Walter Isack / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Statement by Commissioner Mariya Gabriel on support to artists, cultural professionals and culture organizations impacted by the Russian war against Ukraine and for the protection of cultural heritage
Today, 21 April, is the United Nations World Day of Creativity and Innovation. A few days ago, on 18 April, we celebrated the International Day for Monuments and Sites.
On this occasion, I would like to express my full solidarity with the Ukrainian artists, creatives, culture professionals, and of course, cultural heritage and all cultural and creative sectors. They are the beating heart of Ukraine, and their work epitomises the Ukrainian history, identity, language, and hopes for the future. They are also part of our common European identity, made of a mosaic of cultures, in full respect of cultural diversity.
On 24 February 2022, the Russian Federation started the war of aggression against Ukraine. We, the European Union, stand by Ukraine and its people. Since then, the European Commission has been mobilising its financial instruments to support the artists and culture professionals fleeing the war, the culture organisations of the countries receiving Ukrainian refugees, as well as the protection of cultural heritage.
First, we support Ukrainian artists, culture professionals and culture organisations.
To start with, the Commission has extended the 2022 Creative Europe culture cooperation projects call from 31 March to 5 May 2022, to allow more Ukrainian partners to participate. In addition, the Commission will allow maximum flexibility for ongoing EU-funded projects with Ukrainian organisations.
Next, we will allocate a specific budget of the new mobility instrument in the Creative Europe programme to the benefit of Ukrainian artists. In the same perspective, the Commission will propose to the Member States to launch a special action dedicated to Ukraine under the Creative Europe programme, targeting both Ukrainian artists and organisations.
The “Creatives Unite” platform, co-funded by the EU, has also proved useful by collecting and publishing initiatives taken in favour of Ukrainian artists and creatives by European networks and other beneficiaries supported through the Creative Europe programme. Member States can also use the platform to inform them about their initiatives.
Second, we are mobilised to protect the Ukrainian cultural heritage.
The Commission will continue to support the Member States in delivering emergency equipment and material for the protection of Ukrainian cultural heritage under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).
The Creative Europe programme will also include a dedicated action on sharing expertise and capacity building of Ukrainian professionals for reconstruction of cultural heritage.
The European Competence Centre for Cultural Heritage (4CH) has launched “Save the Ukraine Monuments”, an initiative to save the digital documentation of Ukrainian cultural heritage, to preserve its memory and support the future restoration of assets from the damages caused by the war.
Finally, the #ARTvsWAR campaign launched by the EU on 18 April is drawing the attention to the destruction of cultural heritage, the initiatives to preserve it, and the vibrancy and resilience of the Ukrainian artists, culture professionals and citizens in general.
I am convinced that Culture and cultural heritage are our strongest bonds to the past, to our present, and to our future. As such, preserving our rich cultural diversity and cultural heritage is our common responsibility towards future generations. It is only by joining forces and acting all together that we will be able to meet this challenge.
But before we get to the exciting stuff, there’s no denying the gravity of the problem.
The Earth is facing a ‘triple planetary crisis’: climate disruption, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.
“This triple crisis is threatening the well-being and survival of millions of people around the world. The building blocks of happy, healthy lives – clean water, fresh air, a stable and predictable climate – are in disarray, putting the Sustainable Development Goals in jeopardy”, the UN Secretary-General warns in a video message for Earth Day 2022.
The good news is that there is still hope, António Guterres stresses, reminding us that 50 years ago, the world came together in Stockholm for the pivotal UN Conference on the Human Environment, which kickstarted a global movement.
“Since then, we have seen what is possible when we act as one. We have shrunk the ozone hole. We have expanded protections for wildlife and ecosystems. We have ended the use of leaded fuel, preventing millions of premature deaths. And just last month, we launched a landmark global effort to prevent and end plastic pollution”.
We have proven that together, we can tackle monumental challenges.
The positive developments have not stopped there, the recently recognized right to a healthy environment is gaining traction and young people are more engaged than ever in the combat to take on our planetary threats.
“We have proven that together, we can tackle monumental challenges”, Mr. Guterres says.
Of course, much more needs to be done – and more quickly – to protect our home, but to celebrate Earth Day, we want to highlight five projects being implemented around the world right now aimed at repairing the damage we have caused.
