The Church set out a red carpet for Kulturnatten (Culture Night), welcoming over 1600 people in a matter of hours to their home in the heart of Copenhagen.
BRUSSELS, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, October 26, 2023 /EIN/ — In recent times Europe has experienced a growing fascination with new practical religions, like Scientology, which has seen an increase in popularity for the last seventy years. This change is evident in the rising belief that “the church provides answers to people’s spiritual needs” and the emergence of faith in a “personal deity”.
Despite the trend towards secularism in Western Europe a significant portion of the population still identifies with some form of religion or spirituality. For instance when asked about their religious affiliation a considerable number of individuals still consider themselves Christians making up 71% in Germany and 64%, in France.
This growing interest in new pragmatic religions is becoming more evident. For instance, the case of Scientology has gained momentum, particularly since the launch of the Scientology Network, which broadcasts worldwide in 17 languages, bringing these alternative faiths into the spotlight.
According to Ivan Arjona, who represents Scientology in the European Union, OSCE and the United Nations, this growing interest reflects the evolving panorama in Europe. Arjona mentioned that as individuals become more receptive to concepts and perspectives they are also increasingly open, to exploring alternative religious practices that might better align with their personal requirements.
The changing religious scene is marked by a quest for hands-on methods to connect with spirituality. These movements, such, as Scientology provide “tools and techniques that aid individuals in enhancing their lives and attaining their objectives”. For instance, “Scientology provides a range of courses and counselling services aimed at helping individuals overcome personal challenges and attain greater success in life” says Arjona.
It is asserted by studies that Europeans are responding to this trend in various ways. While secularization in Denmark stands out as one of the most secularized countries globally, with church attendance figures in continuous decline, this trend contrasts with the increased visibility of religious minorities, particularly Muslims, raising questions about the dynamics between different religious and non-religious groups and the future of the Established Church in the country.
A resurgence of religious belief despite the broader trend of secularization, seems to be a response to the fact, as Ivan Arjona says “the church of Scientology gives adequate answers to people’s spiritual needs” and to the concept of a “personal God”. This would seem to suggest that while Europe, in general, may be less religious, there are substantial variations in religious commitment within the old continent.
This increasing interest in practical religions can be seen in the Church of Scientology’s recent participation in Copenhagen’s annual “Cultural Night” (Kulturnatten). During the event, the Church welcomed over 1,600 curious visitors, which proves the growing curiosity about these alternative belief systems. Kulturnatten is a city-wide event that celebrates Copenhagen’s diversity by providing a closer look at the city’s cultural, artistic, and religious institutions. Scientologists in Denmark have now participated in the program for the fifth time which is seen as a testament to the acceptance of new religious movements.
A press release from the Church of Scientology International detailed the event saying:
“From the start of the city-wide event at 6 p.m. until midnight, guests toured through the Church’s information centre, its chapel, and rooms set aside for providing the religion’s spiritual counselling (called auditing) and training. They also saw the Office of L. Ron Hubbard—a facility in every Church of Scientology that honours the legacy of the religion’s Founder and stands in testament that the Church is true to Mr. Hubbard’s writings and ideals. Scientologists were on hand to answer questions and refer visitors to Mr. Hubbard’s books and courses where they could gain more in-depth information.”
An important datum to helps to explain why Scientology is in such a position is the personal implication of Mr. David Miscavige, the ecclesiastical leader of religion, who has played and plays a pivotal role in increasing the reach of Scientology in society, especially since he launched the “Ideal Churches” program reinforcing and guaranteeing not only the standard application of religion’s doctrines but also its social programs of the Truth About Drugs, United for Human Rights, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, and many others.
In conclusion, Europe is experiencing a diverse response to the growing interest in new pragmatic religions, with some countries becoming more secularized and others retaining a strong religious identity. The Church of Scientology’s active presence in Denmark and the increase in belief in a “personal God” reflect the changing spiritual landscape in the region.
In 10 billion years we will be part of a planetary nebula
Scientists have made predictions about what the last days of our solar system will look like and when they will happen.
At first, astronomers thought the Sun would become a planetary nebula – a glowing bubble of gas and cosmic dust – until evidence showed our star lacked the mass to do so. However, evidence was subsequently found to support the old thesis.
The Sun is about 4.6 billion years old – measured by the age of other objects in the Solar System that formed around the same time.
Based on observations of other stars, astronomers predict that the Sun will reach the end of its life in another 10 billion years.
Before that, other important things will happen.
In about 5 billion years, the Sun should become a red giant. The star’s core will contract, but its outer layers will expand to the orbit of Mars, engulfing our planet in the process.
As for humanity, it can survive another 1 billion years on the planet. The reason for this is that the brightness of the Sun will increase, making the temperatures unlivable.
By studying other stars, scientists conclude that 90 percent of Sun-like stars evolve from red giants to white dwarfs and then end up as planetary nebulae.
“When a star dies, it ejects a mass of gas and dust into space. The envelope can be up to half the mass of the star. This exposes the star’s core, which at this point is running without fuel before finally dying,” explained astrophysicist Albert Zijlstra from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, one of the authors of the paper.
