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The Army Corps of Engineers, citing a recent national energy emergency order by President Trump, has expedited a permit review for a new miles-long section of an oil and gas pipeline that would bore deep into protected wetlands bordering Canada and the United States. The pipeline request from Enbridge Energy, a Canadian company, would cut beneath the Straits of Mackinacthe connecting waterway between Lakes Michigan and Huronto install a tunnel 12 times as wide as above-ground existing pipelines. Tribal groups that had been cooperating with the Corps environmental impact statement for the project pulled out when they learned of the emergency review. The Corps announced April 15 that the project, known as Line 5, fits under Trumps January order. The project is part of a 645-mile pipeline between Superior, Wisconsin, and Sarnia, Ontario, that transports about 22 million gallons of oil and natural gas liquids daily, according to the company website. [Photo: Cole Burston/Bloomberg/Getty Images] The Corps decision to expedite consideration came days before a sweeping change by the U.S. Department of Interior to hasten energy reviews. The federal agency said beginning April 23 that energy-related projects and, specifically, environmental impact reviews of such projects will move with unprecedented speed and with truncated public comment. Energy, under Trumps order, refers to fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal, along with geothermal, nuclear and hydropower. The Corps operates within the Defense Department, not the Interior Department. While the Interior policies do not apply to Line 5, they are likely to accelerate fossil fuel projects in the coming months. New emergency procedures from both departments in response to Trumps executive order are really ploughing new ground, said Dave Scott, a senior attorney at the Environment Law & Policy Center, a legal advocacy group. There is a massive and real risk that the public wont be able to engage meaningfully with decisions that government agencies like the Corps are making that have significant impacts on the environment, Scott said. The Interior Department announced last week it was pursuing what it called an alternative National Environmental Policy Act, to allow for sharply compressed timelines for projects that strengthen domestic energy supply. Projects that require an environmental assessment, which the department said now takes a year to complete, will be reviewed within 14 days. Projects in need of an environmental impact statement, which the department said can result in two years of study, will be reviewed in roughly 28 days, according to its announcement. Scott also noted a second executive order, Unleashing American Energy, further erodes environmental protections for new projects. It directs the Council on Environmental Quality to consider rescinding National Environmental Policy Act regulations, which are the rules that require federal agencies to consider environmental impact when issuing permits. Environmental groups have questioned the need and the rationale behind the pipeline change. We know that there is no national energy emergency, said Julie Goodwin, senior attorney at Earthjustice, the countrys biggest public interest environmental firm. The U.S. produces more crude oil than any other country, ever, and has for the past six years. The emergency process is really a gift to the fossil fuel industry, Goodwin said. At issue is Enbridges replacement of two 20-inch diameter pipelines now buried close to shore and resting or supported on the lakebed. Instead, it wants to dig a 3.6-mile-long tunnel, with a 21-foot diameter, into the Straits lakebed. [Image: Paul Horn/Inside Climate News] The Corps is still developing an environmental impact statement for the Straits project, which it acknowledges will permanently impact 1.52 acres of wetlands, including 1.01 acres within the Corps responsibility under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The statement is expected in June. The Detroit District has not yet determined the length of the public comment period for its Line 5 Tunnel, the Corps said in an email. The standard comment period is 60 days, but the Corps new policy for emergency reviews is 15 days. The Interior Department announcement last week may indicate a new public comment timeline in store for energy-related projects. In some cases, public comment at Interior would depend largely on the decision of department officils. Proposals found to have no significant impact during an internal department assessment will have a report issued on a public website, the announcement said, and no public comment is required. For projects likely to have significant environmental impact, a department official can determine the duration of the written comment period based on the nature of the action and the urgency of the emergency response, and the Department anticipates that most comment periods will be approximately 10 days, Interiors announcement said. Regarding the pipeline project before the Corps, seven local tribes described the shortened environmental impact statement (EIS) process as unacceptable. A letter was sent in March to the Corps and signed by representatives from the Bay Mills Indian Community, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi, and Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi. Tribal