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

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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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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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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”.

The 12 stars of the European Union are depicted on the outer ring of the coin.

Mintage: 60,000 coins

4) 100th anniversary of the birth of the famous Estonian chess grandmaster Paul Keres

The coin depicts the great Estonian chess player Paul Keres with several chess pieces. In the upper left, in a semicircle, is the inscription “PAUL KERES”. Under it, the name of the issuing country “EESTI” and the year of issue – “2016” are located in two lines.

The 12 stars of the European Union are depicted on the outer ring of the coin.

Mintage: 500,000 coins

5) Portugal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The coin features an image based on the famous artwork of the author Joanna Vasconcelos “The Heart of Viana”, inspired by the traditional jewelry of Northern Portugal (around the city of Viana do Castelo). It symbolizes the support of the Portuguese people for the national team at the Olympic Games. To the left and right of the semicircle are the inscriptions “JOANA VASCONCELOS” and “EQUIPA OLÍMPICA DE PORTUGAL 2016” respectively. At the bottom is the mint mark “INCM”.

The 12 stars of the European Union are depicted on the outer ring of the coin.

Mintage: 650,000 coins

6) Belgium at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The inner circle of the coin depicts, from top to bottom, a stylized human figure, the five Olympic rings and the inscription “TEAM BELGIUM”. On the left side of the coin is an inscription indicating the year “2016”. On the right side of the coin, between the Brussels mintmark (helmeted head of the archangel Michael) and the mintmaster’s mark, is the inscription “BE”, indicating the nationality.

The 12 stars of the European Union are depicted on the outer ring of the coin.

Mintage: 375,000 coins

7) The 2016 European Football Championship.

The fifteenth European Football Championship was held in France from June 10 to July 10, 2016. The winner of the competition was awarded the Henri Delaunay Cup in miniature format, named after the initiator of the competition.

The image of the coin features the Henri Delaunay bowl in the center of an outline depicting the map of France, together with the two hallmarks of the Paris Mint. The designation “RF” (République Française – French Republic) is located to the right of the map of France, and the name of the competition “UEFA EURO 2016 France” is located above it. Below the card in the foreground is a ball. In the background of this ensemble are graphic elements representing the competition.

The 12 stars of the European Union are depicted on the outer ring of the coin.

Mintage: 10 million coins

8) 75 years in memory of Spiros Louis – the first Olympic champion in the marathon in the history of the modern Olympic Games

Spiros Louis and the cup he won are depicted in the background of the Panathinaiko Stadium. On the edge of the inner part of the coin there are two inscriptions in Greek – “REPUBLIC OF GREECE” (the name of the issuing country) and “75 YEARS IN MEMORY OF SPIROS LOUIS”. The year of issue “2015” is inscribed above the bowl, and a palmette (the mark of the Greek mint) is placed to the right. The artist’s monogram (Yorgos Stamatopoulos) is placed at the bottom of the image.

The 12 stars of the European Union are depicted on the outer ring of the coin.

Mintage: 750,000 coins

9) 150 years since the birth of Pierre de Coubertin, initiator of the revival of the Olympic Games and first president of the International Olympic Committee

In the inner circle of the coin is the face of the young Pierre de Coubertin against a background of stylized Olympic rings. They are a framework for silhouettes symbolizing the Olympic sports. To the left of the portrait, the letters “RF” denoting the issuing country are located above the year of issue “2013”. The name “PIERRE DE COUBERTIN” is inscribed along the upper edge of the inner circle of the coin.

The 12 stars of the European Union are depicted on the outer ring of the coin.

Mintage: 1 million coins

10) World Summer Special Olympics Games – “Athens 2011”

The first minted commemorative €2 coin is dedicated to the return of the modern Olympic Games to their homeland – Greece.

The 12 stars of the European Union, located on the outer ring of the coin, surround an image of an antique statue representing a discus thrower at the moment of swing. The base of the statue continues onto the outer ring of the coin. The logo of the Olympic Games “ATHENS 2004” with the five Olympic rings is on the left, the number “2” above the word “ΕΥΡΩ” is on the right. The year of issue, in the middle of the lower part of the coin, is separated by a star as follows: 20*04. The mintmark is located at the top left of the athlete’s head.

