'Landslide Victory' for Ogoni Farmers as Court Rules Against Shell
In a potentially precedent-setting ruling, a Dutch court said Friday that Royal Dutch Shell may be held liable for oil spills at its subsidiary in Nigeria—a win for farmers and environmentalists attempting to hold the oil giant accountable for leaks, spills, and widespread pollution.
The ruling by the Court of Appeals in the Hague, which overturns a 2013 decision in favor of Shell, allows four Ogoni farmers from the Niger Delta to jointly sue the fossil fuels corporation in the Netherlands for causing extensive oil spills in Nigeria.
The scars of those disasters are still visible in the fields and fishing ponds of three Nigerian villages. In one village, drinking water has been rendered non-potable, while in another, an entire mangrove forest has been destroyed.
Alali Efanga, one of the Ogoni farmers who, along with Friends of the Earth Netherlands, brought the case against Shell, said the ruling "offers hope that Shell will finally begin to restore the soil around my village so that I will once again be able to take up farming and fishing on my own land."
Beyond that, the court's decision "is a landslide victory for environmentalists and these four brave Nigerian farmers who, for more than seven years, have had the courage to take on one of the most powerful companies in the world," said Geert Ritsema, campaigner at Friends of the Earth Netherlands. "This ruling is a ray of hope for other victims of environmental degradation, human rights violations, and other misconduct by large corporations."
Indeed, as Amnesty International researcher Mark Dummett said in advance of the ruling: "This case is especially important as it could pave the way for further cases from other communities devastated by Shell's negligence."
"There have been thousands of spills from Shell’s pipelines since the company started pumping oil in the Niger Delta in 1958," Dummett said, "with devastating consequences for the people living there."
Decrying the "incredible levels of pollution" caused by the activities of Shell and its subsidiaries, environmentalists Vandana Shiva and Nnimmo Bassey said at a media briefing in July that "weekends in Ogoniland are marked by carnivals of funerals of people in their 20s and 30s."
Citing a 2011 United Nations Environmental Programme assessment, they noted that in over 40 locations tested in Ogoniland, the soil is polluted with hydrocarbons up to a depth of 5 meters and that all the water bodies in the region are polluted.
The UN report, they said, also found that in some places the water was polluted with benzene, a known carcinogen, at levels 900 above World Health Organization standards. "With life expectancy standing at about 41 years, the clean up of Ogoniland is projected to require a cumulative 30 years to clean both the land and water," they said.
Tuesday
COC endorses Truth and Reconciliation Recommendations, report released Dec 15.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission will release its final report today.
Some of the key recommendations listed in their interim report released this past June include:
Some of the key recommendations listed in their interim report released this past June include:
-
reducing the number of Aboriginal children in care by ... providing
adequate resources to enable Aboriginal communities and child-welfare
organizations to keep Aboriginal families together where it is safe to
do so
-
developing with Aboriginal groups a joint strategy to eliminate
educational and employment gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal
Canadians
-
acknowledging that the current state of Aboriginal health in Canada is
a direct result of previous Canadian government policies, including
residential schools
-
eliminating the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in custody
over the next decade, and to issue detailed annual reports that monitor
and evaluate progress in doing so
-
appointing a public inquiry into the causes of, and remedies for, the
disproportionate victimization of Aboriginal women and girls.
- developing a national action plan, strategies, and other concrete measures to achieve the goals of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Friday
Help Sort Clothing for Syrian Refugees, Nov 29, 29
Help Sort the Mountain of Clothing for Syrian Refugees
There is now a FB EVENT for each day at this link:
https://www.facebook.com/
Please go there, choose your day (or days) that you can come and comment in that event the hours you would be able to come. This will help us keep it all organized! Also, you will find the address at that link and be able to ask any questions there. Your contribution is so valuable! *****
PLEASE SHARE: THE CLOTHING DRIVE NEWS
The donations poured in and now we need to SORT and get them moved out of our temporary space. It really is a mountain (which is wonderful) and the next steps are crucial to making sure they get to people in need. Whether you can do a few hours or a few days, we need you!
Please sign up in the Facebook event listing for the dates that work for you. https://www.facebook.com/
There is now a FB EVENT for each day at this link:
https://www.facebook.com/
Please go there, choose your day (or days) that you can come and comment in that event the hours you would be able to come. This will help us keep it all organized! Also, you will find the address at that link and be able to ask any questions there. Your contribution is so valuable! *****
PLEASE SHARE: THE CLOTHING DRIVE NEWS
The donations poured in and now we need to SORT and get them moved out of our temporary space. It really is a mountain (which is wonderful) and the next steps are crucial to making sure they get to people in need. Whether you can do a few hours or a few days, we need you!
Please sign up in the Facebook event listing for the dates that work for you. https://www.facebook.com/
Monday
Joint statement on World Peace Day - CFSC
Joint statement on World Peace Day - Canadian Friends Service Committee Service
On this day, the International Day of Peace, we, a group of
peacebuilding organizations from around the world, bring you this
message.
The 70th anniversary of the United Nations brings an unprecedented
number of major negotiations, reviews and processes that together will
frame the work of multilateralism for the next decade and beyond. Next
week, the world’s leaders will sign on to the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, which has identified peaceful, just and
inclusive societies as one of five cross-cutting priorities for the
international community, and there will be high-level discussions on
terrorism, UN peace operations and peacebuilding.
Violence is a fundamental dimension of human suffering, just as are
poverty and oppression. Violence darkens lives and destroys hope across
the world, from remote villages to famous cities, from the poorest
countries to the richest. We cannot hope to eliminate extreme poverty,
the central aim of the 2030 Agenda, without addressing violence.
