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  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN officials call for ceasefire compliance after 15 people killed in Lebanon

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    Top UN officials in Lebanon are calling for compliance with the ongoing ceasefire after reports that Israeli forces killed 15 people, including a Lebanese soldier, along the buffer zone with Israel, which Israel was due to withdraw from on Sunday under the agreement.

    The timelines envisaged in the November ceasefire agreement “have not been met”, according to a joint statement by UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and head of the UN peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, and force commander Aroldo Lázaro.

    The agreement between Israel and armed group Hezbollah had been reached after more than a year of fighting, stemming from the Israeli war in Gaza.

    “As seen tragically this morning, conditions are not yet in place for the safe return of citizens to their villages along the Blue Line,” they said, referring to the buffer zone between Israel and Lebanon.

    Israel warned Lebanese civilians not to return to their homes in the south this weekend, stating it would not withdraw due to alleged violations of ceasefire terms. 

    Violations of resolution 1701 recorded daily

    “Displaced communities, already facing a long road to recovery and reconstruction, are therefore once again being called on to exercise caution. Also, violations of UN Security Council resolution 1701 continue to be recorded daily.”

    That landmark resolution, adopted in 2006, called for the creation of a buffer zone between the countries and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

    By the terms of the November ceasefire agreement, Israel was meant to have fully withdrawn its forces from the area by Sunday.

    ‘So much at stake’

    The Special Coordinator and UNIFIL chief said “compliance by both parties with their obligations under the November agreement and the full implementation of resolution 1701 constitute the only way to bring closure to the recent, dark chapter of conflict and open a new one, heralding security, stability and prosperity on both sides of the Blue Line.”

    At the same time, the UN will continue to engage all actors towards this end and remains ready to support any action consistent with resolution 1701 and the efforts of the Implementation Mechanism to achieve the objectives of the November Understanding. 

    “With so much at stake for both Lebanon and Israel, recommitment is urgently needed from all sides,” they said in the statement.

    Much has changed since ceasefire

    The UN officials said much has changed in Lebanon since the Cessation of Hostilities Understanding came into force on 27 November 2024.

    Violence has dramatically decreased, and in many areas of southern Lebanon, hundreds of thousands of people have been able to return to their towns and villages.

    The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have shown resolve in deploying to positions from which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are withdrawing, the UN officials said.

    Supported by UNIFIL, the Lebanese forces are helping to restore services and facilitating humanitarian access to communities most affected by conflict, they said.

    The ongoing government formation process, following the election of a president and the designation of a prime minister, is a critical step in building trust between Lebanese citizens and the State, they explained. These developments also augur well for prospective support to the full extension of state authority over all Lebanese territory and for the country’s recovery, reconstruction and growth.

    UNIFIL troops stand ready

    The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) remains very concerned about reports of Lebanese civilians returning to villages where Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are still present and of casualties due to Israeli fire, according to a statement by the mission on Sunday.

    At Lebanese Armed Forces request, UNIFIL peacekeepers are deploying to areas indicated by the Lebanese forces across the mission’s area of operations to monitor the situation and help prevent any further escalation.

    “However, the management of crowds remains outside our mandate,” according to UNFIL, which is tasked with supporting the implementation of resolution 1701.

    ‘IDF must stop firing on civilians in Lebanon’

    “It is imperative to avoid further deterioration of the situation,” the UN peacekeeping mission said, calling on the Lebanese population to adhere to the directives of the LAF, which aim to protect lives and prevent an escalation of violence in southern Lebanon.

    “The IDF must avoid firing at civilians within Lebanese territory. Further violence risks undermining the fragile security situation in the area and prospects for stability ushered in by the cessation of hostilities and the formation of a Government in Lebanon,” UNIFIL said.

