Marco Polo in Bukhara

The Polo brothers decided to avoid Crimea, because of a civil war between Berke and his cousin Hulagu or perhaps because of the bad relationship between Berke Khan and the Byzantine Empire. Instead, they moved further east to Bukhara, in modern day Uzbekistan, where the family lived and traded for three years.

Crossing the Volga River and travelling around the northern end of the Caspian Sea, the Polo brothers, traversed the dry steppes of Kazakhstran and Usbekistan to the ancient city of Bukhara. The Mongols had captured and destroyed the city in 1220. When the Polos arrived, it was one of the chief cities of the Chaghatai Khanate.

The brothers stayed in Bukhara for three years, waiting for the unrest in the western khanates to end. It must have been an unrest of three years, but it may have given the Polos a chance to learn the Mongol language, Perhaps they also still had goods to sell in the city, whick was an important stop along the east-west overland trade routes.

Unfortunately for Marco, only Marco Polo's father, Niccolò (also Nicolò in Venetian) and his uncle, Maffeo (also Maffio), were in Bukhara. But as written by Rustichello da Pisa “Ma ancora v'à di quelle cose le quali elli nonvide, ma udille da persone degne di fede” And still have things which he had not seen, but he had heard it from faithful people.

In Sanskrit word "Bukhara" means "monastery". Here you can find more than 140 architectural monuments and architectural masterpieces. Bukhara is a "museum city" under the blue sky.

Bukhara (Uzbek: Buxoro, Tajik: Бухоро, Persian: بُخارا, Russian: Бухара), also spelled as Bukhoro and Bokhara, from the Soghdian βuxārak ("lucky place"), is the capital of the Bukhara Province (viloyat) of Uzbekistan. The nation's fifth-largest city, it has a population of 237,900 (1999 census estimate).

As the Polos you could also learn some Mongolian:

Phrase list
[Basics
Hello.
Sain bainuu . ( )
Hello.
Sain'uu(informal) : . ( )
How are you?
Sain bainuu? ( ?)
Fine, thank you.
Sain bainaa. ( )
What is your name?
Tany ner khen be? ( ?)
Who are you / Who is it?
Chi khen be? ( ?)
My name is ______ .
Mini ner ______ . ( _____ .)
Nice to meet you.
. ( )
Please.
Tik Tik . ( )
Thank you.
Bayarlalaa . ( )
You're welcome.
Zuuger . ( )
Yes.
Tiim . ( )
No.
Ugu . ( )
Sorry.
Uuchlaarai : . ( )
Goodbye
Bayartai . ( )
I can't speak Mongolian
Bi Mongoloor yairdaggui [ ]. ( [ ])
Do you speak English?
Chi angilar yairdaguu? ( ?)
Help!
! ( !)
Look out!
! ( !)
Good morning.
uglunii mend . ( )
Good afternoon.
udriin mend . ( )
Good night.
orai mend . ( )
Good night (to sleep)
saikhan untaarai . ( )
I don't understand.
bi oil-rakh gui . ( )
Where is the toilet?
khanas toalet? ( ?)

Some good ideas to reduce world poverty

In today's world, millions of people face the adversities of poverty on a daily basis, many of them without prospects for a better life. 

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However, society has the power to intervene and change this reality. The transformative force is in each individual's interest in getting involved and making a difference. We'll explore key strategies for reducing and eventually eliminating poverty globally.

Inclusive Economic Growth: Recognizing that sustainable economic growth is a fundamental pillar in the fight against poverty, it is crucial that governments and leaders adopt policies aimed at inclusive growth. Stimulating the creation of productive, well-paying jobs is essential to providing economic opportunities for all, especially the most vulnerable.

Investment in Human Capital: Equal access to quality education, adequate health services and social protection is critical to breaking the cycle of poverty. It is imperative that governments invest in comprehensive educational programs, vocational training and accessible health services. In this way, we will enable people to overcome the barriers of poverty and improve their living conditions.

Strengthening Rights and Governance: The fight against poverty requires the promotion of a just and egalitarian society, where the rights of all are respected. It is crucial to fight corruption, strengthen institutions and guarantee equal rights for all citizens. Access to justice and the active participation of civil society are key components in this endeavor.

Sustainable Rural Development: A significant proportion of the poor live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. To face this reality, it is necessary to invest in rural infrastructure, access to markets, agricultural technologies and support for small farmers. In this way, we will enable sustainable development in these regions and improve the living conditions of the rural population.

Promoting Gender Equality: Gender equality plays a crucial role in reducing poverty. It is essential to eliminate discrimination and ensure equal opportunities for women and girls. Economic empowerment, access to education, reproductive health and property rights are priority areas that must be addressed.

International Cooperation: The fight against poverty requires a global approach. Cooperation between developed and developing countries is key to meeting this challenge effectively. More developed countries can provide financial and technical assistance, helping to implement effective poverty reduction strategies. In addition, issues such as fair trade, debt forgiveness and reforms in international financial institutions must also be addressed.

Society's power to fight poverty lies in each person's individual interest in getting involved and making a difference. Each individual can play an important role, whether through volunteering in organizations that work with underprivileged communities, or in the defense of public policies that promote equality and sustainable development.

Awareness is the first step. It is critical that people understand the gravity of poverty and its underlying causes. This involves educating yourself about the social and economic issues that contribute to the perpetuation of poverty, as well as the viable solutions to address them.

In addition, society needs to encourage a culture of solidarity and social responsibility. This can be done by supporting initiatives and social businesses aimed at job creation and sustainable development in underprivileged communities. By consuming products and services from these organizations, people directly contribute to the reduction of poverty.

Another form of intervention is through political engagement. Citizens can become involved in movements and pressure groups that seek to influence the formulation of public policies aimed at eradicating poverty. This includes participating in demonstrations, writing letters to elected officials, participating in public hearings and voting for candidates committed to reducing inequalities.

In addition, financial donation to anti-poverty organizations also plays a crucial role. These donations can help fund projects and programs that aim to improve the lives of the most vulnerable people.

In summary, ending poverty requires a multifaceted approach that involves both individual and collective action. When society as a whole unites towards this goal, it is possible to create a significant and transformative impact. Each individual has the power to make a difference and contribute to building a more just and egalitarian world, where poverty is just a memory of the past.

Did you know that you can replace poverty with hope, and with opportunity at low cost?

Here are some of the things you can do to help; Somalis have an opportunity to switch to sun power using solar cookers. A company named Sun Fire Cooking has developed a sturdy (50 kilos), long-lasting, butterfly-designed solar cooker that works as fast as a gas or electric stove because of the large size parabolic mirrors.

