Reposted from ArtNet News

Climate protestors who threw soup at two Van Gogh paintings last month have been banned by a judge from protesting in London. The dictate comes as Just Stop Oil (JSO) activists have carried out a series of peaceful protests across the U.K. over the last week, despite a recent letter from museum directors demanding that environmental groups stop targeting artworks as part of their demonstrations.

Yesterday, Mary Somerville, 77, Stephen Simpson, 71, and Phil Green, 24, pleaded not guilty in a London court to two counts of criminal damage. They were charged for allegedly damaging the frames of two Sunflowers painting by Vincent Van Gogh on view at the National Gallery after throwing tomato soup at them in an act of protest on September 27.

The Just Stop Oil (JSO) activists were released on bail and their case will go to trial in January 2026. In the meantime, Judge Alexander Milne has barred them from participating in any protest action within the M25, a major highway encircling most of Greater London.

The defendants’ lawyer Raj Chada said this ban was a “disproportional” infringement on their right to protest since London is “the seat of government,” according to a BBC report. Milne countered that, “there seems to be a great deal of blurring between the exercise of that right and the commission of criminal offenses.”

Meanwhile, JSO has launched a series of peaceful interventions across the U.K. by adorning public statues in orange high-vis vests bearing the activist group’s logo. This morning, activists dressed up a bronze statue of Nelson Mandela in London’s Parliament Square. A demonstrator held a sign bearing the anti-Apartheid activist’s famous quote: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

“People say it’s impossible to Just Stop Oil, but we would argue it always seems impossible until it’s done.  What choice do we have?,” said a JSO spokesperson in a statement. “The system is broken, and we cannot rely on these or any other politicians to save us. We need revolution in how we make decisions, empowering ordinary people to decide their own futures through citizen-led assemblies.”

The group noted that London’s Parliament Square, which is full of monuments to some of Britain’s most influential political figures, will be the site of a “Politics is Broken” protest on November 2, as part of Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s National Palestine March.

The first public sculpture to be targeted in the latest high-vis vest campaign was a bronze rendering of the Beatles in their hometown of Liverpool on October 24. Activists held speech bubble–shaped placards next to the figures stating, “Hey Jude, let’s Just Stop Oil” and “imagine there’s no oil.” Both lines referenced famous song lyrics by the music group.

In a further effort to relate the statues they are targeting to current environmental concerns, another group of JSO activists dressed a statue of Demeter, the Ancient Greek goddess of agriculture, with a vest and a sign stating “Just Stop Famine” at the British Museum on October 25.

JSO has a history of demonstrating at museums, leading to a consortium of U.K. museum directors to issue an open letter earlier this month, imploring the activist group to stop attacking their art. Somerville, Simpson, and Green’s action at London’s National Gallery’s “Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers” exhibition in September was a direct response to the sentencing of two other JSO activists, who had also thrown soup on one of the same Sunflowers paintings in 2022. Phoebe Plummer, 23, and Anna Holland, 22, were handed hefty prison sentences by Southwark Crown Court earlier that same day.

Other works that have been targeted include John Constable’s The Hay Wain and Velázquez’s Rokeby Venus, also at the National Gallery. Early in October, two JSO activists who glued themselves to a J.M.W. Turner painting at Manchester Art Gallery were spared jail time after a judge at Manchester Magistrates’ Court ruled that the pair were not guilty, and their action was proportionate in the face of the climate crisis.

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Reposted from Museums and Heritage

A statue of the Greek goddess Demeter at the British Museum has been targeted by protest group Just Stop Oil. On Friday, members of the group added a ‘high-viz’ vest and a cardboard speech bubble to the statue which read “Just Stop Famine”. The group said the statue was chosen as Demeter was the Olympian goddess of harvest and agriculture. A statement from the group said the stunt was hoped to encourage the UK government to work with others to end the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030. A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said: “If you think famine only happens elsewhere, think again. Our rich nation status will not protect us from what is coming. A collapse in the Atlantic Ocean currents would destroy our ability to grow food, and you can’t eat money.” A British Museum spokesperson said the museum “respects other people’s right to express their views and allows peaceful protest onsite at the Museum as long as there is no risk to the collection, staff or visitors.” The spokesperson said the incident “clearly breached our visitor guidelines, and put objects at risk of harm”, but clarified there was no damage caused. Similar jackets and signs were added to the outdoor statues of The Beatles in Liverpool and Emmeline Pankhurt in Manchester by the group. The stunt marks the latest to target a specific artwork across the UK’s galleries and museums this year. After a series of protests at the National Gallery, it announced a ban on visitors bringing in liquids, with the exception of baby formula, expressed milk and prescription medicines.

