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Sidelined during 'COP28, advocates still push for climate action
Even if these calls of climate activists and CSO members’ reverberated at the venue of the COP, their voices were not heard at the negotiations of world leaders. Some of the CSOs were allowed to sit in as observers but not to participate in the negotiations. The post Sidelined during #COP28, advocates still push for climate action appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
US government readies for imminent shutdown
The US government began Thursday to inform workers of an impending shutdown that could see millions of federal employees and military personnel temporarily sent home or working without pay, unless Congress reaches a last-ditch deal. Without an agreement, funding for much of the federal government will expire at midnight on Saturday (0400 GMT Sunday), threatening disruptions to everything from air travel to benefit payments, and – if the shutdown endures – dealing a further blow to the precarious US economy. The stand-off has been triggered by a small group of hardline Republicans who have pushed back against short-term funding deals while Congress tries to resolve a broader deadlock over calls for deep spending cuts. Some federal employees have already been informed of preparations for a lapse, according to a notice seen by AFP. A note to staff at the Department of Health and Human Services outlined how it would see "reduced staffing across nearly every division for the duration of the lapse" although many key programs will continue. The department also updated its contingency plans, adding that "pre-notified employees would be temporarily furloughed," meaning they are not allowed to work. They would receive retroactive pay after the lapse ends, the note said. Staff at other agencies were understood to have received similar notifications. In a shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal workers would be furloughed without pay, and members of the military and other employees who are deemed to be essential would continue working without a paycheck. Certain benefits like Social Security checks would not be hit, but workers who go unpaid could eventually stop showing up, impacting sectors like air travel. 'Dangerous' "If there is a shutdown in just a few days, our service members would be required to continue working but would be doing so without pay, and hundreds and thousands of their civilian colleagues would be furloughed," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said Thursday. The Treasury Department added that among other implications, "most core tax administration functions will stop" and more than half of the Internal Revenue Service staff will be furloughed. Apart from the possible lapse in funding, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) faces an added headache of a Saturday deadline for reauthorization. It remains unclear if lawmakers will pass an FAA reauthorization law separately from a spending package. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on Wednesday: "There is no good time for a government shutdown, but this is a particularly bad time." "The consequences would be disruptive and dangerous," he added. In Washington, a group of young climate activists of the Sunrise Movement entered Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's office to protest against the looming shutdown. The White House warned in a statement that a lapse would leave the Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster relief fund underfunded, "delaying nearly 2,000 long-term recovery projects" across the country. 'Avoidable risk' With days left to pass legislation that would keep the government running, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, said Thursday that his chamber is "pursuing bipartisanship." He accused House Speaker McCarthy of choosing to "elevate the whims and desires of a handful of hard-right extremists," with "nothing to show for it." Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate minority leader, said shutting down the government is an "actively harmful proposition." In a full shutdown, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) union estimates almost 1.8 million federal workers would go unpaid for the duration -- although receiving backpay afterward. A spokeswoman for the International Monetary Fund added in a briefing on Thursday: "We do see a shutdown as an avoidable risk for the US economy." The post US government readies for imminent shutdown appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Filipino activists accuse Marcos of ‘witch-hunt’
Filipino activists accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's government Thursday of carrying out a "witch-hunt" against rights defenders as they held rallies for the 51st anniversary of the imposition of martial law. Hundreds of people marched in Manila calling for the release of victims of forced disappearances and the abolishment of an anti-communist task force, set up by former president Rodrigo Duterte, that has been accused of targeting government critics. Rights group Karapatan said the Marcos Jr administration was using the task force to "witch-hunt activists, human rights defenders and other dissenters", while enabling the military and police to "perpetuate repression reminiscent of the martial law era". Marcos Jr's dictator father, Ferdinand Marcos, imposed martial law in 1972, unleashing his security forces on rivals, critics and dissidents. Amnesty International estimates thousands of people were killed and tens of thousands tortured and imprisoned in the brutal crackdown. Activists said rampant human rights abuses have continued under Marcos Jr, who has kept up Duterte's deadly war on drugs, as well as his National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. Rights groups say eight activists have been "disappeared" since Marcos Jr became president in June 2022. There have been more than 400 drug-related