Category Archives: Progress

London, April 20, 2022

SHELL PLC

NOTICE OF 2022 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND SHELLS ENERGY TRANSITION PROGRESS REPORT

Shell plcs 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled to be a hybrid meeting, facilitating both physical and virtual attendance

Board requests shareholder support for Companys annual progress on its energy transition strategy

Shareholders encouraged to vote in advance of the AGM, but voting enabled during the meeting

Today, Shell plc (Shell) posted its Notice of 2022 Annual General Meeting (the Notice), which can be viewed and downloaded from http://www.shell.com/agm. The Notice states that the AGM is scheduled to be held at Central Hall Westminster, Storeys Gate, Westminster, London, SW1H 9NH, United Kingdom at 10:00 (UK time) on Tuesday May 24, 2022.

Shells Board requests support for the Companys annual progress on its energy transition strategy Shells Energy Transition Progress Report has also been published today. The document is published simultaneously with the Notice and shall be deemed to be incorporated in, and form part of, the Notice.

At last years AGM, 88.74% of Shells shareholders that voted, supported Shells Energy Transition Strategy. Shell is implementing that strategy and this year the Board is asking shareholders to support the Companys progress by submitting Shells Energy Transition Progress Report to a shareholder advisory vote.

Although the Shell Energy Transition Progress Report is included in this announcement, we recommend you view the online PDF of the document, which is available at http://www.shell.com/agm.

Arrangements for the 2022 AGMAt the time of this announcement, it is anticipated that the AGM will be a hybrid meeting. This provides three ways in which shareholders can follow the proceedings:i) attending and participating in person; ii) attending and participating in the webcast by registering through an electronic platform (virtually attending); or iii) simply watchingthe webcast (www.shell.com/AGM/webcast). Shareholders not physically present at the meeting that want to vote or ask questions at the meeting, should access the virtual meeting by registering through the electronic platform.

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More information can be found in the Notice and via the website referred to above.

Shareholders are encouraged to register in the Keep up to date section of the Shell website at http://www.shell.com/investors to receive the latest AGM news.

Shareholder questionsA question-and-answer session will be held during the AGM and will allow in-person and virtual participation. Instructions about how to ask a question will be provided to shareholders once the meeting has been accessed on May 24, 2022. Further information can also be found on pages 20 and 23 of the Notice, available on our website at http://www.shell.com/agm.

VotingIt is as important as ever that shareholders cast their votes in respect of the business of the AGM. We strongly encourage our shareholders to submit their proxy voting instructions ahead of the meeting. Any advance voting must be done by completing a proxy form or submitting proxy instructions electronically. We strongly encourage you vote as early as possible.

If appointing a proxy, shareholders are strongly encouraged to appoint the Chair of the meeting to ensure their appointed proxy is present and can vote on their behalf.

National Storage MechanismIn accordance with the Listing Rules, a copy of each of the documents below have been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and are/will be available for inspection at: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.

Annual Report and the Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021

Notice of the 2022 Annual General Meeting

Shell Energy Transition Progress Report

Notice of Availability of Shareholder Documents

Proxy Form relating to the 2022 Annual General Meeting

The Annual Report and the Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021 can also be viewed and downloaded from the Companys website: http://www.shell.com/annualreport.

Printed copies of the Notice and associated documents will be despatched to those shareholders who have elected to receive paper communications.

Shell plcEnergy Transition Progress Report 2021

CONTENTS

01 INTRODUCTION02 Chairs message04 Chief Executive Officers introduction06 Carbon performance at a glance07 Progress summary

08 OUR PERFORMANCE09 Absolute emissions11 Net carbon intensity

14 SECTORAL DECARBONISATION15 Transforming the energy system16 Building new supply chains19 Changing demand across sectors

23 FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK24 Investments and returns25 Investing in net zero

26 POLICIES AND GOVERNANCE27 Climate policy engagement27 Climate governance28 A just transition29 Climate standards and benchmarks

31 LITIGATION AND ACTIVISM32 Climate litigation and activism

33 MILESTONESINTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY

Welcome to the Shell Energy Transition Progress Report. This report aims to update investors and wider society on how Shell is progressing with the energy transition strategy that investors supported in 2021.

02 CHAIRS MESSAGE04 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS INTRODUCTION06 CARBON PERFORMANCE AT A GLANCE07 PROGRESS SUMMARY

CHAIRS MESSAGE

Sir Andrew Mackenzie, Chair, Shell plc

As we publish this report, the war continues in Ukraine. We are working hard to ensure the safety of our staff and contractors, and to support relief efforts. We have also announced our intention to withdraw from Russian oil and gas.

As well as being a human tragedy, the war has led to rising energy prices and uncertainty about supplies.

This extreme disruption in global energy markets has shown that affordable, secure, and reliable energy cannot be taken as a given. It must be protected and managed, through international co-operation: companies, governments and wider society working together. This co-operation includes working with our shareholders and maintaining their support.

