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MEPs warn of deteriorating fundamental rights in the EU | News | European Parliament
, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20201120IPR92131/
COMECE commits to divest from fossil fuels
COMECE commits to divest from fossil fuels
In the context of the 5th anniversary of Pope Francis’ 2015 Encyclical Laudato Si, the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), together with other faith-based institutions, commits to divest from fossil fuels, following the Vatican’s guidelines on ethical investment. COMECE: “We encourage others to join us and support the European Green Deal as a way of implementing the Paris climate agreement”.
Global efforts to promote divestment from fossil fuels expanded further as 47 faith institutions, including COMECE, announced their divestment from fossil fuels on Monday, 16 November 2020, in the largest-ever announcement of its kind among religious leaders.
This action also includes divestment in all funds, stocks or bonds that have to do with fossil fuels, from oil to coal. With this important step COMECE follows the Vatican’s first-ever operational guidance on the environment and joins with nearly 400 other faith institutions that have already divested from fossil fuels. The full list of Catholic institutions that have divested to date is here.
Encouraging others to join COMECE in taking concrete steps to solve the climate crisis, Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, General Secretary of COMECE, stated that “the European Green Deal is a way to commit to the Paris climate agreement, which is very important. Solving the climate crisis – he added – protects the human family from the dangers of a warming world, and decisive action is needed now more than ever.”
The initiative is promoted and carried out by the Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM).
New pharmaceutical strategy must guarantee EU citizens equal access to medicines | News | European Parliament
, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20201120IPR92134/
KTR says people’s safety, not religion, important
HYDERABAD: TRS working president and industries minister K. T. Rama Rao on Wednesday said TRS government gives paramount importance to safety of people not their religion.
Interacting with business people, realtors and industrialists during “Hushaar Hyderabad with KTR” programme in the city here, he said, “We want employment not emotions. We have asked BJP leaders to spell out to people what they have done for Hyderabad. But they are speaking about Babar, Bin Laden and so on.”
Continuing his scathing attack on the BJP-led NDA government, KTR said the economy of the country had been hit even before the Covid-19 pandemic. Economic slowdown had begun much before the lockdown was announced. He pointed out, “Eight consecutive quarters of slowdown have resulted in recession. It started with demonetisation, which impacted small, micro and medium enterprises, and hit the growing economy badly. Today, the results of it are seen and the lockdown has hit the economy further.”
The minister wondered and asked audience as to how many of them have benefited from the Rs. 20 lakh crore stimulus package announced by the NDA government.
Recalling his childhood memories, he said, “At that time, Abids was the only destination for shopping. I remember there was only one footwear shop in Abids. Now, shopping malls have come all corners of the city,” he maintained pointing to development achieved under the KCR regime.
Rama Rao recalled his first meeting with steel traders in 2014 at Kachiguda, wherein they sought uninterrupted power supply and stable government. He said that now the TRS government is providing 24/7 uninterrupted power and stable, curfew-free rule since the past six years.
Later in the evening, the TRS working president addressed a road show in Uppal area. He criticised national BJP leaders for campaigning in Hyderabad for GHMC elections and said, “We welcome the top leadership of BJP to the state. It would have been much better if the same leaders had come to Hyderabad when the city was facing heavy rains and floods.”
He suggested that since the top BJP leaders are anyway visiting the city, they can also pay a visit to Durgam Cheruvu Bridge, Annapurna Canteens, and Basti Dawakhanas too. He said, “Instead of coming with empty hands, I request them to bring along the Rs. 1,350 crore of financial assistance, which CM KCR had requested for in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi (for carrying out relief measures in rain-affected colonies).”
Continuing his attack on BJP, KTR stated that some of its leaders are stooping low for a few votes and seats. “One insane leader says he will break memorials of NTR and P. V. Narasimha Rao and another mad leader encourages triple riding and promises to pay challans.”
The TRS working president underlined: “Hyderabad has been peaceful for the past six years. There has not been a single incidence of communal tension. But today, BJP leaders only want to divide people in the name of religion. I urge you all not to support such parties.”
