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St. George‘s Ribbon

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The colors of the St. George ribbon have become a well-recognized symbol of military prowess and glory in Russia. The history of the symbol began with the establishment of the Order of St. George, the colors of the ribbon of which then switched to a considerable number of awards of the imperial, Soviet and modern periods of the Russian state, also becoming a symbol of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Order of Saint George

The famous Russian military order of St. George – a combat award exclusively honorary for Russian officers – was officially established on November 26, 1769. According to the statute, it was issued “only for the military rank” regardless of social status to those “who not only fulfilled their duty in everything by oath, honor and duty, but in addition marked themselves for the benefit and glory of Russian weapons with a special distinction, consisting in the following:

Who, despising the obvious danger and showing a valiant example of fearlessness, presence of mind and selflessness, performed an excellent military feat, crowned with complete success and brought obvious benefits. This feat can be accomplished either by order of the higher authorities, or by one’s own suggestion.

The Order of St. George was the highest and extremely honorable military award, denoting the valor of Russian soldiers.

The order was divided into 4 degrees. The order of the 1st degree was extremely rare – in the entire history of the order, only 25 people were awarded the 1st degree. Only 4 people became full or all degrees cavaliers:

– Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov (1st degree for “the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia” in 1812).

– Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly (1st degree for the defeat of the French corps of F. Vandam near Kulm on August 18, 1813).

– Ivan Fedorovich Paskevich (1st degree for the capture of Erzurum in 1829).

– Ivan Ivanovich Dibich (1st degree for valor during the war in 1829).

Prominent military leaders P. A. Rumyantsev, A. G. Orlov-Chesmensky, P. I. Panin, V. M. Dolgorukov-Krymsky, G. A. Potemkin-Tavrichesky, A. V. Suvorov-Rymniksky, N. V. Repnin, V. Ya. Chichagov, P. I. Bagration, M. I. Platov, A. A. Brusilov and others.

Insignia of the Military Order and St. George’s Cross

Initially, only officers could become holders of the Order of St. George. But in 1807, in order to “encourage courage and courage” of soldiers and non-commissioned officers, a military order insignia was established – a silver cross on a St. George ribbon.

During the Patriotic War of 1812, among the awarded were peasants who were not in military service, but who participated in partisan actions. For example, Gerasim Matveyevich Kurin is a serf in the village of Pavlova, Bogorodsky district, Moscow province. After the occupation of the county town of Bogorodsk on September 23, 1812, by French troops, 35-year-old G. M. Kurin organized from the peasants with the help of the head of the Vladimir People’s Militia B. A. Golitsin, a partisan detachment of 5,300 foot and 500 horse soldiers.

Initially, unlike its “older” counterpart, the insignia did not have degrees. But in 1856, according to the new statute, 4 degrees of the insignia of the military order were established – like the officer version. Awards of the 1st and 2nd degrees were golden crosses on the St. George ribbon, 3rd and 4th – silver on the St. George ribbon. In addition, the first and third degrees were supplemented with a bow from the St. George ribbon.

The insignia was issued only for a specific feat “on the battlefield, in the defense of fortresses and on the waters”, which brought him closer to his older brother – the officer order of St. George.

St. George Ribbon

A well-recognized distinctive element of both officer and non-commissioned officer / soldier versions of the order was an orange-black ribbon, which, due to being an element of St. George’s awards, was called St. George’s.

Subsequently, in addition to the signs of the order, the St. George ribbon became an element of many other Russian military awards. For example, medals “For courage on the waters of Ochakovsky” (1788), medals “For courage on the waters of Finland” (1789), medals “For the defense of Sevastopol in 1854-1855”, medals “For participation in the war with Japan 1904-1905” and St. George medals issued during the First World War.

St. George’s / Guards Ribbon

In view of the fact that the St. George awards were awarded to soldiers and military units who showed excellent training and heroism, the St. George symbols – in particular, the St. George ribbon – gradually acquired the meaning of guards symbols. Since 1855, lanyards of St. George’s colors have appeared on premium weapons. They were awarded “For Bravery” – such an inscription adorned the hilt of this weapon.

The St. George’s ribbon became an element of the insignia assigned to units that proved themselves: St. George’s silver pipes, banners, standards, etc. – so the St. George’s ribbon acquired the meaning of the Guards.

People’s military symbol

The St. George awards and the St. George ribbon have become a national symbol of the courage and valor of a Russian soldier. So the insignia of the military order were awarded:

until 1812 – 14,800 soldiers and non-commissioned officers,

for 1812 year – 6 783,

for all Napoleonic wars until 1814 – 41,722,

for the Crimean War – 24,150,

for the Russian-Turkish War 1877–1878 – 46 000,

for Russian-Japanese War – 87,000.

During the First World War, the awarding of the St. George Cross (both soldier and officer) became massive. So, for example, in 1915, the Russian regiment in the Baura region near Warsaw twice attacked and put the Germans to flight without firing a single shot – 500 sets of awards were issued to the regiment for the feat shown. Knights of St. George during the war years 1914-1917 also became two chiefs of staff of the USSR during the Great Patriotic War (future marshals and Heroes of the Soviet Union): Zhukov and Vasilevsky.

Continuity of traditions

After 1918, the order was forgotten as a symbol of the imperial period. But the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, in which, as in the years of the First World War, Germany was the main enemy of the USSR, demanded a search for a symbol that would unite the population of the country to fight the threat and the enemy. It is not surprising that the St. George symbolism was restored in rights.