“Only then does the hot core cause the ejected shell to glow brightly for about 10,000 years – a short period in astronomy. But this makes the planetary nebula visible. Some are so bright that they can be seen from extremely great distances – tens of millions of light years. Before eventually, such stars would be invisible at such a distance,” adds the scientist.
“The data says you can get bright planetary nebulae from low-mass stars like the Sun, the models say it’s not possible,” says the scientist. This means, according to him, that the models need to be updated, and the future of the Sun becomes easier to predict.
Planetary nebulae are relatively common in the observable Universe, with the Helix Nebula, the Cat’s Eye Nebula, the Ring Nebula, and the Bubble Nebula all known.
Illustrative Photo by Billel Moula: https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-of-plants-during-golden-hour-542515/
For the first time since the war started, the future of Ukraine is being considered. A high-level international conference was held in Paris on how to stop the bloodshed.
The conference was organised at Paris Business School on October 24th 2023 with prominent speakers, experts, researchers and journalists. It was moderated by Frédéric Encel, professor of geopolitics at Paris Business School and Sciences Po with a keynote speakers Ambassador Gerard Araud, former French diplomat and Jeffrey Sachs, American Econmist and professor at Columbia University.
Ambassador Araud has highlighted that the war in Ukraine needs diplomacy which is difficult to understand for Europeans. He brought the precedent and South and North Korean model of ceasefire and freezing the conflict as a possible solution.
He also reminded that all the boundaries in Europe of today are the result of different wars and in each war was a an attacking side and a defending side. It is remarkable that the Ambassador sees good chances that the war will be stopped after Donald Trump wins the elections, which is a likely scenario for the upcoming US elections.
Christophe Gomart, a general and a respected columnist joined the analysis of Ambassador Araud by reviewing the situation from a military perspective and considering that Ukraine’s and Russia’s potentials. Ukraine is getting destroyed and exhausted, although keeping high spirit but Russian capabilities appear to be higher despite the aid to Ukraine from the West.
Gaidz Minassian, a professor at sciences Po and a journalist at le Monde compared the Ukrainian-Russian war to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijani and how this war had a lot of repercussions on other conflicts in the region and the need to put an end to the conflict to stabilize the region.
Manel Msalmi, the president of the European Association for The Defense of Minorities and a researcher in international relations in Brussels mentioned that Ukraine needs to fight against corruption and food insecurity. She has emphasised the ongoing destruction of Ukraine and human suffering. Manel Msalmi has also raised the issue of the rising level of corruption in Ukraine which is widely discussed in the USA now. And she said: “We must ask a question: why the diplomatic means are so weak? Why not to use the means of negotiations to stop the war? In the meantime, Ukraine is getting destroyed. The war destabilises the world and eliminates Ukraine”.
Professor Jeffrey Sachs, American Economist and professor at Columbia University joined the discussion via zoom. He has stated that this war should have been prevented so many times. Unfortunately, there were occasions to negotiate, but the US was trying to enlarge NATO by any cost without taking into consideration Russian concerns. Now, Ukraine is loosing not only by sacrificing hundreds of thousands but possibly loosing sovereignty. He was very critical of the current US policies. He insisted that the way to stop the war through negotiations must be found.
The last speaker was Gérard Chaliand, a geopolitical, writer and winner of the book prize of geopolitics. He warmly congratulated professor Sachs and highlighted the need to stop the war and save the life of Ukrainian people but also questioned the continuation of military supplies to Ukraine.
The conference ended with a series of questions from the students who were intrested to exchange with the experts.
This was the first event of this sort which may lead to further discussions and eyes opening.
The EEA assessment ‘Decarbonising road transport — the role of vehicles, fuels and transport demand’ analyses the driving factors for greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars and heavy goods vehicles in the European Union (EU). The new report is part of the ‘Transport and environment reporting mechanism’ (TERM) series of annual assessments.
According to EEA data, CO2 emissions from passenger cars in the 27 EU Member States increased by 5.8 %, and emissions from heavy goods vehicles increased by 5.5 %, from 2000 to 2019.
The main reason for the total increase in both car and truck emissions was growing transport volumes, which have only partially been offset by better fuel efficiency and the use of biofuels, the EEA assessment shows.
Adding to the challenge of growing transport volumes, Europe has not yet shifted to greener transport modes. During the past two decades, cars have maintained and slightly increased their dominant share in land-based passenger mobility while trucks have done the same in freight transport.
Improving vehicle CO2 efficiency, including increasing the share of electric vehicles, is expected to play an important role in decarbonising passenger and freight transport— especially when coupled with continued decarbonisation of electricity and fuel production.
However, the EEA assessment also finds that decarbonising Europe’s mobility system requires methods beyond efficiency gains in road transport. This includes higher occupancy rates, for example through ride-sharing, and fuller cargo loads, as well as, curbing demand and shifting to greener transport modes: walking, cycling, buses, trains, and inland navigation.
