On 27 May, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the plan “Next Generation EU” – the Commission’s recovery package to tackle the heavy negative impact produced by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The package aims at boosting European economies towards a more digital and greener society and includes a unique €750 billion on loans and grants, on top of a €1.135 trillion budget for the next seven years.
Commenting on the new recovery instrument, ALDE President Hans van Baalen said:
“I welcome the Next Generation EU Package by the European Commission as a serious, constructive basis for negotiation.
European democracy is based on the co-operation between the EU Institutions and the Member States which means that the European Council has to take a unified position on the Package on June 18 and 19 at best or during the German EU Presidency from July 1.
The European Recovery Plan (Marshall-plan) was not built in a few weeks either. The Next Generation EU should unite us and not divide us. I emphasize that investments in the European economy, whether grants or loans, must always contribute to structural and sustainable reform. The European taxpayers, the European citizens demand value for their money.
We are all in this together so this should not be a North – South, East – West divide. We all benefit from the European Common Market and therefore we should all protect it. United we stand, divided we fall.”
#NextGenerationEU is a very constructive basis for negotiations at the next European Council. Grants or loans, they should contribute to structural reform of the EU economy and strengthen the Internal Market. We are all in this together! #EUbudgethttps://t.co/SBX8hp2tSn
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has noted that the coronavirus pandemic is more than a health crisis. It is a human crisis which is attacking societies at their core.
To tackle it, policymakers will need the support of scientists, experts, and society at large, including religious leaders, scholars, and communities.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is partnering with others, within and outside the United Nations, to get people, including adherents of the world’s religions, to revisit our relationship with nature and rebuild a more environmentally responsible world.
“We have agreed with the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology to unite our efforts and strengthen environmental advocacy, building on the Forum’s extensive work over the past two decades,” says Iyad Abumoghli, Principal Coordinator of Faith for Earth.
Some pioneer organizations, such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Alliance of Religion and Conservation (ARC), led by Martin Palmer with the support of Prince Philip convened the first gathering at Assisi of religious leaders. In 1992 they published some of the first books on this topic, and in 1995 a major conference was convened at Windsor Castle. Thereafter, a series of conferences on religion and ecology were organized in the late 1990s at Harvard’s Center for the Study of World Religions (organized by Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim).
The Yale Forum has been a leader in this, supporting numerous conferences, publishing books and articles, and creating and maintaining a popular website, recently revamped. It was also a founding partner of UNEP’s Interfaith Rainforest Alliance.
The Forum features news on religion and ecology, produces a monthly newsletter distributed to over 12,000 people, and highlights 300 projects being implemented by the world’s religions. It publishes books and articles, provides resources for educators and also features the Emmy award-winning film, Journey of the Universe.
As Yale Forum directors, Tucker and Grim observed, “Even before COVID-19 we saw a renewed focus on humans’ relationship with, and dependence on, the environment, in churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques around the world. Awareness is growing, as are calls for environmental justice for people and planet.”
Faith for Earth Principal Coordinator Iyad Abumoghli with the founders of the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology, Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim, 2019 Photo by Iyad Abumoghli/UNEP
Every major religion has statements on the importance of ecological protection and ecojustice. The Yale Forum—with many partners, and through thousands of projects—has played an active role in raising awareness and encouraging action.
Together with UNEP’s Faith for Earth initiative, the Yale Forum is inspiring people to preserve, protect, and restore ecosystems and biodiversity, engage in dialogue, and promote action for change within religious communities in partnership with scientists and policymakers. It is thus making an important contribution to the health of people and planet.
“Healthy, functioning ecosystems, and environmental law, are central to a post-COVID world, and religious institutions can help push for progress on strengthening policy frameworks to bring about necessary change,” says Abumoghli.
Nature is in crisis, threatened by biodiversity and habitat loss, global heating and toxic pollution. Failure to act is failing humanity. Addressing the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and protecting ourselves against future global threats requires sound management of hazardous medical and chemical waste; strong and global stewardship of nature and biodiversity; and a clear commitment to “building back better”, creating green jobs and facilitating the transition to carbon neutral economies. Humanity depends on action now for a resilient and sustainable future.
