He said over the past 15 years, Mpumalanga had added 162,859 hectares to its protected area estate, but at this rate, it would take 'another 68 years to reach the 30% target. ' He said while progress was being made in encouraging landowners to conserve their land, better incentives could be offered to counter the 'indiscriminate granting of mining rights even within some of our protected areas.' And unfortunately, 'areas of high biodiversity value virtually always lose out' in strategic land use planning debates. He cited as an example the massive expansion of wind energy facilities in the grassy biomes of Mpumalanga, driven by the country's weak grid capacity. This, he said, posed significant threats to birds and bats, potentially impacting on biodiversity in the region. Looking to the future, Natasha Wilson said South Africa's 'remarkable biodiversity' demands a rethink of how conservation is done — and who it's for. Historically, SANParks has worked 'very much within our fences and within our boundaries,' but the organisation is now undergoing a 'radical departure' from this model. The future, she said, lay outside the fences, in partnerships that recognised the need to balance people and nature. New approaches A good example, said Wilson, was a new national park being declared in the grasslands near Maclear in the north-eastern Eastern Cape. 'Here, we are working with a range of landowners who are willingly contributing their land to conservation,' she said. 'And we've taken quite a different stance — we're looking at livestock as a driver in the ecosystem, as part of the park.' The initiative reflects a broader SANParks strategy rooted in the idea of 'mega living landscapes' — places where conservation supports, and is supported by, the people who live there. Wilson acknowledged this was 'very difficult work' and often a process of 'learning as you're doing', but said there was growing momentum, with 'just over 10,000 hectares' in the pipeline for declaration later this year. Essential to the success of this inclusive, landscape-level approach was building social legitimacy through power-sharing and respect for people's rights and dignity, said Wilson. And this involved collaborating with diverse landholders, from communal farmers to private landowners, and using legislative tools such as biodiversity stewardship to scale up conservation beyond protected areas. Beyond monetary value As the discussion wrapped up, it moved to the very essence of why conservation was pursued, moving beyond purely economic justifications. Pooley argued that if conservation was forced to 'pay its way' and measured only by 'rand value', it would 'lose every single time that the mining, or whatever the latest scheme to grow cotton, comes along'. He also said many conservationists often forgot that there was 'homegrown local, indigenous interest in conservation'. Therefore, it shouldn't be seen as 'a sort of battle to convert people to something entirely new'. Murphy agreed, stressing that modern conservation efforts should support and empower existing, long-standing practices of land stewardship deeply embedded within indigenous cultures. 'The land is invaluable, priceless actually, we cannot put a price tag on it,' said Murphy. And for indigenous people, 'it's not a new thing to conserve their land'. According to the World Bank, about 476 million indigenous people, including those in Africa, hold tenure rights to about a quarter of the world's surface area, accounting for a significant portion of the world's biodiversity. DM Fred Kockott is the director of the environmental journalism training agency, Roving Reporters. This article was produced with assistance from Jive Media Africa, science communication partner of Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation.
