(Greenpeace International)* — COVID has underlined the deep mutual connection and reliance we have with the natural world. It is also showing that our current socio-economic systems — driven by hectic lifestyles, mindless consumption and putting a price-tag on nature — doesn’t work. It clarifies that linking relentless and voracious economic growth with our personal well-being makes no sense. But what else do we have to work with?
The Fahrenheit 9/11 director lauded Cuba’s medical professionals for their collaborative efforts around the world.
Filmmaker Michael Moore sends a message to Concert for Cuba. July 18, 2020. | Photo: Twitter / @JoseRCabanas
19 July 2020 (teleSUR)* — U.S. filmmaker Michael Moore is one of many U.S. and Cuban artists and personalities participating in this weekend’s virtual Concert for Cuba in support of the valiant efforts of Cuban doctors in their mission to assist 34 nations in their fight against COVID-19.
20 July 2020 (United Nations)* — Throughout history, games and sports have helped humanity to survive times of crisis by reducing anxieties and improving mental health. While the coronavirus outbreak has forced most gaming and sports activities to scale down, chess has demonstrated remarkable resilience, adaptability and a very strong convening power in time of pandemic.
The subsidized price of fuels and the systematic looting of PDVSA have led Venezuela to an unusual situation: being an oil producing country, now it needs to import huge shipments of gasoline.
Empty barrels of gasoline in Maracaibo, Venezuela, december 2019| Humberto Matheus, Nur photos, PA Images.
16 July 2020 (openDemocracy)* — Venezuela is going through a general collapse of public services, which adds to the problem of hyperinflation, the low wages, and precarious living conditions. This context has motivated frequent protests in many communities affected by the lack of water, cooking gas, electrical power, or fuel across the country.
18 July 2020 (Wall Street International)* — What is human nature? Are we humans good or evil? To what extent is the character of a person produced by heredity, and to what extent by environment? Is competition more central to our existence than cooperation, or is it the other way around? How can a happy, peaceful and stable society be created? Are humans essentially the same as other animals, or are we fundamentally different? Should humans dominate and control nature, or should we be the custodians of nature?
These questions are central to philosophy. Conflicting answers have been given by philosophers, scientists and religious leaders offer the centuries, from earliest times until the present.
UNITED NATIONS, Jul 16 2020 (IPS)* – The United Nations has been relentlessly pursuing a highly-ambitious blueprint for the sustainable future of humanity –harking back to the adoption of a new global economic agenda by the General Assembly back in 2015.
Every year the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development meets to advance the UN System’s agenda on sustainable development. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is leading the discussion on urgent environmental issues through five side-events. This article is part of our coverage of the forum’s 2020 edition.
Paul Williams/Flickr
17 July 2020 (UN Environment)* — In every marine and coastal environment on earth, plastic litter threatens the environment, human health, and business. The threat has been exacerbated by a spike in the use of single-use plastics due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
19 July 2020 (UN News)* — Hundreds of thousands of seafarers are finding themselves stranded at sea, sometimes for over a year, and with no end in sight, as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions. The uncertainty and long spells away from home are taking a heavy mental toll. “I am tired, exhausted and hopeless. I have been at sea for 12 months already. And I don’t know when I can see my kids and family. It’s very frustrating.”
Raphael (not his real name) has no idea how long he will be stuck on his ship. A 33 year old seafarer from the Philippines, with two children, he was scheduled to fly home in April, but the pandemic put paid to his plans: airports have been closed, and his company decided not to relieve him, and eight other colleagues, some of whom have spent up to 14 months onboard.
(UN News)* — Inequality, an issue which “defines our time”, risks destroying the world’s economies and societies, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a hard-hitting speech on Saturday [18 July 2020].
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe | UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivers the
Mr. Guterres was delivering the 2020 Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture, held online for the first time, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
(Wall Street International)* – Since more than one week the personal drone, for security reasons, was coming up to his terrace, silent and powerful as ever. Steven considered these security precautions excessive and even rather stupid, but he had to comply, especially now that he had to go to the Square Office of the General Director. Why had he summoned him that day, just before his presentation to the Secret Commission?
The office was at the other end of the big tower, the drone deposited him in front of the steel big door, which slided open for him. He walked through the empty corridors, icy cold, the door sliding open as he was approaching.
HUMAN WRONGS WATCH 