The superiors of Santa Barbara County voted unanimously on Tuesday, March 4, to establish a Montecito Hot Springs pilot program.

“In recent years,” said a agenda by Supervisor Roy Lee. What was once a peaceful path of locals has develop into a goal with high traffic that pulls tourists outside the world. “

The letter also speaks of “security concerns, especially with regard to fireplace risks, challenges of emergency response and traffic jams”.

The pilot program proposed by Lee would develop a protocol with parking restrictions and trace closures on days on which the area is located under a red warning published by the National Weather service. The warning indicates that an increased risk of a forest fire, usually due to dry and windy weather. The proposal estimates that there will be 20 such days this year.

The plan also searches for the implementation of the “illegal modification for the turning sheath” – particularly the reconstruction of indifferent pools, the partitions of which were washed away during heavy rain.

Montecito Hot Springs within the Los Padres National Forest is considered one of several natural soaking and swimming areas in California, which have recently seen a boom by visitors resulting from attention on social media, especially in the course of the Covid pandemic than the conversation within the interiors was closed.

Other areas whose popularity has contributed to problems are:

• Miracle Hot Springs, on the core river. It was closed by the forest service last 12 months after a second person was found dead in a bath.

• Yankee Jim Swimming Hole, on the North Fork American River. Parking was banned by state park officials in July 2020 after 313 vehicles along a street with 12 cars were counted.

• Candy rock swimming hole on the North Fork Stanislaus River. The sheriff published a warning in 2022 after six people needed to be saved in two weeks.

Originally published: March 5, 2025 at 10:29 a.m. PST

By planning ahead, you may save as much as $50 per visit in your outdoor adventures this yr.

Here is the information that Every national park within the country Visits will probably be free in 2025. You don't need a pass, but some require advance reservations. (See below)

You must go recreation.gov and seek for the park you wish and “Timed Entry” to seek out reservation information.

Reservations are only required during peak visitor times, which vary by park. For example, Arches National Park in Utah would require a timed entry reservation between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. starting in April this yr. If you don’t receive a reservation or are not looking for to pay reservation fee of $2 recreation.govyou then can simply enter the park before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m. or enter on foot or by bike. Occasionally, as in Yosemite throughout the holidays, reservation conditions apply 24 hours a day, so do your research.

Remember that today off are highly regarded. Be sure to get there at dawn so you’ve got more time for yourself.

But where to? Well, you could possibly hike there Yosemite, Sequoia or Battlements National Parks if you wish to stay in California.

If you've never been there Pinnacles National ParkI like to recommend checking it out. It's something of a hidden gem.

However, once I benefit from today, I head to Joshua Tree within the desert towards Palm Springs.

I like to recommend going before dawn – I do know that’s just crazy, but hear me out. If you permit your own home in the dead of night, you may watch the sun rise over the desert, which is at all times dramatic.

Then eat the snack you brought with you (you brought a snack and water, right?) and head out to some mountaineering trails. You can get a map of the park from the ranger. If you get there before the rangers get there, you may download them at NPS.gov.

And be sure that you’ve got gas, food and water because there aren’t any facilities within the park.

When the remaining of the hikers stream into the park, that's your cue to move out, have a pleasant, relaxing lunch, after which head home, perhaps stopping for a swim at Desert Hot Springs.

Enjoy! nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm

Originally published: January 16, 2025 at 10:28 am PST

By Lynn O'Rourke Hayes, FamilyTravel.com (TNS)

Here are five ideas from the literary world that may enable you create your next adventure.

The Anne Frank House and Museum, Amsterdam

Anne Frank's story of her Jewish family's ordeal in the course of the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands became a world bestseller and an iconic example of the courage shown by many during that terrible time. The book was later translated into greater than 70 languages ​​and adapted for stage and screen. Anne's father Otto Frank, the only real survivor of his family, hoped that readers of the diary could be made aware of the risks of discrimination, racism and hatred of Jews. Today, visitors to Amsterdam can tour the Secret Annex where Anne hid for 2 years and write in regards to the experience in her diary before she was discovered and sent to a concentration camp. The Anne Frank House Museum tells the powerful story through quotes, photos, videos and original objects. Tickets are required for a particular time and date. Plan ahead.

