Sign text closeup for help wanted with red and white colors by entrance to store shop business building during corona virus covid 19 pandemic
Businesses in the largest economy are asking
Autumn of 2021 has had to give the beginning to the shortcomings of the servants, which torments the greatest economy in the world. Supplementary unemployment benefits are expiring. Schools are opening, which allows many parents to free themselves from the task of watching their children all day long. And so, the economists and entrepreneurs believe that the floods from the employees will follow, writes The New York Time.
Five million people are working less and less in the ninth month since the start of the pandemic. Three million less work.
The mediation process created a headache for Biden’s administration, which relied on a strong economic recovery to give political impetus to politics. Observers do not know how long this citation will last.
The public blames the blame for the generous unemployment benefits, but the shields, which prevent the payments from being paid, do not take into account the increase in unemployment. Democrats believe that companies can hire workers if they increase wages – but the shortage is not limited to a low-income sector.
Psychology also plays a role: research shows that the pandemic has led many people to rethink their priorities. And the wave of open positions motivates them to wait for better offers.
The final result is that for the first time in decades, workers across the entire income pillar are defining the rule. And they use the position not only for higher wages, but also for more flexible hours, more generous social benefits and better conditions.
The daily 4.3 million people worked in August. “It’s as if the whole country is having some kind of union negotiations,” said Betty Stevenson, an economist at the University of Michigan and a counselor. “I don’t know who will win, but it looks like the workers have an advantage.”
Where the 4.3 million workers disappeared, the Wall Street Journal also asked. The publication estimates that the number of employees would be so much higher, as the same share of the population will be over 16 years of age or a poor person. In February 2020 it was 63.3%, and in September this year. and 61.6%.
The lack of time comes at a time when American employers are trying to fill tens of millions of jobs and stop the growing pressure from the pressure.
In production, retail trade, transport and logistics, municipal services, professional and business services, employees or employees.
The decline in employment at the beginning of the pandemic was the largest since at least the Second World War. Over the past summer, there has been a partial recovery, but since then it has kept around the lowest levels since the 1970s – despite the significant
Some economists believe that the citation reflects longer-term changes: driven by the pandemic of early retirement. Usually, after the petition, consumers avoid eating unintentionally, and the business to pay attention to the state – and the poor ones are more and more busy. This time the trampling is stable, the employers are trampling new staff under wood and stone, but the employees do not want or cannot return.
The citation is especially difficult for big employers, who traditionally increase the number of busy holidays. Amazon and Walmart are raising at least 300 thousand, and URU and FedEx have plans to rent 200 thousand. The good news is that employees earn higher salaries. Their productivity is also lower: with 5% between the first and second quarter of 2021.
Some of the reasons are related. Kindergartens, where employees do not reach, return to the family. The number of children employed in children’s care fell by 108.7 thousand, or 10.4%. Salary pay is also 10%. This is the best way to find a place for a child, and where there is such a thing, it is better. Some people just want to stay at home.
Borders closures have reduced the number of immigrants. Pedica baby boomers, who are protected from vipya and whose condition is located behind the bull’s market, are retired. The helpers also play the field: a lot of hops are conceived twice, before they return to difficult but low-paid positions.
Employers are starting to adjust: the employees, for example, are reducing the hours in which they receive clients. Other businesses reduce the number of services offered.
Many other businesses see automation as a solution to the shortage: gas stations without staff, wireless stores, and tablets for travel. In general, investments in similar technologies continue with 16% in the 12 months to June, compared to 4% in the last 10 years.
Other employees work harder. In the production, the employees work for 4.2 hours a day above the agreed week last month, at 2.8 hours in April 2020.
Chupryan says more than 1,000 Donbass residents evacuated to Russia have received payments of 10,000 rubles
More than 61,000 DNR and LNR residents have arrived in Russia since an evacuation was announced last Friday in the self-proclaimed republics. This was announced by Alexander Chupriyan, acting head of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, BGNES reports.
“In one night, the number of Donbass residents arriving in Russia rose to more than 61,000,” he said.
Chupryan said more than 1,000 Donbass residents evacuated to Russia had received payments of 10,000 rubles.