The 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games were held during Summer 2011 in Athens, Greece, from 25 June to 4 July 2011. Special Olympics is a non-profit organization that was officially founded in 1968, giving form to the vision of it’s founder, Eunice Kennedy-Shriver (1921-2009), sister of USA President John F Kennedy. The center of the coin shows the emblem of the Games, a radiant sun the source of life that underlines the excellence and power of the athlete that takes part in the Games. Excellence is depicted in the olive branch and power in the spiral form in the center of the sun. Around the image is written the sign XIII SPECIAL OLYMPICS W.S.G. ATHENS 2011 as well as the issuing country

Mintage: 1 million coins

11) Second Lusophone games

The coin was issued on the occasion of the 2009 games for Portuguese-speaking countries. It depicts a gymnast spinning a long ribbon in a spiral. The Portuguese coat of arms and the name of the issuing country – “PORTUGAL” are located in the upper part. At the bottom is the inscription “2.os JOGOS DA LUSOFONIA LISBOA”, between the initials “INCM” to the left and the artist’s name “J. AURÉLIO’ on the right. The year “2009” is written above gymnastics.

The outer ring of the coin features the 12 stars of the European Union on a background of concentric circles.

Mintage: 1.25 million coins

Photo: Greece 2 euros 2011 – XIII Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Diameter: 25.75mm Thickness – 2.2mm Weight – 8.5gr

Composition: BiAlloy (Nk/Ng), ring Cupronickel (75% copper – 25% nickel clad on nickel core), center Nickel brass

Edge: Edge lettering (Hellenic Republic), fine milled

Comments – Designer: Georgios Stamatopoulos

Legend: XIII SPECIAL OLYMPICS W.S.G. ATHENS 2011 – HELLENIC REPUBLIC

Issue date: June 2011

UN food agency ramps up deliveries amid worsening food security in Ethiopia

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UN food agency ramps up deliveries amid worsening food security in Ethiopia

“WFP, with our partners, are working tirelessly to reach millions of Ethiopians at risk of hunger in the first quarter of the year to help keep a major humanitarian catastrophe at bay,” said Chris Nikoi, the agency’s interim Country Director in Ethiopia.

“WFP is extremely concerned about the deteriorating food security in northern Ethiopia, where many are already facing severe hunger,” he stressed.

Activating more robust delivery mechanisms to its operations in Ethiopia since late 2023, the agency is working to ensure the delivery of critical food assistance to the hungriest populations affected by drought, flooding and conflict.

The food agency’s refugee operations are also crucial, the agency reported. As the conflict in Sudan that began in April 2023 continues to drive flows of refugees, an additional 200,000 Sudanese refugees are expected to arrive in Ethiopia, putting a strain on WFP’s refugee assistance if no additional funding is received.

Rising hunger

WFP has so far digitally registered almost 6.2 million of the most vulnerable people in Afar, Amhara, Tigray and Somali regions, WFP’s Mr. Nikoi said.

Late last week, the agency and the Ethiopian Government issued a joint appeal for urgent funding to respond to rising hunger in the north.

To date, more than six million people are already receiving food and cash across affected areas, but large gaps remain, OCHA warned on Friday.

Since resuming food distribution in early December, WFP has made deliveries to 1.2 million people in those regions, with a view to reaching three million people in the coming weeks, of which almost two million are in Tigray.

However, the agency urgently needs $142 million to replenish its limited food stocks in the country so it can keep reaching and delivering assistance to the most vulnerable people until June 2024 and to respond to the drought at scale.

“If WFP doesn’t receive additional funding, we will have to cease food distributions to refugees in April,” Mr. Nikoi said.

Children having porridge following the resumption of refugee food assistance in the Bokolmayo refugee camp in the Somali region of Ethiopia.

Partnering to feed millions and build resilience

The Government of Ethiopia’s most recent assessment of food security needs projected that 15.8 million people will face hunger and need food assistance in 2024, including more than four million internally displaced people and 7.2 million who have high levels of acute food insecurity and need emergency assistance.

The overall goal is to provide food assistance to 40 per cent of the 7.2 million, if resources are available, while the government and other partners will support the rest, WFP stated.