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030, led by the United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and partners such as the Africa Restoration 100 initiative, the Global Landscapes Forum and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, covers terrestrial as well as coastal and marine ecosystems. A global call to action, it will draw together political support, scientific research and financial muscle to massively scale up restoration. Help us shape the Decade.
For more information, please contact Iyad Abumoghli: [email protected]
In the context of the current Covid-19 pandemic and its dramatic effects on all EU Member States, on Thursday 28 May 2020 the COMECE Social Affairs Commission releases the statement “Let Europe recover through justice”, giving the contribution of the Catholic Church to the proposed EU recovery plan. Mgr. Hérouard: “The EU has the opportunity to take an important step forward in asserting and expressing its solidarity”.
The COMECE statement calls the EU to renew the spirit of solidarity and to agree on a recovery plan that puts the question of justice at its centre. “An ambitious recovery plan – reads the position paper – would be a visible sign that the EU and its Member states have returned to the track of solidarity”.
“This crisis may be an opportunity for the European Union to take an important step forward in asserting and expressing its solidarity, supporting Europe to recover through ecological, social and contributive justice”, states HE Mgr. Antoine Hérouard, President of the COMECE Commission on Social Affairs, who led the elaboration of the document.
According to COMECE, a recovery fund that enables the EU Commission to raise resources for the member states in need would also be meaningful for the many EU citizens that felt disappointed by the European project following the self-centric actions taken back in March 2020 by the member states. A plan of this a nature would also be in line with Pope Francis’ call for “further proof of solidarity, also by turning to innovative solutions”.
The COMECE contribution finally invites EU and national public authorities to shape the discussion on the recovery plan towards the common good, for a “joint recovery that expresses the ambition to work for a just future in a renewed spirit of solidarity”.
The European Commission recovery plan announced today is a historic opportunity to kickstart the reconstruction of the Union and move towards a more progressive and people-oriented Europe. The Member States must grasp this opportunity, PES President Sergei Stanishev stated during the extraordinary PES Presidency meeting today.
Representatives from PES member parties and organisations convened digitally to discuss the proposal and how to move Europe towards a social, digital, gender-equal, and sustainable future.
The Presidency adopted a declaration welcoming the plan, which includes key progressive priorities like a strong recovery fund, increased Just Transition funding, investment in education and training for young people, the Child Guarantee, and taxing digital giants. The Presidency called on governments to urgently adopt and implement the plan.
PES President Sergei Stanishev said:
“This is the ambitious plan with solid resources that progressives have been pushing for from the very beginning. It is a lifeline for citizens and a breakthrough for our family. Now we have a historic chance to rejuvenate the EU.
“Europe must grasp this opportunity to set the recovery in motion. We must support the countries, regions and sectors that are being hit hardest, and strengthen our social model and the green and digital transitions. We must show that the European project places solidarity between countries, regions and people first. This must happen now. Recovery cannot wait.
“Member States must act together to deliver this as soon as possible, so the Commission’s plan can be put to work in the interest of all Europe’s citizens, to protect them, their jobs, and to relaunch the economy.
“This is a victory for our family as we push to create a green, social, digital, gender balanced, and sustainable future for Europe beyond this crisis.”
The recovery must address the short- and long term, moving us closer to our sustainability goals, harnessing the digital transition, ensuring gender equality, and fully realising social rights. The European Green Deal must be the engine of a new growth and jobs strategy, harnessing the potential of the Just Transition Fund, the renovation wave, and the transition to a circular economy, the declaration says. The recovery must build a future of social justice, equality, democratic accountability, the rule of law, human rights, quality education and healthcare, strong public services, an innovative economy, cultural creativity and respectful and inclusive societies.
The PES again welcomes the initiative of Commissioners Gentiloni and Schmit in creating a European unemployment instrument: SURE. This valuable tool must pave the way for a permanent European Unemployment Benefit Reinsurance Scheme with the resources to succeed. Further concrete measures in support of citizens, their jobs, access to culture and education must follow.
