Bright colors in the range of brown and red, special characteristics and a height of up to 60 cm are the main specifics of a new type of plant, which was identified for the first time in the world at the foot of Paiko mountain in the Kukous region, the Greek agency ANA- reported specially for BTA MPA. This is another example of the richness of the flora in the region. The plant belongs to the genus Onion (Allium) and is called Allium ruikumissanum.
The announcement of the new species was made in the scientific journal “Phytotaxa” with the scientific name Allium gyumissanum Ioannidis & Tzanoud. sp. nov., the plant being included in both the Greek and international flora lists.
The first observations were made in August 2012 – the small healthy onion blooms in autumn, producing about 50-60 red-brown flowers.
Orthodoxy and Statehood – Policy Report of the Head of the Holy International Synaxis of the True Orthodox Churches, the Head of True-Orthodox Church in Russia, His Holiness Metropolitan Seraphim
It is well known that the following paradigmatic statement has been perceived by the Russian, orthodox people, so to say genetically, since the very moment of the baptism of Rus’ and up to the present day: «Moscow is the Third Rome, and there will be no Fourth».
This claim is categoric and, essentially, very true.
During the reign of Emperor Nicholas I, the above-mentioned statement gained some transformation in understanding or, to sound more correct, acquired a new meaning in addition. It became easier in perception, yet it preserved its categorical sense: «Orthodoxy – Autocracy — Nationality». These are three statements, unified in themselves and impossible to be sustained one without the another. At least, it concerns our state.
Of course, there have been some certain attempts to substitute notions, through over the long history of our Fatherland. Moreover, even up to elimination of one or two conceptual parts away from the philosophical triad under discussion. But it did no good. Even more, all these false transformations, into which the statehood turned during the time of experiments, could exist only for a short period and broke down into pieces, like a house of cards in the wind, without completeness of the wise maxim.
History itself demonstrated that there are undeniable truths, on which the identity and self-consciousness of entire nations are being based, and which toughly fix the grounds of autocracy for centuries and thousands of years ahead.
Thereupon Russia seems to be the absolute proof of such autocracy, as it possesses an outstanding power based on antiquity of the nation and fulness of its faith. Yet, because it was precisely Great Russia that has become the Spiritual Center of our planet for real, while retaining its status of the Third Rome, which prevents the world from facing the total lawlessness.
Our long-suffering Fatherland has gone through essential dramas for the present 120 years.
The revolutionary turmoil in 1905 was the first sign of the coming vague time. The attempt of forceful overthrow of the legal government in order to change the current political system, as well as empty slogans and unsubstantiated statements – this all twisted minds of the Russians. Basing myself on historical experience and on the practice of international relations of nowadays, I am pretty sure that these events were thoroughly planned from the outside even then. It was the first serious try to destroy a mighty stronghold of spirituality and the purity of Orthodoxy in troubled and uncertain world of vice and temptation.
Then follows an absolutely unnecessary and useless, at least from our point of view, participation of the Russian Empire in the First World War, in which the members of Entente tried their best to destroy the Russian army, our economy and our state from inside, by means of total and unlimited sponsorship of all possible oppositional and destructive parties, terroristic organizations, criminal units and anarchic groups.
It resulted in the February Revoluion of 1917, abdication of the sovereign, and thereafter in October putsch, which led to atheism, accompanied by attempt to destroy the spiritual pivot in the once great Orthodox Empire.
Revolutionaries encouraged by the West managed to weaken the age-old Power. However, in order to build something new they required a sacrificial victim. Yet, not just a victim but the Victim with a capital V. It was necessary to destroy the very symbol that represented itself the true sense of being of the Russian people. There was a certain need for a challenge to God, furthermore a need for trampling the soul of Russia.
The Bolsheviks, in fact, were not even atheists. They were outright theomachists! Covered by pride, they considered the true sense of their life to be a total annihilation of Orthodoxy as religion and oblivion of the very memory of God and His Commandments.
Even the words of the ancient Jews could not frighten them: «Let His blood be on us». They were not scared of the sacrilege of a considerably awful scale. They would do absolutely anything, guided by the hate of God and Orthodoxy Russia.
The choice of the sacrificial victim was pretty clear to them.
In their opinion, it was Russian Emperor. However, not only him but all his royal family, all members of the Imperial House, — any of them whom the bloody hand of the mad overthrowers could only reach.
The crime was committed.
The Empire collapse was imbued with blood of the royal martyrs, and the execution of the tsar’s family put an end to that historical period of time, what resulted in strict separation between the great past and the unclear future.
I dare not, unlike some others, compare even in my mind the Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ for the atonement of our sins with the sacrificial death of the last Emperor as the anointed of the Lord. Still, I discern a few parallels between what happened two thousand years ago and that what was committed by the crime — not so long ago – in 1918.
However, the things did not turn out as the enemies of Orthodoxy had planned.
Namely by means of the Sacrifice of the Lord, the world survived and people got a chance to witness the Kingdom of Heaven.
