Archive for May, 2019

14/05/2019

Growing Insecurity in Tripoli Endangers Displaced Civilians and Migrants as Armed Clashes Enter Second Month

Geneva, 14 May 2019 (IOM)*  The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Tripoli and neighbouring areas. 

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The joint Rapid Response Mechanism launched by IOM, UNFPA, WFP and UNICEF, has reached so far 18,210 individuals with much-needed core relief items. Photo: IOM

According to IOM Libya’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), there are now over 66,000 displaced individuals, approximately 13,310 families, from affected areas in Tripoli since the onset of the armed conflict on 4 April.

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14/05/2019

Defending the Defenders: Tropical Forests in the Front Line

13 May 2019 (UN Environment)*“Climate change is hitting hardest those who have done least to cause it, especially the world’s indigenous peoples from the Arctic to the tropics,” said renowned actor and activist Alec Baldwin speaking at the 18th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York on 23 April 2019.

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Photo by CIFOR | From UN Environment.

Identifying the lack of land rights for indigenous peoples as a major problem, he warned his audience: “If you are serious about fighting climate change, get serious about empowering the people who are protecting the world’s forests.”

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14/05/2019

Globalisation Was Rife in the 16th Century – Clues from Renaissance Paintings

14/05/2019

‘Poor Farmers Can Obtain Significant Economic Gains and Other Benefits Through Easy-to-Implement Disaster Resilient Farming Practices’

Human Wrongs Watch

ROME, 13 May 2019 (FAO)* Poor farmers can obtain significant economic gains and other benefits by implementing modified farming practices aimed at boosting their ability to cope with disasters and natural shocks, according to a new FAO study released today [13 May 2019].

Photo: ©FAO/©FAO/Benedicte Kurzen/NOOR

Women of the association Kawral, Senegal, collecting okra in their garden. The FAO’s One million cisterns for the Sahel project aims to facilitate the introduction of rainwater harvesting and storage systems for vulnerable communities.

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13/05/2019

The Disintegrated Mind: The Greatest Threat to Human Survival on Earth

Human Wrongs Watch

By Robert J. Burrowes, Ph.D. – TRANSCEND Media Service

Like many people who have struggled to understand why human beings are driving the sixth mass extinction event in Earth’s history, which now threatens imminent human extinction as well, over many decades I have explored the research and efforts of a great many activists and scholars to secure this understanding.

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Robert J. Burrowes,

However, with many competing ideas from the fields of politics, economics, sociology and psychology, among others, this understanding has proved elusive.

Nevertheless, I have reached an understanding that I find compelling: Human beings are driving the sixth mass extinction event in Earth’s history because of the disintegrated nature of the human mind.

While the expression ‘mental disintegration’ has been used in a number of contexts previously, for the purpose of my discussion in this article I am going to redefine it, explain how it originates, describe several ways in which it manifests behaviorally and the profoundly dysfunctional outcomes this generates, and suggest what we can do about it.

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13/05/2019

Gaza Blockade Causes ‘Near Ten-Fold Increase’ in Food Dependency – UN Relief Agency

At a time when Muslims globally are observing the holy month of Ramadan, more than half the population in Gaza depends on the international community for food aid, the director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said on Monday [13 May 2019], citing a “near ten-fold increase” in need.*

ECHO/Fadwa Baroud | More than half the population of Gaza depends on food aid from the international community. (file 2010)
According to UNRWA, it must secure an additional $60 million by June to continue providing food to more than one million Palestine refugees in Gaza, including some 620,000 “abject poor” who cannot cover their basic food needs and are surviving on $1.6 per day.
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The funds are also needed to cover the severely challenged 390,000 “absolute poor”, who survive on about $3.5 per day.
13/05/2019

More than One Million People in Gaza -Half of the Population of the Territory- May Not Have Food by June

13 May 2019 (UNRWA)*At a time when Muslims around the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan, often characterized by the festive nature of its Iftars, in Gaza, more than half the population depends on food aid from the international community.  
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Palestine refugee children near an UNRWA emergency food assistance distribution centre. © 2013 UNRWA Photo by Shareef SarhanPalestine refugee children near an UNRWA emergency food assistance distribution centre. © 2013 UNRWA Photo by Shareef Sarhan

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13/05/2019

Who to Blame: “Donald Trump” or the “American People”?

Human Wrongs Watch

By Anthony Judge | Laetus in Praesens – TRANSCEND Media Service*

Let’s Get Real Clear On Any Responsibility for Imminent Global Disaster

Produced in a period of imminent war and global disaster. You will hear of wars and rumours of wars… (Matthew 24:6)

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Anthony Judge

Clarification

Donald Trump is the duly elected President of the USA — elected by the American People according to well-defined electoral procedures. It is currently irrelevant whether those procedures are in any way in question. They have yet to be revised — if that is feasible and desired by the American People.

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13/05/2019

Sweden Requests Assange Be Extradited To Stand Trial

The Swedish prosecutor’s office said it would shortly request Assange be detained in his absence on probable cause for an allegation of rape and that it would issue a European arrest warrant – the process under which his extradition would be sought.

Swedish Vice Chief Prosecutor Persson announces decision about preliminary investigation against WikiLeaks founder Assange in Stockholm

Swedish Vice Chief Prosecutor Persson announces decision about preliminary investigation against WikiLeaks founder Assange in Stockholm | Photo: Reuters | Poto from teleSUR.

13 May 2019 (teleSUR)* — Sweden’s state prosecutor said on Monday she would reopen an investigation into a rape allegation against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and seek his extradition from Britain.
13/05/2019

Italy: Real Weapons of Mass Distraction

Human Wrongs Watch

By Alessio Colonnelli*

Matteo Salvini’s rhetoric is getting ever more worrying as we approach the EU elections.

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Salvini with League’s delegation at the Quirinal Palace in April 2018 | Presidenza della Repubblica

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10 May 2019 (openDemocracy)* — In a land of former vast pastures, where green still stands for northern secession from a shrivelled up south, Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Salvini – an erstwhile separatist and now a nationalist – is the most effective communicator we’ve seen in a long time.
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His weapons of mass distraction are deadly. His every tweet – one shot one kill. You’d call him a chameleon if he weren’t actually dangerous.