He highlighted Kalyana Lakshmi, KCR Kits, Annapurna Canteens, Basti Dawakhanas, installation of five-lakh CCTV cameras in Hyderabad as part of his campaign. He pointed out, “There was a major water crisis in Uppal five years ago. But today, every house is getting drinking water every alternate day. The TRS government has resolved the water crisis very efficiently.” KTR urged people of Uppal to vote for TRS party candidates, so that Uppal’s development could continue along with that of Hyderabad.
Buddhist Times News – His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Buddhism, Science and Compassion
A member of the virtual audience asking a question during His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s discussion with members of the Einstein Forum from his residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on November 25, 2020. Photo by Ven Tenzin Jamphel/OHHDL
His Holiness the Dalai Lama was invited to take part in a discussion this morning with members of the Einstein Forum, a foundation in the state of Brandenburg, Germany, that serves as an open laboratory of the mind. It offers an annual fellowship to outstanding young thinkers who wish to pursue a project in a field different from that of their previous research. Fellows may live at Einstein’s summerhouse in Caputh with easy access to the universities and academic institutions of Potsdam and Berlin.
Prof Susan Neiman, Director of the Einstein Forum opened the conversation, telling His Holiness how honoured and excited she and her colleagues were to welcome him today. She regretted being unable to invite him to Einstein’s house, but read a quotation from Einstein that highlighted his appreciation of the potential for collaboration between Buddhism and science. She told him that the Einstein Forum was created 27 years ago to recreate and encourage the kind of conversation Einstein used to have about science and religion, politics and social justice. She thanked Shyam Wappuluri, an Einstein Forum fellow from India for organizing the event and Amber Carpenter, another fellow, for moderating the conversation.
“Today, we are not in direct contact,” His Holiness began, “but we are able to see and talk to each other over the internet. All religions convey a message of compassion and emphasise the importance of warm-heartedness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. Many religions believe in a creator God and the notion that as children of that God, all human beings are brothers and sisters. Then, there are also non-theistic traditions, mainly in India, that regard loving-kindness as the most precious of human qualities.
“Scientists observe that we human beings are social animals with a strong sense of concern for our community, because our very survival depends on the well-being of the community. Nurturing its welfare is one of the best ways of fulfilling our own interest.
“In this context, scientists are paying closer attention to what needs to be done to develop peace of mind. One aspect is coming to understand that it is internal obstacles, destructive emotions like anger, that disrupt our peace of mind. When anger arises, your inner peace is gone. However, the antidote to anger is compassion.
“India has for thousands of years preserved a tradition of non-violence, restraint from doing harm. And this is supported by ‘karuna’ or compassion and concern for others’ well-being.
“In Buddhist tradition we don’t rely on faith to cultivate compassion and peace of mind, we employ reason. We follow the Buddha’s advice not to accept his words at face value, but to examine and test them as a goldsmith tests gold. As a result, followers of the Buddha in India, and later in Tibet, valued taking a logical, investigative approach – and this accords with a scientific attitude.
“Because he taught people of varying mental disposition at different times and places, we have to examine what he taught and evaluate it. The great teachers at Nalanda University who came after Nagarjuna drew a distinction between those of the Buddha’s teachings that could be accepted as definitive and those that require interpretation.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama responding to questions from the virtual audience during his discussion with members of the Einstein Forum by video link from his residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on November 25, 2020. Photo by Ven Tenzin Jamphel/OHHDL
“Since the 8th century, when the Tibetan king, Trisong Detsen, invited a top scholar at Nalanda University, Shantarakshita, to Tibet, we have also adopted a logical approach. In addition to his treatises, we translated and rigorously studied the works of the great Indian logicians Dignaga and Dharmakirti.
“This logical training is the basis on which I have been able to hold discussions with scientists for many years. There are points of convergence between ancient Buddhist thought and the discoveries of quantum physics on the one hand. On the other, scientists are beginning to register an interest in the workings of the mind and emotions.
“Today, on this planet, we face a lot of problems derived from anger, jealousy and fear. The weapons systems, including nuclear weapons, we have employed our intelligence to develop, are a threat to peace. However, more and more people support moves not only to eliminate nuclear weapons, but to achieve a complete global demilitarization. People value and appreciate the prospect of world peace, but nothing will come of it unless we as individuals develop peace of mind within ourselves. We all belong to human society and we have to learn to contribute to it and live together.”
