#and she developed a program and then exported it to the other nations

[liljakonvalj]

I have a lot of beef with what happened during the blank period, and after in the Boruto series. But one thing that was done right was having Sakura found and run a children's mental therapy center. Sakura who grew up surrounded by traumatized orphans (Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, Sai, Yamato), and saw how children suffer through war and strife (as early as in the wave arc), really said as soon as she herself became an adult: this is never happening again. Not on my watch.

It is such a love letter to all her boys, and I honestly get quite moved each time I stop and think about it.

[miniaussiemollie]

Day 3

It was a cloudy and rather dreary start to my day. Mollie is doing what she does best besides eating and taking naps. She has discovered a new crawly that I think is a stink bug and is trying to herd it across the floor. I hope she doesn’t eat it.

Susie and the kids have gone into town for a bit so that leaves me with my own thoughts and my computer. This would be a great time to enjoy some tea and continue my search for understanding what worldviews might be here. What I originally thought was more religious, more closely resemble an open society.

Australia's values are the values of an open society. It believes that freedom is best advanced when it nurtures an environment where ideas can flourish, where contending philosophies have to make their case in the marketplace of ideas and where those who govern are held accountable to the governed.

Australia's national interests are frequently asserted but rarely defined. At their core, they are timeless: to advance security and prosperity and to contribute to the shaping and running of international institutions which reinforce the rule of law and international norms of behavior.  

Imperial trade and domestic protection gave way to global markets and a more open economy. And around the same time, Australia’s strategic policy also underwent profound changes with a stronger emphasis on defense self-reliance and a greater confidence in our ability to defend Australia but within an alliance framework.

In the worldview of Australia’s religious practices, the percentages of different religions have a lot do have a lot to do with how they relate and interact to each other. Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant 18.1% (Anglican 9.8%, Uniting Church 2.6%, Presbyterian and Reformed 1.6%, Baptist 1.4%, Pentecostal 1%, another Protestant 1.7%), other Christian 3.5%, Muslim 3.2%, Hindu 2.7%, Buddhist 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3% (Eastern Orthodox 2.1%, Oriental Orthodox 0.2%), other 2.1%, none 38.4%, unspecified 7.3% (https://www.discoverwalks.com).(2021 est.)

The textbook shows a variety of religious disciplines, and each corresponds with a country and a way of life.  Some of the listed religions date back from 4000 years to 1400 years, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam just to name a few. “Communication between Cultures”, 9th edition.  2019).

Religious traditions provide structure, discipline, and social participation in a community.” Friedman uses the image of an olive tree and its deep stable roots in the title of his book (“The Lexus and the Olive Tree”) to underscore the powerful and enduring quality of religion to a collection of people.   “Religion as a Worldview”. (Communications between Cultures, 9th edition, 2019).

Economic overview seems to be what I thought but had to look it up anyway. Australia’s economy appears to be highly developed, diversified, regionally and globally integrated economy with strong mining, (https://www.discoverwalks.com).

Manufacturing and service sectors; Australia is a net exporter driven by commodities to East Asian trade partners; “Future Made in Australia” program focuses on green energy investments. (https://www.cia.gov).  In all it really is not that much different than in the U.S. or other free countries.

Susie came home from town and Mollie presented the crawly which turns out to be a scarab beetle, non-venomous but would have tasted nasty if she had eaten it.

[biglisbonnews]

Is the Smart Data reforms what UK businesses need to thrive? UK business leaders require confidence in order to initiate investment programsPATRICK HERTZOG/AFP A robust business alliance spearheaded by John Penrose, MP for Weston-Super-Mare, is urging the government to expedite Smart Data reforms, which aims to bolster the competitiveness of British exporters, stimulate investment in UK digital jobs, and offer better bargains for consumers, all of which will help to reduce the cost of living. Commissioned by Rishi Sunak, Penrose has thrown his weight behind measures to enhance Britain's world-leading digital success in open banking to be extended as quickly as possible to industries beyond financial services. The partnership includes entities such as NatWest, TISA, the Financial Data and Technology Association, The Payments Association, Open Banking Excellence (OBE), fintech Ozone API and Icebreaker One. They have jointly written to ministers, advocating for swift implementation of previously agreed reforms in order to prevent British businesses from being disrupted by foreign competitors. The proposed reforms in the Data Protection and Digital Information (No.2) Bill includes provisions to introduce Smart Data reforms, but no specific timelines have been provided for their enactment in various business sectors. However, UK business leaders require confidence in order to initiate investment programs immediately, and modern digital enterprises must move much, much faster than traditional customary speed. Penrose, Author of a Sunak-commissioned report on UK Competition Policy, stated the transformative impact of open banking and smart data on the UK banking system. According to Penson, this is due to the fact that it is "giving us all cheaper and better-value services even if we don't realise it's what lies behind the online financial apps and services so many of us are using nowadays". The MP for Weston-Super-Mare, in acknowledging the global success of open banking in the UK, cautioned that competitors in other nations will not stand still. So, to stay ahead, Penson said British businesses must replicate their success across the various sectors of the economy to provide better prices and develop world-leading enterprises in industries like online retailing and energy. He expressed enthusiasm for the proposed reforms, but Penson said there is an urgent need for ministers to provide specific implementation plans and schedules once so businesses can get started. Helen Child, Founder of Open Banking Excellence (OBE), in an interview, emphasised the importance of data sharing as the foundation of open banking. According to her, this data can be used by lenders to undertake accurate real-time affordability assessments and make more educated decisions, allowing previously excluded customers to demonstrate their trustworthiness. She also pointed out the role of open banking in personal financial management tools, enabling customers to have a comprehensive view of their accounts and make better financial decisions. Child stressed that by accelerating the global expansion of open banking, the company can make an actual change during the cost of living crisis by addressing the challenge of financial inclusion. Child lauded Penrose's amendment and the Bill for positioning the UK as a global leader in open banking and finance, urging support from all stakeholders to maintain this leadership position. She warned that if the government and regulators do not act, the country risks losing its hard-won worldwide leadership position. Ghela Boskovich, Regional Director, Financial Data and Technology Association, Head of Europe, said the primary lesson from the UK Open Banking experience has been the importance of proper governance, oversight, and stakeholder convening, which Boskovich stressed, can only be accomplished through a coordinating body, an implementation entity. Ozone API Co-Founder and CEO, Chris Michael, believes that Smart Data is projected to stimulate innovation and investment in various fields by tech companies. More importantly, he said this should provide significant and much-needed value to both personal and business clients. He noted that the implementation of Open Banking in the UK and many other regions, including the Middle East and Latin America, has shown that having a well-defined standard, a strong mandate, and an implementation body is critical to delivering these benefits on time. Tony Craddock, The Payments Association's Director General, stressed the importance of developing standards that can be applied across sectors to capitalise on expertise in open banking, in order to support the proposed amendments to the Bill. Related Articles Small businesses face declining confidence in Q2 2023 during economic challenges Bank of England raises UK interest rates to a record 5.25% Is the Smart Data reforms what UK businesses need to thrive? https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/smart-data-reforms-what-uk-businesses-need-thrive-1718284

[nuadox]

Conversion of 5% of pastureland to cropland could double biofuel production, study shows

- By André Julião , Agência FAPESP - 

Production of biofuels in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Guatemala is energetically sustainable and contributes to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, if some 5% of the land used for pasture were converted to plantations of sugarcane and other biomass crops, biofuel production in these countries could be doubled.

These are some of the findings of the study “Biofuels in Emerging Markets: Potential for Sustainable Production and Consumption”, produced by the FAPESP Bioenergy Research Program (BIOEN) in cooperation with IEA Bioenergy TCP Task 39: Biofuels to Decarbonize Transport, a group of international experts working to increase use of sustainable transportation biofuels as part of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Task Collaboration Program for bioenergy, IEA Bioenergy. 

The results of the study were presented during an online seminar held on May 22-23 by IEA Bioenergy and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). 

“We evaluated the options for an increase in biofuel production in Latin American emerging markets and concluded that conversion of small areas of pastureland, between 0.1% and 10%, could be sufficient to double biofuel production. This increase in production would be positive because demand is also high,” Glaucia Mendes Souza, a professor at the University of São Paulo’s Chemistry Institute (IQ-USP) and a member of BIOEN’s steering committee, said during her presentation.

In addition, if carbon credits for 1 metric ton of CO2 emissions were sold at USD 10.00 each, for example, Latin America’s biofuel producers would be able to increase their revenue by USD 600 million per year (based on 2019 production in the countries concerned). “This could stimulate innovation and novel uses for biomass,” she said.

