One of this year’s award recipients is Lion’s Roar Associate Editor and co-editor of Black and Buddhist, Pamela Ayo Yetunde.
The “Outstanding Women in Buddhism” awards will be held by the International Women’s Meditation Center Foundation (IWMCF) on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2022 at Boonyaniti Temple in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, and online via Zoom.
This year, 19 women have been chosen to receive the award, including Lion’s Roar Associate Editor and co-editor of Black and Buddhist along with Cheryl A. Giles, Pamela Ayo Yetunde, in part for her “ability to inform, educate, and move people to inquire about race, compassion, and Buddhist justice.”
The IWMCF is based in Rayong, Thailand, and aims to create gender equality in Buddhism by “establishing bhikkunis as leaders in society.” The foundation offers a number of services including post-graduate education for bhikkhunis, IT and media services for women dharma teachers, and meditation and Buddhist practice instruction for women and girls.
The “Outstanding Women in Buddhism” award was founded in 2002 by Bhikkhuni Rattanavali and Bhikkhuni Dr. Lee with the objective of recognizing Buddhist women’s accomplishments in celebration of International Women’s Day, and to “celebrate the acts of courage and determination by women in the history of Buddhism.” After 20 years of this annual award, nearly 200 women from over 20 countries have received this award.
The 2022 award recipients for Outstanding Woman in Buddhism are as follows:
Bhikkuni Ani Choejin Samdrup (Thailand)
Bhikkhuni Der-Chia, (Taiwan)
Bhikkhuni Dr. Jian Hui, Taiwan
Bhikkhuni Liao Guo, China
Bhikkhuni Surindra, Thailand,
Bhikkhuni Tsung-Tueng, Thailand
Chen Yun Chang, Taiwan,
Ching Yi Chi, Taiwan
Khenmo Dromla, USA
Kim Behan, USA
Maechee Orawan Maneeratanachot, Thailand,
Martine Batchelor, France
Mei Yun Tang, Taiwan,
Merry Kham Oo, Myanmar
Mingli C. Shih, Taiwan,
Pamela Ayo Yetunde, USA
Saijai Wannual, Thailand,
Thanissara, UK
Venerable Gawa Khandro, Canada
For more information on the award, visit IWMCF’s website.
Dalai Lama temple gate at McLeod Ganj (Photo/VOA Tibetan)
By Choekyi Lhamo
The Thekchen Choeling Tsuglakhang known commonly as the Dalai Lama’s temple here at the seat of the exile Tibetan diaspora is set to finally open its doors for visitors from Thursday, which marks the Tibetan New Year or Losar. From the onset of the pandemic, the temple completely shut down its gates for the public due to fear of the Covid-19 spread since March 2020.
After almost two years, the temple will now be open for all the devotees and visitors with precautionary protocols in place. The notice dated February 28 requested the public to wear masks at all times, maintain proper social distancing and sanitize as and when anyone enters the premises.
However, there are no change in information regarding the schedule in the upcoming months for the patron of the temple, His Holiness the Dalai Lama even though the temple is set to be open for devotees and tourists. The octogenarian leader met with the elected President of the Tibetan government-in-exile Penpa Tsering, and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in December.
The Dalai Lama has also not conducted any mass teachings or appearances in person since February 2020, as he suspended all engagements and meetings following the outbreak of the Covid-19 around the world. He commenced online teachings in May 2020, and was only seen once outside of his residence for his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccination at a local hospital in Dharamshala in March last year.
Pope Francis has sent a video message in Spanish to young people involved in preparations for World Youth Day 2023, which will take place from 1-6 August in Lisbon, Portugal.
The Pope said he looks forward to meeting young people for the celebrations just as they do in gathering together from around the globe for the international celebrations.
Instill hope and be creative
The Pope acknowledged the difficult context that we are living today, coming out of the pandemic crisis and now faced with a new war crisis.
Despite these great challenges, he encouraged the volunteers to use all their creative energy to ensure that WYD 2023 will be a youthful, joyful, lively, and memorable experience for all, offering the joyful hope that faith in God brings.
He called on them to be creative like poets to dream up a new experience that will be remembered and not just a repeat of previous WYD gatherings. Everyone can contribute here, the Pope said, saying, “Take courage and strive ahead!”
