Latest news with #Pratt
SBS Australia
15 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Could a $100 COVID-era incentive help 'devastated' algae-hit businesses?
As dead marine life continues to wash up on South Australian beaches, the state's opposition has called for a lifeline for the floundering tourism industry . With climate disasters starting to wreak havoc on Australia's holiday destinations, will tourism need a helping hand? The explosion of algae in the waters off the South Australian coast started with an unseasonably warm summer and a marine heatwave that pushed average temperatures up to 2.5C in many areas. This created an inviting environment for Karenia mikimotoi — an algae species that discolours ocean water and produces thick blankets of foam — to thrive. First identified in March, a mass of the algae stretched out to more than 4,400 square kilometres — nearing the size of Kangaroo Island — creating a toxic bloom that has killed tens of thousands of specimens from hundreds of different marine species. While not toxic to humans, the algae damages the gills and gill structures of marine life, asphyxiating them in the water. Ecologists have attributed the unusual severity and duration of this algal bloom to climate change, with many calling on it to be recognised as a national disaster. For weeks, images of lifeless fish, dolphins, rays and sharks on sandy beaches have appeared on news websites and social media pages. On Tuesday, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young posted footage on Instagram of the mangled body of a seal washed up on a beach, with a caption that read: "Our ocean is sick. Our wildlife is dying. Our economy and tourism is being crippled. Our local community is in shock." Tourism industry left reeling Those working in the tourism industry in the region say they've been left reeling by the algal bloom crisis and there have been mass cancellations of bookings across the region. South Australian Opposition tourism spokesperson Penny Pratt told SBS News she's been having conversations with tourism operators working from Robe, about 330km east of Adelaide, to the Coorong wetlands, about 130km east of Adelaide. "Their messages are the same — they're devastated, the fish are dead, the ocean is dying and they have been desperate for many, many months to get the attention of government to understand not just the environmental impact but the economic one," she said. To try to boost tourism to the region, Pratt has called for the South Australian government to relaunch the Great State Vouchers, which were distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic by the previous government to encourage visitors to the state. Pratt says the vouchers have been "proven and practical" and would incentivise South Australian households to spend their money reinvigorating the state's coastal communities. In October 2020, around 50,000 Great State Vouchers were snapped up within an hour in what the South Australian Tourism Commission's chief executive described as a "shot in the arm" for the tourism sector. South Australia's peak tourism body says hundreds of businesses have been impacted by the algal bloom. Source: AAP / Brad Martin/PR IMAGE "We've seen as an investment [on a $100 voucher] families spending up to four or five hundred dollars in regions as they pull into the servo, they visit the bakeries, they book into a caravan park and they explore a new region," Pratt said. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas recently announced a $14 million support package, matched by the federal government, that includes offering $10,000 grants for small businesses that can prove they have experienced a 30 per cent decline in turnover as well as financial counselling, mental health support and workforce advice. While the tourism industry has welcomed the support, South Australia's peak tourism body says hundreds of businesses have been impacted and they're concerned about the ramifications of the algal bloom dragging out to later in the year. "What we're seeing in tourism right now is significant cancellations of people undertaking trips to our coastal areas for spring and summer," Shaun de Bruyn from Tourism Industry Council South Australia said. The climate threat to tourism Australia has a large, sprawling tourism industry that currently employs around 655,000 people — mostly across regional areas. But its facing mounting challenges as climate disasters and other issues related to a warming planet increase in frequency. In a report co-authored by economic consulting firm Mandala and financial services company Zurich and published in September, managing partner of Mandala Amit Singh wrote that we are "already seeing the impact of climate change on tourism". "We've seen tourist attractions destroyed by bushfires, tourist sites made inaccessible by floods, man-made attractions damaged by hail, airports closed because of extreme winds," he said. The report assessed 178 tourism sites, including airports, across Australia and found that more than half were vulnerable to climate risks and severe impacts over the next 25 years. Dr Freya Higgins-Desbiolles, a senior lecturer in tourism management at the University of South Australia, told SBS News climate disasters are starting to accelerate as the world passes temperature "tipping points" in global warming and tourism is vulnerable to these disasters. South Australia's algal bloom crisis continues to kill marine life. An Adelaide academic says tourism vouchers are a "great idea" to encourage visitors to South Australia despite its environmental challenges. Source: AAP / Matt Turner "We're seeing things like flooding and droughts and now the algal bloom here in South Australia ... But you know, also COVID, scientists say that pandemics will be increased by climate change. So, I think we're only just waking up to the multitude of crises we're likely to face," she said. Higgins-Desbiolles, who says she relies heavily on ocean swimming for well-being, says she has experienced the respiratory agitation and sickness the algal bloom is causing in some people exposed to the algae through swimming or walking on the beach. "It's bad, it's really, really bad," she said. "It's having a really negative impact on community." Governments stepping in to save tourism Governments have stepped in to help areas recover by subsiding tourism following climate-related disasters in recent years. In 2023, the Western Australian government