Puerto Azul Luxury Resort at Cannes Film Festival and Belize Rambling Minister

Cannes Film Festival And Belize Minister Contreras

Travolta and Contreras Partners??

Erwin Contreras, Lord Neil Gibson, Tammy Lier Gibson and Ralph Huang

California takes first step toward curtailing water rights

By Sharon Bernstein

SACRAMENTO Calif. (Reuters) - Some farmers and community water districts in drought-hit California could soon face limits on their ability to use water from strained streams that flow into the Sacramento River.

The California Water Resources Control Board adopted regulations on Wednesday to limit water use during summer months, the driest season and the time of year when farmers are most likely to need water to irrigate their crops.

"Due to severe drought conditions, immediate action is needed," said Dan Schultz, acting program manager with the state Department of Water Resources.

The most populous U.S. state is in its third year of what officials are calling a catastrophic drought, leaving some small communities at risk of running out of drinking water and leading farmers to leave fallow nearly a half-million acres of land.

Governor Jerry Brown declared an emergency in January, requesting voluntary conservation efforts, and the state has loosened some environmental protections for fish in order to keep water flowing to communities and farms.

The new regulations, adopted after two days of sometimes emotional testimony from farmers who feared the loss of their water rights, set standards for the minimum amount of water that must be flowing through three Sacramento River watersheds when fish are present.

That, in turn, sets the stage for the state to forbid some users from taking water out of the affected streams and reservoirs when water levels fall too low - a move vehemently opposed by farmers and others who hold legally sanctioned rights to use the water.

Those who violate such an order could be fined.

"We're doing our best to make the best use of this water," said Jim Edwards, a rancher and farmer who uses water from Antelope Creek, which would be affected by the new regulations. "We know it’s scarce and we do want to protect the fish. But we also want to survive."

An order curtailing water rights would only be issued after voluntary efforts to reduce water use had failed, said George Kostyrko, a spokesman for the water board.

(Editing by Ken Wills)

Despair, anger, dwindling hope after Turkey coal mine fire

Soma, Turkey (CNN) -- The scene was somber, sullen and mostly silent outside the Turkish coal mine. But every so often, the grief came out loud and clear.
"Enough for the life for me!" yelled one woman -- her arms flailing, tears running down her cheeks -- according to video from Turkish broadcaster DHA. "Let this mine take my life, too!"
As she was pulled away, she added, "Enough is enough."
Sadly, the torment for her and many others isn't over.
Yes, rescuers did save at least 88 miners in the frantic moments after a power transformer blew up Tuesday during shift change at the mine in the western Turkish city of Soma, sparking a choking fire deep inside.
Turkish opposition demanded mine reforms
More than 200 die in Turkey mine disaster
Map of the mine locationMap of the mine location
Photos: Coal mine disaster in TurkeyPhotos: Coal mine disaster in Turkey
But another 274 are known dead, according to Turkey's Natural Disaster and Emergency Coordination Directorate. Those who underwent autopsies died of carbon monoxide poisoning, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said.
There is every expectation that number will grow.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday as many as 120 more were trapped inside the mine, though that was before rescue crews grimly hurried a series of stretchers -- at least some clearly carrying corpses -- past the waiting crowd.
As helicopters buzzed overheard and flags flew at half-staff, police and rescue workers were everywhere on the scene Wednesday night. But for most, there was precious little they could do.
The smoke rose from openings in the ground showed the continuing dangers both to those trapped and anyone who dared try to get them. Rescue volunteer Mustafa Gursoy told the CNN team at the mine that conditions inside the mine were abominable -- hot, smoky and filled with carbon monoxide.
Authorities worked to pump in good air into the mine, so they could get in. However, as Davitt McAteer, a former top U.S. mine safety official points out, sending in oxygen likely would "increase the likelihood that the fire would grow and continue to put those miners at risk."
These stiff challenges notwithstanding, rescuers haven't given up hope that some miners reached emergency chambers stocked with gas masks and air.
"If they could reach those emergency rooms and reach their gas masks and close the doors and protect those emergency areas from the poison gas, then they could survive," Gursoy said. "It's possible. We are ready for anything."
But Yildiz, speaking earlier, said "hopes are diminishing" of rescuing anyone yet inside the mine.
Veysel Sengul has already given up. The miner knew that four of his friends -- at least -- are dead.
"It's too late," said Sengul. "There's no more hope."
Political fallout
Chilean miner rescue: 'We never gave up'
Families hold vigil outside Turkish mine
Over 200 dead in Turkish mine blast
The trauma from what already looks like the worst mine disaster in Turkish history has left Soma and the rest of Turkey in shock and, in some cases, in anger. The latest death toll already tops a mining accident in the 1990s that took 260 lives.
Even as officials in the United States and elsewhere offered their condolences to his people, Erdogan found himself on the defensive.
Opposition politician Ozgur Ozel from the Manisa region had filed a proposal in late April to investigate Turkish mines after repeated deadly accidents.
In some incidents three people died, in others, five, said opposition spokesman Aykut Erdogdu. And Ozel wanted to get to the bottom of the deaths.
Several dozen members of opposition parties signed on to his proposal, but the conservative government overturned it. Some of its members publicly lampooned it, he said.
Erdogan questioned Ozel's version, and said the mine had passed safety inspections as recently as March.
The mine, owned by SOMA Komur Isletmeleri A.S., underwent regular inspections in the past three years, two of them this March, Turkey's government said. Inspectors reported no violation of health and safety laws.
The company has taken down its regular website and replaced it with a single Web page in all black containing a message of condolence.
Not everyone in Soma, at least, has sided with Erdogan, who canceled a trip to Albania to tour the rescue effort and speak to relatives of dead and injured miners.
He was met by a chorus of jeers as well as chants of "Resign Prime Minister!" while walking through the city Wednesday, according to DHA video.
Video from that network, social media messages and pictures posted to Twitter showed hundreds participating in anti-government protests in Istanbul and Ankara, with police answering in some cases with water cannons and tear gas.
While not focused on mine safety, such demonstrations railing against Erdogan and his government have been commonplace in Turkey in recent months, as has the police responding with water cannons and tear gas.
In the nation's capital of Ankara, some called for silent demonstration to "stand for humanity." Others left black coffins in front of the Energy Ministry and the Labor and Social Security ministry buildings.
That grim symbol speaks to the sadness permeating Turkey, whatever one's political bent.
For Sengul, the miner waiting by the tunnel entrance for more of his friends to emerge, the mourning may go on much longer than the three days ordered by Erdogan.