According to the company the solar cooker pays for itself in less than one year and should give twenty years of free solar cooking.

For $200 you can buy a solar cooker for a family or for a woman to start her own tea shop and support her family. Send an email at sunfirecooking@yahoo.com for details or telephone Fatima in Bosaso at +252 5 797844 to learn how can you help more.

If you want to put your efforts towards urban areas and reduce the disposal of waste materials on the streets, you could sponsor Brazilian Rag-pickers (catadores de Lixo). Rag-pickers are informal workers who collect recyclable materials on their pushcarts to earn a small wage sending it to recycling companies.

Rafael Antonio Bruno, Mechanical Engineering at Polytechnic School of USP Universidade de São Paulo (São Paulo State University) has created a low cost lite pushcart equipped with rearview mirror, reflective tape, brake system and with an appropriate load compartment.

Rafael still has some challenges such as weight and cost reduction, the pushcart costs R$ 1,100.00 (45% more than it should be) and weights 110kg (10% more that projected).

Another good initiative to solve this equation was taken by Banco do Brasil which have donated on may 13th 14 special trycicles to Centcoop - Central das Cooperativas de Catadores de Materiais Recicláveis (Central of Cooperatives for Recycled Materials Collectors) at a cost per unity of R$ 17,600.00 (about US$ 11,000.00).

Centcoop aggregates 17 different Rag-pickers cooperatives in Brazil and 3.5 thousand of Rag-pickers. The city of São Paulo produces 16,000 tons of waste daily and Rag-Pickers are responsible for about 1% of its recycling.

Society's strength in combating poverty goes beyond individual actions. It manifests itself in the capacity for collective mobilization and in the search for structural changes that promote equality and access to opportunities for all.

This means that society needs to push for effective and inclusive public policies that address social and economic inequalities comprehensively. It is necessary for governments to invest in social protection programs, quality education, access to health services and the creation of decent jobs. Society can use its collective strength to demand these measures and hold political leaders accountable for their actions.

In addition, it is fundamental to promote a cultural and mentality change, in order to challenge stereotypes and prejudices that perpetuate poverty. It is necessary to combat discrimination and promote equal opportunities for all, regardless of their social origin, gender, ethnicity or any other characteristic.

Education plays a key role in this process. It is necessary to invest in an inclusive and quality education that enables individuals to break the cycle of poverty. In addition, education must promote values such as empathy, solidarity and social responsibility, so that future generations are engaged in the fight against poverty.

Finally, it is important to highlight that poverty is not a problem that can be solved overnight. It's an ongoing battle that requires persistent and committed efforts. It is therefore critical that society maintains an individual interest in helping those most in need, while at the same time working together to create an enabling environment for poverty reduction.

If each individual, with their individual interest, unites towards this common goal, we can make significant advances in the reduction and eventual elimination of poverty. Together, we can build a future where all people have equal opportunities and live in dignity.

Here are some more ideas and approaches to strengthen the fight against poverty:

Public, Private and Civil Society Partnerships: Collaboration between governments, businesses and civil society organizations is critical to effectively addressing poverty. These partnerships can lead to joint initiatives, responsible investments and knowledge exchange, leveraging the resources and experiences of different sectors to create positive social impact.

Development of skills and capabilities: In addition to ensuring access to education, it is important to provide training and skills that are in line with the demands of the job market. This will help strengthen the skills and competencies of people experiencing poverty, increasing their chances of finding decent employment and improving their living conditions.

Financial inclusion: Promoting access to financial services such as bank accounts, loans and insurance can empower people to manage their finances, build assets and invest in business opportunities. This can boost entrepreneurship and job creation, allowing people to be protagonists in their own overcoming of poverty.

Environmental sustainability: Poverty is closely linked to environmental challenges such as environmental degradation and climate change. It is therefore important to promote environmental sustainability in all anti-poverty strategies. This may involve adopting sustainable agricultural practices, accessing clean technologies and promoting renewable energy sources.

Focus on marginalized communities: Often certain population groups, such as indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities, are most affected by poverty. It is necessary to ensure that anti-poverty strategies take into account their specific needs and address the barriers they face in accessing opportunities and services.

Ongoing monitoring and evaluation: Regular monitoring and evaluation of anti-poverty initiatives is essential to ensure their effectiveness and efficiency. This will help identify what is working, what needs tweaking, and what lessons can be learned. In this way, it will be possible to better direct resources and maximize the impact of actions.

Remember that the fight against poverty is a complex challenge, and there is no single solution. A holistic approach adapted to local realities is needed, combining different strategies and coordinated actions. With a concerted and continued effort, we can work to reduce and eventually end poverty in our world.

Corporate Titles and Labor Classification

If you like anime or/and manga you probably know the meaning of the words Senpai (先輩, ) roughly equivalent to the western concept of "mentor", and kōhai (後輩, kōhai) the equivalent to "acolytes". According to a Japanese tradition a young person may be considered the senpai of an older person at times if the older person entered an organization, such as a company, at a later time than the younger person did.

In the occidental tradition, when middle Ages came to an end, the rank structure of medieval armies became more formalized. The top officers of hierarchy were known as commissioned officers whose authority came directly from a sovereign power, the word hierarchy derives from the Greek ἱεραρχία (hierarchia), from ἱεράρχης (hierarches), "president of sacred rites, high-priest" and that from ἱερός (hieros), "sacred" + ἄρχω (arkho), "to lead, to rule".

The basic unit of the medieval army was the company, a band of soldiers assigned (or raised) by a vassal lord on behalf of his lord. Today’s companies have inherited that sort of rank based structure in organizations all over the world. Corporate titles have been created to confer to individuals as a means of identifying their function in the organization. Titles vary by the type of organization, the sector that it is, whether it is for-profit or non-profit, public or private, partnership or sole proprietorship. Some sectors, such as educational institutions, have particular titles.

In order to standardized occupational titles globally the International Labor Organization (ILO) have established the labor classification structure. The current version, known as ISCO-88, is the third iteration, following ISCO-58 and ISCO-66. There is an updated version of the structure being prepared for release by 2008.

The ILO describes the purpose of the ISCO-88 as:

A tool for organizing jobs into a clearly defined set of groups according to the tasks and duties undertaken in the job. It is intended both for statistical users and for client oriented users. The main client oriented applications are in the recruitment of workers through employment offices, in the management of short or long term migration of workers between countries as well as in the development of vocational training programmes and guidance.

