I ran into this following link about "global mindshift"...
http://www.globalcommunity.org/flash/wombat.shtml
it is pretty cute but precise in telling the story...
sustainability is say if we call it... providing equality in terms of resource availability and resource accessability and resource usability... then what does it fall under?? capitalism / socialism???
one may say neither.. and I tend to agree with that... but what is it then?
one may ask... why bother to define??? I may say... well it certainly is the new world order now... (if you dont agree with that... please watch TV or browse the internet) the world is getting connected more and more than ever... think of the open-source era and think of blogs like this for heaven sake... you cannot deny the fact that this has something to do with the new perspective on mother earth...
I dont want to get political here in my blog by any means... but.. as in terms of sheer concept... I remember once talking to a colleague of mine about sharing knowledge and growing as a team...
and I was looked at as a socialist... coz growing as a team is not captalist...
one may ask... is sustainability about sharing knowledge... in a big picture sense I say yes... so one can make informed decisions that may be helpful to the planet we live...
socialism is a broad and age old concept... this one-ness that we try to describe and achieve in this new world order... could this be called the new socio-capitalism....
even though socialism and capitalism as concepts are mainly associated with economy... these terms have been loosely associated through out history with ways of life...
in my littlest expreince and exposure if I attempt to define this term - socio-capitalism... here it is.... in lamest terms...
SOCIO-CAPITALISM: "what ever we do should work for and benefit the mass and yet the individual should be able to reap his / her personal benefits based on his / her efforts"
I know I sound like a politician... but if you think about it... everyone who believes in this one-ness as I do will encounter somebody in their path who doesn't believe in this.. how do we explain???
food for thought!!
Showing posts with label Sustainability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sustainability. Show all posts
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Meet my hero...
Speaking of the Big Picture... its great timing that my hero happened to give a speech at Scottsdale's 10th annual Green Building Expo.
Ed Mazria - my hero... I won't be surprised if Ed is honored by a Nobel Peace Prize in about a few years when more climate change initiatives around the globe occur ... he has made that big of an impact - an architect who has spent his entire life and still working hard to make his dream of a better, safer and environmentaly sound world - a reality!!
Here is a link to his latest study and this presentation topic - Nation Under Siege
I took the liberty to voice record his speech digitally and I will be more than happy to share it with anybody interested - just send me an email. This is a 1hr 40 min audio clip of his entire speech on October 5th, 2007 at Scottsdale, AZ. This presentation includes, introductory speech from the Mayor of Scottsdale, followed by Mayor of Tempe and finally a few Q&A after Ed's speech.
I don't think Ed will sue me for copyright distribution of this speech... because spreading the word is the most sustainable thing anybody could do - bringing awareness...
Here are some highlights:
(Disclaimer - the following includes excerpts from Ed's speech and some of my own thoughts to augument his notions...)
- Currently CO2 levels are at 385 parts per million
- Projected to reach 450 ppm by 2035
- By then it might be too late to reverse the effects - a point of no-return might happen
- Ok.. seriously what the heck will happen if the globe's CO2 level reaches 450 ppm?
- Predictions are based on historical data dating back centuries...
- The earth had such levels reached some 125,000 years ago... ya! thats right... so long long ago...
- Based on carbon dating and other known methods and measures to mankind... when such levels reached, half the species in the world vanished due to rising sea levels and change in eco systems etc...
- So you might ask... how does that affect me and my house in Phoenix, AZ
- Go to the internet and search for New Orleans Diaspora - displacement of 200 to 300 thousand people due to hurricane Katrina... this is just because one part of ocean near New Orleans got upset with climate change and blew the fuse...
- Such a discplacement causes several problems to the un-prepared country (even the mighty US) from rescuing the survived... to providing them safe and secure place temporarily and eventually permenantly... to building a new safe and secure place for them to return... to creating safe and secure lives for the ones that doesnt want to return... the list goes on...
- Imagine such a displacement of lives, economy, culture... and then multiply this effect by several cities around the globe and now add the fact that not all countries have the means and resources like the US... HAVOC RIGHT??? that's what might happen if we let the CO2 levels rise to 450 ppm...
- Again... this is science based on data and conventional prediction / projection methods accepted as reasonable world wide from not so biased institutions like NASA, NOAA and so... the left and right in any country can blow this situation upto what ever scale they like for their political advantages...