For more: www.annefrank.org

Laura Ingalls Wilder Home & Museum, Mansfield, Missouri

The mission of this Midwestern museum within the Ozarks region is to encourage curiosity and promote learning in regards to the experiences of America's pioneers through the life and literature of the famous writer. Guests who visit Rocky Ridge Farm will discover the chapters of Laura's life that honed her writing skills and inspired her Little House book series. Museum exhibits include artifacts illustrating the pioneer life described by Wilder. Expect to see Pa's violin, handwritten manuscripts from the Little House books, memorabilia from the Ingalls and Wilder families, handicrafts made by Laura, and other items familiar to her readers. Take time to explore the peaceful trails where the Wilder family hiked.

For more: www.lauraingallswilderhome.com

Anne of Green Gables on Prince Edward Island

Published in 1908, the novel Anne of Green Gables played a vital role in attracting tourists to Canada's smallest province, positioned off the east coast of Canada within the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Fans of the bestselling novel can't wait to benefit from the wide open spaces, scenic trails, vistas, and exquisite beaches that the writer made famous.

Interested visitors would love to explore the places depicted within the book and learn more in regards to the writer Lucy Maud Montgomery. (It is estimated that greater than 50 million copies have been sold worldwide.) Visit the old farmhouse where much of the famous novel is ready and participate in activities at Green Gables Heritage Place, including ice cream making demonstrations and secure Includes races, hikes on nature trails, horse-drawn carriage rides, and tours offered by rangers dressed as characters from the book.

For more: www.tourismpei.com

Harry Potter World, London

For more: westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/; www.visitscotland.com

Your own backyard

It could be fun to research the literary history of your individual community. Are there any famous writers who grew up or currently live nearby? Research readings which may be happening at your local bookstores or libraries. Take advantage of free children's programs, including story times and the chance to twist up in comfortable chairs with a fantastic book. If you’ve got an independent bookstore near your own home, consider supporting this literary gem of a resource.

Originally published: December 27, 2024 at 12:00 PM PST

AJACCIO, Corsica – Pope Francis on his first ever papal visit to the French island Corsica called on Sunday for a dynamic type of secularism and promoted the sort of popular piety that distinguishes the Mediterranean island from secular France as a bridge between religious and civil society.

Francis appeared relaxed and energized and still showed off throughout the day-long visit, just two days before his 88th birthday faded bruise from a fall every week ago.

During mass outdoors on the Place d'Austerlitz, he steadily deviated from his prepared sermon, once remarking that he had never seen so many children as in Corsica – except, he added, in East Timor on his recent Asian tour.

“Have children,” he pleaded. “They will be your joy and comfort in the future.”

Earlier, on the conclusion of a Mediterranean conference on popular piety, Papa Francescu, as he is understood in Corsican, described an idea of secularity “that is not static and fixed, but evolving and dynamic,” able to adapting to “unforeseen situations.” and promote cooperation “between civil and ecclesiastical authorities.”

The pope said expressions of popular piety, including processions and the communal prayer of the Holy Rosary, can promote “constructive citizenship” on the a part of Christians. At the identical time, he warned against seeing such manifestations only when it comes to folklore and even superstition.

The visit to Corsica's capital Ajaccio, Napoleon's birthplace, is one among the shortest of his papacy outside Italy's borders, only about nine hours on site, including a 40-minute visit with French President Emmanuel Macron. Francis met privately with Macron on the airport before flying back to Rome.

On the rostrum, alongside Francis, was the Bishop of Ajaccio, Cardinal Francois-Xavier Bustillo, who organized the conference, which was attended by about 400 participants from Spain, Sicily, Sardinia and southern France. The two-day meeting focused on expressions of religion that usually happen outside of formal liturgies reminiscent of processions and pilgrimages.

Popular piety in Corsica is usually site-specific and includes the cult of the Virgin Mary, known locally as “Madunnuccia,” which protected the island from the plague in 1656, when it was still under Genoa.

Corsica stands out from the remaining of secularized France as a very religious region, with 92 brotherhoods or lay associations dedicated to charity or piety and over 4,000 members.