Furthermore, we cannot expect to unravel the challenges of today’s
world, from terrorism and displacement, transnational crime and repeated
cycles of civil war, oppression and state violence without digging
deeper. We must address the roots of violent conflict and instability in
economic and political exclusion; injustice, gender and other forms of
inequality; insecurity and institutional weakness; and consider changing
an international system that does too little to raise up the voices,
needs and aspirations of the many, rather than the interests of the few.
That many of these issues are upheld in the 2030 Agenda is a heartening
development but more needs to be done.
If we accept the premise that the keystone of the UN’s work, across
development, humanitarian action and peace and security, needs to be to
foster the growth of peaceful, just and inclusive societies, then what
changes need to take place – what do we need to do differently?
An initial step would be to use a preventive lens for all development,
humanitarian, security and indeed business initiatives, both at the UN
and beyond. Leveraged effectively, the 2030 Agenda could help outline a
shared approach to addressing and preventing violence at root. The
following principles will be vital for the international community to
adopt:
On this day, the International Day of Peace, we, a group of peacebuilding organizations from around the world, bring you this message.
The 70th anniversary of the United Nations brings an unprecedented number of major negotiations, reviews and processes that together will frame the work of multilateralism for the next decade and beyond. Next week, the world’s leaders will sign on to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which has identified peaceful, just and inclusive societies as one of five cross-cutting priorities for the international community, and there will be high-level discussions on terrorism, UN peace operations and peacebuilding.
Violence is a fundamental dimension of human suffering, just as are poverty and oppression. Violence darkens lives and destroys hope across the world, from remote villages to famous cities, from the poorest countries to the richest. We cannot hope to eliminate extreme poverty, the central aim of the 2030 Agenda, without addressing violence.
Furthermore, we cannot expect to unravel the challenges of today’s world, from terrorism and displacement, transnational crime and repeated cycles of civil war, oppression and state violence without digging deeper. We must address the roots of violent conflict and instability in economic and political exclusion; injustice, gender and other forms of inequality; insecurity and institutional weakness; and consider changing an international system that does too little to raise up the voices, needs and aspirations of the many, rather than the interests of the few. That many of these issues are upheld in the 2030 Agenda is a heartening development but more needs to be done.
On this day, the International Day of Peace, we, a group of
peacebuilding organizations from around the world, bring you this
message.
The 70th anniversary of the United Nations brings an unprecedented
number of major negotiations, reviews and processes that together will
frame the work of multilateralism for the next decade and beyond. Next
week, the world’s leaders will sign on to the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, which has identified peaceful, just and
inclusive societies as one of five cross-cutting priorities for the
international community, and there will be high-level discussions on
terrorism, UN peace operations and peacebuilding.
Violence is a fundamental dimension of human suffering, just as are
poverty and oppression. Violence darkens lives and destroys hope across
the world, from remote villages to famous cities, from the poorest
countries to the richest. We cannot hope to eliminate extreme poverty,
the central aim of the 2030 Agenda, without addressing violence.
Furthermore, we cannot expect to unravel the challenges of today’s
world, from terrorism and displacement, transnational crime and repeated
cycles of civil war, oppression and state violence without digging
deeper. We must address the roots of violent conflict and instability in
economic and political exclusion; injustice, gender and other forms of
inequality; insecurity and institutional weakness; and consider changing
an international system that does too little to raise up the voices,
needs and aspirations of the many, rather than the interests of the few.
That many of these issues are upheld in the 2030 Agenda is a heartening
development but more needs to be done.
If we accept the premise that the keystone of the UN’s work, across
development, humanitarian action and peace and security, needs to be to
foster the growth of peaceful, just and inclusive societies, then what
changes need to take place – what do we need to do differently?
An initial step would be to use a preventive lens for all development,
humanitarian, security and indeed business initiatives, both at the UN
and beyond. Leveraged effectively, the 2030 Agenda could help outline a
shared approach to addressing and preventing violence at root. The
following principles will be vital for the international community to
adopt:
On this day, the International Day of Peace, we, a group of
peacebuilding organizations from around the world, bring you this
message.
The 70th anniversary of the United Nations brings an unprecedented
number of major negotiations, reviews and processes that together will
frame the work of multilateralism for the next decade and beyond. Next
week, the world’s leaders will sign on to the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, which has identified peaceful, just and
inclusive societies as one of five cross-cutting priorities for the
international community, and there will be high-level discussions on
terrorism, UN peace operations and peacebuilding.
Violence is a fundamental dimension of human suffering, just as are
poverty and oppression. Violence darkens lives and destroys hope across
the world, from remote villages to famous cities, from the poorest
countries to the richest. We cannot hope to eliminate extreme poverty,
the central aim of the 2030 Agenda, without addressing violence.
Furthermore, we cannot expect to unravel the challenges of today’s
world, from terrorism and displacement, transnational crime and repeated
cycles of civil war, oppression and state violence without digging
deeper. We must address the roots of violent conflict and instability in
economic and political exclusion; injustice, gender and other forms of
inequality; insecurity and institutional weakness; and consider changing
an international system that does too little to raise up the voices,
needs and aspirations of the many, rather than the interests of the few.
That many of these issues are upheld in the 2030 Agenda is a heartening
development but more needs to be done.
If we accept the premise that the keystone of the UN’s work, across
development, humanitarian action and peace and security, needs to be to
foster the growth of peaceful, just and inclusive societies, then what
changes need to take place – what do we need to do differently?
An initial step would be to use a preventive lens for all development,
humanitarian, security and indeed business initiatives, both at the UN
and beyond. Leveraged effectively, the 2030 Agenda could help outline a
shared approach to addressing and preventing violence at root. The
following principles will be vital for the international community to
adopt:
On this day, the International Day of Peace, we, a group of
peacebuilding organizations from around the world, bring you this
message.
The 70th anniversary of the United Nations brings an unprecedented
number of major negotiations, reviews and processes that together will
frame the work of multilateralism for the next decade and beyond. Next
week, the world’s leaders will sign on to the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, which has identified peaceful, just and
inclusive societies as one of five cross-cutting priorities for the
international community, and there will be high-level discussions on
terrorism, UN peace operations and peacebuilding.
