Latest news with #IJC
Malaysian Reserve
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
IJC Spring Semi-Annual Meeting Focuses on Ensuring Healthy, Safe and Prosperous Transboundary Watersheds
WASHINGTON, May 22, 2025 /CNW/ — The International Joint Commission (IJC) held its spring semi-annual meeting from April 28-May 2, in Washington, D.C. The event convened Commissioners, staff, board and committee members to discuss ongoing work, challenges and opportunities. 'In these challenging times, the work that we do to preserve and protect our boundary waters and resolve disputes between Canada and the United States is more important than ever,' IJC US Co-Chair Gerald Acker said. During the week-long meeting, the Commissioners met with the many IJC boards and committees. Updates included board expansions and new membership, ongoing and completed computer modeling of hydrological systems, infrastructure work being undertaken by outside agencies and organizations, and work being planned for the coming months. Commissioners also formally met with representatives from the Canadian and US governments, providing updates on current and forecasted conditions across transboundary watersheds. Governments received information on board activities, the IJC's ongoing studies, including the progress of those in the Elk-Kootenai/y River basin, St. Mary and Milk River basin, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, and the Poplar River basin. Commissioners also updated governments on the IJC's Circle of Experts initiative, which brings together Indigenous experts from across the transboundary region to discuss how the IJC can best work with them on water governance issues to the mutual benefit of these communities and the Commission's duties. Additionally, Commissioners were graciously hosted by the Canadian Embassy for lunch Tuesday, April 29, and were very pleased to welcome guests and interested parties to a reception at the Harry S. Truman Building on April 30. The next semi-annual meeting is scheduled for Fall 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. Commissioners are looking forward to continuing their cross-border efforts to resolve problems and work together into the future. 'We're looking forward to continuing to fulfill the duties of the Boundary Waters Treaty with our colleagues in both Canada and the United States,' said Canadian Co-Chair Pierre Baril. Quick Facts Each board has its own responsibilities, public engagement efforts, and opportunities for involvement detailed on their respective websites: The IJC is a binational body established by the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 to help the governments of Canada and the United States prevent and resolve disputes over use of the waters shared by the two countries. Contact: Cara Prest Canadian Section 613-293-7226 Ed Virden US Section 202-372-7990
Cision Canada
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
IJC Spring Semi-Annual Meeting Focuses on Ensuring Healthy, Safe and Prosperous Transboundary Watersheds
WASHINGTON, May 22, 2025 /CNW/ -- The International Joint Commission (IJC) held its spring semi-annual meeting from April 28-May 2, in Washington, D.C. The event convened Commissioners, staff, board and committee members to discuss ongoing work, challenges and opportunities. "In these challenging times, the work that we do to preserve and protect our boundary waters and resolve disputes between Canada and the United States is more important than ever," IJC US Co-Chair Gerald Acker said. During the week-long meeting, the Commissioners met with the many IJC boards and committees. Updates included board expansions and new membership, ongoing and completed computer modeling of hydrological systems, infrastructure work being undertaken by outside agencies and organizations, and work being planned for the coming months. Commissioners also formally met with representatives from the Canadian and US governments, providing updates on current and forecasted conditions across transboundary watersheds. Governments received information on board activities, the IJC's ongoing studies, including the progress of those in the Elk-Kootenai/y River basin, St. Mary and Milk River basin, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, and the Poplar River basin. Commissioners also updated governments on the IJC's Circle of Experts initiative, which brings together Indigenous experts from across the transboundary region to discuss how the IJC can best work with them on water governance issues to the mutual benefit of these communities and the Commission's duties. Additionally, Commissioners were graciously hosted by the Canadian Embassy for lunch Tuesday, April 29, and were very pleased to welcome guests and interested parties to a reception at the Harry S. Truman Building on April 30. The next semi-annual meeting is scheduled for Fall 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. Commissioners are looking forward to continuing their cross-border efforts to resolve problems and work together into the future. "We're looking forward to continuing to fulfill the duties of the Boundary Waters Treaty with our colleagues in both Canada and the United States," said Canadian Co-Chair Pierre Baril. Quick Facts
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
IJC Spring Semi-Annual Meeting Focuses on Ensuring Healthy, Safe and Prosperous Transboundary Watersheds