And by the sacrifice of the Emperor his people were saved from annihilation, as well as the hope for revival of the Great Empire in the future was also preserved.
But I am deeply upset by the fact that in the latter case, just like in the former one, people failed to understand the whole greatness of the Sacrifice.
Just like in case when the persecutors of Jesus did not repent, the murderers of the tsar’s family have not confessed yet. And the followers of them have taken upon themselves a terrible sin of the regicide.
Unfortunately, we still can’t find sincere repentance. Because even in church we face hypocrisy and theatricalization of mysteries.
We keep on humbly begging God to give us an Orthodoxy Sovereign, yet I am not sure if our voice will be heard within all this bacchanalia of sin and vice. Still, I have hope in my heart…
There exist a lot of prophesies of the so-called «end times». All of them tell about an inevitable bloody outcome.
But in many of them Russia plays the key role as the state which possesses a chance to save the rest of the world and the humanity.
For example, the Prophesy by monk Abel, given to Emperor Paul, openly declares that there would take place a lot of attempts to vanquish evil by means of evil. But people would understand that it was only a temporary measure and they would start to pray for Russia. With the help of the entire world, all peoples, with one mouth and one heart. And the shackles that hold the Great Empire will fall down, and Great Russia – the House of the Most Holy Mother of God – will rise up full of its spiritual beauty and strength.
I am eager to believe that there is a certain piece of this prophesy concerning our True Orthodox Church. Because who is going to be that tocsin to wake the people up from the age-old sleep, calling up for pray and showing the way from darkness to light?
Loving heart is always regained by us through good deeds. I have said about that many times before. So, I will repeat the same thing now.
The essence of the True Orthodox Church is to serve God by serving people, by caring about them, by guiding each soul from the countless Lord’s flock.
It has always been like that in Russia. And I hope it will be the same in the entire world, with the help of the Holy International Synaxis of the True Orthodox Churches which I am to head till the rest of my days and which is supposed to bring the Light of Truth and Love of God to people, what reveals the real meaning of His Great Sacrifice.
I often ask myself: «What do I need this all for?». I address this question not only to myself but also to those who have stayed by me all these years, as well as to those who come today and perhaps will come tomorrow.
And I know the answer.
Christianity, rather Orthodoxy, cannot stand loneliness. Neither it can stand isolation within oneself and one’s problems. It is longing for cognition of one’s own self, growing and spreading among those who haven’t yet accepted God in their heart and mind but have already turned to God in their soul.
Today we face roaming and chaos within the Orthodox world which calls itself canonical. Churches are separating from one another. They are tearing the Lord’s garments in a bloody madness, they discontinue communication and stop their common praying, they deny each other and call enemies all those, with whom they have been recently taken the Holy Sacrament together by the Throne.
Religious hierarchs are intentionally neglecting to the words of the Symbol of our Faith, to everything on which the doctrine of the international Church is being grounded, and what we keep on repeating every time we dare start acceptance of the Holy Mysteries of Christ: «I believe in a single Holy Cathedral and Apostolic Church». As I see it, they are consciously replacing the Truth by their momentary wishes, by their enormous pride and unstoppable hunger for power.
To my great sadness, some of the «canonical» churches are becoming more and more similar to totalitarian sects, concerned about their wellness and prosperity of their own religious leaders of various scale.
However, those who have ears – let them hear, those who have eyes – let them see.
God’s people learned to distinguish between the good and the bad, to separate lambs from goats and wheat from chaff. And they are openly turning away from those who make falsehood and obscenity the meaning of their lives, who drop their serving down to the level of sin, finally who hide their animal bared teeth under a lambskin.
Moreover, as soon as the world Orthodoxy was directed towards disunity and mutual accusations, the True Orthodox Churches, on the contrary, are joining one another to build a family.
It’s been 25 years since I started my episcopal service to the church. During this time I have had an opportunity to watch the formation, development and collapse of many True Orthodox communities, which used to call themselves metropolis and churches. Every time I saw the same thing and the same mistake, which finally became fatal. All of them considered themselves only to be the ultimate truth, and they all wanted to be chiefs, without acceptance of other authorities and separating themselves from the rest of the world. They enjoyed their existence within self-isolated religious communities.
In the end, it resulted in collapse, termination of activity or rebirth into real sects and marginal units.
Those who were open to dialogue, were longing for unity and who put first their serving to God and people – today they have become the true conscience of people, the voice the spiritual candlestick, the real hope for that God will stay by us till the very end.
Our International Synaxis is the way forward, the way to God, the way of spiritual creation and true faith.
This is the way of consolidation of those who dismiss lies and injustice with their lives, who believe in a single Holy Cathedral and Apostolic Church, as it is stated in the Symbol of Faith, and who help building the International True Orthodox Church by means of ascetism.
You can take it from me: this way is predestined by the history and predetermined by God. We feel it and we are ready to go through any difficulties, as we clearly realize that it was like that and it will be like that further.