“The number of payments and the documents that are being prepared for them is increasing. We have received about 4,000 applications and more than 1,000 people have received payments. I am sure that in the near future this number will increase significantly,” he said.
Chupriyan said that a small number of Donbass residents who arrived in Russia found positive samples for coronavirus infection. According to Chuprian, measures leading to hospitalization are being taken for positive tests. He said about 1,500 PCR tests had already been conducted.
There is no onboard service. There is no business class lounge. No champagne, no choice of steak or chicken, no fun. There are only eight minutes from takeoff to landing and there is no time for that.
There are also shorter flights, such as the rebound from Westray to Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands in Scotland, which takes only 90 seconds, but the flight between the Caribbean islands of Anguilla and St. Martin is currently the shortest international trade flight in the world. .
Anguilla, a British territory only 25.7 km long and 5.6 km wide, is a flat, dry, limestone island surrounded by 33 white sandy beaches.
This is a favorite place of celebrities who are looking for a discreet place to be blissfully alone. No one is surprised to see LeBron James jumping off a cliff in Little Bay or Justin Bieber singing “Sorry” on stage with local singer Banks Banks.
The neighboring island of St. Maarten is located only 7.2 km south of the nearest point. Divided into two parts, the northern part of the island is an overseas province of France, and the southern part, called Sint Martin, is an integral part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Princess Juliana International Airport on St Martin has become a stand-alone tourist attraction as planes fly low over the beach to land on the island and take off again with the same dramatic effect.
Captain Carl Avery Thomas owns Anguilla Air Services, the only airline to offer scheduled flights between Sint Maarten and Anguilla and one of the company’s five pilots. He says maintaining air connections is very important for a small island like Anguilla.
As Anguilla is highly dependent on tourism, in most families at least one member works in this sector and this short flight is crucial.
“You can’t promote a five-star destination like Anguilla without an airport. If the only way to get to the island is by boat, I don’t think that’s good for our product,” he said.
Regular ferries between Sint Maarten and Anguilla were stopped during the pandemic, but have now been resumed.
Most tourists arrive on the island by motorboat from Sint Maarten after using one and often two flights to get there.
On a nice day, it’s a beautiful 25-minute speedboat ride, but when the sea is rough, the trip isn’t the most comfortable. And Thomas believes that many visitors do not want to be “thrown into a boat in a stormy sea” during the last stage of their journey.
Although most air passengers are tourists, the pandemic has led to more and more Anglicans preferring to fly, with special tariffs for locals. As there are fewer points of contact than the boat, there is no minibus transfer between the airport and the pier and fewer people come into contact with luggage, it has become a more trouble-free option and in some respects is more physically distant from others.
But perhaps the biggest advantage of the flight is that the views are captivating from start to finish. It is both a picturesque flight and an important connection between two islands.
The plane takes off from Princess Juliana International Airport on the island of Sint Martin and does not fly more than 1,000 feet, and overlooks the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, long sandy beaches and luxury private villas and resorts.
It doesn’t take long to start. The plane took off east, over the lagoon of Simpson Bay, then turned left and crossed the French part of the island and the narrow strip of land, heading north for a short passage to Anguilla.
Crossing the south coast, where shallow bays are located, the plane descends over the bushes around Blowing Point, the main port of the island.
From here to Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport, famous for its long sandy beach and beach bars such as Elvis and Johnno, there are only a few minutes left until the bikes land at Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport, just eight minutes away. after leaving St. Maarten.
In addition to tourism, Thomas aircraft play another important role in supporting this traditional maritime and fishing community.
“We provide search and rescue services to the state for free,” he said. When a fishing boat gets lost, Thomas and his crew take to the air.
The plane also participates in medical transport flights and evacuations, being the only facility on the island outside the hospital with a ventilator. “During the covid, we offer it to the hospital in case it’s needed,” says Thomas.
Flights to the island are increasing. In November, Cape Air launched flights between the US Virgin Islands and Anguilla. In December, American Airlines launched flights from Miami – the only direct scheduled flights to the island from the mainland.
At the height of the holiday season, the runway at Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport became a parking lot for private jets.
“Where does food come from?” This simple question is the premise behind “Can I Play with My Food?”, a new children’s book by Memphian and first-time author Ali Manning.