These solutions are just some of the founding initiatives of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a global rallying cry launched last year to heal our planet. It aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and ocean.
So here are 5 ways that we (humans) are working to restore our ailing Earth:
Activists of Green Forests Work planting native trees in Appalachia, United States, where surface coal mining has devastated forests…
In Appalachia, a geographical and cultural region in the eastern United States that includes Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia and is named after the Appalachian Mountains, the NGO Green Forests Work (GFW) is restoring forests on lands impacted by coal surface mining projects.
Surface mining is a technique used when coal is less than 200 feet underground. Large machines remove the topsoil and layers of rock and expose coal seams. Miners might also dynamite the tops of mountains and remove them to access the seams.
Once the mining is completed, what was once a forest is often converted into grasslands often composed of non-native species. This means, of course, the loss of large tracts of forested areas and the displacement and even loss of species.
To reverse this incredible damage, since 2009, Green Forests Work has been restoring mined lands by planting nearly 4 million native trees across more than 6,000 acres.
“Many mined lands are among the best places to plant trees for the purposes of mitigating climate change. Because the soils of reclaimed mined lands initially have very little organic carbon, they can serve as carbon sinks for decades, if not centuries, as the forests grow and build the soils,” Michael French, GFW Director of Operations explains to UN News.
He adds that by restoring native forests to these lands, they are restoring the ecosystem services they provide to society, including clean air and water, improved wildlife habitat, climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration, as well as a sustainable economic resource base.
“We at GFW hope that everyone is able to get out and experience the wonders of the natural world and make their own contribution to improving the world around them this Earth Day and every day,” Mr. French highlights.
This 300 metre long Karda (goanna) Noongar totem has been planted by the Nowanup Ranger Team in the South west of Australia.
Twenty years ago, a satellite photograph of Australia’s south-western corner showing the vast extent of natural vegetation lost due to human activity since the European settlement inspired a group of activists to form Gondwana Link.
The image showed how two-thirds of the vegetation in the region had been cleared across thousands of kilometres, and, over much of the agricultural region, many areas had less than 5-10 per cent of their original bushland (natural undeveloped areas) left.
They realized, however, that many biodiversity hotspots remained intact in conservation areas, although disconnected, across 1000 kilometres.
Even the largest patches of natural habitats are unable to guarantee the survival or continued evolution of species if they remain isolated from each other. Many bird and animal species are being reduced to small, isolated populations that are under stress, for example.
Unless these areas are reconnected, many species could be lost, something Godwana Link is working to prevent.
“Habitats are protected, managed, restored and reconnected throughout the climate gradient that wildlife will move along in the face of climate change, from semi-arid woodlands to tall wet forests. This work is being achieved in ways that support the aspirations of the Noongar and Ngadju people, who were dispossessed in colonial times but are now regaining the right and the ability to be land managers once again,” CEO Keith Bradby explains to UN News.
Mr. Bradby describes how significant gains have been made with the work of a broad range of groups, businesses and individuals contributing a 16-million-hectare habitat area now recognised as the Great Western Woodlands.
“Over 20,000 hectares of farmland has been purchased in the critical habitat gaps, with large swathes under restoration plantings and wildlife already returning. Our state government has announced the end of logging in our native forests”, he adds.
The work of the organization has been recognized globally as an example of what large-scale ecosystem restoration looks like.
“Every day can be Earth Day. We can do it – and the more the merrier”, says Mr. Bradby.
Restored corals in Laughing Bird Caye National Park, Belize.
The image above is from Laughing Bird Caye National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Belize. It shows a restored coral reef previously victim of a bleaching event and in danger of death.
Coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth, harbouring 25 per cent of all marine life.
They are in danger of disappearing by the end of the century all over the world due to the rising temperature and acidity of our ocean’s consequence of climate change.
Their loss would have devastating consequences not only for marine life, but also for over a billion people globally who benefit directly or indirectly from them.
Fragments of Hope is successfully re-seeding devastated reefs by planting genetically robust, diverse and resilient corals in southern Belize.
As a diver, Lisa Carne, the organization’s founder, explains that besides massive coral bleaching events and hurricanes in the region, she saw some corals bouncing back.
“These are the stronger survivors that we are propagating and replenishing the reef with,” she tells UN News.
