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MECA PRESENTS UPCOMING EVENTS
The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards
OVERALL WINNER
Jennifer Hadley (USA)
with their picture
Not so cat-like reflexes
“This 3 month old cub and his sibling were in a tree. The other lionesses were in other trees and on the ground. He wanted to get down and walked all over the branches looking for the right spot and finally just went for it. It was probably his first time in a tree and his descent didn’t go so well. He was just fine though after landing on the ground. He got up and ran off with some other cubs.”
CATEGORY WINNERS
Alex Walker’s Serian Creatures of the Land Award
Jennifer Hadley (USA)
with their picture
Not so cat-like reflexes
“This 3 month old cub and his sibling were in a tree. The other lionesses were in other trees and on the ground. He wanted to get down and walked all over the branches looking for the right spot and finally just went for it. It was probably his first time in a tree and his descent didn’t go so well. He was just fine though after landing on the ground. He got up and ran off with some other cubs.”
Spectrum Photo Creatures in the Air Award
Jean Jacques Alcalay (French)
with their picture
Misleading African viewpoints 2
“Hippo yawning next to a heron standing on the back of another hippo”
Creatures Under the Sea Award
Arturo Telle Thiemann (Spanish)
with their picture
Say cheeeese
“A couple of triggerfish looking into the camera, captured at the Azores.Even they may look funny, these fish can be quite aggressive. In this case they didn’t attempt to bite me, but the domeport of my camera housing ended up with some scratches… life is hard… at least it wasn’t me who was hurt”
Affinity Photo 2 People’s Choice Award
Jennifer Hadley (USA)
with their picture
Talk To The Fin!
“This was shot on the Falkland Islands. These two gentoo penguins were hanging out on the beach when one shook himself off and gave his mate the snub.”
Junior Award
Arshdeep Singh (Indian)
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I CU boy !
“Few hundred miles away we went to explore wildlife of a small town named ‘Bikaner’. It was after almost a year I travelled because of covid. We hired a guide to explore places around. During last day of our trip we came across a pipe in a city where we spotted an owlet. I have earlier clicked owls in a pipe before so I was sure that I wasn’t mistake. We waited for a short while and it didn’t take a long time and one of the spotted owlet came out of the pipe. It was really funny when he came out and looked at me straight, before going inside he closed one of his eyes and felt like he wanted to say I CU boy ! and I immediately snapped a picture when he gave this pose.”
Amazing Internet Portfolio Award
Jia Chen
with their picture
Football Dream
“Coopers Hawk, Ontario, Canada”
HIGHLY COMMENDED WINNERS
Michael Eastwell (British)
with their picture
It’s all kicking off!
“Apart from its beauty, Cape Hillsborough is renowned for its resident kangaroos and wallabies. I visited the area for three consecutive sunrises, but it was on my final morning that I captured this beautiful spectacle, two wallabies playing / fighting on the beach as the sun burst through the surrounding clouds.”
Miroslav Srb. (Czech Republic)
with their picture
Hello everyone
“I photographed raccoon on a Florida beach, where I fed him shrimps. Then he thanked me like that.”
Federica Vinci (Italian)
with their picture
Monkey Wellness Centre
“Walking near a cambodian temple where groups of wild monkeys lived, I came across this scene: a wild monkey in total relax, while its friend was taking care of it.”
Jagdeep Rajput. (Indian)
with their picture
Pegasus, the flying horse.
“Actually this is Indian Saras Crane attacking a Bluebull from behind, the bull happened to venture close to Saras’s nest, where in, it had laid a single egg. The Saras Crane, which is tallest flying bird in the world, opened it’s huge wings and attacked the bull from behind, driving the bull away from the nest”
Emmanuel Do Linh San (South African)
with their picture
I’m gonna strangle you!
“I was following a group of meerkats on foot in the Kalahari Trails Game Reserve, in South Africa. Most individuals, including adults, were in a playful mood. It gave me a unique opportunity to capture very interesting and dynamic interactions between some members of the group. In the photo that I have selected, there is no aggression between individuals, but rather an interaction that reminds us of humans when one of your friends jokes about you and you pretend to strangle them and, in response, they open their mouth like a simpleton :-)”
Ryan Sims (USA)
with their picture
Excuse Me… Pardon Me!