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Reposted from EMR-ISAC

National First Responder’s Day was observed this week on Oct. 28. For several years, this day has been recognized with congressional resolutions, state and local government resolutions, other accolades, plus discounts and promotions at stores and restaurants.

The day honors the service and sacrifice of those working in all public safety disciplines for answering the call in their communities. The following is a selection of recent documentaries that were either created by first responders or in collaboration with members of the public safety community. These films showcase the work first responders do every day and the issues that are important to them.

(2023) Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hat - Presented by John Deere in association with the National Volunteer Fire Council, HoldFast Features, and Vignette. Follow the inspiring journey of the most remarkable neighbors whose help you hope you never need - volunteer firefighters - as they encounter heart-breaking challenges and exhilarating triumphs to fulfill a single mission: serving their community. Heart-warming, humorous, and thrilling, this sweeping portrait of bravery will capture your heart and inspire.

(2023) Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire - Filmed across the West and narrated by Golden Globe and Emmy nominated actor David Oyelowo, this documentary takes viewers on a journey with the top experts in the nation to better understand fire. The film follows the harrowing escape from Paradise, California as the town ignited from wind-driven embers and burned within a few hours of the fire's start. It then continues to the even more recent fires of the last two years, when Oregon, California and Colorado suffered their worst wildfires in recorded history.

(2023) Every 20 Years: Wildland Fires in San Bernardino County. Approximately every 20 years, a large campaign fire takes place in the San Bernardino County mountains. This short documentary examines the recurring pattern of wildfires in the San Bernardino Mountains. Through historical context and personal narratives, this film sheds light on the challenges faced by firefighters, residents, and first responders as they contend with these large fires. It underscores the importance of preparedness and defensible space in mitigating wildfire risks for residents in this disaster-prone region.

(2023) Honorable but Broken: EMS in Crisis - Narrated by six-time Golden Globe and two-time Primetime Emmy award winning actress Sarah Jessica Parker and endorsed by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) and the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT). A documentary film exploring the world of EMTs and Paramedics, the collapse of the EMS system, and what needs to be done to save it.

(2024) Burned: Protecting the Protectors - A collaboration between Ethereal Films, the Last Call Foundation, Footpath Pictures, and producer Mark Ruffalo. BURNED is a public service announcement to firefighters everywhere. It tells the true story of how the spouse of a firefighter revealed significant exposure to forever chemicals affecting the fire community.

(2024) Through the Smoke – Created by Zach Hamelton and the Haines City (Florida) Fire Department. This 10-episode documentary series features the Haines City firefighters and command staff's day-to-day life, including what happens both on and off calls. It will dispel some common misconceptions about the fire service and will showcase the first responders themselves and their unique personalities.

Reposted from CISA

On Oct. 29, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released its 2025–2026 International Strategic Plan, the agency’s first, which supports the agency’s first comprehensive strategic plan and aligns with the National Security Memorandum on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience published in April 2024. The International Strategic Plan focuses on how CISA will proactively engage international partners to strengthen the security and resilience of our nation’s critical infrastructure. Since the risks we face are complex, geographically dispersed and do not abide by borders, protecting and securing our cyber and physical infrastructure requires the concerted efforts of public and private partners around the globe. Our International Strategic Plan outlines three goals CISA must achieve to address the ever-changing and dynamic challenges facing America and our international partners.

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Reposted from SafeHaven Security

As stress increases across our society, anger and conflict have increased as well. For many, physical violence is becoming an ever more acceptable answer to problems, even in the workplace.   This webinar is an intro to our GET..LIVE De-Escalation Master Class. From this session you will learn the keys to controlling your emotions under extreme stress. Attendees will walk away feeling empowered and fully prepared to respond appropriately to any situation both at work and in life. Webinar: GET…LIVE De-Escalation Strategies & Skills November 19 | 1:30pmCST $29 Registration

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Reposted from Tim Richardson

What do you say when you talk to yourself? How does this conversation factor into your decision making? Do you act on strong inclinations when you have an overwhelming feeling?