    The UN mission emphasised the critical importance of fully implementing resolution 1701 and the cessation of hostilities arrangements through established mechanisms, which includes the complete withdrawal of the IDF from Lebanon, the removal of any unauthorised weapons and assets south of the Litani river, the redeployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces in all of south Lebanon and ensuring the safe and dignified return of displaced civilians on both sides of the Blue Line.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: DR CONGO CRISIS: Live updates as Security Council holds emergency meeting

    Source: United Nations 4

    Spiralling violence and killings in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo triggered an emergency Security Council meeting Sunday morning on the heels of the UN mission temporarily relocating non-essential staff from the area. App users can follow our live coverage here.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Officer commended for bravery after disarming knife-wielding man

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    An officer has been praised for his outstanding bravery in single-handedly tackling a suspect armed with a knife who was trying to stab another man.

    PC Morgan Younger managed to take him to the ground and disarm and restrain him while calling for further assistance.

    The incident happened at a petrol station in Lee High Road, Lewisham at around 15:00hrs on Saturday, 25 January.

    Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jon Savell, in charge of policing London this weekend, said: “This is outstanding work from an officer who was on patrol alone, saw a very violent crime in progress and, without hesitation, raced in to assist.

    “I cannot overstate how proud we are in the Met today of his quick-thinking and bravery. He was calm and professional and everything we want our police officers to be.

    “I have no doubt without his intervention, the victim would have been seriously injured.”

    PC Younger, who is attached to South East Command Unit and has five years’ service, was on patrol when he stopped at the petrol station to quickly buy a drink. At the entrance, he saw a man grab the victim around the throat and try to stab him with a large knife.

    The officer immediately responded, took hold of the suspect and struggled with him while he continued to wield the knife.

    He managed to bring him to the floor and disarm him without any help.

    He then restrained him single-handedly while calling for back-up and still managing to arrest the man for attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

    He kept the man under control for five minutes until further officers arrived to help.

    The man, in his 60s, remains in custody at this stage. He was further arrested for handling stolen goods and being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, after a quantity of drugs was found at his home address.

    The victim, aged in his 40s, was not injured thanks to PC Younger’s swift work.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Community Assistance

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Community Assistance

    26 January 2025

    Community Assistance for those affected by Storm

    The public are advised that the following Derry City and Strabane District Council Leisure Centres at Templemore, Foyle Arena and Melvin Leisure Centres are open today, Sunday,  from 9am – 6pm for anyone who is affected by the storm and who require help with heat, showers, water, phone charging and hot drinks.

    The Riversdale and Derg Valley Leisure Centres will also open from 1pm – 6pm.

    NIE Networks will have representatives at Foyle Arena today from 10am to 4pm to offer support to anyone who is without power.

    NI Network have issued more info at the following link –

    https://www.nienetworks.co.uk/news/article/2025/storm-eowyn-assistance-centres

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU launched the All-Russian competition “Family History. Immortal Memory”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    The opening ceremony of the All-Russian competition “Family History. Immortal Memory” was held on Russian Students’ Day, January 25. The State University of Management is the organizer of the competition.

    Opening the official ceremony, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Olga Petrova noted the significance of the fact that the competition is starting in the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland. “This is a continuation of the Year of the Family, because the values that they lay down are fundamental family values, these are the meanings and traditions that connect us, generations to generations.”

    Rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev emphasized that the day for the start of such an important competition was not chosen by chance. “The competition will be interesting and useful for the younger generation, and I would like the date of the great Victory to become close and dear to them,” the rector noted, adding that the competition will last until mid-summer and include many events.

    Member of the State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption, GUU graduate Biysultan Khamzaev emphasized Russian Student Day in his speech. “Everyone remembers their student days and I would like today’s youth not to miss this moment, so that they would later remember their university days with warmth. Happy holiday to everyone. And this year – the year of the great Victory of our ancestors – the competition starts. Guys, spend your time creatively, study, but also do not forget our veterans.”

    The award ceremony was followed by. Biysultan Khamzayev presented letters of gratitude “For contribution to the development of higher education, long-term conscientious work and assistance in the implementation of parliamentary activities” to Vladimir Stroyev, Vice-Rector Pavel Pavlovsky, Deputy Director of the Institute of Industry Management Andrey Lipatov, Head of the Patriotic Education Department of the Department of Youth Policy and Educational Work (UMPiVR) Almaz Akhayev, specialist of the youth policy department of the UMPiVR Marianna Loretsyan. “For special achievements in studies, conscientious attitude to the educational process and active civic position” – to students of the Institute of Public Administration and Law Ramazan Rakhmanov and the Institute of Industry Management Magomed Khadziev.