In his responses to questions from the audience, His Holiness touched again on the importance of finding inner peace. He confirmed that training in ways to achieve peace of mind should be part of our education. He noted that just as everyone observes a code of physical hygiene, there should be a corresponding practice of emotional hygiene. This would include understanding that compassion actively counters anger and fear.
He mentioned a Tibetan monk he knew, who spent 18 years in Chinese prisons. When this monk reported being in danger during that time, His Holiness thought he was referring to threats to his life. However, the monk clarified that he had, at times, been in danger of losing his sense of compassion for his Chinese jailers. His Holiness cited this monk as someone with a remarkable degree of peace of mind.
Scientists have found evidence to suggest that it is basic human nature to be compassionate. We receive kindness from the moment we are born. Learning to maintain peace of mind is a key factor in our own ability to cultivate warm-heartedness.
His Holiness explained that the basic nature of the mind is pure and that purity is referred to as Buddha-nature. This is what underlies the idea that we can reduce and eliminate destructive emotions and purify the mind. He clarified that the quality of our action depends on our motivation, not so much on whether it is gentle or forceful. If the motivation is positive and compassionate, the action that follows will be beneficial.
When we are angry, the object of our anger seems to be absolutely negative. However, we can counter this by reflecting that nothing exists independently in the way it appears. Experience teaches that today’s enemy can become tomorrow’s friend. The label ‘enemy’ is our mental projection.
His Holiness observed that cultivating compassion and understanding the reality that nothing exists independently as it appears are crucial factors in reducing and overcoming our destructive emotions and therefore in achieving peace of mind. This approach is referred to in Buddhist terms as combining method and wisdom.
Understanding the workings of the mind and emotions has been part of discussions he has held with scientists over several decades. At the same time, facilities for the study of science have been established in the Tibetan monastic centres of learning re-established in South India.
“We’ve learned from science,” His Holiness remarked, “that accounts in Buddhist literature referring to a flat earth or to the sun and moon as being the same size and distance from the earth are mistaken. Among Buddhist scholars, Chandrakirti criticized masters who expressed such views and I count myself as his student.”
Asked how to view the functioning of karma in relation to science, His Holiness stated first that karma means action and action is subject to momentary change. However, physical, verbal and mental actions leave imprints on the mind that can remain for a very long time. He declared that the cumulative imprints of positive actions eventually ripen in the attainment of Buddhahood.
Prof Susan Neiman, Director of the Einstein Forum, opening the conversation with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at his residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on November 25, 2020. Photo by Ven Tenzin Jamphel/OHHDL
To apply a healing spirit to a divided society His Holiness recommended including training in ways to achieve peace of mind in general education. This would involve approaches to overcome anger and fear. He observed that competition can be beneficial when the aim is for everyone taking part to succeed, but when it involves winners and losers it is obstructive. He reiterated the importance of recognising the oneness of humanity and that we all have to live together motivated by a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood.
“The Indian master Shantideva commented that our enemy can be our best teacher. Being kind to your enemy is to show pure kindness, whereas showing kindness and affection to friends is generally mixed with attachment. Although the practice of compassion is described in religious texts, it should be adopted as something having universal value.
“Chapter six of Shantideva’s book ‘Bodhicharyavatara’ explains the negative effects of anger and how to overcome it. Chapter eight deals with the damaging effects of a self-centred attitude. Altruism is crucial to the achievement of happiness and these two chapters contain advice that is helpful whether you are a Buddhist or not.
“Since this book was explained to me, my way of thinking has changed. Today, I read it whenever I can. Combined with what Chandrakirti has to say about understanding reality it has been wonderfully effective in helping me transform my mind.”
His Holiness agreed that an ever-increasing human population is a risk because there limits to how much food the planet can produce. In addition, global warming poses a serious threat that may result before too long in the drastic dwindling of sources of water. He emphasised the need to assess these problems realistically from a wider perspective. He joked that an effective way to limit overpopulation would be for more people to become celibate monks or nuns.
Prof Susan Neiman brought the conversation to a close, declaring that it was her honour, on behalf of the Einstein Forum, to thank His Holiness for joining them today. She thanked the organizers and the technical team at the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for ensuring that the conversation could take place. She also thanked the team of translators who had simultaneously translated the conversation into 13 languages.