According to the study, low-carbon biofuel policies should be considered to stimulate biofuel production and reward the current low-carbon energy effort that reduces CO2 emissions by 63.8 million tons per year in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Guatemala. Both ethanol and biodiesel are economically viable in all cases and highly sensitive to feedstock prices.

Recommendations

The document ends with several recommendations, the first of which is that because higher feedstock yields significantly impact emissions and can alleviate demand for land, research focusing on feedstock development and decarbonization of farming should be intensified. Next, the authors recommend portfolio diversification and new business models in the sugar and biofuel sectors (biogas, carbon capture and use, and hexose/pentose sugar uses for bioproducts) to stimulate innovation and enhance the economic robustness of this industry.

According to the recommendations, plants that produce ethanol from sugarcane in these four countries could export 25.9 TWh of electricity to the grid, and investment to increase energy efficiency should therefore be considered. Ethanol plants that already have cogeneration units could increase the use of lignocellulosic materials (straw and energy cane) to increase efficiency, boost revenue and reduce emissions. Lastly, green hydrogen produced from ethanol using the existing refueling infrastructure could be an interesting alternative to vehicle electrification. 

The complete program and presentations are at: www.ieabioenergy.com/blog/ieaevent/ws29-opportunities-of-bioenergy-and-biofuels-in-developing-economies/. A video of the webinar including the presentation on the study is at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM8DQH_5IFw. 

This text was originally published by FAPESP Agency according to Creative Commons license CC-BY-NC-ND. Read the original here.

--

Read Also

US: The flow of energy-related CO2 emissions (infographic)

[csnews]

5 beluga whales flown from Canada make a splash at new home in Mystic

Taylor Hartz - May 15, 2021

In the glow of the moonlight late Friday night, a flash of bright white wriggled against the dark sky — a young beluga whale named Jetta, being lifted by a crane.

Jetta and two other belugas from Canada flew into Groton-New London airport on a private plane Friday afternoon and received a police escort to their new home: Mystic Aquarium. Two more whales caught the next flight out and made the same journey early Saturday.

The whales, all between 5 and 6 years old, were brought to Mystic from Marineland in Ontario, Canada, where they were living in an overcrowded tank with 47 other beluga whales.

Mystic Aquarium has been involved in a yearslong process of moving the whales to their spacious new home, the Arctic Coast habitat, joining the aquarium’s three resident belugas: Juno, an 18-year-old male; Natasha, a 41-year-old female; and Kela, a 40-year-old female. Their goal is to work with the whales to pioneer new research methods that will help protect and save wild beluga populations.

“These animals are really, truly ambassadors for their wild counterparts,” said Allison Tuttle, vice president of biological programs at Mystic Aquarium, who traveled to Canada and flew back with two of the whales.

The whales will be a part of non-invasive research at the aquarium that is meant to help with conservation efforts to protect wild belugas. The decision to transport the whales to Mystic from Canada has been a controversial one, however, with many animal rights groups speaking out against the move. The Canadian government this past week approved a permit that allowed the transport to move forward.

Jetta was joined on Friday by travel companions Havana and Kharabali, both females, on the flight from Hamilton International Airport to Groton. After some delays, the plane touched down about 5:45 p.m. and the whales — kept in large, open-air cargo containers filled with water — were loaded off the plane and onto the flatbeds of three waiting trucks.

It took about 2½ hours to fly the first three whales from the Niagara Falls area to Groton and another three to four hours to get them each from the tarmac to the tank. Jetta is 762 pounds and 10 feet 2.8 inches long, Havana is 924 pounds and 10 feet 3.6 inches, and Kharabali is 818 pounds and 10 feet 7.6 inches.

The last two whales, Havok and Sahara, arrived at Hamilton airport about 6 p.m. and had not yet landed in Groton as of 2 a.m.

Held in hammock-like holders inside their containers — with cut-outs on the sides for their fins — the whales made their journey in a C-130 cargo aircraft operated by Lynden Air Cargo with a team of aquarium staff members that included veterinarians and zoologists. They were met at the airport by local police, state police and agents from Customs and Border Control.

Accompanied by a police escort, three flatbed trucks with the large blue cargo containers fastened on the back, each carrying a beluga, made their way from the airport to the aquarium about 9 p.m. to deliver the first three whales. A few dozen employees and volunteers from Mystic Aquarium, clad in bright blue hardhats, stood under a tall crane and applauded as the trucks rolled into the parking lot. When all three vehicles had parked, the employees and volunteers quickly rushed over to start the process of getting the whales safely into their new habitat.

One by one, the whales were lifted out of their cargo containers by a crane, their fins and flukes flapping as water dripped down onto the pavement. They were gently placed onto a rolling cart, which was pushed speedily across the parking lot and into the Arctic Coast habitat, where another crane waited to place the whales into the pool.

The Arctic Coast habitat is a 750,000 gallon pool — large enough to fill Gillette Stadium — broken up into three separate sections. The whales were first released into the medical area, then allowed to swim into the holding area where the trio swam in circles together, cresting the surface and spouting water from their blow holes.

The whales, who are not yet fully grown, will live at the aquarium for at least five years. They will be a part of studies that will help scientists better understand why belugas — especially those living in Cook Inlet off the coast of Alaska — are endangered.

Tuttle said one of the things they’ll be studying is how whales respond to sound. Due to climate change, she said, ships are traveling through Arctic channels that were previously blocked by ice. It’s unclear now how whales that live in these waters will be impacted by the sounds those ships make. The belugas in Mystic will be safely tested to see how they respond when exposed to such sounds in a controlled way that doesn’t stress or scare them.

The whales also will be trained to provide biological samples, including blood, saliva from their blow holes and feces, which will help scientists collect more data on beluga whale health in a safe, non-invasive way.

"This will allow us to study animals in the wild without handling them," Tuttle said. "This is very important work that will allow us to conduct important research about these animals in the wild."

Right now, she said, blood tests are the “gold standard” for determining if an animal is healthy in the wild, but it isn’t always easy to obtain a sample from a wild animal.

The studies were built off framework released by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which published a list of things it would be helpful to know about beluga whales. The team at the aquarium took parts of that list and developed plans to collect data that would help NOAA in its efforts.

“It feels really exciting to be able to continue research that not only expands the body of scientific knowledge we have but also will help us protect endangered populations of these animals,” Tuttle said.

Animal rights groups in opposition

Several animal rights organizations that petitioned Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans to reconsider issuing the export permit request. The groups say the transport violated the intent of a 2019 Canadian law meant to phase out the captivity of whales by banning their breeding.

The organization Last Chance for Animals asked the Canadian government to deny the permit, saying the transfer would violate the law in addition to endangering the animals. They also said that the lengthy transfer would be stressful and would result in the animals breaking social bonds with other belugas at Marineland.

The organization issued a statement Friday condemning the transfer.

“The (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau government promised to protect the whales under the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, and now they are betraying the whales and exporting their commitment. What they are ending is their commitment toward protecting these whales,” LCA's Canadian attorney Miranda Desa said.

According to Daniel Pesquera from the aquarium's Boston-based public relations firm, Regan Communications, moving the animals was in the best interest of the five whales and their species.

“The import permit is partly to get them into a situation where they’ll be in a better habitat with more individualized care,” he said. “And also to get them into a habitat that’s especially designed for research on beluga whales that will help larger populations of whales in the wild.”

The whales were monitored before, during and after the transport by teams of specialists who were tracking not only their physical condition, but their emotional well-being, aquarium President and CEO Stephen Coan said. The teams on the plane monitored their breathing, heart rates and hormones, he said, adding that the animals’ stress and well-being is always a concern.

“If we weren’t concerned about that, we’d be irresponsible,” he said.

After the first flight landed, Tuttle said Jetta, Havana and Kharabali “were doing really well” and arrived happy and healthy.

She noted Friday’s transport was an exciting, invigorating culmination of years of work.

She also stressed that all five of the whales were born and raised in captivity and that because of that, releasing them into the wild was not an option. They never learned to survive in the wild or hunt for food and would likely die if set free in the ocean.

Mystic Aquarium, Tuttle and Cohen said, does not condone the capture of wild animals and had no plans to breed more belugas to be born in captivity.

One of the conditions of the permit being granted was that procreation among the whales must be prohibited. Coan said the aquarium has developed a complex plan to prevent the whales from breeding, including tracking the female whales’ ovulation cycles and separating them from the males during those times.

Coan said that Mystic Aquarium doesn't have plans to rehome any more of the belugas currently living at Marineland, but plans to continue communication and offer support to the theme park as it moves forward with what is best for all the whales in its care.