Crises overcome together
The Pope called on them to see how we can address and overcome the crises the world faces today with the witness of hope that comes from faith.
The crises offer us an opportunity to work for the better and to come out of them better, he underscored, reminding them to unleash their creative zeal in looking ahead to WYD 2023.
The Pope assured them of his prayers and requested their prayers for him and his ministry, asking the Lord to bless them and the Virgin Mary to protect them.
Ukraine addressed the UN’s highest court on Monday to reject as a “grotesque lie” Russia’s claims that genocide has been committed in eastern Ukrainian oblasts, or regions, before calling for emergency measures to halt Russian aggression.
Thedevelopment at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) came on day 12 of the crisis in Ukraine, where more than 1.5 million refugees have sought shelter across the country’s borders and where cities have been surrounded by Russian forces and civilians are subject to indiscriminate shelling.
“Let us settle our dispute like civilized nations. Lay down your arms and put forward your evidence,” said Anton Korynevych, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine, in his opening address.
WATCH LIVE: Ukraine presents its argument on its request for the indication of provisional measures in the case of Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (#Ukraine v. #Russia) before the #ICJhttps://t.co/fvTv03lUKA
“Ukraine respects this court and follows its orders. Russia must as well,” he added. “But if Russia will not return to international law on its own, the court has the power to act. With respect, the court has responsibility to act.”
Direct violation of international law
Also representing Ukraine at the world court in The Hague, international lawyers argued that the Russian offensive was in direct violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention – and that its actions had reduced the global treaty to “confetti”, despite having signed the text.
Russia’s claim that it was duty-bound to intervene to prevent the massacre of people in Donetsk and Luhansk was “absurd”, they maintained- before a row of empty Russian seats -noting that Russia had not provided any proof to back up its allegations of genocide against nearly four million people in Russian-speaking Donetsk and Luhansk.
Unfounded Donbass allegations
Citing violence in the eastern oblasts dating back to 2014, the court heard that international monitoring missions there had reported a dramatic drop in the number of casualties in recent years.
“It would be an understatement to say that Russia has provided no evidence for genocide in the course of this conflict,” said David Zionts, for Ukraine.
“The closest President Putin has come to even explaining his allegation of genocide is to assert as he did on 21 February of this year, and I quote, ‘Not a single day goes by without Donbass communities coming under shelling attacks’, end quote. This is another flagrant lie, for which Russia has offered no support.”
Addressing a 10-strong panel of judges in the Great Hall of Justice, Mr. Zionts insisted that Russia’s narrative was based on “forgeries, fakes and distortions…The consequences are unprovoked aggression, cities under siege, civilians under fire, a humanitarian catastrophe and people fleeing for their lives”.
Sounding the alarm
The ICJ also heard how UN Human Rights Council-appointed monitoring missions in Ukraine raised the alarm in May 2014 about pro-Russian armed groups in the east.
They were responsible for a “rise in intimidation, harassment and killings” and a “reign of intimidation and terror” to maintain their position in eastern Ukraine, Mr. Zionts said, referring to a report by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU).
Refugees from Ukraine cross the border into Medyka, Poland.
“Then, as now, Russia’s aggression is based on lies”, he continued, adding that although the death of every single civilian on both sides of the contact line was a tragedy, “to claim that Ukraine targets civilians is to distort facts”.
“If there were attacks on civilians, rising to the level of genocide, allegedly warranting an armed invasion, one would think that there must have been a massive recent escalation in civilian casualties at the least. But that is transparently not the case,” he added.
39-year-old Peter Leather from Eastham, Wirral, will be taking part in his second marathon as he tackles the Brighton marathon on 10 April 2022 for the British Tinnitus Association (BTA). The BTA is the only national charity that solely funds tinnitus research and supports people living with tinnitus.
Tinnitus is a debilitating condition where people hear noises in the head and/or ears which have no external source. There is currently no cure. Tinnitus affects 35,000 adults in the Wirral alone, and one in eight nationwide.
Peter shared, “My late mum, Beryl Leather, suffered with tinnitus most of her life, and struggled with this condition as it had an impact on her life every day”.
“I’ve had a few weeks where I couldn’t run due to Covid, but I’m really looking forward to the atmosphere at the event. I have a goal to finish in under 5 hours”.