“It means that there is a beautiful, mature, adult and responsible cooperation between civil authorities, mayors, deputies, senators, civil servants and religious authorities,” Bustillo told The Associated Press before the visit. “There is no animosity between the two. And that is a very positive aspect because there is no ideological hostility in Corsica.”

The visit was stuffed with signs of popular piety. The Pope was greeted by children in traditional clothing and accompanied repeatedly from the airport through the motorcade, the convention center and the cathedral by bands, choirs and singing groups central to Corsican culture. Thousands lined the streets to greet the pope and much more waved from the windows.

Renè Colombani traveled with 2,000 others by ship from northern Corsica to Ajaccio on the west coast to see the Pope.

“It is an event that we will not see again for a few years. It could be the only time the Pope comes to Corsica. And because we wanted to be a part of it, we came a long way,” Colombani said.

The island, which Genoa ceded to France in 1768, is closer to mainland Italy than France.

From the conference, the pope traveled to the Seventeenth-century Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta to satisfy with clergy. On the way in which he stopped on the statue of Madunnuccia, where he lit a devotional candle.

The pope celebrated Mass beneath a towering statue of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor whose armies annexed the Papal States in 1808 and two of Francis' predecessors – Popes Pius VI. and VII. – imprisoned before he was excommunicated and ultimately defeated on the battlefield. Thousands crowded the esplanade, where Napoleon is alleged to have played as a toddler.

Francis met Macron on the airport before taking the 50-minute flight back to Rome.

They discussed Russia's war in Ukraine, the Middle East and security issues within the Sahel and Great Lakes in Africa, in addition to Haiti and Sudan, an announcement from Macron's office said. Macron welcomed the Pope's “calls for peace, non-violence and respect for human rights,” the statement said.

Both Macron and Francis expressed their “deep concern” concerning the situation in Gaza and called for “an immediate and lasting ceasefire” and “the massive delivery of urgently needed humanitarian assistance,” in accordance with Macron's office. Regarding Syria, they reiterated their desire for a “fair and inclusive political transition,” the statement said.

Macron presented the Pope with two books about Notre Dame Cathedral.

The Pope deliberately didn’t travel to Paris earlier this month due to pomp surrounding the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral after the devastating 2019 fire. The visit to Corsica appears to suit Francis' priorities much better than reopening a grand cathedral that emphasizes the “Church of the Peripheries.”

It was Francis' third trip to France, every time avoiding Paris and the protocols that include a state visit. He visited the port of Marseille in 2023on an overnight visit to attend an annual summit of Mediterranean bishops and traveled to Strasbourg in 2014 to talk on the difficulty European Parliament and Council of Europe.

Corsica is home to greater than 340,000 people and has been a part of France since 1768. But the island has also seen Violence for independence and has an influential nationalist movement. Last yr, Macron proposed granting him limited autonomy.

Given the short flight back to Rome, Francis didn’t hold a mid-air press conference on the way in which home. This was the primary time in 47 trips abroad as pope that he skipped the standard briefing. However, Francis got here to the back of the plane to greet reporters and accept a mock birthday cake.

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Originally published: December 15, 2024 at 12:57 PM PST

As a yr of travel marked largely by protests against overtourism in Barcelona, ​​Oaxaca and Venice involves an end, the appeal of bizarre vacations continues to grow.

The aim of the initiative, launched in 2021, is to lift awareness of lesser-known places value seeing – while at the identical time rewarding responsible tourism management. Put simply, these destinations use visit resources in a way that promotes their cultural practices, preserves biodiversity and improves the standard of lifetime of locals. Each village also has fewer than 15,000 inhabitants and maintains traditional activities corresponding to farming and fishing.

“The Best Tourism Villages initiative not only recognizes the remarkable achievements of these villages, but also highlights the transformative power of tourism,” said UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.

This yr's worthwhile destinations include rural villages in Panama and Guatemala, two countries appearing on the list for the primary time. Panama's historic northern port of Portobelo, for instance, attracts fewer people despite its quiet Caribbean beaches and significant colonial past. But it was also distinguished by the incontrovertible fact that tourism there, through the Bahía de Portobelo Foundation, funds cultural heritage conservation activities for young people, in addition to coral reef restoration projects.

