European Commission Discours Brussels, 22 Feb 2021 Merci Margrethe.
Aujourd’hui, nous présentons donc un plan d’action pour accroitre les synergies entre le civil, l’espace et la défense.
C’é…
Discours du commissaire Breton à la conférence de presse sur le plan d’action sur les synergies entre les industries civile, spatiale et de la défense
EU adds 19 Venezuelan officials to sanctions blacklist
The Council today added 19 leading Venezuelan officials to the list of those subject to restrictive measures, due to their role in acts and decisions undermining democracy and the rule of law in the country, or as a result of serious human rights violations.
This decision follows on from the Council conclusions of 25 January 2021, which indicated that the EU stood ready to adopt additional targeted restrictive measures, in view of the deteriorating situation in Venezuela following the December 2020 elections.
The individuals added to the list are responsible, notably, for undermining the oppositions’ electoral rights and the democratic functioning of the National Assembly, and for serious violations of human rights and restrictions of fundamental freedoms.
Today’s decision brings to 55 the total number of individuals subject to sanctions, which include travel bans and asset freezes. These targeted measures are designed not to have adverse humanitarian effects or unintended consequences for the Venezuelan population, and can be reversed.
The EU will continue to engage and work with all stakeholders in Venezuela to promote peaceful dialogue and a democratic and sustainable solution to the crises in the country.
The EU introduced restrictive measures on Venezuela in November 2017. The measures include an embargo on arms and on equipment for internal repression, and the imposition of travel bans and asset freezes on listed individuals.
Myanmar’s bishops urge military to end violence, start dialogue – Vatican News
By Robin Gomes
Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Myanmar on Monday in one of the largest demonstrations yet against the country’s military coup three weeks ago. People are demanding an end to military rule and want the nation’s elected leader San Suu Kyi released, along with senior members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party.
Protesters gathered in Myanmar’s biggest city, Yangon, despite the ruling junta’s threat to use lethal force against people who join a general strike against the military’s 1 Feb. coup. Police dispersed crowds in the capital, Naypyitaw, and a water cannon truck was seen to move into position.
Restraint, dialogue
Meanwhile, the Catholic bishops of Myanmar have appealed to the military urging restraint on the streets and to return to dialogue to resolve the crisis. In a statement on Sunday, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar (CBCM) decried the violence in the streets saying ‘the sad and shocking recent events have brought huge sorrow to our nation.” The appeal signed by CBCM president Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon, executive secretary Auxiliary Bishop John Saw Yaw Han of Yangon and 17 other bishops from across the country, came as the funeral of the first casualty in the protests, a 20-year-old woman, was held in Naypyitaw on Sunday after she was shot in the head on Feb. 9.
Myanmar soaked in fraternal blood
“The heart-rending scenes of youth dying in the streets wound the conscience of a nation,” the bishops lamented. said. “Let not its sacred ground be soaked in fraternal blood. The sadness of parents burying their children has to stop. Mothers’ tears are never a blessing to any nation,” the bishops warned.
They noted that just a month ago, the nation was dreaming of enhanced peace and democracy. “Despite the onslaught of the global pandemic,” they noted, “the nation held an election.” “The world admires our capacity for managing our differences.” However, “Today, the world weeps with us, shattered by the fragmentation of this nation once again,” the bishops deplored, saying the country’s young people deserve a better deal.
“Healing needs to start with the release of detained leaders,” the Church leaders stressed, calling on all to return to dialogue and invest their energy in reconciliation.
Cardinal Bo’s Lenten appeal
Cardinal Bo has also called on his faithful of his archdiocese to pray and fast for reconciliation as the nation is locked in hopelessness and despair through the coup. “This is a time for prayer. This is a time for fasting. This is a time for conversion for all of us in this country,” he said in a homily on the first Sunday of Lent.
“Let the dove of peace return to our nation,” he prayed. “Let this nation rise up to be a new Myanmar of peace and prosperity to all. Let the rainbow of peace and reconciliation rise again.” In his homily, the outspoken cardinal, who is also president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, warned against abuse of power, money, arrogance and oppression. “The mightiest powers will fall and their graves may become history,” he said.
Catholics continue protests
Myanmar has seen daily protests from urban cities to remote areas including in Christian strongholds where ethnic groups have shown their support for pro-democracy rallies. Catholic men and women religious, priests, seminarians and laypeople have taken to the streets to pray for peace as pro-democracy protests intensified in Myanmar three weeks after the 1 Feb. coup.