killings during the same period, according to a monitoring group. "It's like we're still living in the shadows of 1972. This regime doesn't care about human rights," Renato Reyes, secretary general of the leftist alliance Bayan, told protesters. [caption id="attachment_186945" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] People hold placards as they join a protest commemorating the 51st anniversary of the imposition of Martial Law, at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila on 21 September 2023. (Photo by JAM STA ROSA / AFP)[/caption] - 'Like martial law' - The rallies come after the release on Tuesday of two environmental activists who had accused the military of abducting them. Jonila Castro, 21, and Jhed Tamano, 22, had been working with coastal communities opposed to reclamation activities in Manila Bay when they disappeared on September 2 in Bataan province, near Manila. Authorities rejected the allegation, saying the women were part of a communist insurgency seeking to overthrow the government and had sought their help after voluntarily leaving the movement. Human Rights Watch senior researcher Carlos Conde told AFP some aspects of the country's human rights situation had worsened under Marcos Jr. "What we're seeing is somebody... who likes to shove human rights as an issue aside," Conde said, adding one of the reasons could be "his family have a... nasty history as far as human rights is concerned." Veteran human rights campaigner Cristina Palabay of Karapatan said she felt "more scared now" as the number of missing activists increased. Palabay said she and other members of Karapatan faced "some sort of mortal danger far greater than before", citing increased threats, profiling and surveillance. "This is actually like martial law... when people are just being picked up in the streets and justified as being held by authorities because they are suspected of being somebody," Palabay said. pam/amj/dhw © Agence France-Presse The post Filipino activists accuse Marcos of ‘witch-hunt’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Abduction of activists sparks calls to surface desaparecidos
In a statement Wednesday, Karapatan said the case of Castro and Tamano should push the government to strengthen investigation and efforts to find and surface all victims of enforced disappearances or desaparecidos. .....»»
Clampdown and grief as Iranians remember Mahsa Amini
Iranians at home and abroad marked the first anniversary Saturday of the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, with activists speaking of a renewed crackdown to prevent any resurgence of the protests which rocked major cities last year. Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, died a few days after her arrest by religious police for allegedly violating the strict dress code for women in force since shortly after the 1979 revolution. Her family says she died from a blow to the head but this is disputed by Iranian authorities. Anger over her death rapidly expanded into weeks of taboo-breaking protests which saw women tearing off their mandatory headscarves in an open challenge to the Islamic republic's system of government under supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But after several months, they lost momentum in the face of a crackdown that saw security forces kill 551 protesters, according to Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR), and arrest more than 22,000, according to Amnesty International. Iranian authorities say dozens of security personnel were also killed in what they describe as "riots" incited by foreign governments and hostile media. Seven men have been executed after being convicted in protest-related cases. Campaigners say the authorities have renewed their crackdown in the runup to the anniversary, putting pressure on relatives of those killed in the protests in a bid to stop them speaking out. New York-based Human Rights Watch said family members of at least 36 people killed or executed in the crackdown had been interrogated, arrested, prosecuted or sentenced to prison over the past month. "Iranian authorities are trying to impose a chokehold on dissent to prevent public commemoration of Mahsa Jina Amini's death in custody, which has become the symbol of the government's systematic oppression of women, injustice and impunity," said HRW's senior Iran researcher, Tara Sepehri Far. 'Repressive forces' deployed The two journalists who did the most to publicize the Amini case –- Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi who respectively reported from her hospital and funeral –- have been held in prison for almost a year. Another reporter, Nazila Maroufian who interviewed Amini's father Amjad, has been arrested repeatedly. Amjad Amini has told Persian media based outside Iran that he plans to hold a commemoration for his daughter in their hometown of Saqez in Kurdish-populated western Iran later Saturday. Outlets, including Prague-based Radio Farda, said he was summoned by intelligence officials after his announcement. He was not arrested but one of Amini's uncles, Safa Aeli, was detained in Saqez on 5 September. According to Kurdish-focused news outlet Hengaw, the government has sent additional security forces to Saqez and other towns in western Iran that could become flashpoints. On Saturday, Hengaw said, "repressive forces" were deployed around the Amini family residence in Saqez. It posted photos on X, formerly Twitter, showing armed men in fatigues on the streets of Saqez, as well as video of shops shuttered and on strike to mark the anniversary in Saqez, Sanandaj and other cities of Kurdistan province. 