As already mentioned, this symbol has become popular and well recognizable during its existence. This symbol was actively issued during the First World War – that is, it was understandable to the veterans of this war who defended Russia from the Germans, and regardless of their social status. Therefore, during the Great Patriotic War, the wearing of St. George’s crosses by veterans of the First World War in the USSR was allowed. In 1942, the Guards badge was introduced in the Navy.

From the Order of the People’s Commissar of the Navy of the USSR No. 142 of June 19, 1942 “On the establishment of the Guards Naval flag, a special badge and a special ribbon for the cap”:

1. Guards ribbon.

The guards ribbon is an orange silk rep moire ribbon with three longitudinal black stripes applied to it.

ribbon width – 32.5 mm, length – 1420 mm. The width of the black stripes is 6 mm, the width of the orange gaps between them is 6.25 mm, the width of the piping is 1 mm.

The guards ribbon is laid along the band of the cap and fixed at the back seam, with the ends of the tape remaining free. On the guards ribbon, in the place at the front of the cap, the name of the ship, unit, formation is superimposed in gold embossing, and at the free ends – anchors.

In parallel, they began to develop a new order. In 1943 the Order of Glory was approved. Like the New Order of St. George, they were awarded for their courage and courage.

The Order of Glory was divided into three degrees. The order of the 1st degree was made of gold, the 2nd – of gold and silver, and the 3rd – of silver. A distinctive feature of the order – this is clearly visible – is the St. George ribbon.

Nowadays, some are trying to speculate on the topic of the name of the tape, stating that the tape was not called “St. George” at all, but “Guards” and only Guards. This is nothing more than an attempt at subversion. As already mentioned, over time, the St. George ribbon, like all St. George’s symbols, acquired the meaning of a symbol of the guard (units and soldiers who showed military prowess). So both options are synonymous and valid.

To prove that the ribbon on the Order of Glory is St. George, I will give the opinions of the creator of the Order N. I. Moskalev:

Especially for a long time I was looking for the color of the ribbon of the new order. And suddenly – St. George’s Ribbon! The distinction of the highest valor of a Russian soldier!

Therefore, all disputes about the existence of the St. George ribbon as a symbol of the Great Patriotic War can be stopped.

The St. George ribbon is also found on other awards of the Great Patriotic War and the post-war period.

The St. George ribbon is present on the medal “For the Capture of Berlin”.

On the medal “For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945”.

The medal was established on Victory Day – May 9, 1945 – by the Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces. The medal was awarded to the entire army, including combatants who, due to injury, left the service or were transferred to other work – a total of almost 15 million people.

That is, the St. George ribbon is precisely the symbol of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

In the postwar years, the symbol was not forgotten.

For example, the guards ribbon on the Guards naval ensign of the destroyer Thundering.

And many other examples.

Now in the Russian award system there is the Order of St. George with a well-recognized ribbon.

The colors of the St. George ribbon have been and remain in Russia a symbol of military prowess and glory.

Picture: The photo shows all 4 degrees of the order with the St. George ribbon (above).

Left: 1st and 2nd degrees (crosses of the first two degrees were larger than the crosses of the 3rd and 4th – therefore they were sometimes called “big George”).

Right: 3rd and 4th degrees.

What do the curious letters “Z” or “V” painted on Russian tanks mean?

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They are in the backs of military vehicles that invade Ukraine and have proven to be a mystery to many observers. Here is the military historian’s explanation

These inscriptions surprised even military experts, who had been speculating for several days and could not agree on an explanation. They were disoriented by the fact that neither “Z” nor “V” are letters of the Russian Cyrillic alphabet. Some even risked that the zeta would refer to Ukrainian President Volodomir Zelensky, whose head appears to be Vladimir Putin’s ultimate target.

The truth is that the Russian and Ukrainian armies have many models of tanks, weapons and military vehicles. In fact, one of the main tank factories of the Soviet Union, which continued to supply the Russian and Ukrainian armed forces, is located in the second Russian city of Kharkov.

Therefore, it is no less necessary to clearly define the membership of this or that army on the ground.

In recent hours, French military historian Cédric Mas has shed light on the mystery of letters about Russian tanks and vehicles.

Some Russian cars have a “V”, but there are fewer because they come from a region farther from Ukraine

As he explained, “Z” is used by invading troops from the Western District (ZVO), one of the five subdivisions of the Russian Armed Forces, headquartered in St. Petersburg. Of course, this is the garrison that is closest to Ukraine, and that is why it provides the most troops for the current invasion. Although his name in Cyrillic is the Western Military District, the transliteration of his initials into the Latin alphabet is ZVO.

Meanwhile, the “V” identifies troops coming from the Eastern District (VVO), much further away from the current conflict zone.

Many times these letters are drawn in triangles that identify the southern sub-region, or circles or squares that identify the center of the country within the ZVO or VVO, Mac added.

Russian cars are painted in dark green or three tones

“Ukrainian brands are different and less visible. In any case, these signs, painted in white (in a red square for Belarusians), may fade over time even in inclement weather,” he continued to explain in a thread on his Twitter account.

He also noted that another way to identify armies is camouflage. Russian tanks and transports use two types of paint: solid dark green and tricolor (green, sable and brown). While Ukrainians use 3 or 4 shades of green, but with a distinctive detail: pixilated paint spots.

