, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20201215IPR94024/
Do not to use religion as political tool: Bangladesh PM
Dhaka [Bangladesh], December 17 (ANI): Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the political leaders not to use religion as a political tool as the country was “liberated with the blood of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians”.
“The people of Bangladesh are religious, not fanatics. Do not use religion as a political tool. Everyone has the right to practice their own religion. It (Bangladesh) is a country of communal harmony. It was liberated with the blood of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians,” The Daily Star quoted Hasina as saying during her address to the nation from Gono Bhaban, on the occasion of Victory Day.
She asserted that Bangladesh belongs to everyone and reiterated that the country will move in the path of progress and development “while upholding religious values”.
“This is the Bangladesh of Lalon, Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam and Jibanananda Das. This is the Bangladesh of Shahjalal, Shah Paran, Shah Makhdum and Khanjahan Ali. This is Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Bangladesh; Bangladesh of sixteen and a half crore Bangalees. This country belongs to everyone,” she said.
The Prime Minister said a section of the defeated forces in 1971 has been trying to distract devoted Muslims with false and fictitious statements and create unrest to take the country 50 years back, The Daily Star reported.She further highlighted the ongoing development projects including Padma Bridge and initiatives taken to “spread Islamic studies and religious practices”.
Vijay Diwas or Victory Day is celebrated every year on December 16 to mark India’s triumph in liberating Bangladesh from Pakistan in 1971.
In one of the fastest and shortest campaigns of military history, a new nation was born as a result of the swift campaign undertaken by the Indian Army.
After facing defeat in the 1971 war, the then Army Chief of Pakistan General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with his 93,000 troops, surrendered to allied forces, which also comprised Indian Army personnel. (ANI)
Taking jab at gov’t policies, bar owner creates own religion to counter lockdown rules
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A bar owner in Belgium “founded” his own religion not just to bypass lockdown restrictions but also to take a jab at the government for allowing religious groups to hold gatherings while the rest are quarantined.
Xavier Troisi, owner of Café Crayon in the city of Ostend in West Flanders, announced via Facebook that he is creating the religion of “Crayonism,” as per The Brussels Times yesterday, Dec. 15.
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“Followers, worshippers and other fans! Those who believe in Crayonism are now welcome to attend the service every Sunday at 11:00 AM,” Troisi was quoted as saying in the satirical post.
The bar owner has since clarified that he has no intention of pushing through establishing an actual religion, but noted that it was “more an accumulation of frustrations expressed in a pseudo-joking post.”
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Troisi explained to the newspaper that authorities were sending out “the wrong signal” by allowing one community to bypass COVID-19 restrictions while others are not.
The bar owner was referring to the lifting of the ban on religious services amid the pandemic by the country’s Council of State due to complaints from religious groups.
Starting last week, religious groups in Belgium are allowed to convene with a maximum of 15 participants, according to the report. Other sectors of society, however, are not given such freedom.
“I do not think that you should make an exception for something that concerns people’s private life like this, while families continue to experience tragedies because their businesses have to be closed,” Troisi was quoted as saying.
He also argued that while this is the case for religions, many people, especially those who are self-employed, are struggling to earn money and survive, but cannot do so as they are following policies.
Troisi noted that his issue is not specifically on religious groups being subjected to more relaxed rules, but due on the “double standard,” the report said.
The bar owner also clarified that he is not against the COVID-19 restrictions at all, sharing that he has been following policies for his establishment ever since they were imposed. Ian Biong /ra
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WHO study finds country differences in physical activity, screen time and sleep habits of children
A recent analysis of results from the WHO Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) provides a unique overview of the physical activity habits of children in the WHO European Region. The study shows that more can be done to increase physical activity, reduce screen time and ensure quality sleep among children in the Region and that there are clear differences in the prevalence of these behaviours between countries.
Across the Region, Portugal had the lowest levels of children cycling or walking to school, with nearly 80% being driven by their parents or using public transport – compared to just 6% in Tajikistan, where the vast majority actively travel to class.
Stephen Whiting, one of the authors, said that the “Physical activity, screen time and sleep” report could help guide policy-makers, schools and parents to improve the well-being of children.
“The findings are interesting as they show clear differences between countries in the ways that children are active. Governments can use these results to guide their efforts to increase physical activity levels of children, to set them up for an active and healthy future.”
Active children become active adults
Physical activity is an important determinant in the prevention and management of childhood obesity, which is associated with many serious health problems during childhood and increases the risk for noncommunicable diseases.
Our physical and socio-cultural environments largely determine where and how we can be active. Physical activity habits during childhood tend to track into adolescence and adulthood; establishing physically active behaviours early on can reap dividends in later life.
One pattern highlighted in the study is that children in central Asian countries are more likely to walk or cycle to school, but less likely to be a member of a sports club than those from northern or southern Europe.
“There is a big gap in the understanding of parents and the community of the importance of including physical activity as a natural part of their children’s lives,” says Shynar Abdrakhmanova, the Principal Investigator for Kazakhstan.
Ana Rito, the study’s Principal Investigator for Portugal, who has 3 teenage boys herself, says that this is a different world from the one she knew as a child.
“When I was growing up, we didn’t have any screens to distract us. We would naturally look to go outside and play with our friends. This is a different environment now, but it doesn’t mean that because it is different that it can’t work. There are new ways of being physically active.”
The challenge of addressing sedentary behaviour and screen time
Active play (unstructured, outdoor physical activity in children’s free time), active transport (cycling or walking) and participation in sports, are the major contributors to total physical activity among children.
It is important that as children grow and develop that, in addition to high levels of physical activity, they also achieve low levels of sedentary behaviour and sufficient sleep each day.
Time spent using screen-based devices increases sedentary behaviour, which has been linked with a higher intake of energy-dense snacks, drinks and fast foods, and overall higher energy intake.
The lure of screens and devices is a particularly difficult one for parents to overcome. Shynar Abdrakhmanova, who has 4 children, points out that simply restricting them might not work. Rather, children need something more exciting to replace them with.
“Children should be doing something more interesting than, for example, merely being outside or just doing something active that isn’t on a screen. Something should attract them to do physical activity. This could involve doing something in the community, or organized physical activity. But schools are crucial – they spend a lot of time there and more lessons should be based around physical activity, and more time given to organized sport.”
Ana Rito says that while modern life has meant there are fewer ways for children to get physical activity as part of a normal daily routine, simply finding the right solution can overcome the problem – and even make them more physically active than previous generations.
The differences in the prevalence between countries shows that there are opportunities for national policy-makers to learn from experiences across the Region and to adopt what works.
Countries can use these findings to guide the development of policies and interventions to increase physical activity, reduce screen time and stop the rise in childhood obesity.
European Parliament overwhelmingly passes €1.8 trillion EU budget
The European Parliament has passed its seven-year EU budget by an overwhelming majority, paving the way for the EU to pursue key programs in the coming years.
The €1.8 trillion budget and coronavirus recovery package was agreed by the European Council earlier this month, and was passed in the EP on Wednesday evening with 548 votes in favour, 81 against and 66 abstentions.
It includes a €15 billion top-up for 10 programmes, which it said will boost the fight against coronavirus, provide opportunities for the next generation, and protect European values.
The EP president, David Sassoli, called it a “historic budget for a historic moment,” which lays the foundations for a “greener and fairer Europe“.
The road to getting the budget passed was dogged by issues related to Hungary and Poland, who threatened to veto it due to opposition to a mechanism that would make some funds conditional on a member state’s respect for core European values.
But a compromise was reached, with the mechanism suspended while the EU draws up plans for how it could be used.
“The last weeks, we have seen a sad show of obstructions by the governments of Hungary and Poland, who wanted to take the recovery fund hostage for their own anti democratic agenda,” said Ska Keller, a German Green MEP.
“Mr Orbán and Mr Kacziynksi, you neither serve your citizens, nor our common European future,” she added.
Once operational, the EU will be able to cut funds to countries in cases of systemic breaches of rule of law.
The two countries have long been at odds with the EU over issues such as rule of law and judicial independence.
Parliament approves seven-year EU budget 2021-2027 | News | European Parliament
, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20201211IPR93621/
Colombian Bishop decries desecration of Catholic church – Vatican News
By Devin Watkins
On the night of 12 December, a group of unidentified vandals entered the Church of Our Lady of Valvanera, in the city of Pitalito, in the southeastern part of Colombia.
They broke open the Tabernacle, and stole the ciborium and monstrance, along with several other religious objects. The thieves also threw the consecrated hosts on the floor.
Attack on mystery of faith
In response, the Bishop of Garzón, Fabio Duque Jaramillo, released a statement on Tuesday decrying the desecration of the Eucharist.
“In the name of the Catholic Church, I raise my voice in protest and condemnation for the desecration of the church and the Tabernacle,” he said, calling it “an act which wounds all Catholics of the Diocese of Garzón and the universal Church, because we see the central mystery of our faith under attack: the Eucharist, the presence of God in our midst and the extension of the mystery of human redemption.”
Rights trampled upon
The Bishop added that the event represented a “serious violation of the people’s religious rights.”
He urged civil authorities to investigate the incident.
“Government authorities and civil representatives should not underestimate the damage these attacks have on the feelings and faith of Catholics,” he said. “When the rights of God are trampled upon with impunity, our human rights are also in danger.”
Excommunication and repentance
Bishop Duque reminded the perpetrators that, according to Canon Law (§1367), they have automatically been sanctioned with excommunication, so that they might be provoked to repent.
He also invited the faithful of Colombia to express their solidarity with the Catholic community of Pitalito.
“It is our duty, as Catholics,” he said, “to repudiate acts such as these.”
Mass of Reparation
The Church of Our Lady of Valvanera will remain closed for 15 days.
On 28 December, Bishop Duque will celebrate a Mass of Reparation, in response to this act of desecration.
Quality and Sustainability: Why Colombia could become the next exporting giant
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Colombia is set to become one of the world’s largest food exporters. If it succeeds, Europe will be seeing more Colombian produce on its supermarket shelves than ever before.
Colombia, with its Caribbean coastline, soaring Andean peaks and lush Amazonian jungle, is best known around the world for its specialty coffee. The sweet and floral Arabica bean, which has been cultivated in Colombia’s mist-shrouded Zona Cafetera since the 16th century, is today the country’s largest export. Arabica coffee is Colombia’s most decorated product, too, boasting several international certifications such as UTZ, organic, RainForest, 4C, and FairTrade.
But a great cup of joe isn’t the only thing South America’s fourth-largest country has to offer. Located close to the equatorial border, Colombia is home to some of the world’s most diverse ecosystems, including rainforest, moorland, dessert, and savannah. From the tropical grasslands to the east of the Andes to the high-altitude plains and glaciers near Bogota, Colombia’s varied landscape, as well as its non-seasonal climate and ample water resources, make it an agricultural paradise. Experts from the FAO say that, with further funding and the right measures in place, Colombia has the potential to produce a variety of high-quality products year-round, and in large quantities.
But for a country that for so long has focused largely on coffee exports, there are challenges ahead. The Colombian Coffee Growers Federation, a non-profit organization at the forefront of promoting sustainable agricultural practices in Colombia, has been a key player in diversifying Colombia’s export offering. In recent years, the Federation has launched a programme to encourage Colombian coffee growers to cultivate alternative food products, such as avocados, sugar cane, and passionfruit, alongside the Arabica coffee bean. This will not only help Colombia grow as a mass exporter of organic foods, but could also give thousands of coffee-growing families, who are often at the mercy of fluctuating coffee prices, additional sources of income.
While coffee remains Colombia’s most in-demand product, the country is experiencing a boom in fresh fruit exports. In 2019, 2.1 million tonnes of fresh fruit was sold internationally, with bananas, avocado and plantain being the most popular, particularly in Europe. According to the European Commission report EU Imports of Organic Agri-Food Products, Colombia’s organic product exports to the EU rose from 63,114 tons in 2018 to 87,341 tons in 2019. After coffee and fresh flowers, bananas, which generated 862.1 million in revenue for the country in 2019, are now Colombia’s largest export. Avocados, too, are Colombia’s fastest-growing product, their value now 42% higher than it was in 2018.
According to ProColombia, a government agency in charge of the development of Colombia’s non-traditional exports, part of Colombia’s success in exporting fresh fruit is due to two things: quality and commitment to sustainability. As of 2019, 700 avocado farms had been certified by GlobalG.A.P, a figure that ProColombia said is only set to grow. “International markets are increasingly interested in sustainable fruit practices, so more farms will continue to work towards these social and environmental certifications,” says ProColombia. For the banana industry, on the other hand, ProColombia says there is a strong commitment to workers’ rights. “Unions in the sector, especially in Urubá, ensure that working conditions are good and that workers have access to healthcare and education,” says ProColombia. “Pay is also 45% higher than the minimum wage.”
While bananas and avocados are Colombia’s star sellers, the country hopes to export a larger variety of fruits to Europe in the coming years. During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, ProColombia reported that more people in Europe were buying vitamin C-rich fruits, such as oranges and lemons, to strengthen their immune system. This, ProColombia says, could open doors for Colombia’s lesser-known products, such as pitaya, tamarillo, and soursop. “This is a very good opportunity for exotic Colombian fruits to increase their presence in the European market,” said ProColombia.
Whether Colombia’s more exotic fruits like the pink pitaya and orange tamarillo are a hit with European consumers remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: products of Colombian origin could soon become staples of Europe’s fresh fruit pantry.
It is also worth mentioning that Colombia is one of the most important suppliers of palm oil in America, and the fourth largest producer worldwide. In this context, the country is making steady progress in its intention to consolidate itself as an international leader in sustainable production. It aims to reach zero deforestation in the coming years and to be a world leader in the best production practices to take advantage of the more than 5.2 million hectares that it has with high potential for planting and exporting.
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