The early-reader picture book explores food and science through the eyes of two sisters, Nema and Lexi.
Nema and Lexi let their imaginations run wild as they discover where food comes from and how a simple experiment can shape their dreams.
“My mission has been to show children that Black scientists exist and to expose them to the world of food science,” Manning said. “Additionally, I want folks to remember the importance of acceptance and that we are all capable of achieving our dreams with community, access and support.”
Manning is a food scientist and owner of Umami Food Consulting. With more than 10 years in the food industry, she uses her passion for food, science and community to help food entrepreneurs tackle the issues beyond the kitchen. As a food scientist, she helps clients with product development, focusing on issues ranging from flavor profiles to making a food shelf stable. She also helps companies accurately report nutrition facts on their product labels.
Along with managing her clients, Manning is the program consultant for Project Green Fork, an initiative that helps restaurants reduce their environmental impact, and the creator of Food Science 4 Kids, a program that teaches grade-school children food science basics and allows them to perform fun experiments virtually or in-person.
“Can I Play with My Food?” was birthed by her desire to find joy in childlike things.
“This book started from my desire to rediscover things that brought me joy,” Manning said. “As a child, I loved creative arts (drawing, singing and poetry), but somewhere along the way, I had forgotten.”
She calls the book her “passion project.” The idea to write a book started as a personal hobby, but eventually became a reality when she decided to self-publish. Illustrator Taylor Bou brought her story to life with his artwork.
Manning said this book is “dear to my heart” because the fearless co-character is modeled after her sister Alexis, who has Down syndrome.
“In the story, Lexi is bold, inquisitive and has big dreams, and that’s what I want my audience to recognize,” she said.
This story not only shows children that playing with food can be fun and educational, but it also highlights the importance of acceptance. While others might think a disorder like Down syndrome is a hindrance, Nema and Lexi show that the ingredients of compassion, acceptance and love make anything possible.
“I want to show kids what is possible,” Manning said. “Lexi is a fully functioning child with special needs. This is a hope and a dream that people with special needs can accomplish what they dream.”
Manning is already dreaming of her next book.
“I have some ideas already in the works,” she said. “It’s rare to see children of color represented this way. I hope to expand on these girls’ dreams.”
Set for a Feb. 22 release, “Can I Play with My Food?” is available locally at Novel. Bookstore, Burke’s Book Store, Cooper-Young Gallery & Gift Shop, Feast & Graze, Sweet LaLa’s Bakery and Terra Cotta. The book is also available for order at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads and Bookshop.
Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.
‘Can I Play with My Food?’ book events
Feb. 24: Benjamin Hooks Library
Ali Manning will host a book reading and Science 4 Kids program from 2-3:30 p.m. at Benjamin Hooks Library, 3030 Poplar Ave.
March 5: Novel
Manning will host a book talk and signing at 2 p.m. at Novel, 387 Perkins Extd.
TUNIS, Tunisia — At a recent press conference in Tunis, Tunisia, the faith communities of that country signed a jointly prepared “National Pact for Coexistence,” expressing their commitment to nurturing a more peaceful society.
“This initiative is a powerful sign of solidarity,” says Mohamad Ben Moussa of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs. “The pact shows that we are united in our diversity and presents a refreshing view of our society, one that acknowledges a growing consciousness of our essential oneness.”
The press conference, which was also attended by a representative of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and civil society organizations, received wide media coverage in Tunisia and elsewhere in the Arab region. The event was arranged by the interfaith organization Attalaki, meaning “a gathering.”
Slideshow 4 images
Pictured here is an image of the “National Pact for Coexistence,” signed by representatives of Tunisia’s faith communities, including Mohamed Ridha Belhassine of the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs of that country.
The agreement, coauthored by representatives of Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and Bahá’í communities, articulates a set of shared values for the promotion of social harmony and is the culmination of close collaboration among religious and civil society leaders over the past several years.
One of the issues addressed by the pact is the vital role of women in the transformation of society.
Drawing on the Bahá’í principle of the equality of women and men, Mr. Ben Moussa states: “An important dimension of coexistence and a requirement for achieving a more peaceful society is the full participation of women in all spheres of life. We cannot achieve peace if half the population of our society is not recognized as equal to the other half.”
