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Category: Environment

  • MIL-OSI Australia: NSW Government taking action on waste crisis

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 25 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Energy and Climate Change

    Minns Labor Government is taking strong action to prevent a waste crisis in NSW, with landfill due to reach capacity in Greater Sydney by 2030.

    NSW has just passed landmark legislation to become the first state to implement a statewide mandate for Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) recycling, to divert food waste from landfill into compost.

    The legislation mandates FOGO collection services for households by July 2030, and for businesses and institutions in stages from July 2026.

    FOGO bins will be rolled out at premises such as supermarkets, pubs, cafes, universities, schools, hotels and hospitals. Large supermarkets will also be required to report on the amounts and types of surplus food donated to charities like OzHarvest, Second Bite and Foodbank.

    With FOGO taking up to a third of household red bin capacity, this legislation will help take some pressure off landfill. It also takes us one step closer to a circular economy in NSW, where resources are recycled, reused and repurposed.

    The new laws are backed by a $81 million FOGO Fund to go largely to Councils for infrastructure including bins, kitchen caddies and liners, contamination audits, community education programs and staffing, including a $9 million boost in funding allocated to:

    • $4 million to support implementation in apartments and multi-unit dwellings
    • $3 million for a statewide advertising campaign to raise awareness and encourage behaviour change
    • $1 million for councils with existing FOGO services to conduct annual ‘booster’ education campaigns
    • $1 million for a pilot to tackle contamination hotspots using artificial intelligence.

    The new laws are projected to divert up to one million tonnes of organic waste from landfill each year. Most will be transformed into high-quality compost for parks, sporting fields and agriculture, promoting healthier soils and sustainable food production.

    The NSW Environment Protection Authority is working closely with communities, councils and industry to ensure a smooth and effective transition.

    A step-by-step Best Practice Guide has also been launched to help councils introduce FOGO and manage contamination risks.

    To learn more about the rollout, visit the NSW EPA website.

    The next step to tackle the waste crisis is the refinement of the Energy from Waste framework in NSW.

    A discussion paper outlines some small, proposed changes to the existing Energy from Waste framework, including clarification around the definition of thermal treatment.

    Public consultation is open from Tuesday, 25 February until Tuesday, 8 April, and feedback can be provided through the NSW Government’s Have Your Say platform.

    Quote attributable to Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe:

    “NSW has ignored the crisis for landfill capacity for too long. We cannot kick this can down the road any longer.

    “The new FOGO laws mean NSW is leading the nation in combating food waste, becoming the first to mandate this recycling revolution across the state.

    “These new laws are backed by $81 million to support councils to move to FOGO by 2030.”

    MIL OSI News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Environment – Invasive predators from the ocean: not only ships, but also many fish use the Panama Canal

    Source: Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB)

    The Panama Canal is a busy maritime route, with 14,000 ships passing through it every year. But this canal is also a potential pathway for the spread of non- native fishes from one ocean to another. 

    Researchers at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Freie Universität Berlin, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama and Harvard University have now compared the fish communities of Lake Gatun in the Panama Canal aquatic corridor before and after the canal’s expansion in 2016. 

    Since the extensive structural changes to the canal’s lock system, significantly more marine fish species have entered the freshwater lake; they now make up 76 percent of the total biomass of the fish population and are primarily large predatory fishes. 

    As a result, the lake’s food web is changing and local fisheries are heavily impacted. There is also an increased risk that some species will pass through the canal and colonize the opposite ocean – with important ecological and evolutionary consequences.

    Maritime shipping is one of the most important introduction pathways for invasive species. Historically, species introductions through the Panama Canal have been relatively low, largely due to the existence of a soft barrier – the freshwater artificial Lake Gatun – inside the Canal. However, the 2016 expansion of the Panama Canal involved major structural changes to the canal’s lock system, which may have increased the likelihood that more marine fish species and greater numbers of them enter the lake and eventually cross the canal. This is because the new locks for the passage of mega-ships (called Neopanamax) are substantially larger than the old ones. So for every ship transit through the new locks, more freshwater flows into the sea, but also more seawater enters Lake Gatun – and therefore potentially more marine fishes.

    The research team compared the fish populations before (2013-2016) and after (2019-2023) the expansion of the canal. They used a unique long-term series of scientific standardized catch data on the number, biomass and spatial distribution of the fish community. “The Panama Canal has the potential to connect the marine biota of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, which have been separated for three million years. Before the canal’s expansion, this potential was relatively low. Now it looks that the permeability of the canal to interoceanic invasions is increasing after its expansion”, said Gustavo A. Castellanos-Galindo. He is one of the two lead authors of the study and a researcher at IGB, FU Berlin and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

    After the canal expansion: the proportion of marine fish species in total mass increased from 26 to 76 percent

    Since 2016, the composition of the fish community in Lake Gatun has significantly shifted from freshwater to marine fish species. Before the canal’s expansion, marine fishes made up only 26 percent of the total fish biomass; now they account for 76 percent. Of these species, 18 are originally from the Atlantic and five from the Pacific. Prior to 2016, around 57 percent of the biomass of the lake’s fish community consisted of non-native freshwater fishes, particularly the Peacock Bass (Cichla ocellaris var. monoculus) and the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), while native freshwater fishes made up 17 percent. After the expansion, native and non-native freshwater fish species make up only 11 and 13 percent of the total fish biomass, respectively.

    Large predatory fishes from the ocean change the food web and thus the fish stocks for local fisheries

    The researchers also looked at functional groups. These are groups of fish species that use environmental resources in a similar way. With this approach, the impact of the altered fish community on the ecosystem can be better assessed. The team found 15 new functional groups in the fish community of Lake Gatun following the canal’s expansion. The most representative group (by weight) are large pelagic predators, such as the Atlantic Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus). Conversely, eight groups from the pre-enlargement period are missing: they correspond mainly to native freshwater fish species, mostly small in size, that feed on detritus or are omnivores, for example Brycon petrosus. “The food web in Lake Gatun is being severely altered by the novel marine fish species. This has also important impacts on local fisheries”, said Prof. Jonathan Jeschke, co-author of the study and researcher at IGB and FU Berlin.

    Risk of interoceanic invasions

    The researchers also investigated the risk that these changes pose for possible interoceanic migrations. “The increase in marine organisms in this water corridor could represent a potential invasion in progress, increasing the likelihood that some species will pass through the canal and colonize the opposite ocean. Since most of these marine fish are apex predators with a broad niche range, their colonization of the Atlantic and Pacific is likely to alter ecological interactions and possibly lead to ecosystem-level changes”, said Gustavo A. Castellanos-Galindo.

    Publication:

    Gustavo A. Castellanos-Galindo, Diana M.T. Sharpe, D. Ross Robertson, Victor Bravo, Jonathan M. Jeschke, Mark E. Torchin, New fish migrations into the Panama Canal increase likelihood of interoceanic invasions in the Americas, Current Biology, 2025, ISSN 0960-9822, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.049

    Gustavo A. Castellanos-Galindo, IGB: https://www.igb-berlin.de/en/profile/gustavo-castellanos-galindo

    About the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB):

    IGB is Germany’s largest and one of the leading international centres for freshwater research. It is also one of the oldest institutions in this field. The roots of the predecessor institutions can be traced back to the end of the 19th century. Today, science at IGB covers a wide range of disciplines – from hydrology, physics, geography, ecology and evolution to socio-ecology, from molecular biology to the study of entire ecosystems and catchments, and from microbial ecology to fish behaviour. 

    Our findings and methods provide an excellent basis to train young scientists and to promote an open knowledge exchange with society. Thus, we contribute to coping with ecological and societal challenges, such as the adaptation to global change, the conservation of aquatic biodiversity and the sustainable use and management of inland waters. https://www.igb-berlin.de/en/

    IGB Newsroom: https://www.igb-berlin.de/en/newsroom

    IGB Newsletter: https://www.igb-berlin.de/en/newsletter

    IGB at Bluesky: @leibnizigb.bsky.social 

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greens stand in solidarity with mana whenua of Lake Rotokākahi

    Source: Green Party

    The Green Party supports the peaceful occupation at Lake Rotokākahi and are calling for the controversial sewerage project on the lake to be stopped until the Environment Court has made a decision.

    “We stand in solidarity with the peaceful Lake Rotokākahi resistance and are calling for a stop to all works. For too long Māori land has been confiscated, corrupted and condemned to degradation,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Māori Development Hūhana Lyndon.

    “As tangata whenua, we should be empowered to look after the lands our tūpuna have cared for across generations. This is something that would benefit us all.

    “Lake Rotokākahi is a wāhi tapu, a sacred site for Tūhourangi and Ngāti Tumatawera, as it is a resting place for their tūpuna who died in the 1886 eruption of Tarawera maunga. The path of the sewerage pipeline past Lake Rotokākahi puts the sacred lake at risk of environmental damage and the desecration of this wāhi tapu.

    “Tūhourangi and Ngāti Tumatawera have consistently opposed the council bringing the sewerage pipe through their wāhi tapu. For over a year, there have been protests, a hīkoi, and occupation led by mana whenua. It is abhorrent that this is what mana whenua have been met with.

    “Works must stop until the Environment Court has been given the opportunity to assess this project.

    “Our institutions and the legislation that supports them contribute to the entrenchment of colonisation through the constant and consistent taking of Māori land. Whether it be the Resource Management Act, Public Works Act or now Fast Track, the rules that govern the use of land are failing to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi, failing Māori and are failing the environment we all depend on,” says Hūhana Lyndon.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Results – Port Marlborough reports strong half year performance for 2025

    Source: Port Marlborough

    Port Marlborough has filed its Half Year Report for the first half of the 2025 financial year, highlighting positive progress across its key focus areas: people, planet, prosperity, and partnerships.
    The port continues to invest in workforce capability, with new marine cadetships, internal promotions, and leadership development programmes supporting career progression and workplace culture. Critical risk and fatigue risk management measures have been implemented, and the port’s strong focus on the Hauora (Health, Safety and Wellbeing) of all people in its workplaces remains a priority.
    Environmental progress has also been a standout, with Marlborough Sounds Marinas becoming the first in New Zealand to achieve International Clean Marina accreditation, recognising high standards in marine biosecurity and environmental management. Across operations, 82% of waste has been diverted from landfill, and habitat restoration efforts continue, with thousands of native plants established in key areas.
    Revenue has increased by 13% compared to the same period last year, driven by strong trade performance and increased uptake of berthage at Waikawa North West Marina. Forestry trade has grown by 18%, supported by the completion of the South Island’s first on-port debarking facility, in partnership with Pedersen Group and C3.
    Port Marlborough Chief Executive Rhys Welbourn said the results reflect the company’s focus on sustainable growth and long-term investment.
    “These results show the benefits of our continued investment in infrastructure, environmental initiatives, and workforce capability. We are seeing strong performance across key trade areas, our marinas remain in high demand, and our sustainability initiatives are delivering measurable outcomes. The International Clean Marina accreditation is a milestone achievement and highlights how seriously we take the importance of marine biosecurity across our operations.
    “As we move into the second half of the financial year, we remain committed to delivering value for Marlborough, supporting and facilitating Marlborough’s key trades, and ensuring that our investment decisions contribute to the long-term success of the region.”
    Port Marlborough’s partnerships with industry, iwi, and regional stakeholders remain a key focus, including hosting the launch of the Protect Our Paradise national biosecurity campaign and delivering community sponsorships that support local initiatives.The 2025 Half Year Report can be found here: LINK: https://portmarlborough.co.nz/strong-half-year-performance-for-2025/

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Advocacy – Over 150 police storm peaceful protection of Lake Rotokākahi

    Source: Protect Rotokākahi

    Over 150 police storm peaceful protection of Lake Rotokākahi

    On Monday at 8pm, over 150 police officers arrived at Lake Rotokākahi, where members of Tūhourangi, Tūmatawera Hapū and their supporters have been holding space with the goal of protecting this wāhi tapu (sacred site).

    Reports on the ground suggest several arrests have been made.

    Rotokākahi has been a site of controversy due to the Rotorua Lakes District Council’s planned Tarawera Sewerage Scheme. This scheme places a sewer line through a sacred site where over 100 tūpuna perished during the Lake Tarawera eruption of 1886.

    Mana i te whenua have disputed this decision since it was announced, and have taken several avenues to oppose it – including filing against the council in the Environment Court.

    This police escalation occurs during the same week as Te Matatini, a time where the public’s eyes and attention are focused on celebrating kapa haka from around Aotearoa.

    Waiata such as “Ngā iwi e” and “Rua Kenana” have been heard from livestreams taken at Rotokākahi tonight, with the sight of rows of police facing the singers.

    Protectors have been peacefully and legally holding space at Rotokākahi since August of 2024. Their numbers recently swelled after mana i te whenua invited the nation to join them in their peaceful noho whenua to protect Rotokākahi.

    The Protect Rotokākahi Instagram states in a call-to-action for its supporters:

    “This is a tohu that the desecration of Māori land will come with its own private protectors, paid for with your money.”

