Myanmar: Mandatory conscription shows junta’s ‘desperation’, rights expert says

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22 February 2024

Myanmar: Mandatory conscription shows junta’s ‘desperation’, rights expert says

Describing the move as a further sign of the junta’s “weakness and desperation”, Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews called for stronger international action to protect vulnerable populations across the country.

“While wounded and increasingly desperate, the Myanmar military junta remains extremely dangerous,” he said. “Troop losses and recruitment challenges have become existential threats for the junta, which faces vigorous attacks on frontlines all across the country.”

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Filling the ranks

The junta issued an order on 10 February that he said purportedly brought the 2010 People’s Military Service Law into force.

Men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 can now be drafted into the army, though “professional” men and women up to the ages of 45 and 35, respectively, also may be conscripted.

The plan is to enroll 5,000 people per month starting in April. Those who evade military service, or help others to do so, are subject to up to five years imprisonment.

Appeal for action

“As the junta forces young men and women into the military ranks, it has doubled down on its attacks on civilians using stockpiles of powerful weapons,” Mr. Andrews said.

He added that in the face of inaction by the UN Security Council, countries must strengthen and coordinate measures to reduce the junta’s access to the weapons and financing it needs to sustain attacks on the population.

“Make no mistake, signs of desperation, such as the imposition of a draft, are not indications that the junta and its forces are less of a threat to the people of Myanmar. In fact, many are facing even greater dangers,” he said.

A child at an internally displaced persons (IDP) centre in Myanmar. (file)

Coup, conflict and casualties

The military seized power in Myanmar three years ago, deposing the elected Government. Army forces have since been battling with armed opposition groups, sparking mass displacement and casualties.

Latest UN figures show that nearly 2.7 million people remain internally displaced nationwide, which includes almost 2.4 million who were uprooted after the February 2021 military takeover.

Conflict continues to rage in various parts of the country, with a deteriorating situation in Rakhine state, located on the western coast, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, reported earlier this week.

Rakhine has seen escalating fighting between the armed forces and the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group, which has constrained humanitarian access, despite escalating needs.

Meanwhile, a ceasefire continues to hold in northern Shan state, allowing most of the people who were displaced at the end of 2023 to return home. Almost 23,000 civilians who fled the conflict escalation in the region last year remain displaced in 141 sites in 15 townships.

OCHA added that the conflict situation in northwest and southeast Myanmar continues, with armed clashes, airstrikes and mortar shelling threatening civilian safety and driving displacement.

Young people ‘horrified’

For Mr. Andrews, the junta’s decision to activate the conscription law is an attempt to justify and expand a pattern of forced recruitment that is already affecting people across the country.

He said that in recent months, young men have reportedly been kidnapped from the streets of Myanmar’s cities or otherwise forced to join the military, while villagers have reportedly been used as porters and human shields.

“Young people are horrified by the possibility of being forced to participate in the junta’s reign of terror. The numbers fleeing across borders to escape conscription will surely skyrocket,” he warned.

The rights expert called for an infusion of humanitarian aid for impacted communities in Myanmar, including through the provision of cross-border aid, as well as greater support for leaders committed to a democratic transition.

“Now, more than ever, the international community must act urgently to isolate the junta and protect the people of Myanmar,” he said.

About UN rapporteurs

Special Rapporteurs like Mr. Andrews are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council and given mandates to report on specific country situations or thematic issues.

These experts work on a voluntary basis and are independent of any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and are neither UN staff nor are they paid for their work.

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Afforestation of Africa threatens grasslands and savannahs

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22 February 2024

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New research warns that Africa’s tree-planting campaign poses a double jeopardy as it will damage ancient CO2-absorbing grass ecosystems while failing to fully restore depleted forests, the Financial Times reports.

The article, published in the journal Science, focuses on one particular project, the 34-Country Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100), explains the FT: “The initiative aims to restore at least 100 million hectares of degraded land – an area the size of Egypt – in Africa by 2030…

Among the supporters of the initiative are the German government, the World Bank and the non-profit World Resources Institute.

However, according to the document, about half of the approximately 130 million hectares that African countries have committed to restoring through the AFR100 are designated for non-forest ecosystems, mainly savannah and grassland.

The researchers say they were able to find evidence of only one AFR100 project – in Kenya – dedicated to grassland restoration. More than half a dozen non-forest countries have made AFR100 commitments, including Chad and Namibia.”