Nations are no longer willing to expend their time and resources as Cooperating Agencies just so their participation may be used by the Corps to lend credibility to a flawed EIS process and document, the letter said. The Corps has disregarded its commitments to cooperating agencies and its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act by fully aligning itself with the applicant [Enbridge] at every step. The emergency review process is really rewriting and bypassing critical and important laws for an unneeded pipeline, said Beth Wallace, director of climate and energy at the National Wildlife Federation, the nonprofit conservation education and advocacy group. Enbridge has said the existing pipes, which date back to 1953, need replacement to prevent a possible oil spill. Burying the new pipeline section as much as 100 feet below the lakebed would eliminate the chance of a pipeline incident in the Straits, according to the project website. Line 5 is critical energy infrastructure, Enbridge said in an email to Inside Climate News. The tunnel project is designed to make a safe pipeline safer while also ensuring the continued safe, secure, and affordable delivery of essential energy to the Great Lakes region. On its website, the company called its supply to Michigan vital and said that Line 5 supplies 65% of propane demand in the Upper Peninsula, and 55% of Michigans statewide propane needs. Tribal groups, citizens, and environmentalists have called for decommissioning the pipeline out of concern for risks to freshwater sources and local ecosystems. The Great Lakes are the largest freshwater system on the planet, providing clean drinking water to more than 40 million people in the U.S. and Canada. Enbridges own pipelines have capacity to pick up product and move it to the same exact refineries and facilities, said Wallace of the National Wildlife Federation. Investing further in fossil fuel infrastructure also runs counter to Michigans plan to reach 100 percent carbon neutrality by 2050, she added. An economic analysis by PLG Consulting, a Chicago-based logistics firm, examined how shutting down Line 5 could impact energy markets. Surging output has made North America energy independent and there is no risk of supply shortages, the PLG report from October 2023 found. There are a multitude of alternative supply sources from both domestic and international sources that could fill in for Line 5. Even today, no refinery relies entirely on Line 5 for its crude oil supply, the PLG report said. Enbridge is still waiting on several federal and state permits before it can begin construction. The state of Michigan issued environmental permits for the tunnel project in 2021 but those will expire next year. Enbridge re-applied earlier this year to renew the permits. The Michigan Public Service Commission approved the tunnel project in 2023 although Enbridge still needs the permitting decision from the Army Corps. The activist group Oil and Water Dont Mix is also urging citizens to demand that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer deny the pipeline permit to protect the Great Lakes. The state of Michigan has the opportunity to shut down Line 5, Earthjustices Goodwin said. And thats what should happen. By Carrie Klein, Inside Climate News This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News. It is republished with permission. Sign up for its newsletter here.
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What happens when someone comes close to death and then returns to everyday life, including work? For some, the experience can be transformative. Near-death experiences (NDEs) are deeply personal experiences that some people report after a close brush with death. These experiences can include sensations such as floating above ones body, reviewing moments from ones life, encountering spiritual beings and feeling a profound sense of unity and love. Although NDEs have been studied since the 1970s, we know relatively little about how they affect people after the event. Research suggests people who have near-death experiences may feel increased empathy, spiritual growth, a sense of purpose, and even change how they approach their jobs. Our recent study explored how near-death experiences impact peoples return to work. We interviewed 14 working adults who had a near-death experience as a result of medical crises such as a heart attack or accidents such as a car crash. What we found challenges conventional ideas about success, motivation, and workplace culture. Doing meaningful work One of the most common changes expressed by the participants in our study was a desire to do work that felt meaningful and aligned with their newfound purpose in life. After their near-death experience, many wanted to spend time doing work that mattered to them and made a positive difference. I was not interested in doing nonsense. . . . I just was not gonna waste my time on nonsense, one participant told us. Her perspective shifted dramatically after her heart began beating abnormally for 20 minutes and she lost consciousness. Others described similar shifts. Many participants changed their careers by focusing on different work priorities, switching jobs or even starting their own companies. One participant described quitting a high-earning job after being headhunted. She