Latest news with #Weldon
Spectator
3 days ago
- Business
- Spectator
The bloodstained origins of the Italian Renaissance
War – huh – what is it good for? According to Duncan Weldon, throughout most of history it's been fantastic for economic growth and development and has perhaps fuelled technological innovation and more. Blood and Treasure is a delightfully quirky approach to military history. Colonial Spain was thought to be cursed by the gold brought home from its colonies in the New World, since the crown somehow bankrupted itself multiple times during this period, despite the riches. Weldon contends that since the gold meant that Spain's monarchs did not need to approach parliament for money, it left them untethered from their economies and constraints. He also offers an alternative theory for why the Renaissance originated in Italy, suggesting that it was a result of the particular way in which Italian city states waged almost perpetual war on each other by means of mercenaries. Commanders of such companies would infinitely prefer to drag out a conflict and avoid major battles – in which they might die. Huge fortunes were thus amassed, which translated into social status through patronage of the arts. Given that the book covers a vast period and range of geographies, it is perhaps best viewed as a collection of vignettes, each containing a lesson about how combat interacted with the everyday economy. The most convincing example of the destructive, coercive force of war being also a major driver of growth and better living conditions can be seen in a study of India. Weldon describes how researchers pinpointed the dates and locations of conflict in the subcontinent going back 1,000 years. They then used satellite imagery from 1992 to 2010 to assess the level of night-time electric lighting across the country (creating proximate measures for economic development where no such granular data existed) to check for a correlation. They found that areas where there had been intensive fighting tended to be more economically developed, even centuries later. The conclusion was that warfare leads to a strengthening of local governments and institutions, which in turn is conducive to growth. When the book turns to more recent times, such intriguing, counterintuitive stories disappear. Pre-industrial societies, Weldon explains, worked below their capacity, so when extra materials were needed for warfare it resulted in growth. Post-industrial societies do not have spare capacity waiting to be used, so modern warfare, in its destructiveness, ends up killing growth. In a sense it is convenient that the story changes, given the difficulties that might result from claiming any modern conflict would actually be a good thing when the casualties are those who might otherwise be alive today. But it inevitably means that the book's later pages are less lively. Blood and Treasure risked falling between two stools – being military history targeted at people who don't normally read it, satisfying neither warfare nerds nor those looking for a post-Freakonomics hit. Thanks to an obvious deep love of the subject, a deft choice of examples and some thoroughly satisfying human stories, Weldon has at least made warfare a good thing to read about.
The 42
05-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
James Weldon reappointed as basketball head coach of Ireland women's team
JAMES WELDON HAS been reappointed as head coach of the Ireland senior women's team for the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2027 qualifiers in November. Weldon was first appointed to the position in 2018, and his extension was confirmed at a recent meeting of Basketball Ireland's Elite Performance Committee (EPC) ahead of the qualifying draw in August. Advertisement This will be Weldon's third FIBA Women's EuroBasket campaign having steered the side through the 2023 and 2025 qualifiers. He previously guided Ireland to a silver medal in the FIBA European Championship for Small Countries in 2021. Basketball Ireland Hall of Famer, Jillian Hayes, UCD Marian head coach Ioannis Liapakis and Team Manager Dolores Geaney will also return as part of Weldon's coaching staff for the next two years. 'The previous FIBA Women's EuroBasket campaign was incredibly challenging to navigate,' Weldon said following his reappointment. 'I'm very excited to find out who our opponents will be for the forthcoming qualifiers and embracing a new format which will give us more time in camp during each window. 'We hope we can build on the great team performance against Latvia last time out, when we came agonisingly close to causing an upset. We have strong squad depth now, having brought in a number of new players over the last couple of years, which should stand us in good stead when we return to competitive action.' The FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2027 Qualifiers first round will see Ireland drawn in a four-team group, with three fixtures this November, followed by three fixtures in February 2026. The FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2027 Qualifiers second round then begins in November 2026 and concludes in February 2027, with three games in each window.
Irish Examiner
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
James Weldon reappointed as Ireland senior women's head coach
James Weldon has been re-appointed as Ireland senior women's head coach for the upcoming FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2027 qualifiers, which get underway in November. His extension was confirmed ahead of the qualifying draw in August. It will be Weldon's third FIBA Women's EuroBasket campaign, since taking charge in 2018, having steered the side in the 2023 and 2025 qualifiers. He previously led Ireland to silver in the FIBA European Championship for Small Countries in 2021. The Kerry native is also a decorated coach domestically, winning nine national titles with UL Wolves and being named Women's Super League Coach of the Year on three occasions during his four-year tenure in Limerick. Having had to face the third-placed team in FIBA's World Rankings, France, as well as number 29 Latvia in the most recent FIBA Women's EuroBasket qualifiers, Weldon is hopeful that the upcoming draw for the 2027 qualifiers will be a little kinder. 'The previous FIBA Women's EuroBasket campaign was incredibly challenging to navigate. I'm very excited to find out who our opponents will be for the forthcoming qualifiers and embracing a new format which will give us more time in camp during each window,' Weldon said. The FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2027 Qualifiers First Round will see Ireland drawn in a four-team group, with three fixtures this November, followed by three fixtures in February 2026. The FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2027 Qualifiers Second Round then begins in November 2026 and concludes in February 2027, with three games in each window. 'We hope we can build on the great team performance against Latvia last time out, when we came agonisingly close to causing an upset. We have strong squad depth now, having brought in a number of new players over the last couple of years, which should stand us in good stead when we return to competitive action.' There are no changes to Weldon's coaching staff, with Hall of Famer, Jillian Hayes, UCD Marian head coach Ioannis Liapakis and Team Manager Dolores Geaney all returning for the next two years. 'I'd like to thank my staff and players for their support and the incredible hardworking and talented group of players,' continued Weldon. 'I wouldn't be here without my wife Sharon and my extended family, who I owe a huge debt of gratitude towards for allowing me to continue to undertake this considerable, but exciting, challenge. "Finally, I want to acknowledge the Chairperson of the EPC, Professor Deirdre Brennan, the extended committee, Basketball Ireland's CEO John Feehan and all the professional staff for their ongoing hard work and advice.', concluded Weldon.