“A duckling walking/waddling across a turtle covered log at the Juanita wetlands, the duckling fell off after a few turtle crossings, it was cute.”
Alex Pansier (Dutch)
with their picture
Jumping Jack
“A red squirrel jumps during a rainstorm, so you can see the drops flying around.”
Mark Schocken (USA)
with their picture
Tight Fit!
“I was going to see and photograph this eastern screech owl nest in a local park in Florida. One morning, a few days before the two owlets fledged, one owlet tried to squeeze into the nest hole with Mom, maybe to see the outside world for the first time. It was hilarious and I was glad I was there that morning to photograph it. The moment lasted only a few seconds as Mom didn’t seem very happy with the arrangement. Check out the expression on her face.”
John Chaney (USA)
with their picture
Fight Back
“This salmon decide to punch the bear in the face rather than be lunch.”
Martin Grace (British)
with their picture
Keep Calm and keep your head
“Two King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) at Volunteer Point in the Falklands. The right hand bird may have an inscrutable expression but it must be wondering where its mate’s head has gone. Perhaps it is a Rudyard Kipling scholar: ‘If you can keep your head when all about you. Are losing theirs and blaming it on you …”
HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS REMINDS COMMUNITY TO “PROTECT OUR PIPES” THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
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CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON FUGITIVE FRIDAY
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US Department of Labor, El Paso Consulate General of Mexico renew 2-year commitment to promote worker safety, health throughout West Texas
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Consulate General of Mexico have signed an alliance to provide Spanish-speaking workers in West Texas with information, guidance and access to workers’ rights. The two-year alliance will provide safety and health outreach and training to Mexican nationals working in the region. This voluntary alliance provides Spanish-speaking workers with outreach materials, workers’ rights, OSHA standards and assistance in Spanish. Some of the safety and health issues that will be covered include falls from elevated work surfaces, electrocution, heat illness, exposure to hazardous chemicals, struck-by and caught-in or -between hazards.
Background: OSHA’s Alliance Program works with groups committed to worker safety and health to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. These groups include unions, consulates, trade or professional organizations, businesses, faith- and community-based organizations and educational institutions. OSHA and the groups collaboratively develop compliance assistance tools and resources, share information with workers and employers, and educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities.
Quote: “Working with the Mexican Consulate, OSHA can reach the underserved Spanish-speaking community better to provide safety training and outreach, and help keep them safe at work,” said OSHA Area Director Diego Alvarado Jr. in El Paso, Texas. “Providing Spanish-speaking workers with information they can more clearly understand increases the likelihood that we can prevent workplace injuries and fatalities, so that all workers end their shifts safe and healthy.”
Governor Abbott Celebrates Construction Of Nation’s Largest Green Hydrogen Facility In Texas
Governor Greg Abbott today celebrated the announcement of Air Products and The AES Corporation’s (AES) new mega-scale green hydrogen facility in Wilbarger County. The project is anticipated to create more than 1,300 construction jobs, 115 permanent operations jobs, and 200 transportation and distribution jobs. It is also expected to generate approximately $500 million in revenue to the State of Texas over the course of the project’s lifetime and be the largest green hydrogen facility in the United States.
“With the announcement of this groundbreaking facility by Air Products and AES, the State of Texas will extend its leadership in U.S. energy production and help meet our country’s energy needs for decades to come,” said Governor Abbott. “This project will not only bring hundreds of jobs and millions in revenue to the Lone Star State, but will also expand our state’s robust energy sector and further solidify Texas as a global powerhouse in this critical industry. I thank Air Products and AES for choosing Texas, and I look forward to working alongside the two companies and local leaders as we keep Texas a global energy leader.”
“We are very pleased to extend our hydrogen leadership and our extensive operations in Texas and announce this exciting joint venture with AES for a new green hydrogen production facility, which will be competitive on a global scale while bringing significant tax, job and energy security benefits to Texas,” said Air Products Chairman, President, and CEO Seifi Ghasemi. “This new facility will be, by far, the largest, fully integrated green hydrogen production facility in the country, using wind and sun energy to produce clean hydrogen for U.S. customers. We are very appreciative of the support of Governor Abbott and state and local officials in the development of this project.”