Violence is a fundamental dimension of human suffering, just as are
poverty and oppression. Violence darkens lives and destroys hope across
the world, from remote villages to famous cities, from the poorest
countries to the richest. We cannot hope to eliminate extreme poverty,
the central aim of the 2030 Agenda, without addressing violence.
Furthermore, we cannot expect to unravel the challenges of today’s
world, from terrorism and displacement, transnational crime and repeated
cycles of civil war, oppression and state violence without digging
deeper. We must address the roots of violent conflict and instability in
economic and political exclusion; injustice, gender and other forms of
inequality; insecurity and institutional weakness; and consider changing
an international system that does too little to raise up the voices,
needs and aspirations of the many, rather than the interests of the few.
That many of these issues are upheld in the 2030 Agenda is a heartening
development but more needs to be done.
If we accept the premise that the keystone of the UN’s work, across
development, humanitarian action and peace and security, needs to be to
foster the growth of peaceful, just and inclusive societies, then what
changes need to take place – what do we need to do differently?
An initial step would be to use a preventive lens for all development,
humanitarian, security and indeed business initiatives, both at the UN
and beyond. Leveraged effectively, the 2030 Agenda could help outline a
shared approach to addressing and preventing violence at root. The
following principles will be vital for the international community to
adopt:
Facing the Challenge of Peace: A shared statement by peacebuilding organizations
On this day, the International Day of Peace, we, a group of
peacebuilding organizations from around the world, bring you this
message.
The 70th anniversary of the United Nations brings an unprecedented
number of major negotiations, reviews and processes that together will
frame the work of multilateralism for the next decade and beyond. Next
week, the world’s leaders will sign on to the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, which has identified peaceful, just and
inclusive societies as one of five cross-cutting priorities for the
international community, and there will be high-level discussions on
terrorism, UN peace operations and peacebuilding.
Violence is a fundamental dimension of human suffering, just as are
poverty and oppression. Violence darkens lives and destroys hope across
the world, from remote villages to famous cities, from the poorest
countries to the richest. We cannot hope to eliminate extreme poverty,
the central aim of the 2030 Agenda, without addressing violence.
Furthermore, we cannot expect to unravel the challenges of today’s
world, from terrorism and displacement, transnational crime and repeated
cycles of civil war, oppression and state violence without digging
deeper. We must address the roots of violent conflict and instability in
economic and political exclusion; injustice, gender and other forms of
inequality; insecurity and institutional weakness; and consider changing
an international system that does too little to raise up the voices,
needs and aspirations of the many, rather than the interests of the few.
That many of these issues are upheld in the 2030 Agenda is a heartening
development but more needs to be done.
Peace means healthy, more stable lives for our children.
development, humanitarian action and peace and security, needs to be to
foster the growth of peaceful, just and inclusive societies, then what
changes need to take place – what do we need to do differently?
An initial step would be to use a preventive lens for all development,
humanitarian, security and indeed business initiatives, both at the UN
and beyond. Leveraged effectively, the 2030 Agenda could help outline a
shared approach to addressing and preventing violence at root. The
following principles will be vital for the international community to
adopt:
- Embrace the universality of the 2030 Agenda: all
societies must work towards becoming more peaceful, just and inclusive.
Our task is not complete until all human beings, wherever they may live,
can fulfil their potential in peace. - Always seek to understand the context: an effective and
inclusive analysis, involving a variety of local perspectives, including
youth and women, should be a prerequisite for any external engagement. - In the planning and implementation of development, humanitarian, economic or security engagement, always seek to do no harm,
to ensure that unintentionally or otherwise, the consequences of that
engagement do not themselves make things worse, for example by affirming
existing or new patterns of political or economic exclusion. - Focus on increasing resilience, particularly emphasizing
the relationship between individuals, their communities and their
government. This requires attention to reconciliation and to societies’
capacity to build dialogue, make inclusive and collaborative decisions,
and resolve conflicts peacefully. - Prioritize local needs, the longer term support for
peaceful, just and inclusive communities, over external self-interested
agendas, particularly short-term security or stabilization objectives.
Facing the Challenge of Peace: A shared statement by peacebuilding organizations
On this day, the International Day of Peace, we, a group of peacebuilding organizations from around the world, bring you this message.
The 70th anniversary of the United Nations brings an unprecedented number of major negotiations, reviews and processes that together will frame the work of multilateralism for the next decade and beyond. Next week, the world’s leaders will sign on to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which has identified peaceful, just and inclusive societies as one of five cross-cutting priorities for the international community, and there will be high-level discussions on terrorism, UN peace operations and peacebuilding.
Violence is a fundamental dimension of human suffering, just as are poverty and oppression. Violence darkens lives and destroys hope across the world, from remote villages to famous cities, from the poorest countries to the richest. We cannot hope to eliminate extreme poverty, the central aim of the 2030 Agenda, without addressing violence.
Furthermore, we cannot expect to unravel the challenges of today’s world, from terrorism and displacement, transnational crime and repeated cycles of civil war, oppression and state violence without digging deeper. We must address the roots of violent conflict and instability in economic and political exclusion; injustice, gender and other forms of inequality; insecurity and institutional weakness; and consider changing an international system that does too little to raise up the voices, needs and aspirations of the many, rather than the interests of the few. That many of these issues are upheld in the 2030 Agenda is a heartening development but more needs to be done.
Peace means healthy, more stable lives for our children. If we accept the premise that the keystone of the UN’s work, across development, humanitarian action and peace and security, needs to be to foster the growth of peaceful, just and inclusive societies, then what changes need to take place – what do we need to do differently?