Lead author Prof Kate Parr told the Guardian that “ecosystem restoration is necessary and important, but it must be done in a way that is appropriate for each system.

Non-forest systems such as savannas are misclassified as forests and are therefore considered to need restoration with trees…

There is an urgent need to revise the definitions so that savannas are not confused with forests because the increase in trees is a threat to the integrity and sustainability of savannas and grasslands.”

Trees can harm these ecosystems by providing too much shade, writes New Scientist: “This can prevent smaller plants from photosynthesizing, which would have knock-on effects for other ecosystems.”

Illustrative Photo by Dawid Sobarnia: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-working-at-a-coffee-plantation-14894619/

Alexandrian Holy Synod deposed the new Russian exarch in Africa

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22 February 2024

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On February 16, at the meeting in the ancient monastery “St. George” in Cairo the H. Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria decided to depose Bishop Constantine (Ostrovsky) of Zaraysk from the Russian Orthodox Church.

On October 11 last year, he was appointed acting “Patriarchal Exarch of Africa” in place of Metropolitan Leonid (Gorbachev).

The latter was deprived of his episcopal rank on November 22, 2022 by a decision of the Synod of Alexandria for similar canonical violations: entering the canonical jurisdiction of the Alexandrian Patriarchate, distributing holy ointment, seducing the local clergy and inciting them to schism, as well as promoting ethnophyleticism.

Prior to this, the Alexandrian Patriarch Theodore II repeatedly appealed to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, with a request to abolish the Russian “exarchate” in Africa.

The official ruling states:

“The Holy Synod proceeded to depose the acting “Patriarchal Plenipotentiary in Africa”, former Bishop Constantine of Zaraysk, from the high rank of bishop, who, after settling arbitrarily in Cairo, Egypt, within the seat of the Holy Archdiocese of Alexandria, committed a number of canonical violations : encroaching on the jurisdiction of the ancient cathedral, handing out antiminses, buying with money local clergy and even excommunicated ones, creating factions, ethnophiletic divisions, etc., while (the synod) again condemned the new ecclesiastical-political “theories” for the pastoral care of the “Russian World” around the world on the basis of nationality”.

European Union and Sweden Discuss Ukraine Support, Defence, and Climate Change

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22 February 2024

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Photocredit: European Commission. Screenshot of video.

Brussels, 22 February 2024. In a significant meeting at the heart of the European Union, President von der Leyen welcomed Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson, highlighting the importance of their discussions. The President expressed her gratitude, stating, “It is a great pleasure to have you here, Prime Minister, dear Ulf, at the heart of the European Union. We will certainly have a lot to discuss. So thank you very much for taking the time to meet here.”

One of the key topics on the agenda was the unwavering support for Ukraine. President von der Leyen commended Prime Minister Kristersson for Sweden’s recent announcement of a substantial military support package for Ukraine, valued at EUR 710 million. She acknowledged Sweden’s steadfast support for Ukraine, stating, “From the very beginning on, you have been a staunch supporter of Ukraine, and thank you for that.”

The discussion also revolved around the topic of defense, with a focus on enhancing European defense capabilities. President von der Leyen emphasized the importance of European involvement in defense, stating, “European citizens want more Europe in defense.” She highlighted the upcoming European defense industrial strategy and welcomed Prime Minister Kristersson’s insights, noting Sweden’s strong defense industrial base and its path towards NATO membership.

Addressing the pressing issue of climate change, both leaders discussed strategies to combat climate change and ensure economic competitiveness. President von der Leyen underscored the significance of achieving climate goals and transitioning to a clean and circular economy. She emphasized the need to focus not only on the ‘what’ but also on the ‘how’ of reaching these goals, highlighting the importance of improving economic competitiveness while pursuing environmental sustainability.

With a packed agenda encompassing support for Ukraine, defense cooperation, and climate action, the meeting between the European Union and Sweden promises to pave the way for enhanced collaboration and shared goals in the realms of security and sustainability.

