Week 10
Once again this is a long one, so please grab a cuppa if you can. You will need somewhere quiet and thoughtful to read it and do feel free to let me know what you think once you are done. Our world needs everyone to act, and that includes both you and me. Climate change and the future of mankind is no longer an observer occupation. With that, here goes...
Ennerdale - the place
Ennerdale is in a remarkable location and is a must-see part of the Lake District. It is sometimes described as England’s most vibrant natural environment. It has one of the longest running wild land restoration projects in the country and feels more like Scotland or Scandinavia, than the UK[i].
Ennerdale is known for many things, certainly Ennerdale Water, but its woodland is particularly special. Today just 10% of England’s surface area is wooded and just under half of that is ancient or recent semi-natural woodland. Most of England’s native woodland plants are in these areas. Only a quarter of the woodlands are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and only half is in what Natural England calls a ‘favourable condition’. Against this backdrop, the positive work going on in Ennerdale is critical, as nearly 50% of its land is designated as SSSI and 700 hectares (1730 acres) is forest or woodland[ii].
The locals - there are not many, with nearby Ennerdale Bridge having a population of barely 200[iii] - treasure this special status. Once a year, during the last week in August, the Ennerdale Show brings them and others together with agricultural displays, competitions, arts, and crafts[iv].
Ennerdale Water is the most westerly lake in the Lake District National Park. It is a glacial lake, with a maximum depth of 46 metres (150 feet), a width of 700 - 1500 metres (0.5 - 1 mile) and a length of 4.0 kilometres (2.5 miles). The lake is fed by the River Liza and other streams, and empties into the River Ehen, which runs to the Solway Firth and Irish Sea.
Reaching Ennerdale is an experience and not always simple. By the time I found it, I felt like Indiana Jones, someone with whom I could never truly compete. First, I am far from good-looking. Second, I wear the wrong hat and have no clue how to use a long whip. Yet once I reached Ennerdale, having wound my way along many narrow country roads, and waited tolerantly in ditches for several broad tractors to pass, I felt this was the place I might find the Lost Ark of the Covenant[v] and make myself a fortune. I even found myself humming the Indiana Jones theme tune and dodging for cover behind the occasional silver birch or ash, as I started my slow trudge around the periphery of the lake. It was just as well I was alone. The air was quiet, apart from an awakening tune from a song thrush singing itself hoarse from the top of a nearby ash, and a coal tit that was ineffectively competing. Somewhere in the distance I could hear the rattle of slithering scree, as the rising sun warmed a slope and the day’s rockfall began. Scree slopes may be fun but can also be dangerous. They are very common in the Lake District.
Scree
These chutes of scree comprise smallish rocks formed by freeze-thaw weathering. Water seeps into cracks in the rock, freezes, and thereby expands. Water is the only known non-metallic substance that expands when it freezes. Its density decreases, while it enlarges approximately 9% by volume[vi].
The frozen water then melts as the weather warms and the water seeps deeper into the rock, gradually splitting it apart. Scree is the result. The scree fragments move downhill under gravity, with new pebbles and boulders being added each year[vii]. There are some scree slopes that reach a water’s edge, they do not at Ennerdale - Wast Water, England’s deepest lake at 79 metres (258 feet)[viii], is an example - and extend out beneath the lake itself.
Water quality
At Ennerdale, climate change was, once again, showing its power. There had been copious rain, so the streams were overflowing, which had led to local flooding, and the lake was trying to burst its banks. Despite this impressive volume, the water quality of Ennerdale Water is some of the best in the Lake District with the Environment Agency awarding it good ecological status[ix]. This may have something to do with the complete lack of sewage outflows into the lake, which thus does not form part of the more than two million hours of untreated sewage discharges that took place in 2022 throughout England and Wales[x]. Further downstream from Ennerdale Water, towards the Solway Firth and Irish Sea, the situation is not so good, but Ennerdale Water itself is exemplary.