An initial step would be to use a preventive lens for all development, humanitarian, security and indeed business initiatives, both at the UN and beyond. Leveraged effectively, the 2030 Agenda could help outline a shared approach to addressing and preventing violence at root. The following principles will be vital for the international community to adopt:
An initial step would be to use a preventive lens for all development, humanitarian, security and indeed business initiatives, both at the UN and beyond. Leveraged effectively, the 2030 Agenda could help outline a shared approach to addressing and preventing violence at root. The following principles will be vital for the international community to adopt:
- Embrace the universality of the 2030 Agenda: all societies must work towards becoming more peaceful, just and inclusive. Our task is not complete until all human beings, wherever they may live, can fulfil their potential in peace
- Always seek to understand the context: an effective and inclusive analysis, involving a variety of local perspectives, including youth and women, should be a prerequisite for any external engagement.
- In the planning and implementation of development, humanitarian, economic or security engagement, always seek to do no harm, to ensure that unintentionally or otherwise, the consequences of that engagement do not themselves make things worse, for example by affirming existing or new patterns of political or economic exclusion.
- Focus on increasing resilience, particularly emphasizing the relationship between individuals, their communities and their government. This requires attention to reconciliation and to societies’ capacity to build dialogue, make inclusive and collaborative decisions, and resolve conflicts peacefully.
- Prioritize local needs, the longer term support for peaceful, just and inclusive communities, over external self-interested agendas, particularly short-term security or stabilization objectives.
- See more at:
http://quakerservice.ca/uncategorized/joint-statement-on-world-peace-day/#sthash.KiGDX450.bEeV8fE3.dpuf
http://quakerservice.ca/uncategorized/joint-statement-on-world-peace-day/#sthash.KiGDX450.bEeV8fE3.dpuf
Facing the Challenge of Peace: A shared statement by peacebuilding organizations
On this day, the International Day of Peace, we, a group of
peacebuilding organizations from around the world, bring you this
message.
The 70th anniversary of the United Nations brings an unprecedented
number of major negotiations, reviews and processes that together will
frame the work of multilateralism for the next decade and beyond. Next
week, the world’s leaders will sign on to the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, which has identified peaceful, just and
inclusive societies as one of five cross-cutting priorities for the
international community, and there will be high-level discussions on
terrorism, UN peace operations and peacebuilding.
Violence is a fundamental dimension of human suffering, just as are
poverty and oppression. Violence darkens lives and destroys hope across
the world, from remote villages to famous cities, from the poorest
countries to the richest. We cannot hope to eliminate extreme poverty,
the central aim of the 2030 Agenda, without addressing violence.
Furthermore, we cannot expect to unravel the challenges of today’s
world, from terrorism and displacement, transnational crime and repeated
cycles of civil war, oppression and state violence without digging
deeper. We must address the roots of violent conflict and instability in
economic and political exclusion; injustice, gender and other forms of
inequality; insecurity and institutional weakness; and consider changing
an international system that does too little to raise up the voices,
needs and aspirations of the many, rather than the interests of the few.
That many of these issues are upheld in the 2030 Agenda is a heartening
development but more needs to be done.
Peace means healthy, more stable lives for our children.
development, humanitarian action and peace and security, needs to be to
foster the growth of peaceful, just and inclusive societies, then what
changes need to take place – what do we need to do differently?
An initial step would be to use a preventive lens for all development,
humanitarian, security and indeed business initiatives, both at the UN
and beyond. Leveraged effectively, the 2030 Agenda could help outline a
shared approach to addressing and preventing violence at root. The
following principles will be vital for the international community to
adopt:
- Embrace the universality of the 2030 Agenda: all
societies must work towards becoming more peaceful, just and inclusive.
Our task is not complete until all human beings, wherever they may live,
can fulfil their potential in peace. - Always seek to understand the context: an effective and
inclusive analysis, involving a variety of local perspectives, including
youth and women, should be a prerequisite for any external engagement. - In the planning and implementation of development, humanitarian, economic or security engagement, always seek to do no harm,
to ensure that unintentionally or otherwise, the consequences of that
engagement do not themselves make things worse, for example by affirming
existing or new patterns of political or economic exclusion. - Focus on increasing resilience, particularly emphasizing
the relationship between individuals, their communities and their
government. This requires attention to reconciliation and to societies’
capacity to build dialogue, make inclusive and collaborative decisions,
and resolve conflicts peacefully. - Prioritize local needs, the longer term support for
peaceful, just and inclusive communities, over external self-interested
agendas, particularly short-term security or stabilization objectives.
Facing the Challenge of Peace: A shared statement by peacebuilding organizations
On this day, the International Day of Peace, we, a group of
peacebuilding organizations from around the world, bring you this
message.
The 70th anniversary of the United Nations brings an unprecedented
number of major negotiations, reviews and processes that together will
frame the work of multilateralism for the next decade and beyond. Next
week, the world’s leaders will sign on to the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, which has identified peaceful, just and
inclusive societies as one of five cross-cutting priorities for the
international community, and there will be high-level discussions on
terrorism, UN peace operations and peacebuilding.
Violence is a fundamental dimension of human suffering, just as are
poverty and oppression. Violence darkens lives and destroys hope across
the world, from remote villages to famous cities, from the poorest
countries to the richest. We cannot hope to eliminate extreme poverty,
the central aim of the 2030 Agenda, without addressing violence.
Furthermore, we cannot expect to unravel the challenges of today’s
world, from terrorism and displacement, transnational crime and repeated
cycles of civil war, oppression and state violence without digging
deeper. We must address the roots of violent conflict and instability in
economic and political exclusion; injustice, gender and other forms of
inequality; insecurity and institutional weakness; and consider changing
an international system that does too little to raise up the voices,
needs and aspirations of the many, rather than the interests of the few.
That many of these issues are upheld in the 2030 Agenda is a heartening
development but more needs to be done.