Appearing on this coveted list may end in increased visitation from higher-spending travelers. In Aragon, Spain, for instance, the village of Alquezar, with its mountain tours, canyoning and mountain climbing opportunities, used to draw visitors primarily from France and Spain, but since its victory in 2022, it has been attracting international visitors from Japan, in line with Alquezar Mayor Ana and China vacation Blasco Castillo. Sandra Carvao, who’s involved in rural tourism development as director at UN Tourism, sees this as considered one of the most important advantages of the Best Tourism Villages initiative and diverting travelers from key hotspots. “It's really about making sure the sector can benefit places that don't necessarily come to mind,” she says.

This yr's winners were chosen from 260 nominations received by UN Tourism from greater than 60 member countries. We've highlighted five easy-to-access locations.

Splügen, Switzerland

Splügen, within the Swiss Alps near the Italian border, is a smaller ski resort than, say, busier and glitzier St. Moritz, only a scenic hour and a half drive east. But that's precisely the appeal: it's a quieter winter sports holiday destination that can also be an insider tip in spring and summer and offers access to crystal-clear lakes and the Beverin Regional Nature Park. Splügen became a part of this protected area in 2020, joining the greater than 10 communities living here which have committed to contributing to its preservation. The boutique Speluca Brewery Hotel is scheduled to open next yr; His design makes use of previously abandoned spaces on the sting of the village, including an old barn and a former Nineteen Sixties hotel, in addition to latest structures that reflect the village's traditional wood aesthetic. The Splügen communities also need to attract more visitors all yr round, which they expect to see after the completion of the longer term Rheinwald Resort AG project with a combination of rooms and a campsite for long-term stays.

San Rafael de la Laguna, Ecuador

San Rafael de la Laguna is a reminder of Ecuador's vast natural wealth – it lies within the foothills of the Andes, just below two hours' drive north of Quito. It is near Imbakucha, the Lake of the Gods, also generally known as Lago San Pablo. You can take guided tours to identify herons and geese from traditional boats constituted of totora reeds, an area aquatic plant that grows abundantly in the realm. Cycling enthusiasts will find routes that traverse the Otavalo Valley, and the village also celebrates energetic indigenous festivals. The Pawkar Raymi marks the beginning of the agricultural season in early March, coinciding with the spring equinox, and the Inti Raymi celebrates the winter solstice within the Southern Hemisphere. Expect quite a few community events for each, including traditional Andean music and dances. If you're more fascinated with hands-on experience, learn methods to make baskets, trays and hats from totora reeds in craft workshops.

Gharb Suhayl, Egypt

If you ought to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum in 2025, it's value a stop in Aswan, south of Giza. From there, take a 30-minute boat ride south to achieve the peaceful, ancient Nubian village of Gharb Suhayl on the banks of the Nile. Behind the brightly painted houses in blue, yellow and ochre, you'll find impressive art murals designed to present the realm the texture of a living open-air museum. You'll likely be invited right into a Nubian family's home to learn concerning the lifestyle, and also you may additionally spend time purchasing for handicrafts, jewelry and spices in souks. A handful of luxury tour operators like Black Tomato offer stops in Aswan and further down the Nile to Abu Simbel.

Pissouri, Cyprus

On Cyprus' rugged southwest coast, Pissouri offers a quieter alternative to the resort town of Limassol, just half-hour' drive east. In Pissouri, you may have your alternative of outside activities, including the Cape Astrot mountain climbing trail, which skirts gigantic rock formations and offers breathtaking views of a turquoise bay and its pebbly sand beach. The agricultural village's cobbled square is lined with local taverns where you may dine on Cypriot meze – small plates of local cheese, olives, seafood and grilled meats, in addition to dips. To delve deeper into Pissouri's heritage, take a guided tour of the G Theophamous winery and learn concerning the history of the Sultanina grape and winemaking traditions in Pissouri. To attract more visitors in the longer term, this small farming village is working on an accessible walking path for disabled travelers, in addition to a House of Halloumi museum – named after Cyprus' signature cheese – that may showcase the region's dairy products.

