NewzIntel.com

Category: Agriculture

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Rep. LaMalfa on Passage of the Fix Our Forests Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

    Washington, D.C. — This week the House passed H.R. 8790, the Fix Our Forests Act, a strongly bipartisan piece of legislation focused on improving forest management and reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfires. The act promotes enhanced cooperation among federal, state, and tribal land managers while strengthening local restoration efforts.

    Rep. LaMalfa (R-CA), released the following statement:

    “The Fix Our Forests Act is a hard-fought bipartisan compromise that will begin getting the work we need done in our forests to reduce fuels and risk of major wildfire. This bill starts to peel back the bureaucracy and limit some of the lawsuits that have hampered so many good forestry projects.  I was happy to see my bill to increase the use of grazing on federal lands to reduce fire fuels, as well as my bill to provide greater setbacks near powerlines to prevent trees from falling into them and starting fires, were included. Fix Our Forests combined with the reforms in the bipartisan Farm Bill we are hoping to pass this fall will make a huge difference in finally addressing our forest management crisis,” said Rep. LaMalfa.

    The Fix Our Forests Act streamlines the consultation process for the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, preventing environmental groups from stalling projects or forcing unnecessary revisions to management plans. Additionally, the act mandates clearer reporting on hazardous fuels reduction efforts, addressing prior misrepresentation by federal agencies regarding the number of acres treated. It also explores the establishment of a Western headquarters for the U.S. Forest Service.

    The bill also incorporates Rep. LaMalfa’s language to expand the clearance zone for hazardous trees around electric power lines, and his bill, H.R. 7666, was included as an amendment that directs the U.S. Forest Service to expand the use of livestock grazing in fuels management programs.

    Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, and Tehama Counties.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Port of Vancouver grain terminal strike: Joint statement

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    “Alberta’s government is extremely concerned about the grain terminal labour disruption at Canada’s largest port, the Port of Vancouver. Harvest is underway, and each day this strike continues will have far-reaching impacts on our agriculture industry, the supply chain and Canada’s economy.

    “A strike at the West Coast terminals has the potential to back up the entire grain-handling system. Local elevators may stop taking grain and farmers have limited abilities to store grain on their farms for extended periods of time. This could lead to spoilage or severe quality downgrades for the grain, causing financial hardship for both farmers and grain handlers.

    “While we respect the collective bargaining process and understand the parties have agreed to resume negotiations alongside federal mediators, the damage caused by this disruption will be devastating to our grain handling industry, disrupting about $35 million of grain exports each day the work stoppage continues, including $11 million of Alberta exports.

    “Alberta has one of Canada’s most competitive agriculture sectors and our producers rely on grain terminal systems to remain up and running to meet international demand. According to the Grain Growers of Canada, more than 52 per cent of the grain produced in Canada was shipped through terminals at the Port of Vancouver last year.

    “Our grain supply feeds Canadians and millions of people around the world. A prolonged work stoppage could undermine Canada’s position as one of the world’s most stable and reliable food suppliers. Over the past year, the world watched as labour disruptions in federally regulated sectors undermined our country’s reputation as a stable trading partner. We call, once again, on the federal government to step in and act now to avoid immediate and long-term damage to Canada’s economy and our farming families.

    “Market access is critical for Alberta’s farmers, ranchers and agri-food businesses. This strike is another blow to the agriculture industry, following closely after China initiated an anti-dumping investigation into canola seed imports.

    “The federal government must improve its approach to labour relations, particularly in federally regulated transportation sectors. The continuous strikes we have seen are a direct result of these failed relations and must be urgently addressed to restore stability in our supply chains.

    “That is why Alberta’s government has sent a letter continuing to call on the federal government to respond proactively and more effectively to labour disputes that have potential to create widespread damage to critical supply chains, as well as to our country’s economy and reputation as a reliable trading partner.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. McGovern, Adams; Sen. Booker Introduce Climate-Smart Farm Conversion Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Jim McGovern (MA-02), U.S. Representative Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act (IACA), which would allow farmers to voluntarily convert their on-farm infrastructure toward more climate-friendly uses with USDA conservation dollars.

    The IACA would use existing agricultural conservation funds to support farmers transitioning from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to more sustainable and humane production systems. Reps. Adams and McGovern are leading the bill in the House, and Sen. Booker introduced companion legislation in the Senate.  

    “We need a food system that feeds everyone while doing right by the people, the planet, and animals” said Congressman McGovern. “Farmers are at the center of that vision, and we need to do everything we can to support them. I’m proud to co-lead this bill with Representative Adams and Senator Booker so that we can empower farmers to break free from a broken system and thrive as independent producers.”

    “Farmers want to produce food in ways that are good for people and the planet, but aren’t always empowered to do so in a consolidated food system like ours. I’m thrilled to introduce the Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act, which unlocks climate-forward conservation dollars to assist producers who want to transition out of the factory farm model,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Whether pasture-based or plant-based, farmers want to farm sustainably, humanely, and resiliently. I’m glad to support them in partnership with Representative McGovern, Senator Booker, and dozens of organizations on the ground.”

    “Corporate meatpackers use their market power to trap producers in the factory farm system with terrible profit margins and unsustainable debt,” said Senator Booker. “Their practices contribute to climate change and destroy rural communities. This legislation leverages conservation funding to give farmers a completely voluntary new path forward by providing them with the resources they need to transition to a more climate-friendly and humane production system that is good for people, animals, and the planet.”

    The IACA is the first stand-alone federal legislation to assist producers who want to make the move from intensive animal agriculture to pasture-based animal agriculture or specialty crop production. It would allow the USDA to create a grant program for eligible climate-smart conversion projects, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act’s pathbreaking investments in agricultural conservation. Earlier this year, Congresswoman Adams, Congressman McGovern, and Senator Booker all signed a letter cautioning against the use of IRA conservation money towards industrial agriculture; the IACA would ensure the integrity and effectiveness of these funds.

    “Factory farming is not just a nightmare for animals—contract farmers who were promised easy profits and the chance to ‘feed the world’ find themselves taking on seemingly endless debt to raise animals in this cruel industrial model, threatening the security of their families and farms,” said Kara Shannon, director of farm animal welfare policy for the ASPCA. “The Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act offers resources to support farmers who are climbing the ladder out of the pit of factory farming and want to transition to more humane and economically sustainable practices. We commend Representatives Adams and McGovern, and Senator Booker for introducing this groundbreaking legislation to create a more compassionate food system that respects animals, farmers, rural communities and our environment.”  

    “The factory farming industry preys on our nation’s farmers by trapping them in exploitative contracts and depriving them of meaningful autonomy. The Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act seeks to promote competition in our food system by creating a program for farmers who wish to transition from the highly consolidated factory farming model to climate-smart practices, such as specialty crop production,” said Frances Chrzan, senior federal policy manager, the Transfarmation Project of Mercy For Animals. “We applaud Rep. Alma Adams, Rep. McGovern, and Sen. Cory Booker for introducing legislation to create kinder and more sustainable pathways for farmers, which will benefit not only farmers and our economy but human health, the environment, and farmed animals.”  

    “I know firsthand the difficulty both financially and socially in transitioning from a confinement animal system to a regenerative farming system, having transitioned our farm in 1996,” said Ron Holter of Holterholm Farms. “Financially there is often a lag time from the beginning of what can be an expensive transition to eventually achieving an improved income while the land heals and the livestock become accustomed to a healthier, happier lifestyle. Transitional funds like those provided in the Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act would be a blessing to farmers attempting to move to more regenerative, livestock friendly systems.”    

    “We took on over $400,000 in debt to become contract chicken farmers and came close to foreclosure when we decided to get out of industrial animal agriculture. When we cancelled our contract, the integrator came out to our farm, picked up their $20 sign and drove away without another thought,” said Paula Boles, co-owner of JB Farms. “We know too many farmers have similar stories of being exploited by integrators and left with few options to keep their farms going. The Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act would help support farmers like us across the country who want to transition to more sustainable and economically viable farming systems.”  

    “In North Carolina’s Duplin and Sampson counties, hogs outnumber people by approximately 30-to-1. The vast majority of these industrial agricultural operations use an outdated cesspit and spray field system in which hog feces and urine are flushed into open-air pits and sprayed onto nearby fields, causing higher rates of anemia, kidney disease, and infant mortality among local communities,” said Dr. Rania Masri, Co-Director of the NC Environmental Justice Network. “NCEJN applauds Rep. Alma Adams, from North Carolina, for introducing the Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act and speaking up for the contract farmers, trapped as serfs on their own land, and the communities who are struggling against this polluting industry.”  

    “Too many farmers have been exploited and trapped in the factory farm system for too long, which is why Farm Aid applauds the introduction of the Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act,” said Hannah Tremblay, Policy and Advocacy Manager of Farm Aid. “We’re especially excited that livestock farmers will have an opportunity to be a part of the solution to climate change through the funding for climate-smart conversion projects.”  

    “The Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act will release farmers ensnared in the highly flawed industrial animal agriculture model and usher in much-needed sustainable food and farm system reform. ‘Get Big or Get Out’ has failed farmers, rural communities, and our country. The IACA will help farmers and rural America get out from under CAFOs and thrive,” said Harry Manin, deputy legislative director of the Sierra Club.  

    “The factory farm system that traps farmers under mountains of debt and damages rural communities, public health and the environment didn’t happen by accident,” said Patty Lovera of the Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment. “Factory farms are the result of decades of failed enforcement, bad farm policy and direct government support, including federally-guaranteed loans for new factory farms. The Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act would be a critical first step in the transition away from factory farms to a system based on independent, family farm livestock production.”  

    “Today’s factory farm system stacks the cards against farmers, workers, consumers, and the environment while letting Big Ag corporations reap all the rewards. The Industrial Agricultural Conversion Act is an important opportunity to transition our food and agriculture sector away from factory farms and an important lifeline for those squeezed by corporate consolidation,” said Rebecca Wolf, senior food policy analyst for Food and Water Watch.  

    “This bill would give small farmers more control over their operations to not have the larger corporations controlling what they do on their own farms. Factory farms put a strain on our health. This gives those farmers an opportunity to create a better product for our communities and consumers and improve our food system as a whole,” said Philip Barker, farmer and co-founder/co-project director of Operation Spring Plant, Inc. 

    “More than ever before, consumers want the assurance that the products they buy are aligned with their values. The data shows us that 80% of U.S. consumers are concerned about the environmental impact of the products they buy,” said David Levine, Co-founder and President of the American Sustainable Business Network. “In just the last few years, the sale of meat with labels boasting environmental and labor benefits increased 18% compared to conventionally labeled meat products. In addition, the sustainable fashion industry market is expected to more than double to $15 billion by 2030. Sustainable business is no longer just about doing the right thing, it’s also a wise investment and makes good business sense. Once farmers can move out of the industrial model, they will see higher profits and more resiliency to extreme weather and volatile markets, the Industrial Agriculture Conservation Act will begin to provide the needed support to take that first step to transition.”  

    “Over a decade ago I began to transition away from conventional cattle production to more sustainable, humane and regenerative practices and I’ve seen more benefits than I can name in the health of my animals and land. But without the kind of support this legislation offers, doing the right thing has been a slow and extremely risky process for myself and farmers like me across the country,” said Don Jackson, owner of Pompey’s Rest Farm. “The Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act gives farmers a way out of a destructive system that’s squeezing them dry, and that’s a wonderful thing.” Specifically, the IACA would:

    Create a new grant program within the existing USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), using funds provided for climate-smart conservation practices by the IRA 

    Provide grants for on-farm infrastructure improvements to convert medium or large CAFOs to either crop production or pasture-based livestock operations 

    Require that grant recipients permanently cease operation of a CAFO within 180 days 

    Prevent grant funds from being misused for new unsustainable facilities, such as methane digesters or manure lagoons 

    Require 10% non-federal cost-sharing, with the option of lower cost-sharing amounts for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers 

    Protect grant applicants from retaliation under the Packers and Stockyards Act

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Sanders, Smith Introduce Bill to Help More Farmers Access USDA Emergency Farm Loans After Natural Disasters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) introduced the Emergency Loans Reform Act of 2024, legislation to reform the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Emergency Loan Program to remove barriers to emergency funds and be more responsive to the needs of farmers and ranchers in the aftermath of a natural disaster. The Emergency Loans Reform Act would amend USDA’s Emergency Loan Program to remove the written credit denials requirement and increase flexibility in defining losses. The aim of the legislation is to improve eligibility and access for farmers seeking emergency loan funding.
    “Emergency farm loans can provide a lifeline to farmers and ranchers in their journey to rebuild and recover after a natural disaster strikes. But USDA’s one-size-fits-all system often fails to reflect losses facing Vermont-sized farms, making it difficult for them to access those crucial funds.” said Senator Welch. “Our bill makes commonsense reforms to the Emergency Loans Program to ensure that farmers and ranchers impacted by natural disasters can quickly get the support they need to recover.”
    “The last thing anyone needs after a disaster strikes is more red tape obstructing the road to recovery,” said Senator Sanders. “After the devastating floods of last summer and this summer, we saw too many Vermont farmers struggling to get the emergency assistance they needed in a timely and effective manner. This should not be happening in the richest country in the history of the world. With the existential threat of climate change making these disasters more frequent and more severe, we must take urgent action to reimagine disaster response in this country. This legislation, which makes it easier for farmers to get the emergency aid they need as quickly as possible, is an important step in the right direction and I am proud to join Sen. Welch and my colleagues on it.”
    “Farmers are the backbone of our economy and they need our help when severe weather strikes,” said Senator Smith. “This bill will help farmers deal with the inevitable ups and downs in the marketplace, including natural disasters.”
    In order to access funds through FSA’s Emergency Loan Program, farmers and ranchers impacted by extreme weather must currently provide evidence of 30% of total production losses and provide one or more written declinations from a commercial lender. As USDA does not always require written denials for similar loan programs, requiring farmers to receive written denials can be particularly burdensome, depriving them of resources at a crucial time. This 30% production loss requirement can be a misleading indicator when determining the need for emergency relief and create unnecessary obstacles for farmers to receive assistance when they need it most.
    Learn more about the Emergency Loans Reform Act.
    Read the full text of the bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Transcript – doorstop – Western Sydney University

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    ANDY MARKS [PRO VICE-CHANCELLOR WSU]: Morning, everybody. My name is Andy Marks from Western Sydney University. I want to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we’re meeting today and pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging. This is a fantastic next stage on a journey that we’ve been on in [the] Hawkesbury that goes back more than a hundred years, in fact, when this facility was one of Australia’s first in pioneering the education and research of agriculture in Australia. What we see today with the announcement of stage one funding for the Agri Tech Hub is something that takes that to another level. It’s about an array of infrastructure investments in Western Sydney on the part of the Federal Government, and how they can do the main game for [the] Hawkesbury, which is generating jobs and jobs of the future. So I won’t say any more today other than to introduce our distinguished guests. First of all, the most distinguished, our local member, Susan Templeman. Susan, please.

    SUSAN TEMPLEMAN [FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MACQUARIE]: Thanks, Andy.

    ANDY MARKS: No offence, guys.

    SUSAN TEMPLEMAN: Yeah. Susan Templeman, Member for Macquarie. It is such a pleasure to be here to bring to fruition a conversation that started several years ago and followed with an election commitment of $16.7 million, and to now be at this point knowing that the investment that we are making as a federal government is going to have long term benefits economically for this community, and importantly, for agriculture across not just New South Wales, but Australia – and, we hope, the world. What we’re able to bring here and what we’ll see grow over time is an agritech precinct that is really going to, as Andy has said, take that story of agriculture in the Hawkesbury, which began when colonial settlers saw how fertile this area was. This is the area that fed Sydney when it was in famine, and these are really significant things in the settlement of Australia. And of course, we looked at how [the] First Nations used this land – they also found it was bountiful. So, this is an exciting next step to take agriculture for the Hawkesbury region and Western Sydney into the 21st century. I’m very pleased to have the Minister for Infrastructure, Catherine King, who has supported this project from the start and was key to it being an election commitment and being able to announce that. And I’m so delighted that she’s here to take this next step.