His Holiness replied that it was an honour for him to interact with an institution connected with Albert Einstein, a man for whom he has great respect and admiration.
WHO and ECDC call for improved HIV testing in Europe
Press release
Copenhagen/Stockholm, 26 November 2020
The number of people living with undiagnosed HIV is increasing in the WHO European Region overall. According to data published today by ECDC and WHO/Europe, more than 136 000 people were newly diagnosed in 2019. Roughly 20% of these diagnoses were in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) and 80% were in the eastern part of the WHO European Region.
Every second HIV diagnosis (53%) happens at a late stage of the infection when the immune system has already started to fail. This is a sign that testing strategies in the Region are not working properly to diagnose HIV early.
The number of people diagnosed with AIDS, the end-stage of an untreated HIV infection, has gone down by more than half in the last decade, and the Sustainable Development Goal target of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 is achievable. However, in the EU/EEA for example, 74% of the 2772 AIDS diagnoses in 2019 were made very soon after the initial HIV diagnosis – within 3 months. This shows a significant problem with late diagnosis of HIV infection. This late diagnosis contributes to ongoing HIV transmission as, often for years at a time, people do not know they have HIV and are not getting treatment.
Though the trend in the Region as a whole has stabilized in recent years, the number of people newly diagnosed with HIV has gone up by 19% since 2010. In contrast, the proportion of new diagnoses across EU/EEA countries has declined by 9% over the same period.
The number of newly reported HIV diagnoses and the estimated number of new HIV infections in the whole Region show that more people have become infected with HIV over the last decade than have been diagnosed. This indicates that the number of people living with undiagnosed HIV is increasing in the Region. In the EU/EEA, the opposite trend has been observed: the number of people living with undiagnosed HIV has been going down.
Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, says: “I remember when a diagnosis of HIV seemed like a death sentence. Now, with proper treatment, people with HIV can live without fear of AIDS. These data are from 2019, and the question in 2020 has to be what effect the pandemic will have had on testing by the end of 2021. For now, our message has to be to protect the progress of the last decade by continuing to prioritize HIV testing and getting treatment to those who need it. We cannot allow the pandemic to rob us of an AIDS-free future that is within our grasp.”
Dr Andrea Ammon, ECDC Director, highlights: “Despite the focus on COVID-19 right now, we must not lose sight of other public health issues like HIV. Earlier diagnosis of HIV is an urgent priority. We cannot reach the Sustainable Development Goal target if it takes an average of 3 years for people to find out that they are HIV positive after infection with the virus – 3 years during which live-saving treatment is not available to them and during which they can unknowingly pass on HIV. If we want to reduce the high proportion of people diagnosed late, it is essential to diversify our HIV testing strategies as outlined in the ECDC testing guidance, for example.”
Early diagnosis: higher life expectancy and less transmission
The HIV/AIDS surveillance data for 2019 show that the proportion of those who are diagnosed late increases with age. Across the whole Region, 67% (EU/EEA: 65%) of people aged 50 and older were diagnosed late in the course of their HIV infection. In 2019, 1 in 5 new HIV diagnoses was in a person over 50 years of age.
The reasons for this are not yet fully understood. It may be that older adults themselves, or the health-care workers looking after them, underestimate the risk of infection. Older adults may be more affected by the stigma associated with the disease and feel less comfortable asking to be tested.
WHO/Europe and ECDC stress that to reduce the number of future HIV infections, Europe needs to focus on 3 main areas:
- prioritizing a range of prevention measures such as awareness-raising, the promotion of safer sex and condom use, the provision of needle exchange programmes and opioid substitution therapy, and pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV (also known as PrEP);
- providing efficient HIV counselling and testing services including rapid diagnostic services, community-based HIV testing and HIV self-testing; and
- ensuring rapid access to quality treatment and care for those diagnosed.
Early diagnosis is important because it allows people to start HIV treatment sooner, which in turn increases their chances of living a long and healthy life and prevents further transmission.
Guidance to improve testing in Europe
In their guidelines, both WHO/Europe and ECDC recommend that HIV testing services include self-testing and community-based testing by lay providers using rapid tests.