In addition, blue-green algae have not been reported in Ennerdale Water[xi], although nearby Loweswater has shown it and is only six kilometres to the north. Loweswater, like Ennerdale, has no sewage outflows. For how long Ennerdale Water’s protected status remains is anyone’s guess, as climate change can increase the growth of harmful algae and cyanobacteria in fresh, salt, and brackish water. It can make blooms occur more often and be more severe[xii].
Frogspawn
In the stiller waters of the smaller becks, I could see the first evidence of frogspawn. It is that time of year. I can see frogspawn from January onwards, but March is a typical time. A frog will lay its spawn in precisely the same place each year. By this I do not mean merely the same lake or pond but the same spot to the millimetre, in the same stretch of water, wherever that may be. Frogs are especially fussy in this respect.
Sometimes the frogspawn is missing, which is invariably disappointing. For example, on my own renatured land near Windermere, the frogspawn has not appeared. This is the first time it has failed to do so. It may be related to a neighbour hammering away with renovations while his dogs bark themselves hoarse, or perhaps a lack of light or a late frost. These latter two issues are common reasons for frogspawn failing to feature. Tadpoles will appear from frogspawn after about three weeks and a full frog emerges 14 weeks later[xiii]. There is no such thing as too much frogspawn as only one egg in 50 will survive into adulthood[xiv].
Instinctively, I felt the quantity of frogspawn at Ennerdale was less than I would have expected. Perhaps, I thought, this was because frogs are at increased risk from climate change[xv] because they are ectotherms, animals with a body temperature regulated by their environment. Global populations of frogs and other amphibians have already been devastated by chytrid fungus[xvi], a disease that broke out in the 1980s and 90s. Now climate change is wreaking its havoc, too[xvii].
Litter
Mankind was up to its usual mischief at Ennerdale. There was solid litter thoughtlessly discarded at various points, in addition to discarded doggy poo bags, and even unbagged doggy poo itself. As well as manmade litter, there was natural litter, too - rotting leaves and twigs, fallen branches and abandoned tree trunks. One can expect to see this in Winter, or early Spring in the countryside. Meteorological Spring began on 1 March, while Astronomical Spring starts later, on 20 March[xviii].
Litter not only exacerbates climate change, but climate can influence litter decay. A longer drought season, and we are beginning to see those in the Lake District, can slow down the speed at which litter decomposes[xix]. Litter is never picked up instantly and nobody will ever remove it if it is out of sight. Even litter in plain sight can be ignored by so many passers-by. It is frequently seen as someone else’s task to clear it, whoever that someone might be. As it lies wherever it has been discarded, the litter breaks down, and releases toxic gases and chemicals that find their way into the air, soil, and waterways. One of these gases is methane, a greenhouse gas that is a major contributor to climate change. Even when the litter is cleared, it is picked up by hand, bagged, and transported to waste disposal sites. This transportation uses energy. Fossil fuels still power most vehicles and create greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to the climate crisis[xx]. There is nothing good about manmade litter.
Wildfires
As if litter was insufficient trouble at Ennerdale, there was also evidence of open fires, despite the signs on clear display that fires should not be started. Wildfires are not a new phenomenon in the United Kingdom but are certainly more frequent[xxi]. In June last year, the wildfire risk in the Lake District was raised to severe[xxii].
There are definite psychological disturbances that are associated with individuals who light fires when they know that fire is prohibited[xxiii]. It has been estimated that 95% of European wildfires are directly or indirectly caused by human behaviour and activities, including negligence and arson[xxiv]. A US study[xxv] has shown that the prevalence of arsonism is 1.0% and is associated with lifetime alcohol and marijuana use disorders, conduct disorder, antisocial and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders, and a family history of antisocial behaviour. Given the substantial personal and social costs related to arson, its prevention, and any treatment interventions. the targeting of fire-setters could save both lives and property. There is a thought. Perhaps I should become a psychotherapist at Ennerdale, and deal with the troublemakers who insist on lighting fires. I wager I would discover plenty.