Symbol of those who support Putin’s invasion

The “Z”, worn by most Russian tanks, quickly became the symbol of those supporting the Russian outpost, rejected in most parts of the world. Russian gymnast Ivan Kulyak caused controversy at the recent Artistic Gymnastics World Championships by putting a “z” on the clothes he wore to compete.

Although this letter does not exist in Cyrillic, it is easily recognizable and recognizable to Russians. “Often in propaganda, the simplest things get hooked the fastest,” explained Emily Ferris, junior Russia and Eurasia researcher at RUSI, who assured the BBC that the “Z” is a powerful and easily recognizable symbol. “It’s pretty scary and rude. From an aesthetic point of view, this is a very powerful symbol.”

2,000-Foot Glass-Bottomed Bridge in Vietnam

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The world’s longest glass-bottom bridge just opened in Vietnam, and it’s not for the faint of heart. Located in the Moc Chau district of the country’s Son La province, the Bach Long bridge spans more 2,000 feet and stands almost 500 feet above a verdant valley. It opened on April 29 to commemorate 47 years since the end of the Vietnam War, according to the South China Morning Post.

If the bridge’s height gives you nightmares about what the drop to the bottom would be like, there’s little to worry about: The bridge’s floor is made of three layers of tempered glass, each about 1.5 inches thick. Hoang Manh Duy, a representative of Moc Chau Island, which operates the bridge, notes in a statement that additional security measures will also be in place; for example, traffic will only go in only one direction, and 500 people at most will be allowed on the bridge at once.

The floor of the structure is made of tempered glass and can withstand 450 visitors at a time.

Authorities hope the attraction will attract more tourists to the region.

To aid in this revitalization of tourism, Moc Chau Island has been working on building several other attractions, such as mountainside villas, a zipline and a glass-bottom infinity pool (we’re sensing a theme here).

The bridge is seeking recognition from Guinness World Records as the longest pedestrian glass bridge in the world. If it receives that accolade, it would unseat a similar glass bridge outside Qingyuan, China, in that country’s Guangdong province.

It has recently become clear that Vietnam is now accessible to unvaccinated tourists.

New UN campaign aims to bring more young voices to halls of power

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New UN campaign aims to bring more young voices to halls of power
To support young people’s political participation and amplify their voices in public life, the UN launched a campaign on Wednesday in collaboration with the Youth Envoy.
“The intergenerational gap in power, influence and trust constitutes one of the biggest challenges of our time”, said UN Youth Envoy Jayathma Wickramanayake.

The Be Seen, Be Heard campaign, which partners with The Body Shop International, seeks to create long-term structural changes that foster the inclusion of youth in decision-making.

“With the climate crisis, global conflict and generational inequalities running rampant, the inputs, perspectives and representation of youth are needed more than ever”, the press release reads.

The campaign seeks to raise the voice of millions of young people in over 75 countries across six continents.

Leaders ‘messed things up’ for the planet

To understand preconceptions and structural barriers preventing young people from participating in public life, the Be Seen Be Heard: Understanding young people’s political participation report, also released on Wednesday, not only presents a snapshot but makes recommendations to address these challenges.

The report supports the fact that there is a chronic lack of faith in political systems but a clear appetite for more youth representation from all age groups.

It details that 82 per cent of people around the world think the political system needs drastic reform to be fit for the future, and nearly 70 per cent feel that young people should have more say.

Three quarters of those under age 30 feel that politicians and business leaders have ‘messed things up’ for people and the planet and are ready for change.

Moreover, two in three people also disagree with the age balance in politics and 8 in 10 uphold that the ideal first-time voting age should be 16 to 18 – even though most countries restrict it to 18 or over.

Recent data shows that although almost half the world’s population is under 30, they make up only 2.62 per cent of global parliamentarians and that the average age of a world leader is 62.

Youth participation is key

Ms. Wickramanayake underlined the importance of including youth in the decision-making to fight the mistrust towards political institutions and alienation from elected leaders.

© UNICEF/Sebastian x Gil

With the climate crisis, global conflict and generational inequalities running rampant, the inputs, perspectives and representation of youth are needed more than ever. Here pictured are environmental activists and founders of Youth for Climate Argentina.

“As young people have made abundantly clear through their activism on the streets, in civil society and on social media, they care deeply about the transformational change needed to create more equal, just and sustainable societies,” she said.

The campaign is an opportunity to change and move towards policies that “reflect the priorities of youth, mirror their concerns, and speak their language”.

Optimism for a better future

According to the survey – which covered 26 countries with 27,043 respondents in total, over half of whom were under age 30 – 67 per cent believe in a better future, with 15 to 17-year-olds most optimistic.

And more than two-thirds agree that political systems would be better if there were more opportunities for younger people to have a say in policy development and change.

This campaign recognizes at its core that young people have a vital role to play in the decisions that affect us all.

“As escalating global conflict, the ongoing climate crisis and worsening socio-economic issues continue to plague our world, we increasingly need fresh perspectives to guide transformative political decision-making the breaks beyond the status quo”, the press release adds.

Be Seen Be Heard Promoting youth participation and amplifying young voices in public life. Be Seen Be Heard Campaign

Be Seen Be Heard Promoting youth participation and amplifying young voices in public life.

Transformational change

According to the Youth Envoy, young people’s participation in public decision-making could be improved long-term by lowering voting ages; increasing formal youth representation through youth councils, parliaments, or committees; removing barriers for young people to participate in public decision-making; simplifying first-time voter registration; and improving young people’s leadership skills.