Shell will play a leading role as the worlds energy systems change. We will continue to supply the oil and gas that people need today. As one of the worlds largest suppliers of liquefied natural gas (LNG), we can ship natural gas to where it is needed most. At the same time, we are accelerating the transition to low- and zero-carbon energy, which is at the heart of our strategy.

Essentially, an accelerated transition is the best way to ensure security of energy supplies. It is also the best way to help people in some parts of the world who do not yet have access to energy, which is essential for a better quality of life.

Towards net zeroWe firmly believe our climate targets are aligned with the more ambitious goal of the UN Paris Agreement on climate change: to limit the increase in the average global temperature to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. The actions Shell takes over the coming years, and our progress against our short- and medium-term targets, will be crucial steps to ensure that we become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050.

In the first year of our Powering Progress strategy, we have laid the foundations for success. We have taken critical investment decisions in the production of low-carbon fuels, solar and wind power, and hydrogen. We have made significant changes to our Upstream and refinery portfolios, we reshaped the organisation and we simplified the company and its share structure. We have formed partnerships with some of the worlds biggest companies in sectors from aviation to road transport and technology.

In 2021, we added an ambitious new target to halve absolute emissions from our operations and the energy we buy to run them by 2030 (Scope 1 and 2), compared with 2016 levels and on a net basis. We are well on our way with an 18% reduction by the end of 2021.

For comparison, we estimate that global energy- and fossil-related CO2 emissions actually rose by 2.4% in the period between the end of 2016 and the end of 2021, based on International Energy Agency (IEA) and other data.

Change in demandWe believe that for the world to decarbonise, a dramatic change in demand for energy is just as critical as changes to supply. That is why an essential part of Shells strategy is working with our customers across different sectors to reduce emissions.

We are helping our customers to identify and use low- and zero-carbon alternatives to the energy products they have used for many decades: renewable electricity and hydrogen to power homes, cars, trucks, businesses, and industry; biofuels for cars, trucks and planes; LNG for power, trucks and ships; and carbon capture and storage and nature-based carbon offsets to deal with any remaining emissions.

This is not only the right approach for the world. It also makes good business sense. We see great business opportunities for Shell in the fast-growing low- and zero-carbon markets where we are well positioned to provide the different products and solutions our customers need.

We are leading the way in new technologies that will help to decarbonise our operations, and to reduce emissions for our customers. Our scientists are developing new ways to store hydrogen safely, including underground, for example, which will be critical to ensure secure, large-scale supplies of hydrogen to our industrial customers in the future. And our engineers are designing LNG projects which are powered by renewable electricity.

RemunerationWe included progress in the energy transition in the calculation of the annual bonus for almost all Shells employees in 2021. Now we are going further. From 2022, we have extended how we measure progress to cover three key themes; reducing emissions from our operations, sales of low- and zero-carbon products and partnering with others to decarbonise road transport.

In 2019, we were the first major energy company to include an energy transition performance metric in our Long-term Incentive Plan for senior executives. This has vested for the first time at 180%, reflecting our progress in transforming Shells business for a lower-carbon future.

Stronger and more profitableLast year, 89% of Shells shareholders voted in favour of our energy transition strategy. We are implementing that strategy, and this year we are asking shareholders to vote on our progress, as we will do every year until 2050. The next energy transition strategy update for an advisory vote is in 2024 and we will give another update on our progress next year.

Securing shareholder support as we implement our Powering Progress strategy is good governance. The vote on our progress towards our targets and plans is purely advisory and will not be binding on our shareholders. The legal responsibility for Shells strategy lies with the Board and Executive Committee.

When I look at what we have achieved in 2021, and our plans for the years ahead, I believe that Shell will become stronger and more profitable by providing the low- and zero-carbon energy products and services that our customers need. That is good for our shareholders. It is good for our customers. It is also good for the worlds climate goals and the planet.

The continued support of our shareholders is critical for us to become a net-zero emissions energy business and a leader in the energy transition. We believe that Shells energy transition strategy is in the best interests of our shareholders as a whole and wider society.

The Board recommends that you vote in favour of Resolution 20 in support of the progress that Shell has made in its energy transition strategy over the past year as described in this report.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS INTRODUCTION

Ben van Beurden, CEO, Shell plc

In a time of great uncertainty, it is vital that our long-term energy transition strategy remains on track. This report shows the strong progress we have made towards our target to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050.

It will take bold moves for Shell to achieve net zero. In 2021, we took some significant steps. We completed one of the biggest restructurings in our history, making us a more agile company. We decided to simplify our share structure, and moved Shells headquarters from the Netherlands to the UK.

TargetsIn this Energy Transition Progress Report, we show our progress against our climate targets in the year since our shareholders overwhelmingly supported our energy transition strategy.

We are making significant progress in a long-term plan. Crucially, we set a new target to reduce absolute emissions from our operations by 50% by 2030, compared with 2016 on a net basis. By the end of 2021, we had achieved a reduction of 18%. We achieved our short-term target to reduce the net carbon intensity of the energy products we sell by 2-3% by the end of 2021, also compared with 2016.