Pope Francis prays for late Diego Maradona – Vatican News
By James Blears – Mexico City
Diego Maradona died on Wednesday at his home in Tigre, Argentina, from suspected chronic heart failure.
At the untimely age of just sixty, he leaves an unfillable void in the world of soccer, and the world is mourning a sporting genius the likes of which we will never see again.
Of humble beginnings and tough battles
Winning the World Cup in 1986, kissing it, cradling it and holding it aloft in Mexico’s giant Azteca Stadium was the zenith of Diego Maradona’s career and the fitting summit of his life’s work. His reason for being, doing, achieving and triumphing.
Born in grinding poverty, Diego lifted himself up by his bootstraps, mesmerizing opponents and earning the respect of sports fans the world over.
The ball seemed to be glued to his golden left foot. At his best – and his best was supreme – and he had no equal.
But like other geniuses, his craft and brilliance was confined to one specific area, and he struggled hard in other aspects of his life, besieged with problems related to drugs and alcohol, which he never sought to excuse or hide, fighting them with all his might and making them public.
But some battles cannot be won. Rather, it’s the courageous way they are fought which makes the feat so memorable and humbling.
Legendary moment
In the quarter finals of that legendary 1986 World Cup, he infuriated the England Team, with his “Hand of God” goal, yet minutes later left them in awe and wonderment, with the greatest goal of all time, carving a swathe through the English midfield and defense, beating six English players and slotting in the goal past the despairing arms of goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
Only Diego Armado Maradona could have scored that goal. It has never been equaled, let alone bettered since. It was his signature flourish of sheer magnificence.
Widespread tributes
Gary Lineker, who was a star in his own right and a member of that England team, paid tribute after Maradona’s death, saying: “Diego was by some distance the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time.”
Pele, who rivals Diego for the top spot said: “I have lost a great friend and the world has lost a legend. One day I hope we can play football together in the sky.”
Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez said: “You took us to the top of the world, and you made us immensely happy. You were the greatest of them all.” The Argentine Football Federation beautifully and simply stated: “You will always be in our hearts.” Leonel Messi said: “Diego leaves us, but he doesn’t leave us… because he’s eternal.”
Papal prayers
Diego met Pope Francis – who is a fan – on a number of occasions, most notably on 4 September 2014 at the Casa Santa Marta, prior to a charity match. Diego presented the Pope with the famous number 10 jersey with “Francisco” emblazed upon it.
They met again a year later, in connection to the Pope’s Scholas Occurrents worldwide movement for young people, who are the hope of our world.
Pope Francis had been praying for Diego during his recent health problems and surgery to remove a brain clot, and now in the hour of his death.
The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, said Wednesday evening that the Pope “recalls with affection the times [he and Maradona] met in recent years, and remembers him in prayer, as he has done in recent days after learning of his poor health.”
Tears the world over
No player will ever again capture the imagination like Diego Maradona, making hearts pound like crazy. He used his God-given gifts to their very fullest.
Diego Maradona dies… Argentina and the entire world cries.
Steps to improve EU democracy ahead of 2024 elections
News | European Parliament
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Build on the 2019 increase in youth participation through Conference on Future of Europe
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Guarantee an equal vote and representation for all citizens
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Strengthen EU democracy by accentuating the European dimension of elections
Parliament aims to enhance democracy and enable full participation in the European political space, based on lessons from the 2019 European elections.
On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted with 468 votes to 194 against and 34 abstentions a resolution that draws conclusions from the May 2019 European Elections.
A stronger electoral process
MEPs welcome the higher turnout, especially among young voters, which demonstrates that the negative trend in turnout in Europe can be reversed. They also welcome the improved gender balance (41% women MEPs, up from 37%), but highlight the persistent disparities among member states, which could be addressed through “zipped” lists or similar methods. Minorities (Roma people in particular) are underrepresented, citizens with disabilities are excluded due to a lack of accessible voting centres (an estimated 800,000 in 2019), and those who are homeless and prisoners face obstacles in exercising their right to vote, Parliament criticises.
Interference by foreign and internal actors is also a matter of concern, for which the Council and the Commission should engage with Parliament’s Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the EU (INGE), which took up its work in September. MEPs ask for a ban on campaign funding from foreign bodies, scrutiny of social media platforms’ algorithms, as well as education and awareness-raising efforts.