He adds: “This initiative places this essential truth foremost in our consciousness.”
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The press conference for the signing of the pact received wide media coverage in Tunisia and elsewhere in the Arab region.
The agreement also highlights the need for an end to rhetoric that incites hatred and casts segments of society as “the other,” and calls for enhancements to the country’s educational curriculum in order that young people may develop a greater appreciation for the diversity of Tunisian society.
The spokesperson for the interfaith initiative, Imam al-Khatib Karim Shaniba, stated that the pact aims to promote constructive societal patterns that are accepting of all religions and is a response to the voices that depict religions as being in conflict with each other. “Religious diversity enriches our society and provides wide scope for cooperation and coexistence,” he said at the press conference.
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The Bahá’ís of Tunisia have been contributing to the discourse on coexistence, holding discussion forums on related issues such as the equality of women and men.
Since the pandemic began, faith communities in Tunisia have been seeking opportunities to address their fellow citizens with one voice. In April 2020, the Bahá’ís of that country, as part of their ongoing participation in the discourse on coexistence, joined with other religious communities and civil society organizations to deliver a message of hope and assurance to their society, calling for both science and religion to guide an effective response to the health crisis.
Secretary-General António Guterres is “greatly concerned” by the Russian Federation’s decision on the status of certain areas of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, his Spokesperson said on Monday
According to news reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally recognized separatist regions in Ukraine’s east as independent states.
In a statement issued by Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, the UN chief calls for “the peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, in accordance with the Minsk Agreements, as endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 2202 (2015)”.
Moreover, Mr. Guterres considers Russia’s decision to be “a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations”.
Cease hostilities, immediately
Amid an intense spike in shelling in eastern Ukraine by opposing sides, the concentration of Russian troops reportedly continues to increase at the country’s borders.
The Secretary-General is urging all relevant actors to focus their efforts on “ensuring an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, preventing any actions and statements that may further escalate the dangerous situation in and around Ukraine and prioritizing diplomacy to address all issues peacefully”.
Mr. Dujarric assured that in line with the relevant General Assembly resolutions, the UN remains fully supportive of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders.
The UN chief was planning to make and official visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but in light of the deteriorating situation regarding Ukraine, he has cancelled the mission.
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About laws to be amended; Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis and Muslims in prison or on the death row on blasphemy charges; the EU monitoring of the implementation of the GSP+; the controversial Single National Curriculum; the planned mission to Pakistan of EU’s Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore
This is Part II of interview conducted by Willy Fautre from Human Rights Without Frontiers International. – See Part I here
On 10 February 2021, three Members of the European Parliament Intergroup on FoRB – Peter van Dalen (EPP), Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR), Joachim Kuhs (ID) – filed a written parliamentary question addressed to Josep Borrell, High Representative/ Vice President of the Commission, in which they raised the controversial issue of the privileged GSP+ status granted to Pakistan as follows: “Given the blasphemy laws in Pakistan and the unjustified treatment of religious minorities in Pakistan that they lead to, is the VP/HR considering ending the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus preferences for Pakistan? If not, why not?”
On 15 April 2021, the weak answer of the Vice-president of the Commission was not giving much hope to human rights defenders in Pakistan and in Europe:
“The 2018-2019 Report on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) shows that Pakistan is making progress over time in areas such as the elimination of honour killings, the protection of transgender persons, and the protection of women’s and children’s rights.
However, a number of shortcomings still remain. The report includes reducing the scope for the death penalty as one of the priority areas for action. The EU will continue to closely monitor, address and encourage further progress on these issues.”
“Calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to immediately review Pakistan’s eligibility for GSP+ status in the light of current events and whether there is sufficient reason to initiate a procedure for the temporary withdrawal of this status and the benefits that come with it, and to report to the European Parliament on this matter as soon as possible.”
681 members of the European Parliament voted in favor of the resolution: only three MEPs opposed it.
Human Rights Without Frontiers interviewed former EU Special Envoy Jan Figel to share his views about the concerns of the European Parliament related to the continuation of the GSP+ status despite the persistent violations of religious freedom, the abuse of the blasphemy laws and the repeated sentences to the death penalty, the non-prosecution of perpetrators of violence, forced marriages and conversion of non-Muslim girls to Islam, and various other breaches of international law.