A key element of the agency’s response is transitioning from humanitarian relief to resilience programmes.

To that end, WFP aims to reach 1.4 million people in 2024 with activities that strengthen livelihoods and food systems in Ethiopia, including schemes to harvest water, irrigate land and improve access to markets as well as providing training on agricultural best practices and post-harvest loss technologies.

Learn more about how WFP is helping Ethiopia here.

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Ursula von der Leyen Nominated as EPP Lead Candidate for European Commission Presidency

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Von der Leyen
(c) European Union 2021.

In a decisive move within the European People’s Party (EPP), the submission period for lead candidate nominations for the Presidency of the European Commission closed today at 12 pm CET. EPP President Manfred Weber received a singular nomination letter from Christlich Demokratische Union (CDU, Germany), putting forth Ursula von der Leyen as the lead candidate. This nomination was further bolstered by endorsements from two EPP member parties, Platforma Obywatelska (PO, Poland), and Nea Demokratia (ND, Greece), solidifying von der Leyen’s candidacy.

The upcoming steps in the selection process, as outlined in the “Procedure and Timetable for Candidacies,” entail a review of the nomination at the EPP Political Assembly scheduled for 5 March 2024. Following validation, the candidacy will proceed to a crucial vote at the Party Congress in Bucharest on 7 March 2024. With no other candidates put forward, all eyes are on the EPP’s internal proceedings as they pave the way for the selection of their lead candidate for the prestigious role of European Commission Presidency. The nomination of Ursula von der Leyen sets the stage for a significant moment in European politics, marking a pivotal juncture in the path towards determining the future leadership of the European Commission.

The process of selecting lead candidates for the European Commission Presidency, also known as the Spitzenkandidaten process, gained prominence in the 2014 European Parliament elections. This innovative approach aimed to enhance the democratic legitimacy of the European Union by linking the election results directly to the appointment of the Commission President. The lead candidate of the political group that secures the most seats in the European Parliament is traditionally nominated for the Commission Presidency, subject to approval by the European Council.

While the Spitzenkandidaten process has faced challenges and debates over its legitimacy and implementation, it remains a significant mechanism for engaging European citizens in the selection of the Commission President. The nomination of Ursula von der Leyen as the EPP lead candidate underscores the continued relevance and evolution of this process in shaping the future leadership of the European Union. As the EPP progresses through its internal review and voting procedures, the outcome will not only determine the party’s candidate but also influence the broader political landscape of the European Commission.

World News in Brief: Papua New Guinea violence, Ukraine’s displaced, $2.6 billion DR Congo appeal

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World News in Brief: Papua New Guinea violence, Ukraine’s displaced, .6 billion DR Congo appeal

Authorities are urged to engage with provincial and local leaders in a dialogue to achieve durable peace and respect for human rights in the remote Highlands region.

The appeal follows the latest outbreak of violence between warring tribes in the Pacific Island nation, which occurred on Sunday in Enga province. At least 26 people were killed. 

Deadly conflicts escalating  

OHCHR Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence said conflicts among 17 tribal groups have progressively escalated, since elections in 2022, over a range of issues including land disputes and clan rivalries.  

“The clashes have increasingly turned deadly due to a proliferation of firearms and ammunition in the region,” he said. “We call on the Government to ensure the surrender of all arms, particularly mass-produced firearms.” 

OHCHR urged the Government to take immediate measures to address the root causes of the violence, and to work toward tribal reconciliation.  

The Highland communities, particularly women and girls, must be protected, and further harm to them prevented. 

A woman walks past her damaged home in Horenka village in Kyiv Oblast.

Ukraine: Ongoing war prolongs uncertainty among displaced people 

The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine enters a third year this week, prolonging uncertainty and exile for millions who have been displaced, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) warned on Tuesday. 

Almost 6.5 million Ukrainians are now refugees globally, while some 3.7 million remain forcibly displaced inside the country. 

UNHCR recently surveyed some 9,900 of the refugees and internally displaced people. 

Preliminary findings revealed that the majority still expressed a desire to return home one day. However, the proportion has declined, with more expressing uncertainty due to the ongoing war. 

