According to an “in progress” article published by DW, the AFP Agency has had access to a document in which can be read that “the sanctions also reportedly target the head of the Russian Orthodox Church”.
Sanctioning head of Russian Orthodox Church for the “metaphysical” meaning of the war
The European Commission, DW reports, has recommended sanctioning the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, according to a document seen by news agency AFP.
The European Times has published a series of documented articles on how the Patriarch ( accused of being a KGB/FSP agent ) has been justifying the war in one way or another. There seems to be a link also on how some of the closest followers of Kiril have been interacting for years with France financed anti-cult organization FECRIS spreading radicalized messages that would “justify” the views on the Ukrainians, but also “against the west”. Now, how come France has been and is financing such an organization, with such strong links to the Patriarch and his anti “west” agenda is another story that the French government should look into as willingly or not, it could be that they have been feeding and institutionally supporting the propaganda machine that now showed to be a danger not only for the Ukrainians but the fundamental rights in Europe.
Back to the sanctions, the measures are part of a new blow of economic measures against Russian government, that were announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The details of the sanctions package are set to be published later in the day.
AFP has reported that the new sanctions list from the EU’s executive branch includes 58 individuals, including Russian military personnel. The proposal also includes the wife, daughter and son of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Amid the global energy crisis and worsening climate emergency, the United Nations and partners on Wednesday launched two new initiatives to accelerate action towards achieving clean, affordable energy for all, and the ambitious goal of net-zero carbon emissions.
The UN-Energy Plan of Action Towards 2025 delivers on commitments made at a high-level meeting in September that laid out a global roadmap for energy access and transition by the end of the decade, while also contributing to net zero emissions by 2050.
The UN-Energy partnership brings together some 30 organizations working on all aspects of energy and sustainable development.
An Energy Compact Action Network was also launched to match governments seeking support for their clean energy goals with governments and businesses that have already pledged over $600 billion in assistance.
Coalitions to support energy access and transition in Nigeria and in Santiago, Chile, were also announced, thus showcasing the Network’s potential.
The commitments will drive forward achievement of a just, inclusive energy transition, aimed at ensuring all people have access to clean and affordable energy, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Their announcement comes as the world faces what the UN has described as the interlinked triple crises of energy, food and finance arising from the war in Ukraine.
Liu Zhenmin, head of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and Secretary-General of the 2021 High-level Dialogue on Energy, has welcomed the launch.
“This will help us sustain the momentum by generating concrete action towards clean and affordable energy and net-zero emissions,” he said.
Scaling up action
The UN-Energy Plan of Action sets out a framework for collective action that includes doubling annual clean energy investment globally, and facilitating electricity access for 500 million people, as well as clean cooking solutions for one billion.
It identifies seven areas for work, ranging from scaling up efforts to close the energy access gap, to leveraging the power of data, digitalisation and visualisation for strengthening monitoring, tracking, accountability and communication of results.
The plan could not have come at a more critical time, according to Achim Steiner, Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN-Energy co-chair.
“The current context has led to a wider understanding of how energy underpins the entire 2030 Agenda. It is paramount that the commitments taken at the 2021 High-Level Dialogue on Energy and COP26 are translated into actions on the ground – especially in support of the most vulnerable,” he said.
IOM/Jorge Galindo
Hauwa’s solar lamp helps her cook and carry out other chores around her home in Nigeria, and it helps her children study.
Collaborating for transformation
UN-Energy will support the Energy Compact Action Network, which brings together nearly 200 governments, businesses, and other civil society partners, to mobilize voluntary commitments made at the high-level dialogue.
Damilola Ogunbiyi, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and UN-Energy co-chair, highlighted the platform’s important role.
“By creating opportunities for collaboration, the Network will transform the billions of dollars in finance and investment committed in the Energy Compacts into on-the-ground action towards the sustainable energy future that we urgently need,” she said.
Powering the future
The launch also featured announcements by several new or expanded coalitions, demonstrating how countries, cities, businesses, foundations, and other partners, can join forces through the Network.
For example, SEforALL, UNDP and Husk Power Systems, are among partners that will support Nigeria’s commitment to provide electricity to 25 million people by 2023, through using solar home systems and mini-grids to power five million homes, schools, hospitals and other public utilities. The move will also generate some 250,000 new jobs.
In Chile, the government of the Santiago Metropolitan Region will work with the multinational energy company Enel, and the Universidad de Desarollo, to increase the end-use of electricity for transport and heating, including to raise the share of the city’s electric buses to 100 per cent by 2030.
The Network will also advance or expand coalitions supporting green hydrogen and a stronger role for women in leading and benefiting from the energy transition.
In this regard, a work plan to strengthen the role of women in the energy transition was launched by partners who include the Governments of Canada and Kenya, as well as the global youth-led organization Student Energy, coordinated by the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
Parliament is ready to start negotiations on a common charger to reduce e-waste and make the use of different mobile phones, tablets and digital cameras more convenient.
The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee adopted its position on the amended Radio Equipment Directive on 20 April and a plenary announcement confirmed Parliament’s negotiating position on Wednesday morning. Parliament is now ready to start talks with EU governments on the final shape of the legislation.
The new rules would mean consumers no longer need a new charger and cable every time they purchase a new device, and can use one charger for all of their small and medium-sized portable electronic devices. Mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers that are rechargeable via a wired cable would have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port, regardless of the manufacturer. Exemptions would apply only for devices that are too small to have a USB-C port, such as smart watches, health trackers, and some sports equipment.
This revision is part of a broader EU effort to make products more sustainable, in particular electronics on the EU market, and to reduce electronic waste.
Clear information on charging
MEPs also want to see clear information and labelling on new devices about charging options, as well as whether a product includes a charger. This would help to avoid confusion and make purchasing decisions easier for consumers, who often own several different devices and do not always need additional chargers.