Uaxactun, Guatemala

Most people head to Tikal National Park, unknowingly bypassing Uaxactún, an ancient historic Mayan site just half-hour' drive north. But there are also uncrowded forest trails where you may tour the realm's temples, including a ceremonial complex, stelae, and an astronomical observatory that the Maya once used to mark celestial events. Uaxactún reached its peak between 600 and 900 AD, when it was a very important center for art and astronomy. In March, the eponymous village celebrates the spring equinox festival with sacred local ceremonies that include chanting, fire and drumming. Inquire about an arts and crafts workshop with local women's group Brisas de la Selva Maya, where you'll learn to make necklaces and bracelets using forest elements like seeds, mushrooms, and flowers.

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Originally published: December 10, 2024 at 3:12 pm PST

Celtics

WASHINGTON, DC – There was a moment in the course of the Celtics' tour of the White House when Derrick White was maintaining a tally of President Joe Biden's chair within the Oval Office, said team co-owner Steve Pagliuca.

Pagliuca thought White might attempt to get in, however the Celtics guard just stayed behind.

The visit to the White House, commemorating the Celtics' record 18th NBA championship, was much more exciting than White imagined.

“I didn’t really know what to expect,” White said. “I was kind of looking forward to it, and then when we walked in I was a little more excited than I thought I would be.

“I think it's just been a lot of excitement being in the White House with all the decisions and things that are going on there,” White added. “We got to go into the Oval Office, which was pretty cool. The coolest part was being there where all the decisions are made and the big things happen.”

The Celtics met at their team hotel and took three buses to the White House. They conducted a rehearsal for the ceremony, practicing where everyone was standing. Afterwards there was a reception attended by Biden.

“The president came in and was very warm and engaging,” Celtics Gov. Wyc Grousbeck said. “We spoke to him at length and really felt like we got to know him. And then he joined some of our small groups, said hello and actually took a selfie with me, Amelia and Joe Mazzulla. We have a selfie with Joe Biden that he took, so just an amazing, warm encounter with a great man, a great person.”

According to Pagliuca, Biden had one in all his grandchildren with him and put a Celtics championship ring on the kid's finger.

Meeting Biden and learning the history of the White House were highlights for White.

“Someone from the Secret Service gave JB a history lesson,” White said. “And I kind of walked up there and listened to the stories and all the different pictures and why they were up there.

“It was really cool to hear such different stories. The cider was amazing. When President Biden came, it was really cool to see him. I had never seen a president in person, so that was pretty cool.”

Biden was well prepared for the looks, said Pagliuca. The president mentioned among the Celtics' stats.

“I saw (vice president of basketball operations) Mike Zarren, our statistician, stand up and start cheering when Biden was talking about points per possession,” Pagliuca said. “Mike thought this would never happen in his career.”

There were significantly more people present on Thursday than last time Celtics visited the White House in 2008, Pagliuca said.

“Well, it was a very emotional day,” Pagliuca said. “I think this is one of the largest groups ever to come to the White House to celebrate a championship, even far larger than 2008. So all the senators, congressmen, Massachusetts officials, the president and our players, just a very emotional one and uplifting day.”

This Celtics group had barely won the title for years. They have reached six of the last seven Eastern Conference Finals. They lost to the Golden State Warriors within the 2022 NBA Finals.

But this time the Celtics got here out on top and were honored as champions that day.

“It's funny. I talked to a Secret Service agent from Massachusetts inside and apparently he was here about the Warriors two years ago,” Zarren said. “He told them it was a bittersweet moment because he wished the Celtics were here, and they told him, don't worry, they'll be there soon. So it was a good moment for him to see us show up in there.”

Disneyland just increased ticket prices again, but you’ll be able to still take a family of 4 to the Anaheim theme park for about $300 if you’ve got a versatile schedule and a nose for bargain deals.

Bargain-hunting Disneylanders in search of a budget vacation will find 15 days in January and February where a family of 4 with two adults and two children can enter the park for $308.

How long does it take for a Disneyland Magic Key to pay for itself? We do the mathematics

Since 2019, Disneyland has kept its least expensive adult ticket at $104, and the park just announced a $50 ticket offer for kids ages 3 to 9 for one-day visits to a park starting Jan. 7 valid until March twentieth.

With these rock-bottom prices, frugal Disneylanders can save almost 80% off a day within the park during peak season with all of the trimmings.