There is an architecture and there is a craftsmanship of interfaith dialogue

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22 February 2024

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ROME – “There is an architecture and there is a craftsmanship of interfaith dialogue” that is, the major themes underlying the relationship between religions and their connection to daily living, as reported by the TusciaTimes.eu

It was from this interesting starting point, born of the cultural vivacity of presenter Paolo Bonini, that on Saturday, Feb. 17, a meeting entitled THE DIMENSION OF UNIVERSALITY: A CROSSROAD FOR UNDERSTANDING, SOLIDARITY AND MULTUCULTURALITY was held at the Church of Scientology Auditorium in Rome.

An event in line with the intent of the United Nations General Assembly resolution in 2010 that proclaimed World Interfaith Harmony Week, on stage, prompted by Bonini’s questions and reflections, interacted in dialogue: Maria Rosaria Fazio, professor of Biblical Hebrew; Assem Migahed, intellectual researcher of Islamic spirituality and science; Giuseppe Cicogna, vice president of Fedensieme ApS and spokesperson for the Church of Scientology; Fabio Grementieri, creator of the educational theme park in Santiago Estero (Argentina); Gustavo Guillerme’, president of the World Congress of Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue; and Massimo AbdAllah Cozzolino, of the Italian Islamic Confederation.

Also diverse was the audience composed of religious and non-religious people, including representatives from Theravada Buddhists, Catholics, Scientologists, Soka Gakkai Buddhists, Anglican Church of Europe, UAAR (Union of Rationalist Agnostics Atheists), Afghan Community and cultural mediators.

Themed musical interludes by Maurizio De Simone (guitar), Francesco Passarelli (vocals) and Samuele Bonini (vocals) punctuated the rhythm and melody of a cultural crossroads where the pinnacles of religious and secular thought find harmony and build tangible peace on the ground, despite the current context in which even talking about peace might seem paradoxical.

If a common summary could be drawn from the various speeches and testimonies, perhaps it would sound like this: “Wars have seemingly endless propaganda, means and material interests that are difficult to surmount. But peace can and must be cultivated and made to grow within each one of us; and it is thanks to moments like today’s [last Saturday Ed] – which occur continuously in different forms and in different places in the world – that we can and must continue to build a better present and future.”

Modern bird brains reveal evolutionary history of flight, dating back to the dinosaurs

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22 February 2024

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Modern bird brains reveal evolutionary history of flight, dating back to the dinosaurs

Evolutionary biologists report they have combined PET scans of modern pigeons along with studies of dinosaur fossils to help answer an enduring question in biology: How did the brains of birds evolve to enable them to fly?

ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== Modern bird brains reveal evolutionary history of flight, dating back to the dinosaurs

A bird – illustrative photo. Image credit: Pixabay (Free Pixabay license)

The answer appears to be an adaptive increase in the size of the cerebellum in some fossil vertebrates. The cerebellum is a region at the back of the bird brain that is responsible for movement and motor control.

The research findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

“We found that when birds transition from rest to flight, circuits in the cerebellum are activated more than in any other part of the brain,” said study co-author Paul Gignac, an associate professor in the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, studying neuroanatomy and evolution. He is also a research associate for the American Museum of Natural History.

“We then looked at the skull corresponding to this region in dinosaur and bird fossils to track when the cerebellum enlarged,” Gignac said. “The first pulse of enlargement occurred before dinosaurs took wing, which shows that avian flight uses ancient and well-conserved neural relays, but with uniquely elevated levels of activity.”

Scientists have long thought that the cerebellum should be important in bird flight, but they lacked direct evidence. To pinpoint its value, the new research combined modern PET scan imaging data of ordinary pigeons with the fossil record, examining brain regions of birds during flight and braincases of ancient dinosaurs. PET scans show how organs and tissues are working.

“Powered flight among vertebrates is a rare event in evolutionary history,” said lead author Amy Balanoff, from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

In fact, just three groups of vertebrates, or animals with a backbone, evolved to fly: extinct pterosaurs – the terrors of the sky during the Mesozoic period, which ended over 65 million years ago – bats and birds, said Balanoff. The three flying groups are not closely related on the evolutionary tree, and the key factors that enabled flight in all three have remained unclear.

Besides the outward physical adaptations for flight, such as long upper limbs, certain kinds of feathers, a streamlined body and other features, the team designed research to find features that created a flight-ready brain.

To do so, the team included biomedical engineers at Stony Brook University in New York to compare the brain activity of modern pigeons before and after flight.