The five new whales in Mystic will be introduced to their new roommates — the aquarium’s three resident belugas — at their own pace. The animals will see one another through plexiglass barriers at first as the new whales acclimate to their surroundings. They also will be able to communicate while they remain separated. Then, they’ll slowly be introduced into living in the same waters.

It’s not yet clear when aquarium visitors will be able to see the new whales.

“The answer is that the animals are going to tell us when they’re ready (to be in the same pool),” Tuttle said. “Sometimes they get comfortable much more quickly than we think, other times it takes a little longer. But our priority is what is best for the animals, we want to make sure they’re happy in their new home at Mystic Aquarium.”

[selenocysteine]

Traditionally Suzani refers to a wall-sized tapestry, but Americans don’t  typically decorate their walls with small size tapestries so what they’ve done is they've taken the technique and created modern products to appeal to modern buyers. Suzani comes from the Persian word suzan which means needle. Suzani refers to the large wall hangings and it also refers to the hand-made embroidery technique the needle and thread embroidery technique.

The Ozara group is the handicraft arm of the National Association of Businesswomen of Tajikistan which is an organization that does lots of work in different fields with women and entrepreneurship and they have a very important presence in the country. 

In 2011, the National Association of Business Women of Tajikistan, with help from international organizations, launched a project “Saving Our Heritage-Saving Ourselves (SOHSA)”, which has both contributed to the revival of the suzani (embroidery) tradition and provided women artisans of the country with income generating activities. The project has provided the marginalized women participating in the project with education and material support, including high quality raw materials, quality control and design, and especially promotion of handicrafts and artisans in international markets. The program has developed a large network of existing masters and artisans from around the entire country who are effectively transferring their knowledge to students through regular training.

The “Ozara” brand products are exported to the USA, England, Germany, Canada, Australia, India, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, and listed on several online stores. 

Armughon Handicrafts is the handicrafts arm of the Zerafshan Tourism Development Association (ZTDA) in Panjakent, Tajikistan. ("Armughon" means "gift, a reminder of a place" in Tajiki.)  Supported by grants from the Soros Foundation and other international donors, ZTDA implemented projects on crafts in 2009, 2011 and 2013-2014, with the aim of preserving, nurturing and developing local art traditions and also improving the quality of life for women living in the Panjakenti rural areas by involving them in the local economy.   

Through these craft projects they have started to work with unemployed women from the impoverished mountain regions, and now work with several clusters of women.  In June 2013, Designer Munira Akilova of Khujand (who also has her own craft business, Arinumcrafts) began to work with ZTDA.  She was initially invited to do research on the traditional Tajik crafts of Suzani (embroidery), 

Quroq (patchwork) and carpets, and has now become the new product designer for Armughon. Munira began her career in economics and spent 14 years as a university teacher, before she decided to leave the university and spend her time on the embroidery that she loved.  Whenever she creates a new design for Armughon, she "always tries to put a part of Zerafshan into it.  It means all of products should have Zerafshani ornaments/patterns."  She also thinks deeply about how the product will be used, by whom and when, and then focuses on color.  As she explained, "Each piece has its own meaning."  

This is the process that led to the development of products that have received the UNESCO Award of Excellence for Craft, the small set "Tuppi" needlework ornaments modeled after traditional male and female hats (already offered by HoonArts under the Arinumcrafts brand), and the wall hanging  "Marhamat" (which we plan to add to our collection).  All the Armughon products are made by unemployed Panjakenti women living in the mountainous areas.

“HoonArts” is the fusion of the Tajik/Persian word for “craft” and the English word “arts,” which reflects our mission. We offer extraordinary hand-crafted gifts and accessories for the true lover of world culture, while building community and empowering artisans. Travel the exotic streets and mountain back roads of this little known corner of the world, explore the culture that reflects 3000 years of civilization, meet the people in our HoonArts community, and shop for one-of-a-kind and limited edition treasures crafted by master artisans on the other side of the globe. We are committed to Fair Trade principles in all aspects of our operations, so you can rest assured that your purchase is helping impoverished artisans build a brighter future for their families and communities. Come join us on this journey of a lifetime.

[lightinalexandria]

Dictatorship vs Theocracy: The Lesser of Two Evils?

August 11th, 2021 اغسطس ١١

If you were reading this post in Arabic from me as an Egyptian journalist, or even in English, and the police found it...in the best case scenario I'm brought down to the station, "scared straight" and let off with a promise never to criticize the govt again. But I’ve heard of lots of scenarios anecdotally, as recently as 2 years ago, where activists just disappear. Want to know what life would have looked like in a dystopian alternate universe 30 years after Trump succeeded in his coup and never left? That said, the way the situation is viewed by politically moderate Egyptians and Americans -if such a thing still exists- is so very different, and that’s the real point of this post.

After the Egyptian revolution in 2011, when Mubarak left, from what I’ve read and heard, there were 3 main paths forward. The most exciting was Egyptian civil society fielding an organized enough field of candidates to become viable as a governing power. The second was the Muslim Brotherhood candidates, an ultra-religious Salafism-influenced theocratic organization. The third was an interim military govt. That thin strand of spiderweb hope for civil society fell apart, and someone who is much more versed in Egyptian history and culture than me no doubt has an explanation. The first real election after the revolution saw Morsi from the Muslim Brotherhood elected, and a scant year after the military coup that brought Sisi to power, where he remains almost 10 years later.

Okay, you could have read that from a history article. Here are stories from friends on the ground, though; I know at least 2 Egyptians in my circle that would have FOR sure voted for Biden over Trump, but have come to look positively at Sisi. One of them was active in student protests AGAINST Sisi during the revolution; he still has the scars where one of Sisi’s military police shot him in the face during a demonstration. That said, he’s terrified of what a theocratic govt. under the Muslim Brotherhood might look like. As a queer Egyptian, it’s already a risk to have liaisons with men, and you can still be arrested, but that’s way ahead of the Salafi death penalty. He also carries so much trauma from the year after the revolution without any functioning govt -standing outside his house during looting with a sword because civilians don’t have guns and all the police ran away- that to have a strong govt feels like a relief. Of course, of course he hates the lack of free press, but puts it way higher up Maslow’s hierarchy of Societal Needs than most of us Americans would.

The other Egyptian in my circle who supports Sisi sees the Muslim Brotherhood as an existential threat to Egypt because their primary loyalty is to a pan-African Islamic caliphate and not the state of Egypt. She points to a very controversial Ethipoian dam project at the mouth of the Nile that was green lighted during Morsi’s short reign as Muslim Brotherhood leader of Egypt. Ethiopia is building it, and Egyptians are furious because the Nile flows through Egypt after Ethiopia. She also -and I see strong echoes of my Chinese friends thinking- points to Sisi’s anti-poverty programs as strong and necessary authoritarian measures. Sisi has starting razing unplanned buildings and slums, including in my city of Alexandria, and forcing residents to move to new apt. buildings in different parts of the city. They cannot sell the new apartments for 20 years. Of course many residents are delighted at the new digs; TV this summer is oozing with govt propaganda videos showing sad Egyptians with sad music in slums and happy Egyptians with happy music in new flats. And…residents don’t have a choice to move. In Alexandria that land under the slums has been sold to a Saudi conglomerate to develop a water park.

For me it’s helpful to think of gov’t philosophy in different countries as reflecting family structures; in Egypt, the man is the undisputed head of the household, legally and socially. We cringe at paternalism of Europeans towards their colonies now, and I don’t have the full perspective to say how similar or different it is from intra-national paternalism like this, but there’s definitely a relation.

A final note, about the economy under Sisi. If you suspected a military dictator might not prioritize the lower and middle classes, you’d be right. (You could argue the housing program I mention above does mean he’s prioritizing them, but maybe wait to reserve judgement). Simply put, the army has taken over the economy. I’d say it follows the playbook of nationalization that other socialist or communist govt has followed, but in so many sectors, it seems like the army is just undercutting local businesses. All the army brass is involved in running disparate businesses; telecom, mango export, apartment construction. The army companies don’t pay taxes as a national subsidiary like other Egyptian private companies, so they can undercut most prices. I’m surprised it hasn’t produced a seething mass of disgruntled Egyptian businesspeople ready to fund another revolution, which makes me think there must be some sweetheart deals in the back room.

And what has Sisi done about the pollution, overcrowding and generally lower living standards in a city like Cairo? Invested in improving local infrastructure, pollution mitigation technology/funding? Nope. He’s building new cities for upper-middle and upper class Egyptians to move to. Not neighborhoods. Cities, in the desert, like a pharaoh of old. Look up “New Cairo” or “New Alamein.” I’ve been there, it’s spooky, like a fancy mall that goes on forever. Big middle finger to the broke, un-educated masses staying behind. I guess you could make an argument for the benefits of lessening over-crowding. Maybe Sisi has a grand plan to swoop in once the old cities empty out a bit and work some magic. But I don’t think so.