WASHINGTON, May 22, 2025 /CNW/ -- The International Joint Commission (IJC) held its spring semi-annual meeting from April 28-May 2, in Washington, D.C. The event convened Commissioners, staff, board and committee members to discuss ongoing work, challenges and opportunities. "In these challenging times, the work that we do to preserve and protect our boundary waters and resolve disputes between Canada and the United States is more important than ever," IJC US Co-Chair Gerald Acker said. During the week-long meeting, the Commissioners met with the many IJC boards and committees. Updates included board expansions and new membership, ongoing and completed computer modeling of hydrological systems, infrastructure work being undertaken by outside agencies and organizations, and work being planned for the coming months. Commissioners also formally met with representatives from the Canadian and US governments, providing updates on current and forecasted conditions across transboundary watersheds. Governments received information on board activities, the IJC's ongoing studies, including the progress of those in the Elk-Kootenai/y River basin, St. Mary and Milk River basin, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, and the Poplar River basin. Commissioners also updated governments on the IJC's Circle of Experts initiative, which brings together Indigenous experts from across the transboundary region to discuss how the IJC can best work with them on water governance issues to the mutual benefit of these communities and the Commission's duties. Additionally, Commissioners were graciously hosted by the Canadian Embassy for lunch Tuesday, April 29, and were very pleased to welcome guests and interested parties to a reception at the Harry S. Truman Building on April 30. The next semi-annual meeting is scheduled for Fall 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. Commissioners are looking forward to continuing their cross-border efforts to resolve problems and work together into the future. "We're looking forward to continuing to fulfill the duties of the Boundary Waters Treaty with our colleagues in both Canada and the United States," said Canadian Co-Chair Pierre Baril. Quick Facts Each board has its own responsibilities, public engagement efforts, and opportunities for involvement detailed on their respective websites: The IJC is a binational body established by the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 to help the governments of Canada and the United States prevent and resolve disputes over use of the waters shared by the two Cara Prest Canadian Section 613-293-7226Ed Virden US Section 202-372-7990 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE International Joint Commission View original content to download multimedia:
Winnipeg Free Press
22-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
A new threat to Lake Winnipeg — from North Dakota
Opinion Massive dairy concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) being permitted and proposed in North Dakota are a threat to our waterways, including Lake Winnipeg and the groundwater which many people rely upon to drink. More than half of the phosphorus load, the cause of algal blooms in Lake Winnipeg, enters Manitoba's waterways from upstream jurisdictions. Two-thirds of this is from the Red River alone. The International Joint Commission (IJC), under The Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909, established joint nutrient loading targets in October 2022. The Red River nutrient target recommendation for phosphorus was set at 1,400 tonnes per year. But Manitoba's recent report on nutrient levels through 2023 shows that an average 2,500 tonnes of phosphorus per year is coming from the U.S. through the Red River. That is nearly double the phosphorus loading targets set by the IJC. The Canadian Press Netley Creek and the Red River enter Lake Winnipeg just north of Winnipeg. The Red River and Lake Winnipeg are facing new pollution threats from huge new North Dakota corporate dairy operations. Since the 1930s, North Dakota had one of the most progressive anti-corporate farming laws in the U.S., intended to keep North Dakota lands in the hands of working family farmers. This legislation had been gradually weakened over the years. In 2023, then-governor Douglas Burgum, now Trump's secretary of the interior, encouraged changing the law to allow for corporations to become partners in animal agriculture operations. This has opened the door for corporate investment in North Dakota and, in particular, eastern North Dakota within the Red River Valley, now identified as a prime area of interest for the establishment of CAFOs. Riverview LLP, a large dairy/cattle agribusiness based out of Minnesota, is in the process of expanding into North Dakota with two new CAFOs. The Abercrombie Dairy received permits from North Dakota to start construction of a 12,500-head milking cow operation near Wahpeton in January 2025. The Dakota Resource Council and nearby residents filed an appeal of the state permit in February, citing concerns about water quality, but unfortunately the appeal was dismissed on technical grounds. The Herberg Dairy is another proposed 25,000-head milking operation near Hillsboro, N.D., which is in the initial regulatory/permitting stage. Public comments are being accepted until June 2. No permitting decisions regarding Herberg Dairy have yet been made. The size of these massive dairy operations is concerning. Just two new CAFOs will add 37,500 more cows. To put the size of these operations in