The collaboration between the Youth Envoy’s office and The Body Shop means that young people and others will have many routes to participate in the campaign, which will run until mid-2025 in 2,600 stores.

Local campaign activities will also include partnerships with youth-led or youth-focused non-governmental organizations (NGOs), petition opportunities and other actions. 

APC prepares for 2023 CEC General Assembly

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APC prepares for 2023 CEC General Assembly

Preparations for the 2023 General Assembly of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) mature as the assembly aims to bring European churches together in Tallinn, Estonia, from 14 – 20 June 2023, focusing the theme “Under God’s blessing – shaping the future”.

To prepare for the event, the Assembly Planning Committee (APC), chaired by Rev. Anders Gadegaard from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark, met from 9 to 10 May in Tallinn.

The committee members, together with CEC General Secretary Dr Jørgen Skov Sørensen, discussed further steps in preparations for the event. The CEC Assembly is hosted by CEC Member Churches in Estonia, such as the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Orthodox Church of Estonia.

The committee also visited local churches and venue for the Assembly, Kultuurikatel Centre.

The CEC Assembly will be a significant moment of prayer, fellowship and reflection for the life and witness of the churches in Europe. The theme will bind the assembly participants together in an ecumenical spirit to offer churches’ contributions toward Europe’s future. Together, they will highlight the voice of Christian faith in European societies in addressing the policymakers.

Every five years, the General Assembly meets to make decisions for CEC’s future. The Assembly brings together participants representing CEC Member Churches, Organisations in Partnership and European National Councils of Churches from across Europe. The Assembly will also elect the new board members who will steer CEC’s work for the next five years.

Learn more about 2023 CEC General Assembly

UN launches joint appeal for Syria: ‘Apathy is not an option’

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UN launches joint appeal for Syria: ‘Apathy is not an option’

More than 90 per cent of Syrians live in poverty, gender-based violence and risks to children are on the rise, and potential exposure to explosive ordnance remains high.

Moreover, food insecurity has soared to new records as 12 million Syrians go hungry every day and nearly one-in-two children are missing school – leaving them vulnerable to child labour, forced marriage, trafficking, and armed recruitment.

“Over the past 11 years, we have witnessed suffering and abuses on an immense scale; terrible violent conflict that went beyond all norms; [and] a humanitarian catastrophe that has devastated the lives of well over half the population,” UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen told the Brussels VI Conference: “Supporting the future of Syria and the region”.

© WFP/Hussam Al Saleh

Calling for international diplomacy

Syria remains a highly internationalized crisis in which key issues require constructive international diplomacy, according to Mr. Pedersen.

“It is not secret…that recent international developments, the war in Ukraine, have made that even more difficult than it was before,” he acknowledged.

“But as the UN envoy, I will continue to engage all key actors, Syrian and international, on the importance of contributing not only to alleviating suffering but to confidence-building and a political path out of this crisis”.

Stay focussed

Against the backdrop of a conflict, corruption, mismanagement, COVID, sanctions, and now the Ukraine war with its knock-on effects in the region and beyond, Mr. Pedersen drew attention to the Syrians who are struggling to meet their basic needs – noting that raw statistics never truly convey “the brutal reality that afflicts so many of them”.

At the same time, he described displacement “on a scale with few comparisons; a crisis of detention and abduction; an economic disaster that has impoverished millions and fragmented the country; and the continued threat of terrorism”.

He urged the participants to stay focussed on Syria.

Political solution still out of reach

Despite continuous calls for a nationwide ceasefire and a comprehensive Syrian-led and owned political solution that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity – while meeting the legitimate aspirations of the country’s people – Mr. Pedersen said frankly: “We are far from that political solution”.

Notwithstanding the current strategic stalemate on the ground, Syria continues to require attention, resources, and a comprehensive political solution, despite having dropped from news headlines.

“Your contributions are once again urgently needed,” he underscored. 

Seeking a breathing path  

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths spoke at length of the “unprecedented levels” of needs driven by a decade of conflict, long-term protracted humanitarian crisis, rapidly worsening economic circumstances, climate shocks and gender-based violence.

“We have got chronic electricity, fuel and water shortages undermining the functionality of essential services, livelihoods and delivery of assistance,” he said.

The “highest importance for all humanitarian workers and humanitarian agencies,” is a comprehensive political resolution to the conflict, said Mr. Griffiths, who also heads the UN humanitarian office, OCHA.

“While we try to address the humanitarian needs of the Syrian people, we need a path to allow…[them] to breathe again and be away from the conflict”.

Lives behind numbers

To survive this year, 14.6 million Syrians need humanitarian assistance and another 12 million Syrian refugees and those hosting them across the region also require support. 

“No surprise that $10.5 billion, an astonishing and eye-watering amount of money, is needed to fully support Syrians in need. $4.4 billion of that is for the response inside Syria, and another $6.1 billion for the refugees and host communities in the region,” Mr. Griffiths explained.

Acknowledging it as “the largest appeal ever” for Syria, he added his fervent hope, that it will be “the last appeal of this scale”.

“Syrian women, men and children should not be allowed to fall off our attention span and should be given a future…better than the one they faced this year,” concluded the Emergency Relief Coordinator.    

Syria ‘deadly’ for children

Catherine Russell, the head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), warned that “an entire generation is struggling to survive”.