Displaced Ukrainians cited the prevailing insecurity at home as the main factor inhibiting their return, while other concerns included a lack of economic opportunities and housing. 

UNHCR is seeking $993 million to support people both inside Ukraine and those living as refugees in host countries. The appeal is currently just 13 per cent funded.

$2.6 billion appeal for DR Congo 

Humanitarians and the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo have launched a $2.6 billion appeal to provide life-saving assistance and protection to more than eight million people in the country.

New outbreaks of violence, particularly in the volatile eastern region, are forcing affected populations to be repeatedly displaced.

There are currently some 6.7 million internally displaced people in the DRC – which is also facing serious flooding and a resurgence of measles and cholera epidemics, thus increasing the vulnerability of people affected by more than three decades of armed conflict. 

Beyond the immediate crises, chronic needs and vulnerabilities persist in the DRC. 

Estimates indicate that nearly 25.4 million people will be food insecure this year, while 8.4 million will be affected by acute malnutrition. Additionally, more than a million children no longer go to school due to armed conflicts. 

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Statement by the Conference of Presidents on the death of Alexei Navalny

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By Evgeny Feldman, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=116010713

On Wednesday, the European Parliament’s Conference of Presidents (President and political groups’ leaders) made the following statement on the death of Alexei Navalny.

We the leaders of the Political Groups of the European Parliament express our outrage following the murder of the 2021 Sakharov Prize laureate Alexei Navalny in a Siberian penal colony beyond the Arctic Circle serving an unjustified prison sentence. We pay tribute to his memory and express our heartfelt condolences to his wife Yulia Navalnaya and their children, his mother, family and friends, his collaborators and countless supporters in Russia.

The full responsibility for this murder lays with the Russian state and its President Vladimir Putin in particular. Truth must be told, accountability must be ensured and justice must be served. We demand that the body of Alexei Navalny be returned to his family immediately. Any further delay increases even more the responsibility of the Russian authorities for the death of Alexei Navalny. We demand an international and independent investigation into the exact circumstances of the death of Alexei Navalny.

Alexei Navalny became the embodiment of the struggle of the Russian people for freedom and democracy. His death only underscores the importance of his fight for a different Russia. Since his arrest, he had been subjected to ill-treatment, torture, arbitrary punishment and psychological pressure. Although imprisoned in inhuman conditions, Alexei Navalny tirelessly and courageously continued his fight, denouncing the corruption of the regime.

We the leaders of the Political Groups stay united in our condemnation of this crime of the Russian regime and its imperialist and neo-colonial policies. The EU and its Member States and likeminded partners around the world must continue the political, economic and military support for Ukraine. In this light we welcome the very recent 13th package of sanctions adopted by the Council.To honour the legacy of Alexei Navalny, we must stand with independent Russian civil society and the democratic opposition, continuously calling for the release of all political prisoners.

We feel encouraged by the reports about Russian citizens paying tribute to Alexei Navalny in cities and towns all over Russia. We express our hope that similar actions will continue to show that the Russian people do not support a regime that stands for draconic repression inside the country and for a brutal war of aggression against Ukraine. Alexei Navalny’s life, political work and death are a testimony to the fight against apparent apathy, indifference and surrender. May it continue to encourage and inspire.

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On bishops

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By St. Rev. Simeon the New Theologian,

From “Instruction with rebuke to all: kings, bishops, priests, monks and laity, spoken and spoken by the mouth of God” (excerpt)

…Bishops, heads of dioceses, understand:

You are the imprint of My image.

Placed, you speak before Me,

In the assemblies of the righteous you are to come.

You are called My disciples,

Bearing My divine image.

Even over the small communal table

Such great power you have obtained,

What I have from the Father, God the Word.

I am God by nature, but I became incarnate

And I became a man, but in two acts, will

And in two natures. Inseparable, unfused.

I am human and God is perfect.

As a man I raised you up

With your hands to touch and hold Me.

As God, I am inaccessible to you

And elusive to your mortal hands.

I am invisible to the blind in spirit,

For all the slaughter – I remained unapproachable,

God and man in one universal Hypostasis of the Self.

Among the bishops there are those

Who with their sana became proud,

And they rise above others,

Considering everyone as worthless and inferior.