    The opening ceremony of the competition was also attended by Deputy State Secretary of the Union State Elena Bogdan, Vice-Rector of the Russian State Humanitarian University Irakli Balkvadze, Vice-Rector of the Yaroslavl State Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushinsky Denis Palatnikov, representatives of the Kherson University and Vitebsk State University.

    The All-Russian competition “Family History. Immortal Memory” is a competition for students and teachers who would like to tell the stories of their families during the Great Patriotic War. The main goal is to preserve the connection between generations: today’s youth and their grandfathers and great-grandfathers who defeated fascism. The initiator of the competition was the State University of Management and personally the rector Vladimir Stroyev. The strategic partners of the competition were the Association “I am proud” and the “People’s Front” of the DPR. RUDN, RTU MIREA, and RSUH participated in the work on organizing the event.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 01/26/2025

    является организатором конкурса….” data-yashareImage=”https://guu.ru/wp-content/uploads/Семейная-история-бессмертная-память-1.webp” data-yashareLink=”https://guu.ru/%d0%b3%d1%83%d1%83-%d0%b4%d0%b0%d0%bb-%d1%81%d1%82%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%82-%d0%b2%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%be%d1%81%d1%81%d0%b8%d0%b9%d1%81%d0%ba%d0%be%d0%bc%d1%83-%d0%ba%d0%be%d0%bd%d0%ba%d1%83%d1%80%d1%81/”>

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: eInvoicing for government

    Source: Australian Department of Revenue

    Australian Government’s commitment

    The Australian Government has extended its commitment to increase Peppol eInvoicing adoption in the Budget 2024–25External Link (information found on page 180 of Budget Paper No.2 PDF document). By leading the implementation of eInvoicing, the Government aims to improve cash flow, disrupt payment redirection scams and boost productivity across the economy.

    For these and other benefits to be realised, governments across the country need to use eInvoicing and encourage the businesses they interact with to use it too.

    In July 2022 many Australian Government entities were mandated to be able to receive eInvoices and 16,000 Australian businesses were registered on the Peppol network. By January 2025 this number has jumped to over 410,000, with 129 Australian Government entities and more than 300 state and territory government entities and local councils also getting on board.

    With the network growing, we now need to focus on increasing the volume of transactions supporting the government’s supply chain.

    Australian Government entities

    Building on the 1 July 2022 mandate to receive eInvoices, the next stage for Australian Government entities is to increase the uptake of eInvoicing in Australia in line with the recommendations agreed to in the Government response to the Statutory Review of the Payment Times Reporting Act 2020External Link:

    • 13.1 – Promote the adoption of eInvoicing by all businesses.
    • 13.2 – Adopt the full functionality of eInvoicing across Commonwealth agencies.

    The main role for the government is as a buyer of goods and services and supporting businesses by paying eInvoices more quicklyExternal Link:

    • If you’re already able to receive eInvoices, but eInvoicing is not yet fully integrated with your finance or enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and automated workflows, consider uplifting your accounts payable capability. Also include eInvoicing in your procurement and contract templates as the preferred way to receive invoices.
    • Consider your accounts receivable volumes and processes and investigate how you may embed eInvoicing as your default channel when sending invoices to businesses or other government agencies.

    To find out more about how the ATO is helping agencies meet their obligations, or to join our GovTEAMS community for peer support and to tap into more detailed information, email einvoicing@ato.gov.au.

    Check the full list of eInvoicing-enabled Australian Government entities.

    State and territory governments

    The ATO is also working with state and territory governments who are then furthering eInvoicing adoption in their jurisdictions:

    To connect with the eInvoicing lead in your state or territory, email us at einvoicing@ato.gov.au.

    Local government

    For more information about eInvoicing and to find out how we can help your council, email us at einvoicing@ato.gov.au.