HRWF: Which laws in Pakistan are contrary to international agreements and should be urgently amended?
Jan Figel: Blasphemy laws are the single most draconian laws that undermine freedom of thought, religion or expression. It literally suffocates the religious minorities, instills deadly fear of mob violence and forces religious minorities into submission to the whims and authority of the majority.
Government efforts towards Islamization of Pakistan’s civil and criminal law, which began in the early 1980s, have dangerously undermined fundamental right to freedom of religion and expression, and have led to serious abuses against the country’s religious minorities. The broad and vague provisions of a series of laws known collectively as the “blasphemy” laws, which strengthen criminal penalties for offenses against Islam, have been used to bring politically motivated charges of blasphemy or other religious offenses against members of religious minorities as well as some Muslims.
The blasphemy laws have also contributed to a climate of religious bigotry which has led to discrimination, harassment and violent attacks on minorities – abuses which are apparently tolerated, if not condoned, by some political leaders and government officials.
HRWF: Our organization has a database of dozens of documented cases of Christian, Hindu, Ahmadi and even Muslim Pakistanis who are on the death row or have been sentenced to heavy prison terms or have been in pretrial detention for years on blasphemy charges. Does the judicial system work in conformity with international standards in this regard?
Jan Figel: In theory and on paper the judicial system may appear to work in conformity with international standards but in practice and reality on the ground it does not. The state influences action or inaction on any judicial process on matters of religious content in courts, keeping the political expediency at the forefront. This forces guilty verdicts or delayed verdicts in sensitive religious cases.
The most prominent example is the case of Asia Bibi. This woman from humble background was mercilessly beaten and charged with blasphemy for drinking water from a container used by her Muslim co-workers. She was sentenced to death by a lower court and subsequently by higher courts on appeal. However, when her case became known in international media, Pakistan found a way to release her after nine years of incarceration. The Supreme Court of Pakistan squashed the case on technical grounds but still did not declare her innocent. Asia Bibi had to flee from Pakistan to Canada under a hush deal between the two countries.
Quite often, the police also fail to protect vulnerable groups and individuals. This was the case on February 14, in Lahore, when 25-year old Pervez Masih was killed by a violent mob although the police had been informed and called for protection.
In Pakistan, the rule of law is weak and justice is delayed or not carried out because of the religious indoctrination of masses and street power. Quite often semi-illiterate religious clerics force the judicial system to bow down to their influences. The state security and law enforcing authorities are weak and also subject to some religious considerations. Due to this weakness, several courageous judges have been killed or had to flee the country.
The criminal justice system in Pakistan needs overhauling and courage in this context. It is flawed. There is a tacit support to the complainant’s side at all levels: police, prisons and courts. Amid fears, pressures and like-mindedness the judges try to shift the decision to higher and superior courts. Sometimes, their partiality is obvious, even in their judgments.
In a recent court ruling, the judge in Rawalpindi sentenced to the death penalty a Muslim woman accused of blasphemy, saying she was not only a blasphemer but also an apostate, for which she deserved the capital punishment.
So, there are few examples when the judicial system works in conformity with international standards. If it happens that is only at Supreme Court level, which is the highest level.
HRWF: To what extent does or doesn’t Pakistan promote religious tolerance in its school education system?
Jan Figel: The education system should do much more for interreligious and interethnic tolerance and coexistence. On the contrary, one can see instillation of hate against Hindus, in particular by misrepresenting and concocting the struggle for India’s independence from British colonial rule. The word Hindu for some groups represents an enemy of Pakistan and Islam.
There are positive efforts but a traditional mindset prevails in society. Discrimination and intolerance exist in the administration, and also among educators and teachers. Noteworthy is that the recent compulsory Single National Curriculum (SNC) also has a religious perspective; even in the English and science classes, religion has been introduced. The State has been defined as a religious one, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, since the times of the military regime… There are fears that this SNC will increase intolerance and biases, and will have an adverse impact.
Good literacy for all and relevant education is needed for peace, coexistence and more promising development in Pakistan. But the content of education is a decisive factor! The state must take more of that and do its duty properly.
