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9 Ways NASA Solves Water Problems Around the Globe

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World Water Day reminds us not to take for granted the clean water we rely on. And in space, we treat every drop as a precious resource, prompting investment in technologies to conserve and reuse. Now, these innovations are hard at work here on Earth!

From discovering hidden water sources to advancing purification techniques, check out the different ways NASA is changing how we use and manage the water in our lives.

Microbial Check Valve

A mat of ecoSPEARS spikes filled with a NASA-developed formula removes toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) without damaging the aquatic ecosystem. Image credit: Gagan Cambow, ecoSPEARS

A water disinfection unit known as the Microbial Check Valve, which passes water through a bed of iodinated resin, was invented in the 1970s for drinking water on the space shuttle, and it was updated to be self-regenerating in the 1990s for use on the International Space Station.

The Microbial Check Valve is now central to water purification units that have been deployed across India, Mexico, Pakistan, and other countries, including hundreds of remote village locations. It also led to the popular DentaPure cartridge that has been purifying waterlines in dental instruments around the world for almost 30 years.

Radar Imaging to Locate Well Sources

Regardless of the amount of winter ice cover, the waters off of the Alaskan coast usually come alive each spring with blooms of phytoplankton. These blooms can form striking patterns of blue and green seawater, such as those visible in this image of the Chukchi Sea acquired on June 18, 2018, by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8.
Regardless of the amount of winter ice cover, the waters off of the Alaskan coast usually come alive each spring with blooms of phytoplankton. These blooms can form striking patterns of blue and green seawater, such as those visible in this image of the Chukchi Sea acquired on June 18, 2018, by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8. Image credit: NASA/U.S. Geological Survey/Norman Kuring/Kathryn Hansen

In 2002, an exploration geologist who was using Earth imagery from NASA’s Spaceborne Imaging Radar to locate underground resources realized the images could also lead him to subterranean moisture.

He set about developing the WATEX System at his company, Radar Technologies International, and in 2013 the system uncovered a vast aquifer with tens of trillions of gallons of water beneath a parched corner of northwest Kenya. The technology has now helped to place 2,500 wells, many of them in drought-stricken regions, with a 98% success rate for finding water.

Water Testing App

Orbital Systems’ Oas shower is the world’s first water-recirculating shower. It was inspired by a university’s partnership with NASA and is enabled by NanoCeram filter technology, which NASA helped fund with an eye toward improving astronaut life-support systems.
Orbital Systems’ Oas shower is the world’s first water-recirculating shower. It was inspired by a university’s partnership with NASA and is enabled by NanoCeram filter technology, which NASA helped fund with an eye toward improving astronaut life-support systems. Image credit: Orbital Systems

After NASA developed a simple coliform bacteria test for astronauts to test water on the International Space Station, an agency environmental engineer worked with his wife and a software engineer to develop the mWater smartphone app that let users carry out a coliform bacteria test based on the one NASA had created, as well as other simple water tests.

The app could then share the results through mapping software. Governments, nonprofit organizations, and water providers in 180 countries now use mWater test kits and apps to test drinking water and record, share, and track water data.

Filter Born from Astronaut Drinking Water Standards

ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== 9 Ways NASA Solves Water Problems Around the Globe
The Pod+ water bottle from nkd LIFE uses a filter medium developed and tested with the help of NASA funding, known as NanoCeram and now marketed as Disruptor, to purify water on the go, removing 99.97% of contaminants and accommodating a high flow rate. Image credits: nkd LIFE Ltd.

Since its early days, NASA has explored various water purification technologies to provide drinking water for astronauts. In the early 2000s, with SBIR funding from the agency, Argonide Corporation optimized a filtration technology called NanoCeram, which uses a combination of positively charged microscopic alumina fibers and activated carbon to trap microorganisms and other contaminants.

NanoCeram has since been incorporated into lab-quality filters, water bottles, portable humanitarian units, industrial water purification, and even a water-recycling shower.

Microbial Contaminant Sterilizer

The Puronics Defender whole-house water conditioner uses silver-ion technology based on work NASA did in the run-ups to the Apollo and space shuttle missions. Positively charged silver ions neutralize bacteria in the unit’s filter beds.
The Puronics Defender whole-house water conditioner uses silver-ion technology based on work NASA did in the run-ups to the Apollo and space shuttle missions. Positively charged silver ions neutralize bacteria in the unit’s filter beds. Image credit: Advanced Cascade Water Systems Inc.