Peace means healthy, more stable lives for our children.
development, humanitarian action and peace and security, needs to be to
foster the growth of peaceful, just and inclusive societies, then what
changes need to take place – what do we need to do differently?
An initial step would be to use a preventive lens for all development,
humanitarian, security and indeed business initiatives, both at the UN
and beyond. Leveraged effectively, the 2030 Agenda could help outline a
shared approach to addressing and preventing violence at root. The
following principles will be vital for the international community to
adopt:
- Embrace the universality of the 2030 Agenda: all
societies must work towards becoming more peaceful, just and inclusive.
Our task is not complete until all human beings, wherever they may live,
can fulfil their potential in peace. - Always seek to understand the context: an effective and
inclusive analysis, involving a variety of local perspectives, including
youth and women, should be a prerequisite for any external engagement. - In the planning and implementation of development, humanitarian, economic or security engagement, always seek to do no harm,
to ensure that unintentionally or otherwise, the consequences of that
engagement do not themselves make things worse, for example by affirming
existing or new patterns of political or economic exclusion. - Focus on increasing resilience, particularly emphasizing
the relationship between individuals, their communities and their
government. This requires attention to reconciliation and to societies’
capacity to build dialogue, make inclusive and collaborative decisions,
and resolve conflicts peacefully. - Prioritize local needs, the longer term support for
peaceful, just and inclusive communities, over external self-interested
agendas, particularly short-term security or stabilization objectives.
Facing the Challenge of Peace: A shared statement by peacebuilding organizations
On this day, the International Day of Peace, we, a group of
peacebuilding organizations from around the world, bring you this
message.
The 70th anniversary of the United Nations brings an unprecedented
number of major negotiations, reviews and processes that together will
frame the work of multilateralism for the next decade and beyond. Next
week, the world’s leaders will sign on to the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, which has identified peaceful, just and
inclusive societies as one of five cross-cutting priorities for the
international community, and there will be high-level discussions on
terrorism, UN peace operations and peacebuilding.
Violence is a fundamental dimension of human suffering, just as are
poverty and oppression. Violence darkens lives and destroys hope across
the world, from remote villages to famous cities, from the poorest
countries to the richest. We cannot hope to eliminate extreme poverty,
the central aim of the 2030 Agenda, without addressing violence.
Furthermore, we cannot expect to unravel the challenges of today’s
world, from terrorism and displacement, transnational crime and repeated
cycles of civil war, oppression and state violence without digging
deeper. We must address the roots of violent conflict and instability in
economic and political exclusion; injustice, gender and other forms of
inequality; insecurity and institutional weakness; and consider changing
an international system that does too little to raise up the voices,
needs and aspirations of the many, rather than the interests of the few.
That many of these issues are upheld in the 2030 Agenda is a heartening
development but more needs to be done.
Peace means healthy, more stable lives for our children.
development, humanitarian action and peace and security, needs to be to
foster the growth of peaceful, just and inclusive societies, then what
changes need to take place – what do we need to do differently?
An initial step would be to use a preventive lens for all development,
humanitarian, security and indeed business initiatives, both at the UN
and beyond. Leveraged effectively, the 2030 Agenda could help outline a
shared approach to addressing and preventing violence at root. The
following principles will be vital for the international community to
adopt:
- Embrace the universality of the 2030 Agenda: all
societies must work towards becoming more peaceful, just and inclusive.
Our task is not complete until all human beings, wherever they may live,
can fulfil their potential in peace. - Always seek to understand the context: an effective and
inclusive analysis, involving a variety of local perspectives, including
youth and women, should be a prerequisite for any external engagement. - In the planning and implementation of development, humanitarian, economic or security engagement, always seek to do no harm,
to ensure that unintentionally or otherwise, the consequences of that
engagement do not themselves make things worse, for example by affirming
existing or new patterns of political or economic exclusion. - Focus on increasing resilience, particularly emphasizing
the relationship between individuals, their communities and their
government. This requires attention to reconciliation and to societies’
capacity to build dialogue, make inclusive and collaborative decisions,
and resolve conflicts peacefully. - Prioritize local needs, the longer term support for
peaceful, just and inclusive communities, over external self-interested
agendas, particularly short-term security or stabilization objectives.
Tell Nestlé to leave our Elora well enough alone. | SumOfUs
Tell Nestlé to leave our water well enough alone. | SumOfUs
Nestlé conditionally purchased a water bottling facility in Ontario
that can draw 1,300 litres of water a minute from a well so deep it
punctures the bedrock. Residents are rightly worried -- an environmental
science professor is calling it "the stupidest, short-sighted, most criminal use of water" he's ever seen.
We already scored a major victory against Nestlé in BC this summer -- let's make sure Elora, Ontario isn't next.
Tell the Ontario Government to ban corporate water permits until the township can produce a water plan. The residents of Elora will need this water. The town currently uses 1.7 million litres of water a day -- and Nestlé will take 1.6 million litres a day under this plan.
Nestlé conditionally purchased a water bottling facility in Ontario
that can draw 1,300 litres of water a minute from a well so deep it
punctures the bedrock. Residents are rightly worried -- an environmental
science professor is calling it "the stupidest, short-sighted, most criminal use of water" he's ever seen.
We already scored a major victory against Nestlé in BC this summer -- let's make sure Elora, Ontario isn't next.
Tell the Ontario Government to ban corporate water permits until the township can produce a water plan. The residents of Elora will need this water. The town currently uses 1.7 million litres of water a day -- and Nestlé will take 1.6 million litres a day under this plan.
Wednesday
Banned pesticides pose a greater risk to bees than thought, EU experts warn | Environment | The Guardian
Three pesticides banned in Europe for their potential to damage bee populations could pose an even greater threat than was thought, according to a new assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (Efsa).
Already proscribed for seed treatments and soil applications, the Efsa analysis says that clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam also pose a ‘high risk’ to bees when sprayed on leaves.