Those who disjoin, hate, deny and are self-isolated – they all lose themselves in nothingness, they turn into garbage and stay forever at the historical dump, just to display with their own example the depravity of such a mistaken way.
Those who strive to meet each other, who open themselves to love and common praying, who are not scared of difficulties of the thorny path and who follow Christ’s Commandments – they all stay forever, as they become the cornerstone, upon which The Church of Christ is grounded.
Well, we have a long road ahead. It will be the way of prayer and creation. The way of love and spiritual feat. The way of serving and church building. And I am sincerely glad that the revival of the True Orthodoxy, just like a century ago, starts from Russia again.
I must say once more. I have read a plenty of prophesies, well known and absolutely unknown, manifested to the world and hidden from anyone who seek for them with hunger and greed. They all are totally different and not each of them is supposed to go under comprehension and understanding.
Still, there is one statement that is a cross-cutting theme in all of them.
Salvation of the world will come from Russia. As the Star of the East, Russia will unite all those who are filled with faith, light and love.
Precisely under the canopy of the Russian Royal Crown comes the long-awaited «peace on earth and goodwill toward men» as Russia symbolizes the Crown of the Queen of Heaven, our Most Holy and Most Pure Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.
Our common task is as follows: let our descendants and successors continue our path of creation, union and gathering the True Orthodoxy around the world, and let us lay a solid foundation for that by means of The Universal True Orthodoxy Church.
Today I can feel with all my soul those changes happening in the society and state of Russia.
The consciousness of people is being renewed, the moral background of the Russian citizen is being strengthened, the Orthodox faith is being filled with true sense, and there is the Lord’s spark that lightens up in the heart of everyone.
I hope so much that one day The Russian Orthodox Church which is dominating now in the Russian state will realize that its target is a little different from care about itself and its clergy, its institutions and profit. Anyway, it’s not our business.
However, let no one judge us by the deeds of Moscow Patriarchy. We are totally different from them. We do not welcome conviction of brothers. We do not stand for disorder and separation in the Orthodoxy world.
We follow the path of creation and union.
Our main goal is to bring love and peace, by means of protecting from sins, misfortune and temptations for the soul of those who shares with us and accepts our path.
We have chosen not an easy burden, indeed.
But… as they say, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Let our all-good Lord help us about that.
Humble +SERAPHIM
His Holiness and Blessed Metropolitan
Of Moscow and of all Russia
The Head of the True Orthodox Church of Russia
The Head of the Holy International Synaxis
Of the True Orthodox Churches
N.B. N.B. As a branch of the Local Russian Church organizationally began its formation in the end. 20s – early. 30s 20th century It was formed as a result of the refusal of the majority of the episcopate and clergy of the Russian Church to cooperate with the communist atheistic regime in the USSR, which was done by the pro-renovation group headed by Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky). As a result of what Mr. Sergius under the leadership of the OGPU-NKVD schism, in the USSR since that time there existed in parallel the official (“Soviet” or “red”) church, which in 1943, by order of Stalin, was formalized into the “Moscow Patriarchate”, and independent of the God-fighting regime of the True- Orthodox Russian Church (TOC). The latter, as a result of cruel repressions and persecution, was forced to switch to an illegal way of serving, which is why she got a different name – the Catacomb Church.
The Catacomb Church, as a branch of the once united Local Russian Church, is also called “Tikhon’s” – after the name of the Holy Patriarch Tikhon (Belavin, +1925).
The canonical foundation of the Russian True Orthodox Church is based on the Decree of the Holy Patriarch Tikhon No. 362 of November 7/20, 1920.
Saint Tikhon was the last legitimate patriarch of the Russian Church, elected by the All-Russian Local Council, expressing the fullness of the Russian Church.
205 years since the death of one of the most influential women of the 19th century
Anna Stahl, or as her full name is – Anne Louise Germain de Stahl, who became known as Madame de Stahl, is a famous writer of French and Swiss origin, a representative of the liberal trend in French romanticism and an outspoken opponent of Napoleon.
She is of aristocratic origin. She was born into the family of a banker and finance minister of Louis XVI. Her first marriage was to Eric Magnus, Baron de Stahl-Holstein, Swedish ambassador in Paris.
Madame de Stael became famous when, on the eve of the French Revolution, she created a literary salon in Paris, where politicians, writers and scientists began to gather. He appeared as an opponent of Napoleon and had to leave Paris. He emigrated to Switzerland. There he met the politician Benjamin Constant de Roebeck and together with him undertook many trips throughout Europe.
He returned to France only after the fall of Napoleon. Madame de Stael was a writer who became famous for her novels “Dolphin” (1802) and “Corinne” (1807), as well as the works “On the Influence of the Passions on Individuals and Nations” (1796), “On Literature Considered in the Relationship her with public institutions” (1800), “About Germany” (1810), etc.