An early water purification technique NASA explored was the use of silver ions to neutralize microbial contaminants. In the lead-ups to the Apollo missions and then the space shuttle, the space agency commissioned the design and construction of silver ion generators to sterilize the water that was a by-product of the spacecrafts’ fuel cells, ensuring it would be safe to drink.

NASA never flew the technology, but the agency published details about the inventions, which have provided a basis for commercial product lines including in-home water filters and water softeners, as well as systems for pools, spas, cooling towers, ponds, boilers, and hospitals.

Groundwater Remediation

Brett Baker checks a sprinkler on his family’s pear farm. Farms like his in California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta have to monitor their water use, but accurate estimates were nearly impossible until the advent of OpenET, a platform that uses Landsat data to determine the total amount of water evaporated and transpired from a given area.
Brett Baker checks a sprinkler on his family’s pear farm. Farms like his in California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta have to monitor their water use, but accurate estimates were nearly impossible until the advent of OpenET, a platform that uses Landsat data to determine the total amount of water evaporated and transpired from a given area. Image credit: Environmental Defense Fund

After NASA discovered large amounts of chlorinated solvents in the groundwater around a historic launch complex at Kennedy Space Center, scientists at the center came up with a unique method for removing these pollutants – which are now banned but were also once used by a variety of industries.

In the 20 years following its patenting, NASA has licensed this formula, known as emulsified zero-valent iron, or EZVI, to several businesses that have used it in environmental cleanups all over the country. One of the Kennedy engineers later invented a similar technology for removing polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, another common pollutant, from groundwater.

A company that formed to license that technology in 2017 is already carrying out cleanups around the world.

 

Filtration by Osmosis 

In the gray water reclamation system at Ames Research Center’s Sustainability Base, the two beige Aquaporin HFFO14 forward-osmosis modules on the left have as much filtration capacity as the entire legacy system on the right.
In the gray water reclamation system at Ames Research Center’s Sustainability Base, the two beige Aquaporin HFFO14 forward-osmosis modules on the left have as much filtration capacity as the entire legacy system on the right. Image credit: Aquaporin A/S

In 2007, NASA learned of a Danish company working on water filtration based on membranes infused with aquaporins – the proteins that let water pass through cell membranes one molecule at a time.

Always interested in better water purification technology, NASA became the company’s first paying customer, funding the development of prototypes and then working with the European Space Agency to test the membranes on the International Space Station.

The company, Aquaporin A/S, now sells under-sink water purifiers in Europe and India, and its forward osmosis modules are cleaning industrial and municipal wastewater.

Tools to Monitor Farm Water Use

The best way to calculate agricultural water use isn’t to measure how much water is diverted to cropland, but to measure evapotranspiration from the plants and soil.

A tool called EEFlux, built by researchers in the 2010s, was among the first to use Earth-imaging data from NASA-built satellites to calculate evapotranspiration. It helps manage water resources in dry areas like California.

A similar commercial method from Tule Technologies has helped some California farmers cut their water use by up to half. In 2021, NASA and partners debuted the OpenET online platform that lets users calculate evapotranspiration anywhere in 17 western states. The tool is helping farmers and local governments work together to conserve scarce water resources.

Thrusters Powered by Electrolyzed Water

Millennium Space Systems bought Tethers Unlimited’s first three water-electrolysis engines by helping to fund the technology’s final stage of development through NASA’s Tipping Point solicitation. The thrusters were to fly on Millennium’s Altair small satellites.
Millennium Space Systems bought Tethers Unlimited’s first three water-electrolysis engines by helping to fund the technology’s final stage of development through NASA’s Tipping Point solicitation. The thrusters were to fly on Millennium’s Altair small satellites. Image credit: Millennium Space Systems

For all the ways NASA helps purify and conserve water on Earth, it is still, first and foremost, the world’s premier space agency. As such, it has also worked to use water as a rocket fuel – one that could be obtained on other planets, moons, and asteroids for deep-space travel.

An electric current can separate water into hydrogen – NASA’s rocket fuel of choice – and oxygen, which helps it burn. In 2019, the company Tethers Unlimited unveiled the first commercial thrusters powered by electrolyzed water, which it developed with years of funding from the space agency.

The technology is first going nto commercial satellites, which will use it to maintain or change their orbits.

