Two Vatican offices teamed up with the local Church to host a seminar entitled: “Latin America: Church, Pope Francis, and scenarios of the pandemic.”
Taking place on 19-20 November, the online event was organized by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, and the Conference of Latin American Bishops (CELAM). It seeks to find ways to combat the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the people of the region by promoting solidarity.
In his video message released on Thursday, Pope Francis thanked the organizers of the event, and expressed his hopes that it might inspire people to work to guarantee everyone a dignified life, especially those on the fringes of society.
“When I say ‘the marginalized’,” said the Pope, “I do not say it in the sense of giving alms to them, or as a gesture of beneficence. No, I mean they are our hermeneutical key.”
He said the Church must begin her reflections on the human peripheries, otherwise she errs.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has amplified and highlighted even more the problems and socio-economic injustices which already gravely afflicted all of Latin America, and placed even more strain on the poor.”
Bearing the brunt
Pope Francis reflected on the difficult situations that many families face, especially those who cannot procure protection against the coronavirus, such as a house, water, and health products.
“Right now, I am thinking of our brothers and sisters who—besides bearing the impact of the pandemic—are witnessing with sadness that the ecosystem around them is in serious danger due to forest fires which are destroying vast areas of the Pantanal and Amazon rainforests, which are the lungs of Latin America and the world.”
Sharing our bread
The Pope acknowledged that the pandemic’s effects will be felt long after it ends, especially on the economy.
He urged seminar participants to focus their efforts on two hinges: “In the Kingdom of God, all have bread, and it remains in surplus. The organization of society is based on contribution, sharing, and distribution, not on possession, exclusion, and accumulation.”
Solidarity is love
Faced with the crisis, the Pope urged the Church in Latin America to pay attention to three T’s as indicators of people’s situation: “the lack of a roof (techo in Spanish), the lack of land (tierra), and the lack of work (trabajo).”
He said the people of the region can teach everyone to deal courageously with the crisis, and that it is possible to emerge from it better than before.
“The path of solidarity as justice is the best expression of love and closeness,” he said.
Unity overcomes conflict
Pope Francis then urged politicians and the Church to find solutions to the afflictions facing the people of Latin America.
“It would do us good,” he said, “to recall once more that unity is better than conflict.”
“I exhort you—propelled by the light of the Gospel—to continue to seek out al those who ask for help, together with all people of goodwill.”
“And today we have agreed to proceed with the preparation of the next round of sanctions as a response against the brutality of the authorities and in support for democratic rights of Belarusian people,” Borrell told a press conference.
According to the foreign policy representative, the new sanctions will target not only individuals but also entities.
Last month, the leaders of the EU countries reached an agreement on sanctions against the Belarusian government. They did not, however, include President Lukashenko in the list, saying that otherwise no dialogue between him and the people of Belarus should ever be expected to take place.
An opposition supporter argues with a police officer during an opposition rally to reject the presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus October 4, 2020.
Belarus has been witnessing mass anti-government protests since the results of the presidential elections in the republic were announced late on 9 August. According to the country’s election committee, President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in office for 26 years already, was re-elected for a sixth term after winning more than 80% of the vote, while opposition candidate, Svetlana Tikhanovskays, got a bit more than 10 percent. Clashes between protesters and riot police repeatedly took place during the rallies. Opposition supporters have accused the authorities of resorting to excessive violence during the protests.
Born into the privilege and comforts of a high-caste Brahmin family in Nepal, Ratna Khawas’s life changed drastically when she got married to someone outside her social class, in 1968.
She and her new husband moved to his home village in Belbari, where there were no toilets or handwashing facilities. “I got the shock of my life,” she said. “I had to go to the open field for defecation, as there were no toilets in the whole community.” That shock set her on what became a lifelong quest to improve sanitation for her and her neighbors.
Growing up in a wealthy family in Dharan, 40 miles west, and a world away from Belbari, young Ratna was encouraged to pursue her education. In 1962, she became the first young woman in the region to obtain her “School Leaving Certificate”, having passed a notoriously difficult exam, and went on to become a teacher at Kali High School. That’s when she met and fell in love with Kami Lal Khawas, a young man from an underprivileged community who had a good education.
“I was so much in love with him, as he was an educated person,” said Ratna. “I felt that was enough for me and we got married,” she said, and followed him back to his village as his wife.