    CATHERINE KING [MINISTER]: Thanks.

    [Applause]

    Thanks very much. It’s great to be here. Susan, and also with George as well. And it’s my first opportunity to actually come on site to see the delivery. Now we’re releasing- the stage one funding is being released for this project, and an important project it is, not just for the Hawkesbury but for Western Sydney overall, making sure that we are investing in new technology for agriculture. Agriculture we want to grow to a much more significant level in this country than we have currently. It’s incredibly important, and being able to have the sorts of technology, the research and development here, I’m looking forward to being able to look at some of the research that’s being done on vanilla bean producing, barramundi producing out on this site, but also looking at what that means for the future.

    With only sort of 40 minutes to the new Western Sydney International Airport, this university will also be an incredibly important way that our agriculture sector can look at how it can preserve goods to getting them to market much more quickly. That over $5 billion investment we’re investing in building the airport actually is very critical to this university here as well in making sure that we’ve got the technology, the research into the future. So I do want to commend Western Sydney University for the foresight on actually developing this site in the way in which they have. And really, the investment- we’re going to be looking forward to seeing not only lots of students here involved and being part of this site, but very much the research that is to come out of Western Sydney University for agriculture into the future. Making sure we’ve got a sustainable, good and healthy food supply is pretty critical to not just our nation, but the world. So I do want to commend them and very pleased to be here on site today. I might hand over to George.

    GEORGE WILLIAMS [VICE-CHANCELLOR AND PRESIDENT WSU]: Thank you minister, and thank you to the local member for their [sic] steadfast support of this project. This is something special for Western Sydney and Hawkesbury. It’s special because it’s bringing AI to agriculture in a way that’s going to transform jobs in this area. We expect there’ll be 240 jobs supporting this facility. And it’s a really great example of taking Western Sydney to the world. This is a world-leading facility that is going to be looking at how we have sustainable, effective agriculture from the beginning to the end of the food chain, and it’ll be doing that in ways that will be of enormous international interest. In our case, we’ve already got great interest from India, for example, who want to work with us because of this facility to bring the technology, the expertise not only to India, but to Asia and the Middle East. And that will be a great initiative for us to lead in this area with our researchers and partners, to actually deal something quite special that will be transformative here and more broadly.

    It’s also a particularly special investment because of Western Sydney. And of course, it’s not just an investment in agritech we’re seeing, it’s agritech plus the airport, plus the enormous growth in infrastructure, plus all of the great developments we’re seeing in people around this region. And this is the sort of investment that goes back not only to 1891 when the Hawkesbury College was first established, but of course much further back to colonial times. And it’s expression of that now in a world class, high tech way that will not only drive jobs, but actually drive that investment through the airport and the like, to bring this to the world and to do something that we think not just for Western Sydney University, but more importantly for our students, for our staff, but also the community is going to deliver enormous benefits, not just next year, but over the coming decades. So thank you. We appreciate the support and we believe with this, this is going to be a game changer for agriculture and technology in this region.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish and UK governments urged to deliver private jet tax

    Source: Scottish Greens

    25 Sep 2024 Climate Climate Breakdown

    Private jets are wasteful and destructive.

    More in Climate

    The Scottish and UK governments must work together to deliver the rollout of Scotland’s Air Departure Tax and drive down aviation, says the Scottish Greens transport spokesperson, Mark Ruskell MSP.

    Air Departure Tax was created by the Scottish Parliament in 2017, but has yet to be introduced. The Scottish Government says this is due to the UK Treasury’s refusal to allow an exemption for lifeline island flights, but a recent report from Oxfam has argued that it could be applied now if the UK Government and Scottish Government worked together.

    Mr Ruskell has written to the Scottish Government Minister for Connectivity and Agriculture, Jim Fairlie, and the UK Government’s Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Mike Kane, calling for a meeting to resolve the stalemate and urgently bring in the tax.

    Oxfam has found that since 2019 – the same year the Scottish Government declared a climate emergency – there have been 54,746 recorded private flights in Scotland. They have argued that using Air Departure Tax on private jets could raise over £21 million a year (based on 2023 figures), which could go towards funding public transport investment, such as permanently scrapping peak rail fares.

    Mr Ruskell said: “There are few things in this world as wasteful, needless and destructive as private jets. It is absurd we are allowing multi-millionaires to pollute the world around us at such an obscene rate.

    “Private jets are used as a decadent and extravagant sign of wealth and status, transporting some of the wealthiest people in the world from one destination to the next. There is no justification for them, especially at a time when global temperatures are rising.

    “The truth is that we cannot even begin to tackle the climate crisis without drastically reducing the number of flights that are taking off and landing every day, both here in Scotland and around the world.

    “A private jet tax is long overdue, but it will take political will and our governments working together.

    “For far too long we’ve had a stalemate, with Holyrood blaming Westminster for inaction while UK ministers have refused to engage. We need to get it solved as soon as possible so that we can finally deter flights, permanently end peak rail fares and raise vital funds for public transport.

    “The Scotland I want us to build is one where rail is always an affordable, accessible and reliable option, not one where private jets are flying overhead as the super-rich disregard our climate and pollute our planet.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Joint press conference, Brisbane

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    JIM CHALMERS:

    Thanks, everyone, for coming. I’m going to say a few things about the inflation number. Katy’s going to talk about inflation and the Final Budget Outcome. Then I wanted to preview my trip to China this week, and then obviously happy to take your questions.

    The new inflation numbers for August showed that headline and underlying inflation both went down substantially. Headline inflation went down from 3.5 to 2.7 per cent. This is less than half the 6.1 per cent we inherited, and it’s now less than a third of its peak.

    Trimmed mean inflation went down from 3.8 to 3.4 per cent. That is the lowest in more than 30 months. If you exclude volatile items, it went down from 3.7 to 3. Non‑tradeable inflation, which is what others call homegrown inflation, went down from 4.5 to 3.8 per cent. And services inflation went down as well.

    These are very welcome, very encouraging and very heartening numbers. We expected headline inflation to come down. We’ve also seen underlying inflation come down considerably. That’s a very good thing.

    Our policies are a factor here, but they’re not the only factor. If you look at rents, they went up 6.8 per cent in the year to August, but without our increases to rent assistance, they would have increased by 8.6 per cent. Electricity prices fell 17.9 per cent in the year to August, but without the energy rebates they would have decreased 2.7 per cent.

    But the story here goes beyond the government’s policies, which are helping in the fight against inflation. Whether it’s rent, whether it’s energy rebates, our cost‑of‑living policies are an important part of the story, but they’re not the whole story here. We’re seeing right across a number of measures of inflation, including underlying inflation, that it is has come off considerably in the new numbers that we see today.

    These are heartening numbers, encouraging numbers, they’re welcome numbers. But we’re not getting carried away because we know that the monthly numbers can be volatile. We know that inflation doesn’t always moderate in a straight line and we know that people are still under pressure. That’s why our cost‑of‑living help is so important, and it’s also why our responsible economic management is so important, and Katy’s going to say a few things about that.

    KATY GALLAGHER:

    Thanks, very much, Jim. It’s lovely to be here in your home city today.

    CHALMERS:

    You’re always welcome, Katy.

    GALLAGHER:

    It’s glorious to be here. Thanks, Jim.

    What we’re seeing is our responsible economic management is helping in the fight against inflation, and you’re seeing that in those numbers today.

    That budget management, particularly our returning revenue to the budget, findings savings in the budget and reprioritising spending, has helped us with our budget improvements that we’re seeing.

    On Monday we’ll be releasing the Final Budget Outcome. That will show our second surplus and it will be an improvement on the number that we released during the Budget. That improvement in the budget outcome is not related to increased revenue but is related to less spending on the spending side of the budget. We know from the comments that the RBA Governor has made in the past that surplus budgeting is helping in the fight against inflation. You’ll see that reflected in the FBO that we do on Monday.

    That’s really our approach to budgeting, Jim and mine – find savings, return revenue, deliver budget surpluses when the inflation challenge has been what it has. That’s helping overall in that fight against inflation.

    CHALMERS:

    I’ll just say a few things to preview meetings in China, and then we’re happy to take some questions.

    The key influences on our economy right now are the inflation that we’ve been talking about today combined with global economic uncertainty and the impact of the rate rises which are already in the system. Those 3 things are combining to slow our economy substantially.

    Particularly when it comes to the Chinese economy, we’ve seen a weakness in the Chinese economy which obviously has consequences for us. We’re not immune from weakness in the Chinese economy. That’s why it’s so important that over the next 2 days I’ll be meeting with key Chinese counterparts in Beijing.

    This is another really important step towards stabilising our economic relationship with China. This will be the first visit to China by an Australian Treasurer in 7 years. It will be part of the Albanese Government’s methodical and coordinated efforts to re‑establish dialogue with China, Australia’s largest trading partner.

    The main purpose of this visit is to co‑chair the Australian‑China Strategic Economic Dialogue with the Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission. That will happen tomorrow.

    Our relationship with China is full of complexity and it’s full of opportunity. We recognise that a more stable economic relationship between Australia and China is a good thing for Australian workers and businesses, investors and our country more broadly. That’s why just in the last week in the context of these meetings in China I’ve consulted directly with the chairs, CEOs and senior executives of major China‑facing Australian employers, including Rio Tinto, Wesfarmers, BHP, Woodside, Fortescue, Macquarie, BlueScope, HSBC, King & Wood Mallesons, Port of Newcastle, Sydney Airport, Cochlear, University of NSW and GrainCorp, and I’ve also been consulting with the Business Council of Australia.

    We believe that dialogue and engagement give us the best chance to properly manage and maximise these really important links.

    Our approach to China has been to cooperate where we can, disagree where we must, but always engage in Australia’s national interest.

    The Strategic Economic Dialogue hasn’t been convened since 2017, but our government has agreed with Chinese counterparts to restart it, and I’ll be meeting with other counterparts from the Chinese government during my 2 days of engagements as well.

    We recognise that there’s a lot at stake and a lot to gain from a more stable economic relationship with China.

    We’ve got a big opportunity to make sure that both countries benefit from the complementarity of our economies while always advancing and protecting Australia’s national interests.

    With that, I’m happy to take some questions.

    JOURNALIST:

    Will the Treasury be looking at negative gearing and capital gains tax?

    CHALMERS:

    First of all, the real story today is inflation. The story today is about a substantial moderation in headline and underlying inflation in our economy. We’ve got a housing policy, and that’s not in it. We’ve made that clear today.

    JOURNALIST:

    Did you direct Treasury, though, to look into negative gearing policy changes, perhaps to take to the election?

    CHALMERS:

    Treasury looks at all kinds of policy options all of the time. It’s not unusual for the public service – and in my case, my department, and I’m sure Katy’s department is the same – to examine issues that are being speculated about in the public or in the parliament. That’s how a good public service operates.

    JOURNALIST:

    But you’ve basically agreed with the argument that reining in negative gearing will have a negative impact on rental supplies?

    CHALMERS:

    I’m not going to engage in hypothetical impacts of hypothetical policies when we’ve already got a housing policy. We’ve got a housing policy which is about building more homes for Australians. It’s about making it easier to rent and to buy.

    We know from today’s inflation figures that we’ve taken some of the sting out of rents. But rents are still too high, and that’s because we don’t have enough homes. Our motivation throughout this has been to build more homes for Australians. That’s what our $32 billion of investment, including $6 billion in the last Budget, is all about.

    If our political opponents cared about housing, they would vote for our policies in the Senate. Instead, in their usual, characteristically destructive way, both the Greens and the Coalition are teaming up to prevent more homes being built. Building more homes is the best way to ensure that people can find a home to rent or buy.

    JOURNALIST:

    On the Stage 3 tax cuts you argued several times that the circumstances have changed and that the government has formed a different view. Can voters expect you to make that same argument on negative gearing in the lead‑up to the next federal election?

    CHALMERS:

    I’m very proud of the changes that we made to the Stage 3 tax cuts because it meant that every Australian taxpayer gets a tax cut, not just some. We explained our rationale and our reasoning for that at the time, and you referenced that in your question. The changes to Stage 3 at the beginning of this year meant that more people got a bigger tax cut to help with the cost of living. We’re proud of what we did. We were upfront and we explained that changes that we made. I think the public has recognised that we’re trying to do the right thing.

    JOURNALIST:

    Would your government consider a legitimate use of tax laws and not [indistinct] current negative gearing figures?

    CHALMERS:

    We’ve made it clear that our housing policy is all about building more homes. More homes for Australians, making it easier to rent or buy a home at a time when there aren’t enough homes. That’s what’s pushing rents up, even with our efforts, with Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

    When it comes to tax changes, our priorities have been the PRRT, the biggest balances in superannuation, tax incentives for build‑to‑rent and other tax policies that we’ve already announced.

    JOURNALIST:

    Polling does show the public is open to negative gearing changes, so why not do that?

    CHALMERS:

    We’ve got a housing policy and that’s not in it.

    Our housing policy, I’ve explained answering some of these other questions, is to build more homes for Australians – $32 billion across 20 different policies now. We’ve made it clear what our housing policy is, and we want to see it pass through the Senate. If our political opponents to the left of us and to the right of us really cared about housing, they’d support our policies in the Senate.

    JOURNALIST:

    But I guess policy‑making is dynamic, right? Why not look at negative gearing? Are you insisting that – was it either you or Minister Gallagher that asked Treasury to have a specific [indistinct] negative gearing?

    CHALMERS:

    Treasury looks at all kinds of different policies from time to time. It’s not unusual for us to get advice from departments on issues that are being speculated about in the public or in the Parliament. That’s not an especially unusual thing.

    I couldn’t haven clearer today – we’ve got a housing policy. It’s costing the budget $32 billion. We’ve found room for that even in the context of turning 2 big Liberal deficits into 2 big Labor surpluses for the reasons that Katy outlined a moment ago. We’ve got a housing policy and that’s not in it.

    It’s not unusual for governments to get advice from time to time from departments on issues which are in the public domain.

    JOURNALIST:

    Just going back to inflation, looking at that 3.4 per cent rate, do you think Michelle Bullock needs to look at cuts a bit sooner?

    CHALMERS:

    I’m not going to give free advice to the Governor of the Reserve Bank. I don’t tell Michelle Bullock how to do her job and she doesn’t tell me how to do my job, and that suits us both just fine.

    Underlying inflation has come off substantially in these new numbers today – from 3.8 to 3.4 is very encouraging, very welcome, very heartening when it comes to underlying inflation.

    I refer you back to our political opponents and critics who said that today’s numbers would only reflect the energy bill rebates, which we are proud to be delivering for every Australian household. I wanted to make a couple of points about that.

    They say that that is artificially lowering inflation. There is nothing artificial about helping people with their power bills. We know that the Liberals and Nationals don’t support that, but we’re proud to be helping people with their power bills because we know that people are under pressure. Same when it comes to Commonwealth Rent Assistance, cheaper medicines, getting wages moving again and the tax cuts.

    The other point that I would make about headline versus underlying is you may recall a couple of years ago in the former government’s last Budget they had changes to the fuel excise which had the same impact when it comes to temporarily modifying the headline inflation rate. I don’t remember them making these points then.