Since the early 2000’s, Ms. Carne and other women divers and marine biologists from the NGO have been growing healthy corals in nurseries and them transplanting them by hand in shallow water.
“Our work is important because we are striving to prevent the extinction of the Caribbean acroporids corals which are listed as critically endangered which is one step away from extinct in the wild. We think it is also important to educate and inspire people to do more to understand reefs and the threats to them such as climate change,” she explains.
Today, over 49,000 nursery-grown coral fragments have been successfully out-planted in Laughing Bird Caye National Park, turning it once again into a vibrant tourism destination with thriving corals and abundant marine life. These corals have over six years survivorship and are considered the longest documented in the Caribbean.
New nursery and out-plant sites include Moho Caye (over 11,000 corals out-planted) and South Silk Caye (over 2,000 corals out-planted).
“Our message for this Earth Day 2022 is that we as a global society need to do better. What we’ve been doing so far is not working for our planet. We often think about ecosystems and biomes on a small scale but on a larger scale, business as usual is not working, so we all need to do our part to radically change our ways to protect our planet earth,” urges Ms. Carne.
4. Restoring watersheds affected by the climate crisis in the Andes
Native forests have been largely lost in the Peruvian Andes over the last 500 years following the Spanish conquest…
Another example of large-scale restoration and conservation efforts is happening in the Andes mountains in South America where local communities across five different countries are working together to grow and plant native trees and protect their water sources.
“Native forests have been largely lost in the Andes over the last 500 years following the Spanish conquest. With the last Andean glaciers melting rapidly, water security is now becoming a major issue for local communities and even major South American cities,” Constatino Aucca Chutas, co-founder of the NGO Acción Andina tells UN News.
Mr. Aucca explains that native forests, especially the Polylepis species [shrub and trees that are endemic to the mid- and high-elevation regions of the tropical Andes] and wetlands help create and store large amounts of water around their roots, soils and moss.
“They are our best allies to adapt to climate change and will help secure water for our livelihoods in the next decades to come. But we have to bring them back”, he highlights.
And that’s exactly what Accion Andina is doing: by the end of 2022, they will have planted more than 6 million native trees across the Andes. Their goal is to protect and restore one million hectares of high Andean forests in the next 25 years.
“We have found a unique way to do so: we are reviving the ancient Inca traditions of “Ayni and Minka – which stands for collaboration and community services in our local Quechua culture. With our growing network of local NGO partners, we help communities protect remaining forests; we invest in local nurseries to grow new native forests; we organize community planting festivals – our renowned Queuña Raymi – to plant up to 100,000 trees in a single day; and we are supporting communities to make an additional living from these new restoration opportunities,” Mr. Aucca explains.
He says that while world leaders are still just talking about possible solutions to climate change, thousands of people are already acting on the ground.
“Mobilizing thousands of people to restore forests and achieve immediate climate action is possible… Our Mother Earth is tired of seeing all this hypocrisy, comfort and ego of the leaders who can decide and put on the ground the solutions to have a healthy planet. Local communities and the planet claim for more action, is time to take action for the sake of all of us,” Mr. Aucca urges in his message for Earth Day.
5. Restoring carbon absorbing seagrass
Unsplash/Geoff Trodd
Manatees, also know as sea cows, are starving to death due to the loss of seagrass.
Seagrass provides food and shelter for many marine organisms. They are multifunctional ecosystems and are often referred as nursery habitats because they usually harbour young fish, smaller species of fish and invertebrates.
Because they are plants, seagrasses photosynthesise in the same way terrestrial plants do, using sunlight to synthetise nutrients from carbon dioxide and water and releasing oxygen.
This means that they are an essential tool in combating climate change, on top of their biological functions.
In the last 40 years, the world has lost one third of seagrass meadows due to sustain pressure from coastal development, water quality decline and of course, climate change.
Project Seagrass in the United Kingdom has been working for a decade to reverse that trend.
With the help of over 3000 volunteers, they have been able to plant over a million seagrass seeds and create awareness of the importance of these plants.
“With two full hectares of seagrass successfully restored, our organization has proved that large-scale seagrass restoration in the UK is possible. We are using a mix of cutting-edge technologies to assess sites and plan field trials”, the organization explains.