- So weaving through the plethora of biased and non-biased information is completely upto you readers!!
- I strongly believe in this and also believe that I could do something to help the situation... as explained at the later part of this highlight!!
- Ok now.. what is causing all these!!
- Burning of Fossil fuels contribute to these Green house gas emmissions and in-turn causing global warming - climate change
- Oil and Gas have reached their peak in terms of resource availability and usage thus far
- Oil and gas are likely to be used less in the forth coming years since they are depleting and would cost more
- So oil and gas together cannot push the world over 450 ppm within 2035 - The culprit is COAL
- Coal reserves are plenty enough for another 200 or so years based on the rate of current usage
- Every nation from US to Canada to China to India is dying to add more conventioanal coal plants within the next two decades
- Conventional coal plants are the worst when it comes to green house gas emissions
- So is there a silver bullet for this problem?
- Yes, says Ed - NO MORE CONVENTIONAL COAL
- Then what about CLEAN Coal technology - asked the audience
- Carbon Sequestration is the clean coal technology - which is essentially capturing CO2 from the coal during power generation process and dumping it else where - either under the ocean, under the earth very deep... or do something else with it...
- Ed and many scientists believe that this is still a pre-mature technology and to fully figure this out and make it commerical it might take a decade... by then if there is no law in place, any country with money will start mushrooming Coal power plants the conventional way
- The projection is, even when Clean coal technology materializes, it might not comapre in cost with conventional coal power... so what would all the coal lobbyist with trillions of dollars in their pocket would do???? hmmm never go clean coal!! - Ed didn't say that... this is me :-)
- OK.. so we take measures to stop the supply side of this big chain reaction by stopping the mushrooming of conventional coal plants... is that enough?? asks Ed...
- No... We should control the demand side...
- Of all the major sectors in the US... the building sector is the worst..
- 76% of the electricity produced in the country goes to operate buildings...
- hence... reducing the need or demand for energy from the building sector could drastically reduce the need or supply of coal power plants...
- as an architect... I feel I can do my part to help this movement!!
- But can we do that - reduce demands from the building sector?
- Is this rocket science??
- NOOOOO! Says Ed... he and several others have done it during the oil crisis in the 70's... why can't we do it now????
- With more technology than the 70's we should be able to do it... all we need is the commitment... from all the players in this game....
- many feel like unless the codes change and require a minimum reduction in energy consumption for all new and renovated buildings... nothing can change the culture and approach of design and related services...
- I agree with that!!
- Leaders like Ed are rightly doing so - making the feds to adopt such a code and then allow the states and counties to catchup in 1.5 yrs or so...
- so the urge here is to take action now... we may not have enough time as we thought we had - 10 yreas... no we might have only a few years say 6 or 7 before reach a point of no-return...
- I will keep you posted on what else I learn and how could I be a change!!
Enjoy!
Ed Mazria - my hero... I won't be surprised if Ed is honored by a Nobel Peace Prize in about a few years when more climate change initiatives around the globe occur ... he has made that big of an impact - an architect who has spent his entire life and still working hard to make his dream of a better, safer and environmentaly sound world - a reality!!
Here is a link to his latest study and this presentation topic - Nation Under Siege
I took the liberty to voice record his speech digitally and I will be more than happy to share it with anybody interested - just send me an email. This is a 1hr 40 min audio clip of his entire speech on October 5th, 2007 at Scottsdale, AZ. This presentation includes, introductory speech from the Mayor of Scottsdale, followed by Mayor of Tempe and finally a few Q&A after Ed's speech.
I don't think Ed will sue me for copyright distribution of this speech... because spreading the word is the most sustainable thing anybody could do - bringing awareness...
Here are some highlights:
(Disclaimer - the following includes excerpts from Ed's speech and some of my own thoughts to augument his notions...)
- Currently CO2 levels are at 385 parts per million
- Projected to reach 450 ppm by 2035
- By then it might be too late to reverse the effects - a point of no-return might happen
- Ok.. seriously what the heck will happen if the globe's CO2 level reaches 450 ppm?
- Predictions are based on historical data dating back centuries...
- The earth had such levels reached some 125,000 years ago... ya! thats right... so long long ago...