The ISCO-88 divides jobs into 10 major groups, with each group further organized into sub-major, minor and unit (not shown) groups.

MAJOR GROUP 1
LEGISLATORS, SENIOR OFFICIALS AND MANAGERS

11 LEGISLATORS AND SENIOR OFFICIALS
111 LEGISLATORS
112 SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
113 TRADITIONAL CHIEFS AND HEADS OF VILLAGES
114 SENIOR OFFICIALS OF SPECIAL-INTEREST ORGANISATIONS
12 CORPORATE MANAGERS
121 DIRECTORS AND CHIEF EXECUTIVES
122 PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT MANAGERS
123 OTHER DEPARTMENT MANAGERS
13 GENERAL MANAGERS
131 GENERAL MANAGERS

MAJOR GROUP 2
PROFESSIONALS

21 PHYSICAL, MATHEMATICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS
211 PHYSICISTS, CHEMISTS AND RELATED PROFESSIONALS
212 MATHEMATICIANS, STATISTICIANS AND RELATED PROFESSIONALS
213 COMPUTING PROFESSIONALS
214 ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS AND RELATED PROFESSIONALS
22 LIFE SCIENCE AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
221 LIFE SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS
222 HEALTH PROFESSIONALS (except nursing)
223 NURSING AND MIDWIFERY PROFESSIONALS
23 TEACHING PROFESSIONALS
231 COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND HIGHER EDUCATION TEACHING PROFESSIONALS
232 SECONDARY EDUCATION TEACHING PROFESSIONALS
233 PRIMARY AND PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION TEACHING PROFESSIONALS
234 SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHING PROFESSIONALS
235 OTHER TEACHING PROFESSIONALS
24 OTHER PROFESSIONALS
241 BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS
242 LEGAL PROFESSIONALS
243 ARCHIVISTS, LIBRARIANS AND RELATED INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS
244 SOCIAL SCIENCE AND RELATED PROFESSIONALS
245 WRITERS AND CREATIVE OR PERFORMING ARTISTS
246 RELIGIOUS PROFESSIONALS

MAJOR GROUP 3
TECHNICIANS AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS

31 PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCE ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS
311 PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCE TECHNICIANS
312 COMPUTER ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS
313 OPTICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT OPERATORS
314 SHIP AND AIRCRAFT CONTROLLERS AND TECHNICIANS
315 SAFETY AND QUALITY INSPECTORS
32 LIFE SCIENCE AND HEALTH ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS
321 LIFE SCIENCE TECHNICIANS AND RELATED ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS
322 MODERN HEALTH ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS (except nursing)
323 NURSING AND MIDWIFERY ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS
324 TRADITIONAL MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS AND FAITH HEALERS
33 TEACHING ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS
331 PRIMARY EDUCATION TEACHING ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS
332 PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION TEACHING ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS
333 SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHING ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS
334 OTHER TEACHING ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS
34 OTHER ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS
341 FINANCE AND SALES ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS
342 BUSINESS SERVICES AGENTS AND TRADE BROKERS
343 ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS
344 CUSTOMS, TAX AND RELATED GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS
345 POLICE INSPECTORS AND DETECTIVES
346 SOCIAL WORK ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS
347 ARTISTIC, ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS
348 RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS

MAJOR GROUP 4
CLERKS

41 OFFICE CLERKS
411 SECRETARIES AND KEYBOARD-OPERATING CLERKS
412 NUMERICAL CLERKS
413 MATERIAL-RECORDING AND TRANSPORT CLERKS
414 LIBRARY, MAIL AND RELATED CLERKS
419 OTHER OFFICE CLERKS
42 CUSTOMER SERVICES CLERKS
421 CASHIERS, TELLERS AND RELATED CLERKS
422 CLIENT INFORMATION CLERKS

MAJOR GROUP 5
SERVICE WORKERS AND SHOP AND MARKET SALES WORKERS

51 PERSONAL AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES WORKERS
511 TRAVEL ATTENDANTS AND RELATED WORKERS
512 HOUSEKEEPING AND RESTAURANT SERVICES WORKERS
513 PERSONAL CARE AND RELATED WORKERS
514 OTHER PERSONAL SERVICES WORKERS
515 ASTROLOGERS, FORTUNE-TELLERS AND RELATED WORKERS
516 PROTECTIVE SERVICES WORKERS
52 MODELS, SALESPERSONS AND DEMONSTRATORS
521 FASHION AND OTHER MODELS
522 SHOP SALESPERSONS AND DEMONSTRATORS
523 STALL AND MARKET SALESPERSONS

MAJOR GROUP 6
SKILLED AGRICULTURAL AND FISHERY WORKERS

61 MARKET-ORIENTED SKILLED AGRICULTURAL AND FISHERY WORKERS
611 MARKET GARDENERS AND CROP GROWERS
612 MARKET-ORIENTED ANIMAL PRODUCERS AND RELATED WORKERS
613 MARKET-ORIENTED CROP AND ANIMAL PRODUCERS
614 FORESTRY AND RELATED WORKERS
615 FISHERY WORKERS, HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS
62 SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURAL AND FISHERY WORKERS
621 SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURAL AND FISHERY WORKERS

MAJOR GROUP 7
CRAFT AND RELATED TRADES WORKERS

71 EXTRACTION AND BUILDING TRADES WORKERS
711 MINERS, SHOTFIRERS, STONE CUTTERS AND CARVERS
712 BUILDING FRAME AND RELATED TRADES WORKERS
713 BUILDING FINISHERS AND RELATED TRADES WORKERS
714 PAINTERS, BUILDING STRUCTURE CLEANERS AND RELATED TRADES WORKERS
72 METAL, MACHINERY AND RELATED TRADES WORKERS
721 METAL MOULDERS, WELDERS, SHEET-METAL WORKERS, STRUCTURAL- METAL PREPARERS, AND RELATED TRADES WORKERS
722 BLACKSMITHS, TOOL-MAKERS AND RELATED TRADES WORKERS
723 MACHINERY MECHANICS AND FITTERS
724 ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT MECHANICS AND FITTERS
73 PRECISION, HANDICRAFT, PRINTING AND RELATED TRADES WORKERS
731 PRECISION WORKERS IN METAL AND RELATED MATERIALS
732 POTTERS, GLASS-MAKERS AND RELATED TRADES WORKERS
733 HANDICRAFT WORKERS IN WOOD,TEXTILE, LEATHER AND RELATED MATERIALS
734 PRINTING AND RELATED TRADES WORKERS
74 OTHER CRAFT AND RELATED TRADES WORKERS
741 FOOD PROCESSING AND RELATED TRADES WORKERS
742 WOOD TREATERS, CABINET-MAKERS AND RELATED TRADES WORKERS
743 TEXTILE, GARMENT AND RELATED TRADES WORKERS
744 PELT, LEATHER AND SHOEMAKING TRADES WORKERS