    “We need to protect this. We need you here.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts offer guidance on using the World Heritage Convention in support of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

    Source: United Nations

    UNESCO convened an expert meeting to identify actions to harness the World Heritage Convention in support of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The meeting confirmed the relevance of the World Heritage Convention to almost all of the 23 global targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework and made recommendations for further action, which will be presented to the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session.

    The 2019 Global Assessment Report of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services issued by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) provided the scientific evidence that biodiversity is deteriorating worldwide at rates unprecedented in human history. Yet, biodiversity is fundamental to human well-being, a healthy planet, and economic prosperity.

    The World Heritage Convention is among the most successful site-based conservation instruments, with a significant contribution to biodiversity conservation, according to a UNESCO study.

    The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted by the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity is a real opportunity for the biodiversity conventions to work together. We should make use of the extraordinary capacity of the World Heritage Convention to support biodiversity conservation.

    In response to the Committee’s decisions 45 COM 7.2 and 46 COM 7, UNESCO organized in collaboration with the Advisory Bodies an expert meeting on the synergies and opportunities between the World Heritage Convention and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The workshop was hosted by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Bundesamt für Naturschutz) at its International Academy for Nature Conservation on the Isle of Vilm, Germany, and took place from 25 to 29 November 2024.

    The meeting experts reaffirmed the unique contribution of the World Heritage Convention to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and the relevance of the Global Biodiversity Framework to both natural and cultural sites. They identified a range of recommendations for the World Heritage Committee, States Parties, and the UNESCO Secretariat and Advisory Bodies, including 19 priority actions.

    Among the key actions, States Parties should integrate priorities for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention into their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, as requested by the World Heritage Committee (Decision 45 COM 7.2). This is important to ensure that current World Heritage properties and potential new sites become an international priority for dedicated funding mechanisms for the Global Biodiversity Framework.

    The Global Biodiversity Framework also sets targets for respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in biodiversity conservation and provides new opportunities for cultural sites to contribute to nature conservation. States Parties, Indigenous Peoples and World Heritage properties can work with initiatives such as the Joint Programme of Work on the links between Biological and Cultural Diversity to support the implementation of the targets.

    World Heritage properties often overlap with other international designations such as Ramsar wetland sites, Biosphere Reserves and UNESCO Global Geoparks. In addition, the protection and management of World Heritage properties may be relevant to the implementation of other biodiversity- or culture-related conventions, such as the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). Improved cooperation between the Conventions and programmes could create greater coherence and have results at a larger scale.

    The meeting was made possible thanks to the support of the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, and the financial contributions of the Swiss Federal Office for Environment (FOEN) and the Government of Norway to the World Heritage Fund.

    About the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

    The 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), convened under the auspices of the United Nations, adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Through four goals and 23 targets, it sets out an ambitious plan to take urgent action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss to put nature on a path to recovery for the benefit of people and planet by 2030, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and to ensure that the shared vision of living in harmony with nature is realised by 2050.

    About the Joint Programme of Work on the links between Biological and Cultural Diversity

    The Joint Programme of Work (JPoW) on the links between Biological and Cultural Diversity was initially adopted at COP10 of the CBD in 2010 to explore the links and opportunities for improving the protection of biological and cultural diversity. It was a way for UNESCO to help connect the nature and culture themes under the Aichi Targets, in cooperation with the Secretariat of the CBD. Parties at COP15 renewed the mandate of the JPoW, including inviting UNESCO, the Secretariat of the CBD, the IUCN, the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB) and advisory bodies to work together on a roadmap for improve an integrated approach to supporting biodiversity, linguistic and cultural diversity. UNESCO is currently the lead agency for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032), providing an important platform to achieve such cooperation in policy and in action. 

    Summary recommendations 

    English

    Meeting report 

    English

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Bennet, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Combat Wildfires, Drought Across the West

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
    Protect the West Act would invest $60 billion to reduce wildfire risks, restore watersheds, and protect communities
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Michael Bennet, Ron Wyden, Ruben Gallego, and Jacky Rosen reintroduced the Protect the West Act, which invests $60 billion in forests across the West to reduce wildfire risk, restore watersheds, protect communities, and decrease the cost of fighting wildfires.
    “Colorado’s forests, grasslands, and waterways are the bedrock of our outdoor economy,” said Hickenlooper. “Every effort we make to prevent wildfires and mitigate the impact of climate change is an investment in Colorado’s future.”
    “In the West, our forests, grasslands, and watersheds are essential to our economy and way of life. But they are under threat from the worsening effects of climate change and consistent underinvestment from the federal government,” said Bennet. “As we face a 1,200-year megadrought and wildfire season that never seems to end, we need to break from the status quo and invest in the restoration of our forests and public lands to meet this challenge. We have no time to waste.”
    “Climate change is threatening our way of life in Colorado. We must act,” said Crow. “The Protect the West Act would help combat intensifying wildfires and help better protect Colorado communities.”
    “With summers getting dryer and hotter, the West and Oregon’s treasured lands are a tinderbox waiting to light ablaze,” said Wyden. “In my town halls, I’ve heard countless Oregonians fearing for their health and safety while struggling to maintain their economic livelihood as severe drought and wildfires wreak more havoc on their communities every year. More investments are needed to protect our forests and watersheds so local communities across the West are healthy and can have the opportunity to explore its beautiful natural treasures for generations.”
    “In Arizona and across the West, we face a rapidly growing backlog of projects for wildfire mitigation, drought resilience, and land restoration,” said Gallego. “I’m proud to help introduce the Protect the West Act which will finally give states and tribes the tools they need to take on these projects, all while creating good-paying jobs and boosting rural economies.”
    “Nevada’s forests and public lands are increasingly susceptible to wildfires, drought, and other extreme weather events. We need to do everything we can to protect our communities from the damage caused by these disasters and bolster our ability to recover,” said Rosen. “This critical legislation will support Nevada’s wildfire mitigation and restoration efforts, helping to keep Nevadans safe. I’ll always work to ensure Nevada has the resources it needs to fight wildfires and other weather-related events.”
    In the West, our strong outdoor rec industry and our agricultural communities depend on healthy lands, forests, and waterways. Increasingly frequent wildfires threaten those communities and our economy.
    Currently, the federal government spends approximately $2.9 billion to fight wildfires every year, with costs expected to increase by a billion by 2050. Already, the U.S. spent nearly $48 billion fighting wildfires over the last five years.
    Preventing wildfires before they even start is thirty times more cost-effective. Investing in fire mitigation and making our communities more resilient will save taxpayers money by reducing response and recovery costs.
    Specifically, the Protect the West Act would:
    Establish an Outdoor Restoration & Watershed Fund to better support local efforts to restore forests and watersheds, reduce wildfire risk, clean up public lands, enhance wildlife habitat, remove invasive species, and expand outdoor access
    Establish an advisory council of local, industry, conservation, Tribal, and national experts to advise funding priorities, coordinate with existing regional efforts, and provide oversight
    Empower local leaders by making $20 billion directly available to state and local governments, Tribes, special districts, and nonprofits to support restoration, drought resilience, and fire mitigation projects
    Partner with states and Tribes to invest $40 billion to tackle the backlog of restoration, fire mitigation, and resilience projects
    Create or sustain over two million good-paying jobs, primarily in rural areas, to support existing industries like forest product, agriculture, and outdoor recreation
    Save landowners and local governments money by investing in wildfire prevention and natural hazard mitigation.
    “The Protect the West Act is a significant investment in Colorado’s natural resources and Colorado is proud to support its reintroduction in the US Senate,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado State Department of Natural Resources. “As Colorado experiences drought and continued threats from devastating wildfires, now is the time to invest in Colorado’s forests, watersheds, and landscapes that drive economic activity across the west, employ thousands of Americans, and provide environmental and ecological benefits to our communities and wildlife.”
    “One of the greatest threats to our Tribal lands are the devastating wildfires caused by the extreme drought conditions in the western United States,”said the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. “Sen. Bennet’s Protect the West Act will provide much needed investment in conservation, restoration and wildfire mitigation. A key component of this legislation is Sen. Bennet’s recognition of the importance that Tribes have in land use and regulation, assuring that funds will be made available directly to Tribes for maintenance of our forests, watersheds and rangeland. Moreover, he assures that Tribes will have a seat at the table in determining the distribution of funds, ensuring that there will be a tribal representative working alongside our state and federal partners on the Restoration Fund Advisory Council. We thank Sen. Bennet for introduction of this important legislation and look forward to its swift passage in Congress.”
    “Healthy watersheds face numerous challenges, including increasing drought, longer and hotter fire seasons, disconnected watersheds and degraded streams that no longer support healthy fisheries. The most effective way to tackle this challenge is through partnerships and collaborative conservation at the landscape scale,” said Chris Wood, President and CEO of Trout Unlimited. “The Protect the West Act would foster collaboration and provide resources for public-private partnerships to restore lands and waters across multiple jurisdictions, creating jobs and better fishing along the way. We thank Senator Bennet for his leadership and vision to restore our lands and waters at the scope and scale that will make a difference for future generations.”
    “The Colorado River District’s highest priority is to protect the water security of Western Colorado. Water security starts with our forests,” said Andy Mueller, General Manager, Colorado River District. “Our largest source of water is the snowpack that develops in our forests above 9,000 feet in elevation, mostly on federal lands. Sen. Michael Bennet’s $60 billion Protect the West Act proposal is a direct water security initiative through the funding of proactive watershed protection actions. These actions would help prevent catastrophic fires and start restoration work where warming temperatures and fires have already done harm. It’s noteworthy that $20 billion will be available to fund projects generated at the state and local levels. We applaud Senator Bennet for advocating for important western priorities in the Senate.”
     “I support the Senator’s Protect the West Act. This is a great first step in recognizing and acknowledging the problem that was created over 30 years ago,” said Merrit Linke, Grand County Commissioner. “The lack of proactive management and the ‘hands-off’ approach is now clearly having devastating effects on our communities, forest health and sustainable watersheds. This bill addresses this problem, provides much needed funding, and hopefully is the beginning of a new era in resource management. Now it is time to get to work.”
     “As Western communities continue to face the threats and the impacts of the climate crisis, now is the time to pursue initiatives that will help us become more resilient,” said Jon Goldin-Dubois, President of Western Resource Advocates. “The Protect the West Act will provide critical resources to help Western states mitigate wildfire, restore forests, improve air and water quality, and advance equity, all while pumping billions of dollars into local economies and supporting millions of good-paying jobs; it’s a true win-win. We applaud Senator Bennet for his leadership and look forward to supporting this legislation to build a more resilient West.”
    “Healthy forests support fish and wildlife habitat and outdoor access important to hunters, anglers, and recreationists in Colorado and across the nation,” said Joel Pedersen, CEO, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “However, decades of inadequate funding for forest management have placed a strain on the National Forest System that will require active management and sustained funding to increase workforce capacity. Further, these investments will help to ensure we’re better prepared to address the growing risks associated with wildfire.  The TRCP applauds the proactive investments in our forests and watersheds and the additional resources for growing the forest management workforce provided through the Protect the West Act.”
    The bill is supported by: The National Wildlife Federation, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, National Association of State Foresters, The Freshwater Trust, American Forests, National Wild Turkey Federation, National Audubon Society, Family Farm Alliance, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Western Landowners Alliance, Western Resource Advocates, Trout Unlimited, and Conservation Legacy.
    U.S. Representative Jason Crow introduced companion legislation in the House.
    The full text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Owner of Old Dutch Mustard Co. Pleads Guilty to Violating the Clean Water Act by Polluting the Souhegan River

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CONCORD – A New York man and Old Dutch Mustard Co., a mustard and vinegar manufacturing company, pleaded guilty in federal court to knowingly discharging acidic water into the Souhegan River, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division announce.

    Charles Santich, 59, of New York, and Old Dutch Mustard Co., Inc., d/b/a Pilgrim Foods, Inc. (“Old Dutch Mustard”) pleaded guilty to knowing discharging a pollutant without a permit. U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty scheduled sentencing for June 23, 2025.

    The Clean Water Act “CWA” prohibits the discharge of any pollutant into navigable waters of the United States without a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. Due to a long history of CWA non-compliance dating back to the 1980s, Old Dutch Mustard has been subject to several enforcement actions by the EPA, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (“NH DES”), and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office. As a result of these actions, EPA and NH DES have required continuous monitoring of an Unnamed Brook that flows underneath and in front of the facility, eventually flowing into the Souhegan River. The Souhegan River is one of nineteen New Hampshire rivers that the State of New Hampshire has designated as an important natural resource.

    Charles Santich is the president and owner of Old Dutch Mustard, a New York corporation with a manufacturing facility in Greenville, New Hampshire. Old Dutch Mustard manufactures vinegar and mustard products, which generates acidic wastewater. In addition, stormwater flows through the property, including an outdoor area where the company stores their product in large tanks. Both the wastewater and stormwater at Old Dutch Mustard becomes acidic and is categorized as a pollutant under the CWA, and Old Dutch Mustard did not have the necessary permit to discharge the acidic wastewater or stormwater into the environment. Instead, Old Dutch was required to store the polluted water in tanks and pay a trucking company to haul all the wastewater off-site to a publicly owned treatment plant.