announced a $6 million Tourism Flood Recovery Package to support tourism businesses hit by what was described as the state's worst-ever floods. Heavy rainfall across the Kimberley region led to flooding that smashed bridges apart, swamped communities, and caused the Fitzroy River to swell to record heights. The package focused on providing around 18,000 discounted airfares from Perth to drive tourists to the region. Following deadly storms that drenched south-east Queensland in December 2023, causing flash flooding and leaving tens of thousands without power, the state government released 50,000 vouchers worth $50 each as part of a $2.5 million scheme to boost tourism in the area. Voucher holders were able to spend the money on an experience on the Gold Coast, including the major theme parks. Higgins-Desbiolles said tourism vouchers are a "great idea" not only to encourage visitors to South Australia despite environmental challenges but also because they can encourage a feeling of solidarity with communities hit by climate-related issues. She says that following the Black Summer bushfires of 2019 through 2020 , which decimated vast swathes of Kangaroo Island, there was a movement in the community to visit the island and put money back into the local economy. "I really like that. I think in the future we are going to need that spirit of solidarity with each other," she said. Hanson-Young told SBS News she believes "all options should be on the table to provide support to tourism operators and local businesses doing it tough". However, she believes governments also need to start stepping up climate action to mitigate these disasters in the future. "Unless we start taking climate action seriously, we can expect to see more disruptions to businesses, including tourism, from future climate disasters and extreme weather."
Otago Daily Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Murder on stage in Mosgiel
The Fire Station Theatre in Mosgiel will complete a trio of murder mystery spoofs by Peter Gordon with a production of Death by Fatal Murder, staged over the next two weekends. Directed by Alison Ayers and featuring Matt Brennan as Inspector Pratt, the play continues the chaotic story of the hapless detective as he struggles with another mystery. Pratt's record of crime detection at Bagshot House is not enviable. In his two previous visits the body count mounted disastrously as he looked on, helpless and hopeless. Now he's back and, as usual, chaos reigns supreme. The follow-up to Gordon's plays Murdered to Death, and Secondary Cause of Death, Death by Fatal Murder promises plenty of laughs. The show is staged from July 25-27, and August 1-3, with performances at 7pm, and 2pm Sunday matinees. — APL
Business Insider
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Katherine Schwarzenegger says she hired a coach to teach her how to step-parent Chris Pratt's son
Before Katherine Schwarzenegger married Chris Pratt, she hired a pro to help her prepare to become his son's stepmom. During a joint appearance with Pratt on Tuesday's episode of the " Parenting & You with Dr. Shefali" podcast, Schwarzenegger spoke about family life and what it was like navigating a blended household. Schwarzenegger married the "Jurassic World" actor in 2019 and has two daughters and a son with him. Pratt also shares a son, Jack, 12, with his ex-wife, Anna Faris. "Number one thing I say is get a stepparenting therapist or stepparenting coach, because I got that right when we got engaged, and it's been incredibly helpful for me and also just understanding my role as a stepparent," Schwarzenegger told podcast host and clinical psychologist Shefali Tsabary. The eldest daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver added that her coach was "essential" in helping her learn how to communicate with her stepchild and think of herself as a stepparent. "Because stepparenting, like parenting, has no handbook. Because I have the benefit of being in both roles, stepparenting is extra confusing because you aren't a parent, you're not a nanny, you're not an assistant. You have responsibilities in all of those areas, but you're not either of them. It's a confusing thing to navigate where you fit in," Schwarzenegger said. She also said that every family has a different dynamic, since different people might have different levels of involvement in their stepchild's life. "And when it comes to ego, that definitely pops up for me, for sure, and I always go back to understanding that this isn't about me, it's about the child," she said. But thankfully, they — Schwarzenegger, Pratt, Faris, and Faris' husband Michael Barrett — "co-parent all very well, which is a huge blessing," she said. Pratt, who was also a podcast guest, added that stepparenting reminds him of motion-capture acting, where actors wear specialized suits with sensors to animate digital characters, because stepparents "don't end up getting the credit" they deserve. "If a parent is in there doing the hard work of creating structure for a child and holding children accountable — and it's not a biological child — it can feel thankless. But it's a really, really important job," Pratt said. Schwarzenegger isn't the only Hollywood celebrity who has spoken up about being a stepparent or blending their families. In March, Kate Hudson — who has three kids with three dads — said there are upsides to having big, blended families. "It's like they have so much family. They've got multiple grandmas, multiple grandpas, multiple dads, and moms," Hudson said. On a "Goop" podcast episode in April, Gwyneth Paltrow said that it was tough navigating the stepparent dynamic as it often felt "full of minefields." "If I look back at my mistakes as a stepmother, I should have just treated them both like my kids way faster," Paltrow said. Paltrow has two kids with her ex-husband Chris Martin, whom she divorced in 2016. In 2018, she married Brad Falchuk, who has two kids from his previous marriage. Parenting experts previously told Business Insider about the common mistakes that stepparents make when trying to connect with their stepkids. One mistake is trying to replace the stepchildren's biological parents. "The stepparent isn't the biological parent, and it is OK to acknowledge that," Sarah Epstein, a licensed marriage and family therapist, told BI. "In fact, don't try to compete. Instead, speak directly to the child about their parent and encourage the relationship between the child and parent."
