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Inaugural season: 1960

Inaugural season: 1925

Littering is the illegal disposal of waste materials in both public and private spaces. It is a form of pollution that can have highly negative consequences for the environment. Litter can consist of all sorts of rubbish that have been thrown away and left for others to pick up. It can originate from any number of sources and may result in the contamination of land, waterways, groundwater, and other shared natural resources.

Inaugural season: 1960

Inaugural season: 1930

The Houston Texans are a National Football League (NFL) franchise that plays in the South division of the American Football Conference (AFC). The Texans are among the youngest teams in the NFL, having only been in existence since 2002. The city of Houston was awarded an expansion team after their previous professional team, the Houston Oilers, moved to Tennessee and became the Titans. In their brief history, the Texans have logged an overall regular season record of 121–151, and made five postseason appearances with a cumulative record of 3–5 as of the end of the 2018 season. Despite some postseason success, as of 2018, they remained the only NFL franchise to have never appeared in a conference championship game.

The Magnet Recognition Program is an initiative run by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) that is intended to compare and promote health care organizations with strong nursing staffs. To qualify as part of the program—a designation called "Magnet Status"—health care organizations are required to demonstrate their compliance with a pre-established set of criteria. Magnet Status health care organizations, which may include hospitals, clinics, and other health care facilities, are characterized by their ability to attract and retain nurses deemed to be among the best in their profession. This program is one of the barometers used by U.S. News & World Report to rank hospitals in its annual survey of the American medical system.

Nursing intuition is a term used to describe a nurse's ability to make medical decisions through instinct. This skill is generally gained naturally through experience and time rather than through direct instruction. It is regarded as being particularly valuable in emergencies, wherein the results of split-second decisions can have outsized outcomes on a patient's health. Although the natural instincts of the individual nurse often play an important role in the development of his or her intuitive responses to situations, nursing intuition is often regarded as the combination of instinct, critical thinking, and experience.

War communism was an economic and political system instituted by Vladimir Lenin from 1918 to 1921 in Soviet Russia. The policies of war communism were established as a combined consequence of the Russian Civil War (1917–1920) and Lenin's own political beliefs. However, these initiatives had a devastating economic and social impact on the country, leading to widespread famine and social suffering.

Nehemiah is a biblical figure who is credited with helping to rebuild Jerusalem in the fifth century B.C.E. after its destruction by the Babylonians. Nehemiah is the focus of the Book of Nehemiah, one of the last chapters of the Jewish texts that make up the Hebrew Bible. The Hebrew Bible is also the basis for the Old Testament, which is one of the foundations of Christian biblical tradition. The Book of Nehemiah is typically linked with that of the Book of Ezra, which roughly covers the same historical period and relates the story of the prophet Ezra. It is believed that the Book of Ezra and the Book of Nehemiah initially formed a single text that was divided into two separate works centuries later. According to Jewish tradition, Nehemiah is regarded as the author of his own story, as it is written from a first-person perspective.

Mount Athos is the site of a collection of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece. Called the "Holy Mountain," these monasteries are located on an isolated peninsula in northeastern Greece that is only accessible by boat. The residents of Mount Athos are ascetic monks who engage in devoted religious reflection that is far removed from the trappings of contemporary life. The monks of Mount Athos are called Athonites, and they are spread out among twenty different monasteries. Each monastery has its own traditions, characteristics, and religious focus. So that these monks may maintain their religious introspection without distraction, women are barred from entering the peninsula as they are regarded as potential temptations. Adult male visitors are allowed to visit on a limited basis.

The Nuer people are an ethnic group native to eastern Africa. In particular, the Nuer reside in the Sudd region, a swampy flood plain created by the White Nile tributary of the Nile River. Both the Sudd and the Nuer people are primarily located in the nation of South Sudan, although the Nuer also have a strong presence in Ethiopia. According to estimates from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the total population of the Nuer people in 2016 was about two million. The Nuer are best known in the West due to extensive sociological studies conducted by British anthropologist E.E. Evans-Pritchard in the 1940s and 1950s.