    Beginning in the spring of 2015, Santich hired an excavation company to bury a pipe from the Old Dutch Mustard facility to discharge the acidic wastewater and stormwater in the general direction of the Souhegan River along an abandoned railroad bed. This discharge point was downstream of, and not detectible by, the continuous environmental monitoring required by the EPA and State of New Hampshire.

    Santich directed Old Dutch Mustard employees to repeatedly pump acidic wastewater and stormwater through the underground pipe to the abandoned railroad bed. Santich also directed employees not to tell anyone about the pipe.

    In May of 2023, state inspectors from NH DES discovered wastewater from the facility, with low pH and smelling of vinegar, flowing from a manmade ditch at the top of the hill on the Old Dutch Mustard property into the Souhegan River. In August 2023, EPA agents executed a search warrant at the Old Dutch Mustard facility and observed liquid that smelled like vinegar discharging from the end of the underground pipe into the ditch. The wastewater discharge had a low pH of 3.6. The agents then conducted a dye test. The dye discharged from the underground pipe at the top of the hill and flowed along the drainage ditch and down to the river.

    EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated this case. Valuable assistance was provided by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter and Trial Attorney Ronald A. Sarachan of the Environment and Natural Resources Division are prosecuting the case with the assistance of EPA Senior Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel Dianne G. Chabot.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Merkley, Wyden: Trump Devastates Oregon’s Rural Communities with Federal Funding Cuts and Mass Firings

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    February 24, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley, the former top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Ron Wyden demanded recently confirmed U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins immediately reverse disastrous actions at the USDA that have harmed Oregon farmers and families.

    Their letter follows President Donald Trump’s illegal executive orders cutting federal funds which support farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners and mass firings across the federal government, impacting researchers at units in Burns, Newport, Hood River, and Pendleton.

    “These funding freezes and mass firings are cutting jobs, stopping essential investments for our farmers and rural communities, and making our communities less resilient to market volatility from climate, supply chain disruptions, tariffs, and natural disasters,” wrote the Senators. “These agency actions must be immediately reversed.”

    The Senators stressed the effects on Oregon by saying, “Many of our constituents have already started much-needed infrastructure projects – such as irrigation modernization under the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program to help farmers in drought-prone areas upgrade their irrigation practices to increase efficiency and conserve water – under the assurance that they would receive their grant money. Halting these payments means that a project in Hood River County will not only be delayed for over 100 days but will put the irrigation district at risk of insolvency. Even if funds are restored immediately, the current delay will ultimately increase the overall costs of this and other urgent projects while also costing hardworking Americans their jobs. Preventing grant recipients from finishing their projects is not a cost-effective or efficient approach to governance and is irresponsible stewardship of Congressionally appropriated taxpayer dollars.”

    “While there are reports that some funds have been released, in accordance with the Constitution and federal law, we direct you to immediately release all funds under these grants to ensure these projects stay on schedule, on budget, and preserve jobs. Further, we direct you to stop these senseless firings and restore these dedicated public servants to their jobs to enhance our agriculture industry, protect food safety, and bolster jobs in rural communities and throughout Oregon,” the Senators directed.

    Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:

    Dear Secretary Rollins,

    On the same day he was sworn in, President Trump signed an Executive Order effectively halting all investments under the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and Inflation Reduction Act, jeopardizing vital programs that support Oregon farmers and families. Despite court intervention at other agencies pausing these harmful cuts, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues to freeze critical funding, which continues to cause severe disruption to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who are implementing projects under these landmark pieces of legislation. Since then, the Trump Administration has also fired an estimated 4,200 dedicated public servants in Oregon and across the country, grinding critical work and research to a halt across the agency.

    These funding freezes and mass firings are cutting jobs, stopping essential investments for our farmers and rural communities, and making our communities less resilient to market volatility from climate, supply chain disruptions, tariffs, and natural disasters. These agency actions must be immediately reversed.

    Critical research partnerships with universities and local farmers and ranchers through the USDA Agricultural Research Service are devastated with uncertain futures after public servants at research stations in Pendleton, Burns, Hood River, Corvallis, and Newport were fired. This vital work helps Oregon’s leading agricultural sectors find solutions toward improving soil health, dealing with wildfire smoke exposure in wine grapes, protecting the rangeland for both ranchers and ecosystems, and navigating threats like disease and pests to reliably bring global-class products to market.

    Many of our constituents have already started much-needed infrastructure projects – such as irrigation modernization under the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program to help farmers in drought-prone areas upgrade their irrigation practices to increase efficiency and conserve water – under the assurance that they would receive their grant money. Halting these payments means that a project in Hood River County will not only be delayed for over 100 days but will put the irrigation district at risk of insolvency. Even if funds are restored immediately, the current delay will ultimately increase the overall costs of this and other urgent projects while also costing hardworking Americans their jobs. Preventing grant recipients from finishing their projects is not a cost-effective or efficient approach to governance and is irresponsible stewardship of Congressionally appropriated taxpayer dollars.

    Other projects, such as programs that partner with farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in over half of Oregon’s 36 counties – including in Baker, Coos, Crook, Douglas, Grant, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Polk, Umatilla, Union, and Wheeler counties – to confront the challenges of drought and other extreme weather events have had the rug pulled out from under them. These landowners have already started projects amounting to tens of millions in investments to build operational and environmental resiliency into our food systems by implementing innovative production practices, increasing market competitiveness, and supporting local manufacturing.

    Other longer-term grants for wildfire resiliency through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, such as a $22.25 million investment for work in Jackson County, has also been frozen. This has paused vital work to help ensure local landowners can not only recover from past devastating wildfires but are able to protect their neighbors and communities from future wildfires.

    Grant recipients are expecting reimbursement or payment for projects already underway and instead have been met with the message that their projects were either being paused or completely stopped. Many of these recipients are now scared to come forward for fear of further retribution and loss of vital federal support.

    While there are reports that some funds have been released, in accordance with the Constitution and federal law, we direct you to immediately release all funds under these grants to ensure these projects stay on schedule, on budget, and preserve jobs. Further, we direct you to stop these senseless firings and restore these dedicated public servants to their jobs to enhance our agriculture industry, protect food safety, and bolster jobs in rural communities and throughout Oregon.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Names Acting Associate Administrator, More Leadership Changes

    Source: NASA

    NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro announced Monday Vanessa Wyche will serve as the acting associate administrator for the agency at NASA Headquarters in Washington, effective immediately. Wyche, who had been the director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, is detailed as Petro’s senior advisor leading the agency’s center directors and mission directorate associate administrators. She will act as the agency’s chief operating officer for about 18,000 civil servant employees and an annual budget of more than $25 billion. Stephen Koerner will become the acting center director of NASA Johnson.
    The agency also named Jackie Jester as associate administrator for the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs and announced Catherine Koerner, associate administrator for the agency’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate will retire effective Friday, Feb. 28. Lori Glaze, currently the deputy associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development will become the mission directorate’s acting associate administrator.
    “As we continue to advance our mission, it’s crucial that we have strong, experienced leaders in place,” Petro said. “Vanessa will bring exceptional leadership to NASA’s senior ranks, helping guide our workforce toward the opportunities that lie ahead, while Steve will continue to provide steadfast leadership at NASA Johnson. Jackie’s return to the agency will ensure we remain closely aligned with national priorities as we work with Congress. Cathy’s legacy is one of unwavering dedication to human spaceflight, and we are grateful for her years of service. Lori’s leadership will continue to build on that legacy as we push forward in our exploration efforts. These appointments reflect NASA’s unwavering commitment to excellence, and I have full confidence that each of these leaders will carry our vision forward with purpose, integrity, and a relentless drive to succeed.”
    Prior to her new role, Wyche was the director NASA Johnson – home to America’s astronaut corps, Mission Control Center, International Space Station, Orion and Gateway Programs, and its more than 11,000 civil service and contractor employees. Her responsibilities included a broad range of human spaceflight activities, including development and operation of human spacecraft, NASA astronaut selection and training, mission control, commercialization of low Earth orbit, and leading NASA Johnson in exploring the Moon and Mars.
    During her 35-year career, Wyche has served in several leadership roles, including Johnson’s deputy center director, director of Exploration Integration and Science Directorate, flight manager of several Space Shuttle Program missions, and executive officer in the Office of the Administrator. A native of South Carolina, Wyche earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Master of Science in Bioengineering from Clemson University. 
    As deputy director of NASA Johnson, Stephen Koerner, oversaw strategic workforce planning, serves as the Designated Agency Safety Health Officer, and supported the Johnson center director in mission reviews. Before his appointment in July 2021, Koerner held various leadership roles at NASA Johnson, including director of the Flight Operations Directorate, associate director, chief financial officer, deputy director of flight operations, and deputy director of mission operations.
    In her new role as the associate administrator for the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, Jester will direct a staff responsible for managing and coordinating all communication with the U.S. Congress, as well as serve as a senior advisor to agency leaders on legislative matters.  
    Jester rejoins the agency after serving as the senior director for government affairs at Relativity Space’s Washington office where she led policy engagement for the company. Prior to her time with Relativity, she served as a policy advisor at NASA and at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. She has served as a professional staff member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. She has spent time in state government as the Chief Legislative Aide to a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Jester has significant experience advising on space policy issues, aviation operations and safety policy, and has helped develop numerous pieces of legislation.
    With a 34-year career at NASA, Catherine Koerner has been instrumental in leading NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, overseeing the development of the agency’s deep space exploration approach. Previously, she was the deputy associate administrator for the mission directorate. Her extensive career at NASA includes roles such as the Orion program manager, director of the Human Health and Performance Directorate, former NASA flight director, several leadership positions within the International Space Station Program during its assembly phase and helping to foster a commercial space industry in low Earth orbit.
    Glaze has a distinguished background in planetary science, previously serving as the director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division before joining Explorations Systems Development. Prior to her tenure at NASA Headquarters in Washington, she was the chief of the Planetary Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry Laboratory at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and the Deputy Director of Goddard’s Solar System Exploration Division. She has been a leading advocate for Venus exploration, serving as the principal investigator for the Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging mission. Glaze earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees in Physics from the University of Texas at Arlington and a doctorate in Environmental Science from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. Her prior experience includes roles at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and at Proxemy Research as Vice President and Senior Research Scientist.
    For more about NASA’s missions, visit:

    Home Page

    -end-
    Amber Jacobson / Kathryn HambletonHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600amber.c.jacobson@nasa.gov / kathryn.a.hambleton@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Invites Media to Observe FireSense Prescribed Burn at Kennedy

    Source: NASA

    NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida invites media to attend a prescribed fire campaign event hosted by the NASA FireSense Project, the Department of Defense (DOD), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Campaign activities will occur from Monday, April 7, to Monday, April 21.
    The FireSense campaign activities will test cutting-edge models and demonstrate new technologies to measure fire behavior and smoke dynamics. The Fish and Wildlife Service will conduct the prescribed fire as part of their land management responsibilities on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with NASA Kennedy.
    The event also will demonstrate how NASA, DOD, and the Fish and Wildlife Service work with interagency and private sector partners to reduce the risk from wildland fires and benefit ecosystem health, ultimately preventing catastrophic impacts on critical national infrastructure, the economy, and local communities, while increasing the safety of wildland fire response operations.
    Credentialing is open to U.S. and international media. International media must apply by 11:59 EDT p.m. Sunday, March 16, and U.S. media must apply by 11:59 p.m. EDT Sunday, March 23.
    More details on the specific date of the prescribed fire, weather permitting, will be provided in the coming weeks. Media wishing to take part in person must apply for credentials at:
    https://media.ksc.nasa.gov
    Credentialed media will receive a confirmation email upon approval. NASA’s media accreditation policy is available online. For questions about accreditation or to request special logistical support, please email by Friday, March 28 to: ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov.
    For other questions, please contact NASA Kennedy’s newsroom at: 321-867-2468.
    Para obtener información sobre cobertura en español en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitar entrevistas en español, comuníquese con Messod Bendayan, messod.c.bendayan@nasa.gov.
    NASA coordinates field and airborne sampling with academic and agency partners, including the DOD Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program and DOD Environmental Security Technology Certification Program. The Fish and Wildlife Service oversees all prescribed burn activities on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
    NASA Kennedy is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the United States, counting over 1,000 species of plants, 117 kinds of fish, 68 types of amphibians and reptiles, 330 kinds of birds, and 31 different mammals within its more than 144,000 acres.
    For more information about NASA’s FireSense Project, please visit:
    https://cce.nasa.gov/firesense
    -end-
    Milan LoiaconoAmes Research Center, California650-450-7575milan.p.loiacono@nasa.gov
    Harrison RaineAmes Research Center, California310-924-0030harrison.s.raine@nasa.gov
    Messod BendayanKennedy Space Center, Florida256-930-1371messod.c.bendayan@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India poised to host the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific in Jaipur

    Source: Government of India

    India poised to host the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific in Jaipur

    The 12th Forum will conclude with the adoption of the ‘Jaipur Declaration’ for enabling a transition to  a resource-efficient, circular economy in Asia-Pacific countries: Shri Manohar Lal

    Over 500 international and domestic participants are expected to attend the three-day conference

    A dedicated ‘India Pavilion’ will showcase India’s remarkable initiatives and achievements in the 3R and circular economy domain

    A compendium of over 100 best practices put together by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) will be launched

    Posted On: 24 FEB 2025 5:32PM by PIB Delhi

    “India will host the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific. The Forum will take place at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur on 3-5 March 2025. The event will centre on the theme of “Realizing Circular Societies Towards Achieving SDGs and Carbon Neutrality in Asia-Pacific.” said Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal at the Curtain Raiser  event organized today at the National Media Centre, New Delhi as a precursor to the main Forum.