The British Tinnitus Association’s vision is “A world where no one suffers from tinnitus” which Peter fully supports. He said: “It’s a pleasure to be raising awareness that the BTA is there to help people like my mum who had this condition, and to raise as much as possible and to offer people support who are living with tinnitus right now.”
The BTA’s Fundraising Officer Jess Pollard commented “We’re thrilled that Peter will be taking on a second marathon to raise funds for our charity. We really appreciate his time, dedication and support for the tinnitus community and the work we do. We’re all wishing him the best of luck in the final few weeks of training!”
The British Tinnitus Association is an independent charity and the primary source of information for people with tinnitus. It helps to facilitate an improved quality of life for people with tinnitus through a range of support options including support groups, a helpline and its website, while also taking steps to bring forward the day when tinnitus is cured. The charity works to inform and educate medical professionals and the community on what tinnitus is and how to manage it. The British Tinnitus Association wants “a world where no one suffers from tinnitus”. It wants to find better ways to manage tinnitus and, ultimately, to help find a cure. In 2020, the publication of its Tinnitus Manifesto led to more than 130,000 people signing a petition for more funding for tinnitus research to find cures.
British Tinnitus Association, Unit 5 Acorn Business Park, Woodseats Close, Sheffield S8 0TB
The British Tinnitus Association is a registered charity. Registered charity number 1011145.
Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of British Tinnitus Association, on Monday 7 March, 2022. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/
Amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Parliament will vote on a report with recommendations on how to stop dangerous foreign attacks on democracy.
MEPs will this week in Strasbourg debate and vote on the final report by the committee on foreign interference before its mandate lapses at the end of March.
The special committee for foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU, including disinformation was set up in 2020 to assess the level of threats in different spheres including for major national and European elections across the EU, disinformation campaigns on traditional and social media, cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure and the financing of political groups and civil society.
“We want to defend our democracy. (…) We see that it’s under attack,” said committee chairRaphaël Glucksmann, a French S&D member. “I don’t care if you think that the Earth is flat, but if there is a foreign government making sure that millions of my fellow citizens believe the Earth is flat, then it becomes a problem.”
Watch our video to find out more
Report author Sandra Kalniete, a Latvian EPP member, said: “Over the past two years, the committee has received comprehensive and established evidence concerning foreign interference and online information manipulation by hostile actors in many liberal democracies around the world.”.
Her report calls on the European Commission to propose a multi-layer and cross-sector strategy to equip the EU and its member states with deterrence tools to tackle hybrid threats and attacks orchestrated by foreign countries. The strategy should focus on areas such as collective sanctions, media literacy, foreign interference using online platforms, critical infrastructure and strategic sectors, covert funding of political activities by foreign donors, cybersecurity and the protection of EU institutions.
“If as recently as two years ago, disinformation and foreign interference may have sounded like ominous, abstract terms, today we can see the direct effect of malicious, coordinated disinformation in combination with the misinformation. People are refusing to receive certified vaccines, leading to excess hospitalisations and countless preventable deaths,” said Kalniete. “We have witnessed ongoing interference and information manipulation campaigns directed at all the measures against the spread of Covid-19, including vaccination across the EU and online platforms have had very limited success in tackling them.”
MEPs will debate the committee report on Tuesday and vote on it on the following day. They will also vote on setting up a new committee to deal with these issue.
“I am convinced that the issues we have covered in the committee work truly extend beyond party politics,” Kalniete said. “Hostile threats to our democratic institutions should concern every single MEP, across the entirety of the political spectrum.”
A survey has confirmed that the increase in unpaid care work and teleworking has hit women’s work-life balance and mental health. Check out our infographics.
The Covid-19 pandemic prompted a surge in telework in many European countries. During 2020, the first year of the pandemic, telework increased drasticly.
The highest share of the people working from home in the EU is in Finland (25.1%), Luxembourg (23.1%), Ireland (21.5%), Austria (18.1%) and the Netherlands (17.8%).
Increased work-life balance issues for women – facts and figures
The higher flexibility and autonomy associated with telework often result in more work and longer working hours, which affects the work-life balance. During the pandemic teleworking posed many challenges for workers when it came to the organisation of working time, work–family balance, well-being and the physical work environment.