MAJOR GROUP 8
PLANT AND MACHINE OPERATORS AND ASSEMBLERS

81 STATIONARY-PLANT AND RELATED OPERATORS
811 MINING- AND MINERAL-PROCESSING-PLANT OPERATORS
812 METAL-PROCESSING-PLANT OPERATORS
813 GLASS, CERAMICS AND RELATED PLANT OPERATORS
814 WOOD-PROCESSING- AND PAPERMAKING-PLANT OPERATORS
815 CHEMICAL-PROCESSING-PLANT OPERATORS
816 POWER-PRODUCTION AND RELATED PLANT OPERATORS
817 AUTOMATED-ASSEMBLY-LINE AND INDUSTRIAL-ROBOT OPERATORS
82 MACHINE OPERATORS AND ASSEMBLERS
821 METAL- AND MINERAL-PRODUCTS MACHINE OPERATORS
822 CHEMICAL-PRODUCTS MACHINE OPERATORS
823 RUBBER- AND PLASTIC-PRODUCTS MACHINE OPERATORS
824 WOOD-PRODUCTS MACHINE OPERATORS
825 PRINTING-, BINDING- AND PAPER-PRODUCTS MACHINE OPERATORS
826 TEXTILE-, FUR- AND LEATHER-PRODUCTS MACHINE OPERATORS
827 FOOD AND RELATED PRODUCTS MACHINE OPERATORS
828 ASSEMBLERS
829 OTHER MACHINE OPERATORS AND ASSEMBLERS
83 DRIVERS AND MOBILE-PLANT OPERATORS
831 LOCOMOTIVE-ENGINE DRIVERS AND RELATED WORKERS
832 MOTOR-VEHICLE DRIVERS
833 AGRICULTURAL AND OTHER MOBILE-PLANT OPERATORS
834 SHIPS' DECK CREWS AND RELATED WORKERS

MAJOR GROUP 9
ELEMENTARY OCCUPATIONS

91 SALES AND SERVICES ELEMENTARY OCCUPATIONS
911 STREET VENDORS AND RELATED WORKERS
912 SHOE CLEANING AND OTHER STREET SERVICES ELEMENTARY OCCUPATIONS
913 DOMESTIC AND RELATED HELPERS, CLEANERS AND LAUNDERERS
914 BUILDING CARETAKERS, WINDOW AND RELATED CLEANERS
915 MESSENGERS, PORTERS, DOORKEEPERS AND RELATED WORKERS
916 GARBAGE COLLECTORS AND RELATED LABOURERS
92 AGRICULTURAL, FISHERY AND RELATED LABOURERS
921 AGRICULTURAL, FISHERY AND RELATED LABOURERS
93 LABOURERS IN MINING, CONSTRUCTION, MANUFACTURING AND TRANSPORT
931 MINING AND CONSTRUCTION LABOURERS
932 MANUFACTURING LABOURERS
933 TRANSPORT LABOURERS AND FREIGHT HANDLERS

MAJOR GROUP 0
ARMED FORCES

Find here the "C-level"( titles begin with the term "chief.") Table:
chief accounting officer - CAO
chief acquisition officer - CAO
chief audit executive - CAE
chief automation officer – CAO
chief analytics officer - CAO
chief benefits officer - CBO
chief business officer/business development officer – CBO/BDO
chief channel officer - CCO
chief compliance officer - CCO
chief credit officer -CCO
chief data officer - CDO
chief design officer - CDO
chief diversity officer - CDO
chief engineering officer - CEO
chief experience officer - CXO
chief governance officer - CGO
chief information security officer - CISO
chief innovation officer - CIO
chief intellectual property officer - CIPO
chief investment officer - CIO
chief knowledge officer -CKO
chief learning officer - CLO
chief legal officer - CLO
chief marketing officer - CMO
chief networking officer - CNO
chief people officer - CPO
chief privacy officer - CPO
chief process officer - CPO
chief product officer - CPO
chief quality officer - CQO
chief research officer - CRO
chief revenue officer - CRO
chief risk officer - CRO
chief sales officer - CRO
chief science officer - CSO
chief security officer - CSO
chief strategy officer - CSO
chief sustainability officer - CSO
chief visionary officer - CVO

Marco Polo’s Bestiary

“Partendosi dalla Giava e dal regno di Lambri, poi che s'ha navigato da circa centocinquanta miglia verso tramontana, si truovano due isole, una delle quali si chiama Nocueran e l'altra Angaman. E in questa di Nocueran non è re, e quelle genti sono come bestie, e tutti, cosí maschi come femine, vanno nudi e non cuoprono parte alcuna della loro persona.”...” Angaman è un'isola grandissima, che non ha re, le cui genti adoran gl'idoli, e sono come bestie salvatiche, conciosiacosachè mi fosse detto ch'hanno il capo simile a quello de' cani, e gli occhi e denti. Sono genti crudeli, e tutti quegli uomini che possono prendere gli ammazzano e mangiano.”

“Upon living Java (minor) and the kingdom of Lambri, and sailing about one hundred and fifty miles, you fall in with two islands, one of which is named Nocueran, and the other Angaman. Nocueran is not under the government of a king, and the people are little removed from the conditions of beasts; all of them, both males and females, going naked, withot a covering to any part of the body.”…”Angaman is a very large island, not governed by king. The inhabitants are idolaters, and are most brutish and savage race, having heads, eyes, and teeth resembling those of the canine species. Their dispositions are cruel, and every person, not being of their own nation, whom they can lay their hands upon, they will kill and eat.”

Rustichello da Pisa was an Italian romance writer best known for co-writing Marco Polo's autobiography while they were in prison together in Genoa around 1298 after a clash between Genoa and Venice.

Marco dictated his tales of travel to Rustichello, and together they turned it into the book known as Il Milione or, in English, The Travels of Marco Polo - Description of the World.

Needless to say that I’m really impressed with the book, but what I like most about Description of the World is the fantastic description of what could be considered surreal stories.

It was very difficult at that time to separate scientific reports from bestiaries or Bestiarum vocabulum, a compendium of beasts. Bestiaries were made popular in the middle Ages in illustrated volumes that described various animals, birds, etc. Their fantastic and magnificent writings and illustrations were quite highly prized amongst general public and were regarded as great appreciation of fine literature and poetry, and gain acceptance as a wonderful source of fantasy in reader’s minds.