Disneyland can cost $1,428 for a family of 4 who need to do all of it – Parkhopper tickets on the most costly days with Lightning Lane tickets ahead of the road for one of the best rides. And that's before you pay for a hotel, parking, food, souvenirs, and other perks and upgrades.

Disneyland is raising ticket prices with a rise that breaks the $200 barrier

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are offering 15 dates in January and February where tickets are $104 – the bottom price available.

Adult tickets, valued at $104, can be found on January thirteenth, 14th, fifteenth, sixteenth, twenty first, twenty second, twenty third, twenty seventh, twenty eighth and twenty ninth and January 4th, fifth, twenty fifth . and February twenty sixth.

These convenient dates normally happen on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with just a few more on Mondays and Thursdays.

Mickey Visit predicts attendance at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure shall be “below normal” on January 14, 21, 22, 23, 27 and 29. February fifth and twenty sixth are expected to be “below normal” at Disneyland.

Disneyland is restarting Magic Key sales

In addition to low cost tickets, there are a lot of other ways to get monetary savings on a Disneyland vacation.

Avoid park hopper tickets and follow a single park to get probably the most out of your day. Hopping forwards and backwards between parks wastes time and affects concentration.

It's best to have an in depth plan of attack while remaining flexible if you wish to tackle Disneyland or DCA without Lightning Lane Multipasses for the family. Arriving before rope drop, maintaining a tally of the Disneyland app to seek out the shortest wait times for rides throughout the day, and visiting attractions while the crowds wait for parades and nighttime spectaculars will maximize the variety of attractions you visit during your ride can visit.

You can get monetary savings on food and drinks by bringing your lunch and dinner with you. You can store a small cooler within the lockers on the park entrance and eat on the picnic tables right on the boardwalk.

Surprise the children with gently used, lost and located Disneyland souvenirs available on the Goodwill Store in Santa Ana – available at a fraction of theme park prices. Pack the souvenirs in your backpack and provides them to the youngsters while you arrive on the park.

You can avoid the $35 parking fee within the Disneyland parking garages by utilizing park-and-ride lots in Anaheim or Fullerton and taking a bus to and from the parks. If you don't need to put your kids on the bus at midnight after an extended day on the park, you may as well find cheaper parking options at hotels across the park.

Speaking of hotels, there are greater than 50 Disneyland-approved Good Neighbor hotels whose nightly rates are well below what you'd pay on the Disneyland Hotel, Disney's Grand Californian, or the brand new Pixar Place — where an evening costs $500.

The Motel 6 Anaheim Maingate – a Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotel – offers rooms for 4 people for $107 per night. All Good Neighbor hotels offer discounted Disneyland ticket packages.

One final tip: It's best to warn the children before your trip to Disneyland that the family is on a budget vacation and that the goal is to have a good time while saving money. Think of it as a teaching opportunity with churros, roller coasters, and Disney characters.

Country differences

Outcome of the US election

Fear of violence and verbal abuse

Seven church members representing the Presbytery of San Jose recently traveled to Peru to watch and document what organizations there are doing for the environment.

However, they weren’t there to inform local people what to do or to resolve problems.

“That doesn't work,” said the Rev. Elizabeth Boatwright, who attends First Presbyterian Church of Mountain View and has traveled to Peru. “We wanted to hear their story, their solutions, their dreams. Then our job is to accompany them in prayer and to work with them as partners, praying and offering them all the resources we have to make that dream come true.”

The key, Boatwright said, is to be certain that Peruvians “own the solution.”

The team members visited Peru from May 19 to 26 and were particularly concerned about what Peruvian leaders are doing to handle local air and water pollution, oil pollution, lead poisoning, mining corruption, abuse of indigenous lands, and illegal trade. The church members then returned to the United States and presented their findings to their local churches.

“We were told that very few people come to see and hear what is going on, and [hear] the local solutions to the problem,” Boatwright said. “We were excited to come back and tell the story.”

Team members were originally scheduled to make the trip in 2020, but due to political unrest in Peru and complications related to the COVID pandemic, it was postponed to 2024. Mission teams from the Presbytery of San Jose previously traveled to Puerto Rico and Indonesia.