IMF/Raphael Alves
A lake inside an Amazon rainforest within the city of Manaus, Brazil.
That’s not all folks
These are just five examples of the more than 50 projects registered with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. There are thousands of people and organizations already on the ground and making a difference to protect our Earth.
When the UN General Assembly meets this September, we will find out the first 10 World Restoration Flagships, the most promising examples of large-scale and long-term ecosystem restoration.
Bringing back ecosystems from the brink of degradation and loss is possible – and people around the world are already making it happen.
“Because we have only one Mother Earth. We must do everything we can to protect her”, the UN chief reminds us.
The Council adopted today a decision establishing an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility (EPF) in support of the African Union worth €600 million. The EU reaffirms its strong commitment to the EU-AU partnership and to cooperation in the area of peace and security.
Covering the period 2022-2024, the three-year Assistance Measure continues the well-established provision of long-term EU support to African-led Peace Support Operations. Within its framework, the African Union will be able to request support for individual Peace Support Operations as needs arise, allowing a quick response to relevant security developments on the African continent.
The adopted support is in line with the EU’s commitment to strengthen multilateralism and in particular the key role of the AU regarding peace and security on the African continent. It forms an important part of the two Union’s renewed and enhanced cooperation for peace and security, as announced in the recent AU-EU Summit Declaration.
In the framework of this Council Decision, the Political and Security Committee has approved additional support to further enhance the operational effectiveness of the Multi-National Joint Task Force against Boko Haram (MNJTF) in partnership with the African Union and create a safe and secure environment in the areas affected by the activities of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups. This is the first action supported under the new Assistance Measure in support of African-led Peace Support Operations.
The EU will add €10 million to the resources already mobilised under the EPF for the MNJTF, increasing its overall support to €20 million and allowing for an extension of the provided support until the end of 2022. Previous support covering the period 1 January – 30 June 2022 was agreed on 16 December 2021.
The support provided covers personnel and operational/logistical costs, including ground and air transportation, communication equipment and medical services, to enable the MNJT to effectively carry out its mandate.
Background
The EPF was created in 2021 to support partners around the world in the areas of military and defence. The EU has recently agreed to support Ukraine with a substantive package of military aid under the EPF. At the same time, the EU does not lose sight of its partnerships with other parts of the world, especially Africa, fully recognising the importance of addressing crises and violent conflict on the African continent jointly and in a comprehensive way.
The decision to support the African Union with €600 million is a strong signal of EU’s long-standing commitments to African partners, particularly the African Union.
The EU remains the only sizeable direct contributor to the MNJTF for a total amount of €124.4 million since 2016. The EU is ready to stay closely engaged and fully committed to contributing to the activities of the MNJTF and consolidate the achievements attained so far.
In line with the EU’s Integrated Approach to external conflicts and crises, EPF funding for the MNJTF is one element of a broader, coordinated and coherent response of the EU to support resilience, stabilisation and economic recovery in the Lake Chad Basin. All this should in turn contribute to the implementation of the Lake Chad Regional Stabilisation Strategy in close coordination with all key actors, including the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the African Union.
So far, the Council has adopted ten assistance measures under the European Peace Facility.
The Council added 8 individuals and 4 entities to the list of those subject to the restrictive measures against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). These restrictive measures consist of a travel ban, an asset freeze and a prohibition to make funds or economic resources available to those listed.
The new listings include individuals who have held leading positions in institutions that are engaged in the development of the missile programme and individuals and entities that have engaged in sanctions evasion activities that could generate funds for the illegal weapons programmes.
The EU is determined to prevent the flow of components, finance and knowledge that could be used by the DPRK to support the development of its illegal weapons programmes. The EU calls on the DPRK to cease destabilising actions, respect its obligations under international law and resume dialogue with relevant parties.
The decision brings the total number of persons listed autonomously by the EU to 65. In addition, the EU has frozen the assets of 13 entities as part of its own sanctions regime. It has also transposed all relevant UN Security Council resolutions, which impose sanctions on 80 persons and 75 entities currently listed by the UN.
The legal acts have been adopted by written procedure. They include the names and specific reasons for listing published in the Official Journal.