The researchers performed PET scans to compare activity in 26 regions of the brain when the bird was at rest and immediately after it flew for 10 minutes from one perch to another. They scanned eight birds on different days. PET scans use a compound similar to glucose that can be tracked to where it’s most absorbed by brain cells, indicating increased use of energy and thus activity. The tracker degrades and gets excreted from the body within a day or two.

Of the 26 regions, one area – the cerebellum – had statistically significant increases in activity levels between resting and flying in all eight birds. Overall, the level of activity increase in the cerebellum differed significantly, compared with other areas of the brain.

The researchers also detected increased brain activity in the so-called optic flow pathways, a network of brain cells that connects the retina in the eye to the cerebellum. These pathways process movement across the visual field.

Balanoff said the team’s findings of activity increase in the cerebellum and optic flow pathways weren’t necessarily surprising, since the areas have been hypothesized to play a role in flight.

What was new in their research was linking the cerebellum findings of flight-enabled brains in modern birds to the fossil record that showed how the brains of birdlike dinosaurs began to develop brain conditions for powered flight.

To do so, the team used a digitized database of endocasts, or molds of the internal space of dinosaur skulls, which, when filled, resemble the brain.

They then identified and traced a sizable increase in cerebellum volume to some of the earliest species of maniraptoran dinosaurs, which preceded the first appearances of powered flight among ancient bird relatives, including Archaeopteryx, a winged dinosaur.

The researchers led by Balanoff also found evidence in the endocasts of an increase in tissue folding in the cerebellum of early maniraptorans, an indication of increasing brain complexity.

The researchers cautioned that these are early findings, and brain activity changes during powered flight could also occur during other behaviors, such as gliding. They also note that their tests involved straightforward flying, without obstacles and with an easy flight path, and other brain regions may be more active during complex flight maneuvers.

The research team plans next to pinpoint precise areas in the cerebellum that enable a flight-ready brain and the neural connections between these structures.

Scientific theories for why the brain gets bigger throughout evolutionary history include the need to traverse new and different landscapes, setting the stage for flight and other locomotive styles, said co-author Gabriel Bever of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Other study authors include Elizabeth Ferrer of the American Museum of Natural History and Samuel Merritt University; Lemise Saleh and Paul Vaska of Stony Brook University; M. Eugenia Gold of the American Museum of Natural History and Suffolk University; Jesús Marugán-Lobón of the Autonomous University of Madrid; Mark Norell of the American Museum of Natural History; David Ouellette of Weill Cornell Medical College; Michael Salerno of the University of Pennsylvania; Akinobu Watanabe of the American Museum of Natural History, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine and Natural History Museum of London; and Shouyi Wei of the New York Proton Center.

This research was funded by the National Science Foundation.

Source: University of Arizona

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France releases coins for the Olympics

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22 February 2024

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This summer, Paris will be the capital not only of France, but also of world sports!

The occasion? The 33rd edition of the Summer Olympics, hosted by the city, is expected to attract over 15 million people from around the world eager to witness new sporting records and achievements.

To mark the upcoming event, France has released a series of 3 commemorative €2 coins dedicated to the Olympic Games.

Which other member states have issued special sports-themed euro coins over the years and what is the story behind each one?

1) 100 years of basketball in Lithuania

The first official basketball meeting in the country is believed to have taken place on April 23, 1922. The image shows in the center the outline of the map of Lithuania represented as a basketball court. The coin also features the inscriptions “LIETUVA” (Lithuania), “1922-2022” and the Lithuanian Mint logo, located in a semicircle around the center. The 12 stars of the European Union are depicted on the outer ring of the coin.

Mintage: 750,000 coins

2) Portugal’s participation in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The coin features a stylized image of the symbol of the National Olympic Committee of Portugal. Around it are written the words “Portugal nos Jogos Olímpicos de Tóquio’20 2021”.

Mintage: 500,000 coins

3) Ski World Cup Finals 2019

The 2019 Ski World Cup Finals took place in the Principality of Andorra from 11 to 17 March 2019. For Andorra, it is one of the most prestigious winter sports events ever held in the country and a turning point in its history as a sports destination.

The coin features a skier descending a slope in the foreground. In the background, four curved lines from the official logo of these ski world cup finals represent the slopes on which the competition takes place. Several snowflakes complete the image along with the inscription “FINALS DE LA COPA DEL MÓN D’ESQUÍ ANDORRA 2019”.