HRWF: The GSP+ has been the best attempt of the EU at being concrete and objective about the importance of international treaties in its relationships with third countries. Soon, DG Trade, the EEAS and several services within the Commission will evaluate to what extent Pakistan has been complying with the 27 international agreements that are conditions to receive and keep the “GSP+” status that is worth billions of Euro, greatly benefitting the economy of Pakistan. What is your view on this process?
Jan Figel: I agree that the GSP+ is a great EU instrument to bring important rules, values and sustainable development into beneficiary countries, including the largest one among them – Pakistan. Here it cannot be “business as usual”. The EEAS runs a big EU Delegation of diplomats and has some detailed knowledge of the reality on the ground. It is important for the Commission to have a fair assessment and recommendations in line with the agreed objectives of this Agreement, and for the European Parliament and the Council to adopt responsible positions. Only a Europe caring about justice can be a strong, constructive and respected global actor.
Twenty-seven international treaties that are the conditions to receive and keep the “GSP+” status should be not only signed and ratified by the Government and the Parliament of Pakistan. They must be implemented (!) in practice for the benefit of people. Those treaties cover human rights, the rule of law, environmental protection, labor law, the fight against corruption, etc.
To this end, Pakistan has created the TIC – Treaties Implementation Cell. Therefore, the EU should focus on the monitoring of the implementation. A lot of European taxpayers’ money is donated to Pakistan in support of these commitments. It is time for a fair and credible assessment. This would be the only effective tool of the EU to force Pakistan to review its symptomatic, visible injustice towards its religious minorities.
HRWF: Do you think that by ignoring the non-compliance with a number of international treaties the EU would really be helping Pakistan and that other unsuccessful candidates for the GSP+ status would not feel discriminated against by perceived EU’s double standards ?
Jan Figel: By unconditionally condoning Pakistan, the EU is sending an inconsistent, wrong message to the other candidate countries. The Union must have one credible face and refuse double standards. Pakistani authorities speak a lot about democracy and protection of minorities. They have a ministry for human rights but there are many fresh blood stains on the white strip of Pakistan’s flag. The inspirational founding father of Pakistan, Ali Jinnah, needs followers in deeds, not in words.
HRWF: Considering Pakistan’s neighborhood and Europe’s interests, do you think it is justified to let Pakistan off the hook on human rights issues, because of the situation in Afghanistan and its influence in Pakistan?
Jan Figel: Pakistan is an important EU partner and a nuclear power but which country is not important in this region? If for this reason we let Pakistan continue to implement the same policies, it will only encourage it to play its geopolitical and geostrategic card. Status quo is not enough for the betterment of lives and relations within the country. Pakistan must be held accountable for its actions and its commitments. This is the best service the EU can provide to people of good will in Pakistan.
HRWF: What should Eamon Gilmore, the EU’s Special Representative for Human Rights, tell the Pakistani authorities when visiting Pakistan later this month?
Jan Figel: The EU Special Representative should ask the Government of Imran Khan to address the issue of the draconian blasphemy laws. I would recommend him to talk about the fairness of the administrative, legal and judicial systems dealing with, investigating and taking decisions about blasphemy cases. There must be a fair and impartial way of treating such cases. The Government also should think of a consensual mechanism to deal with the growing number of blasphemy cases, especially under the cybercrime legislation.
Eamon Gilmore was supportive of FoRB promotion and we had some very constructive cooperation during my mandate as EU FoRB Special Envoy. He may encourage the authorities of Pakistan to adopt effective and transparent laws, programs and actions to improve the situation of economically and socially marginalized religious minorities. The members of these communities are frequently relegated to the lowest and unhygienic waste cleaning jobs while they should given equal employment opportunities to show their talents.
As a former EU Commissioner for Education, Culture and Youth I would strongly recommend to the EU Commission to offer active cooperation and creative professional review of Pakistan’s new “One Curriculum” schoolbooks for the promotion of religious tolerance.
Without a necessary and credible review, the Single National Curriculum may increase hatred, discrimination and prejudices and may also lead to the misuse of blasphemy cases. Good and accessible education unites people and builds bridges among nations as well. Education is important for future of Pakistan both internally and externally.
