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Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Mullets, utes, dogs on show at muster
Russell Bradley stands in front of his 1979 Toyota Land Cruiser at this year's Ute Muster in Gore. PHOTOS: ELLA SCOTT-FLEMING An annual Ute Muster, as part of Bayleys Tussock Country music festival, featured a mullet contest where generational supporters of the hairstyle competed to see who had the best '80s-inspired locks. Utes old and new lined up at the Southern Field Days site on Sunday to be judged in a variety of categories including best deck and highest number of kilometres. The utes begin their convoy out of Waimumu's Southern Field Days site, before heading along the main drag of Gore, to Croydon Lodge for prizegiving. The pickups were not the only things assessed by the judges as a crowd of about 60 Southlanders braved the icy temperatures to watch some entertaining dog and mullet competitions too. MC Rural experience provider Real Country owner Laura Koot said there was no-one more reluctant to put themselves in the spotlight than Southland men. Theanim Wilson, winner of best mullet in the senior category at the Ute Muster. The winner in the Junior category was Liam McCullen, 9, who said he had been growing his mullet since "he was born". Theanim Wilson, who won for his grown-out 'do in the adult category, initially tried to hide his mullet, which was done by "a hairdresser". Thirteen golden retriever puppies in the back of Cody Wards' duck-hunt decorated Toyota Hilux, won "Best Dog in a Ute". Ute-wise "Best Turned Out 4WD" went to Russell Bradley for his 1979 Nissan Patrol and "The Most Kilometres" was Anthony Haines' 1999 Toyota Hilux, which had 590,247km on the clock. "Best Dog in a Ute" went to Cody Wards' 13 newborn golden retriever puppies, nestled in the back of his Hilux and surrounded by duck-shooting-themed decor. Mr Wards also won "People's Choice" with his 2006 Hilux, awarding him $500 and "Best Classic Ute — Pre 1980" was given to Harman Harvey's 1930 Ford Model A. MC Laura Koot asks Liam McCullen, 9, how long he has been growing his prize-winning mullet. GWD marketing manager Hamish Tonkin said the weather was practically "tropical" compared to last year and it was great to see so many utes in every category as well as the mullets. The utes convoyed through Main St in Gore before heading to Croydon Lodge for prizegiving.
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Mullets on show at muster
Russell Bradley in front of his 1979 Toyota Land Cruiser at this year's Ute Muster in Gore. PHOTOS: ELLA SCOTT-FLEMING An annual Ute Muster, as part of Gore's Tussock Country festival, featured a mullet contest where generational supporters of the hairstyle competed to see who had the best '80s-inspired locks. Utes old and new lined up at the Southern Field Days site on Sunday to be judged in a variety of categories including best deck and highest number of kilometres. The pickups were not the only things assessed by the judges as a crowd of about 60 Southlanders braved the icy temperatures to watch some entertaining dog and mullet competitions too. MC Rural experience provider Real Country owner Laura Koot said there was no-one more reluctant to put themselves in the spotlight than Southland men. The winner in the Junior category was Liam McCullen, 9, who said he had been growing his mullet since "he was born". Theanim Wilson, winner of best mullet in the senior category at the Ute Muster. Theanim Wilson, who won for his grown-out 'do in the adult category, initially tried to hide his mullet, which was done by "a hairdresser". Ute-wise "Best Turned Out 4WD" went to Russell Bradley for his 1979 Nissan Patrol and "The Most Kilometres" was Anthony Haines' 1999 Toyota Hilux, which had 590,247km on the clock. "Best Dog in a Ute" went to Cody Wards' 13 newborn golden retriever puppies, nestled in the back of his Hilux and surrounded by duck-shooting-themed decor. Mr Wards also won "People's Choice" with his 2006 Hilux, awarding him $500 and "Best Classic Ute — Pre 1980" was given to Harman Harvey's 1930 Ford Model A. GWD marketing manager Hamish Tonkin said the weather was practically "tropical" compared to last year and it was great to see so many utes in every category as well as the mullets. The utes convoyed through Main St in Gore before heading to Croydon Lodge for prizegiving.