'Doubling down' While some women are still seen walking in public without headscarves, particularly in wealthy, traditionally liberal areas of north Tehran, the conservative-dominated parliament is currently considering a draft law that would impose far stiffer penalties for non-compliance. "The Islamic republic is doubling down on repression and reprisals against its citizens and seeking to introduce new and more draconian laws that severely restrict further the rights of women and girls," said Sara Hossain, the chair of the UN fact-finding mission set up to investigate the crackdown. Under the slogan "Say her name!", Iranian emigres are expected to hold commemorative rallies, with large demonstrations expected in Paris and Toronto. Amnesty International accused Iran's authorities of committing a "litany of crimes under international law to eradicate any challenge to their iron grip on power" and lamented that not a single official had been even investigated over Amini's death or the crackdown. "The anniversary offers a stark reminder for countries around the world of the need to initiate criminal investigations into the heinous crimes committed by the Iranian authorities under universal jurisdiction," said Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa deputy director, Diana Eltahawy. On the eve of the anniversary, Iran's arch-foe the United States and its Western allies including Britain and the European Union imposed new sanctions on the Islamic republic over its protest crackdown. Announcing the measures, US President Joe Biden led international calls in solidarity with Iranians on the anniversary of Amini's death. "Iranians alone will determine the fate of their country, but the United States remains committed to standing with them," he said. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani slammed the Western countries' "illegal and undiplomatic actions" in a statement late Friday. The post Clampdown and grief as Iranians remember Mahsa Amini appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Revilla calls for ‘better retirement plan’ for gov’t workers
Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. on Wednesday called for a “better retirement plan” that is responsive to the current economic situation. Revilla raised these concerns during a public hearing by the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation on the two measures promoting the welfare of the country’s pool of government workers. The Senate panel discussed the proposed lowering of the retirement age of government employees from 65 to 60 years old for compulsory retirement and from 60 to 56 years old for optional retirement It also tackled the automatic promotion of government employees upon retirement. Revilla cited the significant role of the government employees in society. “They are the State’s partners in delivering essential services to our countrymen. And with the role they play in bridging our government closer to our kababayans, they may very well be considered as front-liners,” he added. Revilla also rallied for the passage of the Senate Bill 1832 which seeks to amend Republic Act 8291 or the Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997 so that a government employee can already retirement and receive benefits at an earlier age of 56. “There is a need for a better retirement plan for the public sector that is responsive to the current economic situation and would honor the government’s civil servants selfless service to the nation,” he said. Meanwhile, Revilla also underscored the need to legislate Senate Bill 1568 to grant automatic promotion equivalent to one grade higher than a government employee's salary grade at the time of their retirement, with the adjusted salary grade becoming the basis for the computation of their retirement benefits. “Karapat-dapat lang na ipagkaloob natin sa ang ating mga lingkod-bayan ang automatic promotion. Ito naman ay hindi kalabisan para masuklian natin ang dedikasyon at pagsusumikap na kanilang pinamalas sa pagsisilbi hindi lang sa ating pamahalaan, kundi sa taumbayan mismo,” he said. The post Revilla calls for ‘better retirement plan’ for gov’t workers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Without ‘soul, progress is meaningless
Reduced budgets against big, supportive words paint a grainy picture of how the Marcos Jr. administration is prioritizing the arts and culture sector of the Philippines. In 2022, “proposed budget cuts for four key agencies tasked with preserving history and culture,” as said in a report, got critics’ hackles up, implying that the Marcoses had no love lost for history as it was allegedly bent on revisionism. However, a source from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts acknowledges that this has been a “period of recovery,” and that “the administration has continuously supported and assisted in the recovery of the sector, which is one of most adversely affected by the pandemic. Through the government’s cultural agencies, support to the culture still continues” to this day, one year into the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. For its part, the Duterte government, at the height of the pandemic, took steps to alleviate the needs of all those affected in the arts and culture sector. Assistance Data from the Cultural Center of the Philippines reveals that during that time, about 800 events were canceled, losing about 800,000 audiences or participants, and at least P90 million in revenues. About 3,000 artists, cultural workers and other kinds of workers were affected. This was the same all over the country and the world. The NCCA’s Assistance Program for Cultural Workers Under the State of Calamity aimed to provide quick cash assistance in the amount of P5,000 to around 800 beneficiaries. Artists and cultural workers who were not under an employer-employee relationship, without regular income or were working freelance, with no benefits, and/or had no employers to run to, and those whose source of income were gone due to the pandemic, were prioritized. The executive council members of the NCCA’s 19 national committees, which represent the different fields of culture and the arts, were tasked to list 35 priority beneficiaries. The NCCA “is the overall policy-making body, coordinating and grants-giving agency for the preservation, development and promotion