The UN Security Council has been meeting at UN Headquarters in New York for what was a scheduled quarterly open debate on the ongoing conflict Israel-Palestine, now given greater urgency by the Hamas attacks of 7 October and the deepening humanitarian crisis as the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip continues.
The UN chief said the situation “is growing more dire by the hour”, repeating his call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Follow lives updates here:
Germany
Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s Foreign Affairs Minister, spoke acknowledging the greatest crime of all committed by the Nazi regime in the last century.
“Never again”, to me as a German, means that we will not rest knowing that the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors are now being held hostage by terrorists in Gaza, said the Federal Minister.
For Germany, Israel’s security is non-negotiable. Like any other State in the world, Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorism within the framework of international law.
Addressing the plight of the Palestinians in no way contradicts this clear and unwavering stance. It is a key part of it, she declared.
Sameh Shoukry Minister for Foreign Affairs of Egypt said the “Palestinian territories are going through horrific developments”, noting that the thousands of people had been killed there, including thousands of children.
“It is shameful that some continue to justify what is happening, citing the right to self-defence and resisting terrorism”.
He asserted that silence in this case is tantamount to giving one’s blessing, and that calling for respect for international humanitarian law without describing specific violations, is tantamount to participating in the crimes.
The Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan called on the UN Secretary-General to “resign immediately” in a tweet at 11.22am, and at the stakeout outside the Security Council. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen also tweeted that he would not be meeting with the UN chief today for a scheduled bilateral.
Ambassador Erdan told reporters at the stakeout that in noting the Hamas attacks “did not happen in a vacuum” in his address to the Council, the UN chief was “justifying terrorism”.
In response to questions concerning the Foreign Minister’s tweet, the UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that the Secretary-General would be meeting family representatives of hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza, adding they would be accompanied by a representative of the Israeli Permanent Mission to the UN.
China
China’s Ambassador Zhang Jun said “the eyes of the entire world are on this Chamber,” calling on the Council to send a powerful, united message.
That includes an immediate ceasefire, which the Council must express in clear, unambiguous language. If not, the two-State solution could be jeopardized. States should uphold a moral conscience not double standards.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe – Ambassador Zhang Jun of China addresses the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.
Turning to the humanitarian situation in Gaza he said urgent efforts are needed. Aid supplies currently allowed to enter the enclave are “a drop in the bucket”. The full siege of Gaza must be lifted alongside the collective punishment of Palestinians.
In this vein, he called on Israel to stop its attacks and allow aid to be delivered, adding that international humanitarian law must be upheld. The Council must defend the rule of law at every level and oppose any violations, he said.
The root cause of the conflict rests in the prolonged occupation of Palestinian territory and a lack of respect for their rights, he said, adding that Council actions must not deviate from this.
Vasily Nebenzya Russia’s ambassador to the UN said it was unfortunate the meeting was taking place on UN Day against the backdrop of “unprecedented” violence that has caused “catastrophic” casualties on both sides, with Russians among the victims.
The number of deaths and injuries “bears witness to the fact that scale of the humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip has exceeded all of our worst imaginations,” he said.
The “terrible acts” of 7 October and the “tragic events” that followed were the result of years of “destructive positions” that Washington had taken, accusing the US of sabotaging potential solutions to the protracted conflict in the region.
UN Photo/Manuel Elías – Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia of the Russian Federation addresses the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.
“We along with many others for several years now, have warned that the situation is on the brink of explosion and the explosion occurred,” Mr. Nebenzya said.
“This crisis has once again shown that without fair settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in line with Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and based on approved international decisions on the two-State solution, regional stabilization will be out of reach,” he added, reiterating Russia’s position that there needs to be a sustainable negotiation process.
“Following this there must be the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian State, within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, coexisting in peace and security with Israel.”
United Kingdom
Tom Tugendhat the UK’s Minister for Security expressed resolute support Israel’s right to self-defence. At the same time he recognized that Palestinians are suffering, noting that the UK has committed an extra $37 million to support civilians in Gaza.
“We must prevent this conflict sparking conflict beyond Gaza and engulfing the wider region in war,” he said, pointing to Hezbollah attacks on Israel’s northern border and rising tensions in the West Bank. “It is in the interest of Israeli and Palestinian civilians and all States in the region, that this conflict does not spread further.”
UN Photo/Manuel Elías – Foreign Minister Tom Tugendhat of the United Kingdom addresses the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.
The UK’s longstanding position on the Middle East Peace Process supports a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.
“The events of the past week show with total clarity, the need to achieve these goals,” he said. “Hope and humanity must win out.”
France
Catherine Colonna France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs said it is “high time” for the Council to shoulder its duty to condemn Hamas’ attack in Israel.
France stands firmly with Israel which has the right to defend itself, while respecting international humanitarian law. Indeed, all civilian lives must be protected she stressed.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe – Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna of France addresses the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.
Safe, swift aid access is urgently needed in Gaza; “each minute counts”, she said, calling for humanitarian pauses and a truce that could lead to a sustained peace, underlining France’s continued provision of aid to the enclave.