The UK is currently facing a legal challenge to an emergency exemption it granted, allowing use of two of the substances, after protests by the National Farmers Union.
But far from supporting the British case, the advisory expert assessment will add to pressure for an extension of the ban to apply to fruit orchards after blooming, and crops gown in greenhouses, Greenpeace says.
“The commission should expand the EU-wide ban to cover all uses of neonicotinoids on all crops, and end the self-service approach to derogations. Viable non-chemical alternatives exist and the EU should encourage farmers to use them,” said the group’s agriculture policy director, Marco Contiero.
“The evidence of harm is clear,” added Paul de Zylva, senior nature campaigner for Friends of the Earth. “Questions need to be asked about how these products were ever approved for use when they were not tested for their effects on different types of bees.”
Use of the prohibited substances has been linked to dramatic declines in bee populations. The EU’s recommendations allow exemptions to the ban under some circumstances, and a review of their impact is expected in Brussels by the end of the year.
José Tarazona, the head of Efsa’s pesticides unit told the Guardian that the new study backed previous risk assessments, in showing (or being unable to exclude) high risks to bees from neonicotinoids.
“It is clear that in some cases there is data suggesting high toxicity and potential risk from these substances,” he said. “We have less information for pollinators like bumblebees and for these species
we take a precautionary and conservative approach in applying an additional safety factor for ensuring their protection, and that of other species.”
More than a quarter of European bumblebees – and nearly one in 10 of all honeybees – are at risk of extinction, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s red list for bees.
Banned pesticides pose a greater risk to bees than thought, EU experts warn | Environment | The Guardian
Already proscribed for seed treatments and soil applications, the Efsa analysis says that clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam also pose a ‘high risk’ to bees when sprayed on leaves.
The UK is currently facing a legal challenge to an emergency exemption it granted, allowing use of two of the substances, after protests by the National Farmers Union.
But far from supporting the British case, the advisory expert assessment will add to pressure for an extension of the ban to apply to fruit orchards after blooming, and crops gown in greenhouses, Greenpeace says.
“The commission should expand the EU-wide ban to cover all uses of neonicotinoids on all crops, and end the self-service approach to derogations. Viable non-chemical alternatives exist and the EU should encourage farmers to use them,” said the group’s agriculture policy director, Marco Contiero.
“The evidence of harm is clear,” added Paul de Zylva, senior nature campaigner for Friends of the Earth. “Questions need to be asked about how these products were ever approved for use when they were not tested for their effects on different types of bees.”
Use of the prohibited substances has been linked to dramatic declines in bee populations. The EU’s recommendations allow exemptions to the ban under some circumstances, and a review of their impact is expected in Brussels by the end of the year.
José Tarazona, the head of Efsa’s pesticides unit told the Guardian that the new study backed previous risk assessments, in showing (or being unable to exclude) high risks to bees from neonicotinoids.
“It is clear that in some cases there is data suggesting high toxicity and potential risk from these substances,” he said. “We have less information for pollinators like bumblebees and for these species
we take a precautionary and conservative approach in applying an additional safety factor for ensuring their protection, and that of other species.”
More than a quarter of European bumblebees – and nearly one in 10 of all honeybees – are at risk of extinction, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s red list for bees.
Banned pesticides pose a greater risk to bees than thought, EU experts warn | Environment | The Guardian
Monday
UN council holds first-ever meeting on LGBT rights
UN council holds first-ever meeting on LGBT rights
UN Security Council members on Monday opened their first-ever meeting on LGBT rights to hear Syrian and Iraqi gays tell of terror under Islamic State rule.
“It’s historic,” US Ambassador Samantha Power told reporters ahead of the meeting. “It’s about time — 70 years after the creation of the UN — that the fate of LGBT persons who fear for their lives around the world is taking center stage.”
UN envoys were to hear accounts from Adnan, an Iraqi who fled northern Iraq after being targeted as gay and from a Syrian, Subhi Nahas, who escaped persecution and now works for a refugee organization in the United States.
Since July 2014, the Islamic State group has released at least seven videos or photos online that show the brutal executions of people accused of “sodomy,” according to the International Gay and Lesbian
Rights Commission.
Jessica Stern, the director of the commission, was also to address the meeting, hosted by the delegations from the United States and Chile.
UN Security Council members on Monday opened their first-ever meeting on LGBT rights to hear Syrian and Iraqi gays tell of terror under Islamic State rule.
“It’s historic,” US Ambassador Samantha Power told reporters ahead of the meeting. “It’s about time — 70 years after the creation of the UN — that the fate of LGBT persons who fear for their lives around the world is taking center stage.”
UN envoys were to hear accounts from Adnan, an Iraqi who fled northern Iraq after being targeted as gay and from a Syrian, Subhi Nahas, who escaped persecution and now works for a refugee organization in the United States.
Since July 2014, the Islamic State group has released at least seven videos or photos online that show the brutal executions of people accused of “sodomy,” according to the International Gay and Lesbian
Rights Commission.
Jessica Stern, the director of the commission, was also to address the meeting, hosted by the delegations from the United States and Chile.
Friday
UN human rights committee slams Canada's record on women - Canada - CBC News
UN human rights committee slams Canada's record on women - Canada - CBC News
The UN human rights committee is accusing the Canadian government of failing to act on missing and murdered aboriginal women, violence against women generally, and numerous other matters, ranging from refugees to Bill C-51, the new anti-terror law.
The UN's first report card on Canada in 10 years was released Thursday, and measures whether the country has met its human rights obligations.
At least 26 human rights organizations, including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Amnesty International Canada and Human Rights Watch, submitted their own separate reports to the 18-member independent committee on the various issues.
"It should take all necessary measures to establish mechanisms and appropriate procedures to give full effect to the committee's views so as to guarantee an effective remedy when there has been a violation of the covenant," the report said.