As wireless charging is used more and more, MEPs want the European Commission to present a strategy by the end of 2026 that allows for any new charging solutions to work in conjunction with each other. The goal is to avoid a new fragmentation in the market, to continue to reduce environmental waste, ensure charging solutions are convenient for consumer and avoid so-called “lock-in” effects created by a consumer being dependent on a single manufacturer.
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Rapporteur Alex Agius Saliba (S&D, MT) said: “With half a billion chargers for portable devices shipped into Europe each year, generating 11 000 to 13 000 tonnes of e-waste, a single charger for mobile phones and other small and medium electronic devices would benefit everyone. This truly comprehensive policy change builds on the Commission’s proposal by calling for the interoperability of wireless charging technologies by 2026 and improving information given to consumers with clear labels. We are also expanding the proposal’s scope by adding more products, such as laptops, that will need to comply with the new rules.”
Pramila Patten, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative working to end rape in war, was speaking at a press conference in the capital, Kyiv.
Wartime rape can no longer be dismissed as an “inevitable byproduct of war”. It must be recognized by all parties as a crime that can be prevented and punished. https://t.co/6YYFoJJwQH
— UN Against Sexual Violence in Conflict (@endrapeinwar) May 3, 2022
Standing alongside Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, she expressed solidarity with survivors, saying they are not alone.
“My promise to you is that international law will not be an empty promise. Today’s documentation will be tomorrow’s prosecution. And I want you to know that your rights don’t end when wars begin,” she said.
“Women’s rights don’t end when wars begin. Your bodies are not (a) battlefield and must never be treated as part of the battlefield.”
Ms. Patten and Ms. Stefanishyna on Tuesday signed a framework for cooperation that supports the design and delivery of priority interventions in the areas of justice and accountability as a central pillar of deterrence and prevention.
The agreement also addresses comprehensive service provision for survivors, including sexual and reproductive health services, medical and specialized mental health services, legal assistance, and livelihood support.
Responding to a reporter’s question, Ms. Stefanishyna described sexual violence committed in war as “one of the most silent types of crime”, underlining the difficulty of gathering information on exact numbers.
“Today we have started working to gather this information using volunteers, working with medical facilities, and documenting these cases outside the criminal proceedings,” she said, speaking through an interpreter.
Ms. Patten added that “we cannot expect to have accurate bookkeeping on an active battlefield,” stressing she does not wait for hard data and statistics to act.
Services for men and boys
Although sexual violence is mostly perpetrated against women and girls, Ms. Patten has also received reports of cases involving men and boys in Ukraine, which the UN has not yet verified.
“I am working with the different UN agencies to ensure that there are services adapted to the needs of men and boys, because everywhere in many conflict situations, I have observed that there is a lack of services adapted to the needs of men and boys,” she said.
Preventing human trafficking
The framework with the Ukrainian authorities also covers gender-responsive security sector reform, as well as prevention of conflict-related trafficking, amid rising displacement.
More than five million people have fled Ukraine since the war began just over two months ago, generating the fastest-growing refugee crisis since the Second World War, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.
“It is a fact that conflict does exacerbate vulnerability to trafficking, and human trafficking of Ukrainian women can be a dangerous by-product of this conflict-fuelled refugee crisis,” said Ms. Patten, emphasizing the critical need for mitigation measures.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe
Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, briefs UN Security Council meeting on women and peace and security (file photo).
Sparing no effort
The UN official also responded to questions about “extremely disturbing” reports of Ukrainian women who were raped before being killed. She has met with the country’s Prosecutor General and said there is “solid” forensic evidence of such incidents.
“This is very serious, and the United Nations, through this framework of cooperation that we have signed, will not spare any effort to bring perpetrators to justice,” she said.
Ms. Patten acknowledged that prosecution for cases of sexual violence committed in war comes with challenges, stating it is “never easy”.
She reported on her meeting with several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Ukraine who have shared anecdotal reports.
“One NGO representative was referring to cases where the perpetrator wore a mask, so identification becomes extremely difficult,” she said.
Ms. Patten stated that “whatever reports are surfacing, they can only represent the tip of the iceberg,” highlighting the need to focus on reporting.
‘Never again’
In this regard, she has also held discussions with the Office of the Ombudsman for Human Rights, which could establish “hubs” across Ukraine where people can report cases of sexual violence and also receive medical, psychological and other support.
Having these safe spaces available would also avert the people, who don’t possess the adequate skillset required, interviewing victims, which carries the huge risk of re-traumatization and re-victimizing.
“We have to learn lessons from the other conflicts where this has been the case, with victims interviewed over 10 times, 15 times, with all the inconsistencies in the reports which make their case not tenable in a court of law,” she said.
“Every war, we say ‘never again’. I think this time we have to say, ‘never again” and mean it, and take the necessary action to give justice to these victims of sexual violence.”
The world is watching
The mandate of the UN Special Representative was established by the Security Council more than a decade ago, to tackle conflict-related sexual violence as a peace and security issue.
International human law makes it clear that even wars have limits, said Ms. Patten, and sexual violence is beyond the scope of acceptable conduct even in the midst of combat.
“Wartime rape can no longer be dismissed as an inevitable by-product of war. It must be recognized by all parties as a crime that can be prevented and punished,” she said.
Although deeply concerned about what she called “the emboldening effects of impunity”, Ms. Patten said it was “critical that all actors and parties know that the world is watching.”
1 year after the European Parliament passed a motion to review trade relations with Pakistan, there were 2 demonstrations in Brussels supporting this proposition. The demonstrators are asking the European commission to have more respect for the European parliament.
There were two protests in favor of the European Parliament less than a year after the European Parliament’s decision to suspend GSP+ for Pakistan.
Gary Cartwright is a journalist and colleague of mine. He has been investigating the atrocities people face in Pakistan for years. I have learned a great deal about human rights in Pakistan from him.”