At the same time the Council must mobilize and fully exercise its responsibilities, she added.
“It is our duty to pave the way to peace,” she said. “The only viable solution is the two-State solution. We need to do all we can. This Council must act and it must act now.”
United States
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told ambassadors around the horseshoe table that among the more than 1,400 people Hamas killed on 7 October were citizens of over 30 UN Member States, including Americans.
“Every one of us has a stake, every one of us a responsibility in defeating terrorism,” he said.
He also underscored the vital need to protect civilians, adding that Israel has the “right and the obligation” to defend itself and “the way it does so, matters.”
UN Photo/Manuel Elías – US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
Secretary Blinken said that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people and Palestinian civilians are not to blame for the “carnage” committed by the militants.
“Palestinian civilians must be protected, that means Hamas must cease using them as human shields. It is hard to think of an act of greater cynicism,” he said.
He noted that Israel must take all possible precautions to prevent harm to civilians and that food, water, medicine and other humanitarian assistance must be able to flow into Gaza and to the people who need it.
He also said that civilians must be able to get out of harm’s way, urging the consideration of humanitarian pauses.
Maura Viera Minister for Foreign Affairs of Brazil underscored that under International Humanitarian Law, Israel as the occupying power “has the legal and moral obligation” to protect the population of Gaza.
“Recent events in Gaza are particularly concerning including the so called evacuation order, which is leading to an unprecedented level of misery for innocent people.”
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe – Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira of Brazil addresses the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.
He added that the amount of aid flowing into Gaza through the Rafah crossing is “certainly insufficient” to meet the needs of the civilian population in the enclave noting that the lack of power is impacting healthcare workers and hospitals – with safe water supplies very limited.
“Civilians must be respected and protected at all times and everywhere,” the Minister stressed, reminding that all parties must “strictly abide” by their obligations under international law.
“I highlight in this respect the fundamental principle of distinction, proportionality, humanity, necessity and precaution which must guide and inform all actions and military operations,” he said.
Israel
11.04:Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Eli Cohen holding up a collage of those kidnapped by Hamas, said the hostage situation is a “living nightmare”. Recalling the 7 October attack on Israel, he said the day “will go down in history as a brutal massacre” and a “wake-up call” against extremism and terrorism.
UN Photo/Manuel Elías – Foreign Minister Eli Cohen of Israel addresses the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
“Hamas are the new Nazis,” he said, calling for immediate access to hostages and their unconditional release.
Qatar could facilitate.
“You, members of the international community, should demand Qatar to do just that,” he said. “The meeting should conclude with a clear message: bring them home.”
Israel has a right and duty to defend itself, he said. “It’s not just Israel’s war. It’s the war of the free world.”
The proportional response to the 7 October massacre is “a matter of survival,” he said, thanking nations for supporting Israel.
“We are going to win because this war is for life; this war must be your war as well,” he said. Right now, the world faces a “clear choice of moral clarity”.
“One can be part of the civilized world or surrounded by evil and barbarity,” he said. “There is no middle ground.”
If all nations do not stand decisively by Israel’s mission to “eliminate the monsters from the face of the Earth”, he said this will be “the darkest hour of the UN” which will “have no moral justification to exist”.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe – Foreign Minister Riad Al-Malki of the State of Palestine addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
State of Palestine
10.45: Riyad al-Maliki Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine stated that the Security Council and the international community has a duty and an obligation to save lives.
“Continued failure at this [Security] Council is inexcusable,” he stressed.
He emphasized that only “international law and peace” were worthy of unconditional support by countries, adding that “more injustice and more killing, will not make Israel safer.”
“No amount of weapons, no alliance, will bring it security – only peace will, peace with Palestine and its people,” he said, stating: “the fate of the Palestinian people cannot continue to be dispossession, displacement, denial of rights and death. Our freedom is the condition of share peace and security.”
Mr. al-Maliki stressed that avoiding an even greater humanitarian catastrophe and regional spillover, “it must be clear that this can only be achieved by putting an immediate end to the Israeli war launched against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. Stop the bloodshed.”
‘Humanity can prevail’
Briefing the Council, Lynn Hastings, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said agreement on the resumption of aid deliveries through the Rafah, Egypt, crossing and the release of a small number of hostages over the past few days “shows that through diplomacy and negotiation, humanity can prevail, and we can find humanitarian solutions, even in the depths of conflict”.
The world is looking to the Member States around this Council to play its part
Lynn Hastings
Urging all countries with influence to exert it and ensure respect for international humanitarian law, she said civilians must have the essentials to survive. As such, the passage of rapid and unimpeded humanitarian relief must be facilitated, and water and electricity connections resumed, she added.
She said that 20 more trucks are due to move over the Rafah crossing today “although they are currently delayed.” She said the UN was dtermined “to do our part to ensure these deliveries continue.”
She paid tribute to the 35 UN Palestine relief agency (UNRWA) colleagues who have tragically been killed during the Israeli bombardment.
Parties on all sides “must take constant care, to spare civilians”, with water and electricity connections resumed, in accordance with the rules of war.