The full text of the PES Presidency Declaration – In support of strong European action to contain and recover from the COVID-19 crisis – can be read here.
Millions of people around the world have been working remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic and now experts are asking whether this “business as unusual” could be the future of work, at least for those people whose job doesn’t require them to be tied to a particular location.
UN News spoke to Susan Hayter, a Senior Technical Adviser on the Future of Work at the Geneva-based International Labour Organization, about how COVID-19 could change our working lives.
A few large companies have said employees need not commute to work again Susan Hayter, Senior Technical Adviser on the Future of Work, ILO
What are the longer-term effects of the pandemic on the workplace in developed countries, once the immediate crisis is over?
Before the pandemic, there was already a lot of discussion on the implications of technology for the future of work. The message was clear: the future of work is not pre-determined, it is up to us to shape it.
However, that future has arrived sooner than anticipated as many countries, companies and workers shifted to remote working in order to contain the transmission of COVID-19, dramatically changing how we work. Remote virtual meetings are now commonplace and economic activity has increased on a range of digital platforms.
The ILO’s Susan Hayter has been telecommuting during the coronavirus pandemic., by ILO
As the restrictions are lifted, a question that is on everybody’s mind is whether this ‘business as unusual’ will become the ‘new normal’. A few large companies in developed economies have already said that what has been a large and unplanned pilot – remote teleworking – will become the standard way of organizing work. Employees need not commute to work again, unless they choose to do so.
Is this a good thing?
This may indeed be cause to celebrate, for people and the planet. But the idea of an end to “The Office” is certainly overblown. The ILO estimates that in high-income countries 27 per cent of workers could work remotely from home. This does not mean that they will continue to work remotely. The question is how we can adapt work practices and reap the benefits of this experience with remote working – for employers and workers – while not losing the social and economic value of work as a place.
In celebrating the innovations in work organization that have supported business continuity during the health crisis, we cannot forget that many will have lost their jobs or gone out of business as the pandemic has brought some industries to a standstill. For those returning to their place of work, the quality of work will be a key issue, in particular safe and healthy workplaces.
What needs to happen next?
Post-pandemic, workers like these at a factory in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia will want to be assured their workplace is safe, by Lin Qi
The degree of workers’ trust in the measures taken by employers to make workplaces safe, will no doubt have an impact on the return to work. Engagement with trade union representatives, where these exist, is a must.
Everything from protocols for social distancing, monitoring and testing, and the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) need to be discussed to make this work.
For workers in the gig economy, such as food delivery and ride-hailing workers, work is not a place, but an activity performed for an income. The pandemic has revealed the false choice between flexibility and income security. These workers may have no or inadequate access to sick leave and unemployment-insurance benefits. We need to tap into the brave new world to ensure that their work is performed under conditions that are safe.
How different do you expect the workplace in developing countries to look?
The ILO estimates a 60 per cent decline in the earnings of the almost 1.6 billion workers in the informal economy in the first month of the crisis. These workers are simply not able to work remotely and face the impossible choice of risking life or livelihood. Some countries have adopted measures to shore up this essential income while also ensuring adequate hygiene and PPE for employees and customers, informal enterprises and workers.
As companies begin to evaluate the effectiveness of the shift to remote work and their ability to tackle data security concerns, new opportunities may open up in services for developing countries with the necessary infrastructure.
However, these off-shoring opportunities in activities such as software development and engineering to financial services, may be accompanied by the reshoring in of other jobs as companies seek to improve inventory management and the predictability of supply chains.
This will have longer-term effects on employment in developing and emerging economies. The challenge is that while it will take time for new service sectors to mature, the negative impact of rising unemployment will be felt immediately. Inequalities in digital readiness may further inhibit countries from seizing these opportunities.
What are the benefits and drawbacks of remote work?
There may be opportunities for developing countries, like Nepal, to benefit from a global move to remote working., by World Bank/Peter Kapuscinski
The shift to remote work has enabled many companies to continue to operate and ensure the health and safety of their employees. Those able to make the transition to remote work during the health crisis have had the opportunity to share meals with their families. Work has become human-centred to accommodate homeschooling and child and elder care.