Background
The EU’s sanctions regime against the DPRK was adopted in response to the DPRK’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development activities, which are in breach of numerous UNSC resolutions. The EU not only transposes the sanctions imposed by the UN but also has its own autonomous measures, which complement and reinforce the sanctions adopted by the UN. The additional listings adopted today are EU autonomous measures against the DPRK.
The Council adopted today a decision amending the assistance measure for support to the Mozambican Armed Forces under the European Peace Facility (EPF) adopted in November 2021, adding a further amount of €45 million. This additional support brings overall EPF support for Mozambique to €89 million in total.
The assistance measure aims to strengthen EU support for capacity building and the deployment of the units of the Mozambican Armed Forces trained by the EU Training Mission in Mozambique (EUTM Mozambique). This support consists of the provision of integrated packages of equipment and supplies in conjunction with EU training missions. The aim is to ensure that the training is as efficient and effective as possible, enabling EUTM-trained troops to be fully operational and self-sufficient upon deployment.
Through this assistance measure, the EU will finance equipment to benefit the eleven Mozambican companies to be trained by the EUTM, including individual and collective equipment, ground mobility assets, as well as a field hospital.
Background
The European Peace Facility was established in March 2021 to finance all Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) actions in military and defence areas, with the aim of preventing conflict, preserving peace and strengthening international security and stability. In particular, the European Peace Facility allows the EU to finance actions designed to strengthen the capacities of third states and regional and international organisations as regards military and defence matters.
So far, the Council has adopted ten assistance measures under the European Peace Facility.
Starting today at the Park Avenue Armory, the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair is once again in person after a two-year pandemic pause. Now in its 62nd year, the fair will present a trove of treasures from almost 200 exhibitors through Sunday. For a general admission of $30, you can browse and behold beautiful objets d’art, from rare books and maps to illuminated manuscripts and historical documents.
Unusual artifacts — such as a fragment of the costume worn by actress Laura Keene that has President Abraham Lincoln’s blood on it from the night he was shot at Ford’s Theatre — are also up for sale.
But to do more than look costs much much more. Below, The Post looks at the five priciest pieces up for auction.
The Thackrey Library — $2 million
The extensive collection includes three early editions of Arnaldus de Villa Nova’s “De vinis,” which Ben Kinmont Bookseller noted was “widely considered to be the first printed book on making wine.” Above, one of the editions from 1530. Courtesy of Ben Kinmont Bookseller
The Thackrey Library is touted as “the greatest collection of wine books and manuscripts in private hands in the United States,” according to Ben Kinmont Bookseller.
It includes seminal works about the libation and how grapes were grown from the 15th century to the late 19th century, and offers a “remarkably complete picture of the culture of wine in Western civilization.”
The extensive collection also includes three early editions from the 1500s of Arnaldus de Villa Nova’s “De vinis,” which Ben Kinmont Bookseller noted were “widely considered to be the first printed book on making wine.”
The Manhattan Project documents — $1.5 million
Above, what may be the earliest sketch of a “mushroom cloud” produced from a nuclear weapon, according to Boston Rare Maps and Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps. Courtesy of Boston Rare Maps and Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps
During World War II, the United States commissioned the top-secret Manhattan Project to research, develop and test nuclear bombs. On July 16, 1945 at 5:30 a.m., the first bomb was detonated at what was called the Trinity site in New Mexico.
Over 300 drawings, maps and other documents from the Manhattan Project Medical Group are up for auction for $1.5 million. One sketch depicts a “mushroom cloud,” according to Boston Rare Maps and Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps.
Charlotte Brontë miniature book — $1.25 million
Brontë (1816-1855) wrote “A Book of Ryhmes by Charlotte Brontë, Sold by Nobody, and Printed by Herself” when she was 13, according to James Cummins Bookseller.Courtesy of James Cummins Bookseller and Maggs Bro
English novelist and poet Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855) was the eldest of three sisters whose works are an important part of literature’s cannon. Brontë wrote “Jane Eyre,” which was published in 1847. The classic has been made into movie many times.
An unpublished manuscript of Brontë, who wrote it when she was 13, was recently rediscovered. Titled “A Book of Ryhmes by Charlotte Brontë, Sold by Nobody, and Printed by Herself” is dated December 1829 and “smaller than a playing card,” according to James Cummins Bookseller and Maggs Bros.
