The space agencies of America, Europe, China, and the United Arab Emirates all plan launches of unmanned Martian probes. Each will have different ambitions.
NASA already drives robots on Mars, but its rover will carry a helicopter drone that could become the first extraterrestrial aircraft. It will also test a device to convert abundant carbon dioxide into scarce oxygen, which could help future astronauts breathe, or could be used to make rocket fuel.
Both the European and Chinese space agencies must prove that they have learned lessons from recent failures to reach Mars.
The Europeans plan to drill an unprecedented two meters into the planet’s surface to search for fossilized signs of life.
The UAE’s mission, developed with American help and to be launched on a Japanese rocket, will be an interplanetary first for the Arab world.
The Netherlands to drop "Holland" nickname as part of rebranding
The Dutch government announced that it will officially drop their country's nickname, “Holland,” and only use the name The Netherlands, in an effort to rebrand their “international image.”
The change will mandate that starting in January, “companies, embassies, ministries, and universities will only be able to refer to the state using its legitimate title.”
Technically, Holland specifically refers to two of the 12 provinces found in the Netherlands, North Holland and South Holland.
The decision was made to rebrand the Netherlands’ international reputation and managing an overflow of tourists who go to the country to visit Amsterdam, but no other areas.
A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry previously commented on this rebrand.
He told news agency EFE: ‘It is a little strange to promote only a small part of the Netherlands abroad, that is, only Holland.’ Which makes perfect sense to be honest and makes us wonder why this has only really come about now. It seems the move is an attempt to help manage Dutch tourism.
Last year, the Dutch tourist board said it would stop actively promoting the Netherlands as a tourist destination – this is because many of its cities and attractions are becoming overcrowded.
It is forecasted that in 2020 inbound tourism will continue to grow to 21.2 million tourists.
Most of the individuals who traveled for holiday or business purposes to the Netherlands were from Germany, as roughly 5.24 million German tourists visited their neighboring country.
Together with the Belgians and British, they account for more than half of the total tourists visiting the Netherlands.
-Marc
Let's communicate like it's 1980
Going back forty years, communications was pretty easy.
The communications environment was simple - it was one to many.
If you wanted the world to pay attention back then, you secured time on one of the few platforms that ensured your message would be broadcasted to the masses.
Today, such mass broadcast opportunities are infrequent. The communications environment is not so easy.
It matters what your audience prefers.
It matters where your audience is seeking information.
It matters how your audience is processing information.
It matters when your audience is accepting information.
To succeed in this new communications environment, focusing on strategy and organization more and tactics less, will be more fruitful.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross is a business strategist and communications advisor working at the intersection of globalization, disruption, and politics. Ross specializes in communications for economic diplomacy and global commerce. He is the founder of Brigadoon.
Brigadoon 365
Brigadoon 365 is a year-long celebration of entrepreneurs and thought leaders from around the world that inspire and motivate the Brigadoon network.
New posts daily at 12:00 pm ET.
#1 Sarah Kate "Skate" Noftsinger
#2 Melanie Brock
#3 Penny Mordaunt
#4 Christian Duffus
#5 Richard H. Thaler
#6 Stephanie Simbari
#7 Erick Sanchez
Current list here.