The Antipodeans were a collection of Australian modernist artists known for their traditional art styles. The group’s 1959 exhibition at the Victorian Artists’ Society sought to defend figurative art—art that deliberately resembles the figures upon the work is based—against what they perceived as the increasingly popularity abstract expressionism was gaining with critics. The group of seven artists and one historian called themselves the “Antipodeans,” both because it was a common name for people of Australia and New Zealand, and because its meaning was derived from the word antipode—a term that describe places in the world that are direct opposites. The British believed Australia to be on the other side of the world from the British Islands, and nicknamed the region the “antipodes” and its residents “antipodeans.” For these artists the name had a dual meaning; first, it referred to their self-perceived identities as being against the growing critical norm, and second, it was meant to identify themselves as proud artists a world away from mainstream European art. In addition to their 1959 exhibit, the group composed the Antipodean Manifesto, which was published in the exhibition’s accompanying catalogue. "Olympic Pylon," a 1956 ceramic sculpture by Arthur Boyd at Melbourne Olympic Swimming Stadium. Gary Houston [CC0] A mural in a hotel bar in Tiboburra, Australia painted by Clifton Pugh with a common Antipodean image of outstretched arms.John Hill [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

Mesopotamian mythology refers to the collected myths and legends of ancient Mesopotamia. The Mesopotamian region encompassed a variety of different cultures located in modern-day Iraq, Syria, and Iran. Mesopotamia is often called the "cradle of civilization," as it was where the first organized cities, codes of law, and written languages were developed.

Artistic activism is the use of creative arts as a means of promoting social and political causes. The primary goal of art activists is to bring attention to important issues and energize social movements through the combination of protest and art. As such, artistic activism is intimately linked to social media campaigns as the ability to make an image or creatively frame an ongoing social debate help to publicize causes. Traditional thinking argues that the more attention brought to an issue, the more likely that the public will become drawn into the debate and perhaps ultimately seek resolutions.Banksy mural in Lisbon alluding to 1974 Carnation Revolution.Pasquale Paolo Cardo from Finale Ligure (Savona), Italy [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)] Pablo Picasso's Guernica on display in 1956 at the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam.Herbert Behrens / Anefo [CC0]

Hipsters comprise an American subculture that emphasizes nonconformity and social change. The development of this subculture is part of a historical American tradition in which young adults challenge the social norms of their time through the adoption of countercultural practices. Hipsters can be seen as the inheritors of the cultural legacies of other such young adult countercultural groups as flappers, beatniks, yippies, hippies, punks, and goths. Traditionally, such groups are composed of disaffected youth seeking a sense of place and community by joining others with shared cultural interests. Self-alignment with a nonconformist group is often an important part of adolescent and young-adult identity formation.Cab Calloway, of Harlem's Cotton Club, coined the term hepsterWilliam P. Gottlieb [Public domain] Hipster fashionRendezvous.R [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

Japanese architecture (or Nihon kenchiku in Japanese), is a reflection of the culture and history of Japan itself. As an island nation, Japan has regularly alternated between periods of intense isolation and eras in which foreign influence had dramatic impacts upon Japanese culture. These shifts have enabled the Japanese to advance their architectural styles in seclusion and then, equally, embrace and absorb elements borrowed from foreign cultures. As a result, while the origins of Japanese architecture are strongly linked with Asian construction styles, in the modern era, it has been characterized by its willing absorption of elements reflecting Western aesthetics.Rokuonji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, in Kyoto, Japan, built in 1397, the Muromachi period.Fg2 [Public domain] Tama Art University Library, at Hachiouji, Tokyo, Japan, designed by Toyo Ito in 2007.Wiiii [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

An amphitheatre (or amphitheater) is a type of freestanding, open-air building typically used for entertainment purposes. Traditionally, amphitheatres are circular and built with climbing rows of seats built around a large central open space called an arena. These facilities host sports competitions, concerts, plays, and a variety of other types of public performances. Their origins date back to antiquity, where they were the sites of gladiatorial contests and other large scale activities in Ancient Rome. The most famous of these Roman amphitheatres is the Colosseum in Rome, which dates back to the first century C.E.

The Anglo-Burmese Wars were a series of three nineteenth-century wars fought between the British Empire and the then independent Empire of Burma (modern-day Myanmar). The First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826) was fought because of the imperialist ambitions of both the Burmese and British Empires. The Second Anglo-Burmese War (1852) was born largely from continuing British interest in Burmese markets and natural resources. The Third Anglo-Burmese War (1885) was the last of the conflicts between the two empires and was derived from British concerns that the Burmese were aligning with the French. Although this claim had dubious credibility, it nonetheless provided the British with the necessary motivation to end Burmese sovereignty. As a direct consequence of these conflicts, Burma lost its independence and became a British colonial outpost until 1948.