The miniature book is for sale for $1.25 million, which, if sold, may be the highest ever fetched for a female author’s work, according to BBC News.
Gandhi fingerprint — $850,000
“This is what I gave voluntarily at the risk of my life to keep my promise to the Government. Phoenix, Natal, 15th February 1909, M.K. Gandhi.”Courtesy of Raptis Rare Books
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) led the nonviolent movement for India’s independence from British rule. In 1893, 23-year-old Gandhi moved to South Africa to practice law. The discrimination he experienced there “inspired him to found the Natal Indian Congress which opposed several proposed discriminatory legislations,” according to Raptis Rare Books.
The bookseller is offering a South African government document that contains Gandhi’s fingerprints and includes the inscription: “This is what I gave voluntarily at the risk of my life to keep my promise to the Government. Phoenix, Natal, 15th February 1909, M.K. Gandhi.”
The Great Gatsby — $358,000
First edition of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.”Courtesy of Peter Harrington Rare Books
“For Christ’s sake don’t give anyone that jacket you’re saving for me. I’ve written it into the book,” author F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940) wrote his publisher in 1924.
The classic cover was created by Francis Cugat (1893-1981) and influenced him while writing, according to Peter Harrington Rare Books, which is offering a first edition at the fair.
“The Great Gatsby” and Fitzgerald’s work came to define the jazz age of the 1920s.
The future of sustainable development will hinge on the fate of cities, officials told a special meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Thursday, stressing that the more than half of the world’s population currently live in urban environments, a number likely to rise to nearly 70 per cent by 2050.
“The actions we take now must lead us to…a new social integration based on the principles of prosperity, transformation, adaptation, equity and respect for human rights,” said Martha Delgado, President of the UN-Habitat Assembly.
Highlighting urbanization as one of today’s great megatrends, she joined others in calling for resilient, sustainable “smart cities” that are more inclusively governed and better prepared to navigate future shocks and crises.
New Urban Agenda
Thursday’s special meeting on Sustainable Urbanization and the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda will complement a similar High-Level meeting of the General Assembly, on 28 April.
The Agenda put forward standards and commitments for the planning, construction, development, management and improvement of urban areas.
It also articulated a shared vision for cities as just, safe, healthy, accessible and affordable places where all inhabitants are able to live without discrimination.
COVID-19 disparities
Opening Thursday’s meeting, ECOSOC President Collen Vixen Kelapile urged participants to examine urban issues through the lens of inequality, especially given the stark disparities illustrated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Sustainable development will hinge on how we manage urbanization,” he said, adding that current discussions should be framed in the context of responding to COVID-19 response and the climate crisis.
Noting that 1.2 billion people in the global South currently live in informal settlements and slums, Mr. Kelapile reminded that they have long struggled to prevent disease transmissions, now including COVID-19.
Meanwhile, in the global North, dependence on welfare, where available, increased manifold during the pandemic and many people entered the ranks of the homeless.
In response, cities have deployed creative actions and provided services in underserved areas, while new urban models are beginning to pay more attention to pedestrians and mixed land uses.
Reclamation, inclusivity, greening
UN-Habitat chief Maimunah Mohd Sharif agreed that the world’s cities have been absorbing much of COVID’ s socioeconomic impact.
However, that has often resulted in closer cooperation between national and local governments, which, in turn, has led to greater reclamation, greening and inclusive use of public space.
Spotlighting a fresh opportunity to build on those partnerships, she said: “We can provide basic services in a more equitable manner, reduce commuting through tele-work and reduce carbon emissions by prudent use of energy.”
Upgrading slums and addressing the housing affordability crisis remain the highest priorities for countries.
Meanwhile, as cities have been forced to augment emergency social spending during the pandemic, she warned that Agenda implementation continues to be impeded by inadequate financing, further crippled by dramatic expenditure reductions.
COVID-19 demonstrated that real value comes from providing affordable service, rather than extracting profit, she added.
UN Photo/Manuel Elías
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) convenes a special meeting on Sustainable Urbanization and the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
Accelerating progress
“Achieving the New Urban Agenda’s goals will accelerate our progress on human welfare and security globally,” said General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid.
He joined other speakers in emphasizing that, when properly managed, cities are among humanity’s most sustainable living environments.