of Philippine arts and culture; an executing agency for the policies it formulates; and tasked to administer the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts — a fund exclusively for the implementation of culture and arts programs and projects.” Executive Order 80’s. 1999, under then President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, put the NCCA on top of other cultural agencies: the Cultural Center of the Philippines, National Historical Institute (now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines), National Museum, The National Library (now, The National Library of the Philippines) and the Records, Management and Archives Office (now, the National Archives of the Philippines). In 2001, Section 8 of Republic Act 9155 added the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino/Commission on the Filipino Language under the NCCA umbrella tied up with education goals. It states: “The Komisyon ng Wikang Pilipino, National Historical Institute, Record Management and Archives Office and the National Library shall now be administratively attached to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and no longer with the Department of Education. The program for school arts and culture shall remain part of the school curriculum.” Putting these cultural agencies together was meant to synergize efforts to strengthen the Filipinos’ sense of heritage and nationhood. Budget allocations In 2023, a year after President Marcos first stepped into office, what “resources” are we talking about? When budgets were being deliberated on in 2022, reports came out on calls for an increase in the proposed budget for arts and culture. At the hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance, NCCA chairman Rene Escalante said, “…we are proposing additional funding of a total of P33 million” to cover expenses for “more manpower and space as some regulatory functions of the National Museum of the Philippines were transferred to it.” Department of Budget Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman in her newspaper column wrote last 31 May: “For 2023, DBM has released funding for our cultural agencies to sustain their projects. It has allocated P212 million for the National Historical Commission of the Philippines; P33 million for NCCA; P164 million for the National Archives; P70 million for the Commission on the Filipino Language; P356 million for CCP and P444 million for the National Museum.” ‘Full support’ Prior to his State of the Nation Address this year after one year in office, expressed his “commitment to promoting Philippine culture, as well as the preservation and protection of the country’s cultural heritage, In a speech at the NCCA Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honors) awarding ceremony in Malacañang, he said: “Makaaasa kayo na kaisa ninyo ang pamahalaan at administrasyong ito sa pagsusulong at pagpapayaman ng ating sining at kultura (You may rest assured the government and this administration is one with you in the promotion and development of our arts and culture),” pointing out its importance in and interconnection to efforts to boost our economy while uplifting the image of Filipinos across the globe. [caption id="attachment_161350" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] TRADITIONAL style of mat weaving. | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF LIKHA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_161351" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Banig weavers.[/caption] ‘Who we are’ What a rich and thriving culture means to a nation cannot be emphasized enough. In October 2018, when Malacañang hosted the awarding of the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan, Philippine Heritage Award and the Order of National Artist, then President Rodrigo Duterte noted the role that cultural heritage plays in the formation of the Filipino identity. “We must recognize and fulfill our duty to stay true to who we are, remember where we came from and honor the timelessness of our culture and traditions,” he said. His commitment was evident as the pandemic went on, with the NCCA offering assistance to the affected workers in the arts and culture sector. The unspoken benefit from that experience was that the arts community bounced back immediately, as artists and cultural workers continued to create, to entertain, to impart insights, to provoke and stimulate, to inspire. Creativity might have taken a pause during the pandemic but not for long as artists began to turn to cyberspace to share their works and interact with their audiences mainly in their social media accounts. Taking this cue, cultural institutions and companies, arts organizations and culture-related groups took the online route, creating virtual events such as online galleries, webinars and talks, film showings, workshops and tutorials, live-streamed musical shows and even presentations of recorded theatrical and dance performances. The digital arts have blossomed and traditional artforms have found themselves increasingly and suddenly in the digital world. Post-pandemic, establishments reopened, but cultural spaces such as museums, galleries and theaters were among the last ones to reopen. Local artistry In the first year of Marcos’ presidency, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos took on the role of promoting Filipino culture by spearheading projects like the Malacañang museums and Likha exhibits, which shone the limelight on local artistry and craftsmanship. One of the legacies of the pandemic that will continue in the coming years is incorporation of streaming or recording for posting and sharing in social media and other mediums. This is true for certain events such as launchings and talks. We have discovered the far-reaching reach of online platforms as well as the convenience of it, saving us time and money. With online platforms, we can reach thousands and disseminate information further beyond borders. Our audiences are not