Renu Kshetry
A well with a cement platform and a handwashing station has been built at a house in Belbari’s ward 8.
Everything about her new family was different: their habits, their cuisine, their culture. The adjustment was made even more difficult because her father-in-law refused to allow her to continue teaching. For him, a strong advocate of a patriarchal society, it was unimaginable for women in the community to step outside their household for any kind of income-generating work.
“I felt that my world had collapsed. I did not know what to do. I had nowhere to go, as the doors of my parents’ house were closed to me,” says Ratna, recalling the consequences of marrying outside her caste.
The most glaring challenge confronting Ratna in her new life was the complete absence of sanitation and hygiene facilities, which she knew were important for good health and personal dignity. Dharan, where she had lived as a girl, was a developing city where most of the houses had toilets. With its lack of such facilities, Belbari seemed a backward place to her.
“I tried to convince my husband to build a toilet in his house, but he refused to go against his family’s tradition,” she recalls. Ratna was frequently ridiculed by neighbors as an outsider and as someone “always talking about faeces and urine.”
Renu Kshetry
UN-Habitat has supported the construction of toilets in Belbari which offer safety and comfort, and which are more sanitary than the practice of open defecation.
A safe space
In 1975, after her father-in-law’s death, Ratna’s husband allowed his wife to participate in a women’s empowerment programme. After her training, she became a public health professional for the Belbari constituency, working for the family-planning division of the Ministry of Health.
Over the next ten years, Ratna visited 250 households in the community, educating women about reproductive health, sanitation and hygiene, nutrition, and other health topics.
Still, sanitation remained her top priority. Faced with opposition from her extended family, she was unable to build a toilet at home. In 1989, she rebelled and left the family home with her four children. They settled on a piece of land that was owned by her husband, where they built a latrine and then a home.
It wasn’t long before her husband joined her. Then her nephews started building toilets for their homes. Slowly, as they could afford it, other members of the community also began to install latrines, because they had learned that access to a toilet gave them a safe space to manage their sanitation needs.
Pushing the last mile
Life in Belbari now is a far cry from the situation Ratna found when the newlyweds arrived in the village over half a century ago. Today, with Ratna’s help and inspiration, nearly all of Belbari’s 250 households have toilets.
“My only wish now is to build toilets for the seven remaining households,” says Ratna. Her efforts have received financial support from Nari Bikash Sangh (Women’s Development Forum) and local government and technical support from UN-Habitat in Nepal, which has advocated for an end to open defecation. With the support of the office, 600,000 improved toilets have been built across the country and, in the past 10 years alone, UN-Habitat has contributed to nearly one-third of all the territory that is now free of open defecation.
“The biggest achievement was pushing the last mile,” says Sudha Shrestha, Chief Technical Advisor at UN-Habitat Nepal. “This was in the region of Tarai, where the total toilet coverage was only 13 percent. Together with the government, we achieved 100 percent within four years.”
Despite her success so far, Ratna is not resting on her laurels, with so much that still needs to be done to improve sanitation, and end open defecation. “I will consider the campaign a success once the senior citizens and middle-aged men make it a habit to use toilets regularly,” she says. With support from the UN, Ratna’s dream may be realized the world over.
The Europe Food Preservatives Market report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides an in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies. We analyzed the impact of COVID-19 (Corona Virus) on the product industry chain based on the upstream and downstream markets, on various regions and major countries and on the future development of the industry are pointed out.
Europe food preservatives market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.23% during the forecast period (2020-2025).
Click the link to get a Sample Copy of the Report:
The 100 Pages report presents the market competitive landscape and a corresponding detailed analysis of the major vendor/key players in the market. Top Companies in the Global Europe Food Preservatives Market: Kerry Group PLC, Brenntag Holding GmbH, Tate & Lyle PLC, Jungbunzlauer Suisse AG, Koninklijke DSM N.V., DuPont de Nemours, Inc., Corbion NV, Merck KGaA
Market Overview:
– The natural food preservatives segment is expected to record robust growth during the forecast period, particularly in the developed countries of Europe that have a large number of food companies using natural preservatives in their products. – In addition to maintaining the quality of the food, specialty preservatives, such as sorbic acid, benzoic acid, nisin, and acetic acid, help control contamination. One group of specialty preservatives and antioxidants also prevent food from becoming rancid or developing an off-flavor. – With the increasing acceptance of the ready-to-eat (RTE) food in Europe, manufacturers of RTE foods are inculcating clean label ingredients, which offer high nutrient and more shelf life.