The Muslim Brotherhood might have done more to improve at least the economic conditions of Egypt’s more vulnerable citizens. I don’t think they would have built the separate cities, or involved the army as a business octopus in every lucrative industry. But then, the very little social freedom Egyptian women enjoy would be cut back another 40 years, maybe to full body niqabs and mandatory accompaniment by a male family member. Public displays of affection of any kind, even between opposite sex couples, banned in any sort of public space. I want to be clear that the Muslim Brotherhood represents one far end of the Islamic spectrum in the same way that ultra-orthodox Zionist Judaism represents one far end of the Jewish spectrum, one that has little to no relation to the way I understand and practice Judaism. I’ve had many discussions with friends here -who are simulateously progressive feminists and devout Muslims- on the 5 pillars of Islam, the way they support a reflective and fulfilled life, and the way more extreme interpretations twist the original intention.

To bring it back around, Egypt is now a military dictatorship, and has both repressed dissent and consolidated economic power so effectively I don’t see that changing anytime soon. The world is such a very complicated and Machiavellian place. From the American perspective with a free press, democratic-ish elections, social freedom, a stable govt and a booming economy, of course Sisi’s dictatorship seems irredeemably, one sidedly terrible. But what if you had to choose just 2 or 3 of those 5 things? Of course us dreamers and activists want to push for all of them, and we should, but what if the only organized factions capable of governing brought only some of those benefits to the table. What would you choose?

[southeastasianists]

Over the last 2 years, the ABC’s news website has featured at least six stories focussing on cruelty to animals in Indonesia. The stories are accompanied by graphic images and a warning: ‘This story contains graphic images that some readers may find distressing’. The ABC has not paid equivalent attention to violence against animals in any other foreign country during this period. Indonesia seems to be the site of choice from which the ABC sources images of cruelty to animals. Furthermore, the experts and commentators encountered in this coverage are almost invariably Australians or Europeans, which gives audiences the incorrect impression that it is only Australians or Europeans who are protecting animals from cruelty in Indonesia.

Australians continue to know little and think poorly about Indonesia. This is a little puzzling, for there are many reasons to think these problems might have disappeared. For example, Australians love Bali, and for decades Australian governments have been introducing programs to make it easier for young Australians to study Indonesian language and to visit the country.

We have had ample opportunity to broaden public knowledge of Indonesia beyond beaches, terror and natural disasters, and to recognise the amazing array of civilisations and cultures that combine together under the flag of the Republic of Indonesia. Yet the Lowy Institute, which regularly polls Australians to establish their attitudes towards countries in our region, concluded this year that “Australians continue to demonstrate a lack of knowledge about, and trust in, our largest neighbour, Indonesia”.

Media representations clearly have much to do with these public attitudes. The ongoing broadcast of negative images about the country has probably dissuaded all but the most curious from wanting to know the realities of Indonesia. Australian media do not malevolently or ignorantly circulate negative images; they have moved beyond the attitudes that in the past underpinned media misrepresentations about Asia. Rather, the construction of negative impressions happens almost invisibly as a by-product of well-meaning coverage of problems with which we are legitimately concerned. The ABC’s reportage of violence towards animals illustrates how this happens.

The ABC’s journalists do not search for or create this content. It comes from advocacy groups independent of the ABC, or is sourced from Jakarta’s English language news media. Occasionally ABC journalists write as guests of advocacy groups, which invite journalists to participate in their media strategies. So, when the ABC journalist Anne Barker was hosted by the World Wildlife Federation at a nature reserve in Indonesia’s Riau province, she joined Richmond footballers who had also been brought there for the promotion (Sumatran Tigers on the Brink of Extinction, 3/12/19).

The WWF, ABC and the footballers are doing valuable work in drawing attention to animal populations at risk. But must Indonesia continually be the location from which images of cruelty are sourced? By relying on Indonesia as the source above other countries, and by circulating the associated images so liberally, the ABC is unwittingly constructing and affirming an unfair and inaccurate image of the country.

Animals Australia In recent years, the ABC has frequently obtained Indonesia-related material from Animals Australia. This organisation provides the ABC with content sourced by its staff and investigators, and the ABC circulates it. The synergy between the two organisations is understandable. Animals Australia plays an important role in drawing attention to cases of cruelty to animals. The ABC recognises correctly that most Australians accept this issue as one that concerns the national interest.

In some stories, the relevance to Australian government policy is direct: Animals Australia has done valuable work in advocating compliance with the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS), a code governing the conduct of animal export established by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.

Yet there are dimensions to this collaboration that we ought to question. For one thing, there are never any stories in which visual images are not central. These images encourage readers to click into the content, but they keep a triangle of re-occurring elements before the attention of ABC readers: graphic depictions of cruelty to animals, judgements such as “inhumane” that scream from the headlines and warnings, and thirdly, the fiction that Indonesia is the prime site for the occurrence of such cruelty.

One can understand why the Animals Australia website would make use of such shocking imagery. Animals Australia is an activist group advocating for its ideological position, and the group should not be expected to give much consideration to the geographical source of its images. The images enable it to convey its messages effectively, and are important for its fundraising efforts. The first image welcoming visitors to its website is an image of a lamb with pleading gaze. The ‘Donate Now’ button sits centimetres from the lamb’s eyes. The cute images sit beside horrifying images of violence towards animals – many of them recorded by the group’s activists during visits to Indonesia. The donate button sits close to these images also.

But must the ABC cooperate so actively in the circulation of images provided by Animals Australia? The ongoing coverage is creating an unfair and untrue impression of Indonesia for Australians. This impression could be righted with recognition of two other strands of the story.

The true story behind animal cruelty First, Indonesia is not as different from Australia as these images suggest.  In fact, Indonesia has an enthusiastic and well-supported animal rights lobby.

Indonesian volunteers rally around the programs of Profauna, for example, a not-for-profit established in East Java in 1994 to protect animals from illegal trading and habitat destruction caused by logging. Animal welfare organisations and clubs gather increasing numbers of like-minded people to raise awareness and activism. Popular celebrities such as Davina Veronica and Nadya Hutagulung leverage their profiles in order to publicly advocate on behalf of animals, just as Brigitte Bardot and Leonardo DiCaprio do in Europe and the USA. Were Davina and Nadya made the subject and agents of ABC reporting, fairer and more representative images of a humane Indonesia would appear before Australian readers and viewers.

The second point is not about similarity, but difference. In understanding why standards of animal treatment in Indonesia often fall below those in Australia, it is helpful to understand how progressive causes of this kind catch on widely. They rely upon populations being drawn into shared conversations in which progressive positions are advocated and justified. This has not happened in Indonesia in the way it has here.

Indonesia has had to build its educational, economic and public health systems almost from scratch since it became independent in 1945, and has laboured to create for its population the prosperity taken for granted in Australia. Educational standards have not developed in accordance with the hopes of policy makers and citizens. Large segments of the Indonesian population lack access to basic information concerning health and sanitation, let alone emerging causes such as animal rights and environmental issues.

On the UNDP Human Development Index Australia is ranked sixth, while Indonesia is ranked 111th. Indonesian young people attend school for a mean of 8 years, while the mean for Australia is 12.7. These rankings reveal the difficulties the Indonesian government faces in empowering its population, and also explain the slower uptake of progressive causes.

Against this background, the ABC’s reliance upon Indonesia for images of cruelty is unfair to our northern neighbour. It is also unfair to Australians, for it compounds Australians’ ignorance of the history and contemporary conditions of life in the country. The coverage continues the unfairness post-colonial nations like Indonesia have had to encounter in building national systems from a position of massive disadvantage in comparison to prosperous settler nations like Australia. And it dissuades Australians from wanting to know more about Indonesia.

Changing the story Is anyone to blame here? Not really. Animals Australia is doing what its mission requires it to do – draw cruelty to animals to the attention of Australians and to raise money to enable it to do this. The ABC knows the material will find approval from Australian viewers. Furthermore, it helps the ABC play a valuable public role in calling industries to account for their treatment of animals.

Yet this situation ought to be changed out of fairness to our Indonesian neighbours and for the benefit of young Australians needing a better knowledge of their region. Such changes will not be difficult: images of animal cruelty sourced from Indonesia should be reduced in ABC news coverage and replaced by images from other locations. This will not hurt the pro-animals cause at all.

