Latest news with #Midwinter
BBC News
a day ago
- Science
- BBC News
Midwinter's Day: King sends message to Antarctic scientists
King Charles has recorded a warm personal message to researchers in Antarctica celebrating a frozen Midwinter's Day, with the King praising their work in understanding climate marks the 70th anniversary of the BBC's Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast, which sends a morale-raising message to remote research stations in the depths of their winter."Each observation, measurement and calculation you undertake adds to the world's understanding of the Earth's fragile systems," says the King's Rootes, who leads the UK's Rothera research base, says it's an honour to have recognition for their work "at the cutting edge of science in a really difficult part of the world to operate". While much of the UK swelters in the summer heat, Antarctica is celebrating an icy Midwinter's Day without any sun and with driving snow."With the sun shying away from your horizon today, I particularly wanted to send my warmest good wishes," says the King, who praises the researchers' "critically important work".The King, a longstanding environmental campaigner, speaks of his appreciation for the scientists' "resilience and commitment" as they track changes in the ice in Antarctica, examining the "role humanity plays, as we struggle to live in harmony with nature".The broadcast from the BBC World Service is part of the traditional Midwinter celebrations for scientists at these isolated contributions have included a message from Sir David Attenborough, a quirky song from Bill Bailey - "There's rock and roll at the South Pole" - and a comedy sketch from the cast of W1A, which claims "they're actually moving a glacier from one place to another".King Charles becomes the first monarch to be part of this annual broadcast - with a message praising the British Antarctic Survey, which he says is "more vital than ever, telling us stories of the past, the present and possible futures".The British Antarctic Survey has described Antarctica as a "barometer of environmental change", as its researchers extract and analyse the ice core to see changes in climate over hundreds of thousands of for six months, scientists in Antarctica began to develop their own accentAlex Rootes is one of 41 researchers at Rothera who will be listening to the broadcast in Antarctica, a location so remote that it's a thousand miles to the nearest hospital. Also in this very bespoke audience have been researchers at bases in Bird Island and South Rootes told the BBC it was currently warmer than usual in Antarctica, at -2c, but it can be tough to cope without any daylight, which makes it even more important to have a community celebration for Midwinter."At this time of year when the darkness has really closed in, it's very easy psychologically for people to withdraw into themselves. It's a really vital part of our mental health provision that people have something like this, which people really look forward to," he says. The traditions for Midwinter Day are something similar to having Christmas in June, including giving presents, a big dinner and watching the same film each year. The seasonal favourite is The Thing, a 1980s sci-fi horror film about a group of scientists in Antarctica under threat from an unknown presence. Mr Rootes says it's now part of the ritual of the is the southern winter solstice, the shortest day in their location, more than 1,000 miles south of the southern tip of South America. This year at the Rothera base there are plans for a 10km (6.2 miles) fun run, if the conditions allow. It's one way of chilling annual BBC broadcast becomes a connection with home, with messages sent by the researchers' families and selections of their favourite Mr Rootes says the King's message will be an important endorsement of their work, as they check on marine life and measure changes in the ice, linked to climate change."It's lovely to feel like we have the King talking to us and recognising us in this remote community," he said. Sign up here to get the latest royal stories and analysis every week with our Royal Watch newsletter. Those outside the UK can sign up here.
BBC News
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Swindon and Wiltshire Pride: Volunteers and stall-holders needed
Volunteers and stall-holders are needed for this year's Swindon and Wiltshire event for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community will return to GWR Park in Swindon on 9 say they need volunteers to help run the event, with applications for stall-holders now open.A "wide-ranging" line-up has been teased for the event, which is in its 17th year. One of the event's organisers, Andy Midwinter, said more people have been attending each year, with 10,000 people going in 2024."Pride has become more important," Mr Midwinter said. "We're always looking for a safe space for people to be themselves among like-minded friends." Mr Midwinter said organisers are not yet at the stage where they can announce the line-up, but said it will be "very wide-ranging".Last year's event saw performances from Sonia, The Cheeky Girls and The Royal Serenity among others. 'Busy and vibrant' Volunteers are needed to join the event's committee, helping with event coordination, communications, social media and community are also open for cold food and snack vendors, retail, crafts and activities, as well as stalls for business, public services, charities and other Midwinter said: "Last year our marketplace area was such a busy and vibrant area, this year we're looking for any local charities or businesses to get involved again."Charities and businesses have until 28 April to apply for a stall.
CBC
22-02-2025
- General
- CBC
Midwinter gathering highlights authentic Mi'kmaw songs and dance
During the coldest month of winter, the Mi'kmaq honour Apuknajit, the February full moon, with a Midwinter feast and ceremony. At a recent Midwinter ceremony in Millbrook First Nation, about 80 kilometres north of Halifax, Michael R Denny debuted three new ko'jua songs to add to his personal repertoire of the traditional Mi'kmaw song genre. "I want to make sure that those songs are handed down in my family just the way it was done before," said Denny, who is from Eskasoni First Nation on Cape Breton Island. Midwinter ceremony and celebrations are something that Denny, who helped to organize the event, holds near to his heart. "It has always been an important gathering for my people to celebrate that winter spirit Apuknajit," he said. Historically the harshest month for hunting and survival, it was a time when Mi'kmaq left food offerings for the spirit of Apuknajit, to appease him in order to make it through the remainder of winter with plentiful food and favourable weather. The Midwinter celebration is built around this offering by involving community with time to gather, share a feast, reflect on the challenges of winter and celebrate their continued tenacity. Denny organized the event through his work with Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey, a Mi'kmaw educational authority in Nova Scotia. This year's event reflected traditional midwinter activities, featuring dice games, wapnaqn and waltes, a pipe ceremony, community feast, and ending with a ko'jua tournament that went on till nearly 11 p.m. The emphasis on ko'jua, a traditional Mi'kmaw dance accompanied by songs played on a ji'kmaqn, or split ash instrument, is important for Denny, who feels a responsibility to maintain this practice at the gatherings he organizes. "Everybody practiced [ko'jua] from Gespe'gewa'gik (Quebec and northern New Brunswick) all the way to Unama'kik (Cape Breton), and everywhere in between," he said. Denny said an important part of keeping the ancient songs alive is recognizing their origins and remembering the people who carried them. "If you don't have the story that goes along with it, you're only singing half the story and you're only honouring half that story," he said. Evan Googoo, a ko'jua singer and dancer from Wagmatcook First Nation, both shared songs and won the adult men's ko'jua dance competition. "Ko'jua, for me, it's just a way of connecting to our people, our ancestors. When I dance, I picture my grandfather there dancing with me," said Googoo. "It's not just a dance. It's a symbol of our resilience as Mi'kmaw people." He said it brings him pride to see his kids and family dancing. Googoo's daughter Karala Googoo, 15, said she looks forward to midwinter for the opportunity to dance. "I love to dance, it's one of my favorite things," she said. "I dance women's traditional also, but I most enjoy doing ko'jua." The family walked away with two victories, with Karala placing second in the women's ko'jua competition. She is passionate about sharing the dance and along with her father has begun teaching it through workshops and lessons across the country.