ALBA (formally known as the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America in English, and the Alianza Bolivariana para los Pueblos de Nuestra América in Spanish) is a confederation of Latin American and Caribbean nations that promotes heightened economic, political, and social ties between member states. The group was envisioned by former Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez as an organized collaboration of Latin American states that would provide an alternative to the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) advocated by the United States. The proposed FTAA treaty was intended to create an economic zone encompassing most of North and South America in which trade barriers (such as tariffs or trade restrictions) were either loosened or eliminated entirely. Chávez hoped to establish a competing trade bloc that relied more on socialist principles than the strict capitalist methodologies that would drive the FTAA.

Solanaceae are a large family of flowering plants commonly referred to as nightshades. Containing agricultural, ornamental, and poisonous plants, the Solanaceae family is among the most diverse families in the plant kingdom. The family includes more than 2,500 members, including the potato, tomato, and various pepper species. Solanaceae plants grow in nearly all climates, though they favor tropical and temperate regions. Their greatest prevalence and diversity is in Central and South America, leading to speculation that they originated in this region. However, this family has a worldwide presence, with representatives found on virtually every continent except Antarctica.

A frieze (pronounced freeze) is an architectural detail found on buildings that consists of a continuous horizontal band located just below the roof. It is part of the entablature, which is a design element dating to classical Greek architecture that is sometimes incorporated into the exterior of a building. The entablature is located between a set of columns and the roof, with the frieze forming the middle portion of the entablature.

Alhambra is a medieval Moorish fortress and palace in Granada, Spain, that was later converted into a royal residence and tourist attraction. The fortress's name comes from the original Arabic Qal-at al-Hamra, meaning "the red fort," which references the red clay used in the fort's initial construction. It is regarded as one of the best examples of medieval Islamic architecture in the world. Its palaces were first constructed in the thirteenth century by the Nasrid dynasty, which consisted of the last Muslim rulers of Spain, and later expanded by Spain's Christian rulers.

The Church of South India (CSI) is an ecumenical union of several Protestant churches that serves as heir to the Church of England in many parts of post-colonial South India. The church was created through a merger of Protestant denominations in the late 1940s, and it is unique for its incorporation of varying Congregationalist, Methodist, Reformed, Anglican, and Presbyterian churches into a single unified congregation.

An outgrowth of the Filipino nationalist movement, the Philippine Independent Church or the Iglesia Filipina Independiente—the Spanish name the church uses for itself—is a Protestant Christian church that was formed after a schism with the Catholic Church in 1902. The Philippine Independent Church was established in response to the desire for an independently operated Filipino national church amidst claims of racial discrimination and other abuses by the Catholic Church.

Theatre of the Oppressed (TO) is a community-based interactive theater that is used as a vehicle for social change. The concept was developed by Brazilian theater practitioner Augusto Boal in the 1960s in conjunction with his work with the country’s peasant and worker classes. Typically, TO has associations with left-wing politics and is intended to combine elements of social justice activism with theater. In particular, TO is fashioned around the inclusion of audience participation. For Boal, the key to TO was to transform passive spectators into active performers. Boal’s primary goal was to establish empathy between the plight of those being depicted on stage and the audience, while enabling the audience to imagine positive change as a result.Augusto Boal receives the Crossborder Award for Peace and Democracy. Abbey Theatre, Dublin, April 3rd 2008.AnnMari [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)] Participants in the Theatre of the Oppressed workshop presented by Brazilian theater director and writer Augusto Boal at Riverside Church in New York City, 2008.Thehero [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is a collaborative military force that was one of several entities fighting in the Syrian Civil War that began in 2011. Formed from several preexisting United States-aligned militias, the current membership includes fighters from an array of different cultural groups, including Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, Assyrians, and Armenians. The SDF was formed by Western forces to help in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)—a fundamentalist group also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).A demonstration in Homs, Syria against Al Assad regime in the Syrian Uprising, April 2011.Bo yaser [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)] The Syrian Democratic Forces announce an offensive north of Deir ez-Zor, September 2017.Voice of America in Kurdish [Public domain]

Thatcherism is a political ideology that was established and guided by British politician Margaret Thatcher during her tenure as prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990. Thatcher served as the leader of Britain’s Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990, and under her leadership Thatcherism helped to outline a governmental model that favored the promotion of a free market state and smaller government. Together with the related American Reagonomics—named after President Ronald Reagan—Thatcherism helped to redefine conservative ideologies in the United Kingdom and abroad for a generation.Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of the United Kingdom with President Ronald Reagan at start of her State Visit, February 1981.Jack Kightlinger (Official White House photographer) [Public domain] Graph showing the annual UK GDP growth with the Thatcher years (1979–1990) highlighted, depicting the economic turnaroundCoffeeWithMarkets [CC0]

