Archive for ‘Africa’

12/03/2019

Gender Equality, ‘Fundamentally a Question of Power’

A wheelchair-bound Pakistani mother who yearned to visit a park without worrying about ramp access, and a young South Sudanese woman who dreams of having affordable health care, were among the speakers opening the United Nation’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s rights on Monday [11 March 2019].

UN Women/Ryan Brown | Civil Society Representatives Mary Fatiya (South Sudan) and Muniba Mazari (Pakistan) address the Commission on the Status of Women held in the General Assembly Hall at United Nations Headquarters.

Addressing the 63rd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in a joint speech, Muniba Mazari and Mary Fatiya, both asked for basic social protections to be extended to women and girls around the world, based on need, and in line with their inalienable human rights.

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12/03/2019

Global Arms Trade: USA Increases Dominance; Arms Flows to the Middle East Surge – SIPRI

Global arms trade: USA increases dominance; arms flows to the Middle East surge, says SIPRI

The trend in international transfers of major weapons, 1979—2018. Data and graphic: SIPRI

The five largest exporters in 2014–18 were the United States, Russia, France, Germany and China. Together, they accounted for 75 per cent of the total volume of arms exports in 2014–18. The flow of arms increased to the Middle East between 2009–13 and 2014–18, while there was a decrease in flows to all other regions.

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12/03/2019

Can We Divest from Weapons Dealers?

Human Wrongs Watch

By Kathy Kelly – TRANSCEND Media Service*

Impoverished people living in numerous countries today would stand a far better chance of survival, and risk far less trauma, if weapon manufacturers such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, General Dynamics, and Raytheon stopped manufacturing and selling death-dealing products.

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Family visit, Kabul. Credit: Dr. Hakim

About three decades ago, I taught writing at one of Chicago’s alternative high schools. It’s easy to recall some of their stories—fast-paced, dramatic, sometimes tender. I would beg my students to three-hole-punch each essay or poem and leave it in a binder on our classroom shelf, anxious not to lose the documentation of their talents and ideas.

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12/03/2019

UN Report: Urgent Action Needed to Tackle Chemical Pollution as Global Production Is Set to Double by 2030

Human Wrongs Watch

  • The size of the global chemical industry exceeded US$5 trillion in 2017 and is projected to double by 2030.
  • The benefits of action to minimize the adverse impacts of chemicals have been estimated in the high tens of billions of United States dollars annually.
  • International treaties and voluntary instruments have reduced the risks of some chemicals and wastes, but progress has been uneven and implementation gaps remain.

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Pixabay  |  Photo from UN Environment.

Nairobi, 11 March 2019 (UN Environment)*– Countries will not meet the internationally agreed goal to minimize the adverse impacts of chemicals and waste by 2020, meaning that urgent action is required to reduce further damage to human health and economies, according to a UN report released today [11 March 2019].

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12/03/2019

Resource Extraction More than Tripled Since 1970 – Extraction and Processing of Materials, Fuels and Food Contribute Half of Total global Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Human Wrongs Watch

  • Resource extraction has more than tripled since 1970, including a fivefold increase in the use of non-metallic minerals and a 45 per cent increase in fossil fuel use
  • By 2060, global material use could double to 190 billion tonnes (from 92 billion), while greenhouse gas emissions could increase by 43 per cent
  • The extraction and processing of materials, fuels and food contribute half of total global greenhouse gas emissions and over 90 per cent of biodiversity loss and water stress

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Nairobi, 12 March 2019 (UN Environment)* – Rapid growth in extraction of materials is the chief culprit in climate change and biodiversity loss – a challenge that will only worsen unless the world urgently undertakes a systemic reform of resource use, according to a report released at the UN Environment Assembly.

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12/03/2019

Dozens Killed and Injured by New Airstrikes in Western Yemen, UN UN Humanitarian Coordinator Condemns ‘Outrageous’ Toll

Human Wrongs Watch

11 March 2019 — Reports from Yemen’s Hajjah Governorate indicate that scores of civilians have been killed following airstrikes that hit residential areas over the past two days. Medical sources suggest that at least 22 have died, with more than 30 injured during the aerial bombardment.

WFP/Abeer Etefa | In the photo: Ahmed, 3 years old, receives treatment for moderate acute malnutrition in a hospital in Hajjah, Yemen.

“We condemn these deaths and injuries unequivocally and we share our deep condolences with the families of the victims,” said UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the country, Lise Grande. “It is outrageous that innocent civilians continue to die needlessly in a conflict that should, and can be solved”, she added.

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11/03/2019

‘The Risk of a New Influenza Virus Transmitting from Animals to Humans and Potentially Leading to a Pandemic Is “Real” – World Health Organization

Human Wrongs Watch

A new UN-led plan has been unveiled to tackle the estimated one billion cases of influenza which occur each year, and protect against the “real” threat of a global pandemic, the head of the organization’s health agency said on Monday [11 March 2019].

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH | A seasonal flu shot being administered. The World Health Organization (WHO) unveiled a new global strategy to head of the “real” threat of pandemic on 11 March, 2019.
11/03/2019

10 Women and the World Through Their Lens

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With a camera in one hand and an eagle eye on the world, documenting this pale blue dot we call home is no easy task. But these photographers are telling the stories of their own communities, breaking the silence about underreported crises, and are determined to compel the world to action through image.

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11/03/2019

Lady Liberty – Indifference and Hate by One Man

Human Wrongs Watch

By Ellyn Kaschak*

10 March 2019 (Wall Street International)* — Lady Liberty has gotten herself into a huge mess. She has been in problematic relationships before, but nothing like this. Donald Trump has been so blatantly abusive to her that it has become almost impossible not to see it. As a psychologist working with trauma, I have seen this kind of relationship too many times to ignore it.

Andy Warhol, Liberty
Andy Warhol, Liberty | Image from Wall Street International.
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As a suitor, Mr. Trump began his pursuit with typical sociopathic trickery, with lies and deception. Many women have been taken in by this kind of performance and so were many Americans. His early presentation is as someone who just wants the best for her, but that is all smoke and mirrors.

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11/03/2019

District Energy: A Secret Weapon for Climate Action and Human Health

11 March 2019 (UN Environment)* — If you’re sweltering in Delhi or shivering in Detroit and want affordable, environmentally friendly cooling or heating, district energy may be your best bet.

District heating 1 - Amaravati - by Foster and Partners

Photo by Foster and Partners | Photo from UN Environment.

A district energy system is a network of pipes that heat and cool buildings across a neighbourhood or entire city. Modern district energy systems connect renewables, waste heat, thermal storage, power grids, thermal grids and heat pumps—delivering up to 50 per cent less primary energy consumption for heating and cooling.

Visionary cities and countries have been able to decarbonize heating and cooling and achieve high efficiency, renewable energy, and CO2targets with modern district energy.

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