    Getting started and getting the most out of eInvoicing

    Many government entities are using eInvoicing, including here at the ATO.

    If you’ve not yet got onboard, adding eInvoicing as a channel to government finance systems is essentially the same as for medium and large businesses.

    To make sure your eInvoicing capabilities are appropriate and you’re maximising the efficiency and productivity benefits for both you and your suppliers, read our:

    For more technical advice or for tailored help to increase the volume of eInvoices you receive, contact eInvoicing@ato.gov.au.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Key committees

    Source: Australian Department of Revenue

    ATO committee system

    The ATO’s committee system comprises a tiered structure that creates clear lines of authority and enables issues to be escalated and resolved. At the same time, it supports a strong governance culture that values impartiality, integrity and accountability.

    ATO committees

    The ATO Executive Committee is the organisation’s most senior committee. It is supported by the Audit and Risk Committee and 5 enterprise-level committees (Finance, People, Risk, Security and Strategy). These committees are our most senior committees and they have defined responsibilities to approve, advise and monitor specified governance areas across the organisation.

    These committees include:

    • Audit and Risk Committee – an independent committee comprised of independent (external) members. It is responsible for the audit and risk management of the ATO. It provides the Commissioner of Taxation with independent assurance and advice on the appropriateness of the ATO listed entity’s
      • annual financial statements
      • performance statements
      • performance reporting
      • system of risk oversight and management, and
      • system of internal controls.

    Refer to Audit and Risk Committee Charter

    • Finance Committee – responsible for exercising governance responsibilities with respect to the ATO’s resource allocation, investment and program delivery, including monitoring financial risk.
    • People Committee – an advisory committee responsible for ensuring workforce and culture strategies support a contemporary and capable workforce.
    • Risk Committee – responsible for oversight and assurance of the ATO risk profile and advising on the management of key risks.
    • Security Committee – responsible for ensuring protective security and business continuity management capabilities are managed effectively across the ATO.
    • Strategy Committee – responsible for stewarding the end-to-end taxpayer experience by shaping discretionary and non-discretionary (NPP) investment priorities and ensuring peak taxpayer strategies are aligned, appropriate and on track.

    Organisational chart

    See our Organisational chart showing the reporting responsibilities within the ATO by group and business line.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Emissions reduction plan

    Source: Australian Department of Revenue

    Accountable Authority sign off

    The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) recognises it has a role to play in addressing climate change by implementing the Government’s Net Zero in Government Operations Strategy. We understand that our operations affect climate change, and we are committed to leading by example in the transition towards a low-carbon future.

    This Emissions Reduction Plan builds upon our agency’s previous targets and action plans to minimise our carbon footprint and contribute to the nation’s broader climate goals.

    Our plan reflects our commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in our environmental performance.

    As the Commissioner of Taxation, I am the Accountable Authority for the Australian Taxation Office listed entity, which is comprised of the ATO, the Tax Practitioner’s Board and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (the ACNC), including the ACNC Advisory Board.

    Through this plan, we pledge to:

    • substantially reduce our greenhouse gas emissions
    • improve energy efficiency across our operations
    • transition to renewable energy sources
    • promote sustainable practices in our operations
    • foster a culture of environmental responsibility among our staff.

    ‘The ATO is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2030. Together, we can create a more sustainable future for our nation and contribute to the global fight against climate change.’

    Rob Heferen
    Commissioner of Taxation
    Registrar of the Australian Business Register, Australian Business Registry Services, and
    Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets.

    Acknowledgement of Country

    We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them, their cultures, and Elders past and present.

    We recognise the unique relationship Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have to Country, culture, and community, and the important role this plays in us all walking together as Australians.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: California depends on prison labour to deal with climate disasters — Canada must avoid a similar model

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jordan House, Assistant Professor, Labour Studies, Brock University

    As wildfires continue to burn in and around Los Angeles, the fact that many of the firefighters battling the blazes are inmates from California’s prison system has drawn significant attention in news coverage.

    While the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) claims their fire camp program is voluntary and provides prisoners with meaningful opportunities, research demonstrates otherwise.

    Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), argue that the program exploits incarcerated individuals, labelling it as “modern-day slavery.” One ex-prisoner described it as “involuntary servitude.”

    An inmate shares his experience fighting California wildfires (ABC News).

    The use of prison labour is particularly concerning, given Black Americans are incarcerated at nearly five times the rate of white Americans in state prisons. In 12 states, more than half of the prison population is Black.

    California prisoners are denied access to minimum wage provisions, prevented from forming labour unions and denied access to other workplace safety regulations. They’re also more likely to be injured or to die on the job than non-incarcerated firefighters. Their wages are capped at US$29.80 per day, compared to non-incarcerated firefighters, who earn up to US$358 daily, not including overtime.

    While serving in a fire crew gives prisoners the chance to shave time off of their sentences and have records expunged, neither of these benefits is guaranteed. Both are contingent on the CDCR or county jails deeming the service in a fire camp to be “successful.” This leaves prisoners vulnerable to being denied these benefits, despite risking injury or death.

    Prison labour in the Canadian context

    Some Canadian coverage of the L.A. fires has noted that provincial prisoners in British Columbia also work in a wildfire suppression program. However, little has been said about how that work relates to the larger system of prison labour in the country.

    Like their counterparts south of the border, Canadian prisoners are engaged in various forms of labour, including wildfire management, but are denied basic rights as workers.

    In 1975, Donald Griggs, then-superintendent of Ontario’s Monteith Correctional Complex, told the Globe and Mail that prison labour had been used in response to fires from time immemorial: “When a fire got bad, the jails were emptied and the men were shoved out on the fire line.”

    By the late 1960s, programs for prisoners to support wildfire suppression had become more formalized. During that time, for example, prisoners at Beaver Creek, a federal prison in Ontario, participated in regional bushfire response efforts. Working in the program offered prisoners, who were paid $1.25 an hour, a chance at some “action.”

    By the mid-1970s, some Ontario prisoners earned up to $50 a day battling wildfires. Today, however, most prisoners don’t earn anything close to those wages. Federal prisoner pay maxes out at $6.90 per day.

    In the rare situations where prisoners are relatively well-compensated, prison labour still offers employers unique benefits. Prisoners’ lack of freedom and limited ability to refuse work is touted as an advantage. Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) officials have argued that, compared to volunteer firefighters, prisoners “are always in one place and available for duty.”

    Prison labour in British Columbia

    Canada’s most prominent use of prison labour to manage wildfires is in B.C. While prisoners served in direct firefighting roles in the past, today provincial prisoners, who make between $2 and $8 per day, play a critical support role for wildfire-fighting crews by maintaining equipment and fire camps.

    Notably, all the participating prisoners have “open custody” status, having “behaved exceptionally well during previous experience on other community work crews.”

    In Canada, prisoners are supposed to work as part of their rehabilitation, not as punishment. However, the reality often prioritizes the needs of employers over the rehabilitation of prisoners. A review of the CSC’s Federal Work Release Program, which was established in 1992 and included a firefighting component, notes:

    “It is not necessary that the work be directly related to the offender’s correctional plan…work release is a very flexible program that allows correctional managers to respond to community projects and local needs for labour.”

    This is particularly concerning given that ex-prisoners often struggle to secure gainful employment upon release, despite their participation in employment programming.

    Prison labour as a response to climate disasters

    While the idea of keeping people incarcerated to maintain a labour force to fight disasters might sound like something out of science fiction, it’s not mere speculation. Responses to climate catastrophes like the L.A. fires demand huge amounts of resources and labour.

    Former U.S. vice-president Kamala Harris, as California attorney general, led a campaign to defy a U.S. Supreme Court order to reduce the state’s prison population partly because decarceration would “severely impact fire camp participation.”

    In Canada, prison labour has similarly been used in disaster responses. Most recently, CORCAN, the federal prison industry program, has been contracted to build temporary housing for people displaced by the 2024 wildfires in Jasper, Alta.