Beverage Application is driving the Market
The popularity of on-the-go beverages has led to the introduction of highly convenient packaging formats. Additionally, functional beverages are emerging as a preferred class of meal-replacement solutions in the region. Companies are producing a large variety of non-alcoholic ferments as specialty food ingredients for applications in beverages, like soft drinks and malt-based juices. Sorbates and benzoates are often used in combination, especially in highly acidic drinks. Sorbates are very effective preservatives against bacteria, yeasts, and molds. The antimicrobial effectiveness of sorbates depends on the physical and chemical properties of the beverages. Thus, contributing to the preservatives market in Europe. The European marketplace has witnessed significant growth in natural preservatives led by the increasing consumer awareness of the potential negative impact of synthetic preservatives on health, in contrast to the benefits of natural preservatives, has generated interest in the development and use of natural products among the beverage manufacturers._
Germany is Among the Largest Player
Synthetic preservatives still dominate the share of the preservatives market in the country, however, the market experiences the surging demand for natural preservatives. Whereas, under synthetic antimicrobials, lactates hold a prominent share of the Germany market. The availability of ingredients in liquid, powder and crystalline forms further enhance the application in numerous food products. For instance, In Germany, Galactic produces and retails a range of antimicrobials such as Galacid, and Galaflow formulated in liquid, powder and crystalline forms for its extensive application in the food industry. Moreover, the growing demand for food application has insisted players of the market to widely produce additives in the country. For instance, Celanese Corporation manufacture Nutrinova Sorbates in a single-purpose plant in Frankfurt, Germany for its extensive food applications. The plant has accountability given through EU law.
Competitive Landscape
The Europe food preservatives market is dominated by global players, and the market is highly competitive owing to the presence of numerous regional and global players. Players such as Koninklijke DSM N.V. are inclining towards various strategies such as merger and acquisition, product innovation and expansion. Thereby, focusing on all the elements of the market. _For instance, Koninklijke DSM N.V. invested in the launch of two innovative natural antimicrobial additives including DelvoCid+ and other mushroom-based natural preservative to satiate the extensively growing demand for natural and organic food products. Moreover, companies such as Dupont adopted continuous expansion as their strategy to achieve a competitive advantage in the market and expand their geographical presence and customer base.
Influence Of The Europe Food Preservatives Market Report:
-Comprehensive assessment of all opportunities and risk in the Europe Food Preservatives market.
– Europe Food Preservatives market recent innovations and major events.
-A detailed study of business strategies for growth of the Europe Food Preservatives market-leading players.
-Conclusive study about the growth plot of Europe Food Preservatives market for forthcoming years.
-In-depth understanding of Europe Food Preservatives market-particular drivers, constraints and major micro markets.
-Favourable impression inside vital technological and market latest trends striking the Europe Food Preservatives market.
What Are The Market Factors That Are Explained In The Report?
Key Strategic Developments: The study also includes the key strategic developments of the market, comprising R&D, new product launch, M&A, agreements, collaborations, partnerships, joint ventures, and regional growth of the leading competitors operating in the market on regional scale.
Analytical Tools: The Europe Food Preservatives Market Report includes the accurately studied and assessed data of the key industry players and their scope in the market by means of a number of analytical tools. The analytical tools such as Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis, feasibility study, and investment return analysis have been used to analyze the growth of the key players operating in the market.
Key Market Features: The report evaluated key market features, including revenue, price, capacity, capacity utilization rate, gross, production, production rate, consumption, import/export, supply/demand, cost, market share, CAGR, and gross margin. In addition, the study offers a comprehensive study of the key market dynamics and their latest trends, along with pertinent market segments and sub-segments.
The report has 150 tables and figures browse the report description and TOC:
MarketInsightsReports provides customization of reports as per your need. This report can be personalized to meet your requirements. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you to get a report that suits your necessities.
If you have any questions about any of our “Europe Food Preservatives market report” or would like to schedule a personalized free demo of Europe Food Preservatives market report, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected].
MarketInsightsReports provides syndicated market research on industry verticals including Healthcare, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Technology and Media, Chemicals, Materials, Energy, Heavy Industry, etc.MarketInsightsReports provides Global and regional market intelligence coverage, a 360-degree market view which includes statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.