    We’re proud to be helping people with the cost of living. We’re proud to be doing that in the context of a responsible budget and a couple of surpluses, which our opponents were incapable of delivering after 9 attempts. We’ve gone 2 from 2.

    So we’re providing cost‑of‑living help. We’re not just seeing headline inflation coming off, we’re seeing underlying inflation coming off as well. Not just the main measure of underlying inflation, headline is down, trimmed mean is down, excluding volatile items is down, non‑tradables is down and services is down as well.

    Across the board, across the main measures, in this data today we’re seeing very welcome, very encouraging progress. We’re not getting carried away because we know that people are still under pressure. That’s why our cost‑of‑living help is so important.

    JOURNALIST:

    When do you expect to receive the Treasury advice on that negative gearing policy?

    CHALMERS:

    As I said a couple of different ways now, we get advice all of the time on different kinds of issues which are in the public domain and before the Parliament. It’s not especially unusual for the public service to be doing that. We’re not expecting one piece of work, which is implied in your question. We get briefed regularly on all sorts of policies and all kinds of issues, and that’s as it should be.

    JOURNALIST:

    I’ll just try one more time: when will Australians know if your government is going to make changes to negative gearing or capital gains reductions?

    CHALMERS:

    I’ll say the same thing I said in response to all of the other questions – and I understand why you’re asking it, I’ve got no problem with you asking these questions – but we’ve got a housing policy and that’s not in it.

    For all of the reasons I’ve gone through a few times today, we think that the highest priority needs to be building more homes. Housing supply is our big priority as a government. It’s not easy to find $32 billion in one policy area, but the fact that we’ve done that, working closely with Julie Collins and now Clare O’Neil, that demonstrates to Australians how serious we are about fixing the issue that we have with housing supply.

    You can’t click your fingers and overnight build the 1.2 million homes that we need over the next 5 years. You need to come at it in a responsible way, a considered, methodical way across a range of different policies.

    We’ve announced our policies on housing. We want to see them pass through the Parliament. We want to see the money flowing, and we want to see the houses being built, because that’s the best way we can make housing more affordable for more Australians.

    JOURNALIST:

    Is it still frustrating to see that the RBA is not taking into account the fact that electricity and fuel is coming down, but they are not enforcing these rate cuts?

    CHALMERS:

    I don’t see it that way, and for the same reasons as in my answer to your earlier question.

    I don’t second guess the decisions taken by the independent Reserve Bank or the commentary that they make about those decisions.

    It’s a good thing that Governor Bullock makes herself available and senior officials make themselves available to talk with the Australian public about how they’re seeing the economy and what that means for inflation and interest rates. That’s a good thing that they take those opportunities to do that. I don’t second guess that. I don’t parse every word that the governor says.

    We’re focused on our, and our job has been to deliver 2 big Labor surpluses, to roll out cost‑of‑living help, to be helpful in the fight against inflation.

    What we see in these numbers today – in these very welcome and encouraging numbers today – is that our policies are helping in the fight against inflation.

    That is a big part of the story but it’s not the only story. That’s why underlying inflation is coming off as well. We’re managing the economy responsibly. The Governor of the Reserve Bank has her own job to do, and it is good and welcome that Governor Bullock takes the opportunity to explain her part of it in the same way that we’ve been explaining our part of it here today.

    Thanks very much.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: AFRICA/DR CONGO – Two churches desecrated by guerrillas in Ituri closed

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: The Holy See in Italian

    Mgr. Dieudonné Uringi Uuci, Bishop of Bunia

    Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – Two churches desecrated by a group of rebels have been closed in the diocese of Bunia, the capital of Ituri in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This was announced by Dieudonné Uringi Uuci, Bishop of Bunia, during the mass on Sunday 22 September. Mgr. Uringi in his statement states that “Considering the reprehensible acts committed by elements of the armed group CODECO (Cooperative for the Development of Congo), who closed the churches of Kpandroma and Jiba on the night between 28 and 29 August, acts qualified as desecration and which require compensation pursuant to canon 1211, Considering their threat against the physical and moral integrity of the priests working in these ecclesial structures and the arbitrary taking hostage of two faithful collaborators of the priests, Considering their voluntary intention to extort money for the release of these faithful with the sole aim of causing damage to the Church; Considering our immediate ordinary power under canon 381 paragraph 1, we decree: the closure of the Marie-Reine parish of Jiba and the sector of the pastoral institution of Kpandroma for an indeterminate period”. Msgr. Uringi has also decided to withdraw the priests who were working in the two churches. Canon 2011 of the Code of Canon Law establishes that “Sacred places are desecrated if gravely outrageous actions are committed in them with scandal, which in the judgment of the Ordinary of the place, are so serious and contrary to the sanctity of the place that it is not lawful to exercise worship in them until the outrage is repaired with the penitential rite, according to the liturgical books”. The Bishop emphasizes that the violence began after the Church launched an appeal for dialogue and to lay down arms. In response, the CODECO militiamen asked to see the priests. Not finding them, they attacked their collaborators, ransacked the premises and blocked the doors of the two churches. A similar episode had occurred six months ago in one of the parishes involved. The militiamen had mistreated and imprisoned several priests, demanding the release of the prisoners belonging to CODECO. This acronym indicates an association of various militias based on the Lendu ethnic group. The original acronym Cooperative for the Development of Congo, quite unusual for a guerrilla group, derives from the fact that when it was founded in the 1970s, CODECO was a real agricultural development cooperative composed of Lendu farmers. Over the years, land disputes with the Hema shepherds have caused two groups to arm themselves and CODECO has become an acronym indicating an association of various Lendu militias fighting against the Hema. CODECO is accused of various crimes against humanity including massacres in villages and refugee camps. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 25/9/2024)Share:

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Press Conference Government House, Adelaide

    Source: Minister for Trade

    Minister for Trade, Don Farrell: Good afternoon everybody, and please take a seat, don’t stand on formality. I thank the Governor for making her home available to us today to hold this press conference with my very good friend, the Trade Minister for India, Piyush Goyal, it’s absolutely wonderful to have you here.

    When I first became the Trade Minister for Australia, I was lucky enough to be invited to Piyush’s home in New Delhi, and have a wonderful feast with him and his wife, and a little bit later on today I’m going to return the favour. We’re heading out to the magnificent Clare Valley, and we’re going to have a wonderful meal out in the Clare together this evening.

    We’ve just wrapped up our face‑to‑face meeting, and it’s the first meeting that we’ve had since the Modi Government was recently re‑elected, and of course follows on the weekend’s events between our Prime Minister and Prime Minister Modi in Delaware, with the Japanese and the American leaders.

    I think it’s fair to say that the relationship between Australia and India has never, ever been closer. And to reflect that, is the economic relationship between our two countries, and it has never ever been better.

    Following our Trade Agreement that was ratified during the course of this Parliamentary session, trade with India is turning out to be a really big win for Australia, and today we held in‑depth discussions on how to accelerate that trading relationship. And in addition to that, our investment relationship viability on the enormous growth that we’ve just seen in recent times.

    Just to give you some examples of that, in the 18 months since our Trade Agreement with India came into force, nearly $30 billion worth of Australian exports have entered India either with zero tariffs or lower tariffs than any of our competitors.

    Agricultural exports to India are up around 60 per cent to $1.6 billion, and we know how important that is to the South Australian economy.

    Industrial equipment and manufacturing exports are up 66 per cent or $145 million, and our health exports to India have increased by nearly 40 per cent to $33 million.

    Australian consumers are of course benefitting by our trade deals with savings at the checkouts worth around $225 million, thanks to the lower tariffs on products that are coming in from India.

    During our meeting, Minister Goyal and I discussed how we can grow our two‑way trade and investment even more. The key focus of today’s discussion was our next free trade agreement called the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.

    Our trade negotiators recently met in Sydney, and today’s discussions show that there’s real momentum here to get an agreement as we work out the details.

    For Australia, we’ve made it clear that we have much to offer our friends in India, particularly in agriculture, as well as the emerging sectors we are building as part of our Future Made in Australia.

    We also exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding on investment cooperation between Austrade and Invest India, which will help boost two‑way investment between our countries.

    Our Government has also wrapped up consultations on our new India Economic Roadmap. We’ve held over 400 consultation sessions across every Australian State and Territory and in India.

    Over the past two days, Minister Goyal has heard from a range of Australian businesses who see wonderful opportunities to partner with India in sectors like green energy, education skills, tourism, agriculture and technology, and in a few moments the Minister and I will walk up to the Australian Space Agency headquarters to meet some of the Australian space start‑ups that are partnering directly with India.

    Our Government is committed to driving more practical cooperation between Australian and Indian businesses. That’s why today I’m announcing $10 million in new grants for Australian businesses, organisations and universities to boost cooperation with India.

    By extending the $10 million Maitri Grants program, the Government will deliver, firstly, $5 million for Australian organisations working on projects that boost trade and innovation, cultural ties and community leaders, and then a further $5 million for scholars and fellowships to support Australian universities to host some of the brightest Indian students in their research, on some of our biggest shared challenges.

    As I indicated before, the Minister and our wives, will be heading out to the magnificent Clare Valley, and we’ll continue to discuss the wonderful opportunities between our two countries. I’ll invite my good friend Piyush to say some words about today’s events and his time in Australia.

    Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal: Thank you very much Honourable Don Farrell, Member of Parliament and Minister for Trade and Industry, someone I look upon as not only a friend and well‑wisher, but a brother who has been a guide, who has helped me understand trade nuances, very sensitive, ever‑smiling, and a well‑wisher of the Australia-India partnership.

    Thank you very much for your warm hospitality, thank you very much for bringing me to Adelaide for the first time. What a beautiful city, charming, a place we’ve heard about from childhood. Where cricket matters and in the good old days, we had five‑day test matches where every wicket falling was blown all over the television and radio. But to actually be right across from the Adelaide stadium is truly a memorable visit for me.

    We had very good engagement with Australian business persons in Sydney over the last two days, the excitement is truly palpable on both sides, Australian business and Indian business.

    For the first time ever both our major chambers, the conflagration of Indian industries and the conflagration of Indian chambers of commerce and industry were represented by their top leadership together as a testimony of the importance that the Australia relationship is to India.

    We are looking at significantly upscaling our partnerships in trade, investment, tourism and technology, and therefore one of the first announcements I’d like to make is that we shall shortly be setting up in Sydney an office covering all these four areas, ITTT, investment, trade, technology, and tourism. With representatives of Invest India, representatives of the organisation responsible for building industrial smart cities and townships, meeting representatives of our Export Trade and Guarantee Corporation, and other officials related to trade and tourism.

    Along with the private sector, CII jointly manning these offices to act as a bridge between investors and businesses on both sides and working closely together with Austrade with whom Invest India has today exchanged an MOU for mutual investment promotion, technology and trade facilitation, and other insights into economic trade.

    Thank you very much, Don, for giving us the encouragement to work together on these areas. And I’m sure the unprecedented ties that our two countries are sharing today with nine in‑person meetings since May 2022, in less than three years, nine in‑person meetings of our senior leaders, both Prime Ministers, reflecting the big bonding that both Prime Ministers, political leadership have with business-to-business and people‑to‑people connect that Australia and India share.

    Friends, today is a very important day in India. We are celebrating 10 years of our Making India Program. Prime Minister Modi on 25 September 2014, had launched this initiative, and through the Making India Program over the last 10 years we have significantly had a whole of government approach to addressing the challenges that manufacturing in India increase. Whether it’s provision of plug-and-play infrastructure, a national single window for all approvals, regulators reducing compliance burden or decriminalising laws, opening up foreign direct investment in newer sectors making it easier to invest in India, or encouraging the start of ecosystem. It’s been a multi‑pronged approach to attract manufacturing in India, and I do see a lot of promise between the Making India Program and the Future Made in Australia program that your government has launched, so that we can exchange the technologies, exchange opportunities and encourage businesses on both sides to work with each other.

    This enhanced cooperation via education, via skill development, tourism, investments, critical minerals, which we discussed at length today, or renewable energy, green ecosystem towards sustainability, all of these other areas where this relationship holds tremendous potential. And India is committed to partner with Australia to provide a bouquet of opportunities to our business persons on both sides so that we can work towards a greater and more ambitious relationship on the economic front.

    Friends, as Minister Farrell mentioned, ECTA, and I think some of you may recall, ECTA in India, in Hindi, is unity. This agreement has truly been a game‑changer providing greater market access to businesses on both sides and has resulted in a significant increase in merchandise trade. We’re looking at further strengthening the ECTA through to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the CECA, and we do hope to see a greater flow of goods and services along with investments flowing out of the CECA, which we are looking to conclude at an early date to unlock new dimensions in this partnership and provide further momentum to this business relationship.

    Friends, I must mention that we have also discussed at length greater cooperation at various multilateral fora like the WTO, the G20, the IPEF and other international organisations where Australia and India share common interests.

    India is the world’s fastest growing economy today. We grew at 8.2 per cent last year. The economy today is the fifth largest in the world, expected to become the third largest in the next three years. We will cross the $7 trillion mark by 2030, and the $10 trillion mark by 2034, 10 years from now.

    We are very confident of achieving a developed country status by 2047. [Indistinct] 2047 is our ambition, is our goal, taking up our economy to 10 times today’s size, to $35 trillion economy in the next 25 years or so, so that we can meet the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians for a better quality of life. And I see Australia playing an important role in this journey towards making India a developed nation, a role to greater trade, a role to exchange of technologies, a role in our common goals for sustainability and a significant role when it comes to provision of high-tech services and investments.

    India offers the advantage of four Ds. The first is our democracy. We have a vibrant democracy, the world’s largest democracy, the Rule of Law prevails, it provides safety and security for investment and people. And I think in today’s day and age, two democracies working together provides a great comfort to investors in the long run.

    The second D is our demographic dividend, a young population with an average age of 28.4 years, expected to remain young for many, many more years to come, with two‑thirds of our population in the working age to providing skills, talent and huge manpower force to help the economy to move faster.

    The third D is demand. 1.4 billion aspirational Indians, demanding high quality goods and services is a huge market opportunity, and growth opportunity.

    And the fourth D is decisive leadership. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government are willing to reform, transform and perform to take the country to greater heights. I’m very confident that together we shall make the Australia-India partnership a defining partnership of the decade, if not the 21st Century. The kangaroos and the tigers together have a combined strength which is unstoppable. Thank you.

    Minister for Trade: I think we should give Piyush a clap for that. Thank you, very much, my friend, and we’ll open to questions.

    Journalist: This one’s for both Ministers. Can you give an update on the CECA negotiations? You made progress of the outstanding points of difference, and do you see an agreement for Australia [indistinct]?

    Minister for Trade: We are very optimistic that the good work that was done today will result in an expanded agreement. As we saw with the United Arab Emirates, when both parties put their mind to it we can very quickly expedite the discussions to finalise an agreement. I’d be hopeful that goodwill on both sides, and you can see today, that’s been demonstrated here – I think with goodwill we can very quickly resolve this issue, and we can have a new upgraded agreement between Australia and India.

    Piyush Goyal: Madam, I think the important and defining feature of our discussions and negotiations is the sensitivity that both sides have to each other’s issues, defensive interests, offensive interests. All are considered together in a manner which will only result in a win‑win situation. So any issue that I can see Australia will be uncomfortable with I would not like to push, press on that, and likewise our approach has been that if something is very sensitive to a large Indian population given our current status of development, Australia has been very gracious in their understanding of our sensitivities.