In the late 18th century the English sailor Andrew Battell held prisoner by the Portuguese in Angola, had described two anthropoid "monsters" named Pongo and Engeco. His description was considered to be another bestiary tail but it is pretty obvious that he was referring to orangutans.

Hanno the Navigator, a Carthaginian explorer c. 450 BC had described "a savage people, the greater part of whom were women, whose body were hairy, and whom our interpreters called Gorillae". It sounds very much like a Rustichello’s report.

In the Early 20th century Carl Akeley of the American Museum of Natural History traveled to Africa accompanied by his friends Mary Bradley, a famous mystery writer, and her husband. When they come back Mary Bradley wrote “On the Gorilla Trail” this one was no longer a bestiary, it was a magnificent scientific report.

A research study has been deemed scientific when it pursues the application of scientific criteria in both its formulation and implementation.

Marco Polo described on his journeys through the Gobi desert the sound to evil desert spirits. The noise can be very loud, audible for over a kilometer. It was a bestiary report but today we know that in a Chinese desert, guides point to what Polo apparently saw–the Mingsha Dune–and explain that when the wind blows, the dune whistles because solid granite is just below the shifting sand.

Tough much of what of Rustichello de Pise wrote is impossible to be held as a true fact, I really wish that all relates would not be a lie. In that sense I’ve created some possible images of what Marco and Rusticello described as if a fictional explorer from late 19’s encountered such creatures and photographed them.

So rejoice yourself with this scientific beautiful report!!!
Those Blemyas (The Blemmyes - Latin Blemmyae) were really gentile when our tem photographed them. They are a race of creatures that live in Africa, in Nubia, Kush, and Ethiopia, generally on the south of Egypt. They are acephalous (headless) people who had eyes and mouths in their bellies and could die if not smell a special local fruit in daily basis.
The Sciapodes (σκιαποδες - 'shadow foots' in Greek) or monocoli (μονοκωλοι - 'one legged' in Greek) live in India and have only one leg, but are able to leap with surprising agility.
In this photo you could see one Sciapode protecting himself from the sun by the shade of his own feet.
A Roc or Rukh (from the Arabic and Persian رخ rokh, asserted by Louis Charles Casartelli to be an abbreviated form of Persian simurgh) is an enormous bird of prey, often white, reputed to have been able to carry off and eat elephants.

Marco Polo as quoted inAttenborough (1961: 32) stated "It was for all the world like an eagle, but one indeed of enormous size; so big in fact that its quills were twelve paces long and thick in proportion. And it is so strong that it will seize an elephant in its talons and carry him high into the air and drop him so that he is smashed to pieces; having so killed him, the bird swoops down on him and eats him at leisure".

The Panotti (panacios, panotti, panotos, panotios - from the Greek words for "all ears") were a race of creatures, described as possessing large ears that covered their entire bodies.

They are mentioned by classical writers such as Pliny the Elder, who writes that they live in the "All-Ears Islands" off Scythia (Greek Σκυθία Skythia, Engl. /'sɪθɪə/ or /'sɪðɪə/) was the area in Eurasia inhabited by people of Iranian language. Pomponius Mela, however, writes that they lived near the Orkneys.

Postal Address formats II

Do you want to make sure that your correspondence will arrive at its destination without unnecessary delays, here is some postal address formats, business culture and etiquette for some countries. This will help you direct your international correspondence properly and ensure that your partner will receive the package/letter.

Angola

Exmo.[1] Senhor[2]
Luis[3] Pagano[4]
Internacional Blemya S.A.[5]
Av. [6] 4 de Fevereiro [7] n. 39[8] - 4.°[9] B[10]
Caixa Postal n.º-802[11]
Luanda[12]
República de Angola[13]

[1] Exmo. - treatment pronoun – Excelentíssimo ("Your Excellency", or, less formally, simply "Excellency".)
Vossa Excelência ( V. Ex.ª ).normally used for:
President
Vice President
State Minister
Senator
Judges
Ambassadors
[2]Senhor means "Mr."; not usually abbreviated.
[3]First given name.
[4]Family names; probably addressed as Mr. Pagano. (In domestic usage these two lines are more likely to be written as a single "attention" line under the following line.)
[5]S.A. = Sociedade Anônima, meaning an stock corporation,
Ltda. – Limitada meaning a Limited Company
[6] Av. – Avenida – Avenue
R. Rua is the most common word for "street."
[7]Street name.
[8]Building number.
[9]Fourth floor.
[10]Office B.
[11]Caixa Postal means Four-digit postcode P.O. Box.
[12] City name.Luanda – Capital
18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia);
Bengo,
Benguela,
Bie,
Cabinda,
Cuando Cubango,
Cuanza Norte,
Cuanza Sul,
Cunene,
Huambo,
Huila,
Luanda,
Lunda Norte,
Lunda Sul,
Malanje,
Moxico,
Namibe,
Uige,
Zaire
[14] Country name.

Armenia

Mr.[1] Pavel Safarian
Blemya Capital LLC[2]
9[3] Tpagrichneri [4]St.[5]
Yerevan[6] 375010[7]

[2 ]Limited liability company - similar to a corporation and a limited liability partnership.
Limited - Equivalent to PLC Public Limited Company in the UK
OJSC Open Joint–Stock Company
CJLC Closed Joint–Stock Company
Inc. "Corporation", "Incorporated" and the abbreviations "Corp." and "Inc."
[3] Building number.
[4] Street name
[5] St. – Street
[6] City name – Yerevan – Capital
11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz);
Aragatsotn,
Ararat,
Armavir,
Geghark'unik',
Kotayk',
Lorri,
Shirak,
Syunik',
Tavush,
Vayots' Dzor,
Yerevan
[7] Six-digit postcode.