Now our targets start to get more ambitious. We are working towards a 9-12% reduction in net carbon intensity by 2024, and a 20% reduction by 2030. To put our targets into context, the International Energy Agency Net Zero by 2050 scenario suggests that the transport sector, which accounts for most of Shell's emissions, needs to see a reduction in net carbon intensity of 18% by 2030.

From today, our target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 is no longer conditional on societys progress, marking a further step forwards. This reflects the leading role we will play in the energy transition. We must find ways to be ahead of society where we can, while remaining a successful and profitable company.

As we have seen from the recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world needs to take urgent action to meet its climate goals. While countries, companies and individuals are making significant changes, there is still a risk that the world will not achieve net-zero emissions by the middle of the century. This could mean that Shell would find it hard to meet its 2050 target as well. We are rising to that challenge and will demonstrate over time how we will reach our goal.

Working sector by sectorWe are investing in low- and zero-carbon products such as renewable electricity, hydrogen, biofuels and chemicals. We are building a leading hydrogen business, and now operate 10% of total electrolyser capacity in the world. We are already one of the worlds largest producers of biofuels through our joint venture in Brazil. And last year we started building one of Europes biggest biofuels facilities.

Crucially, we are working sector by sector to identify the low- and zero-carbon products and services that our customers need. And we are laying the foundations for future expansion by building capacity and expertise. At the beginning of 2022, for example, with our joint-venture partners, we won bids to develop 5 gigawatts of floating wind power in the UK, enough to power 6 million homes. That is more than double the number of homes in Scotland.

Investing in net zeroOur Upstream business continues to provide the oil and gas the world needs today, and generates the returns to fund distributions to shareholders and our investments in the energy transition. Our production and sales of oil and gas will decrease in the coming years as we transform our business.

At the same time, our investments in the energy system of the future will increase significantly. By 2025, we expect around half of our total expenditure (cash capital expenditure and operating expenses) to be on low- and zero-carbon products and services including biofuels, hydrogen, power, charging for electric vehicles, carbon capture and storage, nature-based solutions, chemicals and lubricants. In 2022, we expect that around one third of our total expenditure will be on these low- and zero- carbon products and services.

Our planned investments in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and the UK put us among the leading investors in the energy transition there. In the UK, for example, we plan to invest 20-25 billion ($26-33 billion) over the next ten years, mostly in low- and zero-carbon projects including offshore wind, hydrogen and charging for electric vehicles, subject to Board approval.

Shareholder engagementA central part of our Powering Progress strategy is delivering value for our shareholders. We have made good progress here too. In 2021, we produced a strong financial performance and announced an $8.5 billion share buyback programme in the first half of 2022.

We will continue our dialogue with shareholders as Shell transforms and evolves. It is important that we are transparent about our progress in the energy transition. From the first quarter of 2022, we intend to publish more information about the profitability of our Renewables and Energy Solutions business, something that investors have asked for.

We believe that our strategy delivers secure and reliable energy that will accelerate the energy transition and deliver strong profits and returns to shareholders. I ask our shareholders to vote for Resolution 20 in support of our progress towards our targets and milestones as we accelerate towards net zero.

CARBON PERFORMANCE AT A GLANCE

PROGRESS SUMMARY

We are transforming into a net-zero emissions energy business. In 2021 and the beginning of 2022 we:

Reduced our Scope 1 and 2 emissions from our operations by 18%, and reduced the net carbon intensity of the energy products we sell by 2.5%, both by the end of 2021 compared with 2016.

Formed more than 50 collaborations with other leading companies aiming to be at the forefront of the energy transition. Continued to build a material power business. We had 1.6 million retail customers worldwide by the end of February 2022, compared with 900,000 at the end of 2020. We have 4.7 gigawatts (GW) of renewable generation capacity in operation, under construction and/or committed for sale. We have a further 38 GW of renewable generation capacity in our pipeline of future projects.

Expanded our hydrogen business. We have started production from 30 megawatts (MW) of electrolysers that can produce around 4,300 tonnes a year of decarbonised hydrogen. We are looking to take final investment decisions on 10 times this capacity in 2022. We own and operate 10% of global electrolyser capacity today.

Took a final investment decision on a facility in the Netherlands to produce 820,000 tonnes of biofuels a year. This facility will be one of the largest in Europe to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel made from waste, and is expected to start production in 2024.

Continued to build the infrastructure that our customers will need as they move to low- and zero-carbon energy.

Expanded our electric vehicle charging network to almost 90,000 charge points at the end of 2021, from around 60,000 in 2020.

Increased the number of liquefied natural gas (LNG) refuelling sites in Europe and increased the number of sites for hydrogen refuelling in Europe, North America and China.

Announced our ambition for SAF to make up at least 10% of our aviation fuel sales by 2030.

Expanded our LNG bunkering operations, including the worlds first bio-LNG bunkering, to help to reduce emissions from the marine sector. We also worked with others on programmes to develop hydrogen fuel cell propulsion for ships.

Worked with customers across sectors such as commercial, light industry and technology to decarbonise their energy use by providing renewable electricity.