She painted a grim picture of commonplace attacks on civilian infrastructure, families struggling to put food on the table, and nearly one-third of the country’s youth “chronically malnourished”.

“These are dangerous, even deadly, times to be a child in Syria,” maintained the UNICEF chief. “Since the war began, we can verify that nearly 13,000 children have been killed or injured – but we know the toll is much higher”. 

Psychological trauma

The war has not only scarred Syria’s children physically but also caused “invisible wounds that can last a lifetime,” Ms. Russell flagged.

Roughly 2.8 million Syrian youth are now living in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, and Turkey – riddled with loss, risk, and uncertainty. 

“I don’t know what the word home means,” an 11-year-old girl told a UNICEF staff member.

The informal Salhabiya settlement, in rural Raqqa, northeastern Syria is home to many displaced families. © UNICEF/DelilSouleiman

The informal Salhabiya settlement, in rural Raqqa, northeastern Syria is home to many displaced families.

Flexible support needed

And 11 years of war, disruption, and displacement have also threatened the education of an entire generation. 

“More than three million Syrian children are still out of school,” the UNICEF official informed the conference, adding that these children need “sustained flexible support”. 

She said that although UNICEF requires $312 million for its Syrian response along with an additional $20 million for its work in northwest, to date, less than half has been received. 

“We are counting on you to provide that support. More important, Syria’s children are counting on all of us,” Ms. Russell appealed.

Impoverished refugees

Due to the interlinked factors of COVID’s socio-economic shockwaves and a food, energy, and finance crisis, precipitated by the war in Ukraine, “we are seeing soaring poverty rates and hunger; deepening inequalities; and increased tensions across the region,” said Achim Steiner, head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

He cited that nine out of 10 Syrian refugees in Lebanon are now living in extreme poverty as are some 81 per cent of Lebanese people – a figure that has nearly doubled since 2019 – and around 1.8 million Syrians in Turkey.

“Our collective efforts are perhaps more vital than ever before,” attested the top UNDP official.

Inside Syria

He said that the 14.6 million people inside Syria who need assistance represent “an enormous increase of 1.2 million”.

“Saving lives through humanitarian responses will remain of paramount importance, but we should remember that early recovery and resilience activities save not only livelihoods – they also save lives,” Mr. Steiner upheld.

He noted that scaling-up early recovery assistance does not mean shifting away from humanitarian aid but is based on “an assessment of real-world needs on the ground”.

The ask

For early recovery and resilience, $1.2 billion is needed, representing25 per cent of this year’s Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). 

Within this, the UNDP-led Early Recovery and Livelihoods section is asking for $247.6 million in 2022 to help lift one million people out of poverty and allow 150,000 people to find work.

“Apathy is not an option,” concluded the UNDP chief.

WHO calls for greater regulation of cross-border alcohol marketing

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officialinstitutions
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WHO calls for greater regulation of cross-border alcohol marketing
Alcohol is increasingly being marketed across borders, with young people and heavy drinkers particularly targeted, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a new report on Tuesday that calls for more effective regulation.  
The study outlines how the digital revolution in marketing and promotion is being used to advertise alcohol across national borders, and in many cases regardless of social, economic, or cultural environments. 

Drinking alcohol is causally linked to an array of health problems, WHO said, ranging from alcohol dependence and other mental and behavioural disorders, to major noncommunicable diseases such as liver cirrhosis, some cancers and cardiovascular diseases, as well as injuries and deaths resulting from violence and road traffic accidents. 

Saving young lives  

Worldwide, some three million people die each year as a result of the harmful use of alcohol – one every 10 seconds – representing around five per cent of all deaths. 

Young people account for a disproportionate number of these alcohol-related deaths, with 13.5 per cent of all deaths among people aged 20-39 being alcohol-related. 

“Alcohol robs young people, their families and societies of their lives and potential,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General.  

“Yet despite the clear risks to health, controls on the marketing of alcohol are much weaker than for other psychoactive products. Better, well enforced and more consistent regulation of alcohol marketing would both save and improve young lives across the world.” 

Rise of digital media 

The report highlights how recent changes in alcohol marketing have created new opportunities to reach audiences. 

The collection and analysis of data on users’ habits and preferences by global internet providers has allowed alcohol marketers to target messages to specific groups across national borders. 

The study found targeted advertising on social media is especially effective, and further bolstered by influencers and through sharing posts. 

One data source quoted in the report calculated that over 70 per cent of media spending of leading alcohol marketers based in the United States in 2019 was through promotions, product placement and online advertisements in social media. 

“The rising importance of digital media means that alcohol marketing has become increasingly cross-border,” said Dag Rekve of the Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Behaviours Unit at WHO.  

“This makes it more difficult for countries that are regulating alcohol marketing to effectively control it in their jurisdictions. More collaboration between countries in this area is needed.” 

Sponsoring sporting events 

Alcohol companies are also sponsoring major sporting events at the global, regional and national levels, which according to the report can also significantly increase brand awareness among new audiences.  

They are also partnering with sports leagues and clubs to reach viewers and potential consumers in different parts of the world.   

Other opportunities include sponsorship of competitive gaming events or product placement in movies and serials streamed on international subscription channels.  

Drinking as ‘empowerment’ 

The report – Reducing the harm from alcohol – by regulating cross-border alcohol marketing, advertising and promotion – also examines how specific audiences are targeted, with particular concern for children and adolescents, women, and heavy drinkers. 