2023 Diwali celebrated at the EP with MEPs Morten Løkkegaard and Maxette Pirbakas

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2023 Diwali celebration with Members of the European Parliament
Photo credit: MARCOS SORIA - 2023 Diwali celebration with Members of the European Parliament

On Wednesday 25 October, the Diwali festival was celebrated at the European Union Parliament in Brussels (Belgium). The festival will take place this year on 12 November, but due to Parliament’s own agenda and to allow the largest number of representatives of Hinduism in Europe to attend, it was held two weeks in advance, as reported by La Verdad de Ceuta.

ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== 2023 Diwali celebrated at the EP with MEPs Morten Løkkegaard and Maxette Pirbakas
Photo credit: MARCOS SORIA – Dance at the Diwali celebration in the European Parliament 2023.

The event was organised by the Hindu Forum of Europe (HFE) in collaboration with the Palan Foundation and the Phi Foundation. Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, has been celebrated in the European Parliament since 2015.

Swamini Dayananda ji from Campus Phi in Spain, addressing the audience at the European Parliament
Photo credit: MARCOS SORIA – Swami Rameshwaranda Giri Maharaj from Campus Phi in Spain, and advisor to the HFE, addressing the audience at the European Parliament

The Hindu Federation of Spain (FHE) was represented by its president Juan Carlos Ramchandani (Pandit Krishna Kripa Dasa) who is also vice-president of the HFE, as well as by Swami Rameshwaranda Giri Maharaj, advisor to the FHE in relations with the administrations and spiritual advisor to the Hindu Forum of Europe.

Representatives of the monastic order (sannyasa) such as Swami Amarananda from Switzerland and Swamini Dayananda ji from Campus Phi in Spain also attended. Representatives from the Hindu federations of Italy, Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom also attended.

ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== 2023 Diwali celebrated at the EP with MEPs Morten Løkkegaard and Maxette Pirbakas
Photo credit: MARCOS SORIA – Members of the Hindu Forum with the Ambassador of Nepal and MEP Maxette Pirbakas

The event was also attended by several religious representatives such as Ivan Arjona director of the Church of Scientology in Europe, Binder Singh representative of the Sikh Community in Europe and Dr. Kishan Manocha who is Head of the Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department of the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe).

Institutional representation was provided by Morten LØKKEGAARD, MEP (Member of the European Parliament) and Chair of the EU Delegation to India, who hosted the event and gave a speech to welcome the attendees. Also in attendance was French MEP from Guadaloupe Maxette PIRBAKAS, of Indian origin and delegate for institutional relations with India, who gave an emotional speech and called for the protection and celebration of traditions.

ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== 2023 Diwali celebrated at the EP with MEPs Morten Løkkegaard and Maxette Pirbakas
Photo credit: MARCOS SORIA – 2023 Diwali celebration with the Ambassador of India to the European Union lighting the Diwali candles at the European Parliament

Diplomatic representation from the two countries with the largest number of Hindus in the world was also present, with India’s Ambassador to the European Union His Excellency Mr Santosh Jha and Nepal’s Ambassador to Benelux His Excellency Mr Gahendra Rajbandhari. Both gave a congratulatory message to all the attendees on behalf of their respective governments.

The programme started with a welcome message from Dr. Lakshmi Vyas, President of HFE. Pandit Ramchandani then chanted prayers in Sanskrit invoking the grace of the masters and the attainment of peace. This was followed by lighting of diyas or candles symbolising the festival of Diwali.

Pandit Ramchandani chanting mantras at the start of the Diwali event.
Photo credit: MARCOS SORIA – Pandit Ramchandani chanting mantras at the start of the Diwali event. Dr. Kishan Manocha (ODIHR) on the right.

The event included a cultural section with traditional Indian dances such as Bharata Natyam and Kathak, performed by young people from the Belgian Hindu community.

The culmination of the event was a vegetarian dinner consisting of typical Indian dishes. The event was attended by eighty people from different parts of Europe, the largest group being Swami Rameshwarananda’s disciples from the School of Yoga, Vedanta and Meditation. They all received a copy of the annual magazine Diwali Event At the EU Parliament published by the Hindu Forum of Europe, which lists the activities carried out by the organisation and its members during the year.

There were several performances of classical Indian dances.
Photo credit: MARCOS SORIA – There were several performances of classical Indian dances.

Ramchandani commented: “Very happy to be able to attend and participate in this event that visualises Hinduism in Europe, I have been attending since it was first held in 2015. Brussels is the heart of Europe, and it is here that we represent the oldest form of spirituality of humanity that is still alive. An opportunity to reconnect with Sanatana dharma brothers and sisters and friends from other religious traditions with a common goal: to improve people’s spiritual awareness in order to achieve a better world”.