Yet, the lines between working time and private time have become blurred for these individuals, causing an increase in stress and exposure to mental health risks.
In the face of a dramatic economic downturn caused by the pandemic and surging unemployment figures, there are opportunities to leverage these changes in work organization to design new job-sharing schemes that allow for flexibility and save jobs. This may mean shorter work weeks or work-sharing arrangements to avoid furloughs in lean times, while reshaping working time arrangements to achieve better work-life balance in the longer-term.
The digital transformation of work and possibility to engage in remote work has also been accompanied by other benefits. It has presented possibilities for older, more experienced workers to prolong their working life on their terms and provided work opportunities for those in rural communities. However, for many others, it has compounded a sense of isolation and a loss of identity and purpose. The social value of work and the dignity and belonging we derive from it cannot be replaced by virtual rooms, no matter how casual our attire while we occupy them.
To what extent will the pandemic entrench rising inequality?
While the pandemic may represent a tipping point for the digital transformation of the workplace, it has also revealed deep fault lines. It is those in the upper income brackets who are the most likely to choose to work remotely, whereas those in the lowest have no choice; they will have to commute and are more likely to be time-poor as a result.
Looking to the future, as digital and online work becomes the new normal, the demand for skilled workers is likely to rise along with their wages. The contributions of care-workers and other workers (e.g. teachers and staff in grocery stores) will be more highly valued than before. Yet, many low-paid workers whose wages have been stagnating in the face of declining union power and a shifting employment relationship are likely to see their incomes eroded even further as the ranks of the unemployed increase.
Historically, economic shocks, pandemics and wars have exacerbated inequality. The remaining question is whether this one will be a tectonic shift with rising political and social instability, or a shock that leads us to reinforce the foundations of just societies and the principles of solidarity and democratic decision-making that move societies, labour markets and workplaces in the direction of equality.
What would happen if you’d ask a few friends from all around the world to spread a smile and stay well? That’s what the Church of Scientology did by reaching to musicians and singers all over the world, and the result is quite something. Dozens of artists responded by creating a collaborative song that they videoed with the help of Scientology Media Productions, a production center which creates all kind of media content, from TV broadcasting and film creation to internet content and musical production.
Amongst the artists, some big names can be recognized, such as Chick Corea who won his 23th Grammy award this year, bass legend Staley Clarke, film composers Mark Isham and David Campbell, and many others (see the list at the bottom of the page).
The song advocates ‘spreading a smile’ during these difficult times of worldwide quarantine:
The Church of Scientology had already launched its online Resource Center https://www.scientology.org/staywell/ some weeks ago which gives a comprehensive overview in a series of booklets and videos providing of basic information about what you can do to help keep yourself and others well along with tools for effective prevention against infection by the Coronavirus, and in fact, viruses in general.
Whilst churches of Scientology have reoriented their activities towards servicing their parishioners through teleworking and other means during the pandemic, following various governmental recommendations, Church volunteers continue to be active in helping their communities deal with the dangers that exist. The video “Spread a Smile” is one of the numerous initiatives taken by the Church and Scientologists to help the community during these difficult times.
Chick Corea, Mark Isham, Stanley Clarke, David Campbell, Greg Camp, Kate Ceberano, Kerri Kasem, Andrés López, Diego Verdaguer, David Pomeranz, Alberto Plaza, David Broza, Carlitos Del Puerto, Michele Henderson, Tebogo Louw, The Jive Aces (Ian Clarkson, Vince Hurley, Alex Douglas, John Fordham, Kenneth Smith, Peter Howell & Grazia Clarkson), Claude Racine, Noah Valinsky, Jim Meskimen, Tamra Meskimen, Hana-li Pendery, Gina Briganti-Camp, Ana Victoria Boccadoro Miguel, Nick Isham, Raven Campbell, Luis Eric Gonzalez, Khai Aziz, Jess Fairlie, Alexander Markov, Brian Silva, Gianluca Scipioni, Ryder Green, Wil Seabrook,Valerie Fahren, Joost Griffioen, Julius Dilligard, Carmelo Sorce, Louise Dubie
The Baha’i International Community, in collaboration with UN2020 and Together First, hosted a three-part online dialogue to exchange ideas on the latest intergovernmental contribution addressing the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The three discussions, held on 23 April, 30 April, and 7 May focused on the three sections of an elements paper outlining the most critical issues expressed by Member States for the UN75 political declaration which include: acknowledging achievements and looking ahead, delivering on commitments and responding to global challenges, and building consensus and mobilizing for change. Cumulatively, the breakfasts drew over 500 attendees from nearly 40 countries, and included representatives from 32 Member State missions. One-page summaries of each of the three discussions can be found here.