(Photo: Courtesy Open Doors)Social media is increasingly being used by Hindu extremists in India to stir up hatred of Christians; the country is number 10 on the Open Doors World Watch List.
A 20-foot (6 meter) statue of Jesus, which had stood in the village for 18 years, was demolished by authorities in India’s southern Karnataka state after claims it was built on land earmarked by the government for an animal pasture.
Kolar district’s administration said last week’s demolition took place of the statue next to St. Francis Xavier’s Church in Gokunte village, Christian Today reported.
The Karnataka High Court had ordered the destruction, but local Christian leaders said the case was still pending.
Gokunte village has a population of 500-600 people, and all but four families are Catholic, Crux News reported.
Bengaluru Roman Catholic Archbishop Peter Machado denounced the statue’s demolition, stating that the church has ownership documents for the land where the statue was.
Machado said church leaders attempted to work with authorities to save the structure, but they would not cooperate.
“It is sad to note that yet another ruthless demolition of a Christian Structure, which included a 20- feet Statue of Jesus and 14 Stations of Cross was carried out by the taluka authorities in a Christian Village, Gokunte, in Kolar, a District of Karnataka touching the border of Andhra,” Machado announced in a statement.
“We were not served with written notice of the impending action which she had determined to demolish,” said Machado.
200-STRONG POLICE FORCE
The local authorities moved in with a 200-strong police force and pulled down the statue, which Machado said “has seriously affected not only the sentiments of the Christian community but also the people of other faiths.”
The bishop said, “Though the church has documents of the two acres of the land where these structures were located, the local authorities considered them as not proper or incomplete.”
The villagers believe a Hindu nationalist group filed a petition in the high court to stir tensions in the region.
“The video of the demolition was widely circulated, and the Christians are really alarmed and pained at such repeated acts by the pro-Hindu government machinery,” Fr. Faustine Lobo, the spokesperson of the Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops’ Council, was quoted as saying.
Open Doors USA, which monitors Christian persecution in more than 60 countries, reports that persecution against Christians and other religious minorities has increased since the BJP took power in 2014, Christian Today reported.
For India’s Christians, 2021 was the “most violent year” in the country’s history, says a report by the United Christian Forum. At least 486 violent incidents of Christian persecution were reported in the year.
The UCF attributed the high incidence of Christian persecution to “impunity,” due to which “such mobs criminally threaten, physically assault people in prayer, before handing them over to the police on allegations of forcible conversions.”
Police registered formal complaints in only 34 of the 486 cases, according to the UCF.
“Often communal sloganeering is witnessed outside police stations, where the police stand as mute spectators,” the UCF report states.
Christians make up only 2.3 percent of India’s population of 1.38 billlion and Hindus make up some 80 percent.
Karnataka is ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has also ruled India since 2014. The BJP is linked with the the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist group said Crux News.
Cover of article “The Secretive Prisons That Keep Migrants Out of Europe” in The New Yorker written by Ian Urbina
Ian Urbina, founder and director of The Outlaw Ocean Project, was honored with the Polk Award for International Reporting for investigation with The New Yorker
WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES, February 21, 2022 – Long Island University (LIU) has announced the winners of the George Polk Awards, honoring journalists in 15 categories for their reporting in 2021. Ian Urbina, founder and director of The Outlaw Ocean Project, was honored with the award for International Reporting for his investigation published in the New Yorker Magazine, “The Secretive Prisons That Keep Migrants Out of Europe.”
The story, published in November 2021, revealed that the European Union equipped and trained Libyans to intercept migrants from sub-Saharan Africa at sea and hold them in secret prisons. Led by Urbina, a team of four reporters went to Tripoli, Libya, to investigate the role of the E.U. and Italy in funding Libya’s corrupt and brutal Coast Guard, which aimed to catch migrants before they reach Europe, and effectively turned a blind eye to the ghastly conditions inside Libyan detention centers.
While reporting on the story, the team was taken captive and disappeared into a secret prison by the Libyan Intelligence Service, long affiliated with one of Libya’s most powerful militias, the Al-Nawasi Brigade. They were released after six days in captivity.