Los Angeles Times
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Conspiracy theories helped nix proposed housing authority to rebuild after L.A. County wildfires
This week, reality TV show star Spencer Pratt posted multiple videos on social media savaging a proposed state bill on wildfire rebuilding. In one, Pratt told his 2 million TikTok followers that he consulted an artificial intelligence engine about Senate Bill 549. He said it told him the legislation would allow L.A. County to buy burned-out lots in Pacific Palisades and convert them to low-income housing, strip away local zoning decisions and push dense reconstruction. He urged people to oppose it. 'I don't even think this is political,' Pratt said. 'This is a common sense post.' None of what Pratt said is in the bill. But over the last week, such misinformation-fueled furor has overwhelmed the conversation in Los Angeles, at the state Capitol and on social media about wildfire recovery. Posts have preyed on fears of neighborhood change, mistrust of government authorities and prejudice against low-income housing to assert, among other things, that the wildfires were set intentionally to raze the Palisades and replace the community with affordable housing. The chatter has unmoored debate over a major rebuilding proposal from L.A. County leaders. Under the plan, a new local authority would be able to buy burned lots, rebuild homes and offer them back at discounted rates to the original owners. The idea is to give property owners struggling to rebuild another option to stay in their communities. There are no changes to any rules that require zoning amendments or approvals for individual housing developments. State Sen. Benjamin Allen (D-Santa Monica), the author of SB 549, which creates the local authority, said he understands legitimate policy disagreements over the new powers granted in the bill. But those discussions have been overshadowed, he said. 'It's become this total meme among the right-wing blogosphere and, unfortunately, picked up by some lazy-ass journalists that don't bother to read the bill that say this bill seeks to turn the entire Palisades into low-income housing,' Allen said. Some of his own friends who lost homes in the Palisades, Allen said, have been texting him asking why he's trying to force low-income housing into the neighborhood. 'People are saying I want to put a train line in there,' Allen said. 'It's insane.' The frenzy, in part, is due to an issue of timing. Last month, a 20-member expert commission impaneled by L.A. County proposed the local authority as a key recommendation for rebuilding after January's Palisades and Eaton fires destroyed 18,000 homes and other properties. Commission leaders then approached Allen about writing a bill that would allow for its implementation. Allen wanted to do it, but deadlines for introducing new legislation had long passed. Instead, Allen took SB 549, which had nothing to do with wildfire rebuilding but was still alive in the Legislature, and added the rebuilding authority language to it. This is a common legislative procedure used when putting forward ideas late in the year. Allen decided as well to keep the original language in the bill, which called for significant spending on low-income housing in an unrelated financing program. Multiple news articles conflated the two portions of the bill, which added to the alarm. The version of SB 549 with the wildfire rebuilding authority in it had its first hearing in a legislative committee on Wednesday. Allen spent much of the hearing acknowledging the confusion around it. Misinformation over the rebuilding authority was fueled by a separate announcement California Gov. Gavin Newsom made this month. State housing officials carved out $101 million from long-planned funding allocations for low-income housing and dedicated it to building new developments in Los Angeles. The money will be used to subsidize low-income apartment buildings throughout the county with priority given to projects proposed in and around burn zones, that are willing to reserve a portion to fire survivors and are close to breaking ground. The fires exacerbated the region's housing crisis. Higher rents persist in nearby neighborhoods and low-income residents continue to struggle. Newsom cast the announcement as assisting them in regaining their footing. 'Thousands of families — from Pacific Palisades to Altadena to Malibu — are still displaced and we owe it to them to help,' Newsom said when unveiling the spending. Like the proposed rebuilding authority, the funding does not change any zoning or other land-use rules. Any developer who receives the dollars would need separate governmental approval to begin construction. Nevertheless, social media posters took the new money and the proposed new authority and saw a conspiracy. 