Tragic Bomb Blast at Jehovah’s Witnesses Meeting in India

By
Juan Sanchez Gil
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In a deeply disturbing event that has shocked the global religious community, a bomb explosion occurred during a Jehovah’s Witnesses gathering in Kalamassery, near the port city of Kochi, India. This tragic incident resulted in the heartbreaking loss of three lives and caused numerous injuries.

I believe that examining the incident in detail, its implications and herding light on the broader interfaith tensions prevailing in the region is a must, including its relation with the responsibilities of state agencies worldwide not just India but in Europe.

The attack in India against the Jehovah’s Witnesses

The person responsible for this horrendous act identified himself as a former member of the church who now holds a radicalized opposition to them (like the bloody attacj that occurred in Germany in March this year). After the suspected bomb blast, he voluntarily surrendered to the police.

On that ill-fated Sunday, over 2,000 individuals were present at the Zamra International Convention Centre for a three-day Jehovah’s Witnesses meeting when an explosion suddenly tore through the crowd. The Director General of Police of Kerala, Darvesh Saheb, confirmed that it was an IED (improvised explosive device) blast. Initially claiming two lives instantly, this tragic incident later claimed another life. That of a 12-year-old girl, due to the injuries caused by the murderer.

The suspect who goes by Dominic Martin released a video message on social media taking responsibility for his actions before surrendering himself to authorities.

This revelation has caused a wave of investigations by the police, as reported by The Times of India, who are looking into his claims and the unjustifiable reasons behind his actions.

The incident has gained significant attention because it took place within a community that represents only a small portion of India’s religious makeup. According to the latest census in 2011, Christians make up around 2 percent of India’s population of 1.4 billion people. The Jehovah’s Witnesses, an American Christian evangelical movement known for their door-to-door evangelism efforts, have approximately 60,000 members in India based on information from their church’s website.

Attacking peaceful groups

This incident is particularly disturbing given the peaceful and non-violent principles upheld by the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who are also politically neutral. They have faced persecution and restrictions in various countries and were among those who also suffered because of the Nazis at the Holocaust.

The bomb explosion further contributes to tensions between different communities within this prosperous southern state, which is home to more than 31 million people. According to census data, Muslims make up approximately 26 per cent of the population. Saheb urged the public to maintain peace and avoid sharing provocative content on social media platforms.

Some media state that it’s worth mentioning that the day before the explosion, there was an unrelated event where Khaled Mashal, a former Hamas leader, spoke at a pro Palestinian rally in Malappuram, Kerala—around 115km north of the blast site. Although there is no evidence linking these two events, some posts on social media have been suggesting connections, which has only added to the tensions.

Mashal’s address was organized by a youth solidarity group associated with the Islamic Jamaat e Islami Hind party in Kerala—a move that drew criticism from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which is Hindu nationalist.

This tragic incident highlights the urgent need for interfaith dialogue and understanding within our diverse and complex socio religious landscape. As investigations continue, it’s essential to keep in mind both the victims and their families and emphasize peace and unity during these challenging times, but without forgetting to question what is the responsibility of governments when discriminating against religious minorities and of mainstream media when when propagating the mentioned discrimination and slandering against religious movements as an almost “politically correct” way of talking about them.

The Perils of State-Sanctioned Hate

The recent bomb blast at a Jehovah’s Witnesses meeting in Kalamassery, India, serves as a grim reminder of the dire consequences of religious intolerance. It underscores the potential dangers when hate, whether overt or subtle, is propagated or condoned by state agencies (and increased by media) against religious minorities.

Religious minorities, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses in India and Europe, the Ahmadiyya Muslims, Baha’is, members of Scientology and others, often find themselves on the receiving end of societal prejudices, which can be exacerbated (if not produced) by state-sanctioned hostility. And this happens not only in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China and Russia, but also in allmighty human rights defenders such as Germany, France, Hungary and others. I know, it is unbelievable that one would put countries such as Germany and France at the level of Russia or China, but unfortunately there are similarities.

Back to the current case, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Christian evangelical movement, has faced persecution and restrictions globally, despite its peaceful and politically neutral stance. The recent incident in India, involving a former member of the church, has brought the issue of religious intolerance into sharp focus and the role played by states and by antireligious organizations in radicalizing ex-members of groups.

