'Unseen' News and Views
2 February 2021 (UN News)* — The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has voiced “deep fears” of a violent crackdown on dissenting voices in Myanmar, where the military assumed all powers and declared a state of emergency after overthrowing the civilian government and arresting top political leaders, on Monday [1 February 2021].
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Stalled Diplomatic Talks Highlight Urgent Need for Political Leadership
In this interview for Pacifica Radio’s Covid, Race and Democracy, Ajamu Baraka warned of a new era of totalitarian neoliberalism.
“Anybody who is in opposition to the hegemony of the neoliberal project is at some point over the next few years going to experience the heavy hand of the state.”
Ann Garrison: On January 20, we saw Joe Biden carry on about “unity” behind seven-foot fences topped with razor wire and 25,000 plus National Guard troops deployed . One friend of mine said that this pointed to an irony deficiency. Is there anything you’d like to say about it?
Ajamu Baraka: Well, I think it is ironic, but it’s quite understandable that the kinds of activities that the US has been involved in promoting and supporting globally—undermining democracies, subverting states, undermining and destroying any semblance of the rule of law—have basically come back to haunt them.
Colourful coral colonies make up some of the earth’s most diverse ecosystems. ©Gregory Piper/Coral Reef Image Bank
2 February 2021 (FAO)* — Coral is one of the treasures of the sea, whether it’s illuminating the shallow tropical waters of the Caribbean or hidden in the darker depths of the Pacific Ocean.
Bridgetown, Barbados, (UNEP)* – A new initiative to support Latin America and the Caribbean in the transition to a circular economy as part of the COVID-19 recovery was launched today [1 February, 2021].
The Regional Coalition on Circular Economy was announced during a virtual side event at the XXII Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of the region, hosted by Barbados and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).
The Coalition will support access to financing by governments and the private sector, with special emphasis on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in order to promote resource mobilization for innovation and the implementation of specific projects in the region.
1 February 2021 (UNEP)* — In February 2021, representatives of the 193 Member States of the UN, businesses leaders, civil society and environmentalists from around the world will come together virtually for the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), the world’s highest environmental decision-making body.
Photo by UNEP / 01 Feb 2021
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) answers frequently-asked questions about this biennial assembly, which aims to galvanize international action on climate change, pollution and ecosystem loss.
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Press Release from Peace People – 25 Jan 2021
… to Address the Following Requests
Dear Mr President,
Please accept my congratulations and best wishes with your work as President.
I have two urgent requests to ask of you.
Please do all you can to free Julian Assange and let him go home to his family. He has served long enough; his family hankers for his presence and for his punishment to end.
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– Mexico is seeking to mitigate water shortages in part of its extensive territory by resorting to seawater, through the expansion of desalination plants. But this solution has exorbitant costs and significant environmental impacts.
This projected desalination plant in Los Cabos, whose construction received final approval in October 2020, will have a capacity to purify 250 litres of water per second and its cost will exceed 55 million dollars, according to figures from the Baja California Sur state government. CREDIT: Government of Baja California Sur
– Responding to reports this morning that Myanmar’s military has sized control of government in a coup on the eve of the country’s opening session of its new parliament, rights group Amnesty International said it “sends a chilling message that the military authorities will not tolerate any dissent amid today’s unfolding events”.
Myanmar’s military has sized control of government and reportedly detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, senior members of her governing National League for Democracy (NLD) as well as human rights activists and student leaders. Courtesy: Yves Alarie on Unsplash
1 February 2021 (UN News)* — The United Nations Secretary-General has strongly condemned the detention of top political leaders and government officials, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint in Myanmar, by the country’s military.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson on Sunday [31 January 2021], Secretary-General António Guterres also voiced “grave concern” regarding the declaration of the transfer of all legislative, executive and judicial powers to the military.
“These developments represent a serious blow to democratic reforms in Myanmar”, the statement said.
HUMAN WRONGS WATCH 