    Union Minister also informed that over 500 international and domestic participants are expected to attend the three-day conference packed with plenary sessions, country-specific discussions, theme-based roundtables, as well as knowledge-sharing and networking opportunities. He also informed that the delegates will also have an opportunity to undertake technical field visits to the solid and liquid waste management facilities and visit key heritage sites in Jaipur.

     

    A dedicated ‘India Pavilion’ will showcase India’s remarkable initiatives and achievements in the 3R and circular economy domain. This Pavilion will feature exhibitions from key line ministries and national missions, reflecting India’s whole-of-government approach to sustainable development. It will also serve as a hub for interactive knowledge-sharing, with sessions such as the ‘Ministers & Ambassadors Roundtable Dialogue,’ ‘Mayors’ Dialogue,’ ‘Policy Dialogue’ and the signing of agreements under the CITIIS 2.0 program. Multiple launches of knowledge products will take place at the Forum including a compendium of over 100 best practices put together by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).

    The Forum will host an international ‘3R trade and technology exhibition’, providing a platform for over 40 Indian and Japanese businesses and start-ups to showcase best practices, ideas and solutions that support circularity and 3R principles while encouraging cross-learning. Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal informed that ‘Waste-to-wealth initiatives by NGOs and Self-help Groups across India will also be showcased at the Forum promoting sustainability-driven entrepreneurship and community engagement.

    Shri Manohar Lal informed that the 12th Forum will conclude with the adoption of the ‘Jaipur Declaration’ for enabling transition to  a resource-efficient, circular economy in Asia-Pacific countries and will be handed over  to the next host country. The Jaipur Declaration (2025-34) builds upon the Hanoi Declaration (2013-23) and aims to provide participating countries with a framework for developing 3R and circular economy policies and programs, which enable a shift from a linear ‘take-make-dispose’ economy to a circular economy. It is a voluntary and legally non-binding agreement.

    Launched by UNCRD in 2009, the Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum aims to provide strategic policy inputs to government authorities in the Asia-Pacific region for mainstreaming 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) and circularity and serve as a platform for disseminating and sharing best practices in 3R. The last Forum was hosted in 2023 by Cambodia. India has previously hosted the Forum in 2018, when the 8th edition was held in Indore.

    The 12th Regional Forum is being spearheaded by the Swachh Bharat Mission- Urban of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in collaboration with Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, UN ESCAP, UNCRD, UNDSDG, and UNDESA, with support from the Government of Rajasthan.

    This Forum, focused on the Asia-Pacific region, aims to guide member-countries in shaping policies and actions on 3R and the circular economy in the coming years. With participation expected from 38 invited member countries, 15-line ministries of the Government of India, almost all States/UTs, over 60 cities, more than 40 start-ups and businesses, and around 120 speakers across 3 days, this Forum will serve as a platform for policy discussions, collaboration and knowledge exchange. By fostering these partnerships, it will accelerate progress towards a circular economy and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

     

    The 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum will be open for virtual participation on all three days. Participants may attend the sessions online by registering on https://3rcefindia.sbmurban.org/.

    QR Code for virtual participation:

       

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    (Release ID: 2105805) Visitor Counter : 64

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal inaugurates Prakriti 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal inaugurates Prakriti 2025

    Prakriti 2025- International Conference on Carbon Markets, a reflection of India’s commitment to climate action

    Posted On: 24 FEB 2025 5:31PM by PIB Delhi

     

    Prakriti 2025 (Promoting Resilience, Awareness, Knowledge, and Resources for Integrating Transformational Initiatives), the international conference on carbon markets, was organised today in New Delhi. The conference aimed to promote resilience, awareness, knowledge, and resources for integrating transformational climate initiatives.

    Prakriti 2025 provided a high-level platform for national and international experts, policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and practitioners to engage in discussions and exchange ideas on the global carbon market’s current trends, challenges, and future directions. By bringing together global leaders and experts, the event advanced discussions on innovative solutions for a sustainable, low-carbon future.

    Shri Dhiraj Srivastava, Chief Engineer, Ministry of Power, welcomed the distinguished guests, industry leaders, and global experts, expressing gratitude for their presence. He acknowledged the importance of collaboration in shaping India’s sustainable energy future.

    Hon’ble Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, inaugurated the event and shared the Indian Government’s vision on the critical role of carbon markets in tackling climate change. He emphasized the importance of transitioning to renewable energy (RE) to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and achieve emissions targets. Hon’ble Minister also highlighted India’s rich cultural heritage and traditional practices, such as Ganga Deep Puja and Govardhan Puja, which reflect the nation’s deep-rooted ecological consciousness and can complement modern sustainability efforts. Additionally, he underscored the need for climate policies that ensure real, verifiable, and fraud-proof carbon reductions, making India’s sustainability transition both ambitious and achievable.

    Additional Secretary, Ministry of Power, Shri Akash Tripathi, stated,“The Indian Carbon Market Ensures that the target notification aligns with buyer and seller needs in the carbon market. The focus is to implement a strategy to minimize emissions through cost-effective measures.” He further added, “As part of the compliance mechanism, there will be a gradual implementation of carbon reduction targets, with a 40% reduction by 2027 and the remaining by 2030.”

    Director, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Shri Saurabh Diddi delivered the vote of thanks to the Hon’ble Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs for gracing the event with his presence and sharing his insightful thoughts on striking an ecological balance inspired by our traditional practices. He thanked the panelists, the World Bank, and IETA for their support, emphasizing technology’s role in ensuring transparency in carbon markets. He also acknowledged PwC’s contribution and highlighted India’s policy-driven, tech-enabled approach to a green economy, positioning ICM as a model for emerging markets.

    The conference provided an in-depth understanding of the functioning and processes of the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) while offering insights into the global carbon market’s dynamics, opportunities, and challenges.

    The International Conference on Carbon Markets – PRAKRITI 2025, organized by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power, brought together global leaders and experts from various sectors to discuss and explore innovative approaches in addressing climate change through carbon markets.

    Throughout the conference, experts such as Shri Ajay Mathur, Director General of the International Solar Alliance, Mr. Marcos Castro, Senior Climate Change Specialist at the World Bank, and Ms. Leena Nandan, former Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, led the technical discussions on carbon markets. They delved into critical topics such as Development of Carbon Markets, Compliance Mechanisms, Developing Infrastructure for Functional Carbon Markets, Offset Mechanism, Carbon Credits, and global carbon market dynamics. The event served as a platform for thought leaders to exchange ideas and discuss strategies for advancing carbon markets and climate action globally.

    More than just a conference, Prakriti has distinguished itself as one of the most comprehensive and significant events for learning, sharing knowledge, and exploring opportunities for collaboration in the global effort to combat climate change. Prakriti 2025 will build on this momentum, marking a landmark milestone in India’s climate calendar and  the international climate dialogue.

    The conference will continue on Day 2 with plenary sessions focusing on Private Sector Perspectives on the Indian Carbon Market, Incentivizing Renewable Energy developers through Carbon Markets, and a thematic track on the Role of Ecosystem-Based Interventions in Achieving Net-Zero Goals.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FEHD takes serious follow-up actions against suspected misconduct of outsourced cleaning workers

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         In response to media enquiries about a video being circulated on social media, in which outsourced cleansing workers were suspected of removing display bills posted by themselves in Nam Cheong Street, Sham Shui Po, a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (February 24) responded as follows:

         The FEHD is very concerned about, and is investigating, the incident. A preliminary investigation revealed that the four staff members involved were employed by an outsourced street cleaning service contractor. The FEHD has instructed the contractor to suspend the staff members concerned from carrying out their contractual duties until the investigation is completed.

         The spokesman reiterated that the department attaches great importance to the performance of contractors and the behaviour and conduct of their employees. The FEHD has immediately requested the contractor to submit a report on the incident. If the investigation confirms the incident, the FEHD will seriously hold the contractor liable in accordance with the contract, which may include the deduction of service fees, and record the incident as a considering factor for future service procurement. Moreover, the FEHD will refer the suspected falsification of records to the Police for follow-up.

         The spokesman said that the workers concerned are responsible for removing unauthorised display bills and posters in public places, and must take photos for record purposes. The FEHD has not set a minimum target for the number of bills and posters to be removed by the contractors.

         The FEHD will continue to closely monitor the contractor’s service performance to ensure compliance with the service contract requirements.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: DLNR News Release- Exploring our Wildfire Future is Theme of 2025 Hawai’i Wildfire Summit, Feb. 24, 2025

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DLNR News Release- Exploring our Wildfire Future is Theme of 2025 Hawai’i Wildfire Summit, Feb. 24, 2025

    Posted on Feb 24, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
     GOVERNOR

     

    DAWN CHANG
     CHAIRPERSON

     

     

    EXPLORING OUR WILDFIRE FUTURE IS THEME OF 2025 HAWAI‘I WILDFIRE SUMMIT

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    February 24, 2024

    HONOLULU — Wildfire experts, community leaders, emergency responders and policymakers will gather together for the 2025 Hawai‘i Wildfire Summit, Feb. 27-28 in Kona on Hawai‘i Island. They’ll share insights and tackle challenges aimed at building a stronger, more wildfire resilient Hawai‘i.

    Organized and hosted by the Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO) and supported by the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), the National Park Service (NPS), the Hawai‘i County Civil Defense Agency, U.S. Army Fire, the Western Fire Leadership Council, and all four county fire departments, the summit hopes to “ignite action.”

    Elizabeth Pickett, co-executive director of HWMO said, “On the first day we have a series of expert panels and interactive sessions. Our focus will be on wildfire resilience, lessons from recent fires, and innovations in wildfire safety and planning.

    The first day of the summit includes the following panels:

    • Keynote Panel: Lessons from Lahaina
    • Why the Built Environment Matters
    • Firewise Communities in Action
    • Fire Weather, Technology and Notifications
    • Policy Updates and Next Steps

    On the second day participants can chose from two pathways.

    Key sessions for Pathway 1:

    • Understanding Wildfire Risk from Local to National
    • Wildfire Resilient Land Management Strategis
    • Our Wildfire Funding and Policy Context
    • Wildfire Advocacy, Communications and Media Engagement

    Key sessions for Pathway 2:

    • Fire Weather and Fuel Monitoring
    • WIldfire Pre-Attack Plans
    • Incident Management Best Practices
    • Codes and Standards

    Pickett added that the summit is an opportunity to gain insights from leading professionals in wildfire resilience and management and to build connections with peers, policymakers, and advocates.

    “Across the state, we need to face our increasing wildfire risks together and for the long term. We hope to ignite action by having everyone leave the summit committed and connected to each other, and with actionable knowledge, tools and resources to strengthen wildfire preparedness.” Pickett said.

    One day before the summit (Feb.26) and one day after (March 1), HWMO is offering Home Ignition Zone Assessment and Mitigation (HIZAM) workshops, which is hands-on training for wildfire risk potential and mitigation measures.

    Media coverage is welcome.

     

    # # # 

     

    RESOURCES 

    (All images/video courtesy: DLNR) 

     

    2025 Hawai‘i Wildfire Summit and Home Ignition Zone Assessment and Mitigation workshop:

    FAQs: attached

     

    Media Contact: 

    Dan Dennison

    Communications Director

    808-587-0396

    Email: Dlnr.comms@hawaii.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Processes leading to fines for car manufacturers exceeding emissions targets – P-000402/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The procedure for the Commission’s annual assessment of the CO2 emission performance of car and van manufacturers, including their compliance with the emission targets set out in Regulation (EU) 2019/631[1], is outlined in Articles 7 and 9 of that regulation and in Chapter 2 of Regulation (EU) 2021/392[2].

    The Commission calculates the average CO2 emissions and CO2 emission targ ets for each manufacturer based on the vehicle registration data, which Member States submit to the European Environment Agency e ach year by 28 February, in respect of the preceding calendar year.

    The Commission shares those provisional findings with the manufacturers, who then ha ve three months to notify any errors.

    Subsequently, the C ommission is required to adopt a decision setting out the final CO2 emission performance of all cars and vans manufacturers for the monitoring year concerned, by 31 October of the following year. That Decision is notified to the manufacturers and published in the Official Journal.

    Manufacturers not meeting their CO2 emissions target in a given calendar year are obliged to pay an excess emissions premium, which is calculated following the formula set out in Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/631 and using the data set out in the Commission Decision on the CO2 emission performance for that year.