And second, the ABC should establish a new relationship with an Indonesian partner, enabling Australians to learn that this humane cause is shared – not opposed – by our close neighbours. Animal cruelty is not an Indonesian specialisation, but is present everywhere, and Australians will benefit from gaining awareness of the similarities and differences to be encountered in the true story of animal welfare in Indonesia.

Julian Millie (Julian.Millie@Monash.edu) is Professor of Indonesian Studies in the Faculty of Arts at Monash University

[jordanianroyals]

Queen Noor Interview with Prestige issue 34, March 1996

Interviewed in Amman by CHRISTIANE Obeid | © Prestige / Bassam Lahoud 

She captivates you with the strength of her charisma. Fascinates you by the scale of her projects. Meeting with Her Majesty in Jerash.

Amman Airport. Literally a welcoming committee, two people waiting, sent by the Royal Palace of Ma’wa, a third one by the Lebanese Embassy in Jordan. A first impression of Jordan: courtesy, discretion. Outside, the lights of a city that does not sleep. Alive. With white stone houses, architectural treasures. No skyscrapers but a latent desire for immensity. The next day, the same person, taciturn and kind, leads us to our first stop: Iraq Al Amir. An archaeological reconstructed village, restored, half an hour from Amman but already deeply immersed in tradition.

We have not yet met the Queen, but her work is marked everywhere. (Source)

Inside each house, a beehive of activity and a delicious freshness. Our mentor: Awni Quandour graduate of States and director of the center. Here, we weave with happiness, the millenary production of parchment paper is recovered…

Ramadan does not slow the activity of nawls under the impetus of the gay village girls. The presence of computers seems incongruous at first, but the tradition and modernity go together well. Our meeting with Jordan’s heritage extends to Jordan Design and Trade Center (JDTC). «Our goal is to continue to create, create every day, something different.» Statement of the director Claude Zumot, also a graduate in management from the States. And the designers of the Centre do not lack ideas. Originality of modern notes intended to complement the heritage of ancestors. Mosaic patterns on multiple works, delicately aesthetic convolutions of a glass, traced vows on Salsal ceramics. We learn, with difficulty, to recognize the different bsat and call them by name because they have a name like any piece of art. From the peasants of Iraq Al Amir to Husseiniyé Bedouins, Jordan awakes to crafts, culture. Who gave the impetus? A queen so dedicated to her work that she offered us, instead of a traditional interview, to accompany her to Jerash. Historic city that has a large craft center. Departure from the Royal Palace of Ma ‘awa, on the hill of Nuzha.

At Jerash, in groups in front and inside of the Town Hall, the crowd waiting for their queen, their benefactress. It is there, fascinated, that we understand the scale of the project, the strength of her charisma, the extent of her love for Jordan, her commitment to the people that came to pay tribute to her.

Majesty, you are an architect; what is the contribution of your major in the successful implementation of your projects? I chose a major in Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Princeton because it included several disciplines that were later a great asset to my work in Jordan. I discovered that in order to build for an individual or a community, we should understand their physical, social and spiritual needs and try to find solutions to those needs. In a sense, you can say that my major at the university helped me to become a «social architect».

«The woman can become a real economical force in her own community».

What distinguishes the Jordanian crafts from other countries? Jordanian designs reflect the richness of our history and are inspired by many ancient and contemporary cultures that flourished in Jordan. For example, the Nabataeans were famous for their fine ceramics they exported across the East. We produce Nabataean pottery style craft at the center of Salt that can be sold to tourists today.

On the other hand, the Bedouin style is very special because it produces «smooth-faced» because dense carpet; their texture is different from other styles. Our designers have also introduced for carpets and ceramic patterns inspired from mosaics. Embroidery items are typically Jordanian, eg Ma’ani point that had almost disappeared until the day the JDTC incorporated it again in its products. Another practice been forgotten and that we have revived the wheat wicker baskets woven by hand. Better, we established at Mukhaibeh a profitable project for the work of wicker wheat, palm leaves and banana …. On the other hand, the foundation provided women with new looms and spinning wheels to increase productivity. We have imposed a strict quality control from raw material to final product.

What are the main lines of craft projects? I would mainly say weaving and embroidery and ceramics, gems and paper.

Is there a contribution of the younger generation of the royal family to the revival of heritage? Several young members of the family support national programs for the preservation and promotion of the Jordanian heritage especially in the Jerash festival for art and culture and the National Music conservatory and projects for the Environment.

Majesty, what is the contribution of craft centers for the protection of historical monuments? Over the past decade, I have encouraged the development of these highly skilled centers in Jordan historic towns of archaeological sites to promote handicrafts and integrate the socio-economic development to tourism. In Iraq Al Amir you visited yesterday, a site dating from BC 2nd century, the Noor Al Hussein Foundation has renovated two farms and began the restoration of ten others. She plans to turn these farms in a craft village that preserve the cultural heritage of the region and would be linked to Hellenistic palace, which will encourage tourism and increase the economic benefit of the community. The foundation aims primarily to improve the quality of life of rural and urban poor communities through Jordan establishing intensive programs in the context of health, education, heritage, environment, volunteering and community involvement. I also encouraged the restoration of historic villages nearby archaeological sites such as Taybat Zaman, ten minutes from Petra. The Foundation and the Ministry of Tourism are working together for the upgrading of craft shops and tourist information centers.

As part of the craft revival, how do you assess environmental issues and what are your achievements in this area? I already mentioned the Mukhaibeh braiding project that symbolizes the effort deployed by the Foundation for integrating environmental issues into development projects. Before the Foundation initiated the project, the farmers there cut down and uprooted their palms, exploring other cultures. We have created a demand and as a result, farmers planted more palm trees! On the other hand, the JDTC working on water recycling project to reuse the water in the wool processing centers and dyeing south of Jordan. The JDTC also initiated profitable projects to the Dana Nature Reserve, in an abandoned village in the south. The historic stone houses have been restored and activities implemented. Currently the JDTC sells jewelry made in Dana, from semi-precious stones in the region.

Have most of the artistic and cultural projects been realized? Has the Foundation Noor AL Hussein realized its initial aspirations? Yes, the cultural activity of the Foundation is in full swing. Just after my marriage, I started with the invaluable help of Jordanian volunteers, the first Jerash Festival, today internationally recognized as a crossroads exchanges which contributed to the rebirth and revitalization of the cultural and artistic heritage. I also began during the early years of my marriage the Arab Children’s Congress, which brings together children from all parts of the Arab world in a climate of understanding, tolerance and solidarity. The National Conservatory of Music “founded in 1986, is the only one to have a children orchestra. Its annual program includes concerts, workshops and conferences as well as recitals that feature local and international musicians. Development project of the National Handicrafts, the JDTC and training center in Salt are three programs of the Noor Al Hussein Foundation. They were able to stimulate the revival of the craft heritage. Another project affiliated with the Foundation: the first Museum of Science for children, which helps them understand the ecological and scientific cycles of life. Children can touch and handle the exhibits to learn more on the development of Man through the ages, the natural history, geography, science, the environment, space and cultures in the world. We have also set up a museum of science, mobile, for children in rural areas. It focuses on health and hygiene, Science and Environmental Protection and the History of Jordan.

Your Majesty was there a few months ago at an international conference in Paris. How does the Foundation works as an intermediary between international and Jordanian institutions? We are associated with many UN and other organizations in the fields of education, the development of women and the community, the health, well-being of children, culture and heritage. The Foundation works with 30 different national and international non-governmental organizations to help them develop their plans, assist in attracting international funds and put their products on the market, especially abroad. Any foreign funding received by the Foundation is paid to the organization to which this fund is for.

At international carpet competition, a Jordanian rug Hweitat won first prize

Does the JDTC take part in major international exhibitions? Yes, the JDTC has exhibited its products in Europe, Paris and Frankfurt, and exposes once a year in Atlanta where one Hweitat rug has won the first prize at the International rug Competition. And twice a year in High Point, North Carolina, the largest furniture and decoration market of the United States.

Will handicraft be able one day to become a self-sufficient industry that will promote Jordanian art in the world? Craft centers are already self-sufficient. In addition, through its international exhibitions and marketing, JDTC has already introduced the Jordanian crafts in the world. The JDTC is primarily a national design and trade center that is not charged solely to promote the foundation products but also the works of various craft projects throughout the country.

Who oversees these centers? What is the common denominator? Is there not a danger of competition between different centers? Jordan is fortunate to have a wide variety of public and private craft centers with which JDTC works closely, either from a training perspective and product development or local or international marketing. The JDTC deploys every effort to reserve the rights to create products and designs to protect artisans. As for the craft centers of the Foundation, all of their directors are men or women from the same region, that the JDTC has recruited and trained to manage these centers. Those tend to specialize in different product lines at a time when the JDTC is creating «model centers».