Madame de Stael has been named one of the most influential women of the 19th century. Many intellectuals of her time are of the opinion that she was feared by Napoleon himself, and admired by bright minds such as Goethe and Pushkin.
A close acquaintance of Madame de Stahl – Countess Victorine de Chastanet wrote: “Three great powers are fighting with Napoleon for the soul of Europe – England, Russia and Madame de Stahl.” This phrase inspires real respect for the personality of the baroness, who is personally compared to two powerful countries in a battle with the emperor.
Her first meeting with Napoleon was on January 3, 1798 at the Hotel Khalifa in Paris. The Baroness de Stael herself wrote the following about her impressions of him: “The more I observed Napoleon Bonaparte, the more anxious I became. He is a man without emotion… Everything is programmed by one man, and no one can take even a step, or to desire anything without it. Not only freedom, but free will seems banished from the earth.”
The identity of Madame de Stael is a real mystery. She remains somewhat in the shadows in the pages of history, and her influence on the art and politics of the time in which she lived was enormous. It is noted not only by her close friend Goethe, but also by Byron, as well as Pushkin. They all admire this woman’s amazing culture and tough character.
She was born on April 22, 1766. Her mother is of Franco-Swiss descent – a beautiful woman who married in an arranged marriage to Anne’s father – Jacques Necker, a man with an impressive career in the French royal court. Many celebrities used to gather at Anne’s mother’s salon in Paris. Already at 11, Ann calmly communicated with them and gained experience – both life and political. Anne was of an impressionable nature, and her mother introduced strict discipline into her education, so that she would not stray into trifles. Thus, at the age of 16, Anne aroused real admiration among mature and experienced people with her intellectual knowledge.
Anne’s mother was 18 years younger than her father, and although she was not happy in her marriage, she respected her husband and bore him five children. And the future Madame de Stahl, like her mother, although she was not happy in both of her marriages, gave birth to two children from them and another child from her lover.
Was she a feminist? – Probably yes, even extreme sometimes, because he once wrote: “The more I get to know men, the more I like dogs.”
For her time, Madame de Stael is an extremely emancipated woman who stands up for her opinion, but also respects the opinion of others. He wrote in his diary: “Had it not been for respect for human opinion, I would not have opened my window to see the Bay of Naples the first time I went five hundred leagues to speak with a man of genius whom I had not seen”.
Madame de Stael is an independent spirit who respects her awake contemporaries. A woman’s free and fearless expression of opinion on such important political topics and figures as Napoleon made her a fighter with a halo in the eyes of many.
During her exile – between 1803 and 1810, away from Paris, Madame de Stael first traveled to many countries in Europe. Writes “Corin” and “For Germany”. Among the emigrants he met abroad was the former Minister of War of France – Count Louis de Narbonne. A real passion broke out between the two, the fruit of which was the work of Madame de Stahl “On the influence of passion on the happiness of people and nations”.
Unfortunately, the relationship between the two suffered a rupture and separation.
Madame de Staël was the first to dare to rebel against the cruel treatment of Queen Marie-Antoinette in France and published an anonymous pamphlet “Refléxion sur le procès de la Reine, par une femme (1793), with which she tried to arouse sympathy for the unhappy queen.
While in Switzerland, Madame de Stael’s mother died, and she buried her parent there. For two years she took care of her father, for whom she felt sincere admiration and adoration for his mind and character. In 1804, she published the work “Vie privée de Mr. Necker” dedicated to her father.
In Switzerland, Madame de Stahl experienced many sad moments, such as the death of her mother, but also many inspiring meetings, as well as a romantic attraction – with Benjamin Constant.
In her novel “Dolphin”, the writer describes the unhappy fate of a highly gifted woman who entered into an unequal battle with the despotism of public opinion. Indeed, as is her own destiny. In Constant, she finds not only passion, but also understanding.
It was when the two left together and resided in Germany that Anne met Goethe, Schiller, Fichte, Humboldt and Schlegel. Then, while in Italy, he met the poet Vincenzo Monti. Tender feelings are awakened between the two. Correspondence is preserved that proves their infatuation with each other, although Anne still has a love affair with Constant.
Later, when she returns to Switzerland, Anne de Staal invites the poet to visit her, but he proves weak-tempered and cowardly enough in his concern not to incur Napoleon’s wrath, that he does not respond to the invitation. This cools her feelings for him. Later, she also suffered great disappointment from Benjamin Constant, close to her heart. Returning from Germany to Geneva, he learned from friends that he had a secret marriage with Charlotte Gardenberg.
Ann’s pursuit of a wide range of topics of public importance saves her from personal dramas. In her essay “On Literature…” this extremely interesting woman explores the relationship between religion, human morals and literary legislation. All topics that are a challenge to society.
In 1812, Madame de Stahl also traveled to Russia. She admires the strength of the Russian people, but notes that America has a leading role in the world. Advises Germans and Italians to unite in a federation. From Petersburg, it is headed for Stockholm. He returned to Paris only after learning that Napoleon had been exiled to Elba.