Fox News
22-02-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Man with lifelong fear of flying reveals why Americans shouldn't worry as expert also weighs in
Nervous travelers have been worrying about taking to the air given recent airplane crashes in the news. Even so, one man with aerophobia, or a fear of flying, believes there's nothing to be afraid of — and he's on a mission to help others address their concerns. Brian Morris of Salt Lake City, Utah, created "Flight Deck: Fear Of Flying Flash Cards" to help anxious flyers calm themselves about takeoff procedures and the travel experience. "In light of the recent flight incidents and accidents, I know firsthand how these events can evoke fear and uncertainty in many individuals," Morris told Fox News Digital. Aerophobia affects more than 25 million Americans, according to Cleveland Clinic. Morris said it's important to know that anxiety related to flying produces valid feelings, "especially when we're bombarded with videos and reports about aviation mishaps." Aerophobia can be triggered by news stories about plane crashes, takeoff and landing, and turbulence, Cleveland Clinic also noted. It's no wonder that searches on Google by Americans for the phrase "Is it safe to fly?" have been surging in February, as has been widely reported. Michaela Renee Johnson, a commercial pilot and licensed psychotherapist, told Fox News Digital that fear is a natural reaction. (See the video at the top of this article.) "A lot of people don't realize [fear is] actually incredibly natural, and it means that your body and brain [are] working exactly as intended," said Johnson, who is based in California, Alaska and elsewhere. "It's not necessarily a bad thing to have these thoughts," she said. "But what happens is our reptilian existence kind of takes over, and we start to doubt everything we've known to be a relatively safe way to travel." She said any sort of fear that people may experience is a "very rational place for the human mind to go." "The way that we tackle fears in general is by assessing the risk, assessing the safety — and then deciding to do it anyway. [That's] really how we move through fear." Morris, for his part, said he reminds himself "of the incredible safety record of commercial aviation. Statistically speaking, flying remains one of the safest modes of transportation" — a belief that helps him maintain "a sense of calm and rationality," he said. "Educate yourself about the aviation industry … Knowledge is a powerful tool in combating fear." "For nervous flyers, my advice is to educate yourself about the aviation industry and how airplanes operate. Knowledge is a powerful tool in combating fear," said Morris. He said he encourages other nervous flyers to adopt practical techniques for managing their anxiety. "Breathing exercises, mindfulness and visualization can be incredibly effective in calming the mind before and during a flight," he said. He suggested imagining yourself arriving at your destination — and feeling accomplished and proud of conquering your fears. "Surround yourself with supportive friends or family members who understand your journey; their encouragement can make a world of difference," Morris also said. "Remember, fear is natural, but it shouldn't hold you back from experiencing the world. Stay informed, stay calm, and keep flying." He added that "sharing your experiences and hearing others' journeys can be incredibly comforting and reassuring." While her own experiences in the air don't directly compare to the recent disasters, Johnson said she's found herself in the midst of two in-flight emergencies over the years. So she understands the hesitancy people may have after seeing certain aviation emergencies unfold — yet said there's hope and a way to get through fear. "I've been in two in-flight, uncomfortable situations myself, and it was really hard to get back in the cockpit and push through all of those kinds of rational thoughts [about] protecting yourself from further harm," she said. "I would say it's going to take some time … [Healing] is a process and it's not necessarily linear." Johnson said she finds the aviation community to be a place of positivity and support — one filled with people who lift one another up physically and literally "with their wings." "You should have a lot of faith in the people that are operating these aircraft," said Johnson, "because they really are backed by an incredible support team and they want to make it home, too … Their mission is to get every single one of you home safe." Regarding the latest unfortunate incidents, Johnson said she doesn't think it's one specific thing that's responsible — but a combination of things that require the attention of the FAA. In the end, she's hoping people are able to work through and assess their fears about flying — and move those fears into the "co-pilot seat" so that such feelings aren't navigating any decisions. "I really believe this is going to shake up the aviation industry in a very fascinating way," Johnson added. "I'm very hopeful that people continue to enjoy the gift of aviation because it really is amazing, spectacular and wonderful," she said. "And I just hope that it doesn't discourage too many people from taking to the skies."