— Andy Vermaut
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, May 2, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — On Thursday, April 28, Brussels was in chaos. No fewer than two demonstrations were planned for the morning regarding the European Union’s trade relations with Pakistan. The activists believe that the European Commission is being too lenient in granting Pakistan preferential trade status, despite the fact that Pakistan is not a model of a nation that respects its citizens’ human rights. The activists were successful in delivering their memorandum to Ursula von der Leyen and European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis at the conclusion of the demonstration. Following an initial refusal by the European Commission’s services, the memorandum was received by an employee of the European Commission’s press service following telephone consultation.
Andy Vermaut, co-founder on behalf of the fundamental rights movement Postversa and the International Alliance for the Defense of Rights and Liberties (AIDL) on Schuman explains:”Indeed. On Thursday, April 28, 2022, there was not only an important manifestation at the European Parliament in Brussels in Place Luxembourg organized by the European Association for the Defense of Minorities under the leadership of Director Manel Msalmi. This was just prior to an important conference in the European Parliament by Willy Fautré of Human Rights without Frontiers on the GSP+ Status of Pakistan and this in co-organization with investigative journalist Gary Cartwright of EUtoday.net Parallel to this conference there was a second authorized manifestation on the Schuman Square in Brussels in front of the European Commission and the External Action Service where we, together with several activists including Meena Qasimi, Jamil Maqsood, Sajid Hussain and Malik Bazi demanded more respect for the efforts of the European Parliament. For us, April 28, 2022 was important in this, as it was precisely one year since the European Parliament made a resolution on Pakistan’s preferential trade status with the European union.”
Mutual cross-polination Andy Vermaut:”When the European Parliament was established, it was intended to send a statement to the whole globe. Democracy, which is not just a Western term, is a concept that we can polish, enhance, and expand collectively by collaborating with people of other views, perspectives, and ideologies to achieve unity in diversity. A model that Europe propagates around the globe, where nations that strive to live by and uphold the same standards and values may profit from our unique model and from the moral leadership that it provides.Europe may sound fantastic on paper, but when it comes to respect amongst the institutions of the same European Union, we see that the European Commission ignores the European Parliament’s large majority.Not only do we have the world’s biggest parliament in Europe, we also have a jumble of centuries-old ideas and customs that we know originated in other civilizations; we refer to this as mutual cross-pollination. While democracy has been molded by Western thinking and practice in recent history, it has many essential qualities with the village assemblies that controlled the planet thousands of years ago.”
Courage and heroism Andy Vermaut:”Additionally, all persons have some characteristics. Every single one of us is born into a family and a community. Each of us has an inherent sense of good and evil, a natural moral sensibility, and a conscience. We all appreciate and respect courage and heroism. The kid has an innate desire to satisfy his parents, and the parent has an innate desire to protect his child. This, without a doubt, is what we refer to as human nature. What makes man human is universal and serves as a link between them. Together, we work to guarantee that basic rights – freedom of speech, religion, movement, association, and respect of the law – are not the exclusive property of a set of nations or the distinguishing feature of one culture over another. They are widely applicable. They are at the core of democracy, as they are in Europe, when combined with representative governance.”
Overwhelming majority Andy Vermaut:“Thursday 28 April 2022, we have organized a requested demonstration on the Schuman Square in Brussels, alongside the International Alliance for the Defense of Rights and Liberties (AIDL), Postversa asbl, the European Association for the Defence of Minorities, and UKPNP, in which we call on the European Commission to also respect the resolutions adopted by an overwhelming majority in the European Parliament and to refrain from ignoring the European Parliament. Today, when I talk about Pakistan, my heart aches profusely. I observe a deterioration of basic rights and liberties, as well as a populace oppressed by a feudal society. A year ago, the European Parliament voted an overwhelming majority motion calling for a review of Pakistan’s GSP status, citing a “alarming” rise in the use of blasphemy accusations and an increase in online and offline assaults on journalists and civil society groups. Our European Parliament (EP) now has 705 members and represents over 450 million Europeans (including President). The European Parliament is expected to represent the peoples of the Union’s 27 member states and, above all, to look out for the Union’s overall interests. Our European Commission might be thought of as the EU’s ‘everyday administration.’ The European Commission’s members are referred to as ‘Eurocommissioners’. Each Eurocommissioner is in charge of a single or more policy areas. Eurocommissioners are now 27 in number, one for each member state. They compose the College of European Commissioners collectively. Eurocommissioners are responsible for the European Union as a whole, not only for their home nation.”
Sinister powers? Andy Vermaut:”Despite the vast majority, both the External Action Service (our European Minister of Foreign Affairs) and the European Commission ignored the European Parliament’s decision, thereby discrediting the European Parliament. Why is the European Commission disregarding a piece of work that was unanimously approved by the European Parliament? What sinister powers are at work here? That is why we were demonstrating outside Schuman’s office, inquiring as to why the European Parliament is being neglected. We want adherence to the European Parliament’s decision and wish to place the review of Pakistan’s GSP+ status on the European Commission’s agenda.With a rise in the number of blasphemy claims and assaults on journalists and civil society groups, the European Parliament has voted a resolution asking for a review of Pakistan’s GSP+ status. Is the European Union a contributor to the continued poverty of developing economies? Could it be that low-income nations in a specific area are conducting a price war because they would lose all incentives if Pakistan is awarded GSP+ status despite its human rights violations? Is GSP+ only a negotiating instrument for the EU to get greater economic advantages at the price of workers’ rights in countries such as Pakistan, where feudal institutions persist and favour landlords and owners? Since 1947, Pakistan’s minority population has plummeted from 20% to fewer than 5% due to governmental coercion. How justified is the EU in retaining Pakistan’s GSP+ status? Please, Ursula von der Leyen, promote democracy and fight for human rights; respect the European Parliament and refrain from abusing your authority; take a position for human rights and oppose GSP+ for Pakistan, says Andy Vermaut.”