To be engaged, should women initially have some skill? How the proposed development of the woman makes her a decision-maker? If a woman already has skills, it is more an asset but it is not a prerequisite for recruitment. The most important quality is the commitment, motivation. In addition, JDTC provides the necessary training, technical or managerial, and in that sense, the approach of the Foundation differs from the traditional and often ineffective approach, which merely provides material assistance to women.

The introduction of cost-effective programs, geared toward local and international markets, allows women to become a real economic force in the community. Her status and influence increase as well as the overall quality of life of the community, because a woman will often communicate her knowledge to her family. The training of women is therefore the fastest way to achieve positive change in development.

How are workers paid? Most artisans are paid according to the piece they realized, weavers are paid by meter and embroiderers per piece. As for center directors and some workers, they receive a monthly salary.

Which project of JDTC won the most of success? The projects of Nurha and Rimoun employing between 150 and 200 people are probably the most successful because both are completely independent. The JDTC initiated projects from scratch, providing all the training.

At present, the centers are self-managed and operated. Nurha, an embroidery center, has  three other centers under its supervision. As the center of Rùnoun, it was established by the JDTC to help these women to acquire the skills and improve their standard of living while revitalizing the Jordanian crafts. The JDTC has also introduced an innovation: a 2 meters long loom which produces carpets covering a room previously almost non-existent in the Jordanian market.

How many people work at JDTC? Since its founding in 1990, 3,000 women and their families have benefited.

Do you have a special program for young people even not gifted in rural areas? Is university free of charge in Jordan? University is not free in Jordan, but the school is free up to college. The project that is particularly dear to me is the Jubilee School, high school for scholars from all parts of the country, particularly disadvantaged. It is dedicated to the development of intellectual potential of Jordanian students by providing a unique study method and curriculum based on their own needs, abilities and experiences. This school, in collaboration with private and public institutions, sponsors several courses and workshops for teachers and students throughout the country. Another project I have already mentioned is that of Salt which offers free training for three years in weaving, pottery and ceramics production, silk weaving, decoration and refresher courses for trainers. On the other hand, the SOS homes for boys and girls offer Vocation courses for children and, in collaboration with the SOS villages in Amman and Aqaba, creating a warm family atmosphere for orphans and abandoned children.

«My studies at Princeton University helped me to become a social architect»

Regarding the educational projects for children in rural areas, in addition to the mobile museum that I have already mentioned, the Foundation works closely in partnership with local authorities and private voluntary groups to establish clubs for children across Jordan. They meet the recreational, cultural, artistic needs of the younger. The Foundation also supports the creation of child care centers and nursery in the villages where these «quality of life» projects are implemented.

Majesty, your dream is the children’s hospital. What steps have been taken for its realization? The National Hospital for Children is a project that the people of Jordan have long dreamed of. Once completed, we hope that this hospital will be the first of the Kingdom to provide for tertiary medical care, secondary and some primary care for children aged 0 to 16 years. This establishment will be accessible to all economic classes of the population. The hospital will not only be a pediatric center but also an educational center for pediatric, surgical, dental hygiene and combined scientific disciplines. It will also include a center for the evaluation of child development and treatment of cerebral palsy and also present an extensive program guide for the family. The Institute for Health and Child Development is the first and only local specialized in assessing and monitoring the growth and development of the child. It will be affiliated with the hospital and serve the local community.

Majesty, you like to photograph. Have you organized an exhibition of your work? Unfortunately not, but this is a project that deserves reflection! 

[newstfionline]

Sunday, May 2, 2021

US to restrict travel from India over COVID starting Tuesday (AP) The U.S. will restrict travel from India starting May 4, the White House said Friday, citing a devastating rise in COVID-19 cases in the country and the emergence of potentially dangerous variants of the coronavirus. With 386,452 new cases, India now has reported more than 18.7 million since the pandemic began, second only to the United States. The Health Ministry on Friday also reported 3,498 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 208,330. Experts believe both figures are an undercount, but it’s unclear by how much. The White House waited on the CDC recommendation before moving to restrict travel, noting that the U.S. already requires negative tests and quarantines for all international travelers. Other restrictions are in place on travel from China, Iran, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Brazil and South Africa, which are or have been hotspots for the coronavirus.

Biden administration forges new path on North Korea crisis (Washington Post) The Biden administration is charting a new course in an attempt to end North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile program, striking a balance between President Donald Trump’s grand-bargain, leader-to-leader diplomacy and President Barack Obama’s arm’s-length approach to the crisis, said U.S. officials familiar with the plan. The decision to pursue a phased agreement that leads to full denuclearization follows a months-long review that was briefed to President Biden last week. “We are not seeking a grand bargain or an all-or-nothing approach,” a senior administration official said in an interview Thursday. “What we’ve settled on is what we think is a calibrated, practical approach to diplomacy with the North with the goal of eliminating the threat to the United States.” The specifics of the proposal Washington will put forward remain unclear, and U.S. officials are not using familiar terms that previous U.S. administrations have used, such as a “step by step” agreement. U.S. officials said they planned to convey the new strategy to North Korean officials but acknowledged that it was not likely to change the regime’s near-term calculus regarding nuclear provocations. “We do not think what we are contemplating is likely to forestall provocation from the North,” said the senior official. “We fully intend to maintain sanctions pressure while this plays out.”

Biden cancels border wall projects Trump paid for with diverted military funds (Washington Post) The Biden administration said Friday it has canceled border wall projects paid for with funds diverted from Defense Department accounts, a widely expected move that follows Biden’s decision to suspend construction activity on President Donald Trump’s signature project. Trump diverted about $10 billion from military construction accounts and counternarcotic programs to pay for hundreds of miles of steel barriers along the Mexico border, an effort that Biden has denounced as wasteful and ineffective. Trump built 450 miles of new barriers during his term, much of it across the deserts and mountains of southern Arizona where his administration built along national forest land, wildlife preserves and other federal property already under government control. It built far less in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, the busiest area for border crossings and the epicenter to a major migration influx.

Bolsonaro has insulted much of the world. Now Brazil needs its help. (Washington Post) Two developing countries, enormous in population and geography, in the grip of devastating coronavirus outbreaks. Hospitals running out of supplies. Patients turned away. A new variant everywhere. Outside help desperately needed. For India, upended by record infection rates, the world has responded. The White House this week touted the delivery of more than $100 million in supplies. Singapore and Thailand sent oxygen. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the United Kingdom would do “all it can.” But for Brazil, which has buried some 140,000 coronavirus victims in the past two months, the international response has been more muted. President Jair Bolsonaro in March called on international organizations to help. A group of state governors asked the United Nations for “humanitarian aid.” The Brazilian ambassador to the European Union begged two weeks ago for help: “It’s a race against time to save many lives in Brazil.” But the response has largely been a shrug, criticism of Brazil’s missteps—and limited action, so far. The contrast between how the international community has addressed the crises in India and Brazil shows how Brasilia’s mounting diplomatic struggles have complicated the country’s coronavirus response. The international image it has spent decades cultivating—environmentally focused, amiable, multilateral—has been undercut by a president whose administration has insulted much of the world at the very time Brazil was in most need of its help. “The whole world is trying to help India,” said Mauricio Santoro, a political scientist at the State University of Rio de Janeiro. “But Bolsonaro has become such an international problem that no one ... is talking about giving Brazil much help.”

EU aims to cut foreign reliance on chips, pharma materials (Reuters) The European Union aims to cut its dependency on Chinese and other foreign suppliers in six strategic areas including raw materials, pharmaceutical ingredients and semiconductors, under an industrial action plan to be announced next week. A draft seen by Reuters outlined the urgency of the task ahead, citing Europe’s reliance on China for about half of 137 products used in sensitive ecosystems, mainly raw materials and pharmaceuticals and other products key to the bloc’s green and digital goals.

Suicide truck bomber hits Afghan guest house, killing 21 (AP) The death toll in a powerful suicide truck bombing that struck a guest house in eastern Afghanistan rose to 21 with as many as 90 others wounded, officials said Saturday. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the late Friday night bombing in Pul-e-Alam, the capital of Logar province. There was no indication why the guest house was targeted. In Afghanistan, guest houses are lodgings often provided for free by the government, usually for the poor, travelers and students.

Extreme weather kills 11, injures 102 in eastern China (AP) An extreme thunderstorm hit an eastern Chinese city, leaving 11 dead and 102 injured, with strong winds causing buildings and trees to collapse. Nantong city, located in the eastern province of Jiangsu, was among the hardest-hit when the extreme weather swept the Yangtze Delta on Friday night, according to state-affiliated newspaper Global Times. Wind speeds of 162 kilometers (100 miles) per hour overturned a fishing ship. Two sailors were rescued and search operations were underway for the nine remaining crew, the notice said.