limited to certain geography, certain spheres. However, for theatrical productions, dance, films and music, we have to devise ways to monetize them so that the creatives involved can make a living out of their crafts. That is one of the challenges that the sector will be facing, which is part of the recovery process from the pandemic. One other important factor to be considered is the creative industries or creative economy. The Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 was launched in 2017, and for the first time, arts and culture and the creative industries are included in the national agenda. An inter-agency board has been created focusing on the creative industries, with the NCCA as one of the key agencies. This entails creating a collective vision and aspiration of Filipinos for themselves and for the country, and is an acknowledgment of the power of arts and culture to shape and elevate consciousness and ways of life and inspire communities. In that chapter, the government promises to “boost the development of Filipino creativity as tool for social cohesion and impetus for culture-based industry and creative economy.” Let’s not forget that a thoughtful and caring governance and industry would indeed include arts and culture in order to prosper in all aspects, recognize the important roles of their artists and cultural workers, and would preserve their cultural legacy, which contribute to realizing a deeper sense of self and national identity. True prosperity does not dwell on the material level but must include the nourishment and nurturing of the soul. The post Without ‘soul, progress is meaningless appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘EO 33 to be used against progressive, human rights groups’
“With EO 33, which calls for more stringent implementation of FATF recommendations, we can anticipate its dire results: the designation as terrorists of even more political activists and the curtailment of even more pro-people and development-oriented programs on false and malicious accusations of terrorist linkages." The post ‘EO 33 to be used against progressive, human rights groups’ appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Bong Go lauds Senate approval of Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go expressed his support and lauded the approval of Senate Bill No. 2035 on its third and final reading on Monday, 29 May. The measure, also known as Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, aims to establish a master plan for employment generation and recovery to address the challenges brought about by the pandemic. The proposed Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, principally sponsored by Majority Leader Senator Joel Villanueva, garnered strong support from lawmakers, including Go, who co-sponsored the bill. Go emphasized the significance of providing decent and equal job opportunities for all Filipinos, especially during these trying times. "Many Filipinos have lost their jobs due to the pandemic, and the rising unemployment rate calls for immediate action," Go stated. "This measure will stimulate national and local economic growth and development through aligning investment and other incentives provided by law for decent job generation, including the reintegration of Overseas Filipino Workers," he added. Go, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Labor, further stressed the importance of adequate planning and strategy to create sufficient employment opportunities, saying, "Dapat po talaga may sapat na pagpaplano at stratehiya para makalikha tayo ng sapat na trabaho." "Through the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan, we will promote the employability, competitiveness, wellness, and productivity of workers," he added. The Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, once passed into law, will establish the National Employment Master Plan, known as the "Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan." This comprehensive plan will serve as the state's blueprint for employment generation and recovery, encompassing both short-term and long-term goals and visions for the country. The plan's objectives include stimulating economic growth and development, promoting the employability and competitiveness of workers, providing support and incentives to businesses, and encouraging employers and industry stakeholders. Under the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan, a Trabaho Para sa Bayan Inter-Agency Council will be formed to develop success measures, key performance indicators, and action components. The council's responsibilities will include providing support for micro, small, and medium enterprises, enhancing the skills of the workforce, incentivizing employers and private sector organizations, and ensuring a favorable business environment. To facilitate the implementation of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan, the bill also proposes the creation of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Fund. This fund will be sourced from various government agencies, donations, grants, and other revenue streams. "This marks a significant milestone in our pursuit of a brighter future for employment in our beloved country," said Go. "With the approval of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, I am filled with optimism and hope that this can be the catalyst for economic recovery, job creation, and the holistic well-being of our hardworking Filipino workers," he added. Go's support for the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act is aligned with his continuous efforts to promote economic development in the country. He previously commended the Senate for approving SBN 1594, which shall institutionalize the One Town, One Product Philippines Program. This initiative aims to stimulate the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by utilizing indigenous raw materials, local traditions, and cultures. "Supporting small businesses plays a crucial