WHO said studies have shown that starting to drink alcohol at a young age is a predictor of hazardous drinking in young adulthood and beyond. Marketers are also particularly targeting areas of the world with young and growing populations, such as Africa and Latin America.   

And while men consume three-quarters of the alcohol that the world drinks, the lower rate among women also presents an opportunity for growth.  Alcohol marketers often depict drinking by women as a symbol of empowerment and equality, according to the report. 

Heavy and dependent drinkers are another focus for marketing efforts.  

“Alcohol-dependent people frequently report a stronger urge to drink alcohol when confronted with alcohol-related cues, yet they rarely have an effective way to avoid exposure to the content of the advertising or promotion,” WHO said. 

Integration and collaboration 

The report recommends that comprehensive restrictions or bans of alcohol marketing, including its cross-border aspects, are integrated in public health strategies.  It also calls for greater collaboration between countries. 

WHO said that although many governments have implemented some form of restrictions on alcohol marketing, they tend to be relatively weak.   

A 2018 study by the UN agency revealed that while most countries have some form of regulation for alcohol marketing in traditional media, almost half have no regulation that applies to the Internet and social media. 

Guterres expresses solidarity as Moldova grapples with fallout of Russia’s war in Ukraine

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United Nations News
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Guterres expresses solidarity as Moldova grapples with fallout of Russia’s war in Ukraine
Moldova, the most fragile of war-torn Ukraine’s neighbors, needs and deserves massive support to match its generosity as a recipient of nearly half a million refugees, and to preserve its own stability, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau, the UN chief said: “Moldova is not just another country receiving refugees … I am deeply concerned about the continuation and possible spread of the war Russia is waging in Ukraine, and by the impact it is having not only in the region but around the world.”  

“The United Nations is committed to supporting not only the people of Ukraine, but also the people of Moldova during these difficult times,” said Mr. Guterres, adding: Your sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and the solid progress you have made over the past three decades, must not be threatened or undermined.”    UN Photo/Mark Garten

Secretary-General António Guterres meets with Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița of Moldova.

‘Refugees live with the families of Moldovans’ 

The United Nations started a large-scale operation meant to render assistance to residents of Ukraine, including those on the territory of Moldova: at the border crossing in Palanca refugees are greeted by UN staff who help them find their bearings and to decide what to do next, render material and legal support and provide them with basic necessities. 

“But obviously, that is not enough. We need to do much more,” stressed the Secretary-General at the start of his two-day visit to the country. 

“It was not easy for the UN to readapt to a humanitarian crisis in Europe. Here, we don’t have the traditional forms of humanitarian support in crisis areas of the developing world, in fragile States,” continued Mr. Guterres, adding that in Moldova, there are no refugee camps: Moldovans are opening their homes to Ukrainians. 

The UN has rearranged its ways of working to meet these realities and is currently scaling up its most effective programmes, including for providing cash-assistance. The UN chief said people should be trusted to know what their needs are.  

The UN plans to provide such assistance to 90,000 refugees and 55,000 of the families that that take them in. 

War’s impact ripples through region’s fragile economies  

Moldova is a small European country with “fragile economy”. It is landlocked, and the Odessa port, through which it ships its merchandise to the world market, is closed due to the war.  

Furthermore, Moldova is not just the country that opened its doors to displaced persons, like many of its neighbors: in ratio to the size of its population, it has taken in the highest number of Ukrainian refugees since the start of the Russian invasion.  

While calling for “massive support” to match Moldova’s generosity, the Secretary-General stressed that other neighbouring countries like Moldova are already struggling with the socio-economic ramifications of this war coming on top of the COVID-19 pandemic and the uneven global recovery.    

In light of these and other pressing concerns, the UN chief urged Kyiv and Moscow to “step up diplomatic efforts through dialogue to urgently achieve a negotiated settlement, in line with international law and the UN Charter”, and he called on regional and international partners to support this process “in the interests of global stability.”  

“The impact of the war in Ukraine across the region and the world is profound and far-reaching. The consequences of escalation are too frightening to contemplate,” he stated, stressing: “The Russian invasion of Ukraine must stop. The guns must be silenced.” 

Bedrock of peace and security  

“On 9 May, on this very day, we must remember that dialogue and cooperation based on mutual respect are the bedrock of peace and security in Europe and around the world,” Mr. Guterres said, referring to what is known as ‘Victory Day’, which marks the anniversary of the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II in 1945. 

This year, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the anniversary of the victory over fascism was met with some apprehension in Chisinau, with media outlets in the region reporting possible mass actions and even the threat of clashes between supporters of different approaches in assessing those historical events.  

“The fact that I am here on the 9th of May is a pure coincidence. This visit is programmed in association with the meeting of the [United Nations] Chief Executives Board in Vienna, and so, it was convenient, both for the Government of Moldova and for me”, said Mr. Guterres, responding to a question from a journalist. 

The Secretary General congratulated Moldova on the 30th anniversary of joining the United Nations. In 1992, after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the acquisition of independence. In this context, he highly appreciated Moldova’s contribution to peacebuilding, promotion of sustainable development and gender equality, as well as to the fight against climate change.  

Victory Day in Chisinau, Moldova
UN News – Victory Day in Chisinau, Moldova

Funding for humanitarian aid 

The UN has appealed for $2.5 billion for humanitarian aid in Ukraine, and $1.85 billion for support for Ukrainian refugees in other countries.  