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Opinion: Newborn testing and sample retention is essential for children's health
We wish to respond to the editorial by Brian Morris and Daryl James titled 'Newborn blood retention policy raises constitutional concerns in Utah.' We would like to congratulate the authors for bringing this important issue of newborn screening to everyone's attention. A discussion on the merits and concerns about the Utah program is timely since a bill has been recently introduced by Representative Pierucci that in summary mandates the following: An informational form be provided to a newborn infant's parent or guardian at least 24 hours prior to administering newborn infant health testing The caregiver can opt out of testing The neonatal samples be destroyed within 90 days Newborn screening is routinely provided to all newborns, and parents currently have the option to decline testing. This program has been successfully conducted by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services to enable the early identification of infants with certain genetic, metabolic, hearing and endocrine disorders. Without early identification and prompt treatment, these disorders can result in devastating health consequences, including death. Many newborns born in Utah have been diagnosed and successfully treated. Additional efforts at parental information and education would be welcome and should be supported. However, we are concerned about any barriers and delays that would prevent timely diagnosis of newborns with life threatening diseases. We have outstanding but very busy obstetricians in our state. Who would be tasked with discussing the rationale for the testing, obtaining and documenting parental approval or denial and coordinating these additional steps with subsequent neonatal testing? Most importantly, we are concerned about the requirement that the sample be destroyed in 90 days. Residual bloodspots in states around the country have proven to be an extremely valuable resource for clinical care and research on the health and welfare of children. In Utah, an excellent example is cytomegalovirus (CMV) testing for children. In 2013, former state Representative Ronda Rudd Menlove spearheaded legislation mandating early cytomegalovirus (CMV) testing for infants who failed their newborn hearing screen. CMV is a leading and often unrecognized cause of childhood hearing loss and an important cause of brain defects. Utah was the first state in the country to implement this statewide early CMV screening program. It has been extremely effective in diagnosing hundreds of children with this condition. However, this approach will not identify all children with CMV. For the older child who presents with hearing loss or developmental delay, we have relied on the neonatal dried blood spot samples to diagnose these children. We have tested almost 100 children after obtaining parental consent. Over 20 children from Utah have been diagnosed by this approach. This diagnosis has led us to identify previously unidentified brain abnormalities associated with CMV infection. Some infants have been successfully treated with antiviral medication that has prevented further hearing loss. Knowing that CMV caused deafness and that there is a high risk for further hearing loss in the other ear has enabled us to obtain insurance approval for several CMV-infected children who needed cochlear implantation. In fact, we recently diagnosed a 7-year-old child with CMV using his neonatal sample. We hope that Utah legislators will fully evaluate the implications of this legislation and pass a bill that will not harm the countless children born in this state.
Associated Press
11-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
First-Ever Live Event in Kansas City as Leadercast Celebrates 25 Years
World's largest one-day leadership conference brings powerhouse speakers to The Midland Theatre on April 8, 2025 'This is a milestone year for Leadercast, and we couldn't think of a better place than Kansas City to host this event live for the first time.' — Brian Morris, President of Leadercast KANSAS CITY, MO, UNITED STATES, February 11, 2025 / / -- For the first time in its 25-year history, Leadercast —one of the world's most influential leadership conferences—is coming LIVE to Kansas City on April 8, 2025, at The Midland Theatre. Kansas City has long been a city of champions—home to world-class sports teams, thriving businesses, and a spirit of leadership that drives innovation and success. Now, Leadercast is bringing its legacy of impact to the heart of the Midwest, equipping leaders with insights, strategies, and inspiration to create lasting change. 'This is a milestone year for Leadercast, and we couldn't think of a better place than Kansas City to host this event live for the first time,' said Brian Morris, President of Leadercast and a longtime resident of Kansas City. 'From the boardroom to the locker room, Kansas City embodies leadership at every level, and we're excited to bring together some of the most influential voices in leadership to inspire the next generation of game-changers.' Leadercast 2025: Legacy of Impact features an all-star lineup of visionary speakers, including: ● Jesse Cole – Owner of the Savannah Bananas & Fans First Entertainment ● Dominique Dawes – Olympic gold medalist & trailblazing entrepreneur ● Andy Stanley – Best-selling author & leadership expert ● Jon Gordon – Renowned leadership consultant & author of The Energy Bus ● Hal Elrod – Bestselling author of Miracle Morning & resilience expert ● Bob Kendrick – President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum ● Bobbi Doorenbos – Retired Colonel & leadership innovator ● Christian Boucousis – Former fighter pilot & high-performance coach ● Taliyah Brooks – Leadercast 2025 Host and Team USA Olympic Athlete Attendees will experience high-impact sessions from top business minds, elite athletes, and leadership experts, walking away with practical strategies to elevate their leadership, build stronger teams, and create a lasting legacy in one day, on one stage, for one chance to transform your