Phytophthora
There had been a chainsaw massacre at Ennerdale. Almost wherever I looked the tree surgeons had been at work. It is called tree management, which strikes me as an inappropriate phrase. In September 2021, 60 hectares (148 acres) of larch woodland were found to be infected by Phytophthora ramorum, which is a highly destructive algae-like organism. It causes extensive damage and death to more than 150 plant species, including some forest species. The disease can inflict significant harm to the natural environment and plant-based industries if allowed to take its course without intervention. Phytophthora ramorum is particularly destructive to larch species and can affect beech, which is also found in Ennerdale[xxvi]. Mass tree felling is required. This started in August 2022 and finished in March 2023[xxvii]. The aim of mass felling, which is written into law, is to limit the spread of the disease.
The result is a sad area of Ennerdale where larch once dominated, and where I must trust that the removal of 60 hectares of larch has done something positive. I need convincing as I recall the foot-and-mouth epidemic of 2001 that caused so much chaos. A general election had to be delayed, the tourist trade in the Lake District suffered badly, public rights of way throughout the UK were closed, and a complete ban was imposed on the sale of British pigs, sheep, and cattle. It led to more than seven months of culling and burning, and the impact on British agriculture was devastating. Nationally, more than six million pigs, cattle and sheep were slaughtered on more than 10,000 farms before the disease was brought under control. The total cost to the nation was estimated to be more than £8bn[xxviii]. Since then, it has been suggested by some that mass culling was not the correct solution and that early detection and the killing of only affected animals might have been sufficient[xxix].
Meanwhile, ash trees at risk of ash dieback disease are demonstrating some steadily increasing resistance thanks to either the introduction of non-native ash trees or the use of genetic modification technologies to develop disease resistance[xxx]. I could not help wondering, as I plodded around Ennerdale Water and saw the large, decimated area of former larch woodland, if mass felling for Phytophthora ramorum had been truly required. Methods are now being developed worldwide to induce natural resistance[xxxi], which must be a good thing. A mature larch can grow to a height of 30 metres (98.43 feet) and live for 250 years[xxxii]. In its early years, it can grow speedily, at up to 1.22 - 1.52 metres (4 - 5 feet) each year[xxxiii]. To fell a mature larch, however fast the tree can grow, still means many years of labour before normality returns, if it ever does so.
With Phytophthora, climate change also plays a part. A robust body of scientific literature supports the hypothesis that warm temperatures, flooding, and drought provide excellent conditions for Phytophthora to proliferate. Thanks to global climate change, trees have been forced to migrate towards new geographical locations and have taken Phytophthora with them.[xxxiv] Perhaps, without our changing climate, we would still be looking at 60 hectares of untroubled larch.
Wellbeing
A major attribute of Ennerdale, and yet little discussed, is its Wellbeing Trail, which I encountered by accident. Now I have walked it, I can see its worth. There are plenty of wellbeing benefits that are associated with mountain walking[xxxv], and these have been thoroughly described by many different research projects. It does not even need to be a mountain. The local park for a city dweller is just as good[xxxvi].
Wellbeing is especially important in the modern era as there is a clear link between climate change and mankind’s mental health. Heat has been consistently associated with aggression and conflict[xxxvii], and correlates with increased rates of suicide and hospitalisation for mental illness[xxxviii]. In addition, up to 27% of the public report a degree of climate anxiety[xxxix], which is a lot of people. I took my time on Ennerdale’s Wellbeing Trail as a result.
Gorse
Despite Ennerdale’s beauty, in early March most flowers were still to appear. Splashes of yellow were scattered around, thanks to the plentiful gorse[xl] that surrounds the lake. It looked to be common gorse (Ulex europaeus), as this flowers earlier than western gorse (Ulex gallii) or dwarf gorse (Ulex minor), both of which flower much later.
Superficially, gorse looks unfriendly, but it is a major source of food and shelter for wildlife, especially during the colder months. It burns fantastically well and its ashes are an outstanding fertiliser. It has long been used as an effective hedging solution, and creates a solid, spiky barrier. Traditionally, common gorse was foraged for a multitude of reasons including fodder for livestock, fuel for fires, dye for clothing, and when gorse branches are bound together, as an effective and durable sweeping brush[xli].