State agencies in many societies have a significant impact on shaping public opinion. When these agencies promote or tolerate prejudices against religious minorities, they indirectly contribute to creating an environment of hostility and intolerance. This kind of atmosphere has the potential to radicalize individuals, driving them towards violent and terroristic acts.

A Closer Look at the Role of State Agencies in Propagating Religious Intolerance

The idea that state-sanctioned hate can be a catalyst for acts of terror is supported by numerous studies and reports. These sources have highlighted the correlation between state-sponsored discrimination and the increase in hate crimes and acts of terror. For example, organizations like Human Rights Watch have repeatedly drawn attention to instances where state policies and rhetoric have fostered an environment conducive to hate crimes. The same has been demonstrated by numerous reports and analyses by Human Rights Without Frontiers and even the specialised magazine BitterWinter.

In countries like India, which has a diverse socio-religious landscape, the role of state agencies becomes even more crucial. The promotion of hate or prejudice against any religious group has the potential to disrupt the delicate balance of religious harmony.

The recent tragic incident in Kalamassery serves as a stark reminder that unchecked hatred and intolerance can escalate into violence. It emphasizes the global responsibility for state agencies to use their influence responsibly by promoting unity and understanding instead of division and hostility.

State agencies have a crucial role beyond just maintaining law and order. They should actively focus on promoting religious tolerance and respect. Achieving this requires implementing policies, like the ones highligthed in the latests report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, that encourage interfaith dialogue, educational programs that foster understanding and acceptance of various faiths and strict laws against hate speech and crimes.

To conclude, the idea that state sanctioned hate can lead to acts of terror carries significant weight. It is a call for state agencies worldwide to reflect on their influence in shaping societal perspectives towards religious minorities. Only by actively promoting tolerance and respect for all religions can we hope to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.

References:

1. “Bomb blast at Jehovah’s Witnesses meeting in India kills 3, wounds dozens” – The Times of India

2. “Suspect in Jehovah’s Witnesses bomb blast surrenders to police” – Press Trust of India

3. “Jehovah’s Witnesses in India” – Church’s Official Website

4. “Intercommunal tensions in India’s southern state” – Census Data

5. “Former Hamas leader addresses pro-Palestinian rally” – Bharatiya Janata Party Official Statement.

6. “State-Sanctioned Hate and the Rise of Terror Acts” – Human Rights Watch

7. “Religious Intolerance and its Impact on Society” – United Nations Reports

8. “The Role of State Agencies in Promoting Religious Harmony” – International Journal of Religious Freedom.

Economic losses from weather and climate-related extremes in Europe reached around half a trillion euros over past 40 years

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Around 3% of all such events were responsible for 60% of the losses according to the EEA briefing ‘Economic losses and fatalities from weather- and climate-related events in Europe’, which together with an updated EEA indicator assesses data on economic losses due to extreme weather- and climate-related events. While it is generally agreed that global economic losses increased over the last half century, (studies of the World Meteorological Organisation), the available data do not show in a clear trend of losses for Europe over the last 4 decades.  The assessment covers the period from 1980-2020 and 32 EEA member countries (including all 27 EU Member States, plus Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, Iceland and Liechtenstein).

Adaption crucial for disaster risk reduction, increasing resilience

The aim of the EEA briefing and indicator is to provide more data-based information about the impact of extreme weather events and climate-related hazards like heatwaves, heavy precipitation and droughts and the increased risk they pose to assets and infrastructure and to human health. These events, which are expected to increase due to climate change, are already causing substantial economic losses. Monitoring the impact of such events is important to inform policy makers so that they can improve climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures to minimise damage and loss of human life.

The EU’s adaptation strategy aims to build resilience and ensure that Europe is better prepared to manage the risks and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Closing the climate protection gap by increasing insurance coverage can be one of the key financial risk management tools to increase societies’ ability to recover from disasters, reduce vulnerability and promote resilience. EU Member States are also responding by putting in place national adaptation policies, including national, regional and sectoral climate risk assessments.

Key findings

Europe is facing economic losses and fatalities from weather and climate extremes every year and in all regions of Europe. The economic impact of these events varies considerably across countries, the EEA assessment found.

For  EEA member countries, total economic losses from weather- and climate-related events amounted to between EUR 450 and EUR 520 billion (in 2020 euros), for the 1980-2020 period.

  • In absolute terms, the highest economic losses in the period 1980-2020 were registered in Germany followed by France then Italy.
  • The highest losses per capita were recorded in Switzerland, Slovenia and France, and the highest losses per area were in Switzerland, Germany and Italy (based on CATDAT data).
  • Around 23 % of total losses were insured, although this also varied considerably among countries, from 1 % in Romania and Lithuania to 56 % in Denmark and 55 % in the Netherlands (based on CATDAT data).