Austria

Herrn[1]
Dipl.-Ing.[2] Andreas[3] Stuck[4]
Blemya International Stern[5] GmbH[6]
Glockengasse[7] 159[8]
1010[9] WIEN[10]

[1]Herr means "Mr.," Herrn means "to Mr."; usually on a line by itself.
[2]Dipl.-Ing. is an engineering degree.
[3]Given name.
[4]Family name.
[5]Company name.
[6]GmbH. - Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung Translated "company with limited liability". Similar to Limited Liability Company (LLC). In Germany, min. capital in Austria €35,000
[7]Street name; many names in older areas end in -gasse, meaning "street." Or “Alley” – Strasse, street – Platz, square.
[8]Building number.
[9]four digit Postcode.
[10]City or delivery-post-office name, not usually capitalized in domestic usage. Wien is Vienna.
9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland);
Burgenland,
Kaernten (Carinthia),
Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria),
Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria),
Salzburg,
Steiermark (Styria),
Tirol (Tyrol),
Vorarlberg,
Wien (Vienna)

Azerbaijan

Attn:[1] Grigory[2] Polova [3]
7 [4] Behbudov [5]St.[6]
Baku,[7] Az-1014[8],
Azerbaijan[9]

[1]Attn - ATTN is an acronym for the attention of
[2] Given name.
[3]Family name.
[4]Building number
[5]Name of the street
[6] street - st.
Поспект – avenue
Улица –street
[7] Baku – city name – Capital
59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic (muxtar respublika)
rayons: Abseron Rayonu,
Agcabadi Rayonu,
Agdam Rayonu,
Agdas Rayonu,
Agstafa Rayonu,
Agsu Rayonu,
Astara Rayonu,
Balakan Rayonu,
Barda Rayonu,
Beylaqan Rayonu,
Bilasuvar Rayonu,
Cabrayil Rayonu,
Calilabad Rayonu,
Daskasan Rayonu,
Davaci Rayonu,
Fuzuli Rayonu,
Gadabay Rayonu,
Goranboy Rayonu,
Goycay Rayonu,
Haciqabul Rayonu,
Imisli Rayonu,
Ismayilli Rayonu,
Kalbacar Rayonu,
Kurdamir Rayonu,
Lacin Rayonu,
Lankaran Rayonu,
Lerik Rayonu,
Masalli Rayonu,
Neftcala Rayonu,
Oguz Rayonu,
Qabala Rayonu,
Qax Rayonu,
Qazax Rayonu,
Qobustan Rayonu,
Quba Rayonu,
Qubadli Rayonu,
Qusar Rayonu,
Saatli Rayonu,
Sabirabad Rayonu,
Saki Rayonu,
Salyan Rayonu,
Samaxi Rayonu,
Samkir Rayonu,
Samux Rayonu,
Siyazan Rayonu,
Susa Rayonu,
Tartar Rayonu,
Tovuz Rayonu,
Ucar Rayonu,
Xacmaz Rayonu,
Xanlar Rayonu,
Xizi Rayonu,
Xocali Rayonu,
Xocavand Rayonu,
Yardimli Rayonu,
Yevlax Rayonu,
Zangilan Rayonu,
Zaqatala Rayonu,
Zardab Rayonu

cities:
Ali Bayramli
Sahari,
Baki Sahari,
Ganca Sahari,
Lankaran Sahari,
Mingacevir Sahari,
Naftalan Sahari,
Saki Sahari,
Sumqayit Sahari,
Susa Sahari,
Xankandi Sahari,
Yevlax Sahari

The Indian caste system

The Indian caste system is related to social stratification and social restrictions in India, in which social classes are defined by hereditary groups often termed as jātis or castes. Within a jāti there exist exogamous groups known as gotras, the lineage or clan of a person, although in a handful of sub-castes like Shakadvipi endogamy within a gotra is permitted and alternative mechanisms of restricting endogamy are used.

Although generally identified with Hinduism, the caste system was also observed among followers of other religions in the Indian subcontinent, including some groups of Muslims and Christians. The Indian Constitution has outlawed caste-based discrimination, in keeping with the socialist, secular, democratic principles that founded the nation. Caste barriers have mostly broken down in large cities, though persist in rural areas of the country. The caste system, in various forms, does continue to play a major role in the Indian society and politics.

According to the ancient Hindu scriptures, there are five "varnas”:
The Brahmins (teachers, scholars and priests);
The Kshatriyas (kings and warriors);
The Vaishyas (traders);
The Sudras (agriculturists, service providers, and some artisan groups). Offspring of different varnas belong to different Jātis;The Dalits, another group excluded from the main society was called Parjanya or Antyaja. This group of former "untouchables" (now called Dalits) was considered either the lower section of Shudras or outside the caste system altogether.

World´s cultural diversity

In 1908 Israel Zangwill first staged his play which depicts the life of a Russian-Jewish immigrant family, the Quixanos. David Quixano has survived a pogrom (form of riot directed against a particular group), which killed his mother and sister, and he wishes to forget this horrible event. He composes an "American Symphony" and wants to look forward to a society free of ethnic divisions and hatred, rather than backward at his traumatic past. The name of the play is Melting Pot. It did great when opened, and was even praised by President Theodore Roosevelt.

The idea of "melting" as a metaphor for ethnic assimilation had been used before but Zangwill was the first to use the term "melting pot" as a symbol for this occurrence in American society.

The melting pot refers to the way in which homogeneous societies interacts, in which the ingredients in the pot (people of different cultures, races and religions) are combined so as to develop a multi-ethnic society.

The diversity of human culture is infinite; Ethnologue, a web encyclopedia that plans to catalogue all worlds’ living languages has already data of 6,912 different languages. Cultures and races fall into a comparable number.

Cultural diversity undoubtedly is what makes our society successful! It is what brought Europe into the Renaissance. It brings new ideas and ways of blending thoughts and ideas into something greater than the original. Great art, literature and science all came when cultures melted in the Pot.

Since humans emerged in Africa about two million years ago we have spread throughout the world, adapting to widely differing conditions and to periodic cataclysmic changes in local and global climate. The many separate societies that emerged around the globe differed markedly from each other, and many of these differences persist to this day.

In that sense UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, adopted by 185 Member States in 2001, represents the first international standard-setting instrument aimed at preserving and promoting cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue.

The Declaration puts in the first article that “Cultural diversity is as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature” and goes on to assure policies for the inclusion and participation of all citizens and guarantees social cohesion, in order to increase the vitality of world society and world peace.We are not only members of the human species. We also belong to states, nations or ethnic groups. Ethnic identity and the feeling of belonging to a particular group of people should be maintained and valued in a peaceful and harmonious fashion.

Marco Polo & Blemyas

“Signori imperadori, re e duci e tutte altre genti che volete sa-pere le diverse generazioni delle genti e le diversità delle regionidel mondo, leggete questo libro dove le troverrete tutte le gran-dissime maraviglie e gran diversitadi delle genti d'Erminia, diPersia e di Tarteria, d'India e di molte altre province। E questovi conterà il libro ordinatamente siccome messere Marco Polo,savio e nobile cittadino di Vinegia, le conta in questo libro e eglimedesimo le vide. Ma ancora v'à di quelle cose le quali elli nonvide, ma udille da persone degne di fede, e però le cose vedutedirà di veduta e l'altre per udita, acciò che 'l nostro libro sia ve-ritieri e sanza niuna menzogna.”