perspective, at present Manitoba has around 45,000 milk cows, supporting about 240 farms in the entire province. North Dakota currently has around 8,900 milk cows supporting about 24 dairy farms across the state. These two CAFOs will more than quadruple the number of milking cows in North Dakota, and add nearly as many milking cows in the Red River watershed as there are in all of Manitoba. They will also produce massive amounts of animal excrement, comparable to a city with a population of 1.5 million people. To deal with all this manure, these CAFOs will store the manure and wastewater in lagoons the size of 62 American football fields (52 Canadian football fields). Once a year, they pour this manure slurry on agricultural fields as fertilizer. These dairies are within 1.5 miles from the Red River or one of its tributaries. The Red River valley south of the border floods, just like here. Heavy rains, storms in CAFO rich areas like Iowa and North Carolina have caused serious manure releases into neighboring water bodies. Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. Sound familiar? This is how Manitoba's intensive hog industry manages their waste, and we know where the nutrient hot spots are located within southeastern Manitoba, a.k.a. Hog Alley. What could possibly go wrong? Dr. John Ikerd, professor emeritus of agricultural economics and author of numerous books on sustainable agriculture, said it best: 'piling up too much stuff in one place, causes problems.' Too much manure on the same parcels of land year after year after year leads to the accumulation of nutrients and other contaminants (such as phosphorus, nitrogen, antibiotics, viruses, bacteria, hormones and heavy metals). In sandy to loamy soils, this waste escapes downward to the aquifer, contaminating the groundwater. In clayey soils — a good part of the Red River valley — the excess contaminants run off during wet periods contaminating waterways and contributing to algal blooms in Lake Winnipeg. These huge dairy farms need to be stopped. Canada should refer the issue of these new CAFOs to the IJC to provide recommendations to resolve this transboundary water issue. Governments need to support regenerative agriculture, and phase out industrial factory farming production systems. Small farms that use straw rather than manure slurry pits are better for people, animals, and the planet. James Beddome is the executive director of the Manitoba Eco-Network and was raised on a mixed livestock family farm in the Little Saskatchewan river valley in western Manitoba. Dr. Madeline Luke is a volunteer with the Dakota Resource Council. She is a retired internal medicine doctor from Valley City, North Dakota. Glen Koroluk is the former executive director of the Manitoba Eco-Network, and former spokesperson for Beyond Factory Farming.
New Straits Times
18-05-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
Infant Jesus Convent Johor celebrates a century of sisterhood
IF the century-old walls of Infant Jesus Convent (IJC) Johor Baru could speak, they would tell a story of humble beginnings, of tears and triumph, and of the generations of girls who have passed through its corridors with dreams in their hearts. They would recount tales of prayers whispered before examinations, of netball matches won in muddy fields and of friendships forged that would last a lifetime. The school, now preparing for its grand centenary reunion dinner this August, began in 1925 with nothing more than a vision, a few devoted nuns and two dedicated teachers. Their mission: to provide formal education for girls in a time when opportunities for women were rare. Today, as alumni gather to celebrate this milestone, memories and emotions run high. "One hundred years ago, our founders had a vision — to offer girls the same opportunities as boys," says Antonette Oliveiro, president of the IJC alumni association and a former student herself. That vision, she adds, has since grown into a legacy of strength, resilience and success — not just in academics, but in every facet of life. Seated in the airy hall of the school's current building, the 83-year-old's voice brims with emotion as she remembers the convent's humble start. "The school was set amid a lalang -marred landscape, with hardly anything around it. Yet even then, it felt like a sanctuary," she shares. Back in 1925, three nuns — their names now etched in school folklore — arrived in Johor Baru and rented two modest shophouses in Jalan Ibrahim. They called it the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus. The late Sultan Sir Ibrahim and Sultanah Rogayah, impressed with their efforts and commitment, gifted the nuns a plot of land on which to build a proper school. In 1927, the new premises opened its doors, marking the start of an educational tradition that would outlast empires and endure the test of time. A GROWING LEGACY From the outset, the school catered mainly to girls, though boys were admitted until 1938. In 1959, the growing student body necessitated the division of the institution into separate primary and secondary schools. The convent's history records that it began with just 83 students, but by 1947, that number had swelled to 590. Classes were first held on the ground floor of the simple school building. Special Malay language classes were introduced in May 1936 to meet the Education Ministry's requirements, a testament to the convent's adaptability and forward-thinking nature. In 1939, the school took another bold