    It is my deep confidence in each other that helps us to resolve issues very fast, and I’m very confident that the final agreement will only help grow this relationship. You saw that our first agreement didn’t have any negative press or any negative public outcry. I’m sure the second agreement will correspondingly be a good mix of the good things that people want out of the agreement.

    Minister for Trade: I think it’s worthwhile repeating that when we were last in India together we committed to increasing our trade from its current $49 billion two‑way trade to $100 billion by the end of the decade, and I think we’re ‑ I’m certainly happy, and I think I speak for Piyush here, to restate that today.

    We want to double that trade between our countries between now and the end of the decade.

    Journalist: Just on that, Minister Goyal, India has traditionally been hesitant about removing barriers to Australian exports in sensitive sectors like dairy. Have you had consultations with those domestic producers and has the Government consulted with its Coalition partners on any of those sensitivities?

    Piyush Goyal: First of all, the Government in India is a strong government. The Coalition is a pre‑poll alliance. So we have very seamless consultations and very seamless understanding of any decisions that the Government takes.

    As regards dairy, that sector was discussed even before we started the negotiations with Australia three years ago, and Indian dairy is very significantly different from Australian dairy.

    Our average holding with a farmer is a small two‑acre, three‑acre farm with three or four livestock, whereas Australia’s farms and dairy farms are both very large, and it would be near impossible for these large farms and these small farms to compete with each other on a common footing.

    We have discussed this issue even three years ago and on earlier occasions, and dairy is such a sensitive subject that in any of our FTAs across the world, we have not been able to open up the dairy sector with duty concessions there is permitted in India, but there are certain duties imposed on that.

    This is one sector where there’s no discussion with any Coalition partner, even when we were a full majority government there was no opening up of the dairy. It’s actually two very unequal situations and would not lend themselves to fair trade between the two countries, or between any countries. We have neither opened up dairy in Europe, or planning to open up dairy in Europe, nor have we opened it up even with Switzerland and Norway, with whom we have recently concluded an FTA under the EFTA grouping – Switzerland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland. Even then we have not opened up dairy. It’s the first agreement Switzerland has signed without any component of dairy in it.

    Journalist: You predicted that China will bring its pursuit of all lobster type business. Given your previous predictions on the subject have proven optimistic, why do you have the confidence that this will be resolved in the next few months?

    Minister for Trade: I’m an optimistic sort of person, and I think the only way you can do this job is to be optimistic. If you think about this, when we came to government two and a half years ago, we had $20 billion worth of impediments between Australia and China.

    We have reduced that over time to less than $1 billion and one product that is still outstanding unfortunately is lobster.

    We’ve recently had meetings both with the Chinese Premier, and also my counterpart, Wang Wentao, in fact as Piyush has done. They both came to Adelaide, it’s becoming a bit of a feature of international trade these days, everyone’s coming to Adelaide. I’m confident that we can resolve the outstanding issues in a timely manner.

    It is unfortunate that that issue hasn’t been resolved. The Government is doing its absolute best to resolve it, but these issues do take time, and we’ll continue to work very closely with the Chinese Government to put aside all of the outstanding issues between our two governments.

    Journalist: Paul Starick from The Advertiser in Adelaide. Two questions, one for both ministers. You mentioned agriculture as a significant component of the next stage of your agreement. Do you care to elaborate on that, what particular opportunities do you see? And secondly, for Senator Farrell, regarding an unrelated issue at the Whyalla steelworks. The Premier has talked about the importance of that as a national enterprise. Do you agree, and what response given its current predicament do you think is appropriate at a national level?

    Minister for Trade: Well, look, in terms of agriculture, we’re talking about the removal of all of the tariffs that weren’t removed at the last process, so we’ve made very significant progress, but as the Minister said, some of the more difficult issues were not resolved at that issue, we put them to one side, they’re all back on the table. So things like chickpeas, pistachios, and apples. So, all of the issues, all of the products where there are still tariffs ‑ wine is another one ‑ we are seeking to have those tariffs removed.

    I’m not going to go to the details of the negotiations, it’s not appropriate to do that here, but we’ll continue to work through, and as Piyush said, where issues are difficult, we understand that, and we’re not going to make life any more difficult for the Indian Government.

    On the other issue, I’m aware that there have been some discussions between the Prime Minister and the Premier over the issue of Whyalla. Obviously steel making is a very important business in Whyalla. As a government we want to see steel making continue, and of course all of those jobs be protected, and we will, of course, continue those discussions between the Prime Minister and the Premier.

    Minister, you might like to answer that first question.

    Piyush Goyal: I think as you very rightly put it, we let the negotiators take the discussions forward and give them a chance to look at what other possibilities as we conclude the CEPA.

    Minister for Trade: Well, if there are no other questions, thank you very much for coming along today, and we’ll head up to the Space Agency after a quick lunch with the Premier and the Governor. Thank you very much for attending.

    Piyush Goyal: Thank you friends.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Launch of the national program to combat foot rot

    MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

    Source: Switzerland – Canton Government of Geneva in French

    On October 1, the Consumer Affairs and Veterinary Service (SCAV) will begin inspections on all sheep farms in the canton of Geneva. This is part of the new program to combat foot rot, a disease that causes painful lesions on the hooves of affected animals.

    Designed by the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), in collaboration with the main associations in the sector, the program aims to reduce the presence of this disease to less than 1% of Swiss farms, compared to around 25% currently. It will last a maximum of 5 years.

    Although this disease does not pose any risk to human health and does not affect the quality of the meat or milk produced by these animals, the fight against this sheep pathology responds to a problem of improving animal welfare. It will also help to minimize the economic impact of this epizootic on the canton’s sheep farms.

    The success of this programme will depend entirely on the good cooperation of sheep farmers with the veterinary services, due to the health treatments they will have to carry out, compliance with the immobilization measures that may be imposed and the rigour of biosecurity practices on their farms.

    More information:

    Fight against foot rot – ge.chFighting foot rot throughout Switzerland – admin.chFoot rot – admin.chOSAV press release – admin.ch

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare releases Final Estimates of major agricultural crops for 2023-24

    Source: Government of India

    Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare releases Final Estimates of major agricultural crops for 2023-24

    Record Foodgrains production of 3322.98 LMT

    Record Rice production of 1378.25 LMT

    Record Wheat production of 1132.92 LMT

    Record production of Rapeseed & Mustard 132.59 LMT

    Posted On: 25 SEP 2024 1:33PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has released Final Estimates of production of Major Agricultural Crops for the year 2023-24. These estimates have been primarily prepared on the basis of information received from States/ UTs. The crop area has been validated and triangulated with information received from Remote Sensing, Weekly Crop Weather Watch Group and other agencies. Crop yields estimates are majorly based on Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) conducted nationwide. The process of recording CCEs has been re-engineered with the introduction of the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), which was rolled out in major States during the 2023-24 agricultural years. The new system has ensured the transparency and robustness of the yield estimates.

    The total Foodgrain production in the country during 2023-24 is estimated at record 3322.98 LMT which is higher by 26.11 LMT than the production of food grains of 3296.87 LMT achieved during 2022-23. Food grain production witnessed record increase due to good production of Rice, Wheat and Shree Anna.

    Total Rice production during 2023-24 is estimated at record 1378.25 LMT. It is higher by 20.70 LMT than previous year’s Rice production of 1357.55 LMT. The Wheat production during 2023-24 is estimated at record 1132.92 LMT. It is higher by 27.38 LMT than previous year’s wheat production of 1105.54 LMT and production of Shree Anna is estimated at 175.72 LMT as compared to 173.21 LMT during previous year.

    During 2023-24, there were drought-like conditions in southern states, including Maharashtra & prolonged dry spell during August especially in Rajasthan. The moisture stress from the drought also affected the Rabi season. This mainly impacted production of pulses, coarse cereals, soybean & cotton.

    The details of production of various crops are given as under:

    Total Foodgrains– 3322.98 LMT (record)

    • Rice -1378.25 LMT (record)
    • Wheat – 1132.92 LMT (record)
    • Nutri / Coarse Cereals – 569.36 LMT
    • Maize – 376.65 LMT
    • Total Pulses – 242.46 LMT
    • Shree Anna– 175.72 LMT
    • Tur – 34.17 LMT
    • Gram – 110.39 LMT

    Total Oilseeds– 396.69 LMT

    • Groundnut – 101.80 LMT
    • Soybean – 130.62 LMT
    • Rapeseed & Mustard – 132.59 LMT (record)

    Sugarcane – 4531.58 LMT

    Cotton – 325.22 Lakh Bales (170 Kgs. each)

    Jute & Mesta – 96.92 Lakh Bales (180 Kgs. each)

    The details of Final Estimate for 2023-24 along with previous estimates are available on upag.gov.in.

    *****

    SS

     

     

    (Release ID: 2058534) Visitor Counter : 25

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠ Harris Administration Announces New Investments to Protect Freshwater Resources, Enhance Drought and Climate  Resilience

    Source: The White House

    Our nation’s lakes, rivers, streams, estuaries, and wetlands are fundamental to the health, prosperity, and resilience of our communities and are held sacred by many Tribal Nations. They are not only the sources of clean drinking water that flows into the taps of our homes, but are also economic drivers supporting jobs and outdoor recreation across the nation. By absorbing and storing carbon, our nation’s waterways and wetlands – and the forests, grasslands, and farmlands they nourish – also play a critical role in the fight against climate change.

    Since Day One, the Biden-Harris Administration has worked to secure clean water for all communities, protect our vital freshwater resources, and mitigate the impacts of drought. Given that communities often acutely experience the climate crisis through water-related impacts – from floods and droughts to polluted drinking sources and waterways – this Administration is making historic investments through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to protect, conserve, and restore our freshwater basins and ecosystems.

    Meanwhile, many Republicans in Congress continue to deny the very existence of climate change and remain committed to repealing the President’s Inflation Reduction Act – the biggest climate protection bill ever – which would undermine the health, safety, and economic vitality of their own constituents.

    Today, during Climate Week, the White House is announcing new funding and whole-of-government initiatives that build upon its ambitious freshwater agenda and help restore and conserve our freshwater resources and address climate impacts felt across the nation:

    • Investing in Long-Term Colorado River Basin Resilience: The Biden-Harris Administration is leading a comprehensive effort to make Western communities more resilient to climate change and address the ongoing megadrought across the region, including the Colorado River Basin, by harnessing the full resources of President Biden’s historic Investing in America agenda. The Administration’s investments in the Lower Colorado River Basin bridge the immediate need for water conservation while moving toward improved system efficiency and more durable long-term solutions. Overall, the funding for long-term water conservation initiatives in the Lower Basin is expected to save more than 1 million acre-feet of water, putting the Basin on a path to a more resilient and sustainable water future.
      • The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation is announcing the execution of the first three contracts for long-term water conservation under the Lower Colorado Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program. Totaling approximately $107 million, taken together these first three projects – all with the Gila River Indian Community in the Lower Colorado River Basin of Arizona – will provide over 73,000 acre-feet of water conservation to support the sustainability of Lake Mead while also helping ensure long-term water resilience for the Community. The Bureau of Reclamation is also working on the companion program for the Upper Basin, which will provide additional water savings for the Basin’s long-term sustainability.
      • The Bureau of Reclamation is working with the following sponsors in the Lower Colorado Basin to negotiate water conservation contracts for ten additional proposed projects, including:
        • City of Phoenix
        • City of Tucson
        • Coachella Valley Water District
        • Salt River Valley Water Users’ Association & Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District
        • San Diego County Water Authority
        • Southern Nevada Water Authority
        • The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
        • Town of Gilbert
    • The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation is also signing agreements with the Imperial Irrigation District and the Bard Water District in partnership with the Metropolitan Water District in California to ensure the conservation of up to 717,100acre-feet of water by 2026. This water will remain in Lake Mead in an effort to benefit the Colorado River System and its users.
    • Investing in Indian Country: The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation has announced historic Tribal water infrastructure investments totaling over $1.2 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, Reclamation Water Settlement funding, and annual appropriations. This includes a new investment of $9.4 million for Tribal drought relief and technical assistance projects that will restore wetlands, improve irrigation efficiency, and support groundwater monitoring.
    • Reconnecting Waterways and Restoring Aquatic Ecosystems: With over $3 billion in funding for ecosystem restoration and fish passage projects, the Investing in America agenda is helping secure cleaner rivers, safer communities, greater recreational opportunities, and improved fish and wildlife habitat, driving change across the landscape for people, communities, species, and ecosystems.
      • The Administration is announcing a suite of 10 transformational fish passage projects that to date have received over $150 million from eight Federal agencies. When completed, these fish passage and aquatic connectivity projects – located in communities from Maine to Ohio to California – will reconnect nearly 5,000 miles of rivers and streams across the United States. Reconnecting waterways allows natural functions to be restored in freshwater systems, improving their climate resilience and water quality, and therefore their ability to protect communities from catastrophic floods, droughts, catastrophic wildfire, and water pollution. Improving fish passage and reconnecting aquatic systems is one of the most effective ways to help conserve vulnerable species, while building safer infrastructure for communities and improving climate resilience. To date, the Administration has spent over $970 million on more than 600 fish passage projects in 45 states across the country.
      • The Department of the Interior today is announcing an additional $92 million in new resources from the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program to help restore important salmon and other native fish habitat across the West. These projects, when complete, will provide increased water quality, floodplain stability, and drought resiliency.
    • Collaborating with Stakeholders to Protect Freshwater Systems: At a Climate Week NYC event focused on the Global Freshwater Challenge, White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory announced a doubling of new partners in the America the Beautiful Freshwater Challenge – a nationwide initiative to protect, restore, and reconnect 8 million acres of wetlands and 100,000 miles of our nation’s rivers and streams by 2030. Over 100 members from across the country initially signed on to support freshwater restoration in their communities. That number has now more than doubled to over 211, including 14 states, 16 Tribal entities, 27 local governments, and 79 private sector members.

    Today’s announcements build on recent actions that deliver on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to ensuring safe drinking water, including providing approximately $1 billion in funding to bring safe, clean water to Tribal communities; finalizing the first-ever standard to protect communities from toxic “forever chemicals,” along with rulemakings to hold polluters responsible for PFAS cleanup and to enhance safeguards against dangerous chemical spills in our nation’s waters; and continuing to deliver on President Biden’s goal to replace every lead pipe in America in the next decade. The Department of the Interior has invested more than $6.95 billion to fund over 831 Western water projects through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act; the Environmental Protection Agency has leveraged more than $9 billion in the last two years alone to communities across the West; and other agencies from the Department of Agriculture to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continue to make investments that increase water availability, reduce water use, and enhance resilience.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: US Department of Labor files suit to recover unpaid overtime wages, damages for more than 180 shortchanged Coway USA workers

    Source: US Department of Labor

    LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a suit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California alleging that Coway USA Inc., a Los Angeles-based company that sells, leases and services household appliances, failed to pay overtime wages earned by more than 180 employees, a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. 

    The action follows an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division that found Coway knowingly shortchanged employees who serviced and maintained company products by falsifying employment records to hide all hours worked by employees. The investigation also revealed that Coway failed to account or pay for time spent by employees on calls with customers, loading and unloading vehicles with products for delivery, trips to the warehouse to pick up inventory and attending mandatory trainings. Additionally, Coway automatically deducted 30 minutes per day for lunch even though employees worked through lunch to meet customer needs or stay on schedule.

    In addition to falsifying records, the department alleges that Coway utilized a flawed methodology for purposes of computing overtime pay, further reducing their overtime liability and depriving employees of their overtime wages. 

    The division estimates Coway owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid overtime wages to more than 180 employees. In addition to seeking the recovery of all unpaid wages, the department is seeking an equal amount in liquidated damages. 