“Emperors and kings, dukes and marquises, counts, knights, and townsfolk, and all people who wish to know the various races of men and the peculiarities of the various regions of the world, take this book and have it read to you. Here you will find all the great wonders and curiosities of Greater Armenia and Persia, of the Tartars and of India, and of many other territories. Our book will relate them to you plainly in due order, as they were related by Messer Marco Polo, a wise and noble citizen of Venice, who has seen them with his own eyes. There is also much here that he has not seen but has heard from men of credit and veracity. We will set down things seen as seen, things heard as heard, so that our book may be an accurate record, free from any sort of fabrication.”

Marco Polo, Description of the World - Descrizione del mondo.

Marco Polo was born in Venetian Republic in September 15, 1254 died in his home on January 9, 1324, was a Venetian trader and explorer who gained fame for his worldwide travels, recorded in the book Il Milione ("The Million" or The Travels of Marco Polo).

Polo, together with his father Niccolo and his uncle Maffeo, was one of the first Westerners to travel the Silk Road to China and visit the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, Kublai Khan. At Khan’s service Marco went to Tartaria, China and Indochina. On their return to Venice, Marco spent the few months commanding a ship in a war against Genoa, ending up as prisoner. During the imprisonment he dictated to a fellow prisoner, Rustichello da Pisa, a detailed account of his travels in the then-unknown parts of China, further translated to Latin by Franciscan friar Francesco Pipino. Printed in 1485 in many other idioms.

His travel histories have inhabited the reader's mind all over the world and the richness of details and emotion of the wonderful and even fantastic narrative have always caused commotion.

Marco Polo's travels may have been the starting point of the integration consumer market among different cultures of the world.

But what really fascinate me in his narratives are the different legendary creatures founded, such as from Tanguibar Islands, where giant people use to live side by side with cynocephalus. The enormous serpent from Caragian region, the Sciapodes - Men with a single, large foot extending from one thick leg centered in the middle of their body and Salamander “Salamander is neither beastes nor Serpent, and from thence they doe gather that whiche is called Salamandra, which is a threede they doe make cloth of” and finally – Blemyas.

Blemyas are the perfect synthesis of the bizarre, something that causes extreme fear and at the same time curiosity, strangeness, fascination and wander of traveling.
On the process for deciding the name of this blog and choosing the name of the main character, I wanted to show that business travel won’t have to be mechanical, cold and non-interesting, that we should not regard our attitude towards globalized world as a strange afternoon watching CNN reports on terrorist attacks and death.
It is more like Body Shop’s Anita Roddick ecological militancy, or Richard Branson’s radical leadership and passion for his company or even a Brazilian dressmaker that exports using easy mail export “Exporta Fácil” .

As well as an interconnected meteorological system, where butterfly's wings air movements in Japan might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that ultimately cause a storm in Europe, the attitude of leaving home to a nearby newsstand in order to buy a newspaper might create big changes in Times Warner shares.

Be part of it; try to narrate your travel experiences and even the Blemyas that may cross your ways.