On February 21, 1817, during a reception organized by Louis XVIII’s chief minister, Anne de Stael fell carelessly and suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. He also became the cause of complications that caused her death. She died on the significant day marking the beginning of the Great French Revolution – July 14th. Unbelievable indeed, but Anne de Stael died on Bastille Day – July 14, 1817, aged only 51, in the prime of her life.
In addition to her books and works, this remarkable woman left us her maxims, which speak eloquently of her developed mind.
And a beautiful, delicately multicolored and rare type of rose is named after her romantic soul.
Madame de Stael – quotes
Mind is in discerning the similarity between different things, and the difference between things that are the same.
I learn life from the poets.
Society develops wit, but its genius is due to contemplation.
The human mind is always progressing, but this is progress in the spiral of life.
The search for truth is man’s noblest pursuit; its publication is an obligation.
Genius is essentially creative; it bears the stamp of the person who owns it.
Courage of soul is necessary for the triumph of genius.
One has to choose in life, between boredom and suffering.
Scientific progress makes moral progress a necessity; for if the power of man is increased, the checks which restrain him from abuse must be strengthened.
Enthusiasm gives life to the unseen and interest to that which has no immediate effect on our comfort in this world.
Enthusiasm means God in us.
Conscience, no doubt, is sufficient to lead even the coldest character into the path of virtue.
The voice of conscience is so delicate that it is easy to silence; but it is also so clear that it is impossible to be mistaken.
Politeness is the art of choosing the best among your thoughts.
Men are deceived by selfishness, and women – because they are weak.
Fame can be for a woman a shining mourning of happiness.
Love is the emblem of eternity; it confounds all ideas of time; erases all memory of the beginning and all fear of the End.
In matters of the heart, nothing is true except the incredible.
We stop loving each other if no one loves us.
The greatest happiness is turning your feelings into action.
The secret of existence is the connection between our mistakes and our misfortunes.
As we grow in wisdom, we forgive more freely.
When we destroy an old prejudice, we need a new virtue.
Education from life perfects the thinking mind, but corrupts the frivolous.
The religious life is a struggle, not a hymn.
Prayer is more than meditation. In meditation, the source of power is yourself. When a person prays, he goes to the source of a higher power than his own.
To pray together, in whatever tongues or ritual, is the tenderest brotherhood of hope and sympathy that men can enter into in this life.
The soul is a fire that penetrates its rays through all the senses; in this fire exists existence; all the observations and efforts of philosophers must turn to that Self which is the center and motive power of our feelings and ideas.
Have you not observed that faith is usually strongest in those whose character may be called the weakest?
The divine wisdom, intending to retain us for a time on earth, has done well to veil the prospect of the future life; for, if our sight can clearly discern the opposite shore, who will remain on that stormy shore?
We first understand death when it lays its hand on someone we love.
How true it is that sooner or later, the greatest rebels are forced to bow under the yoke of misfortune!
Architecture is frozen music!
Music revives memories to soothe them.
Photo: Anne de Stahl, portrait of the baroness, author unknown
The post was published in iXBT.com blogs, its author is not related to iXBT.com editors
“These incredible photos taken above CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have sparked new conspiracy theories and fears that ‘portals’ are opening up.
The images appear to have been taken on June 24, the same day CERN scientists started the new Awake experiment. They were picked up by conspiracy theorists and led to new “new portal” theories:
• Which portal has CERN opened now? Strange clouds are hovering over the LHC – causes “serious concerns” for which the LHC is used.
• Isn’t that why such crazy weather all over the planet?
• Is it a coincidence that they just started the Awakening experiment?
• This crazy energy ball was right above the LHC.
• It’s amazing that they continue to mess with nature and deny it.
• What is in the cloud – some say it is lightning or a massive ball of energy.
• What portals are opening in this cloud?
Other theorists suggest that CERN is being used as a portal allowing Satan to return to Earth – there are such people.
In the past, CERN has conducted experiments to create artificial clouds to better understand global warming. The Large Hadron Collider, or LHC for short, is a particle accelerator located near Geneva, Switzerland, and is the largest in the world. It was built in 2008. and allows physicists to test different theories. The LHC has every chance to find completely new subatomic particles. Scientists hope that the collider will help make discoveries that will cause the biggest revolution in physics in the last hundred years.
Photo: The images were apparently taken on June 24, the same day CERN scientists began a new Awake experiment
Cows together gathering in the pasture, funny and joyful and a blue cloudy sky.
The New Zealand government intends to introduce a greenhouse gas tax on fertilizer and livestock production. The National Association of Farmers welcomed the project, but warned that farmers should not be burdened too strictly, writes agrarheute.com.
New Zealand wants to become carbon neutral by 2050. Achieving this goal is impossible without a significant contribution from the agricultural sector, as its share is almost 50% of all greenhouse gases generated in the country. The government is currently developing an “Action Plan for Reducing Greenhouse Emissions in Agriculture” together with farmers’ associations.