“I urge all countries to give generously. In global terms, these are minuscule sums,” said the Secretary-General, also calling on all countries to consider strengthening their economic cooperation with Moldova. 

While the current flow of refugees to Moldova is not comparable to the first weeks of the war, according to UN officials who have met with Ukrainians fleeing the war at the border, on some days, the number of arrivals increases sharply, usually due to an escalation in hostilities. According to UN estimates, by the end of the year, the number of refugees in Moldova may increase to one million people, with some 250,000 of them possibly remaining in the country. 

Among his other activities today, the Secretary-General met with the Chairman of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, Igor Grosu, and on Tuesday he will meet with the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu. 

Tomorrow, the UN chief is also expected to visit the MoldExpo exhibition center, where UN staff and civil society groups are working tirelessly to assist refugees from Ukraine. In addition, Mr. Guterres is also expected to visit one of the Chisinau families that has sheltered Ukrainians.

Speech by President von der Leyen at the closing event of the Conference on the Future of Europe

By
European Commission
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0
Von der Leyen Energy

“We must think and plan a united Europe as if it were possible to create it immediately every day, rejecting the weariness of those who always put it off until tomorrow. The possible, if it is really possible, we can start to make it happen today.”

« Nous devons penser et planifier une Europe unie comme si chaque jour il était possible de la créer immédiatement, rejetant la lassitude de ceux qui la renvoient toujours à demain. Le possible, s’il est vraiment possible, nous pouvons commencer à le réaliser aujourd’hui. »

President Metsola, dear Roberta,

Président Macron, cher Emmanuel,

Prime Minister Costa, querido António,

Dear Dubravka Šuica,

Dear Guy Verhofstadt,

Cher ministre, Clément Beaune,

Excellences,

Honourable Members,

But most and foremost, my dear and fellow Europeans,

On this very special day of Europe, I could not think of a more fitting way to start than by using these words of Ursula Hirschmann. For those who do not know her story, Ursula Hirschmann was an architect and builder of today’s free and united Europe. She resisted the rise of Nazism in Berlin in the early 1930s – she shaped the future of Europe on the island of Ventotene in the 1940s – she pioneered women’s rights all across Europe.

The courage of her actions and of her convictions helped to make Europe what it is today. I start with this picture because, for Europe, the memory of our past has always framed our future. And that is all the more important at a time when the unthinkable has returned to our continent. Russia’s flagrant attempts to redraw maps and to rewrite even the most tragic parts of our history have reminded us of the dangers of losing our grip on both our past and our future. Of living in a perpetual present and thinking that things can never be different. That there cannot be better ways of doing things. And even worse: That things will always stay the same if only we do not change. That is so wrong! Standing still is falling back.

But this Conference has shown us that Europeans are determined not to make this mistake. You have told us that you want to build a better future by living up to the most enduring promises of the past. Promises of peace and prosperity, fairness and progress; of a Europe that is social and sustainable, that is caring and daring. Just like Ursula Hirschmann and all those who went before us.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This Conference has spoken clearly. And I am delighted to see so many of you here today. Through your 49 proposals and more than 300 measures, you have weaved and crafted a vision of a Europe that delivers on what matters most, that helps to make everyday life better, that is not confined to one place but is at your side when you need it. On every day priorities – such as the air we breathe and the food we eat, the education that we give our children and the houses that we bring them up in.

It is a vision of a Europe that pools its strengths and capacities and diversity to tackle the biggest challenges – from climate change or nature loss, to pandemics or security in our region. A Europe that has a stronger capacity to activate and uphold its values and the rule of law. A Europe that is able to provide for itself in vital areas, from energy to food, from materials to medicines, from digital chips to green technologies. A Europe that delivers unique social protections and benefits all the way through these major transitions.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I want to address every single one of you who took part in this Conference: Your message has been well received. And now, it is time to deliver. That is what I promised when I stood for election in this very House, two and a half years ago. And together, we have proven that we can do just that with the powers that already exist – even amidst the pandemic or a war. Whether procuring billions of vaccines for citizens across Europe and our neighbourhood, or kick-starting the economy after the pandemic through NextGenerationEU. Whether setting an ambitious and legally binding path to climate neutrality, or setting the rules of the game in the digital world, or supporting small businesses to retain their staff during the pandemic.

None of this – none – would have been explicitly foreseen in the Treaties, but it was possible. And we did it together – because Europeans expected their Union to step up. Next month already, we will set out what is needed to bring your proposals to life and respond the best we can. In some areas, your proposals give us a push to speed up work already ongoing – for example on the European Green Deal or on making society fairer. So that means accelerating negotiations on the Fit for 55 Package so that we can boost renewable energies, that we can save energy and finally wean ourselves off fossil fuels. It has to be like this. And it means ensuring that our proposal on minimum wages becomes law so that work pays for all.

In other areas, we have already started the work you have asked for. The Health Working Group, for example, proposed creating a European Health Data Space, which would facilitate the exchange of health data across borders. My Commission delivered on this last week with a proposal. And in the next weeks and months, we will bring out proposals, you have been asking for. For example, restoring our nature, or cutting down waste coming from packaging, or banning products made by forced labour from entering our European market. On all of these upcoming ideas, we will look closely at your proposals so that we can best cater for what you have been asking for.