How women and men perceived work-life balance during the Covid-19 pandemic here
The pandemic affected many people, but the latest data shows that women were affected more than men. Data collected in February and March 2021 shows that 7.4% of women and 5.7% of men found it hard to concentrate on a job because of family responsibilities. The numbers are even higher for people teleworking full-time, with small children at home (27% women, 19% men). Work is not the only thing that has been affected. About 31% of women and 22% of men who are teleworking full-time, with small children at home, said that their work prevented them from giving the time they wanted to their family.
A new Eurobarometer survey highlights the severe impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on women. Four out of ten respondents (38%) say the pandemic has diminished women’s income, while affecting their work-life balance (44%) and the amount of time they allocate to paid work (21%).
Data shows unpaid labour still mostly on women’s shoulders
Average hours per week spent by women and men on unpaid domestic work during the Covid-19 pandemic
On average women spent more hours (11.1 hours in February/March 2021) per week taking care of children or grandchildren than men (6.1 in in February/March 2021). Data also shows a difference in taking care of elderly or disabled relatives – 4.2 hours on average for women against spent 2.9 hours per week for men in February/March 2021. Women also do more housework and cooking – 14.4 hours per week versus men’s 9.4 hours per week in February/March 2021.
Women’s mental health more affected
The coronavirus pandemicis affecting women and men differently. According to a study requested by Parliament’s women’s rights committee, the pressure of balancing work and family life has taken a severe toll on women’s wellbeing, with more women than men reporting suffering from anxiety because of Covid-19. Women’s informal care role during the pandemic also had considerable effects on their mental health, with women reporting increased anxiety and worry about their family and wellbeing and about finances. Women with younger children have been disproportionately affected.
This daily synthetic product covers key events related to renewed Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Key Takeaways March 5-6
Russian forces spent the past 24 hours largely regrouping and preparing to renew offensive operations around Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Mykolayiv.
The Ukrainian General Staff reports the presence of a large concentration of Russian forces west of Kharkiv that it assesses will launch a wide offensive southwest toward the Dnipro River, although no such offensive has begun as of this publication.
Russia violated two Russian-Ukrainian ceasefire agreements, collapsing efforts to establish a humanitarian corridor to help evacuate civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha on March 5 and 6.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has not demonstrated any willingness to de-escalate with Ukraine or the international community, nor has he provided reasonable demands that would lay the groundwork for de-escalation or negotiations.
The Kremlin is likely laying the domestic information groundwork for a declaration of martial law in Russia should Russian President Vladimir Putin decide that mass mobilization and conscription are necessary to achieve his objectives.
Russian President Vladimir Putin allowed for the confiscation of assets belonging to “corrupt” Russian officials on March 6, likely to acquire new revenue streams at the expense of alienating some supporters.
The Kremlin is attempting to deter US or European bans on Russian oil exports by claiming that a ban would devastate world oil markets.
Russian President Vladimir Putin compared Western sanctions to a “declaration of war” on March 5 as the Kremlin began to retaliate against foreign businesses.
Key Events March 4, 4:00 pm EST – March 6, 4:00 pm EST
Military Events:
The military situation on the ground has not changed significantly in the past 24 hours. Russian forces continue to mass for renewed offensive operations east and west of Kyiv, west of Kharkiv, and toward Mykolayiv-Odesa but have not yet initiated new large-scale ground attacks. Russia has increased aerial and artillery/rocket attacks on civilian positions and infrastructure, including known evacuation corridors. Ukrainian forces reportedly conducted their second counterattack in two days, this time near Mariupol. The Ukrainian air force and air defense forces continue to operate, inflicting damage on Russian ground forces and disrupting Russian air and missile operations.
Russian forces are engaged in four primary efforts at this time:
1) Main effort—Kyiv: Russian operations on the Kyiv axis consist of a main effort aimed at enveloping and ultimately encircling the city from the west and supporting efforts along the Chernihiv and Sumy axes to encircle it from the northeast and east. Russian forces near Kyiv have continued to concentrate in preparation for resuming offensive operations both east and west of the city. They have conducted limited movements to advance the western envelopment but have not gained much ground.
2) Supporting effort 1—Kharkiv; The Ukrainian General Staff assessed on March 5 that as many as 23 BTGs are concentrated likely west and northwest of Kharkiv and are preparing to resume offensive operations toward Lubny, Poltava, and Kharkiv itself.