    Just as Black, Indigenous and racialized people in the U.S. are more likely to become incarcerated, these are also the populations that suffer disproportionately from the impacts of wildfires. Studies have shown that Indigenous communities in Canada are the hardest hit by wildfires, while Indigenous Peoples make up the fastest growing prison populations.

    Much like the U.S., Canada also disproportionately incarcerates Black, Indigenous and racialized people, while also depriving incarcerated labourers of access to minimum wage rights, workplace safety provisions and the right to unionize.

    The root cause of many of these disasters — climate change — is disproportionately driven by the world’s wealthiest elites. The use of prison labour to fight wildfires only further perpetuates the systemic inequalities exacerbated by climate injustice and reflects a continuation of indentured servitude.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. California depends on prison labour to deal with climate disasters — Canada must avoid a similar model – https://theconversation.com/california-depends-on-prison-labour-to-deal-with-climate-disasters-canada-must-avoid-a-similar-model-248099

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The legacy of anti-Black racism: The public health crisis of racial trauma

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ingrid Waldron, Professor, Faculty of Humanities, HOPE Chair in Peace & Health, McMaster University

    The police killing of George Floyd in 2020 in the United States was an appalling act involving a group of officers who did not place much, if any, value on the life of a Black man. In the agonizing nine minutes before he died under the knee of Derek Chauvin, Floyd cried out for air and for his mother.

    Those moments, recorded by a passerby and shared widely and repeatedly over the days that followed, shocked the consciences of many Americans and others, triggering protests across the United States and in other countries, many of them led by the Black Lives Matter movement.

    Chauvin was convicted of murder, and three other officers were convicted of other serious crimes.



    Read more:
    How to deal with the pain of racism — and become a better advocate: Don’t Call Me Resilient EP 2

    While there is now greater awareness and scrutiny of racism and violence in policing, there is also a long record of reverting to old ways. Indeed, deeply entrenched racial bias is rooted in the soul and psyche of North American society and globally.

    When we think about Black Lives Matter, we typically think of criminal justice, but the movement also started a conversation about the lingering mental health impacts of police brutality on those who experience it directly, as well as those who experience it vicariously.

    Black trauma

    The traumatizing after-effects of anti-Black racism also result from Black people’s experiences within other social structures, such as employment, education and health care.

    The trauma resulting from multiple forms of anti-Black racism has a legacy that took root during the colonial era and has endured, impacting the spiritual, emotional, psychological and mental well-being of Black people in societies harmed by colonialism, such as Canada, the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

    I am a professor and the HOPE Chair in Peace and Health in the Global Peace and Social Justice Program at McMaster University. I have been studying Black trauma for almost 20 years, and recently published a book on the subject, From the Enlightenment to Black Lives Matter: Tracing the Impacts of Racial Trauma in Black Communities from the Colonial Era to the Present.

    The book documents that since the colonial era, Black bodies have been receptacles for trauma that carry the weight of the past and the present. Black trauma is deep, complex and continuing, and has harmful impacts on the mental health of Black people. It includes the dehumanizing and lingering consequences of the slave trade, the social and economic subjugation of Black people in Jim Crow America and the racist social structures that persist there and in Canada, the U.K. and elsewhere.

    For Black people, trauma results from racist assaults to their spiritual, emotional, mental, psychological and physical well-being. When racism resides in the body in these visceral ways, it manifests as emotional pain and rage, and its lingering after-effects endure over generations.

    Public health crisis

    Addressing the public health crisis of racial trauma for Black people requires that racism be recognized as a legitimate issue in health education and training, research, clinical practice, mental health services and policy, and in the mental health system more broadly.

    It also requires that mental health professionals not only become more culturally competent, but also develop skills in structural competency.

    That means being prepared to play a role in dismantling the inequities embedded within our social structures, including addressing the impact of upstream factors (poverty, poor public infrastructure, etc.) on the mental health of Black and other marginalized populations.

    Addressing racial trauma experienced by Black people also demands an analysis that appreciates racism’s inter-generational and multifaceted features. This analysis would examine how racism not only manifests itself over generations, but also at different levels, such as through everyday interactions between people (individual racism), within institutions (institutional racism), or through cultural dominance (cultural racism).