Resolution Andy Vermaut explains a bit more about the conference in the European Parliament that was organized at exactly the same time as his support manifestation at the Schuman square in front of the European Commission:”Yes. As a result of Pakistan’s human rights violations, the European Parliament (EP) held an informal hearing on April 28th to inquire about what the European Commission has done in response to the 28 April 2021 EP Resolution asking for Pakistan’s GSP+ preferential trade status to be suspended. Only three MEPs had objected to the adoption of the resolution, which had been supported by 681 MEPs. “To immediately review Pakistan’s eligibility for GSP+ status in light of current events and whether there is sufficient reason to initiate a procedure for the temporary withdrawal” and “to report on this matter to the European Parliament as soon as possible,” it was requesting the European Commission (EC) and the European External Action Service (EEAS). Fulvio Martusciello, MEP, presided over the session (EPP group). Director of Human Rights Without Frontiers, Willy Fautre was a fantastic moderator of this event. I also want to thank Manel Msalmi for all her efforts to make this possible and Gary Cartwright who was our motivator for this conference and our manifestations in Brussels. Gary Cartwright is an investigative journalist and colleague of mine. He has been investigating the atrocities people face in Pakistan for years. I have learned a great deal about human rights in Pakistan from him. Willy Fautre is also a man after my own heart. For years, he has been standing on the barricades for religious freedom in Pakistan and fighting against the oppression that Christians and moderate Ahmadi Muslims have to endure there. The European Parliament should therefore be proud to have such people on their side, fighting for justice for the people of Pakistan. They are the real friends of Pakistan, because they dare to confront them with the truth. Manel Msalmi on the other hand has been fighting for years for the recognition of minorities in Pakistan. I think that the European Commission should also learn to really listen to these people. They have the best interests of the people of Pakistan and the European Union at heart. We want everyone there to fully enjoy their fundamental rights and freedoms. That is our ultimate dream, because we all love Pakistan,” concludes Andy Vermaut.
Conference at the Press Club in Brussels on 4 May, 3pm – 5pm
Tai Ji Men is a menpai (similar to school) of qigong, martial arts, and self-cultivation, and its shifu (master) and dizi (disciple) have long been committed to international cultural exchanges, spreading the concepts of love, peace, and conscience, purifying people’s hearts, and practicing world peace. It has been highly praised by Taiwanese presidents, vice presidents, and foreign ministers.
Since its inception in 1966, Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy has never had any tax problem; however, in 1996, it was persecuted during a political purge in the name of a religious crackdown. Prosecutor Hou Kuan-jen fabricated witnesses and evidence to falsely accuse Tai Ji Men of fraud and tax evasion. Shih Yueh-sheng, the witness who cooperated with the prosecution and committed perjury, revealed before his death that the case was led by Hou Kuan-jen and that he was asked to testify at the time only for formality. This proves that the Tai Ji Men case was fabricated and framed from the very beginning, and the subsequent criminal prosecution, heavy taxes and penalties, as well as compulsory enforcement were all serious violations of Taiwan’s constitution, human rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ICCPR, and the ICESCR, causing serious harm to Taiwan and its people.
In 2002, the Control Yuan investigated prosecutor Hou Kuan-jen’s handling of the Tai Ji Men case and listed eight major violations of the law by the prosecutor and referred the case to the Ministry of Justice for taking disciplinary action against him.
The Control Yuan, which is the supervisory and auditory branch of the Taiwanese government, stated that the indictment contradicted the evidentiary information and that the prosecution on such a basis was not in accordance with the law of evidence. The prosecutor admitted during the Control Yuan’s investigation that he failed to investigate the matter in accordance with his authority. This proves that the indictment was unlawful in the first place.
The second investigation by the Control Yuan in 2009 also concluded that the National Tax Bureau (NTB) had committed seven major violations of the law in its handling of the Tai Ji Men case, and the NTB admitted during the investigation that it had made mistakes! Once again, it was confirmed that Tai Ji Men should not have been prosecuted and taxed in the first place.
In 2007, the Supreme Court ruled that Tai Ji Men was innocent of all charges and did not owe any taxes, that the hong-bao (red envelopes) given by the dizi to the shifu were gifts and tax-free, and that the collective procurement of their uniforms and other items was not for profit. Afterwards, the defendants that were detained received compensation for unlawful imprisonment by the state. This again demonstrates that there are no tax liabilities, and the National Taxation Bureau should have revoked all the illegal tax bills in accordance with the law.
Additionally, the Ministry of Finance and the National Taxation Bureau publicly promised to withdraw the enforcement and conclude the Tai Ji Men tax case within two months during a public hearing in the Legislative Yuan in 2010.
In 2012, the National Taxation Bureau conducted a public survey in accordance with the resolution of the inter-ministerial meeting of the Executive Yuan, and 7401 pieces of evidence were collected, confirming that the red envelopes were gifts, which was consistent with the criminal decision and again confirmed that there was no tax debt.
However, the National Taxation Bureau reneged on its promise, disobeyed the inter-ministerial meeting resolution, ignored the Supreme Court’s decision finding Tai Ji Men not guilty and not owing taxes, and disregarded the two letters issued by the Taipei High Administrative Court on May 5 and July 23, 2020, requesting the withdrawal of the enforcement under Article 40 of the Tax Collection Act.
On August 21, 2020, the National Taxation Bureau, in cooperation with the Administrative Enforcement Agency, unlawfully auctioned Tai Ji Men’s land intended for a self-cultivation center and nationalized it in an attempt to obtain performance credits and bonuses, seriously undermining the shifu’s and dizi’s missions to improve global citizens’ spiritual health, and depriving them of their freedom of religion or belief, as well as their other basic human rights, such as the right to choose cultural life, equality, non-discrimination, and effective remedy, which are explicitly guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and Taiwan’s constitution.