Several years ago, a client called to invite me to a Chicago Cubs game the following week and the night before my presentation. I wasn’t a baseball fan, so I politely declined. A few hours after the invite, that little voice inside my head said, “Go.”  I contacted my client the next day and told him if the offer was still good, I would join him for the game. Even though most years I can’t name any MLB players or even the teams playing in the World Series, I can, however, recall vivid details of that evening – I absolutely LOVED the experience! On another occasion while in New City for a presentation, I was invited to a show at Catch a Rising Star. Again, I politely declined the invite only to have that “feeling” again. Thankfully, my inner voice won me over and that night, I was mesmerized along with the rest of the audience by an authentic and entertaining performance. Had I not listened to that voice, I wouldn’t have met my incredibly talented friend, Victoria LaBalme. That voice, that feeling that we all encounter can not only create incredible experiences, but it might also save us from having unpleasant outcomes. There have been occasions that listening to my internal voice may have saved me from a failure, but often acting on a strong feeling has created unique opportunities to learn, succeed, and expand my personal and professional network.

Listening to that voice resulted in starting my own business, rebranding my speaking focus, and encouraging me to introduce myself to complete strangers that later became friends and even clients.

It’s a tricky balance though as that “voice” can hold us back too resulting in thoughts like:

You aren’t nearly smart enough to do that.

What makes you think you deserve that promotion?

How could you possibly have the talent to lead others?

Why would my prospect buy from me?

How am I ever going to conquer my fear of speaking in public, having difficult conversations, or worrying about outcomes I can’t control?

The voice that invites opportunity can be countered by another voice that discourages action. That voice can cause fear, uncertainty, and indecision. While it’s healthy and appropriate to consider situational ramifications, it’s not wise to only consider the downsides.  If you feel burdened by this feeling, try asking yourself a few questions –

What are the potential upsides of acting in this situation?

Am I refusing to listen to the voice because of fear?

Am I worrying about what others will think of me?

Will I regret not acting later?

Can this experience help increase my comfort with trying new things?

If it doesn’t turn out well, will it lessen or strengthen my desire to take future risks?

Maybe you don’t need to over analyze decisions.  Silencing that inner voice may be the most important task you can accomplish today.

Sometimes it’s okay to just do it.

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Reposted from ICOM

This week’s floods in Spain are the latest in a series of catastrophes which have affected more than 20 countries in recent weeks. The ICOM Secretariat has specifically been in contact with the ICOM National Committees in Austria, Czechia, Japan, Mali, Nepal, Poland, Romania and Spain. This is to monitor the local situations and to ascertain the needs of the Committees as they work to support the museum community and evaluate the extent of the damage in their respective countries.

Floods are a severe threat for museums, endangering both the structure of the museums and the conservation of collections. High humidity and water are some of the major threats against works of art and museum collections. In the context of these more frequent extreme weather events, ICOM wishes to draw attention to existing resources regarding museum preparedness that have been developed by its National and Expert Committees. In 2021, the ICOM International Committee on Conservation (ICOM CC) published its Guidelines for Cultural Heritage Recovery for Water Damaged Objects. These guidelines are based on the experiences of floods in Central Europe, China and India and are intended for museum professionals worldwide.

The ICOM National Committee in Austria have formed a working group including the regional museums-associations, the Federal Ministry, the Austrian Emergency Platform for Museums and Archives, the Austrian UNESCO-Commission, the Federal Monuments Office, the Austrian Armed Forces and Blue Shield Austria, to develop a publication on emergency planning for museums & cultural institutions, compiling all relevant information from international organizations that is already available into a useful, comprehensive manual. One of the resources that will be included is the ICCROM toolkit, “First Aid to Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis – For coordinated emergency preparedness and response to secure tangible and intangible heritage”.