On Sunday, some 1,000 Catholics, mostly young people, marched on the streets of Yangon. The previous day, several hundred recited prayers and the rosary on the streets in Mandalay. Last week, nuns, priests and laypeople also took to the streets in Kayah state, a Catholic stronghold in northeastern Myanmar, to pray for peace. Christians from other denominations also joined Catholics on the streets in several cities in Kachin and Chin states.
Nuns have provided food and drinks to protesters in Yangon while some have organized prayer meetings in their convents. On Friday, dozens of Catholic youths held a demonstration in front of the US embassy in Yangon while thousands of anti-coup protests gathered in front of the embassies of China, Japan and Singapore.
International condemnation
On Saturday, two people including a teenager were killed and more than 20 injured in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, during a violent crackdown by security forces on protesters. The latest bloody crackdown has sparked strong condemnation from the United Nations, the US, Britain and the European Union.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged Myanmar’s military to halt repression immediately, release hundreds detained and respect human rights and the will of the people expressed in the elections.
ANTI-AHMADIYYA VIDEO TARGETING LITTLE CHILDREN IS GOING VIRAL TO SOW THE SEEDS OF HATRED, FANATICISM, AND BIGOTRY IN THE MINDS OF INNOCENT PAKISTANI CHILDREN
A new, anti-Ahmadiyya video targeting little children in Pakistan is going viral. The crude animated video is meant to sow the seeds of hatred, fanaticism and bigotry in the minds of innocent Pakistani children. Rather than teaching tolerance, the video perpetuates false stereotypes against the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and calls on all Pakistanis, including children, to consider Ahmadi Muslims subversive and blasphemous infidels. It also asks Pakistanis to boycott Ahmadi goods, products and services.
This video ad is inconsistent with international norms and values concerning freedom of religion and belief, as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), on the freedom of religion, and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which was ratified by Pakistan in 2008. Three other UN human rights treaties, as well as numerous General Assembly Resolutions and Human Rights Committee comments, prohibit religious discrimination. This video also violates Pakistan’s own National Action Plan as well as the recently enacted cybercrime laws because it fuels hatred, discrimination and persecution against members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Pakistan.
Nonetheless, the Pakistani government authorities, who continue to bring frivolous cases against Ahmadi Muslims under anti-Ahmadiyya, blasphemy, and cybercrime laws, turns a blind eye towards systematic and countrywide efforts by Islamic extremists to fan hatred and ignite violence against Ahmadi Muslims. Instead of prosecuting the makers of this video under cybercrime laws and the National Action Plan, the governmental authorities continue to protect and support extremists and target innocent Ahmadis.
We call upon the Pakistani authorities to honor their international human rights commitments to protect religious freedom and promote religious tolerance towards the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. We respectfully request all members of the international community to urge the government of Pakistan to take urgent steps to bring its laws and practices in conformity with international standards as ordained by UDHR and ICCPR.
EU envisages €1 billion aid to Ivory Coast to meet sustainable cocoa laws
The European Union envisages providing around one billion euros over six years to aid Ivory Coast’s cocoa sector as it adapts to EU supply chain laws due to be introduced later this year, its envoy in Abidjan said on Friday (19 February).
“In the context of our future programming for 2021-2027, the EU is envisaging a Team Europe initiative which could mobilise up to one billion euros to accompany Ivory Coast in the transition towards sustainable cocoa production,” EU Ambassador to Ivory Coast Jobst von Kirchmann said in an interview.
Kirchmann did not say when a final decision would be taken.
The European Parliament has been pushing for the 27-nation bloc to introduce laws to prevent the import of commodities and products linked to deforestation and human rights abuses.
If the laws are adopted, buyers would be required to trace their inputs through every step of their supply chains, including starting at the level of small farms.
Companies like Nestle and Danone might have to comply with these requirements as early as 2024.
“The European consumer today wants to consume a product that comes from a sustainable production and that applies to all raw materials and all countries,” von Kirchmann said.
Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer, has begun negotiations with the EU to agree minimum standards for sustainability.
The West African country hopes the EU’s laws will help protect forests, curb child labour and end farmer poverty.
Through imports of commodities such as meat, soy, palm oil and cocoa, the EU and its consumers account for over 10% of global deforestation linked to production, according to the European Commission.
Speech by Executive Vice-President Vestager at the press conference on the Action Plan on synergies between civil, defence and space industries
European Commission Speech Brussels, 22 Feb 2021 Today we have adopted our first ever action plan on synergies between civil, defence and space industries.