leadership. Event Details: Location: The Midland Theatre, Kansas City, MO Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025 Tickets: Available now at Can't make it in person? Leadercast 2025 will also be available for streaming starting May 8. Don't miss this historic opportunity to be part of Leadercast's 25th anniversary and experience the power of transformational leadership—right here in Kansas City. About Leadercast For 25 years, Leadercast has been the premier source for leadership development, delivering world-class speakers, actionable insights, and inspiring experiences to help individuals and organizations grow. With a mission to equip leaders with the tools to create lasting impact, Leadercast has empowered millions across industries and professions. Leadercast President, Brian Morris, is available for in-person interviews taking place in the Kansas City region. For media inquiries, interviews, or press passes, please contact: Isaac Stambaugh: [email protected] Isaac Stambaugh Facebook LinkedIn Instagram YouTube TikTok Legal Disclaimer:
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BrightNight Announces Key Appointments to Drive Growth in Australia
Appoints Brian Morris as CCO and Katie Barnett as CFO MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BrightNight, the next-generation global renewable power producer, is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Morris as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and Katie Barnett as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of its Australia platform. These strategic appointments come as BrightNight accelerates its expansion in the Australian renewable energy sector. BrightNight is soon to commence construction of Mortlake Energy Hub, Victoria's largest integrated hybrid renewable energy project, after receiving grid and development approval in 2024. Further, the company plans to expand its portfolio of large-scale, multi-technology renewable power projects to serve the Australian market. Leadership Appointments to Strengthen BrightNight Australia's Capabilities Brian Morris brings more than 30 years of experience in energy trading, renewable energy strategy, and risk management to the role of CCO. He has a proven track record of securing long-term revenue contracts and building strategic partnerships with key stakeholders. As an advocate for sustainability, Brian's values align closely with BrightNight's mission to deliver reliable and affordable renewable power. He currently serves on the board of the Energy Users Association of Australia and previously the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity, further demonstrating his leadership in the industry. Brian joins us from Macquarie Group where he served as Director with the Green Investments business. He holds a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University. Katie Barnett joins BrightNight with over two decades of experience in power markets, energy finance, and energy Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A). She has an impressive track record of leading over 50 transactions exceeding A$18 billion (about $12 billion). As CFO, Katie will play a pivotal role in securing capital for BrightNight's multi-gigawatt portfolio expansion in Australia. Her leadership and expertise in large-scale project financing and M&A transactions will be critical as BrightNight scales its operations. Prior to joining BrightNight, she was with PwC as a partner in their Energy Transition, Deals and M&A department, helping advance their utility-scale storage practice. Katie has also held senior roles at Origin Energy in renewable energy and corporate development and was the founding CEO and CFO of PowAR (now Tilt Renewables), overseeing an A$1.5 billion (roughly $1 billion) portfolio of onshore wind and solar projects. Katie earned a Master in Applied Finance from Macquarie University and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Strategic Growth and Vision for Australia Jerome Ortiz, CEO of BrightNight APAC, said: "Brian and Katie's wealth of experience and industry track record will be invaluable in the execution and growth of our business in Australia. As Australia transitions towards more complex dispatchable energy solutions to meet its 2050 net-zero target, BrightNight aims to play a key role in enabling clean and reliable round-the-clock power." Brian Morris commented: "I am excited to join BrightNight at this critical time in the energy transition. BrightNight's cutting-edge technology and analytical capability, combined with a team of industry leaders, has already set the stage for a gigawatt-scale portfolio of world-class energy solutions. I look forward to helping steer the company's growth in Australia as we continue to deliver firm, renewable baseload power for customers." Katie Barnett added: "I'm thrilled to join BrightNight during this pivotal phase of its growth. With the company's proven ability to deliver transformative energy solutions, I am keen to apply my extensive Australian power and capital markets experience to contribute to the expansion of BrightNight's global portfolio and bring their Australian projects to fruition. The future of renewable energy is here, and BrightNight is well-positioned to lead the charge." Brian is based in Melbourne, Victoria, and Katie lives in Sydney in New South Wales. ABOUT BRIGHTNIGHT BrightNight is the first global renewable integrated power company designed to provide utility and commercial and industrial customers with clean, dispatchable renewable power solutions. BrightNight works with customers across the U.S. and Asia Pacific to design, develop, and operate safe, reliable, large-scale renewable power projects optimised to better manage the intermittent nature of renewable energy. Its deep customer engagement process, team of proven power experts, and industry-leading solutions enable customers to overcome challenging energy sustainability standards, rapidly changing grid dynamics, and the transition away from fossil fuel generation. To learn more, visit: Photo - - - View original content: SOURCE BrightNight Sign in to access your portfolio