The Tai Ji Men case has been referred to as a “magical mirror that reflects Taiwan’s legal and tax problems” and “Legal and Tax 228” by scholars and human rights experts. It has been listed by the Control Yuan as a landmark case of human rights violations, and more than 300 legislators of all political parties gave countersignatures, made proposals, questioned government officials, or called press conferences, public hearings, and coordination meetings, pointing out that the National Taxation Bureau broke the law.
The Tai Ji Men culture, the human rights of Tai Ji Men’s shifu and dizi, and their freedom of thought and belief have been severely harmed in Taiwan for a quarter of a century.
A peaceful volunteer in support of Tai Ji Men was even illegally investigated and arrested by the police, and the tactics utilized, such as false accusations and smear campaigns, were similar to those used by prosecutor Hou Kuan-jen in the Tai Ji Men case, demonstrating that the authoritarian era’s legacy lives on, persecuting the people.
The Tai Ji Men case is not an isolated case of state violence against the people. We call on the Taiwanese government to:
implement transitional justice, revoke the illegal tax bills, return Tai Ji Men’s sacred land;
restore the reputations of Tai Ji Men shifu and dizi, clear their names, and return justice to them;
severely punish the unscrupulous officials to prevent similar cases from happening again so that Taiwan can become a true democracy respecting the rule of law, freedom, and human rights.
The icon “Matrona and Stalin” (“Blessed Matrona blesses Joseph Stalin” [) is an icon depicting the Holy Matrona of Moscow (1885-1952) and I.V. Stalin. In 2008, for some time from November 26, she was in the Church of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga in Strelna, Petrodvorets district of St. Petersburg. The author of the icon is the icon painter I. I. Pivnik.
The plot of the icon is common in the hallmarks of the hagiographic icons of St. Matrona, available in the churches of Moscow, Pskov, Kursk and some other cities. According to the initiator of the creation of the icon, priest Eustathius (Zhakov), the icon is “canonical, since it has all the attributes of a holy image.”
The fact of the appearance of the icon in St. Petersburg caused a wide public outcry. According to the statement of the representative of the St. Petersburg diocese: “This is an unauthorized image, since the conversation between St. Matrona and Stalin is just a legend and does not correspond to the real state of affairs.”
Description of the icon
According to the information provided on the official website of the St. Petersburg Metropolis, after the October Revolution, Matrona moved to Moscow. “I lived where I had to – with friends and acquaintances. There is a version that when the Germans threatened to take Moscow, Stalin visited her. The saint said: “The Russian people will win, victory will be yours. You will not leave Moscow alone from the authorities.”
On the icon, the blessed Matrona blesses Stalin for the defense of Moscow. Stalin on the icon is depicted in a full-length overcoat. The icon was created on the initiative of the rector of the temple, hegumen Evstafiy (Zhakov).
According to Father Evstafiy, the icon of the Matrona of Moscow in the church of St. Nicholas, located between the buildings of the Russian State Library in Moscow, prompted him to create the icon. This icon is located near the entrance to the church, and next to it are images of key moments in the life of the saint, and on one of these images the Matrona of Moscow is depicted in the company of Stalin. According to the Dean of the Churches of the Central District of Father Vladimir, the Church of St. Nicholas received the icon as a gift, and it could have been painted by one of the icon painters of the Intercession Monastery, where the relics of St. Matrona are buried.
Hegumen Evstafiy, in an interview with Konstantin Erofeev, spoke about the circumstances of Stalin’s meeting with Matrona:
“In the history of the country and the Russian Orthodox Church there is a certain invariant – a blessing to the saints or a saint of a commander or leader. Let us remember Dimitry Donskoy, blessed by St. Sergius, Minin and Pozharsky, blessed by St. Hermogenes, Mikhail Skobelev, blessed by St. Philaret of Moscow. What is wrong with St. Matrona blessed the leader, who did not leave Moscow and became the organizer of the defense of the capital. Moreover, it is very strange that the Germans did not enter Moscow, although on some days they had every opportunity to occupy the city. The strange actions of the German generals, which cannot be explained logically, as well as the coming frosts – all this reveals the effect of the prayer of St. Matrons. And in the 70s I knew an old woman, Anastasia, who came to visit Valentina Katushkina, a well-known believer in Ivanovo, who had letters of thanks from Archbishop Ambrose. Muscovite Anastasia witnessed the visit of I.V. Stalin to St. Matrona. However, Stalin himself did not want, of course, wide publicity, and Anastasia told this story almost in a whisper, although it was already the 70s. At one time, Anastasia’s story simply shocked me. Stalin’s visit to St. Matrona is an event from the life of a saint. The icon does not lie, it tells the pious truth about the patroness of Moscow.
Public response to the creation of the icon
Individual representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church condemned the actions of hegumen Evstafy Zhakov. In particular, the head of the press service of the Moscow Patriarchate, priest Vladimir Vigilyansky, noted: “Talking about the holiness of Stalin is blasphemy against the memory of the martyrs who died during the Stalinist regime, because under Stalin no one suffered as much as the clergy, who were exterminated by almost a hundred percent. A disciplinary violation has occurred: a cleric has no right to hang a non-canonical icon in the church. The ruling bishop (Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Vladimir) will deal with the act of the priest.”
Some representatives of the St. Petersburg diocese called the actions of the hegumen “sectarianism”, since “one or another character can be venerated as a saint in the church only after canonization.” The head of the missionary department of the diocese, Archpriest Alexander Budnikov: “I think the metropolitan will deal with this priest. We have such church extremists, unfortunately. It is unacceptable to exhibit even non-canonized saints in the temple, and what can we say about such personalities as Stalin. This is a temptation, this self-made, arbitrariness. It confuses people. We cannot confuse believers with such icons. In the near future, this icon from the temple should disappear.”