Here's a list of some of the UN committee's criticisms and recommendations:
It asks for a response from Canada five years from now on what improvements and implementations have been made as a result of its recommendations
The UN human rights committee is accusing the Canadian government of failing to act on missing and murdered aboriginal women, violence against women generally, and numerous other matters, ranging from refugees to Bill C-51, the new anti-terror law.
The UN's first report card on Canada in 10 years was released Thursday, and measures whether the country has met its human rights obligations.
At least 26 human rights organizations, including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Amnesty International Canada and Human Rights Watch, submitted their own separate reports to the 18-member independent committee on the various issues.
The UN human rights committee says a national inquiry should be called into the fact that 'indigenous women and girls are disproportionately affected by life-threatening forms of violence, homicides and disappearances.' (CBC) Overall, the report took exception to Canada's failure to set up a way to implement some of the committee's recommendations.
"It should take all necessary measures to establish mechanisms and appropriate procedures to give full effect to the committee's views so as to guarantee an effective remedy when there has been a violation of the covenant," the report said.
Here's a list of some of the UN committee's criticisms and recommendations:
- Business: "Human rights abuses by Canadian companies operating abroad, in particular mining corporations," should be addressed by an independent authority and a framework that give victims the possibility of legal remedies.
- Gender equality: The committee notes "persisting inequalities between women and men" in Canada and wants better equal pay legislation across the country," with a special focus on minority and indigenous women."
- Violence against women: Continued violence against women in Canada, and the "the lack of statistical data on domestic violence," led the committee to call for better legal protections for victims, and for more shelters and services.
- Missing and murdered aboriginal women: In the wake of reports on murdered and missing women, the committee said "indigenous women and girls are disproportionately affected by life-threatening forms of violence, homicides and disappearances." It said there should be a national inquiry.
- Bill C-51: Canada's new anti-terror law allows mass surveillance, too much information-sharing, and a no-fly list that lacks proper governance and appeal, the committee says. It suggests Canada should review the act and allow for better legal safeguards.
- Police use of force: The committee notes excessive force during protests such as those at the G20 in 2010 and recommends prompt, impartial investigations, along with prosecutions of those responsible where warranted
- Refugees and immigration: The committee worries "that individuals who are nationals of designated 'safe' countries are denied an appeal hearing against a rejected refugee claim before the Refugee Appeal Division and are only allowed judicial review before the Federal Court" — increasing the risk they may be sent back.
It asks for a response from Canada five years from now on what improvements and implementations have been made as a result of its recommendations
Tuesday
Starbucks: adopt a sustainable palm oil policy. | SumOfUs
Starbucks: adopt a sustainable palm oil policy. | SumOfUs
Your Starbucks coffee break is likely to be contributing to deforestation, extinction of endangered tigers and orangutans, and abuses of workers and communities. While other industry giants such as McDonald's, KFC, Dunkin' Donuts and Krispy Kreme have committed to cutting conflict palm oil from their supply chains, Starbucks is taking an ostrich-like approach -- sticking its head in the ground and ignoring this growing emergency, and the concerns of its consumers.
In 2013, facing public pressure, Starbucks announced that it would be sourcing 100% sustainable palm oil by 2015. That deadline has come and gone, and Starbucks needs to hear from us that we won't wait any longer for responsible palm oil.
Starbucks is a recent member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), but the coffee giant has already failed to report mandatory data on its palm oil sourcing to the overseeing body.
And unfortunately, even if Starbucks met RSPO criteria, it wouldn't mean it had achieved gold standards. The RSPO can't guarantee that the palm oil it certifies is deforestation-free. Deforestation is happening in palm oil plantations owned by RSPO members, and NGOs and consumer companies also criticize RSPO's inability to regulate peatland destruction and greenhouse gas emissions.
What's most remarkable about Starbucks' lack of progress on palm oil is that it's in stark contrast to the company's work on coffee. Earlier this year, Starbucks announced that 99 percent of its coffee is now ethically sourced, which it accomplished by developing and implementing the Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices (CAFE), a third-party verified program for farmers to ensure certain human rights and environmental standards are met. Through its CAFE initiative, Starbucks actually reduced deforestation in its coffee supply chain. Why is it so hard to do the same for palm oil?
Your Starbucks coffee break is likely to be contributing to deforestation, extinction of endangered tigers and orangutans, and abuses of workers and communities. While other industry giants such as McDonald's, KFC, Dunkin' Donuts and Krispy Kreme have committed to cutting conflict palm oil from their supply chains, Starbucks is taking an ostrich-like approach -- sticking its head in the ground and ignoring this growing emergency, and the concerns of its consumers.
In 2013, facing public pressure, Starbucks announced that it would be sourcing 100% sustainable palm oil by 2015. That deadline has come and gone, and Starbucks needs to hear from us that we won't wait any longer for responsible palm oil.
Starbucks is a recent member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), but the coffee giant has already failed to report mandatory data on its palm oil sourcing to the overseeing body.
And unfortunately, even if Starbucks met RSPO criteria, it wouldn't mean it had achieved gold standards. The RSPO can't guarantee that the palm oil it certifies is deforestation-free. Deforestation is happening in palm oil plantations owned by RSPO members, and NGOs and consumer companies also criticize RSPO's inability to regulate peatland destruction and greenhouse gas emissions.
What's most remarkable about Starbucks' lack of progress on palm oil is that it's in stark contrast to the company's work on coffee. Earlier this year, Starbucks announced that 99 percent of its coffee is now ethically sourced, which it accomplished by developing and implementing the Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices (CAFE), a third-party verified program for farmers to ensure certain human rights and environmental standards are met. Through its CAFE initiative, Starbucks actually reduced deforestation in its coffee supply chain. Why is it so hard to do the same for palm oil?