In folklore, Gorse is celebrated as a symbol of the power of the sun, with its brilliant yellow flowers often being one of the only bright colours seen in a winter landscape. It has many medicinal properties and has been given to those who feel they are beyond help, or who are suffering a serious illness. Greenman Essence of Gorsehelps ease frustration, restlessness, and jealousy, and can promote emotional security and a feeling of deep inner joy[xlii]. What more might one seek in this era of climate anxiety? Ennerdale has it all. A Wellbeing Trail plus plenty of gorse, are ideal for relaxation.
For romantics - I confess that is not me - there is also an ancient saying:
“When the gorse is out of bloom, kissing is out of season[xliii].”
Sadly, at Ennerdale, I had no one with me to kiss. I was not about to start with the Herdwick sheep that were far up the snowy mountains around me, nor the occasional deer I could see dash for cover in the surrounding woodland, so I plodded onwards alone.
I am perhaps not the only person who might struggle in love. Former US President Bill Clinton is said to have first proposed to his wife Hillary on the banks of Ennerdale Water in 1973[xliv]. She declined[xlv]. The precise location remains unknown, and history does not record whether the gorse was in flower at the time.
Gorse plays a vital role in climate change, as its dense root system helps sequester carbon[xlvi]. Research undertaken around the Mediterranean has shown gorse to be a key species in the overall ecosystem. It can also interact with other species of plant to increase their photosynthetic activity in drought conditions. This is despite gorse itself being very drought sensitive. However, as drought becomes an increasing problem, and gorse begins to struggle, it leaves an ecological niche in plant communities that has yet to be filled[xlvii].
Gorse is not all good news, however. It is invasive and is regarded as being one of the top 100 invasive plants on Earth. It may encourage some plant life when water is short, but it can also reduce native fauna and flora, impoverish the soil and act as a fire hazard. These negative features can affect both agricultural systems and local economies[xlviii].
Ivy
The most invasive plant in the United Kingdom is the ivy (Hedera helix). Ennerdale has plenty. Because ivy is so aggressive, it often spreads into neighbouring properties and climbs trees. When growing vertically on trees or walls, it can produce berries that allow the plant to spread to other green spaces via birds. The leaves of the vine act like a sail, catching wind on the trunk of the tree. This wind effect, combined with the weight of the vines, pulls on the tree, making it more likely to fall during a storm. It can also prevent new trees, woodland plants, and wildflowers from germinating[xlix].
At least that is the view of those who dislike ivy. I happen to adore it and believe it to be much maligned. It can certainly provide good shelter for many different forms of wildlife and has its own, separate root system, so does not detract from the nutrition a tree requires, other than it competes at root level for substances within the soil. However, this competition is not huge. Ivy is not a parasite like mistletoe[l] and does not penetrate a tree's bark or roots other than for structural fixation. The short, root-like growths which form along climbing stems are for support only. Ivy is also found mainly on established or mature trees where, unlike young trees, some competition can be tolerated[li].
Ivy is very good at absorbing carbon dioxide. One proposal for radically reducing the advance of climate change is to cover the walls and roofs of houses with ivy. It is said that this technique would have the potential of reducing global greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 7% each year[lii].
In addition, climate change is accelerating the spread of ivy throughout Europe. A study from Ghent (Belgium) has shown that ivy has increased by 14% in the last 38 years[liii]. Ivy is an example of a liana, a specialist word for plants with long, flexible climbing stems that are rooted in the ground, and usually have long, dangling branches[liv]. Ivy is a climate change survivor and poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), which is not found in the UK, is set to outlast even mankind, as well becoming ever more poisonous as temperatures rise[lv].
Sweet Briar
At one point in my wanderings around Ennerdale Water I saw something that was so unsynchronised with the rest of nature, I could not explain it. It was a Sweet Briar (Rosa rubiginosa) hip, which I would not normally expect to see before September.
The hips are the result of maturation of a scented flower by bees, moths, and butterflies[lvi]. None of that was happening at this early time of year. The Sweet Briar may have thought it was September, but it was six months too early, and there was not a bee, moth, or butterfly to see. The Sweet Briar copes well with drought[lvii], not that there was much drought for me to see at Ennerdale. Nature is trying hard to adapt to the planet we are destroying, and I suspect many plants that we take as routine are well ahead of us as we continue in our steady, self-defeating decline.