started her own business, which allowed her to use her own NDE to support individuals through the end-of-life process. As one participant put it: I like to say that when I woke up in that hospital bed, I had a knowing that the character I was playing was no longer working for me and I had to change characters, and changing that character meant changing that job. Rethinking motivation Another significant shift reported by participants was a reprioritization of their values, which, in turn, shifted their attitudes towards work and their careers. After experiencing a near-death experience, many lost interest in external measures of success such as salary, fancy titles, and prestige. Across the studys participants, all reported no longer being motivated by extrinsic factors, such as money or receiving recognition for work. Instead, they focused on internal alignment and authenticity. Rather than being driven by external rewards, participants were motivated by personal growth and making a positive difference. In some workplaces, employee motivation is driven by extrinsic incentives such as bonuses, promotions or external recognition. However, after their NDEs, participants reported being driven by their own internal benchmarks or purpose. As one of our interviewees said: The motivation that was there came from this very strange, deep place that I wanted to all of a sudden make a huge impact, you know, in every part of my life. . . . Its hard to come out of this experience and not feel theres a reason why youre here, and you hate to say it, but you feel you have this special gift now. And its like why and how am I going to apply this? So, with work, I approach it that way as well. Relational transformations We also found that near-death experiences transformed how people interacted with and related to others at work. This is consistent with previous research that shows distinct personality and attitude changes reported by survivors of NDEs. Specifically, NDEs shift individual outlooks on life and can serve as catalysts for transformation, influencing how people relate to others. Before their near-death experience, many participants viewed workplace relationships as task-oriented and transactional. But afterward, those same relationships became more meaningful to them. Colleagues, clients and customers were no longer viewed as just business contacts. Instead, several participants spoke of their service and sales interactions as small acts of relationship-building rather than simply being economic exchanges. One participant said: My relationships across the board are deeper, are more connected with people, 100%. . . . I was a decent salesman before but this is, like, bringing spirituality into a quote-unquote sales position, which blows my mind. Lessons for the rest of us What does this mean for those of us who havent had a near-death experience? The participants in our study said their near-death experiences reoriented them to what really matters in life. The after-effects challenge traditional organizational values that celebrate hyper-productivity at the expense of meaning and high-quality relationships. As previous studies suggest, workers engaged in meaningful work eventually manifest greater productivity and accomplishment as opposed to burnout as a result of overwork. As interest in workplace well-being continues to riseparticularly in the wake of COVID-19 and the great resignationNDE survivors may be ahead of the curve. The after-effects of a near-death experience align with what workers tend to want from their jobs. Workers generally want to satisfy three fundamental needs: economic security, meaningful work and high-quality relationships. Our results suggest that NDE after-effects result in reductions in the importance of satisfying the drive for economic security and elevate the significance of meaningful work and authentic relationships. The stories of near-death experience survivors offer a kind of blueprint for reimagining how we work. For employees, that might mean re-evaluating what success looks like or exploring roles that align more closely with personal values. For employers, it might involve fostering workplace cultures that prioritize connection, purpose and well-being. One participant offers a lasting reminder for all of us seeking more meaning in our life and jobs: Its about relationships, not achivements. Akierah Binns is a PhD management candidate at the University of Guelph. Jamie Gruman is a professor of organizational behaviour at the University of Guelph. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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This article is republished with permission from Wonder Tools, a newsletter that helps you discover the most useful sites and apps. Subscribe here. Recently, I shared the tools that power my mornings. Now let’s explore what I rely on from lunch to bedtime. Below youll see sites, apps, and gadgets that carry me from noon to night. From a niche workshop platform to my quirky ‘invisible’ clock, these are the tech companions that help me wrap up a fruitful day. 2 p.m.: Lunch and thinking break I often abandon screens for my midday pause. Other times I use apps like these: Healthy Minds: Short audio pieces help guide me through mindfulness practices. I like the 5-10 minute active lessons that work well for a walking meditation. The app is free and well designed. If Im feeling anxious, I sometimes use the Headspace meditation app, which I also use for focus music when working. Libby: is my beloved source of free library audiobooks. I listen when Im walking to lunch or commuting. Resy and OpenTable: Handy for quick lunch reservations. Too Good To Go: Its fun to try heavily discounted local restaurant food, though the quality varies. I used MealPal for a while for local lunch deals when I wasnt as often bringing lunch from home. The Infatuation: Helpful lists of tasty new local restaurants. 