- Based on carbon dating and other known methods and measures to mankind... when such levels reached, half the species in the world vanished due to rising sea levels and change in eco systems etc...
- So you might ask... how does that affect me and my house in Phoenix, AZ
- Go to the internet and search for New Orleans Diaspora - displacement of 200 to 300 thousand people due to hurricane Katrina... this is just because one part of ocean near New Orleans got upset with climate change and blew the fuse...
- Such a discplacement causes several problems to the un-prepared country (even the mighty US) from rescuing the survived... to providing them safe and secure place temporarily and eventually permenantly... to building a new safe and secure place for them to return... to creating safe and secure lives for the ones that doesnt want to return... the list goes on...
- Imagine such a displacement of lives, economy, culture... and then multiply this effect by several cities around the globe and now add the fact that not all countries have the means and resources like the US... HAVOC RIGHT??? that's what might happen if we let the CO2 levels rise to 450 ppm...
- Again... this is science based on data and conventional prediction / projection methods accepted as reasonable world wide from not so biased institutions like NASA, NOAA and so... the left and right in any country can blow this situation upto what ever scale they like for their political advantages...
- So weaving through the plethora of biased and non-biased information is completely upto you readers!!
- I strongly believe in this and also believe that I could do something to help the situation... as explained at the later part of this highlight!!
- Ok now.. what is causing all these!!
- Burning of Fossil fuels contribute to these Green house gas emmissions and in-turn causing global warming - climate change
- Oil and Gas have reached their peak in terms of resource availability and usage thus far
- Oil and gas are likely to be used less in the forth coming years since they are depleting and would cost more
- So oil and gas together cannot push the world over 450 ppm within 2035 - The culprit is COAL
- Coal reserves are plenty enough for another 200 or so years based on the rate of current usage
- Every nation from US to Canada to China to India is dying to add more conventioanal coal plants within the next two decades
- Conventional coal plants are the worst when it comes to green house gas emissions
- So is there a silver bullet for this problem?
- Yes, says Ed - NO MORE CONVENTIONAL COAL
- Then what about CLEAN Coal technology - asked the audience
- Carbon Sequestration is the clean coal technology - which is essentially capturing CO2 from the coal during power generation process and dumping it else where - either under the ocean, under the earth very deep... or do something else with it...
- Ed and many scientists believe that this is still a pre-mature technology and to fully figure this out and make it commerical it might take a decade... by then if there is no law in place, any country with money will start mushrooming Coal power plants the conventional way
- The projection is, even when Clean coal technology materializes, it might not comapre in cost with conventional coal power... so what would all the coal lobbyist with trillions of dollars in their pocket would do???? hmmm never go clean coal!! - Ed didn't say that... this is me :-)
- OK.. so we take measures to stop the supply side of this big chain reaction by stopping the mushrooming of conventional coal plants... is that enough?? asks Ed...
- No... We should control the demand side...
- Of all the major sectors in the US... the building sector is the worst..
- 76% of the electricity produced in the country goes to operate buildings...
- hence... reducing the need or demand for energy from the building sector could drastically reduce the need or supply of coal power plants...
- as an architect... I feel I can do my part to help this movement!!
- But can we do that - reduce demands from the building sector?
- Is this rocket science??
- NOOOOO! Says Ed... he and several others have done it during the oil crisis in the 70's... why can't we do it now????
- With more technology than the 70's we should be able to do it... all we need is the commitment... from all the players in this game....
- many feel like unless the codes change and require a minimum reduction in energy consumption for all new and renovated buildings... nothing can change the culture and approach of design and related services...
- I agree with that!!
- Leaders like Ed are rightly doing so - making the feds to adopt such a code and then allow the states and counties to catchup in 1.5 yrs or so...
- so the urge here is to take action now... we may not have enough time as we thought we had - 10 yreas... no we might have only a few years say 6 or 7 before reach a point of no-return...
- I will keep you posted on what else I learn and how could I be a change!!
Enjoy!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
The Big Picture...