3) Supporting effort 2—Mariupol: The Russian encirclement of Mariupol continues and Russian forces continued to shell the city on March 5.
4) Supporting effort 3—Kherson and advances westward: The Ukrainian General Staff reports that three Russian BTGs of the 7th Airborne Division attacked toward Mykolayiv on March 5 but were repulsed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on March 6 that Russia was preparing to bomb Odesa, although he offered no evidence for that claim and ISW has found no independent confirmation of it. Zelensky is almost certainly right that Russia will begin bombing Odesa in advance of ground or amphibious operations against the city, but the timing of such operations remains unclear.
Russia violated two Russian-Ukrainian ceasefire agreements, collapsing efforts to establish a humanitarian corridor to help evacuate civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha on March 5 and 6.[1]Russia and Ukraine agreed to a March 5 ceasefire to create a humanitarian corridor for evacuating civilians and the wounded from Mariupol and nearby Volnovakha. Russia likely continued to target Ukrainian forces on March 5 in violation of the ceasefire. Russia and Ukraine agreed upon a subsequent ceasefire on March 6 starting at 10:00 am local time.[2] The International Committee of the Red Cross (IRCR) reported that evacuation attempts in Mariupol and Volnovakha again failed and Ukrainian officials claimed Russia again violated the ceasefire.[3] Russia denied that its forces violated the ceasefire and blamed the Ukrainian government for the failure of the humanitarian corridor.
Ukraine’s Framing: Multiple Ukrainian officials claimed Russian attacks in Mariupol on March 5 and 6 closed the humanitarian corridor.[4] Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boichenko and Mariupol Deputy Mayor Serhiy Orlov said Russian forces were “still bombing Mariupol“ on March 5 and called off evacuation efforts.[5] The head of Ukraine’s Donetsk Region administration, Pavlo Kirilenko, said in a Facebook post on March 6 that the second attempt to evacuate Mariupol residents failed.[6] Kirilenko claimed “the Russians began to regroup their forces and resumed heavy shelling of the city.”[7] Ukrainian Interior Ministry advisor Anton Gerashchenko and Ukrainian Minister for Reintegration Iryna Vereshchuk blamed Russian shooting along parts of the corridor between Mariupol and Zaporizhzhia for the failure to safely establish humanitarian corridors.[8]
Russia’s Framing: Russian officials and Kremlin-supported media outlets claimed the Ukrainian government is disinterested in helping its citizens and said Ukraine blocked its citizens from evacuating Mariupol on March 5 and 6. Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed Russian forces followed the ceasefire order and accused “Ukrainian forces and national battalions of taking advantage of the declared [ceasefire] to regroup on defensive positions.”[9] Head of the National Center for Defense Control of the Russian Federation Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev stated on March 5 that “a catastrophic humanitarian situation had developed” in most of Ukraine and falsely claimed “the Nazis blocked thousands of Ukrainians and foreigners” from evacuating. Russian Defense Ministry Representative Major General Igor Konashenkov said on March 5 the Russian military went ahead with its offensive operations at 6:00 am Moscow time “due to Ukraine’s’ unwillingness to influence nationalists or extend [the ceasefire].”[10]
Other Russian Activity:
The Russian Federal Customs Service detained a US citizen on drug charges on March 5, likely to improve Russian leverage over the United States.[11]The Russian Federal Customs Service detained NBA Basketball player Brittney Griner for possession of hash oil at Sheremetyevo airport on March 5.[12]
An alleged FSB whistleblower leaked their analysis on the Russian-Ukrainian war, highlighting major logistical and planning issues. [13] The leaked letter accused Russian leaders of poor planning and concealing the nature of the war from the Russian people, including planners for the invasion. The letter-writer claimed that Russian intelligence analysts did not provide accurate assessments of the impact of Ukrainian resistance or Western sanctions because Russian leadership told analysts that their assessments were hypothetical thought exercises for which the assessment of a positive outcome for Russia would be politically beneficial. The letter-writer also claimed that the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) is searching intensely for evidence that Ukraine is building nuclear weapons. The letter-writer also alleged that Russia has an internal deadline of June for the end of the war due to economic pressures.