Developed partnerships in the heavy industry sector to explore how hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) can be used to reduce global carbon emissions.

Invested in CCS. We have two CCS projects in operation and more than 10 under development. Retired around 6 million tonnes of nature-based credits, excluding trading activities, in 2021.

Supported climate-related government policies that advance the goal of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

OUR PERFORMANCE

Read in more detail about our performance against our climate targets and how we are working to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

09 ABSOLUTE EMISSIONS11 NET CARBON INTENSITY

ABSOLUTE EMISSIONS

REDUCING OUR ABSOLUTE SCOPE 1 AND 2 EMISSIONSTo achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, we are transforming how we produce energy as we continue to meet growing demand.

In October 2021, we set a new target to halve the emissions from our operations (Scope 1), plus the energy we buy to run them (Scope 2), by 2030 compared with 2016 levels on a net basis.

We have identified six main ways to decarbonise our operations:

making portfolio changes such as acquisitions and investments in new, low-carbon projects. We are also divesting assets and reducing our production through the natural decline of existing oil and gas fields;

improving the energy efficiency of our operations;

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Notice of 2022 AGM and Shells Energy Transition Progress Report - Yahoo Finance

During the global COVID-19 pandemic, women have carried much of the unpaid emotional and domestic burden of caring for their families and communities, often simultaneously holding down paid jobs, many on reduced hours or salaries.

Women have also been disproportionately affected by job losses, particularly women of color and ethnic minorities. Worldwide, women lost more than 64 million jobs in 2020 alone, resulting in an estimated US$800 billion loss of income.

Mirroring these trends, women in Aotearoa New Zealand faced greater economic, social and health challenges than men. In 2020, women made up 90% of pandemic-related redundancies. In 2021, many more women were working in precarious jobs. Whine Mori and Pacific women, already facing greater inequalities, have been even harder hit by job losses.

During this time, rates of domestic violence against women and girls surged in New Zealand and around the world, prompting some to refer to a double pandemic or shadow pandemic. Womens physical and mental health has been heavily affected for both frontline workers and in the home.

As ongoing research by a cross-cultural team of feminist scholars has been documenting, New Zealand women have found different ways to cope through the various stages of the pandemic. But with the pandemic exacerbating gender inequalities in most areas of life, the fear is that decades of (albeit uneven) momentum towards gender equity is being lost.

While some governments have taken steps to address womens well-being during the pandemic, such as introducing shorter or flexible work hours, they remain the minority.

Organisations such as the United Nations and the OECD have identified the need to develop better support for women within pandemic recovery programmes. And some countries have advocated more progressive strategies, including prioritising local feminist and Indigenous knowledge. But the uptake of such initiatives has been minimal at best.

Read more: NZ Budget 2021: women left behind despite the focus on well-being

In Aotearoa New Zealand, the 2021 Wellbeing Budget sought to support into employment those most affected by COVID-19, including women. But the focus on male-dominated industries (such as construction and roading), and lack of initiatives aimed at women as primary carers, meant this was largely a missed opportunity.

While this general lack of gender-responsive policy has been troubling, women have been far from passive in their own responses, both individually and collectively.

As the stories of women from diverse backgrounds in Aotearoa New Zealand have shown in our own and others research, many have turned to their own cultures, social networks and religions to help them through the pandemic. Others have used sport and exercise, nature and digital technology to build a sense of belonging and support during difficult times

Read more: Working out at home works for women so well they might not go back to gyms

Such strategies have helped them manage unprecedented levels of stress in their own lives, and the lives of those around them. Women have been active and creative in the ways theyve found to care for themselves and others.

Yet these everyday acts of care by women for their families and communities are rarely seen, valued or acknowledged.

As the pandemic continues, women everywhere are suffering the hidden costs of caregiving. In Aotearoa New Zealand, as elsewhere, new COVID variants have seen them even busier caring for sick family members often while unwell themselves.

The effect has been to rethink priorities, who and what is most important, and to question the expectations shaping their lives.

Read more: Fewer than 1% of New Zealand men take paid parental leave would offering them more to stay at home help?

Some of the women in our studies have taken bold steps starting a new business, moving town, reorganising work-life balance, putting their own health first. Others have simply acknowledged their own vulnerability and need for community. As two of the women we interviewed said:

I think for me its been more of a reaffirmation that what I am doing is good enough [] Like I dont need to be all of these things. We put so much pressure on ourselves [] we spread ourselves too thin [] trying to be a whole bunch of other peoples ideas of being the best person.

You need to be real about how you are feeling and a little bit vulnerable, not hide things or bottle things up or try to be everything to everybody. I learned the power of being vulnerable, of people and community, and the importance of connection and the importance of kindness and being okay with whatever youve got in your mind.

The stress and mounting fatigue characteristic of life during COVID-19 are undoubtedly prompting many women in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas to ask questions about the gendered economic and social systems that may no longer be working for them, and the infrastructures that are failing to support them.

Some are turning away from their busy working lives, opting instead to find a slower pace, to live more sustainably, and to give back to their communities in a range of ways.