On the climate front, adhering to the Agenda will help keep alive the goal of limiting planetary warming to 1.5°C.
Cities ‘connect the dots’
Echoing those points, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said the Agenda also includes measures to secure land tenure, promote affordable housing, enhance mobility and provide services that are accessible to all.
“Cities can spearhead innovations to bridge the inequalities gaps, deliver climate action and ensure a green and inclusive COVID-19 recovery,” she said.
The deputy UN chief added that urban spaces “connect the dots” on many of today’s global challenges.
The Council adopted today restrictive measures, within the framework of the existing sanctions, on two more individuals for their role in undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine and for benefitting from Russian decision-makers responsible for the illegal annexation of Crimea or the destabilisation of eastern Ukraine.
The persons designated today are the following businessmen:
Serhiy Vitaliyovich Kurchenko, a Ukrainian national, who among other actions, took control of several large metallurgical, chemical and energy plants in the separatist-held areas with support from pro-Russia separatists. Moreover, Serhiy Kurchenko strengthened the independent power supplies of the Crimean peninsula. He also owns the largest oil depot on the Crimean Peninsula.
Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin is a prominent Russian businessman with close ties to President Putin and the Russian Ministry of Defence. He is the founder and unofficial head of the Wagner Group, a Russia-based unincorporated military entity, responsible for the deployment of Wagner Group mercenaries in Ukraine. Some of his companies have been benefitting from large public contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defence following the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia and occupation of eastern Ukraine by Russia-backed separatists.
The European Union does not recognise the illegal annexation of Crimea and of the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation and continues to condemn the Russian violation of international law. Moreover, the EU remains unwavering in its support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.
EU restrictive measures regarding the undermining of the territorial integrity of Ukraine now apply to a total of 1093 persons and 80 entities. Those designated persons and entities are subject to an asset freeze – including a prohibition on making funds available to them – and, additionally, those persons are subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through the EU.
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine grossly violates international law and is causing massive loss of life and injury to civilians. Russia is directing attacks against the civilian population and is targeting civilian objects, including hospitals, medical facilities, schools and shelters. These war crimes must stop immediately. Those responsible, and their accomplices, will be held to account in accordance with international law. The siege of Mariupol and other Ukrainian cities, and the denial of humanitarian access by Russian military forces are unacceptable. Russian forces must immediately provide for safe pathways to other parts of Ukraine, as well as humanitarian aid to be delivered to Mariupol and other besieged cities.
The European Council demands that Russia immediately stop its military aggression in the territory of Ukraine, immediately and unconditionally withdraw all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine, and fully respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within its internationally recognised borders.
The relevant legal acts, including more details of the persons concerned, will be published in the Official Journal.
Over the past two months, Ukraine has seen “suffering, devastation, and destruction on a massive scale”, the UN Crisis Coordinator for the country told journalists on Thursday, and echoed the Secretary-General in saying, “we must stop the bloodshed and destruction”.
“At least 15.7 million people in Ukraine are now in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection…over five million people fled Ukraine to seek safety in other countries and another 7.1 million have been internally displaced across the country,” said Assistant Secretary-General Amin Awad during a press conference in Lviv, west Ukraine.
“This represents more than 25 per cent of the entire population of Ukraine”.
Mass-scale devastation
Since the war started, civilian infrastructure has taken a huge hit with more than 136 health facilities and an average of 22 schools a day coming under attack.
Moreover, damaged water systems have left six million people without regular access.
“The world is shocked by what is happening in Ukraine,” said Mr. Awad, calling “deeply disturbing” the treatment of war prisoners and that the fate of civilians in Mariupol remains unknown.
Meanwhile, people living in occupied Kherson are short on food and medicines; Mykolaiv has been without water for seven days; and the devastation of urban centres and civilian infrastructure across the oblasts – especially in Donetska, Luhanska, Khakvska, Kyivska and Chernivska – have disrupted critical services for millions, including water and health care.
First-hand accounts
The UN Crisis Coordinator described first-hand, his account of the devastation.
“I have met with people who had to carry the bodies of their family members and neighbours from the streets of Bucha and Irpin to be buried in gardens or mass graves. I cannot begin to imagine their suffering”.