This Press Release has been written with the intention of providing accurate market information which will enable our readers to make informed strategic investment decisions. If you notice any problem with this content, please feel free to reach us on [email protected].
The Europe Weight Loss Management Market report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides an in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies. We analyzed the impact of COVID-19 (Corona Virus) on the product industry chain based on the upstream and downstream markets, on various regions and major countries and on the future development of the industry are pointed out.
The European weight management market is projected to witness a CAGR of 4.91% during the forecast period, 2020-2025.
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The 116 Pages report presents the market competitive landscape and a corresponding detailed analysis of the major vendor/key players in the market. Top Companies in the Global Europe Weight Loss Management Market: General Nutrition Centers Inc., Amway Corp., Glanbia PLC, and Herbalife International.
Market Overview:
– The market is primarily driven by factors, such as rising incidence of obesity and chronic diseases, rising awareness about nutrition and healthy lifestyles, an increasing number of fitness centers, and rising disposable income across the region. In addition, an increasing number of health and fitness clubs across the region fueled the market’s growth. Moreover, product innovations by leading players, such as herbal and organic slimming products, are boosting the market’s growth. – However, the major factor restraining the growth of the market is the high cost of weight loss products, owing to the additional processing required for low-calorie products and additional nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals.
Rising Obesity Concerns across the Region
Concerns related to weight and obesity are increasing at a rapid rate in most of the EU member states, particularly among children. In addition to causing various physical disabilities and psychological problems, excess weight drastically increases a person’s risk of developing a number of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, along with the risk of developing more than one of these diseases (co-morbidity) and body weight. The involvement of different governmental sectors and national policies favored the European region significantly. For instance, the WHO European Food and Nutrition Action Plan 2015-2020 has been initiated specifically for the purpose of restricting the marketing of unhealthy foods to children, mainly to curb the obesity epidemic. Also, the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), an authoritative body of the obesity community within Europe, is focusing on developing a universal, evidence-based approach for tackling obesity across disciplines and countries, along with the improvement of quality and availability of care, while supporting the campaign projects and groups across the region. As a result of this trend, the demand for healthier balanced diets is expected to increase. This, in turn, may provide significant growth opportunities for players operating in the weight loss management products market.
Italy to Drive the Regional Market
Italy has been reported to dominate the weight loss management market in the European region, owing to the rising incidences of major health concerns, such as obesity and diabetes, in the region. The significant presence of global players catering to weight management supplement products is driving the market’s growth in this region. The rising popularity of natural and organic ingredients in weight management supplement products is one of the driving factors for the increasing demand for these products in Europe. In terms of distribution channels, weight management products are primarily available in mass-market channels, such as hypermarkets/supermarkets and convenience stores. Also, with the increasing internet penetration, the online market related to weight loss, including food and beverages and supplements, witnessed rapid growth, globally, in the past 3-4 years. This category attracted a few vertical specialists, like Amazon, Walmart, and Carrefour, who are focusing on the growth of e-retailing.
Competitive Landscape
The European weight loss management market is competitive, due to the presence of numerous domestic and multinational players. Companies are focusing on mergers, expansions, acquisitions, and partnerships, along with new product developments, as strategic approaches adopted to boost brand presence. Key players dominating the regional market include General Nutrition Centers Inc., Amway Corp., Glanbia PLC, and Herbalife International.
Influence Of The Europe Weight Loss Management Market Report:
-Comprehensive assessment of all opportunities and risk in the Europe Weight Loss Management market.
– Europe Weight Loss Management market recent innovations and major events.
-A detailed study of business strategies for growth of the Europe Weight Loss Management market-leading players.
-Conclusive study about the growth plot of Europe Weight Loss Management market for forthcoming years.
-In-depth understanding of Europe Weight Loss Management market-particular drivers, constraints and major micro markets.
-Favourable impression inside vital technological and market latest trends striking the Europe Weight Loss Management market.
What Are The Market Factors That Are Explained In The Report?
Key Strategic Developments: The study also includes the key strategic developments of the market, comprising R&D, new product launch, M&A, agreements, collaborations, partnerships, joint ventures, and regional growth of the leading competitors operating in the market on regional scale.