There are quite a few bishops who

They are too far from the dignity of their state.

I’m not talking about the ones where

Words with deeds, with life are one,

And their lives reflect the teaching and the words.

But I say of bishops much,

Whose life does not suit their preaching

And which My terrible secrets do not know,

And they think that My bread of fire they ascend,

But My bread indeed, as simple, they despise,

And simple bread they eat, but My invisible glory,

It is impossible to catch a glimpse of them at all.

Thus, few of My bishops are worthy.

There are many who are high in rank

And in appearance they are humble – but with a false,

With a disgusting, stupid, hypocritical humility.

Chasing only human praise,

They despise me, Creator of the whole universe,

And as a poor man I am – despised and rejected.

They hold My body unworthy,

Striving to rise above all, and they have not

The robes of My grace which

They never acquired in any way.

Into My temple they boldly come uninvited,

They enter the depths of unspoken mansions,

Which are unworthy even from the outside to look at.

But I mercifully bear their shamelessness.

Entering, they speak to Me as if to a friend:

They want you not as servants, but as comrades

To show themselves – and stand there fearlessly.

Without my grace,

They promise people to pray for them,

Though guilty of many sins,

They put on shining garments,

But they look clean only on the outside.

Their souls are dirtier than the mud in the swamps,

They are more terrible than deadly poison,

Villains, righteous only in appearance.

As once the traitor Judas,

He took bread from Me and ate it unworthily,

As if this bread were the most ordinary thing,

And at that moment “by bread” the devil entered him,

It turned him into a shameless traitor to God.

A perfidious executor of his will,

Slave and servant of Judah did.

This will happen unknowingly to those who

Which boldly, proudly and unworthily

My Divine Mysteries touch.

Especially the heads of the dioceses, of the capitals,

Priests often

Before Communion they have a seared conscience,

And then – completely condemned already.

Enter My Divine Court boldly,

They stand at the altar shamelessly and talk to each other,

Not seeing Me and not feeling at all

My unapproachable Divine glory.

Well, if they could see, they wouldn’t dare

They wouldn’t even dare to act like that

To enter the vestibule of an Orthodox church.

…

Which of us, the priests, today

First he cleansed himself of vices

And only then did he dare to be a priest?

Who could without fear say,

That he despised earthly glory and accepted the priesthood

Only for the heavenly Divine glory?

Who alone has loved Christ completely,

And gold and riches he rejected?

Who lives modestly and is content with little?

And who has never misappropriated?

Who is not tormented by the conscience for a bribe?

From Guadeloupe and Over Seas to Europe, Pirbakas Fights for Farmer Rights

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As the agricultural sector in France braces for the annual Salon de l’agriculture in Paris amid a resurgence of farmer mobilization and growing discontent, the spotlight often misses a critical segment of the French agricultural landscape—the overseas territories. MEP Maxette Pirbakas, herself a fifth-generation farmer from Guadeloupe, has raised her voice to ensure these regions are not forgotten.

In a powerful statement, Pirbakas highlighted the distinct challenges faced by farmers in France’s overseas departments and territories. “At a time when we are witnessing a resurgence of farmer mobilization, due to growing discontent just a few days before the opening of the Salon de l’agriculture in Paris; while the farmers’ movement currently enjoys significant public support; and farmers are courted by all political parties for political gain; it is essential not to forget the agricultural operators in the overseas territories,” Pirbakas said.

She emphasized the unique issues these territories face, which differ significantly from those on the mainland. These include unfair competition, insufficient agricultural product pricing, and an excess of norms and administrative constraints. A specific point of contention is the pricing model for sugarcane in Guadeloupe, which has remained unchanged for over 60 years, prompting local farmers to mobilize.

The geographical, climatic, and historical specificities of these territories necessitate a tailored approach to agriculture. Despite common challenges across these regions, each territory faces unique obstacles due to its specific geographical, demographic, and climatic conditions, and regional environment.

Pirbakas pointed out the multifunctionality of agriculture in overseas territories as a common factor, encompassing economic, ecological, and social components. A notable feature of agriculture in these regions is the prevalence of small and very small farms, or micro-farms, which play a crucial role in preventing urban exodus and maintaining rural activity, especially in areas with high potential.