The Kremlin continued restricting news and social media outlets that refused to comply with its new disinformation law as other media outlets restricted or closed their Russian operations on March 5-6. The Kremlin is leveraging its accusations of Western disinformation against Russia to justify its acceleration of social control measures that eliminate Russian freedom of speech, right to protest, and access to trusted information. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov justified increasing crackdowns on freedom of speech as a national security measure. [14] Peskov said that Russian citizens must express their positions on the Russian military operation in Ukraine “within the framework of the law” but did not specify the parameters of the law.[15] The Kremlin likely seeks to promote self-censorship among Russian citizens. Russian Internal Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Irina Volk admitted on March 6 that Russian authorities arrested 3,500 protesters in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other unspecified regions, likely to deter additional protests.[16]
Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok temporarily suspended live broadcasting and new content in Russia on March 6 to comply with the new censorship law.[17] Russian-owned media application Telegram briefly experienced service interruptions on March 5, possibly to ensure compliance with the new disinformation law.[18] Russian users frequently use TikTok, Telegram, and other social media applications to share Russian force movements in Russia and spread footage of kinetic action in Ukraine. Russian state media regulator Rozkomnadzor also blocked access to communications application Zello on March 6 over its refusal to comply with the censorship law.[19]
Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty closed their Russian operations on March 6 due to mounting fines over their refusal to accept their designations as “foreign agents.”[20] Independent Russian news outlet COLTA temporarily suspended publications on March 5 and said that it must “make changes” to and remove recently published materials on Russia’s war in Ukraine to comply with the law.[21]
Sanctions and Economic Activity:
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing for the confiscation of assets belonging to “corrupt” Russian officials on March 6, likely to raise state revenue at the expense of alienating some supporters.[22]The decree allows the Kremlin to withdraw money from an official’s account if its assets exceed three years’ worth of income. The Kremlin will confiscate the assets if the official does not provide legal documentation of the origin of his or her land ownership, real estate, vehicles, and other assets. The Kremlin is unlikely to conduct fair audits and may rely on seizing the assets of disobedient officials to fund Russia’s declining economy. Such seizures would likely damage Putin’s relations with regional governments. The Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine has already soured relations with formerly pro-Russian Ukrainian businessmen like Rinat Akhmetov, who denounced Russia as an aggressive country and Putin as a “war criminal” on March 5.[23] Russia’s invasion of Ukraine likely destroyed Akhmetov’s Ukraine-based industries. Akhmetov was previously a strong supporter of the pro- Putin Yanukovych regime.
The Kremlin is attempting to deter US or European bans on Russian oil exports by claiming that a ban would devastate world oil markets. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned on March 5 that US limitations on Russian oil imports “could have rather serious consequences” on Russian oil that would disrupt the world energy market.[24] US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on March 6 that the United States and the European Union are looking into banning Russian oil imports “while making sure that there is still an appropriate supply of oil in world markets.”[25]
Russian President Vladimir Putin compared Western sanctions to a “declaration of war” on March 5 as the Kremlin began to retaliate against foreign businesses.[26]Putin’s “declaration of war” rhetoric is likely intended to prepare the Russian population for additional hardship.
The Kremlin is likely attempting to prevent further Western sanctions against Russian officials by masking available information on their assets and incomes. The State Duma introduced a bill under the guise of anti-corruption efforts to remove public information about income and assets of sanctioned public officials on March 5 to prevent “unfriendly states from exerting pressure and influencing Russian officials” and their families.[27]
The Kremlin is beginning to retaliate against and replace Western companies for their governments’ sanctions. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed that Western governments acted like bandits, coerced private companies to leave Russian markets, and infringed on the property rights of sanctioned Russian businessmen by confiscating their properties abroad.[28] Peskov claimed that Russian companies might resort to using “non-standard and bold” measures such as using unlicensed software, encouraging pirating of Western programs.[29] Putin ordered the Kremlin to create a list of “unfriendly” states, legal entities, and actors on March 6.[30] Putin also signed a decree allowing Russian companies to repay debts to “unfriendly” foreign creditors in Russian rubles instead of dollars or euros.[31] Russian State Duma Committee on Economic Policy member Sergey Altukhov warned that Western companies will have a challenging time returning to the Russian market as Russian and Asian businesses will replace them.[32] Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and PayPal suspended their operations in Russia on March 5-6, limiting Russians’ abilities to conduct domestic transactions.[33] Russian banks reportedly plan to issue “Mir” co-badged cards and introduce the Chinese “UnionPay” system in retaliation.[34] Russia’s Central Bank also unofficially ordered Russian banks to limit the amount of funds Russians can transfer to families abroad to $5,000 a month to prevent currency from leaving the country on March 5.[35]