Myanmar risks coming to standstill as violence worsens—U.N. envoy (Reuters) The U.N. special envoy on Myanmar told the Security Council on Friday that in the absence of a collective international response to the country’s coup, violence is worsening and the running of the state risks coming to a standstill, according to diplomats who attended the private meeting. “The general administration of the state could risk coming to a standstill as the pro-democracy movement continues in spite of the ongoing use of lethal force, arbitrary arrests and torture as part of the military’s repression,” Schraner Burgener said, according to diplomats. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners advocacy group says more than 3,400 people have been detained for opposing the coup and security forces have killed at least 759 protesters. Schraner Burgener said there were concerning reports that civilians, mostly students from the urban areas, were being trained how to use weapons by ethnic armed organizations. “In the absence of a collective international response, there has been a rise in violence and reported use of improvised explosive devices. Calls for maximum restraint by all sides have been met with responses from some protesters asking who can blame them for their self-defense,” she said, according to diplomats.

The Bureaucrat From Buffalo Who Pushed Somalia to the Brink (NYT) During his years as an administrator at the Department of Transportation in upstate New York, the Somali refugee turned U.S. citizen earned a master’s degree in American Studies, imbibing democratic values he hoped to one day export back to his homeland. That dream came true for Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed in 2017, when he returned to Somalia and was elected president in a surprise victory that evinced high hopes he might reform—even transform—his dysfunctional, war-weary country. But those aspirations have crumbled since Mr. Mohamed failed to hold elections when his four-year term ended in February, then moved to extend his rule by two years—a step many Somalis viewed as a naked power grab. A furious political dispute turned violent on Sunday when a series of gunfights broke out between rival military factions in the capital, Mogadishu, evoking fears that Somalia, after years of modest yet gradual progress, could descend into the kind of clan-based bloodshed that ripped it apart in the 1990s. Now Mr. Mohamed’s democratic credentials lie in tatters and he is in an open confrontation with his former ally, the United States, where he still has a family home. This week American officials reiterated calls for Somalia to hold elections immediately.

Factory owners around the world stand ready to manufacture covid-19 vaccines (The Intercept) The drug industry has strenuously argued that any legal proposal to allow the sharing of intellectual property and creation of generic coronavirus vaccines is pointless because there are no facilities around the world that can be tapped. Bill Gates, the billionaire philanthropist whose foundations help manage the United States and Europe’s primary Covid-19 outreach efforts to the developing world, known as Covax, was blunt. “It’s not like there’s some idle vaccine factory, with regulatory approval, that makes magically safe vaccines,” Gates said last weekend by way of explaining to Sky News why he thought the recipe for making coronavirus vaccine should not be shared. Except it is exactly like that. Factory owners around the globe, from Bangladesh to Canada, have said they stand ready to retrofit facilities and move forward with vaccine production if given the chance.      “We have this production capacity and it’s not being used,” said John Fulton, a spokesperson for Biolyse Pharma, a company based in St. Catharines, Ontario, that produces injectable cancer treatments. Fulton noted that Biolyse has spent years buying equipment to produce biologics and is uniquely prepared to start getting ready to produce vaccines. The company, which Fulton said is best suited for replicating the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, could produce as many as 20 million vaccines per year, he estimated. Abdul Muktadir, chair and managing director of Incepta, a pharmaceutical firm based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, has told reporters that his firm has the capacity to fill vials for 600 million to 800 million doses of vaccine per year. He has reportedly reached out to Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Novavax. Other firms in South Korea and Pakistan have also reportedly expressed an interest in producing vaccines or vaccine components. In the past few months, the danger of not transferring the knowledge more quickly has become painfully clear, with deaths climbing in India, Brazil, and other parts of the world that have been unable to procure adequate supplies of vaccines while richer countries stockpile them.

[atlanticcanada]

Fisheries Department invites Mi'kmaq, scientists to discuss lobster conservation

Ottawa has set up a roundtable of Indigenous representatives, scientists and commercial fishers to discuss lobster conservation as Mi'kmaq fishers prepare for a return to a summer harvest off southwestern Nova Scotia.

The Federal Fisheries Department says the virtual roundtable includes academic and federal researchers along with Mi'kmaq fisheries science groups, and it will take place on June 15 to discuss priorities for studying the lucrative species.

Megan Bailey, a Dalhousie University professor who is working with Sipekne'katik First Nation to study the impact of its summer lobster fishery in St. Marys Bay, says she has been invited and plans to take part.

The Mi'kmaq community maintains its traps aren't having a significant impact on the stocks, though non-Indigenous fishers from the area have argued the fishery outside of the main commercial season poses long-term risk to the fishery.

Bailey said in an email Friday she looks forward to working with federal fisheries researchers, academic researchers and fishing communities and called the roundtable a good start.

Thursday's announcement of the roundtable came the same day Sipekne'katik said it would scale back a planned moderate livelihood fishery, from 50 traps per boat, to a food, social and ceremonial fishery, with about five traps per person.

The band says it still plans to conduct its research this summer with Bailey's assistance to determine the impact its fishing has on the species.

The Mi'kmaq First Nation has argued it has the right to fish for a moderate livelihood when and where members wish, based on a landmark 1999 Supreme Court decision. The court later clarified that ruling to say Ottawa could regulate the treaty right for conservation and other limited public policy purposes.

In a news conference on Thursday, federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan said she is seeking a negotiated solution, and she's aware that several First Nations are developing fishery programs that include conservation plans.

"We're continuing to have conversation with the First Nations .... We're looking at their fishing plans and they're very good. There's a lot of middle ground where we can work towards a long-term solution," she told reporters.

The Fisheries Department news release says the partnership aims to develop a common picture of "the most important lobster science research questions, identify new areas of work, and discuss how we can work together."

It says the forum will discuss topics including the impacts of climate change on lobster, how changes in habitat might affect lobster populations in the future and how lobster move throughout the year, as well as the impact fishing is having on the populations.

Lobster is the country's most valuable seafood export, and it is exported around the world.

The landings remain at one of the highest levels recorded in 100 years, with an upward trend over recent decades.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2021.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/3wEu4Vv

[lsc-enviromental]

Blog Post #3

In Oregon’s fight against plastic pollution and water pollution, there are many individuals who have a stake in the decisions made about this issue. One individual we believe as one of those stakeholders is Nancy Bennett. Nancy works in policy and external relations for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. In the materials management section, she and her team work on reducing materials-related pollution all across the state, working alongside other environmental organizations. Nancy and the rest of the Department of Environmental Quality work to make Oregon a cleaner place. 

“DEQ's mission is to be a leader in restoring, maintaining, and enhancing the quality of Oregon's air, land, and water. Materials-related pollution –a.k.a. litter– is generated in many intentional and unintentional ways. Regardless of how it’s generated, litter and illegal dumping are issues for our air, land, and water, and in many of Oregon’s urban and rural areas. This pollution is not just negatively impacting the quality of our land – the garbage that is, unfortunately, making its way into our local waterways is also negatively impacting the ecosystems inhabiting those precious bodies of water. DEQ is currently pursuing legislation that would modernize Oregon’s decades-old recycling system and address plastic pollution. An expert stakeholder group, called the Oregon Recycling Steering Committee, recently recommended a proposal that would create an effective, stable, and resilient system for the future. The proposal is a shared responsibility model, and it gives producers of packaging and printed paper new obligations to help fund improvements to the recycling system and prevent plastic pollution.”

“My department has several hundred dedicated employees across Oregon. Our urban employees may be more personally and professionally impacted by the litter and pollution associated with the difficult housing and homelessness issues that are heavily impacting our state’s more urban areas. Our employees in more rural parts of the state may be more impacted by illegal dumping in less populated areas. However, houselessness is certainly not just an urban issue and illegal dumping is not just a rural issue. Plastic pollution is certainly related to the broader consumption patterns of our culture. Many everyday products can have a longer useful life with proper maintenance and repair. Capturing this value through expanded opportunities for repair, refurbishment, resale and reuse reduces a broad variety of environmental impacts.”

Full Interview Transcript:

Abbey:  “What are your views regarding the plastic-pollution and garbage pollution issue in Oregon?”

Nancy: “DEQ's mission, and mine, is to be a leader in restoring, maintaining and enhancing the quality of Oregon's air, land and water. Materials-related pollution –a.k.a. litter– is generated in many intentional and unintentional ways. Regardless of how it’s generated, litter and illegal dumping are issues for our air, land and water, and in many of Oregon’s urban and rural areas. This pollution is not just negatively impacting the quality of our land – the garbage that is, unfortunately, making its way into our local waterways is also negatively impacting the ecosystems inhabiting those precious bodies of water.