10.38: “If we are to prevent any further descent into this humanitarian catastrophe, dialogue must continue – to ensure essential supplies can get into Gaza at the scale needed, to spare civilians and the infrastructure they depend on, to release hostages, and to avoid any further escalation and spillover,” she said. “The world is looking to the Member States around this Council to play its part in leading the way.”
‘The stakes are astronomically high’: Wennesland
Addressing the current risk of conflict expanding to the wider region, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, said he and the UN Secretary-General have been pursuing “any and every opportunity” to address the situation on the ground and to prevent further civilian death and misery.
10.28: “It is critical, that we, as a united international community, employ all our collective efforts to end the bloodletting and prevent the further expansion of hostilities, including in the region,” he said. “The stakes are astronomically high, and I appeal for all relevant actors to act responsibly.”
Any miscalculation could have “immeasurable consequences”, he warned, adding that these devasting events were not divorced from the broader context in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Israel, and the region.
For a generation, hope has been lost, he underlined.
“Only a political solution will move us forward,” he said. “The steps we take to address this crisis must be implemented in a way that ultimately advances a negotiated peace that fulfils the legitimate national aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis – the long-held vision of two-States, in line with UN resolutions, international law, and previous agreements.”
‘More dire by the hour’: Guterres
10.11: Mr. Guterres gave what he termed an introduction to the current crisis, saying the situation in the Middle East is “growing more dire by the hour“.
“Divisions are splintering societies and tensions threaten to boil over”, he said.
“It is vital to be clear on principles” he added, starting with the protection of civilians.
Secretary-General Guterres underscored the need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, “to ease epic suffering, make the delivery of aid easier and safer and facilitate the release of hostages”.
Watch the UN chief’s full remarks here:
He also emphasized that the world cannot lose sight of the only realistic foundation for peace and stability in the Middle East – a two-State solution.
“Israelis must see their legitimate need for security materialized and Palestinians must see their legitimate need for an independent State realized, in line with UN resolutions, international law and previous agreements.”
What’s at stake
It marks the fourth time the 15 ambassadors of the UN’s premier peace and security body will convene since the intense cycle of violence began.
You can follow all the proceedings live on X broadcast by our colleagues at UN Web TV – click on the tweet here on the page, or click on the video embedded in the main photo area of this story.
So far, there has no agreement on any action, to alleviate the suffering of civilians caught up in the spiralling conflict between Hamas militants, who control the enclave of over two million Palestinians.
The Council failed to adopt two previous draft resolutions addressing the escalation. The first from Russia calling for an immediate ceasefire, failed to get enough votes, while a Brazilian draft was vetoed by the United States. Although it called for humanitarian pauses for aid access, the US determined objected to the fact it did not mention Israel’s right to self defence.
The UN chief António Guterres is due to brief today along with the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory Lynn Hastings is also down to brief. She’s also been given the brief of deputy special coordinator.
Foreign ministers from several countries are also due to take part.
So far, 92 different countries have signed up to speak.
Today is also United Nations Day, marking 78 years since the UN Charter entered into force. In a statement the UN chief said that “at this critical hour, I appeal to all to pull back from the brink before the violence claims even more lives and spreads even further.”
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe – The 15 members of the UN Security Council meet to discuss the conflict in Gaza.
The latest annual study by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) and ScamAdviser paints a devastating picture of the worldwide onslaught of scams, highlighting an urgent need for vigilance and preventative action.
The Global State of Scams 2023 Report, which involved 49,459 people from 43 countries, indicates that a substantial 25.5% of world citizens lost money to scams or identity theft in the last 12 months, culminating in financial losses estimated at $1.026 trillion (€974 billion).
2023 report, which was supported by academics from the University of Twente, found 69% of those surveyed believe they can identify scams, 59% encountered scams monthly and a remarkable 78% faced scams annually.
Phone calls (61%) and SMS messages (58%) are scammers’ primary avenues, with shopping scams, identity theft, and investment fraud topping the list.
Attractive offers are a universal scammer strategy. Developing countries see these as the main enticement, but even in developed nations, many fail to spot the scams. Concerningly, repeat victimization is frequent, with individuals globally targeted on average 1.5 times a year. Kenya and Nigeria report even higher rates.
Global scam statistics. Image credit: GASA
Reporting hesitancy is pervasive, with 59% avoiding it due to doubts about outcomes and 24% feeling it’s pointless. Perceptions of authority effectiveness vary; while some nations commend their governments, others like Brazil and Thailand voice concerns.
Financially, scams have siphoned off $1.026 trillion globally, equating to 1.05% of the global GDP. Countries such as Kenya, Vietnam, Brazil, and Thailand experience disproportionately high losses. However, the impact isn’t just monetary: 60% of scam victims report significant emotional distress.
The timely release of the report coincides with the imminent Global Anti-Scam Summit (GASS) on October 18-19, 2023. This pivotal gathering sees over 250 international delegates converge on Lisbon from all corners of the globe, joined by over 1,000 online participants.