Moreover, the larger, more productive farms in these territories, often focused on exports like sugar and bananas, face their own set of distinct challenges. These farms, along with their smaller counterparts, contribute significantly to the economy and play a fundamental ecological and social role, more so than their mainland counterparts.

Highlighting the administrative classification of these small-scale farms as “Small-Scale Bioeconomic and Agroecological Agricultures” (APEBA), Pirbakas called for the integration of practices that preserve water and soil quality, rehabilitate irrigation systems, and revise public agricultural policies and pricing norms to level the playing field with direct competitors who do not face the same obligations.

With the fragile ecosystems of the overseas territories, there is a pressing need to balance agricultural production with environmental respect. This includes addressing challenges such as climate change, which these territories face more acutely than the mainland.

Referencing a 2016 Senate report titled “Agriculture in Overseas Territories: No Future Without Adaptation of the Normative Framework,” Pirbakas questioned what public authorities have done since the report to improve the situation for overseas farmers. She called on metropolitan public and union authorities not to overlook their overseas colleagues in discussions and negotiations. “We must be represented and heard,” Pirbakas concluded, underscoring the need for a united approach to address the specific agricultural challenges of France’s overseas territories.

The End of Lifetime Driving Licenses? Controversy Swirls Around Proposed EU Legislation

By
Juan Sanchez Gil
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0

A new piece of European legislation is steering towards a significant shift in how driving licenses are managed across the Union, sparking a lively debate among drivers of all ages. At the heart of the controversy is a proposal that could see the end of lifetime driving licenses, requiring drivers to undergo medical examinations every fifteen years to keep their licenses valid.

This proposed change is part of the 21st amendment of the European driving license directive, aiming to align with Brussels’ “Vision Zero” goal. This ambitious plan seeks to eliminate road-related deaths by 2050. While road fatalities have significantly decreased from 51,400 in 2001 to 19,800 in 2021 across Europe, progress has plateaued in recent years, prompting the need for new measures.

ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== The End of Lifetime Driving Licenses? Controversy Swirls Around Proposed EU Legislation

Currently, countries like Italy and Portugal require medical checks for drivers starting at age 50, with Spain and Greece starting at 65, Denmark at 70, and the Netherlands at 75. In contrast, France, Germany, Belgium, and Poland allow drivers to hold their licenses for life without such requirements. The new EU directive, championed by French Green MEP Karima Delli, seeks to standardize the process across member states, insisting the move is not ageist but rather a means to ensure driver fitness.

Driving instructors like Thomas Marchetto see merit in the proposal, highlighting that good health doesn’t always equate to safe driving. However, many senior drivers feel particularly targeted by the change, despite assurances that the measure aims to enhance road safety for all. Younger drivers, on the other hand, welcome the initiative, seeing it as a necessary step to assess driver reflexes and capabilities.

The debate has sparked significant opposition, with organizations such as “40 million motorists” launching petitions like “Don’t Touch My License.” These groups argue that revoking driving privileges without any infractions, solely based on medical assessments, is unfair and discriminates against drivers based on age and health.

Adding to the chorus of dissent, MEP Maxette Pirbakas voiced her concerns on Twitter, highlighting the unique challenges faced by her constituents in the French Antilles:

“In the @Europarl_EN, I co-signed an amendment to reject this excessive text that will lead to the cancellation of driving licenses of people who have committed no infractions. In my home in the Antilles, where public transport networks are embryonic, not having a car is equivalent to social death. This anti-car policy goes further and further without ever taking into account the realities of the peripheries and rural areas.”

As the European Parliament gears up to discuss the bill on February 27, following its first reading in December, the future of driving licenses in the EU hangs in the balance. The proposed legislation has ignited a conversation about safety, discrimination, and the right to mobility, with stakeholders on all sides gearing up for a heated debate.

ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== The End of Lifetime Driving Licenses? Controversy Swirls Around Proposed EU Legislation
The End of Lifetime Driving Licenses? Controversy Swirls Around Proposed EU Legislation 5

Pirbakas’ statement underscores the broader implications of the law, especially for those living in areas where public transportation is limited or non-existent, emphasizing the need for policies that consider the diverse circumstances of all EU citizens.

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