The team members represent six Presbyterian churches in Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz County. In addition to Boatwright, they are David Heacock, a member of Los Gatos Presbyterian, the Rev. Deborah Troester, pastor of Santa Teresa Hills Presbyterian, the Rev. Karla Kress of Saint Andrew Presbyterian in Aptos, Mary and Barry Vickery of Sunnyvale Presbyterian and Olga Enciso Smith of Westminster Presbyterian in the Rose Garden neighborhood of San Jose.

The group visited four major areas in Peru, including a memorial in Lima that commemorates the thousands of Peruvians who went missing, kidnapped or killed during the Shining Path years from 1980 to 2000. The terrorist group Sendero Luminoso (“Shining Path”) carried out a campaign of violence in Peru that is responsible for more than 24,000 deaths.

The team also visited the Chillon River in Callo. Callo has poor air quality due to oil refineries and the river is polluted by waste and oil spills, Boatwright said.

“This trip brought tears to my eyes as I saw the damage to health and nature,” said Smith, a Los Gatos resident originally from Peru. “I am very grateful to be part of this group and to have the opportunity to witness this dire situation.”

The group also visited the town of La Oroya, which had a smelter that polluted the air for decades and caused lead poisoning in much of the population. According to Boatwright, 98.6% of children between the ages of 6 and 12 have extremely high levels of lead in their blood. The EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agree that there is no known safe level of lead in children's blood. According to the World Health Organization, lead in children can cause mental retardation or a lower IQ.

“In addition, we also spoke to former teams and learned about their commitment to advocating for the interests of local communities both in Lima and in relation to smelters in the United States,” Boatwright said.

She added that the response was “amazing” when the results from Peru were presented to parishioners at First Presbyterian Church in Mountain View.

“People weren’t aware of what Indigenous peoples were affected by unscrupulous practices,” Boatwright said. “My biggest hope is that folks will consider supporting local people's efforts to create healthy environments, promote self-sustaining agriculture and community constructing, end corrupt practices and offer fair trade solutions.”

The team members hope to proceed to spread the message.

“We pray that we can share our presentation with others in the community who would like to join us in providing the means to fulfill their desires,” Boatwright said.

Vladimir Putin arrived in Mongolia on September 2ndthe primary visit of the Russian President to a member state of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since the authority has issued an arrest warrant for his arrest in 2023. While officially Soviet-Mongolian military victory In the Second World War, Putin's visit will test the small Central Asian country's policy of neutrality and the influence of international institutions.

Mongolia, a land of justice 3.3 million people However, it has an enormous geographical territory and has long conducted its foreign policy within the shadow of Russia and China, with whom it has extensive historical and economic ties.

The country has sought to strengthen its independence from its more powerful neighbours by establishing friendly relations with so-called third neighbor Countries comparable to the United States, Germany, Japan and South Korea.

With this approach, Mongolia is attempting to carve out a distinct segment for itself on the international stage and present itself as a neutral diplomatic meeting place. Ulaanbaatar DialogueFor example, it’s a possibility for countries within the region and other invited nations, including the United States and EU Member States, to debate problems with Climate change, regional security and demanding minerals.

As Scholars of Mongolia and ChinaWe attended the last such dialogue in June 2024 and witnessed Mongolia's diplomatic efforts firsthand. It's a technique that has worked for the country, but as events like Putin's visit show, it will possibly be a difficult balancing act.

A closely observed visit

The timing of Putin’s trip is officially linked to history. It marks each the eighty fifth anniversary of the Battle of Khalkhin Gol – during which joint Soviet-Mongolian forces defeated Japanese troops in World War II – and the Establishment of the National Railway Company of Mongolia of each countries 75 years ago.

But it’s a third historic milestone, the fifth anniversary of a comprehensive Russian-Mongolian strategic partnershipwhich underlines the importance of the visit from a contemporary geopolitical perspective.

In addition to the friendly relations with “third neighbors,” Mongolia continues to take care of close relations with Moscow, although Putin is taken into account a pariah by many parts of the international community. Just recently, in July, Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh met with Putin in Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

But Putin’s visit now – the first he has brought into the country since 2019 – poses a challenge for Mongolia because it seeks to safeguard its commitments and alliances with the Western-led international orderwhich incorporates the ICC, and its desire to stay friends with its powerful neighbours.