Officials and representatives of the agricultural sector have agreed in principle that from 2025, at the level of farms, the amount of greenhouse gases will be registered, and livestock farmers will pay for the right to pollute the atmosphere. When the new tax is introduced, the government will initially provide 95% of the pollution allowance for free.
According to the New Zealand Department of the Environment, at the current level of the greenhouse gas tax equivalent to €16.50/ton CO2, the equivalent tax for farmers would be just €0.6 cents per kilogram of beef or milk powder produced and less than 1 cent for mutton.
In addition, the administrative costs and costs of farmers to reduce greenhouse emissions will be considered. For example, if emissions are below the established norm or farmers implement environmental measures such as planting trees, they will receive compensation from the budget.
By 2025, a system for controlling greenhouse emissions is planned to be introduced in every livestock farm and processing plant for meat and milk.
New Zealand’s Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor praised the cooperation between the government and the agricultural sector in the field of climate protection.
For his part, Andrew Hoggard, the National Farmers Union’s climate policy representative, welcomed the plan, but warned that overburdening the agricultural sector should be avoided.
That price should create incentives to cut methane production, similar to the transition to electric cars, he says.
Unfortunately, “electric sheep” do not exist, so livestock owners will have to look for other options to lower emissions.
Zoologists have discovered that foxes living in the Scottish Highlands regularly eat the excrement of domestic dogs. They feed most actively on them during periods with a low number of voles, their main prey. At the same time, only 300-600 grams of dog droppings is enough to provide the fox with energy for the whole day. As noted in an article for the journal Ecology and Evolution, foxes have not previously been observed to feed on dog feces.
Some animals do not disdain to eat the excrement of other species. For example, for the larvae of dung beetles (Scarabaeinae), the main source of food is the dung of mammals. Many sea birds occasionally eat the feces of whales, pinnipeds and polar bears, and stray dogs in India and Africa willingly feed on human excrement. In addition, scientists recently found that black-lipped pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) from the Tibetan highlands include more yak droppings in their diet in winter. This easily available and energy-rich food helps them get through the harshest months of the year without hibernating or stockpiling.
A similar example was described by a team of zoologists led by Xavier Lambin from the University of Aberdeen. In 2018-2019, researchers studied the diet of predatory mammals in the Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands. To do this, they collected animal feces and analyzed the vertebrate DNA they contained using metabarcoding. In total, the sample included more than 2,000 litter samples from common foxes (Vulpes vulpes), badgers (Meles meles), pine martens (Martes martes), as well as stoats (Mustela erminea) and weasels (M. nivalis).
In a study of 647 fox specimens, the authors found that 55.2 percent of the specimens contained the genetic material of the field voles (Microtus agrestis), a widespread and abundant rodent that feeds many predators in the Scottish Highlands. However, 39.1 percent of the samples unexpectedly contained domestic dog DNA. For comparison, in a study of 1,060 samples of pine martens droppings, the researchers found traces of vole DNA in 56.51 percent of them, and dog DNA in 0.85 percent.
The occurrence of dog and vole DNA in fox droppings varied from season to season. So, in the winter of 2018, the average chances of detecting canine DNA in the collected samples were 0.24. In the spring of 2018, winter 2019 and spring 2019, this probability was much higher – 0.39; 0.49; and 0.48, respectively. (p<0.01). The average probability of detecting vole DNA in fox droppings in the winter of 2018 was 0.93. After that, it significantly decreased and in the spring of 2018 it was 0.68, in the winter of 2019 – 0.19, and in the spring of 2019 – 0.36. Moreover, the more often vole DNA was found in fox droppings, the lower were the chances of detecting dog DNA in it.
The presence of canine DNA in almost half of the fox droppings is most easily explained by the fact that foxes eat the excrement of dogs that are walked by numerous visitors to the national park. It should be noted that previously zoologists have never recorded such behavior. However, alternative hypotheses seem much less plausible. For example, foxes clearly do not prey on dogs. In theory, they could get canine DNA from carrion, but in that case, an unbelievably large number of dogs would die in the study area. Some of the dog DNA probably got into the fox droppings from dogs urinating on it or rolling around in it while walking. However, this does not explain why the likelihood of finding dog genetic material in fox feces varies from season to season and is negatively correlated with the chance of detecting vole DNA in them.
The number of field voles, like many other small rodents, varies greatly from year to year. The researchers hypothesized that during periods when voles are scarce, such as spring 2018, winter 2019, and spring 2019, foxes switch to feeding on dog feces. However, it remained unclear how energetically valuable such a source of food was. To test this, the authors analyzed the faeces of six domestic dogs in a calorimeter. It turned out that on average, dog litter contains 135 kilocalories per 100 grams of wet weight. This is comparable to the energy value of small rodents, which is 137-170 kilocalories per 100 grams. According to scientists, to provide the average fox with sufficient energy, 300-600 grams of dog feces per day is enough.