    “Coway knowingly violated federal law by depriving workers of their hard-earned overtime pay and falsifying the hours they worked,” explained Regional Solicitor Marc Pilotin in San Francisco. “Coway’s violations have to be remedied and the company must be brought into compliance to ensure workers are fully and accurately compensated.”  

    “Our investigation found Coway, with brand ambassadors such as Korean pop band BTS, failed to pay more than 180 workers their overtime wages,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Kimchi Bui in Los Angeles. “Employers can pay by piece-rate based on the number of units employees service, but they must pay overtime using the correct methodology and accounting for all hours worked.”

    Based in Los Angeles, Coway USA Inc. is a subsidiary of international household appliance manufacturer Coway Co. Ltd. The company produces water purifiers, air purifiers, bidets, water softeners and mattresses from South Korea.

    The Wage and Hour Division’s Los Angeles District Office conducted the investigation. The regional Office of the Solicitor in San Francisco is litigating the case in court.

    Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division and how to file an online complaint. For confidential compliance assistance, employees and employers can call the agency’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243), regardless of where they are from. The division can speak with callers in more than 200 languages.

    Download the agency’s new Timesheet App for iOS and Android devices – available in English and Spanish – to ensure hours and pay are accurate.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The United States Announces Nearly $199 Million in Additional Humanitarian Assistance for the Rohingya Refugee Crisis

    Source: USAID

    Today, the United States announced nearly $199 million in additional humanitarian assistance to address the needs of Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh and the region, including over $129 million through USAID and nearly $70 million from the U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya announced the funding at a Rohingya-focused event during the UN General Assembly High-level week. 

    USAID’s assistance includes funding from the bipartisan National Security Supplemental as well as $78 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation, which will help to purchase, ship, and distribute approximately 52,200 metric tons of food commodities from American farmers to approximately 610,000 refugees experiencing acute food insecurity in Bangladesh. It will also support the International Rescue Committee, UNICEF, and the UN World Food Program to provide food, nutrition, and protection assistance to Rohingya refugees and host communities.

    The U.S. government has provided more than $2.5 billion for the regional Rohingya response since August 2017, including more than $2.1 billion in Bangladesh. We remain committed to delivering assistance to crisis-affected communities in Burma, Bangladesh, and the region and call on other donors to increase their support in order to fill critical funding gaps and meet the needs of the most vulnerable.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Office of the Governor – News Release – Gov. Green Lauds Top State Manager, Employee and Team of the Year

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.

    GOVERNOR
    KE KIAʻĀINA

    GOVERNOR GREEN LAUDS TOP STATE MANAGER, EMPLOYEE AND TEAM OF THE YEAR

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    September 24, 2024

    HONOLULU — Governor Josh Green, M.D., today recognized winners of the Governor’s Awards, designed to honor state Executive Branch employees, managers and work teams who exemplify the highest caliber of public service and dedication in serving the people of Hawai‘i. The statewide program is administered by the Department of Human Resources Development.

    “Public employees have made important contributions to our continuing efforts to improve the efficiency and quality of government services,” said Governor Green. “We are honored to work with such dedicated individuals and appreciate all they do each and every day.”

    Governor Green presented the awards for:

    STATE MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Joanna Seto, Administrator, Department of Health

    Faced with extraordinary responsibilities, including the Red Hill Fuel crisis, Joanna’s skills and successes have never been more apparent than after the Maui wildfires. She actively led her team through the response and recovery phases and continues to help hone their skills to assist the community in rehabilitating the environment. Leading by example, her team is committed to its mission – to protect human health and the environment.

    STATE EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR: Heidi Taogoshi, Registered Nurse, Department of Health

    In the aftermath of the Maui Wildfires, Heidi quickly assessed the needs of the Lahaina community resulting in the deployment of mobile medical teams and the conversion of an abandoned state building into a health care clinic to provide essential services to those affected by the wildfires. With her guidance, management of the clinic was transferred to community providers, ensuring continued services to the people of Lahaina.

    STATE TEAM OF THE YEAR: UH Maui College Culinary Arts Team, University of Hawai‘i

    When the UH Maui College Pa‘ina Building was transformed into a fire relief food hub after the wildfires, the Culinary Arts team worked with organizations to prepare meals for residents displaced by the fire. The team also created a Disaster Relief Food Preparation Experience course, designed for students to work with industry chefs and instructors to learn about disaster relief food preparation and distribution.

    The three winners were selected from 56 exceptional groups and individual nominees.  A volunteer Selection Committee of four prominent members of the community carefully reviewed the 56 nomination packets and rated them according to defined categories.  The committee presented its recommendations for the three awards to Governor Green.

    The four members of this year’s Selection Committee are: Hawai‘i Public Radio host and news team member Catherine Cruz; City and County of Honolulu Homeless Coordinator Sam Moku; Hawai‘i Convention Center/ASM Global General Manager Teri Orton, and Office of the Governor Chief of Staff Brooke Wilson.

    At this year’s ceremony, Governor Green also recognized the recipients of the 2020 Governor’s Awards for Employee, Manager and Team of the Year for their outstanding achievements due to the cancellation of the May 2020 ceremony during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The 2020 Selection Committee, comprising John Gotanda, president, Hawai‘i Pacific University; Catherine Cruz, host and news team member, Hawai‘i Public Radio; Marc Alexander, then-executive director, Mayor’s Office of Housing; Terri Funakoshi, director of operations, YWCA O‘ahu; and Jason Hagiwara, president and general Manager, KITV4 Island Television, selected the award recipients from 53 exceptional groups and individual nominees. They are:

    2020 STATE MANAGER OF THE YEAR: BONNIE KAHAKUI, state procurement assistant administrator, Department of Accounting and General Services

    Bonnie sets the pace in her office, always looking ahead and focusing on improving practices and procedures. She launched a new Learning Management System, recording more than 14,000 attendees at procurement training workshops and worked to broaden the purchasing process and take advantage of Amazon’s wide selection. Bonnie also led a statewide initiative to procure electric vehicles and infrastructure to help reduce Hawai‘i’s carbon footprint.

    2020 STATE EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR: JANIS MATSUNAGA, entomologist, Department of Agriculture

    She is a leading expert in the field, editor of the Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society and is one of the longest serving officers in the 100-plus year history of the Hawaiian Entomological Society. Through emails or social media, Ms. Matsunaga will often bring peace of mind to the residents of Hawai‘i by defining problems with beetles infesting cabinetry or address insect problems that exist in their homes.

    2020 STATE TEAM OF THE YEAR: CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS SERVICES (CPS) – EDUCATION BRANCH, Department of Public Safety

    Education gives us knowledge and provides the necessary skills to navigate the world around us. When inmates become students of the Education Branch, they are more likely to find employment, make a positive contribution to society and strengthen family relations. The public benefits from reduced government costs, decreased crime rates, safer communities and a reduced tendency of convicted criminals to reoffend. In 2019, the Team produced 28 GED graduates, with 3 students passing the HiSET. (The Department of Public Safety was redesignated as the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation effective January 1, 2024.)

    “These individuals have selflessly given of themselves to enrich the lives of those they serve,” said Governor Green. “Their accomplishments perpetuate the aloha spirit and make our state a special place to live and work.”

    Photos from today’s awards ceremony will be uploaded here.

    # # #

    Media Contacts:   
    Erika Engle
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Governor, State of Hawai‘i
    Phone: 808-586-0120
    Email: [email protected]

    Makana McClellan
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Governor, State of Hawaiʻi
    Cell: 808-265-0083
    Email: [email protected]

    Erin Conner
    Executive Specialist
    Department of Human Resources Development
    Phone: 808-587-1120
    Email: [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom signs new laws to expand farmworker housing and cut red tape

    Source: US State of California 2

    Sep 24, 2024

    What you need to know: Governor Newsom signed two bills to boost access to affordable housing for California’s farmworkers: AB 2240 and AB 3035. Governor Newsom also signed SB 1105 to help protect the health and safety of farmworkers in states of emergency.

    FRESNO – Today, Governor Newsom expanded California’s housing efforts for farmworkers, signing two bills: AB 2240 (Arambula) and AB 3035 (Pellerin). These measures improve access to affordable housing for agricultural workers and make it easier to build farmworker housing.

    “Farmworkers are the backbone of California’s nation-leading agricultural industry and play a critical role in ensuring the stability of the state, nation and world’s food supply. Investing in their well-being is investing in California’s success. All families deserve access to safe and stable housing.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Why this matters

    Access to more stable and safe housing for farmworkers allows families to avoid the disruptions caused by seasonal movement, helping children remain enrolled in the same schools and maintain their academic progress. Today’s action builds upon Governor Newsom’s efforts to protect and support farm workers across the state, including signing SB 1105 (Padilla), which allows farmworkers to use accrued paid sick leave during heat, flooding or smoke conditions when there is a local or state emergency.

    What the bills do

    ➡️ Expand housing for farmworkers

    • AB 2240 (Arambula) helps create more stable housing for migrant farmworkers by maximizing the Department of Housing & Community Development’s (HCD) Joe Serna Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program (Serna Program), which supports the development of both multifamily and single-family housing restricted to farmworkers. The bill would authorize HCD to prioritize residents currently residing in seasonal Office of Migrant Services (OMS) housing for more permanent and stable housing through the Serna program. 
    • AB 2240 also creates new opportunities to build permanent and stable affordable farmworker housing by identifying and prioritizing the use of state-owned excess land near OMS centers for farmworker housing.
    • AB 2240 requires HCD to assess the feasibility of converting temporary Office of Migrant Services housing into year-round, permanent housing, ensuring a strategic approach to meeting long-term housing needs. 

    ➡️ Remove regulatory barriers

    • AB 3035 (Pellerin) cuts through regulatory red tape by streamlining the approval process for farmworker housing in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, speeding up development to meet the urgent demand for more housing.
    • By raising the housing unit cap from 36 to 150 in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, AB 3035 will enable larger developments in areas with access to essential services, addressing issues of overcrowding and inadequate living conditions.

    ➡️ Protect the health and safety of workers 

    • SB 1105 (Padilla) allows agricultural employees who work outside to use their accrued paid sick leave to avoid smoke, heat, or flooding conditions created by a local or state emergency.

    Details on the farmworker housing grant program

    • The Joe Serna Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program (Serna) is administered by HCD and supports the development of both multifamily and single-family housing restricted to farmworkers.
    • Between the years of 1978 and 2018, approximately $271.5 million was awarded, which funded the 138 Serna multi-family projects in HCD’s existing portfolio. 
    • Over the past 5 years, HCD has awarded more than $300 million in Serna funds for the development of 56 new projects for farmworkers with approximately 3,577 housing units. Additionally, in the 2023 funding round, HCD awarded $110M for 10 new Serna projects that include 618 additional housing units. These 4,195 homes will serve many tens of thousands of Californians during the 55-year affordability period.

    Bills signed today

    • AB 2240 by Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) – Farm labor centers: migratory agricultural workers.
    • AB 3035 by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Clara) – Farmworker housing.
    • SB 1105 by Senator Steve Padilla (D-Chula Vista) – Paid sick leave: agricultural employees: emergencies.

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Sep 24, 2024

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom visited the community of East Orosi to help address its failing sewer system, giving the state more tools to step in, as well as signing clean drinking water bills. Since 2019, nearly 900,000 Californians have gotten…

    Sep 24, 2024

    News What you need to know: New laws will strengthen consumer protections and help save Californians money. SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of bills that will strengthen protections for consumers, addressing issues that have put financial strain on…

    Sep 24, 2024

    News SACRAMENTO – As Tropical Storm Helene is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it moves toward Florida’s Panhandle, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the deployment of California firefighters to assist in staffing a Federal Emergency Management Agency…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Swaminathan J: Reaching the unreached – ensuring last mile connectivity of banking services

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Regional Director of RBI for Karnataka, Smt. Sonali Sen Gupta; Chief General Manager, NABARD, Shri KVSSLV Prasada Rao; Chief General Manager, Canara Bank and Convenor, SLBC Karnataka, Shri K.J. Shrikanth; Area Heads of Union Bank of India and Bank of Baroda, senior executives from banks; Lead District Managers (LDMs); District Development Managers (DDMs); LDOs and other officers of RBI, present here. Ellarigu Namaskara and a very good morning to all.

    Let me begin by complimenting Bengaluru Regional Office of the Reserve Bank of India for organising this conference with an apt theme – Reaching the Unreached – Ensuring Last Mile Connectivity of Banking Services. The theme reminds us that financial inclusion is an ongoing journey. While significant progress has been made in this journey, there is still some distance to be traversed. I must also thank the Bengaluru Regional Office for selecting this place, Hubballi, for this conference, a place where I served as a young officer of State Bank of India, some thirty years ago – which brings back lots of nostalgic memories of the basic banking that we used to do over three decades ago.

    India’s journey towards inclusive development after independence has been marked by several initiatives aimed at reducing poverty and improving living standards. Measures like expanding access to essential services such as education, healthcare and sanitation, and creating productive employment opportunities for all sections of the population have seen tremendous progress. Ensuring that the benefits of economic growth are shared by all segments of society, including marginalised groups has been the cornerstone of these initiatives. It has been a multifaceted journey with significant achievements in terms of economic growth, poverty alleviation, improvements in education and health care, etc.

    In the relatively early days of this journey, the Lead Bank Scheme was institutionalised in 1969 and since then the Scheme has served as an important tool in enhancing credit flow to the sectors that have been identified as national priority and to the underserved population of the country, boosting economic growth at all levels, e.g., block level, district level and state level.

    Over more than half a century since its inception, the Scheme has evolved in line with the development agenda for the country. The Lead Bank Scheme relies on a co-ordinated approach at all levels amongst banks, financial institutions and the government machinery for effective delivery of banking services to all sections of the economy. This co-ordinated approach has yielded significant results in terms of expanding banking access and improvement in the flow of priority sector credit.

    More recently it has also led to the expansion of digital payments with SLBCs taking the lead role in the objective of making every district in the country digitally enabled. I am happy to note that 354 districts are now digitally enabled. Ten states including Karnataka and six Union Territories have achieved 100 per cent coverage of districts under this initiative.

    Indeed, the Lead Bank Scheme can be a powerful tool to bring about transformative change. As LDMs, DDMs and LDOs, you are the very pillars on which this scheme rests, playing a crucial role in driving financial inclusion at grassroots level. Your efforts in extending banking services and credit access to underserved regions would undoubtedly bring immense satisfaction to all involved. Having served as the Convenor for the SLBC in Telangana, I can personally attest to the deep fulfilment that comes from making a tangible difference in people’s lives through the LBS fora.

    A common question we face is, are we doing enough? How much more remains to be done? In 2021, the Reserve Bank introduced the Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index), which tracks progress across 97 indicators in three key dimensions: (i) Access (ii) Usage (iii) Quality. The Index which was at 53.9 in March 2021 now stands at 64.2 for March 2024 as a testimony to the efforts that has been put in by all of you.

    India has made significant strides in enhancing ‘access’ to banking and financial services, reaching even the most remote areas. However, there is still considerable ground to cover in deepening financial inclusion. This requires greater focus on promoting ‘usage’ and improving the ‘quality’ of services. In both these critical areas, the role of Lead District Managers from the banks and District Development Managers from NABARD is indispensable.

    In this context, I would like to outline a few key expectations.

    Know your district well

    Firstly, it is imperative that you cultivate a deep understanding of your respective districts-so, you should truly ‘Know Your Districts’ well. This knowledge will form a solid foundation for comprehensive district profiles, covering a wide range of critical data. Such profiles could include detailed demographic information, agricultural trends, banking penetration and activities, industrial profiles, and the various performance metrics under the Annual Credit Plans (ACP).