Hieromonk Job (Gumerov): “There is a myth that I. Stalin came to the blessed old woman Matrona. This is absolutely impossible to assume from what we know about the life of this wondrous saint of God. In 1997, the hierarchy instructed me to prepare materials for the canonization of Matrona Nikonova. I had to collect bits and pieces of information about her. There is nothing that could confirm Stalin’s visit to her. She was driven. Any day I was ready to be arrested. This situation continued until her death on May 2, 1952. An attempt to present a cruel persecutor of the Church as a believing Christian and a benefactor of the Church is dangerous and can only bring spiritual harm. This blurs the boundaries between good and evil.
According to media reports, many parishioners refused to venerate the icon.
In their open letter, received by the Russian Line Orthodox News Agency, the parishioners of the temple note that “in the ongoing persecution, newspapers and television not only distort the facts, but are not embarrassed by outright lies.” The open letter also notes that journalists use their “favorite trick” when “with references to the parishioners of the church, whose names are not named, false information is given that discredits our church and its rector.” According to Vladimir Vigilyansky, this is a very small group of parishioners, “an exception that confirms the rule.
Obesity rates have reached “epidemic” proportions across Europe and are still rising, the World Health Organization (WHO) Office for the region said in a report published on Tuesday.
Nearly two thirds of adults, 59 per cent, and almost one in three children – 29 per cent of boys and 27 per cent of girls – is either overweight or obese, the study has revealed.
Being chronically overweight and obesity are among the leading causes of death and disability in Europe. Estimates suggest they cause more than 1.2 million deaths annually, which corresponds to more than 13 per cent of total mortality in the region.
Obesity also increases the risk for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including 13 different types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and type 2 diabetes. It is likely to be directly responsible for at least 200,000 new cancer cases annually across the region, and this figure is set to rise further in the coming years.
WHOsaidnone of the 53 countries that comprise its European region is on track to meet the agency’s NCD target of halting the rise of obesity by 2025.
Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has also disproportionately affected overweight people and those living with obesity.
WHO said patients with obesity are more likely to experience complications and death from the virus. Many have also experienced disruptions in accessing obesity management services due to the crisis.
Meanwhile, “unfavourable shifts” in food consumption and physical activity patterns during the pandemic will have effects on health in the years ahead and will require significant effort to reverse.
Changing the trajectory
Obesity knows no borders, said Dr. Hans Kluge, the WHO Regional Director, adding that although European countries are diverse, each is challenged to some degree.
“By creating environments that are more enabling, promoting investment and innovation in health, and developing strong and resilient health systems, we can change the trajectory of obesity in the Region,” he said.
The report lays out a series of interventions and policy options for Governments to tackle obesity, emphasizing the need to build back better after the pandemic.
WHO explained that the causes of obesity “are much more complex than the mere combination of unhealthy diet and physical inactivity.”
Latest evidence presented in the report highlights how vulnerability to unhealthy body weight in early life can affect a person’s tendency to develop obesity.
Environmental factors are also driving the rise in obesity in Europe, including digital marketing of unhealthy food to children, and the proliferation of sedentary online gaming, according to the report, which also examines how digital platforms might be used to promote health and well-being.
“Obesity is influenced by the environment, so it is important to look at this problem from the perspective of every stage of life. For example, the life of children and adolescents is impacted by digital environments, including marketing of unhealthy food and drinks,” said Dr Kremlin Wickramasinghe, Acting Head of the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of NCDs, which produced the report.
Address ‘structural drivers’
The policy recommendations in the report include implementing fiscal interventions such as greater taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages or subsidies for healthier foods, restricting the marketing of unhealthy foods to children, and improving access to obesity and overweight management services in primary healthcare.
Efforts to improve diet and physical activity “across the life course” are also suggested, including preconception and pregnancy care, promotion of breastfeeding and school-based interventions, as well as creating environments that improve access to healthy food and physical activity.
WHO said because obesity is complex, no single intervention can halt the rise of the growing epidemic, and any national policies must have high-level political commitment. They should also be comprehensive and target inequalities.
“Efforts to prevent obesity need to consider the wider determinants of the disease, and policy options should move away from approaches that focus on individuals and address the structural drivers of obesity,” the agency said.
Social care providers are facing a perfect storm of workforce challenges and rising cost pressures of service delivery as they are forced to turn down admissions to services and, in severe cases, shut services altogether.
This is according to independent research commissioned by learning disability charity, Hft, which found that three quarters of learning disability care providers turned down new admissions to services in 2021 while more than a third had to close their services permanently due in part to an average staff vacancy rate of nearly 16%.
While nearly all providers believe that increases in staff wages could help recruitment and retention challenges, Hft’s latest Sector Pulse Check report found that 80% of those surveyed say the fees they receive from local authorities to deliver care will not be enough to cover their wage bills, forcing them to dig deep into their own reserves to pay their staff a fair rate.
“Social care staff should be paid a fair wage, one which is commensurate with the responsibilities of the job and that will help reduce high turnover and vacancy rates in the sector,” says Kirsty Matthews, CEO of Hft.
“Despite the introduction of a higher National Living Wage earlier in April, record inflation means that, in real terms, most front-line staff will not see a pay uplift and workforce challenges will persist as employees cope with the cost of living increase” she adds.
Concerningly, one in 10 providers will need to cover 20% of their wage bill from their own reserves, rather than through fees paid by local authorities to deliver the right standard of care to those they support, according to the research. On average, each provider surveyed will need to find £640,000 to cover the cost of wages, stretching the already finite resources of providers further.
This is at a time when the sector is in an increasingly precarious financial position, with 71% of providers reporting they are either in deficit, with costs exceeding funding, or that their surplus has decreased. This has increased from 56% in 2020. Alongside workforce challenges, Hft’s research highlights that financial pressure is forcing providers into difficult decisions such as handing back contracts to local authorities and offering care to fewer people to remain sustainable.