1 to 3 p.m.: Preparing to teach After lunch, I develop teaching plans, prepare to lead workshops, or work on other school-related projects for my job as Director of Teaching and Learning at the CUNY Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. Craft: My go-to for creating visually engaging digital handouts. Its easy to use and works wonderfully on mobile or desktop. [Why Craft is so useful.] Text Blaze: When Im typing a lot, keyboard shortcuts help. I use snippets for signatures, AI prompts, addresses, and commonly typed phrases. Raycast also works well for these shortcuts. Tangible notes: I like writing notes away from my laptop periodically to get my eyes off the screen and to change my brain mode. I alternate between: I use a Rocketbook reusable notebook for lists and reminders. A $20 VersaTiles memo board is great for jotting passing thoughts. A giant whiteboard helps me draw connections. My reMarkable Paper Pro tablet hosts notes I will return to repeatedly. Arc Browser: I create custom spaces for specific classes or projects, with bookmarks and account settings tailored to that context. Kahoot, Padlet, and Slido: I rely on this trio of teaching tools to power activities that promote active learning in classes or workshopsrather than passive listening. Here are more of my favorite apps for teaching. Protecting my afternoon focus Raycast Focus Mode: Blocks email and distractions during short, focused, deep work sprints. Time Out: I set this app to remind me to give my eyes a screen break every 15 minutes. It pulses over the screen to nudge me to look out the window. Paper book: I sometimes take a short midafternoon reading break to relax, breathe, recharge my brain, and detach from my screen. Heres the book stack Im dipping into this month, reflecting a mix of my interests. 3 to 5 p.m.: Meetings I try to schedule meetings for late afternoon. When theyre fruitful, its great to conclude the day with collaboration. Granola: My favorite new app for transcribing and summarizing meetings. Its three best features: 1. Since it records locally on my laptop, theres no awkward bot joining the Zoom. 2. I can incorporate my own notes during the meeting, which get blended into the AI-powered summary. 3. Granola can draft helpful follow-up emails or Slack messages, or I can query it afterward about a meeting topic. Butter: My favorite tool for leading live online workshops, including live demos for Wonder Tools paid subscribers. Its thoughtfully designed for facilitators and teachers. It lets me easily incorporate interactive elements, from polls to collaborative brainstorming. If a meeting has to be hosted on Zoom or another platform, I can use Butter Scenes for interaction. Camera tools: Camo lets me modify my camera to zoom in, adjust lighting, or add an overlay during video calls. Prezi Video and Mmhmm enable lower-thirds, annotations, and overlay visuals I occasionally use for presentations. Sony UX570 voice recorder is my reliable $80 hardware backup for recording audio. I like that it doesn’t require an open laptop or running phone. I often transcribe the audio files with MacWhisper. 6 p.m.: After work Evening and nghttime tools help with relaxation, family time, and better sleep: Snipd: This smart podcast app lets me triple-tap my AirPods to save highlights to Readwise, which syncs to my digital notebook. (Recent favorite: Shell Game by Evan Ratliff. Season 1 is terrific, about AI voice clones.) Nex: I love playing the sports and workout games on this family video game system. Theyre all active games played with your body, not your thumbs, and theres no violence. I play solo or with my wife and daughters. Its like a next-generation Nintendo Wii, which we also still playespecially tennis, skiing, and the Wii Fit balance games. We also enjoy these family tabletop games. 11 p.m.: Bedtime Glocusent rechargeable reading light: This little $13 light clips onto any book or magazine for nighttime reading. One battery charge lasts for months. Yogasleep Dohm white noise machine: This $50 gadget masks random night sounds in noisy New York City, making it easier to sleep. Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones: I bought my WH-1000XM3 pair seven years ago, and still rely on them for listening to music before bed and focus sounds while working. Im planning to buy a new XM6 model when theyre released this summer. Peakeep invisible alarm clock: I turn off the display on this $12 bedside clock so its hidden at night. I can tap the top to see the time if I need to. I mainly use it for its gentle morning alarm, so I can keep my tempting phone out of my bedroom. This article is republished with permission from Wonder Tools, a newsletter that helps you discover the most useful sites and apps. Subscribe here.
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