New Year Celebrations Around the World - 2008

AFRIKAANS gelukkige nuwejaar 2008
ALBANIAN Gëzuar vitin e ri 2008
ALSATIAN e glëckliches nëies / güets nëies johr 2008
ARABIC عام سعيد (aam saiid) / sana saiida 2008
ARMENIAN shnorhavor nor tari 2008
AZERI yeni iliniz mubarek 2008
BAMBARA bonne année 2008
BASQUE urte berri on 2008
BELARUSIAN З новым годам (Z novym hodam) 2008
BENGALI subho nababarsho 2008
BERBER asgwas amegas 2008
BETI mbembe mbu 2008
BOBO bonne année 2008
BOSNIAN sretna nova godina 2008
BRETON bloavezh mat / bloavez mad 2008
BULGARIAN честита нова година (chestita nova godina) 2008
BURMESE hnit thit ku mingalar pa 2008
CANTONESE sun lin fi lok / kung hé fat tsoi 2008
CATALAN bon any nou 2008
CHINESE xin nian kuai le / xin nian hao 2008
CORSICAN pace e salute 2008
CROATIAN sretna nova godina2008
CZECH šťastný nový rok 2008
DANISH godt nytår 2008
DARI sale naw tabrik 2008
DUTCH gelukkig Nieuwjaar 2008
ESPERANTO felicxan novan jaron 2008
feliæan novan jaron (Times SudEuro font) 2008
ESTONIAN head uut aastat 2008
FAROESE gott nýggjár 2008
FINNISH onnellista uutta vuotta 2008
FLEMISH gelukkig Nieuwjaar 2008
FRENCH bonne année 2008
FRISIAN lokkich neijier 2008
FRIULAN bon an 2008
GALICIAN feliz aninovo 2008
GEORGIAN გილოცავთ ახალ წელს (gilocavt akhal tsels) 2008
GERMAN ein gutes neues Jahr / prost Neujahr 2008
GREEK kali chronia / kali xronia 2008
eutichismenos o kainourgios chronos (we wish you a happy new year) 2008
GUJARATI sal mubarak / nootan varshabhinandan 2008
GUARANÍ rogüerohory año nuévo-re 2008
HAITIAN CREOLE bònn ané 2008
HAWAIIAN hauoli makahiki hou 2008
HEBREW shana tova 2008
HINDI nav varsh ki subhkamna 2008
HMONG nyob zoo xyoo tshiab 2008
HUNGARIAN boldog új évet 2008
ICELANDIC farsælt komandi ár 2008
INDONESIAN selamat tahun baru 2008
IRISH GAELIC ath bhliain faoi mhaise 2008
ITALIAN felice anno nuovo, buon anno 2008
JAVANESE sugeng warsa enggal 2008
JAPANESE akemashite omedetô 2008
KABYLIAN asseguèsse-ameguèsse 2008
KANNADA hosa varshada shubhaashayagalu 2008
KAZAKH zhana zhiliniz kutti bolsin 2008
KHMER sur sdei chhnam thmei 2008
KIRUNDI umwaka mwiza 2008
KOREAN seh heh bok mani bat uh seyo 2008
KURDE sala we ya nû pîroz be 2008
LAO sabai di pi mai 2008
LATIN felix sit annus novus 2008
LATVIAN laimīgu Jauno gadu 2008
LIGURIAN feliçe annu nœvu / feliçe anno nêuvo 2008
LINGALA bonana / mbula ya sika elamu na tonbeli yo 2008
LITHUANIAN laimingų Naujųjų Metų 2008
LOW SAXON gelükkig nyjaar 2008
LUXEMBOURGEOIS e gudd neit Joër 2008
MACEDONIAN Среќна Нова Година (srekna nova godina) 2008
MALAGASY arahaba tratry ny taona2008
MALAY selamat tahun baru 2008
MALTESE is-sena t-tajba 2008
MAORI kia hari te tau hou 2008
MARATHI navin varshaachya hardik shubbheccha 2008
MONGOLIAN shine jiliin bayariin mend hurgeye (Шинэ жилийн баярын мэнд хvргэе) 2008
MORÉ wênd na kô-d yuum-songo 2008
NDEBELE umyaka omucha omuhle 2008
NORWEGIAN godt nyttår 2008
OCCITAN bon annada 2008
PASHTO nawe kaalmo mobarak sha 2008
PERSIAN sâle no mobârak 2008
POLISH szczęśliwego nowego roku 2008
PORTUGUESE feliz ano novo 2008
ROMANCHE bun di bun onn 2008
ROMANI baxtalo nevo bersh 2008
ROMANIAN un an nou fericit / la mulţi ani 2008
RUSSIAN С Новым Годом (S novim godom) 2008
SAMOAN ia manuia le tausaga fou 2008
SANGO nzoni fini ngou 2008
SARDINIAN bonu annu nou 2008
SCOTTISH GAELIC bliadhna mhath ur 2008
SERBIAN srećna nova godina 2008
SHIMAORE mwaha mwema 2008
SHONA goredzwa rakanaka 2008
SINDHI nain saal joon wadhayoon 2008
SINHALA suba aluth avuruddak vewa 2008
SLOVAK stastlivy novy rok 2008
SLOVENIAN srečno novo leto 2008
SOBOTA dobir leto 2008
SPANISH feliz año nuevo 2008
SRANAN wan bun nyun yari 2008
SWAHILI mwaka mzuri / heri ya mwaka mpya 2008
SWEDISH gott nytt år 2008
SWISS-GERMAN es guets Nöis 2008
TAGALOG manigong bagong taon 2008
TAHITIAN ia orana i te matahiti api 2008
TAMIL iniya puthandu nalVazhthukkal 2008
TATAR yaña yıl belän 2008
TELUGU nuthana samvathsara subhakankshalu 2008
THAI สวัสดีปีใหม่ (sawatdii pimaï) 2008
TIBETAN tashi délek 2008
TURKISH yeni yiliniz kutlu olsun 2008
UDMURT Vyľ Aren 2008
UKRAINIAN Z novym rokom 2008
URDU naya saal mubarik 2008
UZBEK yangi yilingiz qutlug' bo'lsin 2008
VIETNAMESE Chúc Mừng Nǎm Mới / Cung Chúc Tân Niên / Cung Chúc Tân Xuân 2008
WALOON ("betchfessîs" spelling) bone annéye / bone annéye èt bone santéye 2008
WELSH blwyddyn newydd dda 2008
WEST INDIAN CREOLE bon lanné 2008
WOLOF dewenati 2008
YIDDISH a gut yohr2008

World’s coolest Vehicle Registration Plates

Mr. Tamashiro had problems when trying to buy a Toyota Camry in Japan, trading almost went wrong because of a small detail. His license plate of the car carrying the numbers 4219 (shi ni iku), which in Japanese has the same sound "you will die".

leia este artigo em Português

The numbers have a big signification once you write them in Japanese letters (kanji).The most feared number in Japan and China is four which means death in both countries. But Mr. Tamashiro just had to pay some extra money to change the plate number and have the deal closed.

Car plates have always inspired curiosity and admiration, and could show some intrinsic particularities of some countries. 31 year old Jeroen Coninx is a car plate aficionado, he brings in his site licenseplatemania.com plates from more than 100 countries , “My mother always said I could tell where a car was from before I even could read.”

The history of license plates has started by the same time that chariots were replaced by automobiles, appearing in the earliest period of the transition from the horse, from 1890 to 1910. The Netherlands were the first country to introduce a national license plate, first called a "driving permit", in 1898. The first licenses were simply plates with a number, starting at 1. By August 8th of 1899 the counter was at 168. When the Dutch chose a different way to number the plates on January 15th 1906 the last issued plate was 2065.

Standardization of plates came in 1957, when automobile manufacturers came to an agreement with governments and international standards organizations. While peculiar local variants still exist, there are three basic standards worldwide:

- 12 by 6 inches (300 mm by 150 mm) - Used in the majority of the Americas.

- 20.5 by 4.5 inches (520 mm by either 110 or 120 mm) - Used in the bulk of the European countries and many of their former overseas territories.

- 14.5 by 5.3 inches (372 mm by 135 mm) - Used in Australia and some other Pacific Rim countries, about halfway between the dimensions of the other two standards, longer than Western Hemisphere plates but taller than European ones.

Some countries permit the re-registration of the vehicle with "personal" ("vanity" or "Cherished Mark") plates. When the vehicle is destroyed or exported to a different country it will require re-registering in the country of import. China requires the re-registration of any vehicle that crosses its borders from another country, such as overland holiday tourist visits, regardless of the amount of time it is due to remain there; this has to be arranged with prior approval.

On February 16, 2008 a businessman named Saeed Abdul Ghafour Khouri payed 52.2 dirham (up  to $14.3 million) for the local license plate labeled "1" at an auction at the Seven Star Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, making it the world's most expensive license plate.

Believe it or not, plates has inspired Mr Coninx and his wife Eva to do what should be called “Vehicle Registration Plate Tourism”, he has traveled throughout the world just to get some nice pictures of plates, “The plates are taken anywhere I could, in Belgium or somewhere else. Traveling is thus very important to me, not only because of plates, also because I really like seeing the world”.

Vehicle registration plates of Argentina

Vehicle registration plates of Argentina

Vehicle registration plates of Brazil

Vehicle registration plates of Brazil

Vehicle registration plates of Japan

Vehicle registration plates of Japan

Vehicle registration plates of UK

Vehicle registration plates of UK

Vehicle registration plates of Ohio - USA

Vehicle registration plates of Ohio

Vehicle registration plates of Russia

Vehicle registration plates of Russia

Vehicle registration plates of wyoming - USA

Vehicle registration plates of Wyoming