The goal of GASS is to bring governments, consumer & financial authorities, law enforcement, brand protection agencies, and (cybersecurity) companies together to share knowledge and define joint actions to protect consumers from getting scammed.
As deliberations define strategies and countermeasures, a crucial opportunity for collective action and the Global State of Scams will undoubtedly be at the heart of many discussions, fostering a collaborative approach to address and curb the spread.
“The escalating crisis of deception in the digital era has transitioned scams from sporadic events to a full-blown international emergency. With entire nations on the brink of being overwhelmed, particularly developing nations, the mandate of the Global Anti-Scam Summit is clear: unite, strategize, and counteract.”
“Should we falter in our concerted efforts, we risk leaving countries and their inhabitants tragically exposed to this menacing deluge,” warned Prof. Jorij Abraham, Managing Director of GASA.
Pepper X has a staggering 2.69 million Scoville units
Guinness World Records has announced the world’s new hottest pepper. It’s the dreaded Pepper X with a terrifying 2,693,000 units on the Scoville scale.
You can hardly imagine how hot that is, but give it a try – the world’s hottest pepper ever, the Carolina Reaper, scores almost twice as low at 1.64 million on the Scoville scale.
Jalapeño has between 3,000 and 8,000 Scoville units, Tabasco sauce 2,500 to 5,000, and Sriracha 1,000 to 2,500.
The police spray is 1.6 million units, and the one against bears – 2.2 million.
The new killer pepper was bred by the American Ed Curry. He is the founder of the Puckerbutt Pepper Company, whose work is also the hottest pepper in the world – the Carolina Reaper.
The very result of the literally dangerous product was measured by Winthrop University in South Carolina.
Lifecafe Web, salt and alcohol
The Scoville scale for spiciness of peppers measures the concentration of capsaicin, the hot substance in them. However, it is not contained in their seeds, as is often believed, but in the so-called placenta – the membrane that holds them, notes the Guinness World Records.
And Pepper X is pretty wrinkled, which means there’s more room for that mellow tissue to grow.
Ed Curry has cultivated his new achievement for over 10 years, crossing it with some of the world’s hottest peppers to increase the amount of capsaicin.
He claims that trying such a pepper cannot kill a person, but it leads to agony and prolonged pain.
“I felt the heat for three and a half hours. Then the cramps started,” Ed Curry told the AP. He is also one of the five people in the world who ate a whole pepper.
“The cramps are terrible. I lay in the rain for about an hour, moaning in pain,” he explains of the effect.
However, he plans to continue with the hybrids in search of a new record.
You don’t have to convince smokers that they are damaging their health. They know all too well that they are putting unnecessary strain on their bodies. Smokers are confronted with this every day, especially in this Stoptober month*.
It is generally known that cigarettes contain more than 4,000 chemicals, hundreds of which are harmful to health and dozens of which are even carcinogenic. That is why being smoke-free is now the ‘new normal’*.
The toxic substances in tobacco smoke cause damage to the body, cells and tissue. This can lead to accelerated aging and a greater risk of health problems.
Smokers therefore know that they should actually quit and they have often made many attempts. But because quitting can be accompanied by nervousness, sleep problems, anxiety, headaches, concentration problems, irritability, dizziness and a craving for food, quitting is often a difficult process.
What people who want to quit smoking often do not know, but what is crucial to know, is that you can support the body in reducing and quitting smoking. Even those who want to continue smoking often do not know how they can optimally protect their body against the bad influence of tobacco smoke.
The damage to cells and tissues in the body caused by smoking is mainly caused by oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress is a normal phenomenon in nature and is the process that underlies the normal aging process of the body’s cells. Chemically speaking, it involves a reaction with oxygen, as we see when iron rusts.
When there is too much oxidative stress, as is the case with smoking, the body is damaged and the aging process will accelerate. The health of the body can deteriorate and requires a lot of energy to recover.
Oxidative stress is caused by free radicals . Free radicals are unstable molecules that can oxidize (rust) cells and tissues, causing damage.
Your body tries to protect itself as much as possible against oxidative stress with the help of antioxidants . An antioxidant is a substance that prevents oxidation and can neutralize free radicals and render them harmless.
Protective antioxidants are essential to prevent damage to cells and the body. If there is no balance between the number of free radicals and antioxidants, the free radicals are not neutralized and oxidative stress occurs in the body.
Smoking puts large amounts of free radicals in the body, which increases the demand for antioxidants. This can quickly lead to an imbalance between the number of free radicals and antioxidants, causing increased oxidative stress and accelerated aging.
The role of vitamins and minerals
It is generally a known fact that many vitamins and minerals have a protective function for smokers due to their antioxidant effect. As a result, they play a major role in preventing harmful oxidative stress in the body of smokers.
Due to harmful tobacco smoke, smokers will also consume these vitamins and minerals more quickly , which means they will be more likely to suffer from major deficiencies than non-smokers. In addition, the harmful substances in tobacco smoke can also hinder the absorption of vitamins and minerals.