He reminded that attacking noncombatants or civilian infrastructure is “a clear violation of international humanitarian law,” calling for it to stop and for civilians to be protected and allowed safe passage.
Humanitarians, returnees
At the same time, humanitarians face tremendous challenges that often prevent them from delivering assistance to areas where people are in desperate need.
“I appeal for safe and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance,” said the UN official.
Mr. Awad also pointed out that some of the over 12 million people who have been displaced are now returning home.
“As United Nations, and together with our humanitarian and development partners, we must be ready to support their durable solution from the start”.
He underscored the Secretary-General’s call for a humanitarian pause and the need to “put aside divisions and focus on converging interests to end this senseless war”.
New funds allocated
The Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Osnat Lubrani, informed the media that the UN humanitarian office, OCHA, has released to aid organizations an additional $50 million on top of the $158 million already provided for life-saving operations.
This included nearly $98 million from the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF), the largest allotment since it was established in 2019, and $60 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
Amidst mounting allegations of rape, she said that part of the money would be directed to prevent any form of gender-based violence and to support survivors.
“Thanks to the timely support of our donors, these funds will allow us to reach millions of people – mainly in the most affected oblasts in the east of the country –with the support they need to survive and face probably one of the biggest challenges of their lives,” Ms. Lubrani said.
People fleeing the heavily bombed city of Mykolaiv pass through Lviv, western Ukraine, en route to Poland.
Consequences of war
Nearly two months of intense and escalating hostilities in Ukraine continue to have horrific repercussions for civilians and caused a grave humanitarian crisis.
“Aid workers from local and international NGOs and UN agencies have worked day and night to scale up our response to assist more than 3.3 million people. This is alongside the incredible work done by volunteers across the country,” explained Ms. Lubrani, adding that just yesterday the UN managed to deliver nine trucks of relief items to the city of Chernihiv.
The Humanitarian Coordinator also gave examples of how over 145,000 people in non-Government-controlled areas of Luhanska oblast are receiving protection services, and those in transit areas of Lviv have received hygiene kits as they moved in search of safety, thanks to the UHF’s implementing partners.
Challenges abound
Despite these critical efforts and invaluable assistance, much more is required to meet the growing needs of Ukrainians.
“It is remarkable how the humanitarian community here managed, in a few weeks, to expand from delivering assistance in two areas of eastern Ukraine to now operating across all 24 oblasts,” acknowledged Ms. Lubnrani.
“However, we are still not able or have been prevented from reaching areas where people are in dire need of assistance, including Mariupol and Kherson”.
Launching on Earth Day – 22 April – Hove based social enterprise, It’s OurPlanet Too has created a new eco subscription box for children – A TOOL KIT FOR ECO HEROES. Designed to connect children with our precious planet and help empower parents to start conversations with their children about the environment. The tool kits are 100% sustainable and plastic-free and provide a fun and exciting eco-led gift, that educates and gives back.
Each themed tool kit will deliver fun activities, news and information to encourage children to think about how what we do affects our environment, from tiny seedlings to huge trees and the animals that rely on them.
Inside their launch tool kit (themed ‘Our World Is Changing’), you will find over four hours of activities, a recipe, an eco heroes manifesto poster, a reward chart and much more.
Knowing that many parents don’t feel equipped to speak to their children about environmental concerns, an easy crib sheet is included in each tool kit. The aim is to empower parents to start those conversations and make it easier to include their children on the journey to greener living.
The tool kits are 100% sustainable and plastic-free and printed locally, many of the tasks utilise materials already found in the home or even in the recycling box! The contents support the national curriculum and have been developed in consultation with a primary headteacher.
At It’s Our Planet Too, their vision is for every child to believe that they have the power to protect our planet. With the need to tackle climate change, improve climate literacy and weave sustainable practices into all we do, there has never been a more crucial time to inspire and educate our children about environmental issues.
The tool kits will be available to purchase from their website from mid-April. Prices start at£9.50 for an individual tool kit, discounted subscriptions are available for 3, 6 and 12 months.
As a social venture, they are committed to giving back. They do this by educating little ones(and their families) to make positive changes towards a greener future, whilst supporting charities. They pledge to give a minimum of 50% of their profits to good causes.
For images, please click here. Samples are available.
Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of It’s Our Planet too, on Thursday 21 April, 2022. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/