'Burn it. Buy it. Rebuild it how they want,' said a July 15 post from X user @HustleBitch_, who has nearly 124,000 followers. 'Still think this wasn't planned? Newsom called the situation another example of 'opportunists exploit[ing] this tragedy to stoke fear — and pit communities against each other.' 'Let's be clear: The state is not taking away anyone's property, instituting some sort of mass rezoning or destroying the quality and character of destroyed neighborhoods. Period,' Newsom said in a statement to The Times. 'Anyone claiming otherwise is either misinformed or deliberately lying. That's not just wrong — it's disgraceful.' Not all of the debate about the rebuilding authority is based on false information. Allen and local leaders acknowledged the need for more consensus over its role, especially given the sensitivities around recovery. Still unresolved were the authority's governing structure, and whether it would encompass the Palisades or be limited to Altadena and other unincorporated areas. Pratt lost his Palisades home in the fire and has sued the city, alleging it failed to maintain an adequate water supply and other infrastructure. In social media videos this week, Pratt said he and other residents didn't trust the county with increased power over rebuilding when he believed leaders failed to protect the neighborhood in the first place. 'We're a fire-stricken community, not a policy sandbox,' Pratt said. 'We do not support the county becoming a dominant landowner in the Palisades.' Representatives for Pratt could not be reached for comment. By the end of Wednesday, Allen conceded defeat on SB 549. There were many legitimate hurdles to the bill passing before the Legislature adjourns in mid-September, he said. Notably, a representative for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass told the legislative committee that she was opposed to the bill because the city had yet to be convinced of its efficacy. But the misinformation surrounding the bill made it even harder to envision its success, he said. Allen decided to hold the bill and have it reconsidered when the Legislature convenes again in January. 'If we're going to do this, I want the time to do it right,' he said.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Terminal List: Dark Wolf' Teaser: Taylor Kitsch & Chris Pratt Find 'The Only Way Out Is Right Through It'
'When we step on that battlefield we fight for each other.' So begins the first trailer for The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, Prime Video's prequel series starring Taylor Kitsch, Chris Pratt and Tom Hopper. Co-created by The Terminal List author Jack Carr, and Season 1 creator-showrunner David DiGilio, the origin series follows Ben Edwards (Kitsch) throughout his journey from the Navy SEALs to the clandestine side of CIA Special Operations, exploring the darker side of warfare and the human cost that comes with it. Pratt reprises his role as James Reece. More from Deadline 'Clarkson's Farm' Producer Expectation Partners With Plegazoid; Prime Video Yorkshire Ripper Doc; Louis Theroux's Agency Sold; 'Screen Players Film Club' Podcast Launches - Global Briefs 'Étoile' Cast Unpack Feelings About Prime Video Cancellation: "I Thought About Starting A GoFundMe!" 'We Were Liars': Candice King Unpacks The Inevitable "Regression" Of The Sinclair Sisters In Prime Video Series 'I need two shooters for a time sensitive op. I'm offering a chance you a chance to finish what you started, and to keep your brothers from danger,' a voiceover is heard in the trailer. It ends with the ominous 'The only way out is right through it.' Additional cast includes Robert Wisdom as Jed Haverford, Luke Hemsworth as Jules Landry, Dar Salim as Mohammed Farooq, Rona-Lee Shimon as Eliza Perash, Shiraz Tzarfati as Tal Varon and Jared Shaw as Ernest 'Boozer' Vickers. The series is executive produced by Kitsch alongside Pratt through Indivisible Productions, writer and showrunner DiGilio, Carr, Antoine Fuqua and Kat Samick through Hill District Media, former Army Ranger and writer Max Adams, and former Navy SEAL, writer, and technical advisor Jared Shaw, as well as Emmy-winning (Shōgun) pilot director Frederick E.O. Toye. The series is produced by Amazon MGM Studios and MRC/Civic Center Media.[youtube Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg Everything We Know About 'The Devil Wears Prada 2'