Read more: The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates the pressures faced by women caregivers

Some even refer to the gendered effects of the pandemic economy as the great she-cession. But its clear we need to better understand the social, economic and cultural conditions prompting these changes.

What we can say, however, is that genuinely gender-responsive policies are urgently needed. The often used mantra of building back better must prioritise the knowledge of local women in all their diversity, and there is much we can learn by listening to womens everyday experiences of the pandemic.

Not doing so risks decades of gender equity work slipping away.

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The pandemics disproportionate impact on women is derailing decades of progress on gender equality - The Conversation Indonesia

Graham Harrell settling in with WVU offense ahead of Gold-Blue Spring Game

The expected influence of new offensive coordinator Graham Harrell on the West Virginia offense has been well-documented throughout this spring.

The hope is that Harrells arrival will spark the WVU offense, which will not only have a new starting running back, but a new starting quarterback, as well.

Harrell joined the Mountaineer coaching staff after a successful stint with USC, where his offenses were among the best in the Pac-12 Conference.

According to WVU head coach Neal Brown, one of the things that makes Harrell and his system successful is the way its easily grasped by those running it. But its equally hard to handle for those trying to stop it.

I think hes got answers. I think his teaching of the quarterback within the pass game, Ive been impressed with. Its simple for the offensive players, but its complex defensively, Brown said Tuesday. Hes done a really good job making rules within it.

Harrell, who graduated from Texas Tech as one of the most-prolific passers in college football history, has continued to excel in the passing game as a coordinator.

USCs offense led the Pac-12 Conference each of the past two seasons in passing yards per game.

Harrell, 36, now looks to do the same with WVU. For Brown, that success begins with communication.

Its his way of teaching the staff, and the staff teaching the players, has been productive, said the fourth-year head coach. We havent had very many missed assignments. And you know, when introducing a new offense, thats something thats not usually the case.

West Virginia isnt planning to announce its Week 1 starter this spring. That will happen later, likely after the arrival of transfer JT Daniels, who has been added to a three-headed quarterback battle between Garrett Greene, Nicco Marchiol, and Will Goose Crowder.

While Harrells input will be seen all over the passing game this fall, his touch in the running attack may be more subtle.

Within the run game, I think hes done a nice job of, formationally, getting us some advantages, said Brown.

The head coach added the Mountaineers will continue to do things in the running game that they were doing prior to Harrells arrival.

I think hes grown as well with some things that weve done here in the past well, as far as RPOs, and some things in the screen game, Brown added. I dont want to speak until we get all 15 [practices] done, but I like the progress were making.

When it comes to the offensive line, whose job it is to protect Harrells quarterback and create lanes and space for the running backs, not much has changed.

Not only do the same five starting linemen return for this season, but Harrell has left a number of calls regarding the line of scrimmage the same.

To Brown that showed humility from the new offensive coordinator, deciding to learn from the experienced offensive line, rather than making them learn his verbiage. Thats something that Harrell said he was going to do early in his tenure with WVU, and he has followed suit.

While Harrell has followed the lead of the line, at least from a communication stand point, it remains to be seen if the offense, as a whole, will follow his lead, and continue the success hes had in recent seasons.

Fans will get their first glimpse of the new offense on Saturday during the annual Gold-Blue Spring Game, which begins at 1 p.m. ET at Milan Puskar Stadium.

More information on the game can be found here.

Excerpt from:

Brown on offense under Harrell: I like the progress were making - WBOY.com

April 19, 2022 Daily Update, 9:00AM

Highlights: Suppression efforts increased containment of the fire to 81%. Firefighters continued to focus their efforts on the northeast flank of the fire and will keep working in that area today. Crews are working on the containment lines for suppression repair. Evacuation levels have been decreased, and firefighter and public safety remain our number one priority as residents repopulate the area.

Operations: Firefighters hiked to the top of Hermits Peak and camped there last night. Suppression operations will focus on the two hot spots on the peak to make sure they are extinguished. Due to the remoteness of the area, helicopter crews ensured there was a safe landing zone to be able to access the area safely. Crews continued to patrol the perimeter Monday, increasing containment to 81%. Todays focus will be on the northeastern edge of the fire, building and reinforcing containment lines. Fire activity has moderated due to suppression efforts, and ground resources will continue to monitor the fire line, looking for any signs of heat or smoke. Light cleanup and repair of the area is ongoing. The southern edge of the fire continued to hold, and crews will be actively repairing dozer lines. Resources are focused on suppressing the Hermits Peak Fire as quickly and safely as possible, protecting nearby communities.

Evacuations: The San Miguel County Sheriffs Office has reduced evacuation orders, and no communities remain in GO status. Entrance into the communities remains restricted to residents only. The Sheriffs Office continues to evaluate the situation orders using the Ready, Set, Go! system. More information and details on evacuation orders are available on the San Miguel County Sheriffs Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/smcso.nm.