“We have found that one of the unfortunate effects of the ongoing pandemic is a reduction of space for genuine interaction between Member States and civil society” said Daniel Perell, Representative of the BIC to the United Nations. “We are trying to offer an opportunity for the genuine exchange of views. Despite the circumstances—or because of them—new opportunities are now available for even greater degrees of participation.”
“We come to these discussions with an understanding that humanity is constantly in a state of development and evolution,” shared Mr. Perell in remarks commencing the series. “Naturally, no one knows precisely what the future holds for humanity … therefore, the spirit animating these meetings is one of collective exploration and inquiry.”
The discussions touched on a number of topics including the changing realities of humanity and the need for international cooperation and solidarity.
“The establishment of the United Nations 75 years ago represented a remarkable achievement in human progress and ingenuity, and was reflective of the needs identified at the time.” Yet, “with each passing year and with each passing crisis, the fundamental unity of the human race and its various systems comes into greater clarity.”
Acknowledging the contributions of the United Nations over the years, the discussions also centered around the need to both strengthen current systems and to reconsider global governance in light of changing realities.
“In our ongoing search for truth, it is hoped that spaces such as these can help to generate insight into what is needed for global governance today,” stated Mr. Perell. “Isn’t this, in part, what we are called to do in honor of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations?”
At the meetings, a variety of actors shared perspectives on issues such as humanity’s current conceptualization of national sovereignty.
“The big challenge we have is this extreme tension and gap between the system we have and the system we require,” one representative from civil society stated. “Our concept of national sovereignty is no longer viable. It is now just a nominal international law principle, since no country is truly autonomous.”
Discussions addressed the relationship between Member States, the United Nations, and civil society. In considering the preamble of the Charter of the United Nations, which begins with the statement “We the peoples”, one Ambassador asked, “How do we give voice to that statement? Do we remain exclusive in our efforts? Or do we find a way, especially now that we are learning how to bring voices together remotely from all around the world?”
In considering constructive approaches needed, another Ambassador shared, “This period of COVID carries questions the UN has to ask: What have we learned? What vision do we want? And how can we craft a vision of the future that speaks to all people as it is showing us the many socioeconomic inequalities that exist?”
“We need to ask, is the UN fit for purpose, and how can we make it fit for purpose?” the Ambassador continued, “We are not just tinkering with the institutions… We need to step back and ask, what is the world we want in the future? Because this is the opportunity to craft a document that gives effect to that.”
Spared from the ravages of COVID-19 suffered by her neighbor Spain, Portugal is aiming to leap, rather than tip-toe, out of their lockdown initiatives by launching a series of clean energy projects that could generate 5.5 billion euro in European energy investment.
The new solar-powered hydrogen plant near the port of Sines is a modern “green” hydro-electric project that generates electricity through a process called electrolysis, and it could contribute 1 gigawatt of power by 2023 if investment arrives.
“The economy cannot grow along the lines of the past and our post-coronavirus vision is to create wealth from projects that reduce carbon emissions and promote energy transition and sustainable mobility,” Portugal’s Minister of Environment and Energy Transition, Joao Matos Fernandes, told Reuters.
Fernandes detailed that both Portuguese energy firms, and Dutch firms are already showing interest in the hydrogen plant, and it is shaping up to be one of the biggest industrial projects and opportunities in the country.
Matos also said that Portugal will be launching a solar energy licensing auction, where international energy firms will have a chance to bid for prime solar real estate, as Portugal is one of Europe’s sunniest nations.