The assessment also found that the overwhelming amount of the fatalities — more than 85%  in the 40-year period — was due to heatwaves. The heatwave of 2003 caused most fatalities, representing between 50 and 75% of all fatalities from weather and climate-related events over the last four decades, according to the data. Similar heatwaves after 2003 caused a significant lower amount of fatalities, as adaptation measures were taken in different countries and by different actors.

Background

Despite existing recommendations from the European Commission and other international organisations, there is currently no mechanism in place in most EU Member States to collect, assess or report economic losses from weather and climate-related extreme events in a homogeneous way and with sufficient detail to support adaptation policies. However some private companies collect these data and the EEA has access to 2 of these private sources with data for 1980-2020: NatCatSERVICE from Munich Re and CATDAT from Risklayer.

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Syrian war at ‘worst point’ in four years, says Commission of Inquiry head

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Syrian war at ‘worst point’ in four years, says Commission of Inquiry head

Paulo Pinheiro spoke to UN News this week after presenting his latest report to the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee, which examines a range of social, humanitarian affairs and human rights issues.

The Syrian war, which began in March 2011, is at its “worst point” in four years, he said, while stressing that the escalating violence is not a consequence of any other conflict.

International involvement

“This aggravation is a result of the presence of different Member States in the theatre of operation,” he said, listing Türkiye, Russia, and the United States, as well as forces connected to the Kurdish population in the northeast.

The Commission of Inquiry was established by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in August 2011 to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law in Syria since the start of the war.

Although not in his mandate, Mr. Pinheiro pointed to two situations in Syria that he said are linked to the current conflict between Israel and Palestine, with the first being Israeli airstrikes against the airports in Damascus and Aleppo – both critical for humanitarian aid flows into the country.

“Another connected complicator is the presence of Hezbollah – that is a political force, military force, in Lebanon but it is also present in the theatre of operations in Syria,” he said.

‘Competition’ for coverage

Mr. Pinheiro also lamented “the competition for visibility in the international media”, saying “at this time, it’s difficult to try to remind the world that the war in Syria continues.”

The UN and partners continue to respond to the immense humanitarian needs in Syria, where more than 15 million people require assistance– a 9 per cent increase over last year.

Last month, the UN welcomed the resumption of aid deliveries into northwest Syria via a border crossing with Türkiye.

The Bab al-Hawa border crossing had closed in July after the UN Security Council failed to reach consensus on two competing resolutions seeking to renew the aid corridor.

Some four million people in northwest Syria – the last rebel-held stronghold – rely on the lifeline, which was established nearly a decade ago through a UN Security Council resolution.  

Communities on both sides of the border were also devastated by deadly earthquakes in February, contributing to rising needs. 

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Is Germany hindering the EU severely disabled person’s ID card?

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Is Germany hindering the EU severely disabled person’s ID card?

Berlin [ENA] The EU wants to introduce a uniform European disability and parking permit and the current European parking permit for people with disabilities is to be strengthened. The Federal Council is currently blocking this project with a resolution that must now be discussed.

An EU severely disabled person’s ID card has been required for a long time, i.e. an EU uniform ID card that certifies a severe disability. The EU then started a pilot project many years ago, which has now been completed. The next step planned is the introduction of the EU severely disabled person’s card. The Commission proposal is currently being discussed by the European Parliament and the Council. If the proposal is adopted, Member States will have 18 months to transpose the provisions of the directive into national law.

The procedure is currently being blocked by Germany because the German Federal Council has opened a procedure to “open the procedure on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality”. In its resolution of October 20, 2023, the Federal Council stated that the EU severely disabled ID card and an EU-wide uniform parking permit were welcomed, but one of the demands on the Federal Government is the name of the EU severely disabled person’s ID card.

“The introduction of a new identification document offers the opportunity to choose a name with a positive connotation that goes beyond historically developed terms and that focuses on participation and inclusion. “European participation card” or “European inclusion card” could represent suitable alternatives,” it says the decision of the Federal Council. However, there are also critical things to be read in the decision.

The Federal Council obviously also sees the regulations planned with regard to mobility as problematic, i.e. allowing people with an EU severely disabled person’s card to use local public transport and asks “the area of ​​special conditions based on legal regulations in the area of ​​passenger transport services to be removed from the scope of application”. to delete.