    Knowing your districts well, you can leverage upon data analytics and field surveys to gain insights into economic activities, local credit needs, and barriers to credit access. A holistic understanding of your district will enable you to identify gaps in financial inclusion, assess the credit needs of different sectors, and design targeted strategies for intervention. It will also help you to identify the root causes of the various issues observed in your districts. By staying attuned to your districts, you can provide invaluable feedback to the SLBCs, enabling the formulation of targeted and effective credit plans, and foster sustainable economic growth and development.

    Formulation of targeted and effective credit plans, a bottom up approach

    Secondly, building upon your strong understanding of your district, the formulation, monitoring, and implementation of Credit Plans must follow a granular bottom-up approach.

    The principal phase of credit planning is done by DDMs by preparing the Potential Linked Credit Plans (PLPs) for all the districts in the State by mapping credit potential under Priority Sector Lending (PSL). The preparation of PLPs involves assessment of block-wise and sector-wise potential. LDMs conceptualise the block credit plans at the grassroots level which aggregate into district credit plans, ultimately converging to shape the comprehensive state-level Annual Credit Plan. While doing so, target setting for credit disbursement needs to be aspirational while being realistic. LDMs must take into account the scope for lending indicated in the Potential Linked Plan as well as the past record of achievement in credit disbursement while formalising the credit plans for the blocks and districts under their charge.

    Address the gaps

    Thirdly, we need to address the remaining gaps. Although credit delivery to priority sectors has progressed over time, there is still significant work to be done especially with regard to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Similarly, nearly half of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are yet to be linked to formal credit, and a large proportion of small and marginal farmers still lack access to bank financing. Therefore, we must factor in the credit requirements of these segments in PLPs as well as in block and district-level credit strategies.

    MSMEs are crucial to India realising her demographic dividend. One of the key requirements in this regard is increasing the female labour participation rate. Various studies1 have shown that businesses with at least one women founder have a more inclusive work culture, employ more women than men and generate more revenue. However, less than 20 per cent of MSMEs are owned by women. Women entrepreneurs often encounter major hurdles, such as limited access to funding, societal barriers, and challenges in obtaining affordable finance.

    It is therefore crucial to bridge the gender gap. At the district level, this can be addressed by offering support to women-led enterprises through government-sponsored programmes and tailored banking schemes for women-owned businesses. Additionally, efforts must be made to raise awareness among potential women entrepreneurs about these opportunities and provide them with necessary guidance and support.

    Financial literacy

    Fourthly, we need to bolster financial literacy. Strengthening the supply-side is crucial, but holistic financial inclusion also necessitates demand-side initiatives. Financial literacy stands as a fundamental building block. It is not just about access, it is about empowering individuals to make informed choices. Financial literacy is the ability of people to understand and effectively use various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing.

    Members of public should be made aware of various financial products available to them, be it social security products such as insurance and pension schemes, which will cover their risks or loan products with significant subsidies that will enable them to undertake productive economic activities. A special focus needs to be given to Digital Financial Literacy for improving public confidence in undertaking digital transactions. This will enable banks to explore avenues for wider adoption of fintech, to provide seamless and frictionless credit.

    At the block level, financial literacy is being promoted through Centres for Financial Literacy (CFLs), established by NGOs with funding support from the RBI, NABARD, and banks. The reach of CFLs has expanded significantly, with 2,421 CFLs now operating across almost every block in the country. In Karnataka alone, 79 CFLs and 177 Financial Literacy Centres (FLCs) are spreading awareness of financial products at the grassroots level. LDMs must play a crucial role in ensuring that FLCs perform their functions effectively, supporting CFLs, participating in CFL camps, and facilitating the linkage of financial services while overseeing the proper conduct of these camps.

    In conclusion, I encourage you to give your best, set exemplary standards, and become pioneers in developmental activities, ensuring continued progress of your districts and the State of Karnataka.

    As you may be aware, the Reserve Bank of India is celebrating 90 years of its foundation this year. Looking ahead to the next decade, our journey towards RBI@100, we have formulated strategies aimed at positioning the Reserve Bank as a model central bank of the Global South. One of our key objectives is to deepen financial inclusion by enhancing the Accessibility, Availability, and Quality of financial services for all segments of society. I urge each of you to actively support us in realizing this vision by contributing to inclusive growth, ensuring that no one is left behind in accessing essential financial services, and fostering economic empowerment at the grassroots level.

    I would like to leave you with a quote from Rashtrakavi Kuvempu (an extract from his epic work “Malegaḷalli madumagaḷu”):

    ಇಲ್ಲಿಯಾರೂ ಮುಖ್ಯರಲ್ಲ
    Illi yaaroo mukhyaralla
    No one is precious here

    ಯಾರೂ ಅಮುಖ್ಯರಲ್ಲ
    Yaroo amukhyaralla
    No one is unimportant here

    ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲಕ್ಕೂ ಇದೆ ಅರ್ಥ
    Illi ellakkoo ide artha
    Everything has significance here

    ಯಾವುದೂ ಅಲ್ಲ ವ್ಯರ್ಥ
    Yavudoo alla vyartha
    Nothing is useless

    ನೀರೆಲ್ಲವೂ ತೀರ್ಥ!
    Neerellevoo theertha!
    All the water is holy!

    In the context of today’s gathering, it would mean: All groups of people are equally important and should be financially included; every effort taken for financial inclusion is meaningful and nothing goes wasted.

    With this I would like to end with my best wishes to each one of you. Thank you!

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Change in the senior management in the Council’s General Secretariat

    Source: Council of the European Union

    Today, the Secretary-General of the Council, Thérèse Blanchet, decided to entrust the management of the Directorate-General for Organisational Development and Services (DG ORG) to Cesare Onestini, the current Director-General for Agriculture, Fisheries, Social Affairs and Health in the Council’s General Secretariat. 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Understanding Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Connecticut

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Despite the gradual arrival of fall, mosquitos are still active in our state. Paulo Verardi, professor of virology and vaccinology and head of the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, shares information that can keep Connecticut residents safe from mosquito-borne diseases.

    What types of mosquito-borne diseases are we seeing in Connecticut?

    Mosquito-borne diseases are spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes. In Connecticut, one would immediately think of West Nile virus, by far the most common mosquito-borne virus in the region. However, we have

    additional viruses transmitted by mosquitoes, such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus, Jamestown Canyon virus, and Cache Valley virus, that luckily are less common. Sometimes Connecticut has imported cases of additional mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue fever and Zika virus disease. These are acquired when people travel to areas where the virus is circulating, get bitten by an infected mosquito, and then travel back to Connecticut. If you are traveling outside the country in areas like the Caribbean and Central or South America, you should also be aware of chikungunya virus, yellow fever virus, and Oropouche virus, to name a few.

    Why are these diseases appearing more frequently in the state?

    Cases are linked to the proliferation of mosquitoes, which is driven by several factors including precipitation and temperature patterns, as well as alterations in these patterns. Climatic changes seem to also be impacting the distribution of these diseases, especially because warmer temperatures can promote a wider geographical range of disease-transmitting mosquitoes.

    West Nile virus has been in Connecticut since 1999, when it was introduced in New York City, so it is relatively new. On the other hand, evidence of EEE in Massachusetts dates back almost 200 years, and thus it is considered a local disease. West Nile cases in people are not uncommon during every mosquito season, but EEE seems to be impactful only every few years, such as in 2019 when a larger outbreak last occurred.

    West Nile and EEE viruses are actually maintained in nature in reservoir hosts, typically birds, and therefore these are considered zoonotic diseases. This means that the interplay amongst people, animals, plants, and the environment is a major factor determining the prevalence and transmission of these diseases, in what we call the One Health concept.

    What times of year do we need to be concerned about mosquito-borne diseases?

    We ought to be concerned any time of the year when mosquitoes are up and about. Generally, we think of the hot summer months, but transmission can start in the spring and last well into the fall season. A good example is EEE, as cases typically peak in late summer, but transmission can occur as late as October.

    What are the symptoms of these diseases?

    Diseases like West Nile and EEE are caused by viruses, so flu-like symptoms are typical:  fever, headache, fatigue, and in some instances rashes. Most people may not even feel sick at all, while a few others may end up developing inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or of the membranes around the brain and the spinal cord (meningitis), leading to severe disease symptoms.

    What should someone do if they are sick?

    First, never assume that you may just have a cold, and pay attention to the severity of your symptoms. Consult a health care provider if symptoms do not improve, particularly if you have high fever and headache. Go immediately to an emergency room if symptoms become severe and you suspect any neurological involvement. The key is to be vigilant and proactive.

    It is noteworthy that horses with EEE are severely affected with up to 95% mortality (about half that rate for West Nile fever), and routine vaccination of horses for both diseases is recommended.

    How dangerous/deadly are these diseases?

    Fortunately, for most of us infections are self-contained. Our immune system can keep the invading viruses in check, and all you may experience are mild flu-like symptoms, if any. But symptoms can be more severe and can worsen very quickly. Pay attention to any rashes or severe symptoms, such as high fever, intense headache, stiffness of the neck, and other neurological problems. Encephalitis and meningitis are dangerous and life-threating complications, so a visit to the emergency room is necessary at the onset of neurological signs.

    What actions are state and local governments taking to help?

    Connecticut’s Department of Public Health (DPH) and Department of Agriculture (DoAg) are monitoring the situation in Connecticut and surrounding states closely. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) is doing surveillance of mosquitoes, and the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) at UConn is monitoring wild and domestic animals (mammals and birds). In some cases, agencies may decide to curtail outdoor activities in certain areas at dusk, as Connecticut did in 2019 when we had high activity of EEE in Eastern Connecticut CT and neighboring states, and mosquito spraying may be recommended in limited areas by the Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

    How can Connecticut residents protect themselves and help stop the spread of these diseases?

    By preventing mosquito bites:

    • Avoid outdoor activities during dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active
    • Use approved insect repellents
    • Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when outside
    • Keep mosquitoes out of your house with the appropriate use of window and door screens.

    One can also treat clothing and gear with permethrin, which will help repel both mosquitoes and ticks. Vaccines against some mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Japanese encephalitis are available for people traveling to high-risk areas. Visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Traveler’s Health site for further information.

    This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Enhancing Health and Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally.

    Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Medical Startup Soleia Biosciences Aims to Eliminate Severe Pain–Without the Opioids

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Surgeons perform almost 800,000 total-knee replacements, and more than a half-million hip replacements, in the United States each year.

    And while those procedures are typically life- and mobility-enhancing, the initial post-surgical pain can be very unpleasant for some patients. Opioids remain among the most popular prescription medication to combat orthopedic post-surgical pain, but two UConn Health faculty members think they’ve found a better solution.

    Researchers Lakshmi Nair, Ph.D. and Yusuf Khan, Ph.D., both associate professors in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, believe they are on the cusp of a breakthrough pain-reduction treatment that is both highly effective and safe. Nair has been working to significantly extend the duration of local anesthetics, enabling patients to be pain-free, mobile, and benefit from medications that have been safely used for decades. The pain medication would be delivered by injection.

    Their pharmaceutical company, Soleia Biosciences, has been identified as one of five extremely promising UConn-affiliated startups. They will be pitching in the Wolff New Venture Competition on Oct. 1 in Downtown Hartford.

    Opioids Are the ‘Most Feared’ Treatment

    “Opioids are among the most popular prescriptions, and most feared,’’ Khan says. “We’ve spoken with doctors, patients, and pharmacists during our customer discovery research, and they universally agree there needs to be a better strategy. No one has said, ‘Ah, we’ve got it all figured out!’’’

    Nair, who has been working on this pain-relief challenge for a decade, says the human responses to pain are complicated and complex.

    “That may be why there is no great opioid alternative developed so far,’’ she says. “We’re entering the market with a niche solution. To provide alternative therapies for surgeons to recommend and offer that extended pain relief to patients is truly exciting.’’

    Khan says although opioids work well, they present considerable concern about addiction. Patients often speak with their family or their medical team and refuse to take opioids. They also present side effects in some patients, including stomach upset, sleeplessness and brain fog.

    Soleia Bioscience Contending in Wolff Competition

    Nair and Khan are excited to be competing in the Wolff New Venture Competition, which is the School of Business’ pinnacle entrepreneurship challenge. The event, which is open to the public, will award more than $70,000 in prize money to participants, with the first-place finisher receiving a $30,000 check.

    If they win the Wolff prize, Nair and Khan will hire FDA consultants to begin their formal application process, and will work to refine their scientific dosage studies followed by clinical trials.

    New this year, a startup showcase is being added alongside the pitch competition. Thirty UConn startups will be exhibiting their technologies, products, and services. Among them are: Lambda Vision, a company developing the first protein-based artificial retina to restore vision for patients who are blind or have lost sight due to macular degeneration and other diseases, and Kona Brand, a clothing company that makes fun winter flannels with summer designs. Attendees will be able to purchase items from the startups that sell consumer products. The startup showcase companies will vie for $45,000 in in-kind prizes will be awarded.

    Pre-Clinical Studies Are Already Underway

    Nair has been working on developing pain management approaches for about a decade and she has completed many successful pre-clinical studies on animals. Earlier this year Hair and Khan participated in a National Science Foundation I-Corps program through UConn.

    “Many scientists form the company first, and then complete the pre-clinical studies, so I think we’re farther along in the process than we initially thought,’’ Khan says. Although they are initially focused on orthopedic post-surgical care, they believe their formula will have multiple applications in the future.

    The Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation extended an invitation to the Soleia Bioscience team to participate in its eight-week Summer Fellowship Accelerator, where the founders took business classes for entrepreneurs and met mentors who are eager to help them take the next-steps to grow their company. The experience was incredible, Khan says.

    “We had to learn how to build from the ground up,’’ Khan says. “We’re researchers. We write articles and conduct experiments. CCEI gave us the map and showed us where to begin to establish ourselves as a business. The Center is rich with business advisers, mentors, and contacts.

    “The best part is that just because the program is over, they’re still there for us. We can pick up the phone at any time and they’re willing to help,’’ he says. “We got exactly what we hoped for from the program—and more.’’

    “After two months everything about our business trajectory went from fuzzy to clear,’’ Nair says. “We know what we need to know, who to contact, and where to get help!’’

     

    The Wolff New Venture Competition will be held on Oct. 1 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the YG Club at Dunkin Park in Hartford. The event is free to attend, and all are welcome. Please pre-register at Wolff New Venture Competition.