    Challenging legacies

    Addressing racial trauma experienced by Black people also demands an analysis that appreciates racism’s inter-generational and multifaceted features.
    (Shutterstock)

    For too long, efforts to address disparities between Black and white people in education, labour, employment, health and other social structures have focused on attributing these disparities to pathologies presumed to be inherent to Black culture and Black people. Instead, these efforts must be focused on identifying, dismantling and resolving the pathologies embedded within these social structures and peeling back the systems of power that impact mental health and well-being in Black communities.

    Resolving structural pathologies that harm Black people must be accompanied by a willingness to understand and appreciate the complexities of Black life, Black trauma and Black responses to trauma that may appear maladaptive to many, but that are normal and natural responses to racism’s intergenerational, multi-faceted and multilevel manifestations.

    Finally, resolving Black trauma must involve challenging the colonial and imperial legacies that reside within psychiatry and other mental health professions.

    Ingrid Waldron receives funding from CIHR, SSHRC.

    – ref. The legacy of anti-Black racism: The public health crisis of racial trauma – https://theconversation.com/the-legacy-of-anti-black-racism-the-public-health-crisis-of-racial-trauma-246104

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Online platforms risk becoming ideological echo chambers that undermine meaningful dialogue

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Alexander Martin, PhD Student, Science and Technology Studies, York University, Canada

    The migration to Bluesky, especially after the 2024 U.S. presidential election, reflects a growing dissatisfaction with centralized platforms and their handling of political content. (Shutterstock)

    There has recently been a shift online from centralized platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to decentralized alternatives like Bluesky. In particular, many users unhappy with the politics and antics of X owner Elon Musk are moving to Bluesky.

    Users migrating from X have cited a rise in bots and hate speech as the reason for leaving the site. Journalist Cory Doctorow termed this the idea of “enshittification,” a process where platforms get worse by focusing on profit and spreading harmful content.

    Under Musk, X has seemingly shifted to promote more extreme accounts, making the platform less welcoming to others. These users are looking for more control, transparency, and less manipulation.

    However, this migration raises an important question. Is this shift towards platforms like Bluesky limiting cross-ideological conversation and increasing political polarization? If so, what does this mean for the health of democracy in the digital age?

    The migration to Bluesky, especially after the 2024 U.S. presidential election, reflects a growing dissatisfaction with centralized platforms and their handling of political content. Understanding this trend is essential, as it could shape how future political debates and movements unfold online.

    Social media and political discourse

    Social media platforms are now central to political discourse. Amid recent political movements, including Donald Trump’s rise, social media has emerged as a key player in shaping political narratives. Figures like Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg are increasingly close to Trump.

    Meta donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund, as did other tech companies. Both Zuckerberg and Musk made appearances at Trump’s inauguration, signalling support for Trump’s ascent to power. This demonstrates the tech industry’s close proximity to political power and centralized social media’s potential to amplify certain political agendas.

    The shift from X to Bluesky is part of a larger trend. Left-leaning users are moving to Bluesky because of concerns over political bias and misinformation on X.

    Musk’s acquisition of X in 2022 changed its content moderation policies. This change amplified conservative voices and pushed away users who already felt marginalized. This resulted in an initial exodus to another decentralized social media site called Mastodon, where the user count surged from 3,400 to 113,400 in a single day.

    Commentators have pointed out that many users want a platform with less bias, few manipulations and more freedom of expression.

    Bluesky’s open-source, federated structure provides a space where users have more control over their online experience. This has helped Bluesky grow rapidly, with the platform gaining 2.5 million new users in just two months and seeing a 500 per cent increase in traffic following the U.S. election.

    The platform’s appeal lies in its promise of transparency and user autonomy, qualities that users increasingly value as centralized platforms like X and Meta face scrutiny over political bias and misinformation.

    Tara McGowan discusses the migration of liberals from X to Bluesky.

    May fuel more polarization

    While Bluesky offers an alternative to X’s perceived political bias, it may also deepen political polarization. Its decentralized nature gives users control over what they see, which could reinforce ideological silos.