The charity is now calling on the Government to urgently redirect additional funds from the Health and Social Care Levy into social care from year one to ensure there is sufficient funding to cover wages which reflect the real-term cost of living and attract more individuals to work in the sector.
“To ensure that care staff are paid a salary commensurate with the responsibility of the job, and to alleviate the recruitment and retention crisis in the sector, it is vital that additional funds are drawn down from the Levy this year,” says Matthews.
“Only when the learning disability sector is placed on a sustainable financial footing and workforce challenges are addressed will care providers, and the wider health system, thrive together rather than merely survive,” she concludes.
Says Jonas Keck, Economist at Cebr: “The last two years have posed an unprecedented challenge to the social care sector, which had already been struggling prior to the pandemic, as a result of poor funding. The increase in the National Living Wage in April will hit the sector especially hard, as a large number of social care staff are paid at the minimum rate. This will put further financial pressure on already distressed providers, as for the majority, the funding received by local authorities will not be enough to cover the additional costs stemming from higher wages.”
Dr Rhidian Hughes, Chief Executive of the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG), said: “This year’s Hft Sector Pulse Report clearly exposes the extent to which rising cost pressures and critical workforce challenges are impacting on social care providers and the essential care and support services they deliver for disabled people and their families. Consequently, voluntary sector services in particular are becoming unviable, and it is people who draw on social care, and the workforce supporting them, who will be hit the hardest.
“The provision of high-quality care and support services for people with life-long disabilities is the hallmark of an equitable society that supports and protects its citizens. This must be rooted in a robust and sustainable social care system that has embedded within in it, investment, and support for voluntary sector services.
“VODG supports Hft’s call on government to redirect additional funds from the Health and Social Care Levy into social care from year one. This would help alleviate some of the immediate pressures being harshly felt today and go one step towards enabling state-funded services to continue delivering essential services into the future. We strongly encourage government to act on the evidence presented today.”
Sector Pulse Check 2021 is Hft’s fifth annual Sector Pulse Check report, carried out by independent economics and business consultancy Cebr, and the first of its kind to focus primarily on learning disability providers. Based on survey analysis from social care providers, it provides an annual snapshot of the financial health and the challenges faced by the social care sector during 2021, and is an indication of how providers anticipate the next 12 months will progress.
Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of Hft, on Tuesday 3 May, 2022. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/
On May 2nd, the European Parliament made a short presentation of their report Persecution of minorities on the grounds of belief or religion (short presentation), of which The European Times has transcribed the English version of the presentations. For any inconsistencies please verify against the original (here).
MEP Roberts ZĪLE: Now, we are moving to the next point for today’s agenda. It’s a short presentation. Short presentation of a report by Mr Karol Karski. Persecution of minorities on the grounds of belief or religion. I give you the floor for 4 minutes.
MEP Karol KARSKI: Thank you very much, Madam President. Ladies and gentlemen, during this session, we are discussing this report on the persecution of religious minorities in the world. It’s a very wide topic, and it’s also difficult to summarize it in one document. When we were working on the text, I wanted to show a full picture of the situation on various continents and a certain map of problems for different religions or atheists. I needed to use a certain methodology. I needed to grade the problems, and I needed to see which religions are mostly attacked and the countries in which these events are the most frequent. And after analyzing many documents, I think I was able to do so. It turns out, what is probably not surprising, that the most persecuted religious group are Christians, then Muslims and then Jews. The first ones have been persecuted in as many as 145 countries. And for example, atheists have been repressed and persecuted in 18 countries. I’m talking about this because this information was not included in the final form of the report. I don’t know if it was because of political correctness or what was it, but in the report, most political groups did not want to mention any minorities or countries where the persecution is taking place. And it has been a standard right now when it comes to documents, including reports on human rights, where for many years we have not been talking about concrete countries.
And I think it weakens our position. However, the report which we were able to negotiate, still has many important points. It comprehensively lists forms of persecution. It points to the difficult situation of women in many countries, and it also stresses out that all persecution should meet with a decisive reaction from the country itself and the international community. It talks about the religious sites and religious artefacts. We are also giving very concrete proposals for the EU institutions on how to react to persecutions and infringements of rights, including cooperation with churches, religious groups and human rights defenders. What is also important is the recommendations, which should be periodically assessed and updated in cooperation with all these groups. Religious, religious-based persecution should also be a part of countries’ strategies of the EU, and our delegations should pay attention to these issues.
To sum up, I think this report fulfils its role. It should point to the attention of public opinion and EU institutions on the persecution of religious groups, atheists and the attacks that are directed at them in many places in the world. I regret that we could not be more precise and concrete in showing particular countries and particular regions, even though in many places in the report reading from the context, you may realize what I’m talking about. I know that in several articles, some MEPs wanted to vote separately. There are also some amendments. I think that you may support them. I would advise you to support these amendments. And I also want to help to thank all the shadow rapporteurs. Thank you very much.
MEP Peter VanDalen: Thank you, president. I co-operated on this report. Particular attention to the persecution of religious minorities is scant in this Parliament. I was pleased to be involved in producing this report. We need to look at specific names and organizations persecuted because of their religious beliefs. No names were listed in the report and that is a shame. I would point to a report put together by the Intergroup for Religious Freedoms. I am co-chair together with another MEP and in this report, you can see what happened between 2017 and 2021 and you will see many tangible examples of individuals persecuted for their religious beliefs. So I would urge you to download this report and read it. We in the Parliament need to follow up on this, and I would urge the Commission to look at religious persecution. This has taken far too long.