As the global race for technological leadership is ac…
Buddhist Times News – Buddha statue at Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
Buddha statue at Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
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By –BT Newsdesk
Bahronpur was a well-developed city with a monastery, archaeologists confirm
Archaeologists have found a large statue of Gautam Buddha at Bahronpur village in Sitagarha, around 20 kilometres away from the district headquarters, while excavating a ninth century Buddhist Shrine and monastery.
Virendra Kumar Partha, archaeologist at the Archaeological Survey of India said that the team has found other artifacts such as pottery, walls, stairs and tools.
“Efforts are being made to take out the Buddha statue safely. The face itself is 10-inches long so we hope it’s a big sculpture,” he told The Telegraph Online on Sunday
Confirming the site as a major shrine, Partha said that the ASI team has also found a reclining Buddha statue.
The ASI started working at the site after Buddhist monk Bhante Tiswarro revealed details about Bahronpur, widely considered to be a popular monastery during its time. Many residents in the area had found ancient idols in the area while constructing their houses, leading to the discovery of the place.
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The Girl Who Wrote in Silk and Persuasion
We had two great discussions in my two different book clubs this month. One book I enjoyed very much, while the other I did not. The two books were The Girl who Wrote in Silk by Kelli Estes and Jane Austen’s Persuasion. After I read the books and formed my opinion about them, I went online to read other reviews. I have decided that I cannot pick a book based on online reviews. I loved The Girl Who Wrote in Silk and it got mediocre reviews, and I disliked Persuasion, and people wax poetic about Jane Austen. Each person brings their personal bias to the discussion.
The Girl Who Wrote in Silk (GWS) was divided into two stories—one historical and one current. While I normally don’t like the jumping back and forth in a book (which is all too common these days), I did not mind it in this book. In fact, I looked forward to the “old” story line featuring a Chinese-American woman named Mei Lien, more than I did the current story line featuring Inara. I did like both characters a great deal, and I learned a lot about Chinese Americans and how they were treated in the Pacific NW during the 1880’s. In several of our books, we are getting history lessons that were overlooked in our educations. I have enjoyed that immensely. I don’t think GWS was a perfect book. There were too many coincidences in the current story line to suit me, and I would have loved more development of Mei Lien’s son’s story. Once he is sent away, you really don’t get much more information about him. I am sure his story would have been fascinating. All in all, a very enjoyable book, which we all enjoyed. There were no naysayers in the bunch.
The same cannot be said for Jane Austen’s Persuasion.
Our group was quite divided on this one.
Paula thoroughly enjoyed the book, and the movie—which she has watched numerous times. Cindy and Helen were glad they had read it, while Karen and I were not as enamored. Cindy and I paid to watch the movie, (an old movie and boring to boot, and I paid $3.99 to watch it!) and I thought it was tedious too. Obviously, not my style or genre. As Karen stated, no one got killed in the book! You know the saying, you can’t see the forest for the trees? In this book, you can’t find the meaning of the sentences for the words! Talk about run on sentences with grandiose and wordy prose. I read a lot and rarely get tired reading, but Persuasion was the best sleeping pill for me. Luckily, it was not a long book, but since I often had to reread the passages to make any sense out of them, it took me quite a while to read. The main character, Anne Elliot is nice enough, but lacks spunk, and allows herself to get taken advantage of. The lead male character I also enjoyed, Captain Wentworth, but again, it took them too long to get things done. It was an interesting look back on a bygone era, which thankfully we are not a part of anymore. But it did not catch my interest or make me want to read any other Jane Austen books. As Karen said, it felt like something we had to read for school. But I do know several people who adore Jane Austen—each to their own.
With all our bad weather, I have been reading quite a bit. Some other books I thoroughly enjoyed included the newest Ian Rankin -A Song for Dark Times, My Dear Hamilton, by Stephanie Dray, and Iris Johansen’s The Ugly Duckling. A new series I think I will start working on is by Thomas King. They are a bit reminiscent of the Longmire, Cork O’Conner Joe Picket books. The main character is Dreadful Waters. I somehow had the second book in the series, The Red Power Murders, so need to go back and read the first one too. They are mysteries, with humor. I made it through these other 5 books in less time than it took me to read Persuasion—says a lot about my opinion of the book! Sorry Paula.