 Jenn: “What about some other viewpoints?”

 Nancy: “There is a full spectrum of viewpoints from different experts on how to address this issue, and DEQ is working on several different efforts. One approach emphasizes more, better education. Another approach advocates for new, comprehensive laws and programs to help address these issues. For example, the Ocean Conservancy notes that 75% of the plastic entering the ocean was never collected in a recycling or solid waste program to begin with.

 Group: “Wow, 75% is a significant amount.”

 Nancy: “Material is often entering waterways from developing countries that do not have the same levels of regulation for their solid waste management infrastructure. Unfortunately, recyclable materials –and also the contamination that sometimes comes with them– have been exported to such countries, including many Asian countries for years. The United States, including Oregon, has been a contributor to the problem.”

 Kira: “What is something you’re doing now to fight against this issue?”

 Nancy: “DEQ is currently pursuing legislation that would modernize Oregon’s decades-old recycling system and address plastic pollution. An expert stakeholder group, called the Oregon Recycling Steering Committee, recently recommended a proposal that would create an effective, stable and resilient system for the future. The proposal is a shared responsibility model, and it gives producers of packaging and printed paper new obligations to help fund improvements to the recycling system and prevent plastic pollution. DEQ used the consensus proposal to outline legislation, House Bill 2065, which was recently introduced in the Oregon Legislature.” 

 Anne: “Could you explain a bit more about the bill?”

 Nancy: “This bill requires the establishment of a new litter prevention and control program for Oregon, funded by producers. It also requires new standards for where our material goes and making sure it is recycled responsibly.

 Another notable effort, DEQ, as an agency, has been involved with and supports is working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other stakeholders –including PSU– on the state’s marine debris action plan. This is a collaborative effort with the purpose of facilitating and tracking collaborative and effective actions that prevent and reduce marine debris in Oregon.” 

 Anne: “How do you think you and your community are personally impacted by this issue? Do you think everyone is affected in the same way or differently?”

 “My department has several hundred dedicated employees across Oregon. Our urban employees may be more personally and professionally impacted by the litter and pollution associated with the difficult housing and homelessness issues that are heavily impacting our state’s more urban areas. Our employees in more rural parts of the state may be more impacted by illegal dumping in less populated areas. However, houselessness is certainly not just an urban issue and illegal dumping is not just a rural issue.” 

Jenn: “What can we do as young students to help advocate for change within this issue?” 

 Nancy: “There are a several options you can all do to undertake to advocate for change. Firstly, PSU is a participating member in Oregon’s Marine Debris Action Plan. Dorothy Horn would be your contact for that effort. PSU’s Community Environmental Services program may align with your interests, as well.

The Master Recycler program is also in the Portland Metro area and is a program that engaged local activists in recycling, composting, and other waste-related effort. 

Lastly, there are opportunities to provide public testimony during relevant public hearings in the Legislature. Anyone can sign up to for an oral or written testimony during a public hearing. DEQ’s bill to modernize the state’s recycling system has a public hearing on Tuesday, February 16 at 1. Signing up to provide oral or written testimony is available at the meeting’s webpage.” 

Jenn: “Would you agree that the plastic-pollution issue goes deeper as a societal and social issue regarding the way people constantly buy and throw away products?”

 Nancy: “Plastic pollution is certainly related to the broader consumption patterns of our culture. Many everyday products can have a longer useful life with proper maintenance and repair. Capturing this value through expanded opportunities for repair, refurbishment, resale and reuse reduces a broad variety of environmental impacts. This also offers greater access and affordability to many who can benefit from low-cost alternatives. If you would like to learn more about sustainable consumption or reuse & repair, you may contact Babe O’Sullivan.”

 Group: “Thank you so much for your time and responses.”

 Nancy: “I hope this helps. If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.”

[faroway-blog]

GLOBALIZATION: DRIVING FORCE FOR CHANGE

Globalization

 In waking up every day doing our daily activities, we use products and different things that are making our activities easy and comfortable in which some of it came from other countries. Like taking a bath and wearing clothes that are made in china, doing your skincare routine that is made from Korea, eating while watching television from Japan. How is this possible? To have products or other things to use that came from another side of the world? Well, it is because of globalization.

Globalization refers to the shift toward a more integrated and interdependent world economy. It also refers to the opening of local and nationalistic perspectives to a broader outlook of interconnection and the inter-dependent world with the free flow of capital, goods, and services across national frontiers.

Globalization has several facets which include:

Globalization of Market- refers to the merging of historically distinct and separate national markets into one huge global market.

Globalization of Production- refers to the sourcing of goods and sources from locations around the globe to take advantage of national differences in the use quality of production.

Globalization of Economy- refers to the development of trade systems within transnational such as corporations or NGOs.

Globalization of Culture- refers to the interpretation of cultures, as a consequence, means nations adopt principles, beliefs, and costumes of other cultures, losing their unique, globalized supra-culture.

Globalization has affected every aspect of our life and has both positive and negative effects. Globalization affected both standard of living and the quality of my life. My standard of living, it becomes more comfortable in terms of material goods and necessities. I can easily have the product even though it is on the other side of the world. I can easily access pieces of information that help keep me updated on the current issues and trends. In the quality of life, with globalization, it allows the country where I live to create more opportunities that are helpful in the development and improvement of living. Make the life of everyone comfortable.

 Main Drivers of Globalization

There are two main drivers of globalization:

The decline in barriers to the     free flow of goods, services, and capital.

- During World War 2 Nation-state erected formidable barriers to international trade and foreign direct investment. Make foreign investors who export goods and services in their country to pay a high tariff. The tariff aim was to protect domestics industries from foreign competition, because of this, it resulted in retaliatory trade policies, with countries progressively raising trade barriers against each other. By this behavior, it depressed world demand and contributed to the Great Depression in the 1930s. Learning from what happened in the past, advanced industrial relations removes the barrier to the free flow of goods, services, and capital between the nation. Allow firms to easily and comfortably export and import goods and services in other countries.

Technological Change

- The dramatic development in recent decades in communication, information processing, and transportation technologies.

Among the two main drivers of globalization, I can say that the Technological Change contributed more to the acceleration of globalization. The lowering of trade barriers made the globalization of markets and production a theoretical possibility. Technological change has made it a tangible reality. Since the end of World War II, the world has seen advances in communication, information, processing, and transportation technology, including the explosive emergence of the internet and the World Wide Web. Technological change in telecommunication is creating a global audience. Connecting around the world, allowing everyone to have access to what are the happenings, letting the audience know the latest issue, letting the audience aware of the history, or what is he/she wanted to know, getting to know the current trend, etc. Technological change in transportation is creating a global village. Allow everyone to be on the other side of the world or to the place they wanted to be. With the help of technological change, globalization is becoming more of a trend. It allows us to connect to everyone culturally, economically, etc.

  Global Economy 

 The global economy refers to the interconnected worldwide economic activities that take place between multiple countries. The reason why the global economy is in constant change is because of its compromise characteristics: Globalization, International Trade, International Finance, Global Investment. Aside from it, it is also because of the natural resources, infrastructure, population, labor, human capital, technology, and the law of a country. The global economy continuously changes because humans are not satisfied with what they currently have and due to never ending demand.

Changes in the global economy have a benefit that is both positive and negative. Due to changes and developments, it helps the world improving their quality and standard of living, an acceleration of economic changes has led to strong global economic growth, there is a rapid development of many technologies and commodities. The negative side of these changes is it affects the culture it became homogenous as countries are now can freely exchange goods and services, income inequalities, disproportional health. It also affects the environment because of the massive development of the economy in the industrial and transportation aspect, thus, produces dangerous greenhouse gas.

During this pandemic crisis, the way of living that we are used to suddenly changed. Because of COVID- 19, we cannot go out whenever we want and buy what we want and do what we want. But because of the technological advantage, we have the business owners- customers find new ways to connect and fills each other needs. Using the advantage of technology to communicate. The ABS-CBN issue the largest television network that operates in giving and creating programs that entertain and provide information to its audience. But was taken down because of not following the regulations; in this time of crisis, we need a direct source of information that can be easily accessed, but because of what happens, getting information is confusing, with the development in technologies, we can be updated and informed in different ways.

Globalization plays a role as the driving force for change. Because of globalization, we can open and widen our perspective about the world. These leads to change. Change is significant everyone wants to change but it is still important to remember to consider the situation for the betterment of everyone.