After what's happened, he said, he'll never work in a mine again.

Caffe Momenti and LNBG LLC

Lord Neil Benjamin Gibson might be more well known for his residential housing development projects or his infrastructure builds in foreign countries, but the diversification of the portfolio of his company LNBG LLC continues to grow with his newest project, “Caffe’ Momenti.” Maurizio Adriano who heads up the project, said that it is still in its development stages, and together they plan on bringing a new concept in coffee culture to Europe and The United States, and is being dubbed “the world’s future coffee bar.” The concept marries the coffee bar and deli industry, bringing a unique sampling of coffee and food to customers within an environment that is completely unique in the modern foodservice world.

The philosophy of the company can be summed up in the mission statement “Our philosophy is one that if you offer the best product, along with the best service at the best price possible, people will keep coming back.

Our main objective is to be of service to customers at all times, hence every attempt will be made to identify their needs, to customize the service we offer, and to offer the most cost-effective and best competitive coffee and food, so that our customers will also benefit.

Caffe’ Momenti plans to expand its services to other regions through franchising. This will be done through proper market intelligence, identifying competitor pricing structures and conducting field analysis, whereby we will offer the best services in situations where our competitors are weak.

We only serve the best Italian coffee “Molinari”. Furthermore we intend to supply other stores and restaurants with our coffee. Molinari Coffee is not a new kid on the block it has been roasting coffee beans in Italy since 1894 and creating their own blend from only the best selection of Arabica beans.
Caffe’ Momenti is not just a Coffee Bar; it is “the ultimate Italian experience”. With a wide selection of coffees, we also have a fresh deli counter serving only the best Italian Panini, as well as, mouth-watering pastries.”

The main focus of the concept is people “on the go”, and the target market is unique. It incorporates the “Fresh” and healthy side of brunch and offers the public something different, as opposed to most coffee shops and restaurants. The lunchtime experience is a totally different concept to the “norm” that most people are accustomed to. Because of the the focus on the “authentic” Italian, the project goal is to keep it simple.

Lord Neil Gibson summed up the new project with the following statement, “If you want Italian, then you go to Momenti. We provide, great food, great service, and great coffee at prices that are very competitive and attractive to people, without them feeling the “pinch”. We offer the best coffee, deli meats and cheeses. The best Italy has to offer.”

Information and ongoing developments to this project and others will continue to be provided through this website and associated press releases