So.. having a desire to go back to bring a positive sustainable change in India... hmmm... I just threw in two words - sustainability - India... what does that have to do with my life???? Is it just a Desire? Passion? Just Interest? Just maximing a potential opportunity?? Just a thought... so that it will sound cool??? Personal Soul Satisfaction???? what is it??
for those of you who know me... I always want to validate and substantiate what I do - why I do... thats my mode of operation... it just should feel right to me and when I understand it... atleast I would frame my mind around the thought that I understand it... then I will pursue it... and in this case I am in the process of making sure that this is it.. it should be a wanting than just an idea...
Some of my expirements to validate this are very crazy...
I have consciously not prioritized the "small picture stuff" (as I like to call it) when it comes to sustainable living... say for instance using zillions of bottled water... styrofoam cups... not actively engaging in non-profits to offer my service etc etc... I have not prioritized to "not pursue" these currently... I take a lot of crap from my roommates for this though!!
My reasoning is... yes I understand that little drops add up to an ocean... but as much green washing as we all know is going on... I strongly feel that I need to understand the BIG PICTURE!!! what will happen... I mean seriously what really will happen if I dont use a styrofoam cup... how will it affect/effect the planet, how will it change local / global economy... than just blindly following the crowd and saying... "yep it all goes to landfill... so dont do that"... what are the implications...
hence the struggle to understand the big picture...
I am reading a book called "Natural Capitalism" and I feel like I have stepped into this big picture that I am trying to understand... I will keep you folks updated on what I learn!!
for those of you who know me... I always want to validate and substantiate what I do - why I do... thats my mode of operation... it just should feel right to me and when I understand it... atleast I would frame my mind around the thought that I understand it... then I will pursue it... and in this case I am in the process of making sure that this is it.. it should be a wanting than just an idea...
Some of my expirements to validate this are very crazy...
I have consciously not prioritized the "small picture stuff" (as I like to call it) when it comes to sustainable living... say for instance using zillions of bottled water... styrofoam cups... not actively engaging in non-profits to offer my service etc etc... I have not prioritized to "not pursue" these currently... I take a lot of crap from my roommates for this though!!
My reasoning is... yes I understand that little drops add up to an ocean... but as much green washing as we all know is going on... I strongly feel that I need to understand the BIG PICTURE!!! what will happen... I mean seriously what really will happen if I dont use a styrofoam cup... how will it affect/effect the planet, how will it change local / global economy... than just blindly following the crowd and saying... "yep it all goes to landfill... so dont do that"... what are the implications...
hence the struggle to understand the big picture...
I am reading a book called "Natural Capitalism" and I feel like I have stepped into this big picture that I am trying to understand... I will keep you folks updated on what I learn!!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Sustainability? Huh?
Defining sustainability has become a fashion in this new environmental era... many take a shot at what sustainability means to them... some fail miserably and some really do come up with some good perspective.... I tried my luck too...
Some where I read about architectural value and how a design brings out that...
the stars aligned and something clicked.... I have my definition of "sustainable design"
take a deep breath before you read the next line... pretty intense...
"Sustainable design is a design that seeks maximum architectural value with minimum environmental impact"
I was under the impression that this works for any industry dealing with sustainability... say I am computer manufacturer... to me a sustainable design in my industry would seek maximum value out of everything (people, products, time etc...) with minimum environmental impact...
so this works for any body... but my perspective changed... infact my perspective realigned with my inner conscious bringing that out to the surface when I ran into a book called "Natural Capitalism". Amory Lovins... man he is a genius...
Now my old definition of sustainable design might still stay valid in some respects... but it does not satisfy my inner self...
On a search I framed this....
Sustainability is something (which I am yet to find) that goes beyond the triple bottom line - POEPLE, PLANET, PROFIT
Lets take a deeper look...
Triple bottom line... what does that mean to an architect?
An architectural design needs to address how it enriches the quality of use of the designed space - it should talk to the PEOPLE who are using that space - do the people feel comfortable? invigorated? Relaxed??? or scared??
Also an architectural design should consider its impacts on mother earth - in analyzing the need for a new space (that's the most sustainable thing you could do - don't build anything new that's not needed); in choosing the materials and products - hence being kind to the PLANET...
And last but not least... architectural business is no pro bono... as much an architect dreams to create the next great wonder... he needs to make sure he can wake up after almost close to an all-nighter and be able to afford to stay in his house... so PROFIT.... but profitability is not just for the self - an architect should involve in how profitable his design could be for all the players in the team... it seldom happens.. but something to consider in future..