The point is, there is already a lot we can do without delay. And that also goes for those recommendations which will need us to take new action. So to make sure that we follow up swiftly, I will announce the first new proposals responding to your report in my State of the Union Address in September already. But, my fellow Europeans, even beyond this, there is a need to go further. For example, I have always argued that unanimity voting in some key areas simply no longer makes sense if we want to be able to move faster. Or that Europe should play a greater role – for example, in health or defence, after the experience of the last two years. And we need to improve the way our democracy works on a permanent basis. I want to be clear that I will always be on the side of those who want to reform the European Union to make it work better.

The point is, you have told us where you want this Europe to go. And it is now up to us to take the most direct way there, either by using the full limits of what we can do within the Treaties, or, yes, by changing the Treaties if need be.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear fellow Europeans,

‘Democracy has not gone out of fashion, but it must update itself in order to keep improving people’s lives.’ Those are the words of David Sassoli – a great European, who stood here a year ago, together with you, dear António Costa, to launch this Conference. We all miss him dearly and I have a very special place for him in my heart today.

And I feel pride that citizens from every corner of Europe have brought to life his vision of a vibrant and modern European democracy. We saw it in the National Citizens’ Panels, such as those held right across France. And we saw it in the European Citizens’ Panels – from Dublin to Natolin, from Florence to Maastricht. It connected men and women who have never engaged with Europe before. Different stories, different languages, different identities; but one shared future to build on.

You have proven that this form of democracy works. And I believe, we should give it more room, it should become part of the way we make policy. This is why I will propose that, in the future, we give Citizens’ Panels the time and resources to make recommendations before we present key legislative proposals. Because I am convinced that democracy does not end with elections, conferences or conventions. It needs to be worked on, nurtured and improved every day. We saw it in the grassroots events held right across Europe. Whether debating biodiversity in Varna, gender-based violence in Lisbon, or democracy and subsidiarity in Budapest. And we saw it, indeed, in the image of Linda, the young mother – we saw her earlier this day – speaking about the future in this very hemicycle while holding her baby born, halfway through the Conference.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This is the image I want us to celebrate on 9 May. An image far more powerful than any military parade going up and down the streets of Moscow as we speak. And I want this image to remind us to never ever take for granted what Europe is and what it means. Europe is a dream. A dream that always was. A dream born from tragedy.

But today, that dream shines brightest not only here in this historic place. It shines brightest in the hearts and the minds of the people of Kyiv and Kharkiv, of Odessa and Mariupol. It shines brightest in the courage of those families and young people bunkered down in subways and basements. It shines brightest in the courage of those mourning the senseless, mindless atrocities in Bucha, and in Irpin, and in every Ukrainian village and town struck by war. And it shines brightest in the eyes of all those young Ukrainians who have found a refuge in Europe – a home away from home. Those people, my fellow Europeans, – young and old – are willing to fight and to die for their future and for that dream of Europe. That dream that always was. That dream that must always be.

So I want to finish with a message. This morning, I had a videoconference with President Zelenskyy. And he wanted to virtually hand me over his answers to the questionnaire of the Commission for the accession process he has applied to. It is more than 5,000 pages he handed over to me. And therefore, I want to give a very special message to our Ukrainian friends and family. The future of Europe is also your future. The future of our democracy is also the future of your democracy. 72 years ago, war in Europe was replaced with something different, something new. First a Community, today a Union. It was the day when the future began. It is a future that we have been writing together ever since – as architects and builders of Europe. And the next page, dear Ukrainian friends, is now being written by you. By us. By all of us together.

Slava Ukraini. Long live Europe.

Europe Day statement by President Charles Michel in Odesa, Ukraine

By
Council of the EU and European Council
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0
Charles Michel at night
Photo from https://www.facebook.com/CharlesMichel

Today Europe Day is celebrated in Brussels, in Strasbourg and across the European Union. It marks the anniversary of the historic Schuman Declaration, in 1950, that set out a vision for a new cooperation in Europe. And today I came to celebrate Europe Day in a melting pot of European culture and history: Odesa, the city where Pushkin said that “you can feel Europe”. Right here, where the people of Odesa shield their monuments from the bullets and rockets, just like Ukrainians are shielding their freedom from the Russian aggression.

On May 9th 1950, five years after the end of World War Two, Robert Schuman famously said, ‘Europe was not made, we had the war.’ So to ensure peace, Schuman and a handful of visionaries set about building the European Union. And since then, peace has reigned where nations had fought each other for centuries.

As we speak, war rages again in Europe. War from another century, a hegemonic war where one state, Russia, has invaded a neighbouring sovereign state, Ukraine. Where your schools, hospitals and cities are bombed. Where your people are tortured, raped and executed in cold blood. But also where your people are resisting with courage, like this little boy I met a couple of weeks ago in Borodyanka. He told me how he went through the atrocities he witnessed when their city was occupied by the Russian army.

The Kremlin wants to “execute” your spirit of freedom and democracy. But I’m totally convinced they will never succeed. I have come to Odesa on Europe Day with one simple message: You are not alone. We stand with you. We will not let you down. We will be with you for as long as it takes.

And we will help you to build a modern, democratic country. A forward-looking country, ready to embrace with confidence your European future, our common European future, your place in our common European family. I also have a message for my fellow citizens across the European Union: Our peace, our prosperity, the future of our children – they are also at stake here in Odessa. Here in Ukraine.

Slava Ukraini.

Long live Europe.

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