Friday
A sobering look at Canada’s human rights record - The Globe and Mail
A sobering look at Canada’s human rights record - The Globe and Mail
Sir Nigel Rodley, a law professor and chair of the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex, was referring to the deteriorating space for human rights advocacy, protest and dissent in Canada. He noted it was almost unbelievable that the UN committee felt compelled to raise these sorts of concerns with Canada. Sir Nigel highlighted research by the Voices coalition, which pointed to astonishing levels of fear and intimidation felt by Canadian activists and civil society groups, and referred to the disquiet expressed by the UN’s leading expert on the freedoms of assembly and association. He dismissed the Canadian government’s initial response to questions about the crackdown as “thin.”
t was a powerful moment that came near the end of six hours of back-and-forth, over two days, between committee members (drawn from countries around the world) and a sizable Canadian delegation from various federal departments and the province of Quebec. And it captured wider concerns about the range of troubling issues explored in the review.
Sir Nigel Rodley, a law professor and chair of the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex, was referring to the deteriorating space for human rights advocacy, protest and dissent in Canada. He noted it was almost unbelievable that the UN committee felt compelled to raise these sorts of concerns with Canada. Sir Nigel highlighted research by the Voices coalition, which pointed to astonishing levels of fear and intimidation felt by Canadian activists and civil society groups, and referred to the disquiet expressed by the UN’s leading expert on the freedoms of assembly and association. He dismissed the Canadian government’s initial response to questions about the crackdown as “thin.”
t was a powerful moment that came near the end of six hours of back-and-forth, over two days, between committee members (drawn from countries around the world) and a sizable Canadian delegation from various federal departments and the province of Quebec. And it captured wider concerns about the range of troubling issues explored in the review.
Canada’s human rights record has been on display, and the range of shortcomings and violations that have been probed has been sobering. Some are long-standing, such as concerns about sex discrimination under the federal Indian Act. Others are more recent, such as many references to Bill C-51, the new Anti-Terrorism Act. Some of the issues, certainly violence against indigenous women, have an impact on hundreds of thousands of people.
The point of the review is not that Canada is among the worst human-rights violators in the world. Of course not. It is a regular review that comes around for all countries that have signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The point, rather, is that all signatories are obliged to protect all rights – and that there is an expectation that a signatory with all the resources and strong institutions that Canada has will set a high example for other countries to follow.
The point, rather, is that all signatories are obliged to protect all rights – and that there is an expectation that a signatory with all the resources and strong institutions that Canada has will set a high example for other countries to follow.
That is not the picture that emerged during the review, however. Instead, it was of entrenched problems in Canada, such as the failure to have an effective process for recognizing and protecting aboriginal land rights. And of new and troubling developments that take Canada in the wrong direction, such as the battle over federal cuts to health care for refugees.
All of this against a backdrop of increasing Canadian disregard for many aspects of the international human rights system. Canada was still dismissive of the important UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – which the government asserted is not binding, not law, only aspirational. Committee members were not impressed, for example, when Canada implied that it has no human rights responsibilities under the covenant when Canadian mining companies operate abroad....
Monday
Gordon Brown: 2015 a year of fear for refugee children
2015 a year of fear for refugee children-average time away from home in exile at around 17 years
CNN: Ten million of the world's 30 million displaced boys and girls are now refugees from their home country. With the average time away from home in exile at around 17 years,
children could go through their entire school-age years, from birth to adulthood, without ever entering a classroom. And rising refugee numbers explain why, according to a new UNESCO report published Monday, 124 million never go to school at all, 59 million of them being primary age boys and girls. While shelter, food and health care are vital to survival, it is education -- and the idea that you can prepare and plan for your future -- that, if curtailed or neglected, deprives young people of hope.
Currently, only about 1% of humanitarian budgets go to education. The educational needs of refugees are forgotten, trapped between development aid and humanitarian assistance that understandably focuses on health care, food and shelter, while standard aid budgets are allocated years in advance and take little account of unplanned-for crises.
CNN: Ten million of the world's 30 million displaced boys and girls are now refugees from their home country. With the average time away from home in exile at around 17 years,
children could go through their entire school-age years, from birth to adulthood, without ever entering a classroom. And rising refugee numbers explain why, according to a new UNESCO report published Monday, 124 million never go to school at all, 59 million of them being primary age boys and girls. While shelter, food and health care are vital to survival, it is education -- and the idea that you can prepare and plan for your future -- that, if curtailed or neglected, deprives young people of hope.
Currently, only about 1% of humanitarian budgets go to education. The educational needs of refugees are forgotten, trapped between development aid and humanitarian assistance that understandably focuses on health care, food and shelter, while standard aid budgets are allocated years in advance and take little account of unplanned-for crises.
Sunday
Climate activists call for greener economy - Toronto - CBC News
Climate activists call for greener economy - Toronto - CBC News
Demonstrators marched through the streets of downtown Toronto onSunday afternoon, calling for an economy that works for both the people and the planet.
Environmentalist David Suzuki, actress Jane Fonda, author Naomi Klein and former diplomat Stephen Lewis were among the notable names in the crowd, which will also included members of First Nations, UNIFOR, the Ontario Federation of Labour, the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, Toronto Regional Labour Council and Greenpeace Canada.
Pretty good coverage of the climate justice march today. I'm actually in the video, marching near the front with the Indigenous group (with my Turtle Island sign :-)
Demonstrators marched through the streets of downtown Toronto onSunday afternoon, calling for an economy that works for both the people and the planet.
Environmentalist David Suzuki, actress Jane Fonda, author Naomi Klein and former diplomat Stephen Lewis were among the notable names in the crowd, which will also included members of First Nations, UNIFOR, the Ontario Federation of Labour, the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, Toronto Regional Labour Council and Greenpeace Canada.
Pretty good coverage of the climate justice march today. I'm actually in the video, marching near the front with the Indigenous group (with my Turtle Island sign :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)