“This project will capitalize on AES’ strength in energy innovation and Texas’ abundant renewables resources to extend Texas’ leadership position in the energy sector,” said AES President and CEO Andrés Gluski. “We are very pleased to be partnering with Governor Abbott, the State of Texas, and the communities, officials and citizens of Wilbarger County to bring this important project to fruition. We are also pleased to be working alongside Air Products, the world leader in hydrogen production, for this first of its kind mega-scale green hydrogen facility in the U.S.”
“The Air Products/AES hydrogen project is a game changer for Wilbarger County,” said Business Development Corporation of Vernon Member Rick Hardcastle. “We welcome this project and the significant new jobs to be created during construction and beyond. With this project, we’re entering an exciting next chapter.”
“We are honored that these two industry-leading global corporations are looking to our county as the site of this major energy project,” said Wilbarger County Judge Greg Tyra. “Texas is known as the home for so many world-class companies and facilities working to provide real energy solutions. We look forward to Wilbarger County becoming the site of the largest green hydrogen project in the U.S.”
Air Products and AES plan to invest approximately $4 billion to build, own, and operate this green hydrogen production facility in Wilbarger County. The power to operate this hydrogen project will entail over 1 gigawatt of renewable energy and electrolyzer capacity capable of producing more than 200 metric tons per day (MT/D) of green hydrogen.
The facility is targeted to begin commercial operations in 2027 and will primarily serve mobility and other industrial markets. The project will broaden Texas’ energy portfolio and will position our state as the country’s leader in green hydrogen while helping to reduce emissions.
Harris County DA’s Office, partner agencies honored for mental health diversion program
The Texas Association of Counties presented its 2022 Best Practices Award on Tuesday at Commissioners Court to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for its Mental Health Diversion Program.
A resolution, sponsored by Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, recognized the program by the DA’s Office’s Mental Health Bureau and its community and law enforcement partners. It has successfully diverted more than 6,000 people with mental illness who are suspected of low-level, nonviolent offenses, such as trespassing, to the Judge Ed Emmett Mental Health Diversion Center for treatment as opposed to being booked into jail.
“We are honored to receive this acknowledgement for what we know is a win-win for Harris County. The Mental Health Diversion Program balances reform and public safety by getting those with mental health challenges much needed help and reserving jail space for repeat, violent offenders,” District Attorney Kim Ogg said.
The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD serves as the lead agency for the program, which is a collaborative effort among multiple stakeholders invested in the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system. Among other partners are the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Houston Police Department and Harris County Commissioners Court.
Begun in 2018, the DA’s Office’s Mental Health Diversion Program is a community-based alternative for law enforcement officers to route people to mental health services that also saves taxpayer money: For every $1 spent on diversion, the county saves $5.54 that would otherwise be spent on associated criminal justice costs.
The program is serving as a model for other jurisdictions across the state.
Two men sentenced to 25 years in 2021 murder
Two men were sentenced this week to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to killing a friend they got in a fight within 2021, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.
“This was a brutal and senseless murder carried out by two young men who will now spend decades behind bars,” Ogg said. “There are consequences for every action and in this case, justice was served.”
Leroy Lopez and Christopher Paz, both 19, were sentenced this week after admitting to fatally shooting 17-year-old Abraham Mata on April 4, 2021.
The three men, all 17 at the time, were at a trailer house in the 400 block of East Wallisville Road when a fight broke out. Witnesses said all three were “highly intoxicated.” Lopez apparently picked up Mata and slammed him to the ground, knocking him unconscious. Mata was then dragged out of the trailer house and shot twice.
Lopez and Paz then dragged Mata’s body to the back of a wooded area behind a church in Highlands. His body was then stabbed several times. The next day, both men were detained by police after they were seen nearby acting suspiciously. Paz then led police to the body and told investigators what had happened.
Lopez pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in prison by state District Judge Te’iva Bell on Monday. Paz pleaded guilty in exchange for 25 years in prison on Wednesday.
Assistant Harris County District Attorney Catherine Johnson, a chief prosecutor who handled the cases, said the sentences brought closure to the victim’s family.
“Leroy Lopez and Christopher Paz were both convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison this week for the gruesome murder of Abraham Mata,” Johnson said. “Our community is much safer with these two individuals in prison, and we are grateful to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office for apprehending them quickly following the murder.”