So is that it? If an architect listens to the clients' needs and designs a space that makes them happy, is good for the planet and profitable for everybody involved... is that it????
I just can't settle for that...
That's why I think sustainability goes beyond the triple bottom line...
Will explore and share more later..
Some where I read about architectural value and how a design brings out that...
the stars aligned and something clicked.... I have my definition of "sustainable design"
take a deep breath before you read the next line... pretty intense...
"Sustainable design is a design that seeks maximum architectural value with minimum environmental impact"
I was under the impression that this works for any industry dealing with sustainability... say I am computer manufacturer... to me a sustainable design in my industry would seek maximum value out of everything (people, products, time etc...) with minimum environmental impact...
so this works for any body... but my perspective changed... infact my perspective realigned with my inner conscious bringing that out to the surface when I ran into a book called "Natural Capitalism". Amory Lovins... man he is a genius...
Now my old definition of sustainable design might still stay valid in some respects... but it does not satisfy my inner self...
On a search I framed this....
Sustainability is something (which I am yet to find) that goes beyond the triple bottom line - POEPLE, PLANET, PROFIT
Lets take a deeper look...
Triple bottom line... what does that mean to an architect?
An architectural design needs to address how it enriches the quality of use of the designed space - it should talk to the PEOPLE who are using that space - do the people feel comfortable? invigorated? Relaxed??? or scared??
Also an architectural design should consider its impacts on mother earth - in analyzing the need for a new space (that's the most sustainable thing you could do - don't build anything new that's not needed); in choosing the materials and products - hence being kind to the PLANET...
And last but not least... architectural business is no pro bono... as much an architect dreams to create the next great wonder... he needs to make sure he can wake up after almost close to an all-nighter and be able to afford to stay in his house... so PROFIT.... but profitability is not just for the self - an architect should involve in how profitable his design could be for all the players in the team... it seldom happens.. but something to consider in future..
So is that it? If an architect listens to the clients' needs and designs a space that makes them happy, is good for the planet and profitable for everybody involved... is that it????
I just can't settle for that...
That's why I think sustainability goes beyond the triple bottom line...
Will explore and share more later..
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Is NEW GREEN = the CLASSIC GREEN?
Yarite - stands for "Yeah right?" - is a very inquisitive fictional character
Utopian - A part of me that believes everything is possible. Based on the new science... everything is a matter of probability... and this part of me believes that I can create this probable future - with the right intention and right attitude.
Yarite: NEW GREEN? what the heck is that?
Utopian: Mother earth... since the dawn of human kind everybody loved her always... respected her for her nature/behaviour, because many of her actions were unexplainable... all respected her out of fear and love - she is the most beautiful, known to mankind... and we still do love and respect her...
but slowly mankind started working with her... making certain assumptions on how she would respond and correcting their method of predictions to increase the probablity... mankind saw many other fellow earth dwelling species bite the dust - succumb to the forces of nature - this brought the notion of protecting oneself from mother's elements... guess what... innovation... when in dire need... you can do anything to survive... thus mankind still survives... found several ways to protect itself from the elements...
Somewhere along the history of great inventions... mankind ran into OIL... boy who in the world thought that will change the face of mother earth for centuries to follow...
OIL - is an amazing resource... gave the power to protect us from not only the elements but also from our own mankind... mankind acquired many habits from other species all along his history from sharing to fighting...
With this new power and a thought that "we know how mother earth works", there came this incerdible notion that mankind can not only protect itself from the elements but also CONTROL them!!
Mankind started doing funny things from here on... mankind fought amongst itslef to prove this point... many things happened... guess what... mankind thought they could control mother earth with their developed understandings of her... but eveytime they made a move... mother earth responded differently... until now it has always been a missed target...
recently after several attempts mankind started to believe that we just have to work with her... nourish her... respect her... inturn work with ourselves.. nourish ourselves... respect ourselves...
This notion grew not out of insecurity but out of hope.. that we can be in sink with mother earth when we work with her using the tools we have accrued so far in our history... it is possible... it is possible to use her forces for the good by respecting and acknowledging that she does have a force...
This is the new wave of love on mother earth... on ourselves... and thats the tag name NEW GREEN!!
Yarite: Jeez!.. all I asked was what does NEW GREEN mean... not for a thesis!! anyway... be precise and say what the heck is CLASSIC GREEN...