The results of the study suggest that many cases of interspecies coprophagia go unnoticed. It is possible that this phenomenon is much more widespread in nature than is commonly believed. However, it should be noted that, unlike foxes, other Scottish predators did not eat dog droppings. Thus, coprophagy is perhaps most likely between species with close trophic niches.
Plastic behavior and ecological flexibility allow foxes to develop very unusual food sources. For example, in London they willingly eat dead cats. And at the Washington Zoo, a wild fox broke into a waterfowl enclosure and killed twenty-five red flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) and one duck.
Photo: Common fox (Vulpes vulpes) / Wikimedia Commons
epa10029736 Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama attends a press conference following an EU-Western Balkans leaders' meeting in Brussels, Belgium, 23 June 2022. The progress on EU integration and the challenges which the Western Balkans countries face in connection to the Russian invasion of Ukraine are topping the agenda when EU and Western Balkan leaders meet prior a European Council meeting. EPA/STEPHANIE LECOCQ
The absurd situation with the “hostage” of Albania is over. The negotiations for Albania’s membership in the European Union (EU) have no obstacles! This is what Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama wrote on Facebook today. The reason for his statement was the vote in the Macedonian assembly on the French proposal for EU membership.
3 hard years have passed since the decision of the European Council to open the way for negotiations to completely remove the set of artificial obstacles that were placed before Albania, Rama also wrote. However, he is confident that Tirana is on its way to overcoming the challenges of recent years.
But let’s not forget, this is not the end of our journey, but only the beginning of a new part of the road to Albania, which we love, he stated.
The Macedonian Parliament today approved the so-called “French proposal” to start negotiations for the country’s membership in the European Union. The proposal was supported by 68 people’s representatives. 69 out of a total of 120 deputies were present in the plenary hall.
Deputies from the ruling coalition voted “yes”, as did the people’s representatives from the opposition Albanian formations.
The vote took place during the third day of plenary debates. The EU ambassador in Skopje, David Geer, was also present in the parliament today.
The vote also came amid weeks of ongoing opposition protests across the country that have turned violent. According to her, the actions of the EU are pro-Bulgarian.
At today’s meeting, MP from VMRO-DPMNE Igor Janushev pointed out that the SDSM will henceforth be called SDS-Bulgaria and threatened the Prime Minister and everyone in power that “they will lie in prison for treason, they will lie and answer, because the Macedonian people are patient, the Macedonian people have shown it throughout history, the Macedonian people are also meek, Macedonians know how to forgive, but for some things there is no forgiveness,” the Macedonian electronic edition “Kurir” quoted him as saying.
At the end of June, the Bulgarian parliament gave its approval, which was also confirmed by a decision of the government.
We remind you that at the end of June, Rama made harsh statements towards Bulgaria regarding the veto that our country imposed on Skopje’s EU membership.
Bulgaria could have behaved more European, he said then. He also accused the Bulgarian authorities of holding North Macedonia hostage.
To the criticism of our authorities after his remarks, he replied:
“You have a problem with my way of expressing myself, I have a problem with the way Bulgaria wants to solve bilateral issues. Either lift the veto or you will tolerate me”.
Then the leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Albania and former prime minister of Albania, Sali Berisha, apologized to the Bulgarian people for the prime minister’s remarks.
Berisha told a press conference that Rama does not represent the opinion of the Albanians, because, as he said, he does not know any principles of friendship between the countries.
During the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (KOREPER) in Brussels, Bulgaria presented a unilateral declaration, reports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The conclusion of it should be that Bulgaria do not recognize the Macedonian language in Skopje. But judge for yourself:
“”Referring to paragraph 7 of the Council Conclusions on [Enlargement – North Macedonia and Albania] of [July 2022],
Referring to paragraph 22 of the Negotiating Framework for the Accession of the Republic of North Macedonia to the EU and its reference to the official language of the Republic of North Macedonia, according to its Constitution, as the language for the translation of EU legislation,
With this declaration, Bulgaria confirms the following:
The Bulgarian literary language has six regional written norms (codifications). Three of them are based on dialects, and three on the literary Bulgarian language. The creation of the “Macedonian language” in 1944-1945 in the former Yugoslavia was an act of secondary codification (re-codification) based on the Bulgarian literary language, further “enriched” with local forms, thus simulating a “natural” process based on dialectal form.
Any reference to the official language of the Republic of North Macedonia in official/unofficial documents/positions/statements and others of the EU and its institutions, bodies, offices and agencies must be understood strictly in accordance with the Constitution of this country and must in no way is interpreted as recognition by the Republic of Bulgaria of the “Macedonian language”.
Bulgaria continues to adhere to the language clause contained in the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation, signed in Skopje on August 1, 2017 between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia, for the purposes of bilateral treaties/agreements/memorandums and others between the two countries” , the statement said.
Switzerland Ambassador to the UK, H.E. Markus Leitner
Message from Switzerlands’s Ambassador to the UK, H.E. Ambassador Markus Leitner on 5th July 2022 to the International Ministerial on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB Ministerial) hosted by the Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom.