Many vitamins and minerals are now recognized as acting as antioxidants. Here are some famous examples:
Vitamins: Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Vitamin B2
Minerals: Copper, Manganese, Selenium, Zinc
These are the vitamins and minerals that can be said to act as antioxidants. There are many other nutrients that have antioxidant properties. That is why a healthy and varied diet is of great importance, with an optimal balance of vitamins, minerals and trace elements in the right amount.
If you want to quit smoking or want to gradually cut back, it helps to prevent deficiencies in these essential nutrients.
For smokers, the following two vitamins in particular play an important role in protecting their bodies against oxidative stress: vitamin E and vitamin C.
The importance of vitamin E and vitamin C
Vitamin E is the first line of defense that protects the body against the free radicals caused by smoking. In addition, vitamin E protects the alveoli in the lungs. That’s why it’s so important for smokers to ensure they get enough vitamin E.
Because vitamin E is so important for protecting the lungs, in the event of a shortage, the body will extract vitamin E from other tissues and bring it to the lungs. This also causes vitamin E deficiencies to develop more quickly in all other tissues of the body. All tissues of the body therefore become increasingly vulnerable to toxins and free radicals.
By neutralizing the free radicals, vitamin E will not only become ineffective but will also become a free radical itself because the effect of vitamin E is exhausted. That is why you also need vitamin C because it comes to the rescue of vitamin E by helping to restore the ineffective vitamin E to its active form.
Vitamin C therefore works as an antioxidant for vitamin E and returns this vitamin to its active and working form. Taking vitamin C can prevent the serious depletion of vitamin E in smokers because the vitamin E can be continuously reused in this way. Without vitamin C, the effective vitamin E will quickly diminish and oxidize.
Vitamin C itself is also a strong antioxidant that helps protect cells against the oxidative damage caused by tobacco smoke. Vitamin C will also be used up quickly by smokers and smokers may develop deficiencies.
We all need at least 40 mg per kilogram of body weight of vitamin C (40 x weight = number of milligrams of vitamin C). But smokers need more. It has been determined that a smoker needs at least an additional 50-100 mg of vitamin C per cigarette.
Since vitamin C is also necessary for collagen formation, smoking will affect the quality of collagen in the body. Healthy collagen is important for bones, cartilage, teeth and gums, among other things. The quality of our blood vessels and the health of our skin also depend on collagen.
This also explains the ‘Smoker’s skin’ that many people who have smoked or have smoked for a long time suffer from. The breakdown of vitamin C by the harmful substances in tobacco smoke leads to reduced quality of collagen in the skin and accelerated skin aging.
Support for (quitting) smoking
In addition to the above data, all vitamins, minerals and trace elements play an important role in maintaining health for all of us, but especially for smokers.
If you want to stop or gradually reduce your intake, it will certainly help if you ensure that you eliminate and keep away all deficiencies.
Take a good multivitamin with all vitamins and minerals in the right balance and quantity, in combination with extra calcium and magnesium ( CalMag drink ) and sufficient vitamin C.
Of course, all this in combination with improving all other aspects of a healthy lifestyle.
For smokers and people who want to quit smoking, it is important to know about the importance of vitamins and minerals.
Iceland is a model of capitalist democracies: it tops the index of gender equality, political representation, access to education and work, equal family leave and daycare, which guarantee rapid reintegration into work and study after motherhood. 80% of women work outside the home, they make up 65% of university students and 41% of members of Parliament.
But it was not always like this. Although the female vote in Iceland was achieved in 1915, the desired progress did not occur and women continued to be paid up to 40% less than men and their parliamentary representation amounted to no more than 5%.
But then came 1975. That year was declared by the UN, the International Women’s Year, and this contributed to women making their strength evident through an almost total strike of Icelandic women in all areas of the country. It was the idea of a group of Icelandic feminist women called Red Stockings who proposed to challenge an entire country, demonstrating that women are essential for a country to move and advance.
It was considered that that day a “women’s strike”, in order to make their role in society visible, especially in unpaid domestic work and to demand greater political representation.
It is true that at that time in Iceland there was no strike or mobilization process, which is why it was promoted as a “day of own affairs”, in order to guarantee the absence of women, but without risking their jobs. Along with this massive request for the day off, all types of licenses allowed in the work environment were used. The cessation of all unpaid domestic tasks, including child care, was promoted.
90% of Icelanders supported the measure. A strike without being one, but without going to their jobs or carrying out any action that was not recognized and remunerated as such. The woman stopped doing absolutely everything.
The economic impact was notable: newspapers were not printed because the typographers were women, the telephone service did not work, flights were canceled because the hostesses did not show up, schools did not function and fish factories closed because their workforce was almost exclusively female. Banks, transportation, daycare centers, cashiers, shop assistants stopped,…And they all gathered on the street. In Reykjavík, the country’s capital, about 25,000 people gathered.
The men had to take care of the children. Many could not request the day off because the women had already done so and their work was necessary. Nor could they neglect their children or not worry about food. The offices were filled with children and the restaurants increased their turnover significantly.