Analytical Tools: The Europe Weight Loss Management Market Report includes the accurately studied and assessed data of the key industry players and their scope in the market by means of a number of analytical tools. The analytical tools such as Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis, feasibility study, and investment return analysis have been used to analyze the growth of the key players operating in the market.
Key Market Features: The report evaluated key market features, including revenue, price, capacity, capacity utilization rate, gross, production, production rate, consumption, import/export, supply/demand, cost, market share, CAGR, and gross margin. In addition, the study offers a comprehensive study of the key market dynamics and their latest trends, along with pertinent market segments and sub-segments.
The report has 150 tables and figures browse the report description and TOC:
MarketInsightsReports provides customization of reports as per your need. This report can be personalized to meet your requirements. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you to get a report that suits your necessities.
If you have any questions about any of our “Europe Weight Loss Management market report” or would like to schedule a personalized free demo of Europe Weight Loss Management market report, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected].
MarketInsightsReports provides syndicated market research on industry verticals including Healthcare, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Technology and Media, Chemicals, Materials, Energy, Heavy Industry, etc.MarketInsightsReports provides Global and regional market intelligence coverage, a 360-degree market view which includes statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.
This Press Release has been written with the intention of providing accurate market information which will enable our readers to make informed strategic investment decisions. If you notice any problem with this content, please feel free to reach us on [email protected].
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the situation “unacceptable” from a moral, economic and health standpoint: “We must ensure everyone, everywhere has access to safe and hygienic sanitation services that provide privacy and dignity.”
More than one quarter of the global population still lack basic sanitation. This is unacceptable – from a moral, economic & health standpoint.
World Toilet Day, observed annually on 19 November, was established by the UN General Assembly in 2013, recognizing the importance of sanitation for development and how it impacts the environment.
Safe access to clean toilets is also vital to achieving target 6.2 of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6), on adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all. It calls for an end to open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations, by 2030.
The theme draws attention to the threats to sanitation systems from worsening impacts of climate change, such as floods, droughts and rising sea level. Such events can damage toilets, septic tanks and treatment plants, resulting in contamination of drinking water sources, and spread human waste into communities and croplands, causing deadly diseases.
Ensuring sustainable sanitation that is resilient to climate change, is also vital in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, as toilets, combined with clean water and good hygiene, form a strong defence against COVID-19 and future disease outbreaks.
Water and sanitation – a human right
UN independent human rights experts also issued a joint appeal, calling on governments to ensure that no one is deprived of access to water and other basic supplies, and to prioritize universal access to water and sanitation, as human rights.
The need is even more pressing this year, with the coronavirus pandemic affecting communities everywhere, and the fact that one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is practicing proper personal hygiene by washing hands with soap and water – is out of reach for many.
“We take this occasion to appeal, once again, for the governments around the world to implement or reinstate the policy of prohibiting water cuts as well as other basic supplies and to guarantee a minimum essential amount of water and essential basic supplies to those who face difficulties to pay for those services and supplies”, the experts said in a joint statement.
“We reiterate that the minimum core of the human rights to water and sanitation must be guaranteed at all times and under all circumstances”, highlighted the experts.
The Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. The experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
UNICEF/Panday
A mother washes her young son’s hands with soap in rural Kavre district, Nepal. Proper hand hygiene can help keep many diseases at bay.
In a report, released on Thursday ahead of World Children’s Day, UNICEF outlined “dire and growing” consequences for children as the coronavirus pandemic lurches towards a second year.
Of 25.7 million #COVID19 infections in 87 countries, 1 in 9 were among children and young people under 20 years old.
Not only has the pandemic directly affected their health, but it has also disrupted their education and access to vital services. pic.twitter.com/Wk3tsSZFjE
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a persistent myth that children are barely affected by the disease. Nothing could be further from the truth,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director.
“While children can get sick and can spread the disease, this is just the tip of the pandemic iceberg. Disruptions to key services and soaring poverty rates pose the biggest threat to children. The longer the crisis persists, the deeper its impact on children’s education, health, nutrition and well-being. The future of an entire generation is at risk.”
As of 3 November, in 87 countries with age-disaggregated data, children and adolescents under 20 years of age accounted for 1 in 9 of COVID-19 infections, or 11 per cent of infections reported by those countries, UNICEF said in its report Averting a Lost COVID Generation.
