I would like to announce the publication of a new book. It discusses the role of what might be called decision trees in science, in linguistics, in philosophy and literature, and in our daily lives. The book may be downloaded and circulated free of charge from the following link:
During each human life, a child starts with many possible destinations. He or she then makes decisions, and each decision more closely defines who the person is and what it is possible for the person to become.
(UNESCO)* — The Report is a unique mechanism within the UN system for monitoring the killings of journalists. It was first published in 2008, upon a Decision of the Intergovernmental Council of IPDC, which was renewed at subsequent sessions in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016.
2 November 2020 (UN News)* — Even though 2020 saw a “slight decrease” in the rate of impunity for crimes against journalists, 87 per cent of such cases worldwide were still not resolved, UNESCO, the UN agency tasked with defending press freedom, has reported.
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UN Photo/Sylvain Liechti | According to UNESCO, journalism remains a dangerous profession, and in 2018-19, like in previous years, TV and local journalists were most vulnerable to violent attacks.
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According to the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity, a report by the Director-General of UNESCO, only 13 per cent of cases globally involving crimes against journalists were reported “as resolved”, in comparison to 12 per cent in 2019, and 11 per cent in 2018.
“If we do not protect journalists, our ability to remain informed and make evidence-based decisions is severely hampered”, Secretary-General António Guterres spelled out in his message for the day.
And when they cannot safely do their jobs, “we lose an important defense against the pandemic of misinformation and disinformation that has spread online”, he added.
30 October 2020 (THE CONVERSATION)*— Growing up in the United States, I remember on Halloween my mother used to say, “Honey, this is not just a day for costumes and candy. You must also remember your relatives. Know their names.” She would show me pictures of great-aunts, uncles and other deceased relatives.
31 October 2020 — (Wall Street International)* — On September 4, 1970, at the height of the Cold War, an unprecedented page was written in the history of Chile and of the world’s left: For the first time, in a distant Third World country, but one with a solid democracy, a Marxist candidate supported by a left-wing coalition – the Unidad Popular (Popular Unity) – whose central axis were the socialist and communist parties, triumphed in the presidential elections.
Some Christian right groups have denied that coronavirus cases exist – while others have claimed the virus was deliberately made by China. Español.
A satirical poster of President Jair Bolsonaro saying COVID-19 ‘is just a flu’ in Brazil, where US-linked groups have also denied the virus exists. | Cris Faga/NurPhoto/PA Image
29 October 2020 (openDemocracy)* — Half a dozen US Christian right groups have poured millions of dollars into Latin America and have promoted misinformation about COVID-19 and other health and rights issues, openDemocracy can reveal today.
30 October 2020 (Wall Street International)* — There are no signs of a halt to the arms race… on the contrary, production of the most modern 5th and 6thgeneration technological weapons and the most terrifying and lethal weapons continues unabated.
30 October 2020 (UNEP)* — 31 October is World Cities Day. The theme for 2020 is Valuing Our Communities and Cities.
Photo: UNEP / 30 Oct 2020
For the Day, we look back to one of our Young Champions of the Earth from 2017, Latin America and Caribbean winner Liliana Jaramillo.
In the capital city of Quito in Ecuador, she has been working to build green roofs that host native plant species. Not only do plants beautify urban spaces, but they also reduce air pollution and provide habitat for birds and insects.
Bonn, 29 October 2020 (UNEP)* – Future pandemics will emerge more often, spread more rapidly, do more damage to the world economy and kill more people than COVID-19 unless there is a transformative change in the global approach to dealing with infectious diseases, warns a major new report on biodiversity and pandemics by 22 leading experts from around the world.
HUMAN WRONGS WATCH 