The Kremlin is also leveraging its own and Western sanctions to advance its foreign policy and national interests. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov threatened to derail the Iran nuclear deal talks if the United States does not guarantee that Western sanctions against Russia will not be imposed on Russian trade and investment with Iran on March 6.[36] Russian agriculture and veterinary regulators likely lifted restrictions from 15 Georgian dairy producers on March 6 to reward the Georgian government for its reluctance to officially support Ukraine.[37]
I was a child bookworm. When I was a young girl, my parents read to me religiously, and after learning to read myself, if I wasn’t playing sports, I almost always had my face in a book. Even after several readings, I remember feeling Lisa’s disappointment when she didn’t get Corduroy on that first visit to the store with her mother. I can only imagine how my parents felt when I repeatedly asked them if we could live in a cool treehouse like Sister Bearfrom “The Berenstain Bears.” I tore through series such as “The Baby-Sitters Club,” “Ramona Quimby” and “Nancy Drew.” These books influenced me in ways that I likely don’t even realize.
Too often, children’s books featuring Black characters fall short of our wholeness.
But one thing I did come to realize is that, with very few exceptions, I grew up immersed in books with characters who didn’t look like me.
When I was pregnant with my first child eight years ago, books were high on the list of things my husband and I needed to get, right alongside the car seat, crib and changing table. I didn’t realize how challenging and time-consuming it would be to find a collection of books that portrayed a child that would look like mine. All of the books didn’t need to reflect my little one’s image, but I wanted to introduce books that would mirror my children and their everyday joy, adventures and relationships.
Instead, I kept running into books that mostly showed Black characters. Although it’s important for Black — and really all — children to grow up and be exposed to history so they are able to have context about how the world is today, it’s equally crucial for children to see Black characters in ordinary, relatable storylines.
As a future mother, I wanted my Black children to see themselves in a variety of books. I imagined my little ones nestled in my arms, turning the pages to reveal words and illustrations that would stay with them, fostering a sense of wonder and belonging.
As Millner (who is publishing my forthcoming book) stated, too often, children’s books featuring Black characters fall short of our wholeness.”You can fill nearly half the bookshelves in the Schomburg [Center for Research in Black Culture] with children’s books about the civil rights movement, slavery, basketball players and musicians, and various ‘firsts,'” she wrote. “These stories consistently paint African-Americans as the aggrieved and the conquerors, the agitators and the superheroes who fought for their right to be recognized as full human beings.”
Related
While it is important to preserve the accounts of our struggle for that recognition, it is but a part of who we’ve been and who we are. Millner’s words felt like a call to action.
When the scope is customarily limited for our children, how does it impact their identity? What are we telling Black children when they are too often absent from stories about joy? What does it say to non-Black children who are unaware of our absence in the stories and narratives they are given and learn to love? What are we showing all of our children when the space that Black people are most likely to fill, if they are present at all, is that of the aggrieved or the sidekick in someone else’s story?
Opening a picture book is often the first time that children are introduced to characters who bring life to their imagination, both the fanciful and the possible. They get a glimpse of lives outside of their own and a front-row seat to the adventures of their friends and peers and of an everyday existence that normalizes their humanity. These beloved books with rich illustrations are in some ways validation of the world these children will come to know and the values they will take to heart.
It is why, I believe, my 7-year-old daughter was so excited when we picked up Amanda Gorman’s “Change Sings.” The first thing she said was, “She has a puff just like mine.” I also believe this is why my 5-year-old son likes to read “Crown” by Derrick Barnes. He thinks of his barber, Mr. Nelson, and the fresh haircut he gives him on his visits to the shop with his dad.
Growing up, I pictured myself in any number of professions, but being a children’s book author was never one of them. Then again, becoming a mother set me up to do many things I had never considered. When you’re a Black mother to Black children, in today’s America, what you need to become takes on an added significance.