step by registering students for the Senior Cambridge examinations. Its first batch achieved a remarkable 100 per cent pass rate. Among the convent's many visionary leaders was Sr Xavier Casey, who served as principal of the secondary school from 1965 to 1977. Fondly remembered for her innovative spirit and unwavering commitment, Sr Xavier left an indelible mark on IJC. Sr Xavier pioneered several initiatives that would later be adopted by schools nationwide. She introduced "Parents Day" in IJC, the first among Malaysia's Convent schools, fostering closer collaboration between parents and teachers to nurture students holistically. Her social welfare projects instilled in students a sense of duty and compassion for the underprivileged. She also started the Convent tradition of annual funfairs as a way to raise school funds — a tradition that began with the Seremban Convent in the 1950s and soon spread to others. Another first was the formation of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA), ensuring parents and teachers met at least twice a year to review students' progress and work together for their development. "Many of these practices seem commonplace today, but they began here, within these walls," says Oliveiro with pride. Former teacher and alumni committee member Rosemarie Lee Swee Hong, 79, is another who looks back fondly on her time at IJC. "Like many missionary schools, the convent achieved prominence not only in sports, but also in academics and co-curricular activities," she recalls. Lee describes how the convent embraced changes in the national educational landscape while steadfastly preserving its core values. "The school expanded its curriculum, modernised its facilities and adopted new teaching methodologies, but its focus on empowering young women never wavered," she reflects. For alumni like Tengku Norani Tengku Ahmad, now 61, the Convent was more than a school — it was a second home. "I went to a great school. We were multicultural and got along so well," she remembers, adding: "After 44 years of leaving school, it's wonderful to hear we're celebrating our centenary with a reunion dinner." She credits IJC for instilling in her cooperation, leadership and teamwork skills that prepared her for life's challenges. "Walking through those gates always felt like entering a safe, nurturing space," she recalls, voice tinged with nostalgia. FOR FUTURE LEADERS Through the decades, IJC has produced countless luminaries in various fields. Notable names include the late prime minister Tun Hussein Onn, author and columnist Adibah Amin, Toh Puan Rahah Razak (mother of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak) and Fauziah Ismail of the New Straits Times. Former International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, who spent her Form 4 and 5 years at IJC, once described those as "the happiest years of my school life". In the school's jubilee magazine 50 Years A-Growing, she wrote: "Women of today are indeed pushing ahead commendably into society and securing for themselves strategic positions in decision-making and development. But much still needs to be done." She stressed that institutions like IJC played a crucial role in preparing young women for leadership, instilling in them values that transcend generations. "The convent has groomed many leaders who went on to excel in government, politics, judiciary and the corporate world. They have lived up to the school's motto: 'Simple in Virtue, Steadfast in Duty'," affirms Oliveiro. LANDMARKS, MEMORIES AND THE ROAD AHEAD Picturesquely situated on a slight slope in Johor Baru, the Convent stands as a proud city landmark. At its entrance stands a white Carrara marble statue of the Immaculate Conception, donated by the late Sultan Sir Ibrahim himself. Today, three freshly painted beige and yellow school buildings stand where once there was only lalang. The grounds have been transformed into well-manicured lawns and shaded walkways. Yet, for many former students it is not just the bricks and mortar, but also the memories and spirit that endure. "For us alumni, the 100th anniversary is not just about celebrating the past — it's about reaffirming the values that will guide us in the century ahead," Lee says. The centenary event is also a timely opportunity for alumni to reconnect, share memories and give back. Funds raised during the reunion dinner on Aug 30 will go towards upgrading the school's infrastructure to serve future generations. SHARED SISTERHOOD For girls who wore the Convent's blue pinafore, what bonds them isn't merely nostalgia. It's a shared sense of identity, forged in classrooms and school fields, and a belief in the values instilled by the nuns and teachers who dedicated their lives to educating girls. "We come from all walks of life, different races and backgrounds. Yet, when we meet, we're just Convent girls again. It's a deep-rooted, unshakeable feeling of love and loyalty for the school," says Tengku Norani, with a fond smile. As the countdown to the centenary celebration continues, excitement grows and with it, a renewed sense of purpose. "The 100th anniversary is more than a celebration. It's a promise that the Convent's legacy of grace, grit and leadership will continue for generations to come," Oliveiro concludes, her eyes lighting up. And as they gather once more — young and old, teachers and students — they will honour not just a grand old institution, but also the memories and friendships that shaped their lives.