New Indian Express
23-04-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Curbs on groundwater extraction in Kerala's Palakkad district trigger farmer protests
KOCHI: The decision of the state ground water department (GWD) to impose restrictions on extraction of groundwater from borewells for irrigation purposes in the critical zones of Chittoor and Malampuzha taluks in Palakkad district has triggered protests by farmers. Meanwhile, the Palakkad district groundwater officer has written to the department seeking to relax the curbs to allow crop-based allocation of water. The state had implemented the Kerala Ground Water (Control and Regulation) Act in 2002. Areas where removal is more than 90% of the annually extractable water are classified as critical while areas that extract 70-90% are categorised semi-critical. Chittoor and Malampuzha, besides Kasaragod taluk are the critical zones in the state. The farmers of Chittoor and Malampuzha blocks grow coconut trees, paddy, plantain and vegetables — which are all water-intensive crops. However, the Palakkad Gap area, which includes Chittoor and Malampuzha, is a comparatively rain-shadow region where annual rainfall is a mere 1,500 mm. In the parched farmlands, farmers depend on groundwater resources to water crops. However, the imposed restrictions, including making permits must for sinking borewells, ceiling on daily extraction, installation of flow meters, etc., have irked farmers. 'The restrictions are not practical. We need to irrigate paddy and vegetables. There is acute shortage of water in Chittoor where we cultivate plantain, paddy and vegetables extensively. If the government wants to restrict the extraction of groundwater, they should provide us water from the dam through canals,' said Pandiyode Prabhakaran, a local farmer. Meanwhile, groundwater levels are depleting in Vadakarappathi, Eruthempathy and Kozhinjambara areas where borewells are 400-600 ft deep. The district-level evaluation committee has the authority to sanction motors in the 3-5 HP range. It is the state-level authority that approves motor pumps of over 5 HP capacity. 'Flow meters were introduced based on the Ground Water Control and Regulation Act, 2002. However, we did not make it mandatory until an inspection team from the accountant general's office highlighted lapses in 2023. There are many restrictions on allocation of permits for installing borewells, which we have relaxed. We grant permits to dig wells and after that provide a conversion permit which will help farmers get free power. We have urged farmers to install flow meters and submit the original receipt while applying for conversion permits,' said GWD Palakkad district officer Arts K Purushotham. He said many applicants submitted fake receipts of flow meters, which was revealed during the audit. So now the GWD has started inspecting farmlands to ensure that flow meters are installed. Farmers are provided a book in which they have to note down the meter reading every day. 'We conduct yield tests before granting conversion permits to decide the availability of water in the underground resource based on which the maximum extractable quantity is fixed. Considering the protest, I have written to the state authority to provide relaxation on the maximum daily extractable water based on crops,' he said.
Zawya
19-03-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Angola develops a strategic plan to eradicate Guinea worm disease
In a concerted effort led by the Ministry of Health and supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Angola has outlined a comprehensive strategy to eradicate Guinea worm disease (GWD). This initiative, which involves public and private institutions, national and international organizations, and civil society, aims to protect the Angolan population from this debilitating disease. Between 2018 and 2024, Angola reported 136 cases of dracunculiasis, including 3 in humans and 133 in animals (dogs), all in the province of Cunene during the transmission period from January to May. In 2025, provisional infections in animals increased, with 52 cases reported, of which 19 were confirmed and 33 were waiting for laboratory results between 1 January and 15 March, compared to 24 confirmed infections in animals in 2024. Dr. Nzuzi Katondi, responsible for the WHO's Neglected Diseases area in Angola, stressed the importance of the National Strategic Plan for eradicating dracunculiasis. 'This guiding document, the result of extensive consultation and coordination with partners, will accelerate efforts to certify Angola as a dracunculiasis-free country by 2030,' said Dr Katondi. 'Despite the inherent challenges, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) can be controlled, eliminated, and eradicated. This plan, in light of the global goal of eradicating drancuculosis by 2030, offers an opportunity for the government to step up its actions to eliminate dracunculiasis nationwide by 2030 and reduce the burden of this disease, which severely affects vulnerable populations and perpetuates the cycle of poverty,' added Dr. Katondi. The strategy centers on five key interventions, namely surveillance, interruption of transmission including wash, cross border and one health, communication and community involvement, governance and advocacy, and support for fieldwork. These initiatives underline Angola's commitment to eradicating NTDs and improving public health. In 2024, the WHO, in collaboration with Carter Center, supported Angola's efforts to eradicate dracunculiasis by treating 87 eligible water points in Namacunde and Cuanhama with Abate®, distributing 38,528 water filters to more than 6,389 families and achieving an investigation response rate of 77.5% to human and animal rumors within 24 hours. In addition, community-based surveillance and sensitisation efforts reached more than 43,683 community members. Guinea worm disease, caused by the parasite *Dracunculus medinensis*, is transmitted mainly through the consumption of contaminated water. Angola is one of five countries that have yet to eradicate this disease, which negatively affects human and animal health, reduces productivity, and increases vulnerability. Angola's commitment to eliminating NTDs aligns with its dedication to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the WHO Roadmap for Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021-2030. The successful implementation of the Multisectoral Strategic Plan for the Eradication of Dracunculiasis 2025-2030 is expected to produce significant health benefits and increase the well-being of the Angolan population. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) - Angola.