Weather: Today brings the return of a Red Flag warning with warmer temperatures and increasing winds into the afternoon and evening. Wind speeds are expected to ramp up to 20-25 mph with gusts in the afternoon reaching 45 mph. These dry, strong winds will continue into Saturday. After a lull on Wednesday, winds will ramp back up again on Thursday and hit their peak on Friday, where gusts to 70 mph will be possible in the afternoon.

Restrictions: The Santa Fe National Forest has issued a closure order to protect public health and safety during fire operations on the Hermits Peak Fire. The full closure order and map are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/santafe/home. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the area, which includes unmanned aircraft, or drones. More information on the dangers drones pose to wildland firefighting aircraft and personnel on the ground can be found at: http://www.nifc.gov/drones.

Smoke: Smoke from the Hermits Peak Fire may be visible from Gallinas, El Porvenir, San Pablo, Mineral Hill, San Geronimo, Gascon, Pendaries, Rociada, Mora, Ledoux, Las Vegas, and along the I-25 corridor. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions. Future Fire Information: The Hermits Peak Fire Information office hours are 8:00 AM 8:00 PM. The phone number is 505-663-6334 and email address is 2022.hermitspeak@firenet.gov. Future fire information will continue to be posted on Inciweb, the SFNF Facebook and Twitter, SFNF website, and New Mexico Fire Information website.

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Continued progress on Hermits Peak Fire - nmfireinfo.com

The NOAA Fisheries Climate Science Strategy (NCSS) was published in 2015 to increase the production, delivery, and use of the climate-related information needed to fulfill the agencys mandates in a changing climate. The NCSS identifies a suite of objectives and specific actions focused on supporting infrastructure, tracking change, understanding mechanisms, projecting future conditions, and informing and supporting management. NOAA Fisheries worked with partners in each region to develop seven Regional Action Plans (RAPs) to implement the NCSS over a 3-5 year period. In 2020, NOAA Fisheries conducted an assessment of progress to implement the NCSS over the five years since its release.

This five year progress report highlights the goals, activities, and accomplishments of the seven RAPs and national efforts from 2016-2020. Chapters are devoted to each region and provide summaries of the progress made to date to implement the NCSS. The chapters also provide recommendations for future focus areas and actions for continued progress towards achieving the NCSS objectives in each region.

Since 2016, progress has been made in several areas including tracking changes in ecosystem conditions, understanding impacts, projecting future conditions and assessing the vulnerability of fish stocks, protected resources and fishery-dependent communities in a changing climate.

There is still much to be done - NOAA Fisheries is committed to addressing the high and growing need for climate-related information to help safeguard the nations valuable living marine resources and the many people, businesses and communities that depend on them. Please visit this site for more information on current and future actions.

NOAA Fisheries Climate Science Strategy Five Year Progress Report

Table of Contents

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NOAA Fisheries Climate Science Strategy 5-yr Progress Report | NOAA Fisheries - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (.gov)

By VERNON ROBISON

The Progress

A youngster is very excited to get started on the 2022 Moapa Egg Hunt which was held in the Moapa Park on Wednesday morning last week.

The Easter Bunny clearly had been hard at work early on Wednesday morning, April 13 at Moapa Park. The green lawn was strewn with literally thousands of colorful plastic eggs; each one filled with a special springtime surprise of some kind.

Lined up on the edge of the grass were more than 100 eager kids, divided into four different age groups. The field had been market with boundary lines that the various age groups could not cross. But there were plenty of eggs inside those boundaries for all groups to find.

Clutched in their hands the children had baskets, buckets, bags and a myriad of other containers which would make it easier for them to claim their share of this vast harvest of Easter eggs.

Moapa mom Jennifer Farnsworth had brought her youngster bright and early for the annual egg hunt event. He was looking over the lawn with a gaze of excitement.We love this event every year, Jennifer said. Especially this year. We are just so glad to be able to be out and do this stuff again!

Egg hunt participants in the youngest division get together to consider this interesting and colorful tradition at the Moapa Park last week. PHOTO BY VERNON ROBISON/The Progress

The start time of the hunt had been clearly publicized as 10:00 am. And it was no later than that when local Parks and Rec coordinator Elmer Lopez spoke over a sound system welcoming everyone to the activity.

Lopez gave a countdown from 10 to allow any latecomers still in the parking lot to hustle up and join the starting line. Then he gave the key word: Go! And the crowd of kids was off.It didnt take long. Within eight minutes the entire field had been cleared of eggs.

Then both kids and parents sat in the grass together and sorted through their spoils. Each of the three Barnes children of Logandale including Britney, 7; Luke, 4; and Ryan, 17 months had reaped buckets that were full to the brim with eggs. Luke was already cracking his eggs open revealing contents of candy, stickers and small toys.

The Jauregui kids of Moapa were also in attendance for the annual festivities. They included Jaime, 9; Rosa, 7; and Salvador, 5. Their baskets were also full to overflowing.

In all of the melee, young Salvador had managed to find one of the coveted prize eggs. These eggs are affixed with a number that corresponds to a special toy item which can be claimed after the hunt at the prize table. Salvador was happy with his prize which was a toy baseball and bat.