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Cision Canada
02-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Trulieve Launches "Roll-Up for Justice" Campaign to Support Mission [Green]
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., June 2, 2025 /CNW/ -- Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve" or "the Company"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company in the U.S., today announced the "Roll-Up for Justice" campaign to support Mission [Green], a national initiative to support individuals disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition. Throughout June and July, Trulieve customers in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, and Maryland can support Mission [Green] by rolling up purchases to the nearest dollar. "We're thankful for Trulieve's support of Mission [Green] and our fight to free those still paying the price for outdated cannabis laws," said Weldon Angelos, founder of Mission [Green]. "Together, we can turn spare change into real change." Angelos, a former music producer sentenced to 55 years in prison for selling less than $1,000 of cannabis in 2003, founded Mission [Green] to provide relief for those negatively impacted by cannabis prohibition through clemency and expungement efforts, commissary support, and advocacy for legislative reform. "Weldon's personal story illustrates the urgent need for cannabis reform," said Trulieve's Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers. "We are proud to support Mission [Green]'s efforts through the Roll-Up for Justice campaign." To learn more about the campaign, please visit About Mission [Green] Mission [Green] is a national initiative powered by The Weldon Project, which was created to support individuals disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition. The Weldon Project was founded by Weldon Angelos, a former music producer sentenced to 55 years in federal prison for a nonviolent cannabis offense. After receiving a full pardon from President Trump in 2020, Weldon works tirelessly towards criminal justice reform and second-chance advocacy. About Trulieve Trulieve is an industry leading, vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator in the U.S., with leading market positions in Arizona, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Trulieve is poised for accelerated growth and expansion, building scale in retail and distribution in new and existing markets through its hub strategy. By providing innovative, high-quality products across its brand portfolio, Trulieve delivers optimal customer experiences and increases access to cannabis, helping patients and customers to live without limits. Trulieve is listed on the CSE under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF. For more information, please visit Investor Contact Christine Hersey, Vice President of Investor Relations +1 (424) 202-0210 [email protected] Media Contact Phil Buck, APR, Corporate Communications Manager +1 (406) 370-6226 [email protected] SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp.
![Trulieve Launches "Roll-Up for Justice" Campaign to Support Mission [Green]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fcv%2Fapiv2%2Fsocial%2Fimages%2Fyahoo_default_logo-1200x1200.png&w=3840&q=100){kind=logo}
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trulieve Launches "Roll-Up for Justice" Campaign to Support Mission [Green]
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., June 2, 2025 /CNW/ -- Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve" or "the Company"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company in the U.S., today announced the "Roll-Up for Justice" campaign to support Mission [Green], a national initiative to support individuals disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition. Throughout June and July, Trulieve customers in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, and Maryland can support Mission [Green] by rolling up purchases to the nearest dollar. "We're thankful for Trulieve's support of Mission [Green] and our fight to free those still paying the price for outdated cannabis laws," said Weldon Angelos, founder of Mission [Green]. "Together, we can turn spare change into real change." Angelos, a former music producer sentenced to 55 years in prison for selling less than $1,000 of cannabis in 2003, founded Mission [Green] to provide relief for those negatively impacted by cannabis prohibition through clemency and expungement efforts, commissary support, and advocacy for legislative reform. "Weldon's personal story illustrates the urgent need for cannabis reform," said Trulieve's Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers. "We are proud to support Mission [Green]'s efforts through the Roll-Up for Justice campaign." To learn more about the campaign, please visit About Mission [Green]Mission [Green] is a national initiative powered by The Weldon Project, which was created to support individuals disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition. The Weldon Project was founded by Weldon Angelos, a former music producer sentenced to 55 years in federal prison for a nonviolent cannabis offense. After receiving a full pardon from President Trump in 2020, Weldon works tirelessly towards criminal justice reform and second-chance advocacy. About TrulieveTrulieve is an industry leading, vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator in the U.S., with leading market positions in Arizona, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Trulieve is poised for accelerated growth and expansion, building scale in retail and distribution in new and existing markets through its hub strategy. By providing innovative, high-quality products across its brand portfolio, Trulieve delivers optimal customer experiences and increases access to cannabis, helping patients and customers to live without limits. Trulieve is listed on the CSE under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF. For more information, please visit Facebook: @Trulieve Instagram: @Trulieve_X: @Trulieve Investor ContactChristine Hersey, Vice President of Investor Relations+1 (424) Media ContactPhil Buck, APR, Corporate Communications Manager+1 (406) View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp. View original content to download multimedia:
