The situation for Gazans is “getting worse by the hour”, the UN health agency WHO said on Tuesday, after some of the heaviest Israeli shelling in the enclave since Hamas militants massacred some 1,200 people in southern Israel and took around 240 hostages on 7 October.
Speaking from the southern city of Rafah, Dr. Rick Peeperkorn, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, described further bloodshed after the resumption of Israeli bombing last Friday.
“The situation is getting worse by the hour,” Dr. Peeperkorn told journalists in Geneva via video link. “I mean…there’s intensified bombing going on all around and including here in the southern areas, Khan Younis and even in Rafah.”
The army is telling people to leave Eastern Khan Younis and instructing people in the core of the city that this area is now a “dangerous fighting zone”
They tell people to move to Rafah to receive assistance – but we are not able to provide for 100Ks of new IDP #Gaza@UNRWA
The WHO medic noted that in the last couple of days there had also been “a vastly increasing number” of internally displaced people travelling from the Middle area “and even now the southern areas”, fearing for their lives.
Echoing those concerns, UN Children’s Fund spokesperson James Elder cited international humanitarian law that obliges militaries to “take all feasible measures” to protect civilians. It was not acceptable to unilaterally declare that they should go to “so-called safe zones”, he insisted, when these were in fact “sidewalks” or “half-built buildings” without water, shelter or sanitation.
“It’s not a safe zone if it’s only free from bombardment, as some zones have not been,” Mr. Elder said.
Deadly toll
The humanitarian update came as the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, reported that between the afternoon of 3 December and the afternoon of 4 December at least 349 Palestinians were killed and 750 injured, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza.
Three Israeli soldiers were also killed, according to Israeli sources, OCHA said in its latest emergency update.
According to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNWRA, nearly 1.9 million people – more than 85 per cent of the population in Gaza – have been displaced across the Strip since 7 October.
Almost 1.2 million internally displaced persons have found shelter in 156 UNRWA installations across all five governorates of the Gaza Strip, including the North and Gaza City, the UN agency said.
It also confirmed that at least 19 additional colleagues had been killed during airstrikes, bringing the total to 130 since 7 October. “We are also in danger as we walk,” UNWRA said, quoting one of its counsellors, named only as Jehan. “Our lives are at a standstill…There is the smell of death here. But we’re determined to live.”
Aid lifeline
Health authorities in Gaza estimate that at least 15,523 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the latest escalation, with 70 per cent believed to be women and children. “Many more are missing, presumably under the rubble, waiting for rescue or recovery,” UNRWA said.
Amid desperate shortages of all humanitarian supplies, OCHA reported that on Sunday, some 100 aid trucks reached the enclave, along with 69,000 litres of fuel. The same quantities reached Gaza on Saturday, the UN aid office said, noting that this was still “well below” the daily average of 170 trucks and 110,000 litres of fuel delivered during the pause in fighting from 24 and 30 November.
“It’s too little, it’s way too little,” said WHO’s Dr. Peeperkorn, who said that amid the “increasing disaster” of Gaza, more medicine, food, water and fuel were needed.
Describing Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure as “crippled” with “hardly any functional health facility in the north” apart from Al-Ahli hospital which was inundated with multiple trauma cases and a lack of supplies, the WHO official expressed deep concern that the same desperate scenes could be repeated in the south.
Desperation intensifies for Gazans amid uncertainty of ‘safe zones’ 2
Patients’ plight
From a capacity of 3,500 beds before the 7 October escalation, the enclave now has only 1,500, he explained.
“If you look around, there’s hardly any hospital there left (in the north). So, we’ve seen what happened in northern Gaza and of course we are deeply concerned that this cannot be – this should not be – a blueprint for the south.”
The WHO official also confirmed that medical supplies had been moved from two warehouses from Khan Younis to Rafah on Sunday. This followed advice that the storage facilities were “in an area where the population was told to evacuate and would most likely become an area of active combat in the coming days”, he explained.
The birth rate in the country has fallen colossally
Kim Jong Un was filmed crying as he urged women in North Korea to have more children and raise them to love the authoritarian state.
The North Korean leader was seen wiping his eyes with a white handkerchief as he addressed thousands of women gathered at a national meeting of mothers in Pyongyang.
Many in the audience wept with him during the carefully choreographed event, the first of its kind to be held in 11 years amid growing concerns about falling birthrates in the shuttered country.
“Stopping the decline in the birth rate and providing good care and education for the children are all our family affairs that we must solve together with our mothers,” said Kim, who is rumored to have three children.
While North Korea has released few details about its population trends, the South Korean government estimates that the birth rate has fallen steadily over the past decade, which would alarm a regime heavily dependent on manual labor and military service.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry said Kim’s address marked the first time he had publicly acknowledged a decline in his country’s birthrate.
According to the UN Population Fund and the World Bank, the North’s fertility rate hovers around 1.79-1.8 children per woman as of 2020.
It fell from 4.05 in the late 1960s to below 2.1 by the late 1990s, following birth control programs in the 1970s and 1980s to slow postwar population growth and the great famine of the mid-1990s, which is believed to have killed hundreds of thousands of people.
However, the birth rate still remains more than twice that of rapidly aging South Korea, which hit a record low of 0.78 last year.
According to reports in North Korea’s state media, this year the country introduced a range of benefits for families with three or more children, including preferential free housing, government subsidies, free food, medicine and household goods, and educational privileges for children.
Kim reminded the mothers that their “primary revolutionary task” was to instill “socialist virtues” in their offspring and instill loyalty to the ruling party during his address.
“Unless a mother becomes a communist, it is impossible for her to raise her sons and daughters as communists and turn her family members into revolutionaries,” he was quoted as saying by the state-run KCNA news channel.
The North Korean leader also warned parents to remove foreign influence on young minds, instructing them to send their children to perform hard labor for the state to correct bad behavior that was not “our style”.
Kim’s emotional address wasn’t the first time he’s openly shed tears in public.
In 2020, he wept as he offered a rare apology for failing to lead the shuttered country through turbulent economic times at the start of the pandemic.
Earlier this year, his eyes filled with tears at a military parade in July to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War that divided the peninsula.
Membership of the Belarusian Red Cross in the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has been suspended since December 1, the organization’s press service reported.
This decision is due to the fact that the Belarusian organization did not comply with the request to remove General Secretary Dmitry Shevtsov from his post. The federation requested this after his statements on nuclear weapons, in connection with the relocation of Ukrainian children to Belarus, as well as his trips to Donetsk and Luhansk. We remind you that an arrest warrant was issued by the International Criminal Court for the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the children’s ombudsman of the Russian Federation Maria Lvova-Belova precisely because of the illegal deportation of children and the illegal transfer of people from the territory of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.
An urgent request to remove General Secretary Shevtsov from his post was sent to Belarus in early October.
“The suspension means that the Belarusian Red Cross loses its rights as a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,” the press service said.
Photo by Jan van der Wolf: https://www.pexels.com/photo/no-stopping-signage-14312001/
Over the years, the reign of Mohammed VI was distinguished by notable achievements, demonstrating a strategic vision and a commitment to Morocco’s progress. However, these advances are all the more remarkable given the ongoing challenges within the government and the unaddressed demands of the people.
1) Visionary Diplomacy: King Mohammed VI succeeded in redefining Moroccan diplomacy by expanding international partnerships, opening new horizons despite political challenges.
2) Conflict Resolution: American recognition of the Moroccan nature of the Sahara testifies to the diplomatic success of the king, even in the face of complex political issues.
3) Regional Power: Morocco’s effective security policies, despite government inaction, have strengthened its position as a stabilizing regional power.
4) Resurrected Economic Growth: The launch of the Mohammed VI Investment Fund has stimulated economic growth, demonstrating the capacity to generate positive initiatives despite government inertia.
5) Strengthened Social Protection: The proactive response to the social impacts of the pandemic shows increased attention to social needs, even in the absence of significant government action.
6) Education and Social Development: Major educational initiatives highlight the royal commitment to social development, compensating for government shortcomings.
7) Active Social Dialogue: Faced with unresolved demands, the king maintained an active social dialogue, emphasizing his attentive listening to the people, in contrast to government inaction.
Call for Government Change: However, the inaction of the current government, led by Aziz Akhannouch, has sparked growing concerns. If immediate changes are not made, a popular anti-Akhannouch revolution appears imminent, jeopardizing the country’s political stability. The king must act quickly by revising his government to meet citizen expectations and avoid a major political crisis.
Picturesque walks and strolls in Mechelen: an immersion in nature
Mechelen is a charming city located in Belgium, known for its rich historical and artistic heritage. However, it is not only in museums and historical buildings that you can discover the beauty of this city. Mechelen is also full of beautiful natural places where you can walk and immerse yourself in nature.
One of the most popular walks in Mechelen is the walk along the banks of the Dyle. The Dyle is a river that runs through the city and offers superb landscapes throughout its course. You can stroll along the banks, admire the beautiful bridges that span the river and enjoy the tranquility of this place. The banks of the Dyle are also lined with majestic trees, creating a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. It is the ideal place for a romantic walk or a relaxing break surrounded by nature.
Another popular walk in Mechelen is the walk in Tivoli Park. This park is a true haven of peace, offering vast expanses of green grass, century-old trees and magnificent flowers. You can stroll along the shaded paths, breathe the fresh air and enjoy the beauty of nature around you. Tivoli Park also has several ponds where many birds and other wildlife live. It’s a great place for photography enthusiasts to capture stunning shots of the local flora and fauna.
If you prefer longer walks, you can venture into the surrounding countryside of Mechelen. The region is dotted with hiking trails that will allow you to discover breathtaking landscapes. You can walk through green fields, lush forests and small picturesque villages. The trails are well maintained and marked, making navigation easy and allowing you to focus solely on the beauty of the scenery around you.
Another interesting option for nature lovers is visiting the Mechelen Botanical Gardens. These gardens are a true paradise for plant and flower lovers. You can stroll through the different sections of the garden, admire the varieties of exotic plants and enjoy the calm and serenity of this place. The Mechelen Botanical Gardens are also a place of learning, where you can learn about the local flora and fauna through information panels and guided tours.
Finally, don’t miss the opportunity to walk around the city center of Mechelen. Although the city is mainly known for its historical heritage, it is also full of parks and small gardens where you can relax and enjoy nature right in the heart of the city. You can sit on a bench, read a book or simply admire the flowers and trees that adorn these green spaces. These little corners of paradise will offer you a well-deserved break during your exploration of the city.
In conclusion, if you are looking for an immersion in nature during your visit to Mechelen, you will not be disappointed. Scenic walks and walks in Mechelen will allow you to discover the natural beauty of this town, whether along the banks of the Dyle, in the green parks or in the surrounding countryside. So don’t hesitate to put on your walking shoes and set off to explore these magnificent natural spaces.
All the world’s pandas belong to China, but Beijing has been leasing animals to foreign countries since 1984.
Three giant pandas from the Washington Zoo will return to China as scheduled last December, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning told.
She was asked if the move was a reflection of the deteriorating relationship between the US and China under so-called panda diplomacy.
“Giant pandas are not only China’s national treasure, but they are also welcomed and loved by people all over the world, and can be said to be ambassadors and bridges of friendship.” <…> We are ready to continue working with partners, including the United States, to strengthen cooperation in the field of endangered species protection,” Mao Ning said.
Zoos in Atlanta, San Diego and Memphis have either already transferred their pandas back or will do so by the end of next year, according to Bloomberg. That way, all the pandas will leave the US.
In April, Beijing took Ya Ya the panda from the Memphis Zoo, which was sent to the United States as a friendship ambassador in 2003.
The zoo announced in December 2022 that it would return Ya Ya to China, ending 20 years of collaborative research.
In February, experts in China discovered that she had a skin disease that caused hair loss, but the panda’s general health was normal.
All the world’s pandas belong to China, but Beijing has been leasing animals to foreign countries since 1984.
This tool of public diplomacy used by China to improve relations with foreign countries is called panda diplomacy.
Among the non-political reasons for the pandas’ return is that the pandas are reaching the age at which they must return to China: the departure of some animals had to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the agency noted.
In addition, in 2021, the Chinese authorities lowered the conservation status of pandas from “endangered” to “vulnerable”, as their population in the wild began to recover and reached 1.8 thousand individuals.
China is already creating its own network of national parks that may no longer require sending animals abroad for breeding and conservation, the article said.
A Bloomberg source familiar with US President Joe Biden’s administration’s findings on the matter said Washington plans to discuss the panda lease with Beijing before the animals from the Washington Zoo travel to China.
Liu Pengu, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said the two countries were “discussing future cooperation in the field of giant panda conservation and research.”
Asked about the prospects for further negotiations, a State Department spokesman told the agency that the panda agreement was not between governments, but between the National Zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
He emphasized that the cooperation so far is a “gesture of goodwill on both sides”.
Pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian came to the Washington Zoo in 2000 as part of an agreement between the zoo and the China Wildlife Association.
The pair was supposed to stay for ten years for a research and breeding program, but the agreement with China was extended several times.
On August 21, 2020, the couple gave birth to a male cub named Xiao Qi Ji, and the same year the zoo announced that it had signed another three-year extension to keep all three pandas until the end of 2023.
Illustrative Photo by Diana Silaraja: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-panda-and-cub-playing-1661535/
A characteristic feature of imperial culture is the absorption of the spiritual, intellectual and creative forces and heritage of conquered peoples. Ukraine is no exception. Take away from the culture of the Russian Empire this Ukrainian contribution, and it will cease to be as “majestic” and “worldly” as it is usually perceived.
Denationalization, the blurring of national consciousness and identity, is a characteristic phenomenon among conquered peoples within the borders of any empire. The Russian Empire for centuries followed this path of general unification, in which there was no place for a separate Ukrainian nation and culture. Instead, a “united Russian people” was to emerge.
Entire generations of Ukrainians have been brought up under the influence of such narratives. In the conditions of losing their own Ukrainian statehood, without prospects for self-realization and career growth in the colonized, divided and devastated by endless wars homeland, many young, educated and ambitious Ukrainians are forced to seek a better destiny in the capital and in the space of the empire , in which there was a demand for educated personnel. Under such circumstances, they were forced to devote their energies and talents to the development of the culture of a foreign empire.
In the Moscow kingdom in the 16th and the first half of the 17th centuries, before the Ukrainian creative and intellectual injection, local culture was a rather unremarkable phenomenon. However, from the second half of the 17th century, many educated Ukrainians contributed to the educational mission (the so-called “Kyiv-Mohyla expansion”) in Muscovy. Under the influence of the people of Kyiv-Mohyla and with their direct participation, education was introduced in Muscovy, educational institutions were created, new literary works were written and a large-scale church reform was carried out. A large number of Ukrainian intellectuals contributed to the creation of the new imperial culture, which, according to their design, was to be somewhat “Ukrainized”. Even in the Russian literary language from the end of the 17th – the beginning of the 18th century, certain influences of Ukrainianization began to be felt. The same thing happens in art. And church life for a long time fell under the “Little Russian influence”, against which native Muscovites began to resist.
Finding self-realization in the boundless and semi-wild expanses of the northern empire, many Ukrainians sincerely believed that in this way they glorified their own “small homeland”. There are a whole galaxy of prominent people who came from Ukraine who are considered “Russian”. This shows the whole tragedy of a captive nation, whose talented and bright representatives had no prospects in their own homeland, absorbed by the empire and artificially turned into a deaf province. They were often forced to give their genius and talents to the foreign country and culture, and very often they had no other choice. At the same time, under the influence of imperial education, they often lost their own national roots and identity.
This tragedy is most clearly manifested in the fate and work of the Russian-speaking Ukrainian writer Mykola Gogol (1809-1852). But many other prominent figures of culture, religion and science in the Russian Empire in the 18-19 centuries were forced to experience this internal division and contradiction between their own Ukrainian origin and the imperial unified education, which denied the very right to be Ukrainian. Here we can list many names – from prominent church hierarchs, to philosophers, artists and scientists. Imperial propaganda worked hard to present them to the world as “Russians”, when in reality they were Ukrainians. Numerous students and teachers of the Kiev-Mohyla Academy in the 18th century had a decisive influence on the development of education, literature and art in the empire.
The Ukrainian Grigoriy Skovoroda (1722-1794) influenced the formation of a philosophical school in the empire as such, and Paisiy Velichkovsky (1722-1794) influenced the revival and renewal of Orthodox monasticism. In the same way, Pamfil Yurkevich (1826-1874) from Poltava continued to lay the foundations of Christian Platonism and Cordocentrism in philosophy. His student was the famous Russian philosopher Vladimir Solovyov (1853-1900), who in turn was the great-great-grandson of the Ukrainian traveling philosopher Grigory Skovoroda. Even the writer Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881) has Ukrainian roots, whose grandfather Andrei Dostoevsky was a Ukrainian priest from Volyn and signed in Ukrainian. The outstanding composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), the painter Ilya Repin (1844-1930), the inventor of the helicopter Igor Sikorsky (1889-1972), the founder of practical cosmonautics Sergey Korolev (1906-1966), the singer and composer Alexander Vertinsky (1889- 1957), the poet Anna Akhmatova (her real name is Gorenko, 1889-1966), the ballet master Serge Lifar (1905-1986) also have Ukrainian roots. The famous pholosophers and theologians were also natives of Ukraine: Fr. prot. George Florovski (1893-1979), Fr. protoprezv. Vasily Zenkovski (1881-1962), Nikolay Berdyaev (1874-1948) and many others. etc.
Knowing about the world fame and recognition, little attention is paid to the country of origin and roots of these prominent personalities. Usually, biographers limit themselves to a brief mention that they were born in the Russian Empire or the USSR, without specifying that this was actually Ukraine, which at the time was under Russian rule. At the same time, in the life of every person, the environment in which he was born and raised is important in the formation of character, consciousness and attitudes. Undoubtedly, the mental, cultural and spiritual characteristics of the Ukrainian people, their traditions and heritage have in one way or another left their influence on those who were born or lived in Ukraine. This aspect is important to keep in mind when it comes to the phenomenon or genius of a certain personality.
Here, as an example, I would like to mention the famous “French” saint Maria (Skobtsova) of Paris (1891-1945) – Orthodox nun of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, poet, writer, participant in the French Resistance, saved Jewish children from the Holocaust and was executed by the Nazis in the gas chamber of the Ravensbrück concentration camp on March 31, 1945.
In 1985, the Yad Vashem memorial center posthumously honored her with the title of “Righteous One of the World”, and in 2004, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople canonized her as the Venerable Martyr Mary of Paris. At the same time, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger noted that the Roman Catholic Church will also honor Mother Mary as the holy martyr and patron saint of France. On March 31, 2016, the inauguration ceremony of Mother Maria Skobtsova Street was held in Paris, which is adjacent to Lourmel Street in the Fifteenth arrondissement, where Mother Maria lived and worked. On the sign under the name of the new street is written in French: “Mother Maria Skobtsova Street: 1891-1945. Russian poetess and artist. Orthodox nun. A member of the Resistance. Killed at Ravensbrück.’
The French are proud of this name. However, few people pay attention to the fact that mother Maria was Ukrainian by birth. Everyone is misled by her purely Russian surname Skobtsova. However, it is actually the last name of her second husband. She was married twice, in her first marriage she bore the surname Kuzmina-Karavaeva, and in her second marriage she married the prominent figure of the Kuban Cossack movement Skobtsov, with whom she later separated and accepted monasticism.
As a girl, Maria bore the surname Pilenko and belonged to the famous Ukrainian old Cossack family of Pilenko, whose representatives are descendants of the Zaporozhian Cossacks. Her grandfather Dmytro Vasilievich Pilenko (1830-1895) was born in southern Ukraine, was the chief of staff of the Kuban Cossack army and the head of the Black Sea region. Her great-grandfather Vasily Vasilievich Pilenko was born in Poltava region (Poltava region), was an engineer at the Luhansk foundry and head of coal mining in Lisichansk, first discovered iron ore deposits in Kryvyi Rih, and later was head of salt mining in Crimea . Her great-great-grandfather, Vasil Pilenko, was a soldier and regimental standard-bearer of the Persozinkovo Hundred of the Hadiach Cossack Regiment, and later received the rank of second major, and in 1788 was appointed treasurer of the Zinkovo District in the Poltava Region. He died in 1794. Vasil Pilenko’s father also served in the Pervozinkovo Hundred of the Hadiach Regiment, and his grandfather, Mihailo Filipovich Pilenko, served in the same regiment.
The “ancestral nest” of the Pilenko Cossacks is the town of Zenkov – the centenary center of the Hadyach Cossack Regiment in the Poltava Region.
As can be seen, St. Mary of Paris is Ukrainian by birth, although she was raised in the Russian tradition. Skobtsova is her last name from her second marriage, which she later ended by accepting monasticism.
After the canonization of the martyr, she often continued to be called by the secular surname of her second husband – Skobtsova, if only to emphasize her “Russian roots”. This is how, according to a commonly accepted erroneous practice, she was even recorded in the calendar of church saints in Ukraine. In particular, the annex to the decision No. 25 of the Synod of the OCU of July 14, 2023, § 7 states: “… to add to the church calendar prpmchtsa Maria (Skobtsova) Pariska (1945) – to establish March 31 as a day for commemoration according to the New Julian calendar, on the day of her martyrdom”.
At the same time, this widespread practice has recently raised certain doubts. Although after the divorce in civil documents in France, Maria did not change her surname (at that time it was a rather complicated bureaucratic procedure), it is not quite correct to call her in a nunnery by the secular surname of her second husband. Also, saints are not usually called by a secular surname.
It would probably be more correct to call her by her maiden name Pilenko or at least the double surname Pilenko-Skobtsova, which would be more reliable from a historical and biographical point of view.
In any case, St. Mary of Paris is the successor of the glorious Ukrainian Cossack elder. And this is worth remembering both in Ukraine and in France.
In this example we see how the unifying Russian imperial influence continues to subliminally persist in our time even in other countries. Until recently, few people in the world knew and paid attention to Ukraine, its uniqueness, history and heritage. Ukrainians are perceived mainly under the influence of Russian imperial narratives as part of the “Russian world”.
The war of Russia against Ukraine, the heroic and self-sacrificing resistance of Ukrainians against Russian aggression, the desperate struggle for their own freedom, independence and identity made the world realize that people know almost nothing about Ukrainians, including those who lived among them and have become famous in various fields. These Ukrainians, even if they were Russified and brought up in a foreign tradition, remain prominent representatives of Ukraine. We have no right to renounce them and their heritage. They are also an ornament of Ukraine and its colorful and multifaceted culture, equivalent to the great cultures of other nations of the world. The filtering out of certain imperial influences in their heritage, which once arose through the appropriate upbringing in the absence of their own statehood, should return these names to the Ukrainian treasury of world culture.
Photo: Mati Maria (Pilenko-Skobtsova).
Note about the article: Shumilo, S. “Forgotten Ukrainian roots of the famous “French” saint as an example of imperial unification and denationalization” (Шумило, С. „Забытые украинские корни известной „французской“ святой как пример имперской унификации и денационализации“ (Религиозно-информационная служба Украины)– on the page risu.ua (Religious Information Service of Ukraine).
Note about the author: Sergey Shumilo, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Doctor of Theology, Director of the International Institute of Athos Heritage, Research Fellow at the University of Exeter (UK), Honored Worker of Culture of Ukraine.
The education system in the Netherlands has gained recognition for its standards and remarkable academic achievements. However, there is now a growing call to revamp the system. Educators and influential thinkers are advocating for a departure from classroom structures that are based on age and instead, they propose personalized learning models that prioritize individual students’ needs. This proposed educational reform aims to create an environment where every student can flourish.
Karin Verheijen, an educator of the Karin Tutoring Center (Karin Bijles Centrum) sheds light on the limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach. She emphasizes that grouping students by age overlooks their learning paces and styles, within a classroom setting. This can lead to a decline in student enjoyment and self-confidence, impeding their educational development.
Embracing change, the demand for tailored education in the Netherlands 7
Peter van de Kuit, a colleague of Verheijen, points out that common learning barriers such as headaches and boredom are often misinterpreted as mere fatigue or disinterest. He champions the study technology developed by L. Ron Hubbard, which equips students with the tools to overcome these obstacles, enhancing their comprehension and retention. Both Karin and Peter are members of the board of the Foundation for Effective Education “Stichting voor Effectief Onderwijs” (established in 2001 and recognized as of public benefit by the Dutch authorities) and work with the Karin Tutoring Center which now operates in 6 locations of which 5 in Amsterdam, and service on average 300 students every week, totalling about 2600 students since 2007.
Evelyne Azih from the Chevylins Care Foundation echoes the sentiment, emphasizing the broader societal impact of education. She argues that by nurturing the abilities and cultural awareness of young people, “we contribute to a more peaceful and well-organized society“. Azih advocates for “the L. Ron Hubbard Study Method” promoted by Applied Scholastics, as “a means to bridge educational gaps and empower individuals with effective learning strategies“.
The positive results of such a method are evident in the achievements attained by the method used by the Karin Tutoring Center. Their approach to tutoring has helped “countless students improve academically and grow in self-confidence, showcasing the transformative potential of alternative educational methods“.
With a hopeful outlook, when asked about the future of education, Peter van de Kuit envisions “an education system reformation that sparks genuine interest in students for their subjects. By making learning more enjoyable and manageable, the teaching process becomes more effective, benefiting both students and educators”.
Embracing change, the demand for tailored education in the Netherlands 8
The call for educational reform in the Netherlands is clear. Personalized learning approaches, such as those inspired by L. Ron Hubbard’s study technology, as praised by thousands of families, demonstrate the potential to revolutionize the educational landscape. As success stories from various foundations and centres accumulate, the evidence mounts in favour of a system that values the individual learning journey of each student. The time is ripe for change, and the Dutch education system may well lead the charge in creating a more fulfilling and effective model for learners worldwide.
Europeans has known psychological problem in the last year hence the importance of addressing mental health and well-being
Almost one in two Europeans has experienced an emotional or psychosocial problem in the last year. The recent context of compounded crises (the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the climate crisis, unemployment, and the food and energy price increases) has further worsened the situation, in particular for children and young people.
As you know, we are living in a time of polycrisis that has severely hit the mental health of Europeans. The COVID-19 pandemic, the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the climate crisis are just some of the shocks which have exacerbated already poor levels of mental health. Improving mental health is a social and economic imperative. I am extremely pleased that, in the conclusions we have approved today, we have reached consensus on crucial issues such as the need to take a cross-cutting approach to mental health that covers all policies and recognises the social, environmental and economic causes of mental health.
Mónica García Gómez, Spanish Minister for Health
In its conclusions, the Council highlights the importance of addressing mental health and well-being in different contexts in the life course, which benefits both individuals and societies. It recognises the beneficial role of communities, schools, sports and culture in strengthening mental health and life-long mental well-being.
The conclusions invite member states to elaborate actions plans or strategies with a cross-sectoral approach to mental health, addressing not only health, but also employment, education, digitalisation and AI, culture, environment and climate factors, among other things.
Suggested actions aim to prevent and combat mental health problems and discrimination, while promoting wellbeing. Member states are invited to ensure access to timely, effective and safe mental health care, as well as to act across a wide spectrum of areas, sectors and ages, including:
early detection and awareness-raising at school and amongst young people
tackling loneliness, self-harm and suicidal behaviour
managing psychosocial risks at work, with special attention to health professionals
social and job reintegration after recovery to prevent relapses
measures against mental health stigma, hate speech and gender-based violence
using antidiscrimination as a prevention tool, with a focus on vulnerable groups
The conclusions encourage the member states and the Commission to continue moving towards a comprehensive approach to mental health maintaining this subject in the international agenda. This includes cooperation and coordination between EU member states and the Commission, such as exchanging best practices and promoting EU funding opportunities in the area of mental health, as well as designing actions and recommendations and monitoring progress.
The Council conclusions on mental health draw on the Commission’s communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health, published in June 2023. The topic of mental health is of the utmost importance to the Spanish presidency.
This set of conclusions is part of a wider cluster of conclusions on mental health that have been or will be approved during the Spanish presidency, including mental health and its interconnection with precarious working conditions, the mental health of young people, and mental health and co-occurrence with drug use disorders (the latter to be approved in December).
In 2022, a total of 2,496 children, some as young as 8-years-old, were verified by the United Nations as detained for their actual or alleged association with armed groups, including groups designated as terrorists by the U.N. The highest numbers were recorded in Iraq, in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in the Syrian Arab Republic.
These figures were highlighted by Anne Schintgen at the European Parliament during a conference titled “Children Deprived of Liberty in World” organised on 28 November by MEP Soraya Rodriguez Ramos (Political Group Renew Europe). A number of high-level experts had been invited as panelists to speak about their respective areas of expertise:
Manfred Nowak, former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and an independent expert that led the elaboration of a UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty;
Benoit van Keirsbilck, a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child;
Manu Krishan, Global Campus on Human Rights, researcher with expertise in children’s rights and best practices;
Anne Schintgen, Head of the European Liaison Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict;
Rasha Muhrez, Syria Response Director for Save the Children (online);
Marta Lorenzo, Director of the UNRWA Representative Office for Europe (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East).
Manfred Nowak, former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and an independent expert that led the elaboration of a UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty, was invited to the conference at the European Parliament and stressed that 7.2 million children are in various ways deprived of freedom in the world.
He referred in particular to the report of the UN Secretary-General about children in armed conflict addressed to the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly Security Council (A/77/895-S/2023/363) on 5 June 2023, which was saying:
“In 2022, children continued to be disproportionately affected by armed conflict, and the number of children verified as affected by grave violations increased compared with 2021. The United Nations verified 27,180 grave violations, of which 24,300 were committed in 2022 and 2,880 were committed earlier but verified only in 2022. Violations affected 18,890 children (13,469 boys, 4,638 girls, 783 sex unknown) in 24 situations and one regional monitoring arrangement. The highest numbers of violations were the killing (2,985) and maiming (5,655) of 8,631 children, followed by the recruitment and use of 7,622 children and the abduction of 3,985 children. Children were detained for actual or alleged association with armed groups (2,496), including those designated as terrorist groups by the United Nations, or for national security reasons.”
The mandate of the UN Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict
The Special Representative who is currently Virginia Gamba serves as the leading UN advocate for the protection and well-being of children affected by armed conflict.
The mandate was created by the General Assembly (Resolution A/RES/51/77) following the publication, in 1996, of a report by Graça Machel titled the “Impact of Armed Conflict on Children”. Her report highlighted the disproportionate impact of war on children and identified them as the primary victims of armed conflict.
The role of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict is to strengthen the protection of children affected by armed conflict, raise awareness, promote the collection of information about the plight of children affected by war and foster international cooperation to improve their protection.
Detention of children in Iraq, DR Congo, Libya, Myanmar Somalia
Six grave violations affecting children in times of conflict were highlighted by Anne Schintgen, a member of the conference panel: recruitment and use of children for combating, killing and maiming children, sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, abduction and denial of humanitarian access.
Additionally, the UN is monitoring the detention of children for their actual or alleged association with armed groups.
In this regard, she named a number of countries of particular concern:
In Iraq in December 2022, 936 children remained in detention on national security-related charges, including for their actual or alleged association with armed groups, primarily Da’esh.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the UN verified in 2022 the detention of 97 boys and 20 girls, between the ages of 9 and 17, for their alleged association with armed groups. All children have been released.
In Libya, the UN received reports of the detention of some 64 children, with their mothers, of several nationalities, for their mothers’ alleged association with Da’esh,
In Myanmar, 129 boys and girls were detained by the national armed forces.
In Somalia, a total of 176 boys, of which 104 were released and 1 was killed, were detained in 2022 for their alleged association with armed groups.
Children should be primarily considered as victims of violations or abuses of their rights rather than as perpetrators and a security threat, Anne Schintgen said, stressing that the detention of children for their alleged association with armed groups is an issue in 80% of the countries covered by the UN Children and Armed Conflict mechanism.
Deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia
During the debate following the presentations of the panelists, the issue of the deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia from the Occupied Territories was raised. Both Manfred Nowak and Benoit Van Keirsblick, a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child invited as a panelist, expressed their deep concerns about this situation.
In a report titled “Ukrainian Children in Search of Way Home from Russia” published in three languages (English, Russian and Ukrainian) on 25 August 2023, Human Rights Without Frontiers stressed that the Ukrainian authorities had a nominative list of about 20,000 children deported by and to Russia who are now being russified and educated in an anti-Ukrainian mindset. However, many more have been taken away from the territories occupied by Russia.
As a reminder, on 17 March 2023, the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova on their responsibility in the deportation of Ukrainian children.
A call for the EU
The experts invited to the conference encouraged the European Union to ensure that the topic of conflict affected children is systematically integrated and advanced in its wide range of external actions. They also urged the EU to include the issue of the detention of children for their alleged association with armed groups in its Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict that are currently being revised.
MEP Soraya Rodriguez Ramos concluded by saying:
“The parliamentary own-initiative report that I am leading and which will be voted on December’s plenary session is an opportunity to give visibility to the suffering of millions of children deprived of liberty in the world and to call the international community for action and the effective commitment to put an end to it.”