Local Parks and Rec coordinator Lauralyn Robison was pleased with the event. She revealed that the field of eggs had NOT actually been set by the Easter Bunny at all. Rather it was her and about a half dozen staffers who showed up early to do it. It took this crew about 20 minutes to scatter the 6,000 eggs that had been provided by Clark County Parks and Rec Department for the activity.

As usual, it took less than half the time it takes to hide the eggs for the kids to gather them all up, Robison said. It is that way every year. But it is all in good fun and everyone has a great time.

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An 8-Minute Egg...Hunt - The Progress - mvprogress

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

The Mesquite Chamber of Commerce held its monthly luncheon poolside last week at the Casablanca Resort. PHOTO COURTESY OF KRIS ZURBAS

It was a beautiful spring day for the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce Luncheon held at the picturesque poolside of the Casablanca Resort on Wednesday, April 13.

Chamber members and their guests enjoyed a scrumptious lunch of chicken, beef kabobs, coconut shrimp, an array of salads and mouthwatering deserts all while enjoying the perfect poolside weather.

Attendees were also treated to a mini fashion show put on by a new Chamber business member: local boutique retailer Juniper Outpost. The fashions were for the young, and the young at heart, male and female, modeled by store staff and family of Juniper Outpost owner Charlotte Sirignni.

There was a brief talk from Lindsey Poston, new Community Health Manager (P.A.C.T) at the Salvation Army offices. She will help connect people to needed resources.

The main speaker of the day was Anthony Curtis, Professional Gambler and publisher. Curtis told the audience his story of how he came to be a professional gambler. It had been his intended career since he was a teenager.

Curtis told of funny and odd occurrences that happened along the way in his career. He told of all the odd jobs he did in Las Vegas to pay the rent, until he really learned the skill and knack of the table games.

He also gave the audience some gambling advice. Curtis dispelled some popular beliefs about gambling.One example is the inaccurate feeling, held by many, that if you play a slot machine for a long time, walk away and another person sits down and wins a jackpot on the machine, that it should be your jackpot that they won. Curtis explained how the mechanism in the machines work. He said th at the odds of you hitting the button at the exact same moment the new player did was like winning the Powerball lottery.

By their reaction, it made players in the audience feel better.Curtis said that he has publishing company that does well. I publish gambling books and family reading material, he said.

The company also publishes the Las Vegas Advisor magazine, he said.My father was happy to see me become a publisher, Curtis said. It is a career other than gambling.Curtis said that he has been a consultant for many films having to do with gaming and Las Vegas. He gave insights into some of the movies.

Because of Easter, there were special prize drawings to conclude the luncheon. Everyone received a plastic egg which were all opened at the same time. Most were filled with candy. But one egg, which happened to be received by Mesquite Mayor Al Litman, had a piece of paper saying Golden Egg. Other eggs contained a paper with numbers on them.

The Golden Egg recipient then drew numbers for prizes that went to the people that had received eggs with numbers. All this was in addition to the regular door prize drawings and the 50/50 drawing.

It was a fun time for all at this special luncheon. President/CEO Carol Kolson did her job well as always, greeted arriving members and promoted local businesses.

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Mesquite Chamber Revels In Spring Festivities - The Progress - mvprogress

The Russian Federation has a list of members of Congress who are now banned from the country, something that some of those representatives say is a badge of honor.

"That feeling that I must be doing something right, to be honest," said U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, a Democrat who represents Berks and Chester counties.

All three of Berks County's members of Congress are on the list of nearly 400 representatives sanctioned by Russia after publicly opposing Russia's aggression in Ukraine. Democrat U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean was included in the long list along with Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser.

For Houlahan, it hits home. Her father was born in the city of Lviv.

"What Putin has done is upset the great progress we've been making since World War II through the UN and other agencies," said Andy Jampoler, Houlahan's father. "I view [the sanction] as a seal of good housekeeping. It's a distinction she should be proud of. How can you do better than be sanctioned by a tyrant who is upsetting and inflicting catastrophe in the world?"

"We have to have hope," said Houlahan. "We have to believe we can make a difference."

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Lviv native, father of Rep. Houlahan: Ukraine war has 'upset great progress' - 69News WFMZ-TV

Young people are not passive victims of technology or helpless addicts. They are technology creators and agents with diverse backgrounds and interests.

When people hear that I study digital youth culture, I often get asked, Is technology good or bad for kids? My first struggle is to reframe the question. The question assumes technology is one thing, and all kids use technology the same way. Technology is made and shaped by us and we have the power to make it good or bad. I prefer the question, How can we support young people in harnessing technology for progress? Young people are not passive victims of technology or helpless addicts. They are technology creators and agents with diverse backgrounds and interests.

Ive been researching teens use of technology in both Japan and the U.S. for almost three decades, and have seen similar intergenerational dynamics play out with every new wave of technology that teens adopt and make their own. Adults worry, teens experiment and adopt new ways of using technology, and eventually, adults start embracing digital culture teens created.