    The Competition is supported thanks to the generosity of the Wolff Family Fund for Strategic Entrepreneurship, as well as Revyrie, wiggin(x), Digital Surgeons, Santander, Sardilli Produce and Dairy, Prime Materials Recovery Inc., Webster Bank, Fiondella, Milone and LaSaracina CPAs, Baystate Financial, Mark and Jamie Summers, and Event Resources.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/DR CONGO – Ituri Province: two churches closed after desecration by rebels

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – In the diocese of Bunia, capital of the province of Ituri in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, two churches desecrated by a rebel group have been closed. This was announced by the Bishop of Bunia, Dieudonné Uringi Uuci, during the Mass on Sunday 22 September. Bishop Uringi stressed in his statement: “In view of the reprehensible acts committed by elements of the armed Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO), who closed the churches of Kpandroma and Jiba during the night of 28-29 August, acts that are classified as desecration and which are prohibited under can. 1211 require penance, and considering the threat to the physical and moral integrity of the priests working in these churches and the arbitrary taking hostage of two faithful collaborators of the priests, as well as the deliberate intention to extort money for the release of these faithful with the sole aim of harming the Church, and considering our and the immediate ordinary authority pursuant to Can. 381, paragraph 1, we decree the closure for an indefinite period of time of the “Marie-Reine” parish of Jiba and the Kpandroma pastoral unit.” Bishop Uringi also decided to recall the priests working in the two parishes. Can. 1211 states: “Sacred places are violated by gravely injurious actions done in them with scandal to the faithful, actions which, in the judgment of the local ordinary, are so grave and contrary to the holiness of the place that it is not permitted to carry on worship in them until the damage is repaired by a penitential rite according to the norm of the liturgical books.” The bishop stressed that the violence began after the Church called for dialogue and the laying down of weapons. The CODECO militiamen then demanded to meet the priests. When they did not find them, they attacked their employees, looted the premises and blocked the doors of the two churches. A similar incident had already occurred six months ago in one of the affected parishes. The militiamen had mistreated and imprisoned several priests and demanded the release of CODECO prisoners. Various Lendu militias are united in the armed group. The name of a cooperative, unusual for a guerrilla group, derives from the fact that when CODECO was founded in the 1970s, it was an agricultural development cooperative made up of Lendu farmers. Over the years, land disputes with Hema nomads led to two groups arming themselves, and CODECO eventually became a name for a union of various Lendu militias fighting against the Hema. CODECO is accused of several crimes against humanity, including massacres in villages and refugee camps. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 25/9/2024)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Marking Climate Week, DEP Presents Our Water’s Worth It Award to Lambertville for Exemplary Stormwater Management Efforts

    Source: US State of New Jersey

    Climate Resilience Planning

    In addition to being proactive on stormwater management, the city has been active with the DEP’s Office of Climate Resilience in developing a Climate Resilience Action Plan. Last year the DEP awarded Lambertville a grant of more than $150,000 through its Resilient NJ: Municipal Assistance Program to work with a qualified consultant team to develop, and begin to implement, a municipal climate resilience action plan. This plan works to evaluate vulnerability to current and future hazards including rising temperatures, flooding, and hurricanes, among others.

    “Lambertville has continually demonstrated their commitment to building a climate-resilient community by taking on a wide array of local-led efforts,” said Nick Angarone, New Jersey’s Chief Resilience Officer. “These actions reflect a broad definition of climate resilience, encompassing stormwater management and green infrastructure, proactive policy changes, and effective community outreach and engagement. This diverse array of efforts has made Lambertville a model community for local-led resilience action in the state.”

    Our Water’s Worth It Campaign

    The DEP launched the Our Water’s Worth It campaign earlier this year to raise public awareness about the fundamental importance of our water supplies, the threats they face, and the steps DEP is taking to ensure all New Jerseyans have access to clean drinking water and healthy waterways.

    As part of the campaign, the DEP is recognizing those who have shown exemplary commitment to protecting the state’s water resources. This past July, the DEP presented the first Our Water’s Worth It award to Ridgewood Water for its efforts over the years to conserve water and to protect public health by addressing PFAS contamination.

    In the coming months, DEP will select additional awardees highlighting local contributions to protecting water supplies and public health, improving the health of waterways, and water conservation. For more information about Our Water’s Worth It, visit dep.nj.gov/ourwatersworthit.

    Safe and Reliable Water as an Administration Priority

    Providing New Jersey residents with safe and reliable water supplies is a top priority of the Murphy Administration and Commissioner LaTourette. Earlier this year the administration celebrated a record-setting, billion-dollar investment in water infrastructure throughout the state as project funding in FY24 surpassed $1 billion for the first time.

    Furthering the goal to protect the state’s water resources, the administration earmarked $54.6 million in the FY25 state budget for drinking and clean water infrastructure improvements across the Garden State. The budget appropriation provides a match for larger federal funds.

    The DEP oversees programs that reduce lead exposure in homes and businesses, protect the long-term viability of water supplies such as reservoirs and groundwater sources, monitor for drought conditions, educate the public about the importance of testing wells and reducing lead exposure, and manage stormwater to better protect surface water sources.

    In 2022, the Administration launched the innovative Water Infrastructure Investment Plan (WIIP) to assess and address high priority water infrastructure needs throughout the state. Through WIIP, the state is spurring record investments in clean water and drinking water infrastructure that are creating good-paying jobs while providing safe and reliable drinking water, reducing flooding, and improving the quality of New Jersey’s waterways. For more information on WIIP, visit dep.nj.gov/wiip/.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Altus Group Releases Q3 2024 CRE Industry Conditions & Sentiment Survey Findings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK and TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Altus Group Limited (“Altus” or “the Company”) (TSX: AIF), a leading provider of asset and fund intelligence for commercial real estate (“CRE”), today released the findings from its Q3 2024 CRE Industry Conditions & Sentiment Survey, a quarterly survey that collects insights on current market conditions and future expectations. The latest survey draws on feedback from 437 seasoned CRE professionals representing over 163 firms in the U.S. and Canada from July 11 to August 6, 2024.

    The Q3 2024 CRE Industry Conditions & Sentiment Survey highlights participants’ perspectives on several topics, including:

    • Operating environment expectations: the majority of respondents (69% in the U.S. and 67% in Canada) described the near-term operating environment as “somewhat challenging” – consistent with the sentiment expressed the prior quarter in both markets.
    • Current focus areas: primary focus over the next six months remains on managing existing portfolios and exposures, with an uptick in respondents indicating they plan to deploy capital (up 11 percentage points in the U.S. and up 2 percentage points in Canada over the prior quarter).
    • Transaction intentions over the next six months: a significant majority of respondents (89% in the U.S. and 75% in Canada) signalled intent to transact, nearly 10 percentage points higher than last quarter for both countries.
    • Perception of pricing shifts: across the largest property sectors in the U.S., participants increasingly described current pricing as being “priced about right”, while in Canada respondents still characterized much of the market as largely “overpriced”.
    • Property performance expectations: industrial and multifamily asset classes continued to be top ranked as best performers, with office consistently ranked as a worst performer.
    • Priority issues: the cost of capital/interest rates remained as the top concern, reflecting overall low expectations for capital availability.

    “The survey results revealed lingering concerns in the commercial real estate market in Q3, though there was increasing optimism about future improvements,” commented Omar Eltorai, Director of Research, Altus Group. “While CRE transaction activity remained muted in the face of high borrowing costs and expectations of impending interest rate cuts, last week’s rate cut in the U.S. should boost investor sentiment, potentially encouraging those on the sidelines to re-engage with the market.”

    To download the full reports by country, please use the following links:

    About Altus Group

    Altus Group is a leading provider of asset and fund intelligence for commercial real estate. We deliver intelligence as a service to our global client base through a connected platform of industry-leading technology, advanced analytics, and advisory services. Trusted by the largest CRE leaders, our capabilities help commercial real estate investors, developers, proprietors, lenders, and advisors manage risks and improve performance returns throughout the asset and fund lifecycle. Altus Group is a global company headquartered in Toronto with approximately 2,900 employees across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific. For more information about Altus (TSX: AIF) please visit www.altusgroup.com.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

    Elizabeth Lambe
    Director, Global Communications, Altus Group
    1-416-641-9787
    Elizabeth.Lambe@altusgroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sanders, Welch, Balint Urge FEMA to Address Staffing Issues Slowing Flood Recovery in Vermont

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Representative Becca Balint (VT-At Large) called on Deanne Criswell, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to address concerns raised by Vermont municipalities about high staff turnover and other bureaucratic inefficiencies within the agency’s Public Assistance (PA) program, which has slowed the disaster recovery process for small and rural communities across Vermont. The lawmakers also urged FEMA to shift more resources and administrative control to local communities who can be more effective in disaster response.  
    The Delegation raised the concern that many municipalities have struggled to get clear guidance, timely responses, or consistent staffing from FEMA’s Program Delivery Managers (PDMG), further exacerbating the complicated process of securing PA funding from the agency. Lyndon  has worked with four PDMGs since July 2023, while Ludlow is on its seventh PDMG. New managers add to the bureaucratic backlog and set back communities’ recovery.  
    In May, Sanders, Welch, and Balint called on FEMA Administrator Criswell and the Agency to work with Congress and the Delegation to improve disaster response and FEMA’s Individual Assistance (IA) process, which has slowed assistance for many seeking aid.  
    Sanders, Welch and Balint requested answers to several questions outlined in their letter related to short- and long-term concerns impacting Vermont’s disaster recovery, specific to the PA process and control of administrative responsibilities.  
    Read the full letter below or here. 
    Dear Administrator Criswell:  
    We write to express our concern about two issues—one short-term and administrative, and the other long-term and structural—regarding FEMA’s disaster recovery response to Vermont’s severe flooding. As you know, Vermont suffered devastating storms in July 2023 (DR-4720-VT), followed by another two storms in July (DR-4810-VT, and a pending Major Disaster Declaration request from Governor Scott for July 29-31, submitted August 27) and one August 2024 (EM-3609-VT).  
    We want to begin by acknowledging our immense appreciation of the work of you and your team, and FEMA’s immediate response to the damage sustained by Vermont homeowners, businesses, and farms.  
    The immediate issue of concern is this: homeowners, businesses, selectboards, farmers, and other stakeholders across Vermont have faced, and continue to face, delays, confusing and conflicting guidance, and inefficiencies in getting clear answers and timely responses from FEMA to predictable inquiries about what help they can expect and when they can expect it. These frustrations have caused immense concern, added expense, and despair for Vermonters doing their best to move on from catastrophic losses. For municipalities in particular, we believe that the extraordinary turnover in Program Delivery Managers (PDMG) exacerbates the already complicated Public Assistance process. Let us provide a few examples:    
    Ludlow, one of the most heavily impacted communities in 2023, has worked with six PDMGs since July 2023. On August 9, 2024, the town manager learned a seventh PDMG would be starting the following week. Ludlow has nearly $4 million in projects for which it has not received payment from FEMA.  
    Another small community, Lyndon, which was severely flooded again last month, has worked with four PDMGs. The Lyndon town administrator reported that with each new PDMG, he had to file all the required paperwork to receive assistance over again, starting from scratch. This resulted in hundreds of unnecessary emails and hours of duplicated work. As Lyndon was struggling to rebuild its roads and bridges in 2024, it was still awaiting reimbursement for infrastructure repairs made following the 2023 flood, in part because of this bureaucratic backlog.  
    The second issue is long-term and structural. We believe that follow up services from FEMA would be more effective, responsive, and efficient, if far more administrative responsibility for resource distribution were transferred to local officials in affected communities. For example, a recent Vermont report found that for every $2 FEMA spent on administrative costs, it only spent $1 on Individual Assistance. In order to provide the best relief at the most efficient prices, local leadership is essential. With respect to our short-term concerns regarding PDMG turnover rates, we request information from FEMA to help us to evaluate concretely how this impacts Vermont. Specifically: 

    What have been the PDMG turnover rates within FEMA Region 1 and Vermont?  
    What is the average timeline in Vermont for towns to get approvals for their reimbursements from their PDMGs?  
    How often do PDMGs reverse project approvals from previous PDMGs? Even without an overt reversal, how often do replacement PDMGs require project requests be submitted from scratch? 
    What processes does FEMA have in place to ensure continuity between outgoing and incoming PDMGs? 
    What specific legislative changes or other support that Congress could provide to minimize PDMG staff turnover? 

    With respect to our long-term concerns:  

    What are your suggestions on how to concretely move administrative responsibilities, along with resources, to local communities directly affected by disasters?  

    Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to receiving a response by October 11, 2024.  
    Sincerely,  
    Senator Bernie Sanders    
    Senator Peter Welch   
    Representative Becca Balint  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Winners of EU Organic Awards 2024 announced

    Source: European Union 2

    This year’s winners follow the high standards set by their predecessors and showcase sustainable and inspiring projects across the European organic value chain. The winning projects – and the people behind them- demonstrate how organic agriculture and production can create innovative value chains and generate new job opportunities in rural areas.

    The winners of the edition 2024 of the EU Organic Awards are:

    • Best organic farmer (female) to Ms Reinhilde Frech-Emmelmann in Austria. Ms Frech-Emmelmann founded ReinSaat GmbH in 1998 at a biodynamic Demeter farm in St. Leonhard am Hornerwald, Lower Austria. The farm specialises in organic, GMO-free seeds, with over 800 seed-resistant varieties, promoting biodiversity and sustainable farming across Europe.
    • Best organic farmer (male) to Mr Benny Schöpf in Germany. Mr Schöpf is the chief vegetable grower at Kartoffelkombinat, the largest community-supported cooperative farm in Germany. Supplying 2,300 households with organic vegetables weekly, the farm prioritises fair working conditions and sustainable practices, promoting an alternative agricultural economic system.
    • Best organic region to South Savo in Finland. South Savo has built a strong organic farming culture through 40 years of collaboration between farmers, researchers, and local authorities. With 200 organic farms, the region promotes sustainable practices, preserving water quality and biodiversity, and is home to the Finnish Organic Research Institute.
    • Best organic city to BioStadt Bremen in Germany. With over 30% of farms certified organic, the city promotes sustainable food systems through community projects and innovative farming initiatives, empowering citizens to drive local change. BioStadt Bremen is working towards converting all municipal catering in schools, crèches, and hospitals to 100% organic by 2025. 
    • Best organic bio-district to Sörmland Bio-district in Sweden. Located south of Stockholm, Sörmland has been a pioneer in organic farming since the 1940s, bringing together farms, food processors, restaurants, and more. With 20% of its farmland organic, the district promotes local organic products, sustainable tourism, and awareness of organic food’s health benefits.
    • Best organic food processing SME to Gino Girolomoni Cooperativa Agricola in Italy. Located in the Marche region, this cooperative specialises in organic pasta production, continuing the mission of its founder, Gino Girolomoni. With 80 hectares of organic farmland and renewable energy-powered facilities, it produces 9 million tons of pasta annually, supporting over 300 farmers and 60 local workers.
    • Best organic food retailer to SAiFRESC in Spain. Founded by three farmers in 2011, SAiFRESC transitioned to organic farming, revitalising agriculture in the Huerta de Valencia. With 30 hectares of organic land, they produce 70 organic products, selling 90% of their harvest locally and reducing packaging. The initiative promotes a circular economy and provides educational workshops on organic farming.
    • Best organic restaurant/food service to a Kalf & Hansen in Sweden. Founded in 2014 by Rune and Fabian Kalf-Hansen, this restaurant chain offers 100% organic, seasonal Nordic cuisine. With two restaurants, catering services, and organic meals on Swedish trains, Kalf & Hansen prioritise local sourcing, sustainability, and affordable organic meals, building strong relationships with local producers.

    Nearly 100 applications were received from across the EU for this year’s edition, with 24 candidates shortlisted from 11 countries. The EU Organic Awards feature 7 categories and 8 individual awards, recognising innovative, sustainable, and inspiring projects that add significant value to organic production and consumption. The awards are organised by the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Regions, COPA-COGECA, and IFOAM Organics Europe, with support from the European Parliament and the Council.

    Background

    EU Organic Day was launched by the European Parliament, Council, and European Commission in 2021 as a new initiative to celebrate and promote organic farming.

    By producing high quality food with low environmental impact, organic farming plays an essential role in developing a sustainable food system for the EU. Following the EU Action Plan for the Development of Organic Production in the EU, adopted in 2021, the Commission works to further promote the benefits of organic production. The launch and celebration of an EU Organic Day and EU Organic Awards are two concrete actions to bring organic farming into the spotlight. The CAP Strategic Plans in the current Common Agricultural Policy also provides more financial support – €14.7 billion from 2023 to 2027 – for EU farmers converting to and remaining in organic farming. Nearly all Member States now have comprehensive organic production strategies in place, for the first time ever.