The Federal Council explained the dangers of “national discrimination” in its decision. This means that the criteria of the individual EU states for recognizing a severely disabled person’s card are interpreted differently. This means that the term and definition of when a person is considered “disabled” is defined by each EU state for itself. With the EU severely disabled person’s card, it can mean that someone in the holiday country could receive benefits through the EU severely disabled person’s card in the country of residence, even though the criteria for recognizing the severe disability do not exist in the country of residence.

The Federal Council’s resolution also refers to additional burdens within the federal states and municipalities, as well as the additional implementation effort. Even if it is not clearly presented, the decision reads like a commitment to an EU severely disabled person’s permit and parking permit, but then follows a long breakdown of points that are supposed to speak against it.

Now it depends on how the federal ministries react, but one thing became clear from the Federal Council’s decision that one of the big factors is money and the need for additional staff. Points that are obviously often seen as an obstacle to social projects or the implementation and strengthening of the rights of disabled people. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is nothing new and the Union-led governments in particular had a great opportunity to create more legal foundations in order to be able to consistently implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The fact that the term “severe disability” is interpreted differently also shows clearly that we have different social developments across Europe and that a clear agreement as to when a limitation exists has less to do with the individual’s feelings, but is based on different parameters are usually defined by those who have no limitations themselves, but believe that they can evaluate them.

There are further differentiations in the validity of the EU severely disabled person’s card, as it is only intended for short stays in another EU country, which in turn is defined as 3 months. However, this time limit contradicts other regulations. In Spain, for example, short vacations of up to 179 days are possible. Statement from B90 / Katrin Langensiepen: https://bit.ly/EU-Schwerbehindertenkarten

Europe’s environmental taxes in decline, despite potentially crucial role

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Europe's environmental taxes in decline, despite potentially crucial role

Despite calls for more environmental taxes at the national, European and global levels, implementation has been very slow. In the EU, environmental taxes account for 5.9% of total taxes, less than the 6.6% almost 20 years ago.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing ‘The role of environmental taxation in supporting sustainability transitions’ looks at recent trends in taxes related to pollution, resource use and greenhouse gas emissions. It also considers the potential of these taxes in raising revenues and supporting Europe’s sustainability ambitions.

Passer d’une fiscalité sur le travail à une taxation des activités qui nuisent à l’environnement ou au climat bénéficie depuis longtemps du soutien des économistes et des hommes politiques. Toutefois, comme pour l’élimination progressive des subventions nuisibles à l’environnement, des augmentations substantielles des recettes fiscales environnementales n’ont pour l’essentiel pas été réalisées, note l’AEE.

In the EU, revenues from environmental taxes were 330 billion EUR in 2019. The share of environmental taxes of total tax revenues declined from 6.6%, in 2002, to 5.9%, in 2019. The trend varies across Europe but, critically, the share declined in frontrunner countries implementing environmental taxes, such as Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, the EEA briefing notes.

The observed trends highlight the problem that effective environmental taxes end up eroding the tax base in the long term. Thus, the primary focus of environmental taxes needs to shift from revenue generation to support achieving environment and climate objectives, the EEA briefing concludes.

Pakistan urged to halt Afghan deportations to avoid ‘human rights catastrophe’

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United Nations News
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Pakistan urged to halt Afghan deportations to avoid ‘human rights catastrophe’

OHCHR is urging the authorities to halt deportations, which are set to begin on 1 November, Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told journalists in Geneva.

Currently, more than two million undocumented Afghans are living in Pakistan, at least 600,000 of whom arrived after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.

‘Grave risk’ of violations

“We believe many of those facing deportation will be at grave risk of human rights violations if returned to Afghanistan, including arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, cruel and other inhuman treatment,” she said.

At particular risk are “civil society activists, journalists, human rights defenders, former government officials and security force members, and of course women and girls as a whole,” she added, recalling “abhorrent policies” banning them from secondary and university education, working in many sectors and other aspects of daily and public life.

Ms. Shamdasani noted that the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have already documented a sharp increase in returns to Afghanistan since the deadline was announced on 3 October.

By 15 October, 59,780 Afghans had left Pakistan, according to a recent flash report by the two agencies. The majority, 78 per cent, cited fear of arrest as the reason for leaving.

‘Suspend forcible returns’

“As the 1 November deadline approaches, we urge the Pakistan authorities to suspend forcible returns of Afghan nationals before it is too late to avoid a human rights catastrophe,” said Ms. Shamdasani.