We celebrate tech titans who started their empires while still in college. What gets less appreciation are everyday examples of young people around the world harnessing technology in innovative, self-actualizing, and progressive ways. The optimism and creativity of youth is like solar energy constantly renewed, and largely untapped. If we can recognize their diverse needs and strengths, we can support youth as innovators, learners, and change makers.

In the late nineties, I sat on subways and wandered the streets of Tokyo observing how teens were using mobile phones. My research team at Keio University gathered detailed logs of text message and voice communications of high school students. They shared insights about how they used text messages, emoji, camera phones, and the mobile Internet. The rest of the world was skeptical that the mobile Internet would take off beyond Japan. It would be almost a decade before text messaging was widespread in the US. I never would have dreamed that people of all ages around the world would be communicating with emoji and smartphone photos 20 years later.

Back then, older folks would shake their heads when they saw teens walking while texting. They labelled them nagara zoku (the multitasking tribe) and oyayubi zoku (thumb tribe). Mobile phones in the hands of teens became a symbol of the decline of culture and social norms. Teens, on the other hand, were annoyed by adults who failed to put their phone on silent mode and fumbled through their pockets while it rang. Ever since street smart high school girls used pagers to send text messages to each other in the early nineties, Japanese teens were innovating in mobile communication. Japanese phone providers capitalized on these teen innovations by creating new technologies including varied texting services, emoji, camera phones, and the mobile Internet.

Teens also created new social norms as they took to new technology. For example, they found the older practice of placing a voice call unannounced to be invasive. They quickly developed a new social norm to knock before entering. When they wanted to talk, they would send a text message first to check availability. Their friend might be on public transit, in class, or some other setting where a voice call will be disruptive. They recognized that just picking up the phone and calling someone when it was convenient for the caller was inconsiderate to the person receiving the call.

When young people are experimenting, mobilizing, and innovating, they are also learning and developing new skills. When my daughter was in middle school and high school, she was involved in online fandoms for some popular bands. She took to social media and blogging to connect with fellow fans, and quickly amassed followers. During a particularly busy week of school, we were problem solving together about how to manage time. I think I should take a week off of blogging, she suggested while I nodded. When I checked in on her a few hours later I saw her on her blog, and started in on a gentle scolding. Mom, she interrupted, with a sigh, Im queuing up the posts so I dont lose followers during the week I take off. Somehow, she had become more adept at social media management than her mom who fancies herself a digitally fluent public intellectual.

These kinds of communication and networking skills are just one of many competencies that young people gain through interest-driven and socially connected learning with technology. We call this connected learning when young people are learning as a by-product of geeking-out, creating, and organizing together with fellow enthusiasts. Whether it is fan fiction writers creating new narratives together, gamers strategizing and sharing tips, or dancers sharing and learning from online video, online affinity groups continue to fuel learning in ways that are social and passion-driven.

When young people are learning and organizing together online, its not all fun and games. Their digital skills have fueled world-changing social movements. In college, my daughter went on to join the Percentage Project, which uses social media to raise awareness about the experience of underrepresented groups in computer science programs. She also helped start an online video series, Decrypted By Us, highlighting the expertise and perspectives of women and minorities in tech. After the school shootings at Stoneman Douglas High School, we saw a multi-racial coalition of teens fuel the March for Our Lives movement. Adults were stunned by their media savvy, and their snappy comebacks at politicians and detractors on social media. Young people wielding social and mobile media have been at the heart of so many progressive movements whether it is Black Lives Matter, Dreamers, or climate activism.

These progressive uses of technology dont just happen on their own. Behind all of these positive examples are powerful platforms that enable them to connect, create, and communicate. Also essential are the caring adults, organizations, and coalitions that have given young people the space and support to amplify their optimism and progressive potential.

Many years ago, I co-founded a nonprofit, Connected Camps, that is dedicated to supporting college students to mentor children through popular digital gaming platforms. We are just one of a growing legion of organizations supporting youth leadership in making positive change. We believe that mentorship centered around shared causes and interests can change lives and the world. Whether you are a parent, an educator, an employer, or a fellow enthusiast, we all have a role to play in nurturing the power and potential of young people.

Dr. Mimi Ito, cultural anthropologist, Director of the Connected Learning Lab at the University of California, Irvine

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How can we support young people in harnessing technology for progress? - We Live Security

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 30! On that day, the Mesquite Republican Women will be holding an outdoor Spring Festival at the Mesquite Recreation Center field from 10am-4pm.

Sixty booths have been reserved for the event. Many of the booths will feature local artists, crafters and businesses offering services to the public. In addition many candidates in the upcoming primary election will have booth. Most of them will be on hand to meet, greet and answer questions. Food Trucks will also be in attendance.

The candidates will take the stage throughout the day, alternating with the live entertainment: DJ and Tammy.

There will also be a bake sale offering wrapped goodies to take home. Prize drawings will be held for donated gifts.

It is sure to be a fun time in the park. For more information about the event contact Melissa at Melissah@rconnects.com.

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MRW To Hold Spring Festival - The Progress - mvprogress