Few things testify to this diplomatic balancing act like Mongolia’s membership within the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant against Putin for his alleged role within the illegal deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia. Ukraine has urged Mongolia is to arrest Putin, citing the ICC’s founding treaty, which Roman Statutewhich instructs member states to take motion when individuals against whom a court order has been issued enter their territory.

However, the ICC lacks an efficient enforcement mechanism and member states could also exempted from carrying out arrests if it conflicts with certain contractual obligations or the diplomatic immunity offered to a different party.

Putin’s visit is meant to indicate how little could be done to maintain Moscow in check. Given the facility imbalance between the states, Mongolia will likely show how far it’s willing to go to accommodate its powerful neighbor.

Mongolia as a “third neighbour”

For almost 70 years, Mongolia was closely allied with the Soviet Union. But the collapse of communism and the following geopolitical realignment of the post-war order forced the country to vary its economic and political relations.

This made Mongolia the one former communist state in Asia that Introduction of a democratic political system and an open economyIt gained favor with the United States and other Western countries, who viewed the country as a model for the region.

Putin's expected trip is just the most recent in a string of high-level state visits in recent times, as Mongolia strives to take care of close ties with its neighbors while expanding partnerships with other countries.

So far, Mongolia has received heads of state or foreign ministers from the United States, Slovenia, the Philippines, Belarus, the United Kingdom and Germany in 2024. In 2023, Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene traveled to the United States and met with Vice President Kamala Harrisand to China to see President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang.

The two French presidents Emmanuel Macron And Pope Francis recently visited Ulaanbaatar.

Mongolia cannot escape geography

While Ulan Bator's soft power efforts have won it sympathy and friends world wide, they aren’t as vital as its geographical location. As a landlocked country between Russia and China, Mongolia is defenseless against the whims of its two giant neighbors.

Mongolia depends on Russia for its petrol and diesel supplies and for much of its electricity. In addition, Mongolia is Old agreements from the Soviet eraRussia holds 50% of the shares in several vital infrastructure and mining projects in Mongolia. In particular, Russia is a partner within the Mongolian railway systemwhich has gained importance as a trade corridor between China and Russia and between China and Europe.

Mongolia fears a disruption of the fuel supply and the transport network when Russia, within the midst of a war, puts its own energy needs above the interests of its neighbours, regardless of how close those ties could also be.

Similarly, Mongolia relies on China for nearly all of its non-energy imports, including food, consumer goods and manufactured products. And China is the destination for 90 percent of Mongolia's exports, mainly coal and copper.

Both Russia and China have used their economic and political strength as leverage against Mongolia up to now, as they proved to be slights, comparable to China cutting off trade and a serious loan in 2016 in protest against a visit of the Dalai Lama to Mongolia.

Mongolia and the brand new Chinese-Russian alignment

Mongolia and other Central Asian states face recent challenges Russia and China are moving closer together politically and economically.

Mongolia played the role of a Buffer state between the Soviet Union and China and took advantage of the rivalry between the 2 superpowers to attain and maintain its independent status.

But the growing friendship between China and Russia – highlighted by Putin and Xi’s Declaration of a partnership without borderlines in February 2022, just days before Russian troops invaded Ukraine – raises the query of whether China and Russia will begin to work together to realize much more influence over Mongolia and other smaller states within the region.

It is these geopolitical concerns that Ulaanbaatar may bear in mind during Putin's visit. Even though Mongolia is affected by the sanctions against Russia, Transport and business connections disruptedThe country has stayed out of international confrontations with Moscow.

Like China, Mongolia also frequently renounces United Nations Resolutions condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, as an indication that Mongolia stays faithful to its policy as a 3rd neighbor, it was also careful to not violate the sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies against Russia.

While Mongolia recognizes the importance of Putin's visit to maintaining good relations and fuel supplies to the country, it’s also concerned about how the visit and the expected non-enforcement of ICC sanctions could damage the country's popularity with global institutions and powers outside the region.

In a changing world order, Mongolia is doing its best to preserve its independence by emphasizing its role as a neutral state and friend to all. But visits like Putin's show how difficult that endeavor could be.