Dominion theology
Solo walking around Ennerdale Water gives much time for thought and for some reason I began pondering on religion. I am not generally too holy a person. Yet I have a problem with certain religious teachings, and that is when mankind is said to have responsibility over every living thing on Earth, so-called dominion theology[lviii]. The wording I have read is something like this:
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.[lix]"
Perhaps this is correct but, if it is, mankind is certainly making a mess of things and is not considering much, other than himself. The world’s population represents 0.01% of all living things, yet since the dawn of civilisation has caused the loss of 83% of all wild mammals and half of all plants. Furthermore, of all the mammals on Earth, 96% are either livestock or human beings, while only 4% are wild[lx].
I believe that I am simply part of the animal kingdom and that every living animal around me has the same rights to this planet as me. Perhaps that is why, when I walk the distant Lake District fells, birds will land on my shoulder, while sheep come close, still munching, and can tolerate being stroked. Even rabbits and squirrels have ceased to be frightened and fell ponies will approach for an almost-chat. I fully understand that whatever I do, or others like me might do, there will be an effect on other species as well.
Those who have read Stephen King’s 11/22/63[lxi], in which the main character goes back in time to prevent the assassination of President JF Kennedy, or those who consider the Butterfly Effect where a small change in starting conditions can lead to vastly different outcomes, will understand.
This poem, which I recite often, says everything[lxii]:
“For the want of a nail the shoe was lost;
For the want of a shoe the horse was lost;
For the want of a horse the battle was lost;
For the failure of battle the kingdom was lost;
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.”
Essentially this means that everything is connected to everything. Anything I do will influence something else, even if I remain unaware.
Adaptation of species
For climate change, all species are doing what they can to adapt, but do so in different ways and at different rates. Mankind may be responsible for many of the changes now taking place, but all living things are affected. Changes are not just about animals, but plants, too. Such changes lead to dramatic knock-on effects. For example, a certain plant flowers, it attracts a particular type of insect, which attracts a particular type of bird, and so on[lxiii].
Synchronisation is important. One species may have long relied on another for the past many centuries, but climate change alters that. If plants flower too early, then a late frost can kill them thereby affecting the availability of food for other species, unless those species can change. A UK study, using a dataset that goes back to 1736, found that first flowering dates have shifted earlier by a month since the late 1980s[lxiv]. The largest shift was seen with herbs[lxv].
Animals are now adapting in many ways, including changing the shape of their bodies to regulate internal temperature, or altering the size of ears, tails, and beaks. The African elephant, for example, is said to be developing even larger ears[lxvi], as the ear is one means of it losing heat. Some animals have moved to cooler areas or have adjusted the timing of their migration and breeding seasons.
Laws of Existence
When it comes to thermal regulation, there are two laws to consider. One is Allen’s Rule, which states that body form or shape is linear in warm climates and more rounded and compact in cold climates. Round forms have a smaller surface area to volume ratio. The other is Bergmann’s Rule, which states that body size is large in cold climates and small in warm climates. Large bodies also have a smaller surface area to volume ratio[lxvii]. These laws help explain why animal shapes are changing.
A further law, and perhaps the most worrying, is Van Valen’s Law of Inescapable Extinction. This declares that a species which has been on Earth for a few million years, thereby proving itself to be a successful survivor, is just as likely to go extinct as a species that appeared more recently. Van Valen argued that a species can never improve its survival odds as it is always in competition with other species[lxviii]. That is mankind down the tubes at some point, by the sound of things.
Research suggests that environmental changes may tip the balance between species that interact with each other, and lead to the extinction of one or more species. Mankind is no exception to this. Evolution alters the way environmental changes directly affect individual species. In cases where species have conflicting interests, coevolution reduces the effect of climate change, and a reduced chance of extinction. Conversely, if species have nonconflicting interests, coevolution increases the effect of climate change[lxix].