“This award belongs to a huge and daring and tireless team that helped me report the story, get out of Libya alive, and craft something with true impact,” said Ian Urbina. “A special thanks belongs to Joe Sexton, Pierre Kattar, and Mea Dols, who were in Libya with me”.
The George Polk Awards in Journalism this year honors a wide range of revelatory news coverage including the plot behind a Haitian assassination, the impact of a Madagascar climate disaster, the depth of American political upheaval, the consequences of corporate subterfuge, the victimization of brain-damaged children and factory workers in Florida, and the exploitation of migrants here and abroad. Winners were selected from a record total of 610 submissions of work that appeared in print, online, television, or radio and were nominated by news organizations, individuals or a national panel of advisors.
“Not only did we receive a record number of submissions, but they came from far more sources of investigative reporting than ever before, and dozens in addition to the award winners represented first-class work,” said John Darnton, curator of the awards. “This speaks to the vitality and continued promise of a changing journalism landscape and is reason to feel optimistic about the future of our craft.”
The George Polk Awards were established in 1949 by LIU to commemorate George Polk, a CBS correspondent murdered in 1948 while covering the Greek civil war. The awards, which place a premium on investigative and enterprising reporting that gains attention and achieves results, are conferred annually to honor special achievements in journalism.
It’s among the most prestigious prizes given in the profession of journalism. Urbina won a previous Polk Award in the category of Foreign Reporting in 2015.
About The Outlaw Ocean Project:
The Outlaw Ocean Project is a journalism non-profit that produces investigative stories about human rights and environmental concerns on the two thirds of the planet covered by water. Investigative reporter Ian Urbina founded the organization after spending years at sea reporting stories about lawlessness on the oceans for the New York Times, and later for The Outlaw Ocean book, published in 2019.
One of the limitations of the traditional model used especially by legacy news outlets, is that worthy investigative stories are typically seen by only a small fraction of the public because these stories get published in just one outlet and typically in just one language. Part of what The Outlaw Ocean Project and Ian Urbina seek to do is not just produce polished narrative investigative journalism, but also convert that reportage into new forms to reach new audiences.
This investigation into the secretive prisons that keep migrants out of Europe was published in 70 news outlets across 33 countries and translated into 12 different languages. This was a huge accomplishment that speaks to the new model of journalism that The Outlaw Ocean Project is seeking to leverage.
Media Team The Outlaw Ocean Project media@theotlawocean.com Visit us on social media: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Other
Drone View Of Al Mabani #AliouCande | #TheOutlawOceanProject | Ian Urbina
Ms Tara Cheyne, MLA, Minister for Multicultural Affairs of Australian Capital Territory with the Tibetan Community members
Canberra: International Mother Language day has been observed worldwide on 21 February every year since 2000, after it was approved by UNESCO, as a result of the initiative led by Bangladesh. It is a day to celebrate linguistic diversity and to promote differences in culture and language to develop respect and tolerance for each other.
In Canberra, the Tibetan community participated in the annual International Mother Language Day walk to represent our language – Tibetan. Representatives of the Tibetan community talked to members of other communities such as Bangladesh, Ukraine, India, China and Mon about the importance of our mother language, which is the bedrock of our culture and identity. The current situation inside Tibet where young children are forced in Chinese boarding schools to study in Mandarin was also highlighted.
Each community group talked about their respective languages, and taught the attendees how to greet each other in their language and presented a cultural performance from their country. The Tibetan community members also taught gorshey (circle dance) to the members of other community to perform together.
Ms Tara Cheyne MLA, Minister for Multicultural Affairs of Australian Capital Territory and Ms Elizabeth Lee MLA, Opposition Leader of Australian Capital Territory took part in the event and wished the multicultural community in Canberra a Happy International Mother Language Day and spoke about the importance of the promotion and preservation of their mother language.
Mr. Karma Singey, Representative and Mr. Lhawang Gyalpo, Secretary of Tibet Information Office (TIO) also participated in the event.
-Report filed by Office of Tibet (OOT) Canberra
Canberra Tibetan Community Members participating in International Mother Language Day walk in Canberra.
Canberra Tibetans representing their language at the International Mother Language Day.
Tibetan Community members performing Tibetan Circle dance (gorshey) on International Mother Language Day in Canberra