    The premium amounts to EUR 95 multiplied by the excess emissions (number of g/km by which the target was exceeded) and by the number of newly registered vehicles of the manufacturer in that calendar year.

    Manufacturers that are due to pay a premium receive a ‘Letter of advice of recovery’ and have the opportunity to raise any comment. After that period, the Commission issues a debit note, payable by the manufacturer within 45 days after receipt.

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2019/631 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 setting CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 443/2009 and (EU) No 510/2011 (OJ L 111, 25.4.2019, p. 13).
    • [2] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/392 of 4 March 2021 on the monitoring and reporting of data relating to CO2 emissions from passenger cars and light commercial vehicles pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/631 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) No 1014/2010, (EU) No 293/2012, (EU) 2017/1152 and (EU) 2017/1153 (OJ L 77, 5.3.2021, p. 8).
    Last updated: 24 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Cumulative impact of the Świnoujście container terminal on Natura 2000 areas – P-000765/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-000765/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Hannah Neumann (Verts/ALE)

    Following the Commission’s opinion C(2024)299 of 23 January 2024 and challenges brought by the City of Świnoujście and Polish and German civic movements, the Polish Directorate-General for Environmental Protection (GDOŚ) confirmed the environmental decision for the Świnoujście container terminal, albeit with some changes to the environmental requirements.

    The permit acknowledges the significant impact on Natura 2000 site PLH320019 Wolin i Uznam, but does not identify any substantial effects on maritime Natura 2000 sites PLH990002 and PLB990003. A key criticism therefore remains unresolved: the environmental impact assessment (EIA) dealt only with the effects of the terminal’s construction on land, but did not assess the cumulative effects of building channels or increased shipping traffic. A separate environmental impact assessment should be carried out to cover those aspects. In accordance with Article 6(3) and (4) of the Habitats Directive and the EIA Directive (2011/92/EU), all cumulative, direct, indirect and long-term effects of a project must be taken into account.

    • 1.What does the Commission make of the amended environmental requirements?
    • 2.Would the environmental impact assessment not have to cover the entire project?
    • 3.How does the Commission ensure that the protection status of Natura 2000 sites is not undermined by split or incomplete EIAs?

    Submitted: 19.2.2025

    Last updated: 24 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Northwest Arkansas Man Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Prison for Operating an Illegal Money Transmitting Business Using Pandemic Funds

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    FAYETTEVILLE – A Northwest Arkansas man was sentenced on February 20, to 51 months in Federal Prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, he was ordered to pay restitution of $725,558.00 on one count of operating an Illegal Money Transmitting Business. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing, which took place in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.

    According to court documents, Richard Harold Stone, age 77, waived indictment by a grand jury and pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with conducting an unlicensed money transmitting business in the State of Arkansas. Stone was the President or Chief Officer of numerous businesses registered with the Arkansas Secretary of State, including: Partex Oman Corp., Renewable Energy Campus Arkansas, Inc., Stonetek Global Corp., and Tires 2 Energy, LLC. Stone also was associated with Environmental Energy & Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation. The advertised purpose of these businesses was developing technology and facilities to repurpose waste materials, such as tires, into useable fuel sources. None of these businesses were registered with the State of Arkansas as a money transmitting business, as required by Arkansas law (Arkansas Code, Section 23-55-806(b)&(c)).

    Between November 2020 and March 2021, Stone received through various bank accounts associated with the above entities and other accounts under his control, deposits of funds from applications made on behalf of unwitting victims for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, Economic Impact Disaster Loans (EIDL), and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), totaling more than $600,000. After receiving these funds, Stone immediately transferred most of the funds by wire transfer to parties in locations including Berne, Switzerland; London, England; New York, NY; Chennai, India; and Mumbai, India.

    At the conclusion of Thursday’s sentencing hearing, Stone was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

    U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.

    The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Hunter Bridges is prosecuting the case.

    Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Farmers, investors, miners and parents: how unconventional climate advocates can reach new audiences

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Xiongzhi Wang, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Environmental Social Science, Australian National University

    Max Acronym/Shutterstock

    When you think about climate advocates, you’ll likely picture left-leaning environmentalists who live in cities. This group has contributed to building public support for climate action worldwide, through protests, petitions, lobbying and so on.

    While a majority of Australians understand that climate change is happening and that humans are the main cause, there are still holdout groups. Acceptance of the fact that climate change is largely caused by humans sits at 60% of Australians, well below other countries.

    Holdout groups in Australia can include people associated with political conservatism, the business sector, farming, the resource sector, some religious groups and some sports fans. For these groups, climate advocacy by left-leaning environmentalists may be limited in its effectiveness.

    How do you reach these groups? Our new research points to one solution: unconventional climate advocates. That is, those not from the stereotypical background and who belong to holdout groups. Think of groups such as Farmers for Climate Action and the Investor Group on Climate Change.

    These individuals and groups can play a crucial role in expanding the base of the climate movement – without necessarily working with mainstream climate groups. Better still, we found these unconventional advocates tend to receive more sympathetic media coverage.

    Who are these unconventional advocates?

    We distinguish two types of unconventional climate advocates –role-based and bridge-builders.

    Role-based advocates come from groups not typically associated with climate advocacy, such as Australian Parents for Climate Action, Doctors for the Environment, Vets for Climate Action and Australian Firefighters Climate Alliance. These advocates broaden our perception of who engages in climate advocacy.

    Bridge-builders come from groups with a history of tension with environmentalists and environmental issues. They can often span the divide between their group and the broader climate movement. These groups include Farmers for Climate Action, Investor Group on Climate Change, Hunter Jobs Alliance and Australian Religious Response to Climate Change.

    Why do they matter?

    Unconventional advocates are vital because they can reach a broader section of the population. This is because we are more likely to listen to insiders: people from groups we identify with who share our values and beliefs. We also pay more attention to messages when they come from a surprising source and when they go against perceived interests.

    A farmer advocating for climate action is more likely to resonate with other farmers than city-based environmentalists, for instance. Similarly, if you expect farmers to be opposed to climate action, you’re more likely to pay attention to their message than if it came from an environmentalist.

    Our research shows these groups are not mainstream environmentalists. They exist on the periphery of the climate movement.

    Using social network analysis, we mapped the connections between more than 3,000 climate advocacy groups in Australia. This showed us unconventional advocates are less connected to traditional environmental groups such as Greenpeace Australia Pacific or the Australian Conservation Foundation.

    This distance may actually be advantageous. By maintaining a degree of independence from the mainstream environmental movement, unconventional advocates can avoid being dismissed as “greenies” – an unpopular group for some people in rural areas. Farmers advocating for climate action may be more effective if they’re not seen as aligned with environmentalists who might be viewed with suspicion in rural communities.

    Does unconventional advocacy work?

    By one metric, unconventional advocacy does work. These individuals and groups broadly receive more sympathetic media coverage.

    In recent research, we analysed more than 17,000 Australian media articles published between 2017 and 2022 mentioning unconventional and more stereotypical environmentalist climate advocacy groups.

    We found Greenpeace Australia Pacific and other established groups received the most media coverage overall. Disruptive groups such as Extinction Rebellion tended to be framed negatively, with a focus on conflict and arrests. The negativity was most pronounced in articles published by News Corp, owned by the conservative media figure Rupert Murdoch.

    Unconventional advocates received less media coverage than other types of advocates. When they did receive coverage, it was generally more sympathetic. Articles tended to focus on their achievements and to use less confrontational language, even from conservative-leaning media outlets.

    This suggests unconventional advocates are well positioned to shift public opinion in holdout groups and build a broader base of support for climate action.

    Unconventional advocates for unprecedented times

    In Australia and in many other countries, climate action has become politicised – often along party lines. Holdout groups are a minority, but a large minority. To actually respond to the increasing threat of climate change will require building a bigger base of support.

    Unconventional advocates offer a way to disrupt hardened divides, expand the range of voices in the movement and engage communities and groups often left out of the conversation.

    Xiongzhi Wang works as a postdoc with his salary coming from the Australian Research Council (project DP220103155) which funds the research related to this article.

    Kelly Fielding received funding from Australian Research Council DP220103155 for the research related to this article. She currently donates to Greenpeace Australia.

    Rebecca Colvin serves on advisory/research committees/panels for: the Australian Museum’s Climate Solutions Centre; The Climate Risk Group; The Blueprint Institute; RE-Alliance; the NSW Environmental Trust. She is a non-executive member of the Board of the NSW Government’s EnergyCo. She receives funding from The Australian Research Council (DP220103155 and DE230101151).

    Robyn Gulliver receives funding from the Climate Social Science Network. She has worked for and volunteers for a range of environmental advocacy groups.

    Winnifred Louis receives funding from the Australian Research Council (project DP220103155) for the research related to this article. She has been a longstanding advocate for environmental and climate action but is not affiliated with any groups mentioned here.

    – ref. Farmers, investors, miners and parents: how unconventional climate advocates can reach new audiences – https://theconversation.com/farmers-investors-miners-and-parents-how-unconventional-climate-advocates-can-reach-new-audiences-249949

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Rhino Federated Computing and Flower Labs partner to accelerate Federated Learning adoption across industries

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, Feb. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rhino Federated Computing, the global leader in enterprise Federated Computing platforms, announced today a partnership with Flower, the world’s most popular open-source Federated Learning (FL) framework and Decentralized AI developer community. This partnership enables organizations from all industries to seamlessly benefit from the rapidly growing Flower ecosystem via Rhino Federated Computing Platform (FCP), unlocking unparalleled ease of deployment, security, and scalability.

    Developer-Friendly Federated AI with Flower Labs

    Flower has long been celebrated for its unmatched ease-of-use, large-active developer community and industry-firsts like FlowerLLM. The Flower framework simplifies the building of FL systems due to its:

    • Diverse ML Framework and Tool Compatibility: Flower seamlessly works with TensorFlow, PyTorch, XGBoost, MLX, JAX, and many more ML tools which simplifies adoption by existing AI teams, and the integration effort even for organizations employing diverse AI/ML toolchains.
    • Best-in-Class PETs Support: Flower offers AI developers a rich set of privacy-enhanced technologies (PETs) including many varieties of differential privacy, secure aggregation, homomorphic encryption to name a few, that are optimized under Flower for a wide range of ML hardware platforms.
    • Scalable and Customizable to Enterprise Environments: The underlying Flower architecture is built for high-performance with large-scale production environments in mind; the framework also offers out-of-the-box flexibility to support custom enterprise requirements such as aggregation and learning algorithms, user authentication, networking protocols and data formats.

    By integrating Flower Labs’ framework into Rhino FCP, organizations can now leverage the framework’s unique benefits while operating within a platform designed for enterprise environments.

    Rhino FCP: Enterprise Federated Computing

    Rhino Federated Computing Platform (FCP) is a scalable, secure, and production-grade federated computing solution designed to orchestrate both site-specific and federated workflows without requiring data transfer. It supports multi-cloud and hybrid enabling enterprises to unlock proprietary data for AI and analytics. Rhino differentiates with:

    • Enterprise-Grade Orchestration & Security – Provides centralized management with decentralized execution, ensuring encryption, role-based access control (RBAC), and audit logging to meet regulatory requirements such as HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001, and SOC 2 Type II; Rhino has passed security reviews with numerous large, rigorous organizations across regulated industries.
    • Scalable & Infrastructure-Agnostic – Enables distributed computing across multi-cloud and on-prem environments, minimizing operational complexity while optimizing performance. Available in multiple cloud marketplaces.
    • Seamless Integration with Data & AI Ecosystems – Supports leading federated learning frameworks, and integrates a wide range of software for pre-processing, data harmonization and viewing model training, analytics, AI workflows and storage.
    • Privacy-Preserving AI & Federated Analytics – Supports technologies like tokenization, differential privacy, homomorphic encryption and privacy preserving federated analytics / statistics to extract insights without exposing sensitive data.

    With Rhino FCP, enterprises can rapidly deploy, scale, and operationalize federated AI while maintaining full control over security, compliance, and data governance.

    Democratizing Federated Learning Across Industries

    Combining the rich ecosystem of Flower with the enterprise-hardened capabilities of Rhino FCP, opens doors for enterprises to rapidly adopt Federated Learning without compromising on security or operational efficiency. From healthcare and pharmaceuticals to finance, manufacturing, and retail, organizations can now adopt cutting-edge AI techniques with ease, unlocking insights from distributed data while protecting sensitive information.

    “Rhino is proud to offer the world’s leading enterprise-hardened Federated Computing Platform,” said Rhino co-founder & CEO, Dr. Ittai Dayan, “Adding Flower’s framework to Rhino FCP will broaden the network of people able to collaborate, bringing massive value to all participants.”

    “Flower is on a mission to make federated AI the new default,” said Flower Labs Co-Founder & CEO, Daniel J. Beutel, “Bringing Flower compatibility to Rhino FCP will enable more enterprises to benefit from and contribute back to the large and growing Flower ecosystem.”