    Between 2012 and 2022, the share of total organic area in the EU’s total utilised agricultural area rose from 5.9 % to an estimated 10.5 %. This represents an estimated increase of 7.4 million hectares. In the last few years, the market for organic products has held up remarkably despite certain challenges, notably the high food inflation and rise of energy costs. Total EU organic retail sales increased from €38.6 billion in 2019 to €45.0 billion in 2022, with a peak at €46.3 billion in 2021.The EU is the second largest market for organic products, after the US.

    More examples of the actions taken under the EU action plan to develop organic production are available in this factsheet (PDF).

    Quotes

    Commissioner for agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski:

    Today, we celebrate organic farming and the EU organic sector as a whole. This sector is very close to my heart, as it represents everything that I think is important in our food system: progressing towards more sustainable methods and practices; increasing resilience against climate change and supply chain disruptions; providing opportunities for small farmers, young farmers, female farmers; and connecting local communities through short supply chains and bio-districts. I wholeheartedly congratulate today’s winners – they provide living proof of a strong and sustainable organic sector in the EU.

    Mr. Oliver Röpke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee of the European Economic and Social Committee:

    The Organic Awards serve to reward excellent and innovative organic businesses in the EU, and getting inspired by their work and achievements. The organic sector deserves recognition and promotion throughout the food chain. Accessibility and affordability of organic food is very important for the sector to grow, and in turn, also helps the EU to reach the 25% target by 2030. I am proud that the EESC is a partner in managing three of these awards, connecting with the whole EU organic community.

    Ms. Kirstine Bille, Representative of the European Committee of the Regions in the organic awards jury:

    As the CAP is the main tool to support the development of organic farming, its budget for greening should be supplemented by additional resources to support adequately the farmers in the transition to sustainable farming. Moreover, we call for a stronger role for the regions in managing the future CAP so as to bring policy options in line with specific territorial and sectoral characteristics.

    Mr. Mladen Jakopovic, COPA Vice President: 

    The EU Organic Awards spotlight the diversity, resilience and excellence of organic farming in Europe. They present inspiring stories of vision and perseverance, demonstrating what is possible when sustainability and innovation go hand in hand. As Copa and Cogeca, we are proud to be partners for this third edition. I would like to thank all participants and commend all the winners for their dedication and contribution to European organic farming.

    Mr. Jan Plagge, IFOAM Organics Europe’s President:

    The EU Organic Awards showcase the organic supply chain’s role in the transition towards sustainable farming systems that stay within planetary boundaries and reconcile environmental sustainability with a fair income for farmers – a common European goal identified through the Strategic Dialogue. On behalf of IFOAM Organics Europe, I congratulate this year’s winners for showcasing organic’s transformative potential through their outstanding initiatives. Their achievements spotlight organic’s growing significance as the only regulated sustainable production system that already delivers environmental and climate protection, all while fostering environmental, economic and social sustainability. Congratulations also to all those who put themselves in the game! May their endeavours inspire many more to become part of this food and farming revolution towards a more resilient, sustainable and competitive future.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Barragán Brings Attention to the Threat of Air Pollution and Extreme Heat on Latina Maternal Health

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                     

    September 24, 2024

    Contact: Kevin McGuire, 202-538-2386 (mobile)

    Kevin.McGuire@mail.house.gov

    Washington D.C. –  Today, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) introduced a resolution that recognizes the threat of air pollution and extreme heat on Latina maternal and infant health at a press conference alongside Guadalupe Pacheco from the National Hispanic Health Foundation and Amy Tamayo from Alianza Nacional de Campesinas.

    The resolution recognizes the significant correlation between air pollution and extreme heat to maternal and infant health, particularly within Latino communities. It highlights that these communities face disproportionate exposure to environmental toxins, leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and stillbirth.

    “Air pollution and extreme heat are not just environmental issues—they are issues of equity and health that disproportionately harm Latina moms,” stated Rep. Barragan. “This resolution calls on Congress to invest in clean air initiatives, bilingual air quality alerts, improved maternal healthcare access, and much more. We must act now to ensure that no mother has to choose between her health and her job, or between staying cool and protecting her unborn child.”

    “Many healthcare providers emphasize exercise and nutrition, but they often overlook the critical need to protect ourselves from extreme heat—especially during pregnancy. I had to undergo a c-section at 36 weeks, and while my son and I are healthy, I wish I had been warned about the dangers of high temperatures,” added Luz Drada, EcoMadres’s Program Coordinator. “This resolution ignites optimism for a healthier future for mothers and children everywhere. Together, we can fight for a better tomorrow.”

    “The National Hispanic Health Foundation supports health equity for Latina women, especially during pregnancy and infancy,” explained Guadalupe Pacheco, Director of Programs at the National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF).”Addressing the disproportionate risks of extreme heat and air pollution is crucial to safeguarding mothers’ and their children’s health and well-being.”

    “We are very encouraged to see Congresswoman Barragán introduce this resolution calling on Congress to address health vulnerabilities in our communities,” said Amy Tamayo, National Policy and Advocacy Director at Alianza Nacional de Campesinas. “Farmworker women are not only subjected to extreme heat in the fields, but also sexual violence and harassment, and dangerous pesticide exposure that compromises their health and that of their children’s. Pregnant farmworkers growing food to nourish the nation should not have to fear for their children’s lives or their health. Farmworker women bear the heavy burden of risking their health daily and their well being must be a national priority.”

    The resolution also outlines several actions Congress should take to address this problem, including greater investment in air quality programs, more green spaces, bilingual air quality alerts, and the education of public health professionals.  

    The resolution is cosponsored by Representatives Raul Grijalva, Nydia Velázquez, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Grace Napolitano, and Emmanuel Cleaver.

    The following organizations support the resolution: Ecomadres, Mom’s Clean Air Force, National Hispanic Health Foundation, National Hispanic Medical Association, Hispanic Access Foundation, American Women’s Medical Association, and Corazon Latino.

    Read the full text of the resolution here.

    # # #

    Congressmember Nanette Barragán represents California’s 44th District.  She sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and works on environmental justice and healthcare issues.  She is also Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Supporting innovation and growth in rural Alberta

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Indigenous and small communities are vital to Alberta and its long-term economic prosperity. In December 2022, Alberta’s government recognized the importance of these communities by releasing its Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan.

    Alberta’s government is investing in the second round of grants through the Small Community Opportunity Program to further implement this plan. Grant funding through the program will support Indigenous and small communities and help rural Alberta grow its economic footprint. In 2023, the program awarded grants between $20,000 and $100,000 for 43 community-led projects that build capacity in agriculture, small business supports and local economic development.

    “The Small Community Opportunity Program continues to provide financial backing for Indigenous and small communities to tackle challenges and tap into opportunities to grow their local economic footprint. By building capacity in small businesses and the agriculture industry, these rural communities will have a strong foundation to grow and thrive.”

    RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation

    To be eligible for funding, projects must align with the Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan and build entrepreneurship, mentorship and skills development, small business supports and/or partnerships, as well as interconnectivity and collaboration within the local community.

    Eligible organizations can apply for grants between $20,000 and $100,000 for local, community-led projects. Non-profit organizations may collaborate with Indigenous and small communities, or communities may work together or independently on projects that drive innovation and achieve sustainable growth and diversification. Projects must be completed within two years and have a measurable impact supporting, improving or enhancing rural and Indigenous communities, local economic development and/or the agriculture industry.

    The Small Community Opportunity Program will open for applications September 24.

    Application criteria

    • Small Community Opportunity Program projects must align with one or more of the following Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan strategic directions:
      • Rural business supports and entrepreneurship
      • Support for labour force and skills development
      • Marketing and promoting rural tourism
      • Rural economic development capacity building
    • Applicants must be an incorporated non-profit organization in a rural community or a rural or Indigenous community. The Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan identifies rural communities as those that:
      • Have a population of fewer than 20,000
      • Are removed from communities larger than 25,000 people that could provide employment and services
      • Are remote communities or communities that have within them, or are surrounded by, a significant amount of nature, natural resources, agricultural land and wilderness areas
      • Have a workforce largely focused on primary economic activity, including oil and gas, agriculture and forestry

    Quick facts

    • The Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan has strategic directions with corresponding initiatives and actions to ensure rural Albertans and Indigenous communities have economic opportunities where they live.
    • The Small Community Opportunity Program is made possible through Budget 2023 to provide up to $3 million per year in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
    • Albertans can learn more about the program through webinars hosted by the following organizations in October:
      • Rural Municipalities of Alberta
      • Economic Developers Alberta
      • Alberta Municipalities

    Related information

    • Small Community Opportunity Program
    • Rural economic development
    • Small Community Opportunity Program 2023-24 Grant Recipients
    • Northern and Regional Economic Development Program

    Related News

    • Strengthening rural Alberta (Nov. 9, 2023)
    • Maximizing opportunities in rural communities (Jun. 10, 2024)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The United States Increases Commitment to Resilience and Opportunities for Women in Food Systems

    Source: USAID

    The United States, through USAID, announced today an additional $114 million commitment to tackle urgent challenges women face in agrifood and water systems, including climate change – bringing the total dedicated in Fiscal Year 2023 to $449 million for Generating Resilience and Opportunities for Women (GROW). The announcement – made at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Commit to Grow Equality Action Event during high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly – reconfirms USAID’s dedication to ending discriminatory social norms and laws across agrifood and water systems.

    Today’s announcement reinforces USAID’s role at the forefront of advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in the agricultural sector, which lifts whole economies. Women’s contributions are critical to building inclusive, resilient food systems and achieving global food security goals. The FAO estimates that if just half of small-scale producers benefited from development interventions that empower women, it would significantly raise incomes for 58 million people and increase the resilience of an additional 235 million people. In addition, closing the gender gap in farm productivity and the wage gap in agrifood-system employment would increase global gross domestic product by nearly $1 trillion and reduce the number of food insecure people by 45 million. 

    In April 2023, USAID launched GROW to advance gender priorities in USAID’s agrifood and water systems and climate adaptation programs – a significant portion of which is provided through Feed the Future, the U.S. government’s global hunger and poverty initiative. As global levels of conflict and instability rise, gender-based violence, child marriage, hunger, and poverty can prevent women and girls from fully engaging in and benefitting from agrifood systems. Through GROW, USAID is supporting women to have access to tools and resources to build resilience and thrive amidst these challenges, benefiting their families, communities, and societies through improved food security, resilience, and economic growth.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Obesity in mums doubles the risk of autism in babies

    Source: University of South Australia

    25 September 2024

    Children born to mothers with obesity both before and during pregnancy have an increased risk of neuropsychiatric and behavioural conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to new research from the University of South Australia.

    Funded by Centre of Research Excellence Health in Preconception & Pregnancy and conducted in partnership with Curtin University, Monash University,  SAHMRI and a team of national institutions*, the systematic review and meta-analysis of more than 3.6 million mother-child pairs across 42 epidemiological studies found that obesity during pregnancy:

    • increases the risk of ADHD in children by 32%.
    • doubles the risk of developing ASD in children (by 2.23 times).
    • increases the risk of conduct disorders by 16%

    The study also found that maternal pre-conception obesity or overweight was linked with an increased risk of ADHD, ASD, conduct disorder and psychotic disorder as well as a 30% increased risk in both externalising symptoms, and peer relationship problems.

    Lead researcher UniSA’s Dr Bereket Duko says the study provides new insights into the long-term impact of maternal body weight on child mental health.

    “Maternal obesity has long been associated with a range of adverse perinatal outcomes, including preterm birth, low birthweight, stillbirth, and it is also linked with macrosomia, or high birthweight,” Dr Duko says.

    “In this study, we examined maternal overweight and obesity before and during pregnancy, finding that both are significantly linked with psychiatric and behavioural problems in children later in life, specifically ASD, ADHD and peer relationship problems.

    “Given the rising global obesity rates among women of reproductive age, and the growing numbers of children identified with neurodiverse conditions, it’s important that we acknowledge the potential long-term consequences of maternal adiposity on child mental health.”

    In Australia, about one in 150 people have ASD with more than 8% of children aged 4-11 diagnosed with ADHD. Globally, one in eight people live with obesity.

    Dr Duko says the study’s results underscore the need for interventions targeting maternal weight management before and during pregnancy.

    “Public health efforts that target improving maternal health could help mitigate some of the risks of neuropsychiatric and behavioural disorders in children,” Dr Duko says.

    “While further research is needed to explore the biological mechanisms underlying these associations, the findings do stress the need for health interventions that promote healthy living and weight among parents to be.”

    Notes to editors:

    *Additional partners include Monash University, University of Western Australia, Fiona Stanley Hospital, University of Queensland, Edith Cowan University, and University of Sydney.

    The paper is available online here:  Associations between maternal preconception and pregnancy adiposity and neuropsychiatric and behavioral outcomes in the offspring: A systematic review and meta-analysis

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Contact for interview:  Dr Bereket Duko M: +61 410 350 140 E: Bereket.Adema@unisa.edu.au
    Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489 E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. Announces 30th Consecutive Annual Increase in Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ARCHBOLD, Ohio, Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Board of Directors of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc., (Nasdaq: FMAO) the holding company of F&M Bank, with total assets of $3.32 billion at June 30, 2024, today announced that it has approved the Company’s quarterly cash dividend of $0.22125 per share. The third-quarter dividend is payable on October 20, 2024, to shareholders of record as of October 4, 2024.

    The $0.22125 per share cash dividend reflects a $0.00125 per share increase in the quarterly dividend, representing the 30th consecutive annual increase in the Company’s regular dividend payment.

    Lars B. Eller, President and Chief Executive Officer stated, “I am proud that F&M has established one of the longest track records of consecutive dividend increases for publicly traded banks, reflecting F&M’s growth, strong capital levels, and profitable business model. F&M’s financial and operating strength has provided us with flexibility to return additional capital back to shareholders throughout various economic cycles. In fact, F&M’s annual dividend will have increased from $0.2375 in 2004 to $0.8825 in 2024 reflecting a 6.8% compound annual growth rate over this period.”

    About Farmers & Merchants State Bank:
    Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: FMAO) is the holding company of F&M Bank, a local independent community bank that has been serving its communities since 1897. F&M Bank provides commercial banking, retail banking and other financial services. Our locations are in Butler, Champaign, Fulton, Defiance, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Shelby, Williams, and Wood counties in Ohio. In Northeast Indiana, we have offices located in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Jay, Steuben and Wells counties. The Michigan footprint includes Oakland County, and we have Loan Production Offices in West Bloomfield, Michigan; Muncie, Indiana; and Perrysburg and Bryan, Ohio.

    Safe Harbor statement
    Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (“F&M”) wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements by F&M, including management’s expectations and comments, may not be based on historical facts and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results could vary materially depending on risks and uncertainties inherent in general and local banking conditions, competitive factors specific to markets in which F&M and its subsidiaries operate, future interest rate levels, legislative and regulatory decisions, capital market conditions, or the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impacts on our credit quality and business operations, as well as its impact on general economic and financial market conditions. F&M assumes no responsibility to update this information. For more details, please refer to F&M’s SEC filing, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Such filings can be viewed at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov or through F&M’s website www.fm.bank.

    Company Contact: Investor and Media Contact:
    Lars B. Eller
    President and Chief Executive Officer
    Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc.
    (419) 446-2501
    leller@fm.bank    		 Andrew M. Berger
    Managing Director
    SM Berger & Company, Inc.
    (216) 464-6400
    andrew@smberger.com

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