Political debate on migration & integration with Vice-President Schinas and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)
European Commission Brussels, 25 Feb 2021 Vice-President Schinas participates via videoconference to a political debate on migration & integration with the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)
Catholics, evangelicals unite on free speech fears under Scottish hate bill relating to transgender issue
A coalition of Roman Catholics and evangelicals have united to urge the Scottish Government to drop part of its controversial hate crime bill as it moves closer to becoming law, particularly that in the proposed law relating to criticism of “transgender ideology.”
Representatives from Scotland’s Catholic Parliamentary Office, the Free Church of Scotland, and Evangelical Alliance Scotland wrote to Scotland’s Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf.
Their call followed the Scottish government’s decision to retract an amendment on transgender hate crimes, The Christian Institute in the UK reported.
The amendment would have protected the right to criticize radical gender ideology without fear of prosecution, but the governing Scottish National Party changes its mind after the move drew criticism from LGBT activists.
They are not alone in their fears as Scottish lawyers, police, actors and even the BBC have all expressed concern over the Bill, Christian Today reported.
The Scottish Government has so far resisted pressure to introduce a safeguard to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill.
The church groups Church called for the ‘stirring up’ offence to be removed from the proposed law.
They warned that the offence will effectively censor any criticism of transgender ideology.
‘WRESTLING WITH IDEAS’
“Such free discussion and criticism of views is vital as society wrestles with these ideas,” they said.
In their letter, the signatories expressed concern that a generic “catch all” free speech statement would water down protections, leaving uncertainty for “prosecutors, courts and most importantly the general public”.
They highlighted the approach taken to the issues of sexual orientation and transgender identity and said that in both areas, there was a need to distinguish between “vicious, or malevolent attacks on the person on one hand, and disagreement or dispute with an ideological position on the other.”
On same-sex marriage, they noted, “When marriage between parties of the same sex was introduced in Scotland assurance was given that no religious body would be forced to conduct them, implicit in that assurance was protection for those who expressed doctrinal disagreement with such marriages.”
The petitioners also said that radical gender ideology has been the subject of “extensive and emotional public discussion” in recent years, and explained that a freedom of speech clause relating specifically to transgenderism is “vital as society wrestles with these ideas.”
They said: “While we acknowledge the difficulties and struggles experienced by those with Gender Dysphoria and are acutely aware of the sensitivities involved from our own pastoral care settings, we cannot accept that any position or opinion at variance with the proposition that sex (or gender) is fluid and changeable should not be heard.”
CRITICISM ON TRANSGENDER IDEOLOGY
The controversy on the right to offer criticism on transgender ideology has pulsed in one of Scotland’s most famous residents, J.K. Rowling the author of the Harry Potter series of books and movies.
On June 10 last year she wrote a newspaper opinion piece explaining her views and criticism, including death threats that followed.
“For people who don’t know: last December I tweeted my support for Maya Forstater, a tax specialist who’d lost her job for what were deemed ‘transphobic’ tweets. She took her case to an employment tribunal, asking the judge to rule on whether a philosophical belief that sex is determined by biology is protected in law. Judge Tayler ruled that it wasn’t.”
Rowling says people have asked her why sho has taken her stance.
“Firstly, I have a charitable trust that focuses on alleviating social deprivation in Scotland, with a particular emphasis on women and children. Among other things, my trust supports projects for female prisoners and for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse.
“I also fund medical research into MS, a disease that behaves very differently in men and women.
“It’s been clear to me for a while that the new trans activism is having (or is likely to have, if all its demands are met) a significant impact on many of the causes I support, because it’s pushing to erode the legal definition of sex and replace it with gender.
“The second reason is that I’m an ex-teacher and the founder of a children’s charity, which gives me an interest in both education and safeguarding. Like many others, I have deep concerns about the effect the trans rights movement is having on both.
“The third is that, as a much-banned author, I’m interested in freedom of speech and have publicly defended it, even unto Donald Trump.”
ABC News in Australia reported on Sept. 30 that that some people have accused JK Rowling of transphobia, while others have commended her “bravery” for discussing an issue they say is rooted in misogyny.
“One thing’s clear: what she’s said has sparked controversy and caused some pain,” ABC commented .
The commentary said it is not clear though, is how much the furor will impact sales of her upcoming book, Troubled Blood, released that week under her nom de plume, Robert Galbraith.
“Publishing insiders say her brand as a talented and versatile writer — even under her now well-recognized pseudonym — may supersede her controversial opinions.
“But a growing number of LGBTQI people and their allies are turning their backs on an author who was thought to have theirs.”