    About Rhino Federated Computing

    Rhino’s Federated Computing Platform (Rhino FCP) unites siloed data with edge computing and federated learning, empowering enterprises to accelerate data strategies and to expand AI partnerships & use cases. Visit https://www.rhinofcp.com/ to learn more.

    About Flower Labs

    Flower (https://flower.ai) enables organizations and companies to train better AI models by safely leveraging distributed data. The Flower open-source framework and eco-system is the de-facto standard for federated AI in both research and production around the world. It offers a unified approach to decentralized forms of learning, analytics, and evaluation; with a focus on an easy-to-use AI developer experience. To learn more about Flower visit https://flower.ai/

    The MIL Network –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN report urges Colombia to protect civilians amid ongoing violence

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    24 February 2025 Human Rights

    The UN human rights office (OHCHR) has issued a stark warning about ongoing violence in Colombia perpetrated by armed groups and criminal organisations, which threatens the country’s nearly ten year old peace accord. 

    The newly published report covering 2024, highlights the devastating impact on civilians, particularly Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant communities, and peasants.

    The report details how these armed groups use violence to exert control over the population, furthering their own economic interests and undermining governance.

    Catatumbo region

    The escalation of fighting in the Catatumbo region since mid-January, which resulted in over 52 deaths and the forced displacement of tens of thousands, underscores the severe suffering of civilians caught in the conflict.

    UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, emphasised the need for the Colombian Government to prioritise the protection of its population in negotiations with non-State armed groups.

    “Ensuring the State is present throughout Colombia and has unrestricted access to areas where these groups operate is essential to guarantee everyone’s rights.

    “This includes preventing the recruitment of children under the age of 18 and securing the immediate release of those already under the control of armed groups,” Mr. Türk stated.

    Child recruits

    The report reveals that 216 children were recruited by non-State armed groups in 2024, many of them from Indigenous communities.

    Mr Türk urged the authorities to take immediate measures to protect these vulnerable populations, particularly those at extreme risk due to the ongoing internal armed conflicts.

    In addition to the recruitment of children, OHCHR verified that 252 people were killed in 72 massacres last year.

    A further 89 human rights defenders were also killed during this period. The UN rights chief welcomed the resumption of dialogue between the State and civil society on the protection of human rights defenders but stressed that more needs to be done to ensure their safety, especially for those defending the environment.

    The report also calls for the prompt implementation of the Escazú Agreement, a regional environmental and human rights treaty ratified by Colombia last year.

    Environmental protections

    Mr. Türk highlighted the importance of this agreement in protecting both the environment and those who defend it.

    To accelerate the implementation of the Security Council and UN-backed 2016 Peace Agreement which ended decades of insurgency against the Government by FARC rebels, the report urges the Colombian authorities to prioritise the protection of civilians and strengthen governance in various regions.

    It also emphasises the need for coordinated efforts in implementing the Government’s security, total peace, and dismantling policies.

    Some progress

    Despite the challenges, the report acknowledges progress in several areas, including comprehensive rural reform and the work of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace – the transitional justice tribunal established by the Peace Agreement.

    Recent decisions to indict former commanders of the FARC-EP guerrilla and former high-ranking military officials with crimes against humanity and war crimes are seen as fundamental steps in the fight against impunity and in fulfilling the rights of victims to truth and justice.

    The report also welcomes ongoing reforms of the security sector, including the police and intelligence services, aimed at strengthening respect for human rights, transparency, and accountability.

    The willingness of these institutions to continue cooperating with the UN Human Rights Office is seen as a positive development.

    The report is scheduled to be presented to the Human Rights Council on 3 March 2025.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Fossil footprints reveal what may be the oldest known handcarts – new research

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Matthew Robert Bennett, Professor of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Bournemouth University

    If you’re a parent you’ve probably tried, at some point, to navigate the supermarket with a trolley, and at least one child in tow. But our new study suggests there was an ancient equivalent, dating to 22,000 years ago. This handcart, without wheels, was used before wheeled vehicles were invented around 5,000 years ago in the Middle East.

    Recently our research team discovered some remarkable fossil traces which might give a hint. These traces were found alongside some of the oldest known human footprints in the Americas at a place called White Sands in New Mexico.

    In the last few years, several footprint discoveries at this site have begun to rewrite early American history – pushing back the arrival of the first people to enter this land by 8,000 years.

    There is some controversy around the age (23,000 years old) of these footprints, with some researchers unhappy with our dating methods. But they provide a remarkable picture of past life on the margins of a large wetland at the end of the last ice age.

    The footprints tell stories, written in mud, of how people lived, hunted and survived in this land. Footprints connect people to the past in a way that a stone tool or archaeological artefact never can. Traditional archaeology is based on the discovery of stone tools. Most people today have never made a stone tool but almost all of us will have left a footprint at some time, even if it is only on the floor of the bathroom.

    Today, modern shopping trolleys can be found rusting in canals, rivers or abandoned in shrubbery. But ancient versions would have probably been of wood and simply rotted away. We know that transport technology must have existed.

    Everyone has stuff to transport, but we have no record of it until written histories. At White Sands, we found drag-marks made by the ends of wooden poles while excavating for fossil footprints. Sometimes these appear as just one trace, while at other times they occur as two parallel, equidistant traces.

    A pole or poles used in this fashion is called a travois. These drag-marks are preserved in dried mud that was buried by sediment and revealed by a combination of erosion and excavation. The drag-marks extend for dozens of metres before disappearing beneath overlying sediment. They clip barefoot human tracks along their length, suggesting the user dragged the travois over their own footprints as they went along.

    To help interpret these features, we conducted a series of tests on mud flats both in Dorset, UK, and on the coast of Maine, US. We used different combinations of poles to recreate simple, hand-pulled travois.

    In our experiments the pole-ends dragged along the mud truncate footprints in the same way as the fossil example in New Mexico. These features in the fossil examples were also always associated with lot of other human footprints travelling in a similar direction, many of which, judging by their size, were made by children.

    We believe the footprints and drag-marks tell a story of the movement of resources at the edge of this former wetland. Adults pulled the simple, probably improvised travois, while a group of children tagged along to the side and behind.

    The research team has benefited from the insight of the Indigenous peoples we work with at White Sands, and they interpret the marks in this way as well. We cannot discount that some of the marks may be made by dragging firewood, but this does not fit all the cases we found.

    Travois are known from historical documents and accounts of Indigenous peoples and their traditions. They were more commonly associated with dogs or horses, but they were pulled by humans in our tests.

    As such they represent early examples of the handcart or wheelbarrow, but without the wheel. The earliest record of a wheeled vehicle dates from Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq), in 2,500BC. We think the travois were probably improvised from tent poles, firewood and spears when the need arose.

    Maybe they were created to help move camp, or more likely, transport meat from a hunting-site. In the latter context the analogy with the shopping trolley comes to the fore, as does the pained expression of the adults faces as they quest for resources with a gaggle of children in tow.

    Matthew Robert Bennett receives funding from Arts and Humanities Research Council.

    Sally Christine Reynolds does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Fossil footprints reveal what may be the oldest known handcarts – new research – https://theconversation.com/fossil-footprints-reveal-what-may-be-the-oldest-known-handcarts-new-research-250438

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 351, STEWARD Act of 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    S. 351 would authorize appropriations totaling $34 million annually over the 2025-2029 period for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to award grants, collect data, and prepare reports for recycling and composting programs in the United States.

    CBO assumes that the bill will be enacted in 2025 and that the authorized amounts will be provided in each year. On that basis and using the spending patterns for similar activities, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $148 million over the 2025-2030 period and $22 million after 2030.

    Section 2 would authorize the appropriation of $30 million annually over the 2025-2029 period to EPA for grants to expand access to curbside recycling and construct transfer stations that aggregate recyclable materials for offsite processing. EPA would need to allocate 70 percent of the authorized amounts for grants to communities without access to recycling services or that have insufficient recycling capacity. Grant recipients, including states, local governments, Indian tribes, and public-private partnerships, would have to contribute at least 5 percent of a project’s total cost. The bill would require the agency to report on the program two years after the first grant is awarded and would authorize EPA to use up to 5 percent of the authorized funds for administrative purposes. CBO estimates that implementing that section would cost $128 million over the 2025-2030 period.

    Section 3 would authorize the appropriation of $4 million annually over the 2025-2029 period for EPA to collect data and prepare reports that include an inventory of facilities to recover materials in each state and a cost-benefit analysis of recycling and composting. The bill would require EPA to collect standardized recycling data twice a year from states, local communities, and Indian tribes and develop a national recycling rate. CBO estimates that implementing that section would cost $20 million over the 2025-2030 period.

    The costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment).

    Table 1.

    Estimated Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation Under S. 351
     

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

    		  
     

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    2025-2030

    Grants for Recycling Facilities

    		              

    Authorization

    30

    30

    30

    30

    30

    0

    150

    Estimated Outlays

    3

    15

    24

    29

    30

    27

    128

    Data Collection and Reporting

    		              

    Authorization

    4

    4

    4

    4

    4

    0

    20

    Estimated Outlays

    3

    4

    4

    4

    4

    1

    20

    Total Changes

    		              

    Authorization

    34

    34

    34

    34

    34

    0

    170

    Estimated Outlays

    6

    19

    28

    33

    34

    28

    148

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Aurora Swanson. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: No Fish Harbour in Sierra Leone: Greenpeace Africa applauds the Court’s decision to secure final victory for the Black Johnson Beach campaign

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Dakar: 21-02-2025/The Supreme Court of Sierra Leone has delivered a landmark ruling in favor of the Save Black Johnson Beach campaign, marking a significant victory for environmental conservation. Launched in 2022 by a group of dedicated civilians, the campaign sought to prevent the construction of fishmeal factories and harbour that  would threaten the beach’s delicate ecosystems and overshadow the small-scale fishing on which communities rely. 

    Greenpeace Africa celebrates this historic decision, which not only safeguards Black Johnson Beach but also serves as an inspiring precedent for communities worldwide fighting against environmental injustice.

    Dr. Aliou Ba, Ocean Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa said: 

    “This ruling is a historic victory for the people of Black Johnson and for coastal communities across West Africa. It proves that governments cannot hand over our oceans and lands to destructive industries without consequences. The Supreme Court has spoken, private land and critical marine ecosystems are not for sale. We call on other communities facing environmental destruction to stand up, resist, and demand justice.”

    The fishmeal industry is driving ocean destruction across West Africa, threatening food security and livelihoods. 

    “This Supreme Court decision is a turning point, it shows that communities have the power to resist and win. Black Johnson Beach is now a symbol of resilience and environmental justice. We urge all communities facing similar threats to take action and fight for their rights.We celebrate this victory, but the fight is far from over. Across the region, the fishmeal industry continues to plunder our seas for profit. Greenpeace Africa stands in solidarity with all communities resisting this destruction. We call on those on the frontlines of environmental struggles to stay strong, organize, and push back, because together, we can protect our oceans, our fisheries, and our future.” Added Dr. Aliou. 

    Black Johnson Beach is home to five distinct ecosystems, including pristine beaches and coastal habitats, critical mangrove forests that protect against erosion, marine ecosystems with vital fish breeding grounds, diverse rainforests supporting wildlife, and freshwater rivers and wetlands essential for biodiversity.

    Contacts for  interview:

    Luchelle Feukeng, Communication and Storytelling Manager, [email protected], +237 656 46 35 45 

    Dr. Aliou Ba, Ocean Campaign Lead, [email protected] 

    MIL OSI NGO –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: JTF-Bravo unveils new Combined Joint Operation Center

    Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

    SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras  –  

    Joint Task Force-Bravo unveiled their new Combined Joint Operation Center in conjunction with a tabletop exercise where they worked with members from the Honduran air force, army, firefighters, Comisión Permanente de Contingencias, Forest Conservation Institute, Environmental Management Unit, and Friends of La Tigra Foundation, February 19, 2025.

    The CJOC was created to better streamline and facilitate communication between JTF-Bravo leaders and local agency leaders when a crisis arises. 
    “The Combined Joint Operation Center is a testament to our commitment to working side-by-side with our Honduran partners,” said U.S. Army Col. Daniel Alder, JTF-Bravo Commander. “This facility is a hub that allows us to plan and coordinate in response to crises, meaning we can react faster and more effectively, ultimately saving lives.”

    The exercise simulated a forest fire in La Tigra National, Northeast of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Participants worked together to determine initial responses and how each agency would act as the crisis grew over time.

    Alongside the exercise, members from JTF-Bravo and the Honduran conducted academic training on a collapsible water-carrying device that is used in aerial firefighting. The device is suspended from a helicopter to pick up water and drop the water onto wildfires. This equipment is extremely valuable in this region as many locations are inaccessible via roads.

    With JTF-Bravo being the U.S. Southern Command’s regional rapid response force for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions and contingency response, the inception of the CJOC and this exercise are big steps towards JTF-Bravo and local agencies and military working together to better react during crises.

    MIL Security OSI –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New law to ban bonuses for polluting water bosses

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    New law to ban bonuses for polluting water bosses

    The Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 has today received Royal Assent, boosting the powers of water sector regulators to tackle pollution.