The “ICOM Austria Emergency Tag for Priority Evacuation in Museum Storage” was also developed by ICOM Austria, Blue Shield Austria and Blue Shield International to clearly and consistently mark objects that should be saved first from storage during a crisis, a critical question that arises during all kinds of emergencies.  The design and guidance for the use of the tag are available in Open Access. ICOM Austria can share the design, free of copyright, with all interested ICOM Committees and concerned institutions. In Czechia, extensive floods in 1997 and 2002 have already marked the country and its museum community. Building on this experience, some institutions have developed research on this topic and have shared this experience with others who are facing crises. ICOM remains committed to supporting the emergency responses for the museums affected.

ICOM offers our deepest condolences to the affected countries and the families of the victims. We also extend our sincere sympathy and support to all museum professionals in the impacted regions. Do not hesitate to reach out to the Heritage Protection Department at the ICOM Secretariat (heritage.protection@icom.museum) or to the National Committees directly, should you wish to exchange with them on the matter or should you want to share some other best practices or experiences in this area.

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Reposted from EMR-ISAC

In an age where digital systems have an electronic tendril in nearly every aspect of our lives, the role of cybersecurity researchers is more important than ever. The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) “See Something, Say Something” campaign is a cornerstone of public safety in the physical world, but the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) sees these principles as being just as important in the online world. Information security researchers act as the digital equivalents of observant citizens, uncovering flaws in systems that could otherwise be exploited by criminals and foreign threat actors. This Oct. 23 CISA blog outlines the ideal process for a typical coordinated vulnerability disclosure and tips for ensuring clear communications during a crisis. It encourages public entities and critical infrastructure owners to engage with security researchers and foster a culture of collaboration for vulnerability reporting.

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Reposted from EMR-ISAC

As natural disasters, extreme weather, and climate change increasingly impact society, resilience across homeland security missions, systems and communities is of increasing importance. Robust scientific weather, water, space, and climate information and technologies are necessary to solidify critical supply chains, infrastructure sectors, and community response. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) released a report last month, Extreme Weather: Opportunities for Improved Preparedness and Resilience. The report focuses on understanding the state of extreme weather science (with an emphasis on floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, extreme heat, and wildfires), advances in observational technologies and networks, and the emerging domain of environmental intelligence necessary to develop proper risk mitigation strategies and better enable frontline operations. This report is built on a DHS S&T and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) joint workshop hosted at the University of Oklahoma National Weather Center in February 2024.

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Reposted from AMM

Future Chat: Diving into Museum Data Thursday, November 14 at 3:00–4:00 PM ET As the country rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic, how are museums doing? Who is coming to museums and why? How does attendance compare to pre-pandemic norms? What are the barriers to visitation? Join CFM director Elizabeth Merritt for Future Chats—a new AAM series on trends, news, and the implications for our sector. For the third installment of the series on November 14, at 3:00 PM ET, she will chat with Susie Wilkening, principal of Wilkening Consulting, about the latest data from the Annual Survey of Museum-Goers. After the chat, join discussion groups to explore solutions for increasing engagement, and share your own experiences with post-pandemic visitor trends. General portions of this Future Chat will be recorded. Breakout discussions will not be recorded, and are only available to live participants. November 14 Join us live for the third Future Chat of the series!    REGISTER   Presented by:   Elizabeth Merritt - AAM’s vice president for strategic foresight and founding director of the Center for the Future of Museums—a think tank and research lab for the museum field. Elizabeth is the author of the Alliance’s annual TrendsWatch report, and writes and speaks prolifically on the trends shaping the future of nonprofit organizations. She holds an MA from Duke University and a BS from Yale University, and attended the Museum Management Institute.   Susie Wilkening - Principal of Wilkening Consulting, Susie brings 25 years of museum experience, including nearly 20 years leading custom projects and national research. She oversees the Annual Survey of Museum-Goers, authors Data Stories infographics, and wrote Audiences and Inclusion and Life Stages of the Museum Visitor. A media go-to expert, her insights are featured in The New York Times, NPR, and others. She holds a BS in History, Technology, and Society from Georgia Tech and an MA from the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture at the University of Delaware.   This is the third Future Chat and the last scheduled in 2024—stay tuned for details about 2025 programs!

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