(UN News)* — A proposed new anti-terrorism law in Switzerland could set a dangerous precedent for the suppression of political dissent worldwide, a group of five independent UN human rights experts warned on Friday [11 September 2020].
12/09/2020
Switzerland: Draft Anti-Terrorism Law Sets ‘Dangerous Precedent’, Human Rights Experts Warn
12/09/2020
Revealed: How Rogue Employment Agencies Are Exploiting the COVID Crisis
Scams and exploitation from UK employment agencies have increased by two thirds during lockdown, yet the government is failing to take action.
Steve Parsons/PA Archive/PA Images
9 September 2020 (openDemocracy)* — Employment agencies operate at the heart of almost every key worker profession, employing around one million workers in the UK. It has long been an industry rife with exploitation, including recruitment scams, non-payment and even modern slavery.
But according to SAFERjobs, a charity that assists flexible economy workers, the spike in unemployment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is being capitalised on by criminals.
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12/09/2020
Fuel Not Fire: From Burning Crop Waste to Bioenergy
Many farmers feel they have no option but to burn their crop residues to dispose of them, but innovative solutions can turn them into sustainable energy for communities. ©CIAT/Neil Palmer
7 September 2020 (FAO)* — The problem? Burning crop residues. Although it causes a variety of health issues and significantly raises levels of pollution, it is a common practice in India and many other countries around the world. The solution? Turn the crop residues into something useful, such as bioenergy.
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12/09/2020
New Fires at Greek Island Refugee Camp Destroy Last Remaining Shelters
Human Wrongs Watch
11 September 2020 (UN News)* — Fresh fires at a Greek island centre for thousands of refugees and migrants, have destroyed all remaining accommodation for those affected by the initial blaze on 11 September 2020 evening.
In an alert on Friday, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said that people of all ages have been left homeless in Lesbos after further fires on Wednesday and Thursday.
Why they started has not been determined.
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12/09/2020
United in Science Report: ‘If Things Would Remain as They Are, We Would Go Up 3 to 5 Degrees above the Pre-Industrial Level’ – UN Chief
11 September 2020 (WMO)* — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres launched the high-level multi-agency United in Science report on 9 September with yet another appeal for urgent climate action to “ensure a liveable planet for this and future generations.”