    Major legislation to crack down on water bosses polluting Britain’s rivers, lakes and seas has today been signed into law in the most significant increase to enforcement powers in a decade.   

    The Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 will give regulators new powers to take tougher and faster action to crack down on water companies damaging the environment and failing their customers.  

    The Act delivers on the manifesto pledges to clean up the water sector, including increasing the ability of the Environment Agency to bring forward criminal charges against water executives who break the law. It will create new tougher penalties, including possible imprisonment, for water executives who obstruct investigations.   

    The new legislation will provide powers for Ofwat to ban the payment of bonuses to water bosses if they fail to meet high standards to protect the environment, their consumers, and their company’s finances.     

    Other measures in the Act include automatic penalties to allow regulators to issue penalties more quickly, without having to direct resources to lengthy investigations. It will also introduce independent monitoring of every sewage outlet, with water companies required to publish real-time data for all emergency overflows. Discharges will have to be reported within an hour of the initial spill.  

    Environment Secretary Steve Reed said:

    “We promised to put water companies under tough special measures to clean up our waterways. Today, the Government has delivered on that promise as we continue to deliver on our Plan for Change.       

    “Polluting water bosses will no longer be paid undeserved bonuses. And if they break the law over water pollution, they could end up in the dock and face prison time. 

    “This is just the beginning. The Independent Water Commission will report back later this year to shape new laws that will transform our water system so we can clean up our rivers, lakes, and seas for good.” 

    The Act introduces bold new measures to clean up the industry, including:   

    • Enhanced enforcement powers: The Environment Agency will have increased ability to bring criminal charges against water bosses who break the law, who could face tougher penalties such as imprisonment of executives when companies fail to cooperate or obstruct investigations. The cost recovery powers of regulators will be expanded to ensure that water companies bear the cost of enforcement action taken in response to their failings.  

    • Ban on bonuses: Ofwat will have the power to set rules prohibiting the payment of executive bonuses if companies fail to meet high standards in protecting the environment, their consumers, and financial resilience.  

    • Automatic penalties: Automatic penalties will be introduced for a range of offences, allowing regulators to issue penalties more quickly without redirecting resources to lengthy investigations.   

    • Independent monitoring: Every emergency sewage outlet will be monitored, with data independently scrutinised and made publicly available within an hour of sewage spills occurring. This will ensure transparency and direct further investment to improving sewage infrastructure.   

    • Pollution Incident Reduction Plans (PIRPs): Water companies in England will be required to publish annual Pollution Incident Reduction Plans and report regularly on their progress, enabling the public and regulators to hold companies accountable for reducing pollution incidents.   

    The Act marks a major milestone in the government’s long-term approach to tackling the systemic issues in the water sector – helping to meet the challenges of the future, such as climate change, and driving economic growth.   

    Further legislation aimed at fundamentally transforming how our entire water system operates will be guided by the findings of the Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, which is currently conducting the largest review of the industry since privatisation.   

    Action taken so far 

    Immediate steps:   

    In his first week, the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed announced a series of initial steps towards ending the crisis in the water sector: 

    • After writing to Ofwat, the Secretary of State secured agreement that funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment not diverted for bonuses, dividends or salary increases.    

    • Water companies will place customers and the environment at the heart of their objectives. Companies have agreed to change their ‘Articles of Association’ – the rules governing each company – to make the interests of customers and the environment a primary objective.   

    • Consumers will gain new powers to hold water company bosses to account through powerful new customer panels. For the first time in history, customers will have the power to summon board members and hold water executives to account.   

    • Strengthen protection and compensation for households and businesses when their basic water services are affected. We have now doubled the compensation customers are legally entitled to when key standards are not met. The payments will also be triggered by a wider set of circumstances including Boil Water Notices.   

    Independent Commission:   

    • We have launched an Independent Commission into the water sector and its regulation, in what is expected to form the largest review of the industry since privatisation.  

    • Former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, Jon Cunliffe, has been appointed as the chair of the Commission. With several decades of economic and regulatory experience, his appointment demonstrates the Government’s serious ambitions. The Commission will draw upon a panel of experts from across the regulatory, environment, health, engineering, customer, investor, and economic sectors.   

    • A set of recommendations will be delivered to the Defra Secretary of State, and Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.   

    • These recommendations will form the basis of further legislation to attract long-term investment and clean up our waters for good – injecting billions of pounds into the economy, speeding up delivery on infrastructure to support house building and addressing water scarcity, given the country needs to source an additional 5 billion litres of water a day by 2050.

    Further information:   

    Please see further details on the Water (Special Measures) Act here.

    Stakeholder quotes: 

    Alan Lovell, Chair of the Environment Agency, said:   

    “The passing into law of the Water (Special Measures) Act is a crucial step in making sure water companies take full responsibility for their impact on the environment.  

    “The increased regulatory powers introduced by this legislation will allow us to close the justice gap, deliver swifter enforcement action and ultimately deter illegal activity.   

    “Alongside these reforms, we are undertaking the biggest ever transformation to the way we regulate. By investing in additional resources, training and updated digital assets, we are ensuring the water system better meets the needs of both people and the environment, now and in the future.” 

    Huw Irranca-Davies, Wales’s Deputy First Minister for Wales with responsibility for Climate Change, said:  

    “Restoring our rivers and improving water quality is a key priority for us.  

    “We’ve been working in partnership with the UK Government to tackle pollution in our rivers, lakes, and seas, and to make sure the water industry is properly regulated.  

    “Today’s Royal Assent of the Special Measures Bill is another step forward and shows what we can achieve working together.” 

    Helen Campbell, Ofwat’s Senior Director for Sector Performance, said: 

    ‘’We welcome today’s Royal Assent of the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, which provides a clear signal to create a water sector that delivers for all customers and the environment.   

    “The Act gives Ofwat new powers to set requirements for companies on remuneration and governance, including prohibiting performance-related executive pay. These rules are an important step towards rebuilding public trust within the water sector, while also prompting water companies to focus on delivering a change in their culture that better meets the expectations of their customers. 

    “We are working at pace to implement these new rules and intend to launch consultations on the final proposals later this year.” 

    Mike Keil, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), said: 

    “Repairing people’s fractured trust in the water sector requires not only a vast improvement in environmental performance, but also a sea change in water company culture so customers’ priorities are put before profit.  

    “It will take time to transform the water sector, but these new legal powers mark an important step in tackling two issues which make people’s blood boil – water company executives being rewarded for failure and pollution in our rivers, lakes, and seas.  

    “Water companies will be placing much bigger demands on billpayers’ finances over the next five years, so people have a right to expect far more for their money.” 

    Mark Lloyd, Rivers Trust CEO, said:   

    “The Water Special Measures Bill is a welcome first step from the government towards building a water system which restores nature, builds resilience to drought and flooding, and tackles the widespread issues of pollution.  

    “We welcome the improvements made to the bill in its passage through the Lords and the Government’s acceptance of amendments strengthening the environment duty of Ofwat and a greater emphasis on Nature Based Solutions.   

    “We are engaging closely with the current Independent Water Commission which we see as a once in a generation opportunity to take several more, and bolder steps towards a more integrated and catchment-based approach to managing water.” 

    Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: 

    “We welcome Royal Assent of the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, an important step toward cleaning up the freshwater environment. Regulators must make decisive use of new enforcement powers wherever companies continue to pollute, and Ofwat should make the most of new financial disclosure rules to ensure that funds that ought to be spent cleaning up rivers are never again siphoned off for profit.  

    “As the Government has recognised, the Act is just a first step. It must be followed promptly by further legislation and action to clamp down on pollution and ramp up environmental investment across whole catchments and across all the sectors responsible for polluting our rivers.” 

    Ali Morse, Water Policy Manager at the Wildlife Trusts, said:  

    “It’s encouraging to see The Water (Special Measures) Act bringing welcome powers and resourcing for regulators, as well as protections for the environment, with additional sewage spill monitoring and a focus on reducing pollution. These are topics that customers really care about. It lays important groundwork for the future legislative changes which are vital to ensure that the water sector can achieve what it needs to in the interests of its customers, and the rivers, lakes, and seas which people cherish. 

    “The work of the Independent Water Commission offers a once in a generation opportunity to reshape the way that we secure the improvements our waters desperately need, across catchment and sectors, and we’ll continue to work with the Commission and Government to ensure that these vital changes are driven forward.” 

    Jamie Cook, Angling Trust CEO, said:  

    “We welcome the government’s early action on water pollution with this bill. The behaviour of water companies is a national scandal, and illegal sewage pollution must result in prosecutions.  

    “The Angling Trust’s network of water-testing volunteers regularly exposes horrendous pollution in waterways and damage done to fisheries. The Environment Agency must use its powers to prosecute any law-breaking water bosses and address any illegal sewage spills uncovered in its long-standing investigation into potential permit breaches.  

    “This bill is a first step toward cleaning up waterways and fixing the regulatory system. The Independent Water Commission must now drive systemic reform, leading to a stronger water bill later in this Parliament—one that transforms water management and safeguards rivers, lakes, seas, and the fish that depend on them.” 

    Ben Seal, Head of Access and Environment at Paddle UK, said: 

    “Paddle UK and The Clean Water Sports Alliance welcomes the Water (Special Measures) Act receiving Royal Assent today. This legislation is a shot across the bows of polluting companies. Banning bonuses for failures and issuing tougher penalties is a very welcome first step by the Government – a down payment on the promised future reform that our broken system so desperately needs” 

    “Enjoying time in, on, or alongside water is vitally important in supporting the health and wellbeing of millions of people. Our community has campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of the impact pollution is having on both people and nature. We will be watching closely to ensure that these new powers are used to their fullest, to hold polluters to account and begin to restore our precious blue spaces”. 

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    Published 24 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why religion is fundamental to addressing climate change

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Hanane Benadi, Research Officer, Religion and Global Society, London School of Economics and Political Science

    “There is no time for imagination, religious or otherwise. We need to act now!” an irritated scientist told me during a workshop on climate change and religion in 2024. Contrary to the tone of his comment, this scientist was not dismissing religion as being marginal to tackling climate change, but his underlying assumption rang clear: religion, while undoubtedly a necessary part of the solution, is only useful if it works alongside rational science.

    Research by me and my colleagues suggests that framing religion and science as totally separate entities is unhelpful in advancing a global response to climate change.

    In 2022 and 2023, I spent four months conducting fieldwork in Egypt, living and interacting with Muslim and Christian communities in Cairo and Alexandria. As a salient reminder of the ongoing climate crisis, my research took place over the summer, when temperatures reached more than 45°C.

    These heatwaves were a part of everyday discussions, but I didn’t hear only scientific jargon used to refer to these phenomena. Often, religion was the language used to make sense of the heat.

    As an Anglican priest in Alexandria told me, members of his congregation understood these heatwaves as manifestations of climate change, but at the same time asked him: “What is God is trying to tell us? Is this a sign of his anger? What should we do?” In other words, while scientific knowledge was used to explain the extreme heat, religion gave it meaning.

    Building a global response to the climate crisis requires us to learn about the many ways people make sense of climate change and learn to live with its consequences. And for most of the world’s population, a purely scientific framing is unhelpful.

    Science v religion?

    The long-perceived tension between religion and science seems to be reappearing today as we confront climate change. The scientist’s reaction to my work is one example of this, which left me wondering: what role is religion playing in tackling climate change globally? And how often is it framed as a field outside of science?

    Unfortunately, the approach adopted on the global climate stage seems to perpetuate a hierarchy of knowledge that implies that science trumps social and cultural influences such as religion and ethics. It is telling that the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the preeminent global body on climate policy, still relies heavily on hard science in presenting its findings, despite efforts in its latest reports to highlight the role of social sciences and humanities, including religion, can play.

    With my team from the LSE Religion and Global Society research unit, I ran a climate change and religion workshop in Cairo with Muslim and Christian female and male faith leaders. Many of the 30 participants explained they felt frustrated that the climate science lens dominates.

    One member of a faith-based organisation told me during an interview after the workshop that: “We are often approached by western organisations and research institutions to collaborate. However, when we ask about the nature of these collaborations, it is often reduced to our logo and a couple of statements that tell people that they should care about climate change.”

    Rather than taking religion seriously on its own terms, climate science often shapes what kind of role religion should play in communicating climate change. This is a problem.

    Science meets religion

    Our current work with female scientists in Egypt is teaching us that in many non-western countries, such as Egypt, the religious and the scientific cannot be as easily untangled as some might like to think.

    I asked an Egyptian scientist who has been working on water management for the last 30 years how she sees the future of water in her country. She began her response with a verse from the Quran before turning to a scientific explanation of what that entails.

    While much of her work is informed by scientific models of reason that underpin the Egyptian state’s nationalist development projects, she can hold together scientific and religious ethical modes of reasoning. Bringing an understanding of this overlap to international climate policy is critical for creating global solidarity around this issue.

    Fortunately, things are changing. Through initiatives such as the UN Environment Programme’s Faith for Earth Coalition and the faith pavilion at recent UN climate summits, religious groups are becoming more prevalent and active on the global climate stage.