Utopian: Ever since mankind thought whatever he had for himslef - was for himslef and whatever his buddy had was also for himslef... they started trading... trading possessions... then some cool dude said we have got to have some common ground for trading... they came up with "money"... the look of money has had several revisions... recently its all in green... hence the CLASSIC GREEN.
Yarite: thanks for being short... now why in the world do you think these two greens could be the same when they stand for completely opposite notions...
Utopian: NEW GREEN is all about new opportunities... mankind has found that in respecting mother earth... nourishing her... loving her... there's lot of new tools to be invented... lot of new markets - avenues to be explored... lot of CLASSIC GREEN is one of the by-products....
This is not a hypotheseis... this is happening... take GE, they have their ECO Line products, take GM, they have their new line of ethanol vehicles.... take Walmart, they fixing their moral responsibilty with GREEN buildings and it makes economical sense too... change is happening and there are lot of ways to get back in track with mother earth... and along side mankind says "hey lets make some GREEN out of this GREEN"
Yarite: Huh!! interesting... now what the heck is a GREEN Building??
Utopian - A part of me that believes everything is possible. Based on the new science... everything is a matter of probability... and this part of me believes that I can create this probable future - with the right intention and right attitude.
Yarite: NEW GREEN? what the heck is that?
Utopian: Mother earth... since the dawn of human kind everybody loved her always... respected her for her nature/behaviour, because many of her actions were unexplainable... all respected her out of fear and love - she is the most beautiful, known to mankind... and we still do love and respect her...
but slowly mankind started working with her... making certain assumptions on how she would respond and correcting their method of predictions to increase the probablity... mankind saw many other fellow earth dwelling species bite the dust - succumb to the forces of nature - this brought the notion of protecting oneself from mother's elements... guess what... innovation... when in dire need... you can do anything to survive... thus mankind still survives... found several ways to protect itself from the elements...
Somewhere along the history of great inventions... mankind ran into OIL... boy who in the world thought that will change the face of mother earth for centuries to follow...
OIL - is an amazing resource... gave the power to protect us from not only the elements but also from our own mankind... mankind acquired many habits from other species all along his history from sharing to fighting...
With this new power and a thought that "we know how mother earth works", there came this incerdible notion that mankind can not only protect itself from the elements but also CONTROL them!!
Mankind started doing funny things from here on... mankind fought amongst itslef to prove this point... many things happened... guess what... mankind thought they could control mother earth with their developed understandings of her... but eveytime they made a move... mother earth responded differently... until now it has always been a missed target...
recently after several attempts mankind started to believe that we just have to work with her... nourish her... respect her... inturn work with ourselves.. nourish ourselves... respect ourselves...
This notion grew not out of insecurity but out of hope.. that we can be in sink with mother earth when we work with her using the tools we have accrued so far in our history... it is possible... it is possible to use her forces for the good by respecting and acknowledging that she does have a force...
This is the new wave of love on mother earth... on ourselves... and thats the tag name NEW GREEN!!
Yarite: Jeez!.. all I asked was what does NEW GREEN mean... not for a thesis!! anyway... be precise and say what the heck is CLASSIC GREEN...
Utopian: Ever since mankind thought whatever he had for himslef - was for himslef and whatever his buddy had was also for himslef... they started trading... trading possessions... then some cool dude said we have got to have some common ground for trading... they came up with "money"... the look of money has had several revisions... recently its all in green... hence the CLASSIC GREEN.
Yarite: thanks for being short... now why in the world do you think these two greens could be the same when they stand for completely opposite notions...
Utopian: NEW GREEN is all about new opportunities... mankind has found that in respecting mother earth... nourishing her... loving her... there's lot of new tools to be invented... lot of new markets - avenues to be explored... lot of CLASSIC GREEN is one of the by-products....
This is not a hypotheseis... this is happening... take GE, they have their ECO Line products, take GM, they have their new line of ethanol vehicles.... take Walmart, they fixing their moral responsibilty with GREEN buildings and it makes economical sense too... change is happening and there are lot of ways to get back in track with mother earth... and along side mankind says "hey lets make some GREEN out of this GREEN"
Yarite: Huh!! interesting... now what the heck is a GREEN Building??
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