MEP Bert-Jan RUISSEN: Thank you, President. My thanks also to the rapporteur for presenting this report. A useful report on the persecution of religious minorities. I share his concerns with Mr Van Dalen. Christians are barely named in this report. I think that is a shame. I really don’t understand the fact that in this report the faithful are criticized for their position on abortion. It is indefensible. This is a subject that goes beyond the scope of this report. It is not the point of the report. Last but not least, it is important that we protect life, including the life of the unborn. We shouldn’t be criticizing the faithful. We should praise them for their concerns and their care for the life of all. Thank you.
MEP Soraya RODRIGUEZ RAMOS: In this parliament, we’ve spoken about religious minorities, a number of different reports on human rights, which touch upon the persecution of all minorities, religious and others. But we have also wanted in this particular report to not put together a hierarchy of suffering, but we wanted to speak about the instrument fertilization of belief or religion in the creation of legislation which deliberately persecutes individuals. The criminalization of different groups and now go beyond religions and confessions. But the LGBT groups, for example, in Uganda and legislation which discriminates against women as well. And here we ought to remember there are a number of countries which still have not ratified the Istanbul convention. So indeed, this is very important. But let’s go beyond faith as well. Thank you very much to the rapporteur.
MEP Miriam LEXMANN: Thank you very much. Dear colleagues, from Nigeria to China, the state of religious freedom continues to deteriorate from genocide to legal restrictions. Hundreds of millions of believers, be there Christians, Muslims, Buddhists or other groups, are facing terrible suffering every day. Why? Our welcome. The EP’s report on the persecution of Religious Freedom. I cannot help but to express my dismay at the way this report has been hijacked to the to stigmatize religion itself. Today, religious persecution is one of the key drivers of many of the challenges the world faces. And that is why not an ideological anti-religious stance, but firm support for the persecuted around the world, together with the appointment of a new Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion, supported with the right instruments, must be the priority. Thank you.
MEP Carlo FIDANZA: Thank you, President. In the Religious Freedom Intergroup, we’ve been expecting this report for some time. And I’d really like to thank colleague Mr Karski, who has worked very hard on this report and also on the negotiations following on from it. Unfortunately, I agree with colleagues that despite the exceptional efforts, this negotiation proved very difficult. All the references denouncing the situation in which millions of the faithful, first and foremost Christians accounting for 80%, but also Bahai, Uyghur, Rohingya and many others were taken out. And also references to the regimes from China, Nigeria to Pakistan responsible for that were taken out. We’re saying that they’re suffering for their faith, but not saying whose fault it is. Also, the topic of abortion, a resolution, a very important resolution, is being used to assert an ideological agenda. For this reason, and I close with Mr President, together with other colleagues, we’ve tabled a number of separate vote amendments because we want to be free to defend those suffering because of their faith without having to go along with the only way of looking at things or left house.
MEP Stanislav POLČÁK: Yes. Thank you, President. I also call for freedom of religion, which is linked to the freedom of expression, and those are fundamental human rights. And breaching these rights is unacceptable. It is equally unacceptable to say to try to persecute believers by restricting their human rights or breaching their lives or integrity. All these crimes have to be prosecuted. Unfortunately, many of these crimes are not reported or remain unpunished. It is surprising that in this century, in this decade, we still have countries where religious laws, for example, on blasphemy, I have priority over national law. That is unacceptable. And we should focus on the tools that we do have that I mentioned in the report. Development aid and, uh, trade agreements. We should use these tools to make the 26 of March a day of victims of religious persecution so that we really done something.
MEP Eugen TOMAC: Thank you, President. I grew up in the Soviet time in the USSR in Ukraine, and I know that there was this ban on spiritual identity with churches banned then and now. There’s the situation that we see when Patriarch Kirill, alongside Putin, is for some interests we don’t understand allowing these attacks on Christians in Ukraine and the demolition of churches. I’ve been in a number of countries with the European Parliament in Iraq, where I met with the Patriarch of Babylon and saw what it means to be a Christian in Iraq and what it means to have that identity there. And that’s the importance of debating these topics. And I congratulate those who initiated this report. Thank you.
Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski: Thank you very much. Mr President, honourable members of the European Parliament. The European Union defends the right of every individual to freedom of religion and belief. Marginalization and scapegoating of persons belonging to religious minorities and atheists can be an early warning or already sign of more severe persecution that in turn can drive to conflict and even a wider crackdown on the whole society. I would like to thank the rapporteur, Mr Karski, and all members of the European Parliament who have contributed to this timely report on the persecution of minorities on grounds of belief or religion, which provides clear recommendations on how the European Union should continue to spearhead the protection and promotion of freedom of religion or belief. Her. We take good note of some key recommendations, such as the need to increase public diplomacy on freedom of religion or belief, to work on the situation of minorities in conflict situation and the protection of religious citizens, as well as the strong call to the European Union to continue its firm action at the multilateral level in line with the European Union Action Plan on human rights and democracy. Freedom of religion or belief remains an essential priority of our external, external human rights policy. Accordingly, many EU delegations have enshrined it has a priority in their human rights country strategies. Let me assure you that the EU stands in solidarity with the victims.
The line with all our partners across the world is clear. The European Union has consistently and equivocal condemns discrimination, intolerance, persecution and violence against or by any person based on grounds of religion or belief. We call on countries to protect the right for everybody to have or not have a religion or belief to manifest or to change their religion or belief. While condemning the criminalization of apostasy and the abuse of blasphemy laws. Over the past year, we carried out key actions to promote and protect freedom of religion or belief, such as raising our concerns of violent violations in around 20 human rights dialogues. Issuing high-level statements such as an EU declaration on the occasion of the International Day commemorating the victims of religious persecution. And for all our work in multilateral fora, the latest resolution on freedom of religion or belief adopted by consensus during the last Human Rights Council session renewed the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. In addition, we also closely exchange on freedom of religion or belief with regional organizations, in particular, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation through regular senior official meetings or the Istanbul Process. We look forward to continuing to cooperate closely with the European Parliament in identifying and addressing the most serious violations of freedom of religion or belief around the world. Thank you.