    But efforts to seek collaborations between scientists and faith communities are not good enough. We need to resist the urge to see religion as a mere vehicle for convincing most of the global population for whom religion gives meaning to life. The only way we can do that is for scientists and faith leaders to start laying the groundwork for new ways of thinking together.

    As Russian author Leo Tolstoy once wrote, “Science is meaningless because it has no answer to the only questions that matter to us: ‘What should we do and how shall we live?‘” The climate crisis demands new ways of thinking, new ways of perceiving reality, and religion is fundamental to achieving that.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Hanane Benadi receives funding from British Academy.

    Hanane Benadi is a Research Officer at the London School of Economics

    – ref. Why religion is fundamental to addressing climate change – https://theconversation.com/why-religion-is-fundamental-to-addressing-climate-change-248074

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Samsung hits the runway with E.L.V. DENIM to showcase sustainable fashion

    Source: Samsung

     
    LONDON, UK – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd is making its London Fashion Week debut as part of E.L.V. DENIM’s first ever presentation titled ‘The Journey’.
     
    The British luxury brand, dedicated to crafting timeless fashion pieces from 100% upcycled materials, created ‘The Journey’ to trace its evolution from the first pair of jeans in 2018 to a full ready-to-wear collection, including shirting, tailoring, leather, and evening wear.
     
    Set to a backdrop of Samsung’s Series 6 Washing Machines and Tumble Dryers – which offer a range of features that help reduce energy consumption[1] as well as decreasing the amount of harmful plastic microfibers clothes shed[2] – the show portrays E.L.V.’s commitment to upcycling, local manufacturing, and true sustainability by exploring the six core elements of E.L.V. DENIM’s production: sourcing, washing, grading, pairing, cutting & sewing.
     
    Dan Barfield, Director of Digital Appliances, Samsung UK & Ireland, comments: “We’re proud to be a part of E.L.V. DENIM’s London Fashion Week debut. The presentation showcases both brand’s dedication to innovation, making our products the perfect backdrop to the first fully upcycled show on-schedule.
     
    “This collaboration is a powerful statement towards responsible consumption. While E.L.V. DENIM transforms garments otherwise destined for landfill into high-end fashion, our laundry innovations help extend the life of clothing by delivering a deep clean using less water and energy. We’re committed to building products and providing consumers with options that put responsible practices at the forefront of fashion.”
     
    Anna Foster, Founder & Designer, E.L.V. DENIM, comments “From the very beginning, we believed—and still believe—that we make the best jeans in the world. Our commitment to upcycling, local manufacturing, and true sustainability sets us apart. Some might call that a bold statement, but we have the processes to prove it. That’s why we’ve created a fully transparent presentation that shows exactly how we do it.
     
    “We welcome questions and interaction—our team is here to share everything. Only by being completely open can we prove who we are, and what we’re striving to become. Today, E.L.V. DENIM is the only brand in the world producing high-end garments at scale entirely from 100% upcycled post-consumer waste. We are not just making jeans; we are rewriting the rules of fashion.”
     

     
    Samsung offers innovative solutions to help consumers reduce water and energy usage. Various Samsung washing machines have AI energy mode[3] that can reduce your energy consumption by up to 70%[4], whilst ecobubble technology can wash effectively at cooler temperatures.
     
    Samsung also offers the Less Microfiber cycle that works to make clothes shed less microplastics, which are discharged into the drain water. By adjusting the motor’s revolution speed and washing intensiveness, the Less Microfiber cycle reduces the amount of microfiber released into the drain by up to 54%[[5]].
     

     
     
    Top Tips: How to Make Your Laundry More Eco-Friendly
     
    Embrace energy-saving tech to cut down on water and energy use
    While it is a staple to our daily lives, electricity production generates the second largest share of greenhouse gas emissions, making it vital we explore how to cut our energy consumption. Our washing machines with AI energy mode can reduce your energy consumption by using sensors to detect the weight of your laundry before calculating and dispensing the optimal amount of water needed for the load. [3+4]
     
    Less is more when it comes to detergent
    Many laundry detergents contain microplastics—harmful plastic microfibres that make it into the ocean[6]. That’s why Samsung developed the new Less Microfiber Filter, an external washing machine filter designed to significantly reduce plastic microfiber emissions during laundry cycles.
     
    Designed with inspiration from apparel maker Patagonia and expertise from the global ocean conservation organisation Ocean Wise, the filter captures 98%[[7]] of microplastics released during laundry from escaping into the ocean, equivalent to eight 500ml plastic bottles per year when used four times a week[8].
     
    To manage the amount of detergent we use to avoid damaging the planet, our clothes and the machine itself over time, Samsung’s Auto Dispense feature automatically adds the right amount of detergent and softener into the washer, taking the guesswork out of every wash.
     
    Don’t be afraid of the cold (wash)
    Using hot water during a laundry cycle uses a substantial amount of energy—in fact, 75% of the energy required during a hot wash cycle is used just to heat up the water[9]. With Samsung’s EcoBubble technology, you need not worry that a colder wash will result in a less effective clean.
     
    Even at a cold wash setting of 15°C, EcoBubble technology will still effectively dissolve detergent and mix it with air and water to create bubbles that thoroughly penetrate clothes so as to remove even the toughest stains.
     
    Choose appliances that are built to last
    A final tip for making your laundry as eco-friendly as possible is to opt for appliances that are sure to last for a long time, a decision that contributes to the reduction of landfill waste, the conversation of resources, the prevention of environmental contamination by toxic materials, and the reduction of greenhouses gases created in the production of new materials.
     
    Samsung’s washers and dryers have been designed for long-term use, coming with industry-leading warranties for both product and parts so that users can rest assured that their appliance decisions are the best ones for the environment.
     
    About E.L.V. DENIM
     
    E.L.V. DENIM is a pioneering British luxury brand dedicated to handcrafting timeless fashion pieces from 100% upcycled materials. Breathing a second life into garments that could otherwise be destined for landfill, E.L.V. DENIM transforms loss into luxury.
     
    In a world of over-consumption, E.L.V. DENIM challenges convention. It’s fabric-first curated sourcing of pre-loved garments ensures every piece is unique and innovative designs create pieces to last a lifetime. Founder and Creative Director Anna Foster launched E.L.V. DENIM to redefine the perfect fit in denim, ensuring every pair of ‘off the rack’ jeans feels like it is tailor made. In addition, it is the first denim brand to launch a jean that can adapt to the wearer’s life with built-in seam allowances for effortless tailoring.
     
    In 2023 the brand extended beyond denim and into new categories; upcycling corduroy, shirting, tailoring, leather and cotton, helping to protect the environment for future generations and proving that a completely circular fashion model can be a success.
     
    All production takes place in East London, minimising carbon footprint and supporting our local
    community of ateliers. The brand has a holistic approach to sustainability and zero-waste, all parts of the jeans are used to make new products, scraps are constructed into sheets of patchwork fabrics and the smaller threads are turned into denim paper.
     
    [1] Our washing machines with AI energy mode* can reduce your energy consumption by up to 70%** * Available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required. ** Based on internal testing on the WW7000D models on a Cotton 40 degrees wash with the AI Energy Mode turned on compared to not using AI Energy Mode.
     
    [2] The Less Microfiber cycle works to make clothes shed less microplastics, which are discharged into the drain water. By adjusting the motor’s revolution speed and washing intensiveness, the Less Microfiber cycle reduces the amount of microfiber released into the drain by up to 54%. Based on testing by the Ocean Wise Plastics Lab using a 2kg load of 100% polyester hoodies, comparing the Synthetics cycle on a Samsung conventional model WW4000T and the Less Microfiber cycle on the WW7000B. Results may vary depending on the actual clothes and usage conditions.
     
    [3] Available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required.
     
    [4] Based on internal testing on the WW7000D models on a Cotton 40 degrees wash with the AI Energy Mode turned on compared to not using AI Energy Mode.
     
    [5] Tested with 2kg load of 100% polyester hoodies, comparing Synthetics cycle on Samsung Conventional model WW4000T and the Less Microfiber Cycleon WW9400B. The results may be different depending on the clothes and environment. Tested at the Ocean Wise Plastics Lab. Newsroom post here.
     
    [6] “Fashion’s tiny hidden secret”, United Nations Environment Programme (unep.org/news-and-stories/story/fashions-tiny-hidden-secret).
     
    [7] Tested at Ocean Wise Plastics Lab on the WW90T734DWH model (using Synthetic cycle, approximately 2kg load of synthetic textile laundry) comparing the amount of microfiber released with and without the Less Microfiber Filter installed. The amount is calculated by filtering drain water through a 50um filter. Results may vary depending on clothes and environment.
     
    [8] Tested at Ocean Wise Plastics Lab on the WW90T734DWH model (using Synthetic cycle, approximately 2kg load of synthetic textile laundry) comparing the amount of microfiber released with and without the Less Microfiber Filter installed. The amount is calculated by filtering drain water through a 50um filter. One wash cycle’s reduction amount of 0.627g is based on a 5kg load (0.125g/kg x 5kg). Annual reduction amount (132g) is calculated based on 210 cycles (4 times a week, 52 weeks) and 5kg load on each cycle. 500㎖ bottle weight (15.4g) is based on the Korea Ministry of Environment’s guideline on plastic bottles.
     
    [9] Data source: https://www.euronews.com/living/2019/07/14/eco-washing-your-way-to-a-cleaner-planet
     

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Workers’ alleged misconduct probed

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today said it is investigating an incident involving cleaning workers who allegedly removed display bills posted in Sham Shui Po, and has instructed the contractor to suspend the staff members concerned from their contractual duties until the investigation is completed.

    The department made the statement in response to media enquiries about a video circulating on social media, in which outsourced cleansing workers were suspected of removing display bills they posted in Nam Cheong Street.

    Preliminary investigations revealed that the four staff members involved were employed by an outsourced street cleaning service contractor.

    The department said it has immediately requested the contractor to submit a report on the incident and reiterated that it attaches great importance to the performance of contractors and the conduct of their employees.

    If the investigation confirms the allegation, the department will hold the contractor liable in accordance with the contract, which may include the deduction of service fees and put on record the incident as a considering factor for future service procurement.

    Additionally, the department will refer the suspected falsification of records to Police for follow-up.

    The FEHD noted that the workers concerned are responsible for removing unauthorised display bills and posters in public places, and must take photos for record purposes. It has not set a minimum target for the number of bills and posters to be removed by the contractors.

    The department added that it will closely monitor the contractor’s service performance to ensure compliance with the service contract requirements.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    February 25, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: MPLAB® XC Unified Compiler Licenses Deliver Streamlined Software Management

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHANDLER, Ariz., Feb. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Offering an efficient way to manage multiple licenses, Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) has launched MPLAB® XC Unified Compiler Licenses for its MPLAB XC8, XC16, XC-DSC and XC32 C compilers. This unified approach addresses the financial strain and administrative burden of purchasing and managing separate software access models for each compiler. Microchip’s solution consolidates the necessary licenses to reduce overhead and provide greater flexibility, scalability and ease of use.

    The unified system is designed to accommodate evolving development needs, offering multiple tiers to suit growing teams. The Workstation License can be installed and executed on up to three host machines for use by a single engineer. The Network Server License allows installation on a server, accessible by any machine on the network, one at a time. The Subscription License is similar to the Workstation License and features a monthly renewal option. A Multi-Seat Network License can be accessed simultaneously by multiple machines or users.

    “Typically, developers need separate licenses for each compiler they work with, which can be complicated and expensive. Our goal with the MPLAB XC Unified Complier License is to make it easy to work with Microchip tools,” said Rodger Richey, vice president of development systems and academic programs at Microchip. “Unified licensing provides an efficient and cost-effective solution, freeing up teams to focus on innovation and to expedite the product development process.”

    MPLAB XC Compilers help streamline the design process with a toolchain of compatible compilers and debuggers and programmers that integrate with the MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE), MPLAB Xpress IDE, MPLAB Integrated Programming Environment (IPE) and MPLAB Extensions for VS Code®. The compilers support Linux®, macOS® and Windows® operating systems, giving designers the ability work in their preferred platform for embedded development. To learn more visit our MPLAB XC Compiler website.

    Pricing and Availability
    Pricing varies based on license options and user seats. For additional information and to purchase, contact a Microchip sales representative, authorized worldwide distributor or visit Microchip’s Purchasing and Client Services website, www.microchipdirect.com. A Microchip development systems representative will be onsite during Embedded World (March 11-13, 2025) to answer questions and live chat will be available as part of MPLAB X IDE version 6.25, which will be released the first week of March.

    Resources
    High-res images available through Flickr or editorial contact (feel free to publish):

    About Microchip Technology:
    Microchip Technology Inc. is a leading provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control and processing solutions. Its easy-to-use development tools and comprehensive product portfolio enable customers to create optimal designs which reduce risk while lowering total system cost and time to market. The company’s solutions serve over 100,000 customers across the industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace and defense, communications and computing markets. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at www.microchip.com.

    Note: The Microchip name and logo, the Microchip logo and MPLAB are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.

    The MIL Network –

    February 25, 2025
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