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous territory in political union with Tanzania. The Zanzibar archipelago consists of two larger islands, Zanzibar (also known locally by its Swahili name of Unguja) and Pemba, and a collection of smaller islands all located in the Indian Ocean. Zanzibar, the larger of the two main islands, is located approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the Tanzanian mainland. It had an estimated population in 2018 of 1.3 million people who lived across an area stretching across 950 square miles (2,460 square kilometers). About two-thirds of the islands’ population live on the larger island of Zanzibar.House of Wonders in Stone Town, Zanzibar City, c. 1907.Frankfurt University Library [Public domain] Topographic map of the Zanzibar Archipelago of the Western Indian Ocean, off the east coast of Africa in Tanzania.Oona Räisänen (Mysid) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

The Tswana or Setswana language is the native language of the Tswana people of southern Africa. The language is also be known by the alternate names of Bechuana, Beetjuana, Chwana, Sechuana, Secwana, or Tshwana. It is the lingua franca, or common language, of the nation of Botswana and one of the eleven official indigenous languages of South Africa. In Botswana, speakers of Tswana form a majority of the population; Tswana is also the fifth-largest language group in South Africa. The name of Botswana is derived from the Tswana people and their language. Despite this, South Africa is home to a greater population of native Tswana speakers than its neighbor to the north. Smaller numbers of people in Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Namibia also speak Tswana. In total, an estimated 13 million people speak Tswana as a first or second language.Martin Hinrich Lichtenstein was the first European to describe the Tswana language as he lived among the Tswana in 1806.Public domain via Wikimedia Commons Speakers of Setswana as a home language as a proportion of total population in South Africa.Adrian Frith [Public domain]

Hadrian's Wall was a defensive stone and turf fortification in northern England that marked the northwestern boundary of the Roman Empire in the second century CE. Its contemporary name references the Roman emperor Hadrian, who ruled from 117 to 138. In antiquity, the wall was known as the Vallum Hadriani (Latin for Hadrian's Wall) or as the Vallum Aelii (meaning either Aelian's Wall or the Aelian Frontier, which referenced Hadrian's family name of Aelius). Remains of Hadrian's wall just east of Cawfields quarry, Northumberland. By Velella (Personal photograph taken by Velella.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons This map shows the location of Hadrian's Wall and the Antonine Wall in Northern England and Scotland. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

French Guiana is an overseas territory of France located on the northeastern coast of South America. Although it is geographically a part of South America, as an overseas region of France it is politically and economically aligned with Europe. This means that it is officially a part of the European Union and uses the euro as its currency. It is also represented politically in the National Assembly of France. Location of French Guiana in South America. By TUBS [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons Creole women in traditional wear at Carnival in Cayenne. By Didwin973 (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Cook Islands is a nation of self-governing islands in the South Pacific that operates in free association with New Zealand. This means that while the Cook Islands remains a free, independent state, New Zealand acts on the Cook Islands' behalf in certain governmental matters, including foreign affairs and national defense. This is due to the Cook Islands' small population. The total population of the Cook Islands in 2016 was variously estimated to be between 9,500 and 21,000 people. These discrepancies may reflect, in part, the large population of New Zealanders who still identify as Cook Islanders. In 2016, 58,000 New Zealanders self-identified as being of Cook Islander heritage, more than twice the population of the Cook Islands itself. The islands are very small and consist of a land mass of only 91 square miles. However, the 15 islands are spread out over a large area of ocean the size of India. The Cook Islands lacks many natural resources, and its economy is dependent upon tourism and offshore banking as a result. Global location of the Cook Islands. By TUBS [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons Sunset from Akaiami, Cook islands By Robert Young (Flickr: Sunset from Akaiami) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Arctic Winter Games are a biennial sporting tournament intended to promote cultural exchange, community pride, and athletic competition between circumpolar peoples. These games were established with the goal of providing athletes from cultures around the Arctic Circle with the opportunity to compete in local conditions. Athletes from several different countries and territories have competed in the Arctic Winter Games. In addition to sporting competition, each biennial event includes a cultural component that has grown to include concerts, film festivals, and exhibitions. 2008 Arctic Winter Games By Xander from Yellowknife, NT, Canada [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons Team Yukon and Team Alaska faced off in the gold medal match at the 2008 Arctic Winter Games. By Xander from Yellowknife, NT, Canada [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Hardboiled fiction is a form of American detective fiction characterized by its use of grittiness, violence, and realism. The genre, which reached its zenith between 1925 and 1940, was initially created as a response to the refined style of British murder mysteries epitomized by such authors as Agatha Christie, G.K. Chesterton, and Dorothy Sayers in the 1920s. The term "hardboiled" is in reference to the toughness of a hardboiled egg, which is equated to the hard edge of the settings and characters featured in these novels. Typically, hardboiled novels are darker in tone than earlier detective novels, and they present the investigating detective's personal thoughts about ongoing events rather than just simply relating the details of the crime as they are uncovered.