role for the country. MSMEs are often the drivers of innovation and entrepreneurship," Go, who authored and co-sponsored the measure, emphasized. "They can quickly respond to changing market demands and develop new products or services that meet the needs of their customers," he added. In addition, Go introduced SBN 1182 or the proposed Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery Act. This bill aims to strengthen the capacity of government financial institutions to provide vital financial assistance to MSMEs and other strategically important companies. Go highlighted that the proposed GUIDE Act is one of the priority measures mentioned by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his first State of the Nation Address. At the height of the pandemic, Go also played a crucial role in the implementation of the Small Business Wage Subsidy program. This program provided financial assistance to eligible workers who were unable to work or receive payment during the enhanced community quarantine period. The post Bong Go lauds Senate approval of Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Saudi, Canada to restore full diplomatic ties
Saudi Arabia and Canada will restore full diplomatic relations, the kingdom said Wednesday, following a 2018 dispute over human rights that saw Riyadh expel Ottawa's ambassador and freeze new trade. The decision, also announced by Canada's foreign ministry, came after talks last year between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in Bangkok. "It has been decided to restore the level of diplomatic relations with Canada to its previous state," Saudi's foreign ministry said in a statement. In 2018, the Saudi government expelled Canada's ambassador and recalled its own envoy to Ottawa, while freezing all new trade over vigorous calls for the release of activists jailed in the kingdom. On Wednesday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said the two countries will "appoint new ambassadors" and a Canadian foreign ministry statement named Jean-Phillipe Linteau as Ottawa's new envoy to the kingdom. Saudi Arabia made no mention of its pick for ambassador. The latest announcement follows a frenetic stretch of high-stakes Saudi diplomacy triggered by the kingdom's surprise Chinese-brokered rapprochement deal with Iran announced in March. Since then, Saudi Arabia has restored bilateral ties with Syria and ramped up a push for peace in Yemen, where it leads a military coalition against the Iran-backed Huthi rebels. Saudi Arabia is also hosting representatives of Sudan's two warring generals, and, with the US, brokered a seven-day humanitarian ceasefire that took effect Monday. The post Saudi, Canada to restore full diplomatic ties appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Germany ends nuclear era as last reactors power down
Germany switched off its last three nuclear reactors on Saturday, exiting atomic power even as it seeks to wean itself off fossil fuels and manage an energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. While many Western countries are upping their investments in atomic energy to reduce their emissions, Germany brought an early end to its nuclear age. It's "the end of an era," the RWE energy firm said in a statement shortly after midnight confirming the three reactors had been disconnected from the electricity grid. Europe's largest economy has been looking to leave behind nuclear power since 2002, but the phase-out was accelerated by former chancellor Angela Merkel in 2011 after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. The exit decision was popular in a country with a powerful anti-nuclear movement, stoked by lingering fears of a Cold War conflict and atomic disasters such as Chernobyl in Ukraine. "The risks of nuclear power are ultimately unmanageable," said Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, who this week made a pilgrimage to the ill-fated Japanese plant ahead of a G7 meeting in the country. Anti-nuclear demonstrators took to the streets in several German cities to mark the closures. Greenpeace, at the heart of the anti-nuclear movement, organized a celebratory party at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. "We are putting an end to a dangerous, unsustainable and costly technology," said Green MP Juergen Trittin. In front of the Brandenburg Gate, activists symbolically slayed a model dinosaur. Initially planned for the end of 2022, Germany's nuclear exit was delayed as Russian gas supplies dwindled. Germany, the largest emitter in the European Union, also powered up some of its mothballed coal-fuelled plants to cover the potential gap left by gas. The challenging energy situation had increased calls domestically for the exit from nuclear to be delayed. Germany had to "expand the supply of energy and not restrict it any further" in light of potential shortages and high prices, the president of the German chamber of commerce Peter Adrian told the Rheinische Post daily. Friedrich Merz, leader of the opposition CDU party, said the abandonment of nuclear power was the result of an "almost fanatical bias". Meanwhile the conservative daily FAZ headlined its Saturday edition "Thanks, nuclear energy," as it listed benefits it said nuclear had brought the country over the years. Outside observers have been similarly irked by Germany's insistence on exiting nuclear while ramping up its coal usage, with climate activist Greta Thunberg in October slamming the move as "a mistake". As expected, the Isar 2 reactor in the southeast of the country, the Neckarwestheim facility in the southwest and Emsland in the northwest were disconnected from the electricity network before midnight. Earlier, Guido Knott, CEO of PreussenElektra, which operates Isar 2, said it would be "a very moving moment" to power down the reactor. The three final plants provided just six percent of Germany's energy last year, compared with 30.8 percent from all nuclear plants in 1997. "Sooner or later" the reactors will