Related
Research has shown that while progress has been made to diversify children’s books racially, it has been slow and not where it needs to be to match how diverse the U.S. has become. I hope to see even more books featuring Black characters, where race is an afterthought as it is for their non-Black peers. I am not the first person seeking to improve the literary landscape. I stand on shoulders of decades past and more recent. I also know I will not be the last author to hear Millner’s call to action. The effort to ensure a full portrait of our children is never-ending.
Being Black should not define who we are, the pages we appear on or where we belong in this world — nor should it determine our absence in the hearts, minds and lives of other children.
In a statement released by the IAEA, Mr. Grossi said he had been informed by Ukrainian authorities that, although regular staff continue to operate the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, any action of plant management – including measures related to the technical operation of the six reactor units – requires prior approval by the Russian commander of the Russian forces that took control of the site last week.
Mr. Grossi said that this development contravenes one of the seven pillars of nuclear safety and security that he outlined at a meeting of the IAEA’s Board of Governors on 2 March: that “operating staff must be able to fulfil their safety and security duties and have the capacity to make decisions free of undue pressure”.
Communication severely restricted
Ukraine’s nuclear regulator has informed the IAEA that it is having major problems communicating with staff operating Zaporizhzhya, due to Russian forces at the site switching off some mobile networks and blocking the internet. Some mobile phone communication is understood to still be possible, albeit with poor quality, but fixed phone lines, as well as e-mails and fax, are reportedly no longer functioning.
The IAEA noted that this situation contravenes another of its seven indispensable pillars of nuclear safety, that there must be “reliable communications with the regulator and others”.
“I’m extremely concerned about these developments that were reported to me today”. Said Mr. Grossi. “Just a few days after I presented the seven main elements of nuclear safety and security to the IAEA Board, several of them are already being compromised. In order to be able to operate the plant safely and securely, management and staff must be allowed to carry out their vital duties in stable conditions without undue external interference or pressure”.
“The deteriorating situation regarding vital communications between the regulator and the Zaporizhzhya NPP is also a source of deep concern, especially during an armed conflict that may jeopardize the country’s nuclear facilities at any time”, continued the Director-General. “Reliable communications between the regulator and the operator are a critical part of overall nuclear safety and security”.
Radiation levels normal
Despite the communication issues, the regulator was able to provide updated information about the operational status of the Zaporizhzhya NPP to the IAEA, and to confirm that radiation levels there remained normal.
Operational teams at the plant are now rotating in three shifts but, the regulator added, the availability and supply of food is limited, which is having a negative impact on staff morale.
Chernobyl and Mariupol safety fears
Responding to reports that the technical staff and guards at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear accident site have not been rotated since 23 February, Mr. Grossi called on the Russian forces controlling the site to allow them to be relieved by other colleagues and rest, in order to carry out their jobs safely and security.
The Ukraine regulator has informed the IAEA that communication with Chernobyl is currently limited to emails.
In another worrying development, the regulator said that all communications have been lost with the enterprises and institutions in the port city of Mariupol that use category 1-3 radiation sources, and there is no information about their status. Such radioactive material, warned the IAEA, can cause serious harm to people if not secured and managed properly.
National Chernobyl Museum/Anatoliy Rasskazov
The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on 26 April 1986 was one of the most serious nuclear accidents ever.
The nuclear danger in Ukraine
Ukraine gave up its rights to nuclear weapons following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and all the nuclear weaponry on its territory was removed by June 1996. However, the country retained the right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and some 114 enterprises are believed to have nuclear materials of some kind, including four nuclear power plants (NPPs).
The military conflict in Ukraine is the first to take place on the territory of a country with large nuclear facilities. On Thursday night, Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest and most powerful in Europe, was shelled, raising fears of an explosion, and radiation leaks.
Memories of the Chernobyl disaster, which occurred on April 26, 1986, have also been revived: Chernobyl was one of the most serious nuclear incidents in human history, and led to a radioactive plume covering a large part of north-eastern Europe.
Thursday’s attack on Zaporizhzhia saw shells hitting a training complex near the nuclear reactors. No radioactive material was released, and the plant’s safety systems were not compromised.
However, an accident or explosion at Zaporizhzhia, which is far bigger than Chernobyl, could lead to far more serious consequences than the 1986 incident. This could result from fresh attacks, or even a loss of electricity. The latter situation could prevent the reactor cooling system from working, and lead to an explosion (this was the cause of the Chernobyl disaster).