OHCHR also called on the Government to continue providing protection to those in need and ensure that any future returns are safe, dignified, voluntary and in line with international law.

Immense needs back home

Ms. Shamdasani noted that as winter approaches, any mass deportations are bound to deepen the dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, which continues to grapple with the devastating impact of the series of earthquakes that struck Herat province this month.

At least 1,400 people were killed and 1,800 injured, she added, citing official figures.

She also noted that Afghanistan has a population of 43 million people, most of whom, nearly 30 million, currently need relief assistance, according to the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA.  More than three million are internally displaced.

“We remind the de facto authorities of the international human rights obligations that continue to bind Afghanistan as a state and their obligations to protect, promote and fulfil human rights,” she said. 

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Circular business models and smarter design can reduce environment and climate impacts from textiles — European Environment Agency

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Newsdesk
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Impacts from textiles and the role of design and circular business models

The EEA briefing ‘Textiles and the environment: The role of design in Europe’s circular economy’ provides updated estimates of textiles’ life-cycle impacts on the environment and climate.

The briefing shows that, compared with other consumption categories, textiles caused in 2020 the third highest pressures on water and land use, and the fifth highest use of raw materials  and greenhouse gas emissions. Per average person in the EU, textile consumption required 9 cubic metres of water, 400 square metres of land, 391 kilogrammes (kg) of raw materials, and caused a carbon footprint of about 270 kg. The vast majority of the resource use and emissions took place outside of Europe.

The briefing also looks at how circular business models and design can reduce the negative impacts from textile production and consumption by retaining the value of textiles, extending their life cycles and increasing the usage of recycled materials. This requires technical, social and business innovation, supported by policy, education and changes in consumer behaviour.

A key aspect to increase textile products’ circularity is their design. Circular design — such as careful material selection, timeless look or garment multi-functionality — can allow for longer use and reuse of products, extending the life cycle of textiles. According to the EEA briefing, optimising resource use and reducing emissions at production stage would also mitigate negative impacts as would better collection, reuse and recycling of discarded textiles.

Reducing microplastic pollution

Textiles are a major source of microplastic pollution, mainly through wastewater from washing cycles, but also through manufacturing, wearing, and end-of-life disposal of garments. The EEA briefing ‘Microplastics from textiles: towards a circular economy for textiles in Europe’ looks at this specific type of pollution, highlighting three key prevention measures: sustainable design and production, controlling emissions during use and improved end-of-life processing.

According to the EEA briefing, pollution could be reduced, for example, by using alternative production processes and pre-washing of garments at manufacturing sites with proper filtering of wastewater. Other promising measures that could be introduced or scaled up include integrating filters into household washing machines, developing milder detergents, and generally taking better care of garments. Finally, textile waste collection, wastewater treatment and management would further reduce leaks to environment.

Find out more

Both EEA briefings summarise more detailed technical reports by the EEA’s European Topic Centre on Waste and Materials in a Green Economy (ETC/WMGE):

–          Textiles and the environment: The role of design in Europe’s circular economy

–          Microplastic pollution from textile consumption in Europe

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EU leaders adopted conclusions on the Middle East

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Council of the EU and European Council
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European Council on the Middle East
European Council

On the first day of the European Council 26 October, EU leaders adopted conclusions on the Middle East.

They reiterated their condemnation of Hamas’ brutal terrorist attack and their gravest concern for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

In light of Hamas’ brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attack against Israel and the unfolding tragic scenes in the Gaza Strip, EU leaders reviewed the state of play and different strands of action, including concerted efforts to assist EU citizens.

In a follow-up to the statement they released on 15 October 2023 and the extraordinary European Council meeting held two days later, they also reaffirmed their:

  • condemnation of Hamas in the strongest possible terms
  • recognition of Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international law and international humanitarian law
  • call on Hamas to immediately release all hostages without any precondition

The leaders underlined the importance to ensure protection of all civilians at all times. They also expressed their grave concern regarding the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need, including through humanitarian corridors and pauses for humanitarian needs.

The leaders stressed that the EU will work with partners in the region to:

  • protect civilians
  • ensure that assistance is not abused by terrorist organisations
  • facilitate access to food, water, medical care, fuel and shelter

To avoid regional escalation, the leaders emphasised the need to engage with partners in the region, including the Palestinian Authority. They also expressed their support for a two-state solution and welcomed diplomatic initiatives, including supporting the holding of an international peace conference soon.

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