Girt Dog of Ennerdale
Although there was little wildlife for me to see at Ennerdale, by the time I was reaching the end of the 11.7-kilometre (7.3 miles) walk around the lake, other people were beginning to join me. There were plenty of domestic dogs. Some were small and yappy, others massive and silent, but each brought life to the story of the Girt Dog of Ennerdale[lxx], which once did exist.
History records that from May to September 1810 a large carnivore killed hundreds of sheep in and around Ennerdale before it was hunted down and killed. Although the locals dubbed it the Girt Dog of Ennerdale at the time, it was said to have had the traits of both a dog and a large cat. It was also known as the Vampire Dog of Ennerdale or Demon Dog of Ennerdale and was believed to have killed up to 400 sheep in the fells around Ennerdale Water[lxxi].
None of the hounds that I saw came close to being a Girt Hound, but at Ennerdale anything is possible.
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Hashtags
#Ennerdale #LakeDistrict #NatureRestoration #ClimateAction #EnvironmentalConservation #WildlifeProtection #WaterQuality #ClimateChangeAdaptation #SustainableLiving #EcologicalBalance #Biodiversity #LitterFree #WildfiresPrevention #PhytophthoraRamorum #WellbeingTrail #Gorse #IvyControl #SpeciesAdaptation #VanValensLaw #GirtDogOfEnnerdale
References
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[ii] Wildlife to see in Ennerdale. See https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/lake-district/ennerdale/wildlife-to-see-in-ennerdale. Accessed 29 February 2024.
[iii] One Lake District. Ennerdale Bridge. See https://www.onelakedistrict.co.uk/ennerdale-bridge#:~:text=Ennerdale%20Bridge%20is%20a%20small,of%20just%20over%20200%20people.. Accessed 9 March 2024.
[iv] Ennerdale Show. See https://www.ennerdaleshow.co.uk. Accessed 29 February 2024.
[v] Wikipedia. Raiders of the Lost Ark. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raiders_of_the_Lost_Ark. Accessed 5 March 2024.
[vi] LPI Learning. Amazing Expanding Ice. See https://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/explore/ice/activities/ice_action/expanding_ice/#:~:text=Water%20is%20the%20only%20known,in%20their%20Ice%20Investigator%20Journals. Accessed 5 March 2024.
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[viii] Wikipedia. Wast Water. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wast_Water. Ccessed 7 March 2024.
[ix] Environment Agency. Ennerdale Water Water Body. See https://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/WaterBody/GB31229062. Accessed 5 March 2024.
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[xi] Cumbria and Lancashire Algal Bloom Status Map (22 December 2023). See https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/cumbria-and-lancashire/blue-green-algae-in-cumbria-and-lancashire/user_uploads/blue-green-algae-map-221223.pdf. Accessed 5 March 2024.
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See https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/mar/06/climate-change-puts-additional-pressure-on-vulnerable-frogs. Accessed 5 March 2024.
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[xxii] Cumbria Crack. Wildfire risk level raised to ‘severe’ in Cumbria – people urged to take care in countryside. See https://cumbriacrack.com/2023/06/13/wildfire-risk-level-raised-to-severe-in-cumbria-people-urged-to-take-care-in-countryside/. Accessed 5 March 2024.
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[xxvi] Forestry England. Ennerdale Phytophthora Ramorum 2022. See https://consult.forestryengland.uk/forest-districts/ennerdale-phytophthora-ramorum/supporting_documents/Ennerdale%20Public%20Engagement%202022.pdf. Accessed 6 March 2024.
[xxvii] Wild Ennerdale. Forest. See https://www.wildennerdale.co.uk/managing/forest/. Accessed 6 March 2024.
[xxviii] McKie R. Foot and mouth 20 years on: what an animal virus epidemic taught UK science.
See https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/feb/21/foot-and-mouth-20-years-on-what-an-animal-virus-epidemic-taught-uk-science#:~:text=It%20took%20more%20than%20seven,by%20the%20end%20of%20September. Accessed 6 March 2024.
[xxix] Ghosh P. Mass culling for foot-and-mouth 'may be unnecessary'. 6 May 2011.
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