While children can transmit the virus to each other and to older age groups, there is strong evidence that, with basic safety measures in place, the net benefits of keeping schools open outweigh the costs of closing them, UNICEF added, noting that schools are not a main driver of community transmission, and children are more likely to get the virus outside of school settings.
Alarming revelations
In addition, using data from surveys across 140 countries, the report found that COVID-related disruptions to critical health and social services for children pose the most serious threat to children, with about a third of the countries witnessing a drop of at least 10 per cent coverage for health services, including routine vaccinations and outpatient visits.
Coverage of nutrition services for women and children, including school meals and vitamin supplementation programmes also saw sharp declines, as did home visits by social workers.
Globally, more than 570 million students – 33 per cent of the enrolled students worldwide –were affected by country-wide school closures in 30 nations (as of November 2020). The number of children living in multidimensional poverty is estimated to have soared by 15 per cent – an additional 150 million children by mid-2020.
An 11-year-old child studies his Class 6 textbooks and revises the exercises at home in Nairobi, Kenya. He cannot participate in online learning as his family has no mobile phone.
‘Prioritize children’s needs’
Against the backdrop of the concerning revelations in the report, UNICEF called on governments and partners to take key actions to respond to the crisis.
The UN agency called for ensuring that all children can learn, including by closing the digital divide. It also urged nations to guarantee access to nutrition, safe drinking water, as well as health, hygiene and sanitation services. Vaccines should also be made affordable and available to every child.
Alongside, children and young people must be provided with mental health support and protected against violence and neglect, and efforts should be stepped up to support children and their families living through conflict, disaster and displacement.
UNICEF also underlined the need to reverse the rise in child poverty and ensure an inclusive recovery from the pandemic for all.
“This World Children’s Day, we are asking governments, partners and the private sector to listen to children and prioritize their needs,” urged Ms. Fore.
“As we all reimagine the future and look ahead toward a post-pandemic world, children must come first.”
Sam Brownback, Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, speaks during a news conference at the State Department in Washington. Photo/AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool
Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback has opposed China’s intervention in picking the next Dalai Lama saying, “The United States supports – that religious community has the right to pick their own leadership. That certainly includes the next Dalai Lama”.
The 14th Dalai Lama, now 85, had fled Tibet back in 1959 following a Chinese clampdown to the local population, and since then he resides in India. Currently, the Tibetan government-in-exile operates from Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh. With over 1,60,000 Tibetans living in India.
Brownback even accused China of one of the worst religious persecution situations in the world. He also mentioned the situation in China’s remote area of Xinjiang. Saying that it “will not help them in a fight on terrorism”, US diplomat said that the answer to extremism is not to lock everyone.
Ambassador Brownback was addressing the 2020 Ministerial to Advance Freedom of Religion or Belief where he answered some pressing religious freedom issues in the world notably China’s persecution of Uyghurs, Tibetan Buddhists, Christians, and Falun Gong, etc.
With respect to the persecution of Uyghurs, Ambassador said it’s one of the worst religious persecution situations in the world today and added that China’s justification in locking up millions of Uyghurs in order to prevent terrorism is a futile effort.
“The answer to terrorism isn’t locking up everybody. The answer to terrorism is religious freedom, allowing people to freely practice their faith, and they won’t fight you as much”, he said adding that If the Chinese weren’t so repressive against the faith they would have a more open society where its citizens will have the freedom to practice their faith in peace.
Ambassador was critical about the use of technology to persecute religious adherence in Tibet which is now being replicated in Xinjiang. He noted that such use of virtual police states to persecute religion must be stopped from spreading to other countries around the world.
On China’s repeated claim over the right to pick the reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama, the US Ambassador at large asserts that the matter of reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama is the concerns of Tibetan Buddhists only and China has no ‘theological basis’ to intervene in that matter.
“The Tibetan Buddhists have successfully picked their leader for hundreds of years, if not longer, and they have the right to do that now” he added and assured that the US will continue to push back China’s claim over the issue of reincarnation.
Last year, Ambassador Brownback visited Dharmashala, the exile seat of Central Tibetan Administration where his presence made a powerful impact of hope upon the Tibetans while sending a tough message to China.
The Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom brings together leaders from around the world to discuss the challenges facing religious freedom, identify means to address religious persecution and discrimination worldwide, and promote greater respect and preservation of religious liberty for all. This event focuses on concrete outcomes that reaffirm international commitments to promote religious freedom and produce real, positive change.