The Nahuatl language is an indigenous Mesoamerican tongue that was spoken by the Aztec peoples (as well as other native groups) in antiquity, though several modern forms still exist. In its modern form, Nahuatl is principally found in central Mexico in the areas surrounding Mexico City and is spoken in mostly rural areas by about 1.5 million people—the most of any indigenous Mexican language. Pronounced "ná-watl," the name is thought to have connotations related to words meaning "clear speech" or "command" in the Nahuatl language.

Gospel music is a genre of music that combines Christian praise vocals with the harmonies of more contemporary forms of music, including blues, country, and rhythm and blues (R&B). It is intended to provide an alternative to secular music. In its purest sense, gospel music offers a means to celebrate and worship religious themes through music that is more modern and easier to sing than traditional hymns. Gospels are often distinguished from other forms of Christian music by their use of choral backgrounds and upbeat rhythms. These sounds offer a contrast to lyrics that are typically dedicated to both the struggles of everyday life and powerful declarations of continuing faith in God.

Digital rights management (or DRM) is the term used to describe any number of technologies or protocols that are intended to limit how digital media, technology, and software are utilized. It may also be known as digital restriction management or copyright protection. These restrictions are primarily intended to protect the copyrights of digital materials. Such technologies are often meant to limit usage of a product to a single user or to prevent copyrighted materials from being illegally distributed. However, these technologies may have a number of other applications as well and may affect how legitimate consumers use their own products.

Chinese calligraphy is a traditional visual art using Chinese characters. Calligraphers view the graphic depiction of letters to be of equal value to the written word itself. Like many traditional Chinese art forms, calligraphy is considered to be both a discipline and a means of creative expression. In contrast with other styles of calligraphy, the development of traditional Chinese calligraphy relied upon an ink brush rather than the quills and calligraphy pens favored in Western tradition.

The Branch Davidian communityis a breakaway sect of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 1993, the group was involved in a siege with the US federal government that left eighty-six people dead. More formally known as the Branch Davidians of the Seventh-day Adventists, the group developed cult-like tendencies under its charismatic and authoritarian leader, David Koresh. Like the mainstream Seventh-day Adventists, the Branch Davidians believed that the end of the world was near. Under Koresh, the group attracted the attention of federal authorities, leading to a standoff that ended with the deaths of most of the Branch Davidians after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) surrounded their compound.

A passive house uses a set of design principles intended to maximize energy efficiency. The goal of a passive house is to be environmentally friendly by reducing its energy footprint. The basic premise behind this construction methodology is to create an airtight, contained structure that does not rely on traditional heating and cooling processes. As a result, such structures use up to 80 percent less energy than standard buildings. Passive houses are more expensive to build, but the savings provided by their greater energy efficiency are intended to offset the initial increased costs within only a few years after their construction or upgrade.

The eyelid (also known as the palpebra) is a fold of skin that primarily serves to protect the eye from injury and foreign matter. However, eyelids also have several other important functions. They help to control the amount of light received by the eyes; they distribute fluid over the eyes during blinking to help moisturize the cornea; and they help with the flow of tears. Humans have two eyelids on each eye: an upper (palpebra superior) and a lower (palpebra inferior) eyelid. Other species of animals, such as dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, and fish, have a third transparent eyelid called a haw or nictitating (meaning blinking) membrane. This third eyelid serves many of the same functions as the first two eyelids, but it offers an additional form of cleansing for predators that require clear vision to track prey or as a means of protection for animals that dive or move underwater.