The political impact was very important. In 1976, the Icelandic Parliament passed a law guaranteeing equal rights for men and women, although this would not result in better jobs or salary compensation for women. Four years later, the first female president, Vigdis Finnbogadottir, would be elected by a small margin. A women’s party was founded, the Women’s Alliance, which in 1983 won its first seats in parliament. Two decades later, in 2000, paid paternity leave for men was introduced. In 2010, Iceland elected a woman, Johanna Sigudardottir, as its prime minister, for the first time in history. She was also the world’s first openly gay leader. That year, as one of the first policies of her government, strip clubs were banned. And although some problems persist, especially in the workplace, the fight for equality continues in the same way.
“It was a first step for the emancipation of women”, according to former president Vigdis Finnbogadottir years later in an interview she gave to the BBC. It was a great boost in equality for women in the country. That day completely changed the way of thinking of Icelanders and the role of women in all areas of society was valued.
The men realized the value that women had in society and, far from getting angry or even bothered with the Icelandic women, they went one step further and joined in the desire to achieve a fairer social organization where everyone was equal.
That example helped other women’s groups want to imitate it and, thus, in Poland in 2016, women were absent from work and organized a massive march against the reactionary decree that attempted to prohibit access to the right to abortion in all cases. But this strike did not have the economic impact that its predecessor achieved; although they did achieve it in the political sphere with the withdrawal of the Law. Argentina would also attempt a change in its social structure, bringing it closer to women through a similar strike, but what is certain is that the result was not as overwhelming as in Iceland.
In the United States, a “day without women” was also called in 2017, which included a large mobilization in front of President Donald Trump’s Trump Tower in New York.
“Icelandic Friday” showed the power of women’s protest to make their economic place visible inside and outside the home. But the persistence of the wage gap also showed a limit to the demand for “equality” without questioning the overall system. In fact, Icelandic capitalism knew how to integrate and “gradualize” the demand to such an extent that today, 40 years later, women continue to mobilize for the same reason.
The most unequal plane continues to be the economic one: the salary gap of 14% remains. And the persistence of women’s mobilization is proof that even in those small egalitarian paradises (Iceland has barely 330,000 inhabitants) that capitalism possesses in a fiercely unequal world, the fight against oppression and discrimination is in force. Women mobilized again year after year to demand the equality for which they had kicked the board that Friday in 1975.
Now this strike day is held every ten years.
It is true that a strike does not generate a cultural or political change immediately, as happened in Iceland, but at least it manages to attract the attention of the world to present its problems, because the visibility of these shows that it is one of the main victories of a strike.
In a landmark move to combat climate change, the European Union’s Environment Committee has thrown its weight behind stricter CO2 emissions reduction targets for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs), which include trucks, buses, and trailers. This decision is aimed at improving air quality across the EU and aligns with the broader objectives of the European Green Deal and REPowerEU.
HDVs, a category that encompasses everything from city buses to long-haul trucks, account for a significant 25% of greenhouse gas emissions from EU road transport. This makes them a critical target in the EU’s fight against climate change.
The Environment Committee adopted the proposals, which aim to strengthen EU CO2 emission standards for new HDVs, with 48 votes in favour, 36 against, and one abstention. According to the report, these measures will play a key role in reducing the emissions of the entire HDV fleet, thereby helping the EU reach its 2050 climate neutrality goal.
The MEPs have proposed robust CO2 emissions reduction targets for medium and heavy trucks, including vocational vehicles such as garbage trucks, tippers, or concrete mixers, and buses. Targets are set at a 45% reduction for the period 2030-2034, ramping up to a 70% reduction for 2035-2039, and reaching a 90% reduction by 2040.
In addition, all newly registered urban buses should be zero-emission vehicles from 2030, with a temporary exemption until 2035 for interurban buses fuelled by biomethane under strict conditions.
The committee also proposed the establishment of an annual “Zero-Emission HDVs Forum” to facilitate the effective and cost-efficient roll-out of recharging and refuelling infrastructure. By the end of 2026, the Commission should assess the possibility of developing a methodology for reporting full lifecycle CO2 emissions for new HDVs.
“The transition towards zero-emission trucks and buses is not only key to meeting our climate targets, but also a crucial driver for cleaner air in our cities. We are providing clarity for one of the major manufacturing industries in Europe and a clear incentive to invest in electrification and hydrogen. We’re building on the Commission’s proposal, but with more ambition. We want to expand the scope of the rules to small and medium-sized lorries and vocational vehicles – sectors which are especially important for urban air quality – and we’re adapting several targets and benchmarks to catch up with reality, as the transition is moving faster than expected.”
The MEPs are scheduled to adopt the report during the November II 2023 plenary sitting. This will constitute Parliament’s negotiating position with EU governments on the final shape of the legislation.
The Commission had earlier tabled a legislative proposal to set CO2 standards for heavy-duty vehicles from 2030 onwards to help reach the EU’s objective for climate neutrality by 2050 and lower the demand for imported fossil fuels.
With this move, the EU takes a significant step towards a greener future, reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and paving the way for cleaner air and a healthier environment for its citizens.