Initially scheduled to kick off in April, the auctions were delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak, which has taken the lives of fewer than 1,000 Portuguese, out of 24,500 confirmed cases according to Reuters. Up for bidding are 16 sites worth a combined total of 700 megawatts of solar capacity in the southern regions of Algarve and Alentejo.
Portugal has had previous success with energy licensing auctions before, like last June when she sold 1,150 MW of solar energy capacity at a record-low price of 14.8 megawatts per hour—mainly to international energy investors from Britain, Spain, France, and Germany.
Already in 2016, 28% of nationwide power came from renewables. During that year they set a European record for entirely powering the country with renewables for four straight days.
Though just 11 years ago, Portugal was generating more CO2 than Bangladesh, despite having one-sixteenth the population density, their plans for 2030 are to be producing 7,000 MW per hour of clean energy and close to all their remaining coal plants.
Meanwhile, in Germany a string of recent sunny days in April led to record-setting clean-energy production. The solar power was generating around 40% nationwide, with all their renewables together accounting for a whopping 78%—while coal and nuclear less than a quarter.
Twenty Dutch musicians from the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra were forced to stay sequestered in their homes this week amidst COVID-19 shutdowns—but they still came together in harmony to produce a powerful music video for the world.
With a full string section, woodwinds, and brass horns, the video opens with the familiar notes of the triumphant Symphony No. 9 by Beethoven, first played almost 200 years ago.
“We’re adjusting to a new reality and we’ll have to find solutions in order to support each other,” wrote the team on YouTube. “Creative forces help us.”
“Let’s think outside of the box and use innovation to keep our connection and make it work, together. Because if we do it together, we’ll succeed.”
Known also as “the choral symphony”, it was the first ever symphony composed using voices, which come in near the end of the composition.
The four-minute YouTube clip reaches that crescendo with an unseen choir recorded singing the glorious words of the German poem, An die Freude (Ode To Joy), by Friedrich Schiller—the poem chosen by Beethoven to accompany his final masterpiece.
Glad, as his suns fly Through the Heavens’ glorious plan, Run, brothers, your race, Joyful, as a hero to victory. Be embraced, you millions! This kiss for the whole world!
At the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council, States will consider a resolution extending for three years the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders. Civil society organisations from across the world are calling on all States to support the consensus renewal of the mandate, and to resist any attempt to undermine the mandate and States’ obligations. This is a key opportunity for States and the Council to demonstrate their support and recognition for the indispensable role defenders play to ensure that all people enjoy freedom, dignity, justice and equality.
Human rights defenders are people who act with humanity, serve humanity and who contribute to and bring out the best in humanity. They are key to our daily lives – they work so our governments are more transparent and accountable, our environment cleaner and safer, our schools and workplaces fairer, and our futures more sustainable. As human rights defenders confront power, privilege and prejudice, they frequently face a wide range of risks and threats, including against their organisations and their families, friends and loved ones.
Despite their vital contribution, both some governments and non-State actors are still seeking to silence defenders as they expose injustices and demand accountability for all.
The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders is integral to their protection and recognition, globally. It gathers and responds to information on the situation of defenders around the world, engages constructively with governments and non-State actors and provides expert recommendations to promote the effective implementation of the Declaration on human rights defenders (‘the Declaration’).
In 2019, the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly supported the vital work of defenders. The Human Rights Council recognised the critical role of environmental human rights defenders in protecting natural ecosystems, addressing climate change, attaining the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The General Assembly passed by consensus a resolution focusing on implementation of the Declaration and some key elements of protection policy; the resolution also attracted a record number of co-sponsors.
At the 43rd session of the Council, States will consider a resolution extending the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for three years. This is a key opportunity for States and the Council to demonstrate their support and recognition for the indispensable role defenders play to ensure that all people enjoy freedom, dignity, justice and equality.
Civil society organisations* from across the world are calling on all States to support the extension of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur by:
Participating positively in the negotiations on the resolution,
Presenting early co-sponsorship of the text,
Resisting any attempts to dilute the mandate or State obligations, and