Full message (original transcript by The European Times):
Ministers, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.
Switzerland thanks the United Kingdom for convening and hosting this important conference.
The peaceful coexistence of and respect between different religious, linguistic and cultural groups are core values of Switzerland.
As a multicultural and multilingual society, Switzerland is particularly committed to promoting inclusive societies based on respect for differences and the protection of minorities contributing to a country’s stability and well-being.
My country stays convinced that no one should be discriminated, disadvantaged or treated differently based on their religion or the way to express their belief.
Freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief for all is firmly established in the Swiss Constitution and forms an integral part of the Swiss international human rights policy.
Serious violations of freedom of religion, violence, persecution, discrimination, domination and hatred against religious, linguistic and cultural minorities continue to occur across the world and pose a threat to democracies and durable peace.
Switzerland is particularly concerned about the increasing number of hate crimes and violent attacks on discriminatory motives offline and online.
Racism and hate speech are spreading today, mostly through Internet and social media, fueled during the COVID pandemic, and conspiracy theories, especially anti-Semitic ones, are proliferating.
The promotion and protection of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and or belief is also a key element of Switzerland’s international peace-building policies.
Social and political exclusions are part of society and lead either to resignation or violence, both of which are detrimental to the development of lasting peace and security.
There is a strong correlation between inequality, less economic development, more political instability, and increased violence.
The political participation of religious or belief communities on the basis of the principle of citizenship is, therefore, a necessary precondition for a peaceful resolution of conflicts. Switzerland addresses violations against ethnic and religious minorities on the bilateral and multilateral levels and encourages a mutual understanding by means of dialogue.
We are convinced that it is primarily through experience and knowledge and through contacts and dialogue in everyday situations that the coexistence of different cultures and religions can be successful.
Every citizen can and must contribute to non-discrimination.
Finally, it is up to policymakers to provide adequate conditions in order to effectively and sustainably combat all forms and manifestations of discrimination.
brown rock formation under blue sky during daytime - Photo by Mahdi Bafande
Greater efforts needed to protect the human trafficking victims struggling to access their rights, OSCE leaders say
VIENNA/WARSAW, 18 July 2022 – Protecting the human rights of trafficking victims must be placed at the heart of all responses to this global crime that particularly targets women and girls, who are even more at risk in situations of armed conflict, OSCE leaders said at the opening of a two-day conference today.
Almost 300 participants from OSCE states, civil society, international organizations and national human rights institutions across the OSCE region registered for the meeting in Vienna, which will provide a forum to discuss the rights of human trafficking victims both in peacetime and during armed conflict.
“The unprovoked Russian aggression against Ukraine has shaken the foundations of international and European security, causing thousands of unnecessary deaths and enormous suffering to the civilian population,” said Ambassador Adam Hałaciński, Permanent Representative of Poland to the OSCE, on behalf of the Polish 2022 OSCE Chairmanship. “It has also caused Europe’s biggest refugee crisis since World War II. The refugee and humanitarian crisis has the potential to turn into a trafficking one, as many experts predict.”
According to UN figures, approximately 40 percent of all global human trafficking cases take place within the OSCE region. The risk of becoming a victim grows during armed conflict, when traffickers are able to plausibly offer rescue and safety or assistance, but in fact with the intention of trafficking them for exploitation. The reach of traffickers has also expanded together with the internet, and the online world offers traffickers anonymity and immediate, global access to individuals and groups with specific profiles. At the same time, new technologies also bring advantages for monitoring and combating trafficking.
Children are especially at risk of becoming victims of trafficking, and the trauma can remain with them far into adulthood. The protection needs of child trafficking victims are significantly different from those of adults, and a dedicated session will therefore focus on child victims of trafficking and ways in which to improve and strengthen child protection systems.
This year ODIHR launched the second edition of a handbook on establishing and strengthening national referral mechanisms to assist OSCE countries in improving their efforts to combat trafficking and support victims. These mechanisms are national frameworks that enable governments to coordinate their efforts to protect and promote the human rights of trafficking victims in strategic partnership with civil society, the private sector, victims, and others working in the field.
“Victims of human trafficking are ripped away from their homes and out of their societies, affecting all those involved for the rest of their lives,” said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. “There are now also new threats that have made individuals and groups already at risk of trafficking even more vulnerable. ODIHR will continue its work with countries across the OSCE to strengthen national frameworks and partnerships with civil society in order to combat human trafficking, and at the same time ensure the voices of victims are heard and their human rights respected.”
Supplementary Human Dimension Meetings are a platform for the OSCE’s participating States and OSCE institutions, as well as international organizations and civil society, to exchange views and good practices to find common solutions for the challenges facing the OSCE region. Today’s discussion is the final SHDM of 2022 and follows meetings dedicated to international cooperation to address violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and the importance of democratic institutions in times of crisis.