start being dismantled, Economy Minister Robert Habeck told the Funke group ahead of the scheduled decommissioning, brushing aside the idea of an extension. The government has the energy situation "under control", Habeck assured, having filled gas stores and built new infrastructure for the import of liquefied natural gas to bridge the gap left by Russian supplies. Instead, the minister is focused on getting Germany to produce 80 percent of its energy from renewables by 2030. To this end, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for the installation of "four to five wind turbines a day" over the next few years -- a tall order given that just 551 were installed last year. But the current rate of progress on renewables could well be too slow for Germany to meet its climate protection goals. Despite planning to exit nuclear, Germany has not "pushed ahead enough with the expansion of renewables in the last 10 years", Simon Mueller from the Agora Energiewende think tank told AFP. To build enough onshore wind capacity, according to Mueller, Germany now has to "pull out all the stops". The post Germany ends nuclear era as last reactors power down appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MPD files raps vs EDCA protesters
The Manila Police District on Wednesday revealed that it has already filed criminal charges against two individuals who were part of the group that staged a lightning rally in front of the United States Embassy early Tuesday. MPD chief P/Brig. Gen. Andrei Dizon identified the two as John Gabriel Magtibay and Joanne Pagkaliwangan, who were arrested by police after their group caused a ruckus in front of the US Embassy. The students were from the University of the Philippines and Far Eastern University based on records and they are believed to be members of the militant group Anak Bayan and League of Filipino Students. To recall, a group of 30 individuals converged at the US Embassy and threw paint at the emblem before escaping in different directions, but police who were posted in the area chased the protesters and managed to catch the two students. “The Manila Police had always respects peaceful assembly and human rights and freedom of an individual but it must have a corresponding responsibility. In addition we have four freedom parks in the city of Manila — Plaza Miranda , Liwasang Bonifacio, Plaza Dilao and Plaza Moriones which is open to the public provided that they adhere to the existing laws,” Dizon said. Charges filed against the two were for violation of B.P. 880 (Public Assembly Act of 1985), Vandalism and violation of Article 151 of the RPC (Resisting Arrest). Meantime, the Office of the City Prosecutor of Manila has ordered the release of the two student activists. However, inquest prosecutor William Arimboyutan Jr. recommended the charges be referred for further investigation. The post MPD files raps vs EDCA protesters appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
On Women’s Month, group calls to free political prisoners
“They are activists who long to rejoin the mainstream of the people’s struggle,” Tanggol Bayi Co-convenor Atty. Maria Sol Taule said in a statement on Thursday. “But they are also mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters, and their families are suffering without them.” .....»»
Women s Day events highlight gaps in gender equality
MADRID (AP) - From demands for constitutional rights in Islamabad to calls for economic parity in Manila, Paris and Madrid, International Women's Day demonstrations in cities around the world Wednesday highlighted the unfinished work of providing equity for half of the planet's population. While activists in some places celebrated political and legal advances, observances also pointed to repression in countries su.....»»
Activists to Marcos: No reconciliation without justice
Activist groups Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and Anakbayan have rejected President Marcos’ reconciliation offer, maintaining that there can be no reconciliation unless there is justice and “meaningful recognition of the abuses of the past.”.....»»
Bayan assails Facebook’s ‘censorship’ of tributes for Joma Sison
"Facebook is not just guilty of being complicit in legitimizing censorship; it is enabling harm and state-sponsored violence directed against activists." – Bayan The post Bayan assails Facebook’s ‘censorship’ of tributes for Joma Sison appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Rights group calls on UN expert to look into disinformation, red-tagging
Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said that the red-tagging has become bold and relentless in spreading lies and terror-tagging more individuals from the media, activists and critics. The post Rights group calls on UN expert to look into disinformation, red-tagging appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Tagum court junks murder charges against 6 activists
“True enough, the dismissal of the case is a step forward, but there is much to be done that necessitates our collective action and continuing calls for accountability and justice." The post Tagum court junks murder charges against 6 activists appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
SC pressed to protect people’s rights, freedoms
Amid the national outrage and international concern raised over the March 7 “Bloody Sunday” killing of nine activists in the Southern Tagalog region, urgent calls are being addressed to the Supreme Court to do what it can, while it can, to protect the people’s constitutional rights. The post SC pressed to protect people’s rights, freedoms appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
SC pressed to protect people’s rights, freedoms
Amid the national outrage and international concern raised over the March 7 “Bloody Sunday” killing of nine activists in the Southern Tagalog region, urgent calls are being addressed to the Supreme Court to do what it can, while it can, to protect the people’s constitutional rights......»»