The Maya Maize God was a deity in the Mayan religion who was the patron god of corn. Due to the destruction of important documents related to Mayan mythology in the sixteenth century, many aspects of this figure are poorly understood. In addition, the Mayan culture was split into different rival groups throughout Central America and existed over an extended period of time. These aspects of Mayan culture had the effect of creating complex and competing mythologies. However, archaeologists believe that the Maya Maize God was among the most important figures in the Mayan religion, and beyond his associations with maize, he has been linked to several origin myths throughout the region that was occupied by the Mayans.

A compact city is an urban planning concept that promotes the use of sustainable development in cities. The primary intent behind using this model is to get the greatest use from existing land resources while limiting the resulting environmental impact. Beyond its emphasis on establishing healthy centralized residential centers, the compact city model of development seeks to promote new methods of urban development that limit the physical footprints of urban centers while promoting a higher quality of life for residents.

Freemium refers to a business model of providing a product free with the hope that customers will later be willing to pay for extra features that will enhance their enjoyment of it. The term is a combination of the words "free" and "premium" and was coined by Jarid Lukin and Fred Wilson in 2006. In May 2014, applications using the freemium model accounted for 98 percent of all revenue in the Google app store and 95 percent of the revenue in the Apple app store.

Ecuador is located over several fault lines that make the west coast of South America vulnerable to powerful earthquakes. On the evening of April 16, 2016, one such earthquake struck near the boundary of the Nazca and South American plates. The quake was centered near the small town of Muisne, Ecuador, on the country’s Pacific coast. The earthquake was later estimated to have a magnitude of 7.8 on the moment magnitude scale and as a category VII on the Mercalli intensity scale by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The moment magnitude scale, which is a more precise version of the better-known Richter scale, measures the intensity of the earthquake near its center, while the Mercalli scale measures the intensity of the shaking. By both measures, the 2016 Ecuador earthquake was severe. Ultimately, it was estimated to have caused more than $3 billion in damage in an area stretching from southern Colombia to northern Peru. More than 650 people were believed to have died in the quake and more than 230,000 were injured. It was the most powerful earthquake to hit Ecuador since an 8.2 event devastated a region along the border of Ecuador and Colombia in 1979. It was the most damaging earthquake in the region since a 7.2 quake in 1987 killed about 1,000 people. The 2016 earthquake occurred in a similar location to a 1942 earthquake.Damage from 2016 earthquake.Agencia de Noticias ANDES [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)] Damage from 2016 earthquake.Agencia de Noticias ANDES [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]

The 2015 Indian heat wave was a wave of high temperatures that struck India in May of 2015, ultimately killing 2,500 people. The high temperatures impacted an area stretching from the Indian-Pakistani border in the east to the Nepalese border in the north to the Bangladeshi border in the country’s west. Many of India’s largest population centers are located only slightly north of the equator, so the country is used to extreme fluctuations in temperature. During the summer monsoon season, for instance, average daily temperatures can rise to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius). However, during May of 2015, many parts of India were subject to temperatures reaching averages above 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius). In the inland city of Daltonganj, Jharkhand in India’s far east, temperatures averaged 115.6 degrees Fahrenheit (43.47 degrees Celsius) during the week of May 24 to May 30. The highest observed temperature of 118.4 degrees Fahrenheit (48.0 degrees Celsius) was recorded on May 24 in the city of Khammam in Telangana. High levels of normal seasonal humidity made conditions even worse, with heat indexes well above 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) throughout the country. Ultimately, more than 2,500 people were estimated to have died, with the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana worst hit. Officials warned, however, that as deaths from heat were typically underreported, the final death total had likely been much higher. The heat wave was rated by EM-DAT, an international database of disasters, as the fifth deadliest in history.Heat waves in India, Pakistan, U.S. West coast and Europe.NOAA / National Weather Service / National Centers for Environmental Prediction / Climate Prediction Center Internet Team [Public domain] Heat waves in India, Pakistan, U.S. West coast and Europe.NOAA / National Weather Service / National Centers for Environmental Prediction / Climate Prediction Center Internet Team [Public domain]

"Global citizenship" is a term used to describe the promotion of a global-centric manner of thinking, in which people consider themselves to be citizens of the world rather than of individual nations. Although the term can have many connotations, it is perhaps used most often in conjunction with a broad concept of global advocacy in which a person identifies with an international community of like-minded individuals seeking to improve the world. In this context, the term is meant to convey a philosophical belief rooted in being globally minded—that is, being culturally aware and respectful of people from all backgrounds—while making positive contributions to the welfare of the planet. However, it may also have a broader meaning in which people simply recognize and understand the increasing interconnectedness of people around the world.