    Research being done on Mastodon shows that this model can contribute to the democratization of social media by offering more control. As left-leaning users flock to Bluesky while right-leaning users stay on X and Meta, the divide between these groups deepens, further entrenching political silos.

    One of the main reasons for the migration to Bluesky is dissatisfaction with content moderation practices on centralized platforms like X and Meta. Under Musk’s leadership, X has scaled back content moderation and reinstated controversial accounts, raising concerns about the spread of misinformation.

    Similarly, Meta has relaxed its content guidelines by introducing community notes, similar to X. This makes it easier for harmful content to spread. With the community notes, the platform decides what content is considered factual. While this gives users more freedom, it could also enable the spread of false and misleading information.



    Read more:
    Meta is abandoning fact checking – this doesn’t bode well for the fight against misinformation

    Bluesky offers a decentralized model that gives users more control over the content they see. Users can curate their own feeds, creating a more personalized experience.

    Though this model faces challenges, like bot activity and misinformation, it moves away from algorithm-driven approach of platforms like X and Meta. In an era where users worry about bias and censorship, Bluesky’s model offers a potential solution for those seeking more transparency and control over the content they see.

    However, all misinformation threatens the integrity of public discourse. As users gravitate toward platforms that reinforce their existing beliefs, they become more vulnerable to misinformation campaigns.

    This has the potential to undermine public trust in political institutions and the democratic process. Unchecked false information could have serious consequences for democratic participation and the legitimacy of the political process.

    A threat to democracy?

    Bluesky’s decentralized model offers an alternative to traditional centralized platforms that are increasingly seen as biased or manipulative.

    However, this migration also highlights the dangers of political polarization and echo chambers. As users move to platforms that align with their beliefs, space for cross-ideological dialogue shrinks, weakening public discourse.

    This growing division could make it harder for people to have informed, open debates about important issues that matter most. Moving to decentralized platforms like Bluesky may provide more control over the content, but it still requires careful attention to how platforms shape political narratives and the future of democratic engagement.

    Alexander Martin 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. Online platforms risk becoming ideological echo chambers that undermine meaningful dialogue – https://theconversation.com/online-platforms-risk-becoming-ideological-echo-chambers-that-undermine-meaningful-dialogue-247982

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Jan. 27 came to be International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Robert Jan van Pelt, Professor, School of Architecture, University of Waterloo

    When, in the late 1980s, I began my research on the architectural history of the Auschwitz death camp, Jan. 27 wasn’t marked on any official calendar as a special day of commemoration.

    Since then, as a historian who has focused on the history of the Holocaust in general and the history of Auschwitz in particular, and who has with collaborators curated the Auschwitz exhibition now showing in Toronto, I have seen changes in terms of how the Holocaust generally, and Auschwitz in particular, is publicly remembered and commemorated.

    Jan. 27 is now identified as an annual International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. On Jan. 27 1945, the Red Army liberated some 7,000 remaining prisoners in Auschwitz, located in south-central Poland. How was this date chosen, and what issues or reflection might it raise?

    Poland

    With 1.1 million murdered victims — of whom one million were Jews — Auschwitz was the most murderous of the German death camps. It had already become by the mid-1970s a powerful symbol of the Holocaust.

    Yet during the Cold War, European nations commemorated the dead of the Second World War on dates that were anniversaries of the end of the war. In Poland, a profoundly Roman Catholic country, the observances of the victims of the war were held on All Saints Day or, since 1955, the Sunday closest to the Ides of April, not Jan. 27.

    In the early 1990s, the Polish government led by President Lech Walesa decided to make the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the liberating Red Army at the gates of Auschwitz into a major international commemoration in 1995.

    Seventeen heads of state, including German Federal President Roman Herzog, attended the occasion on Jan. 27, 1995. It was, in a sense, a “coming-out” of the now firmly democratic Polish Republic. At that time, Warsaw was eyeing membership of NATO and the EU, which had been formally established by means of the Maastricht Treaty two years earlier.

    In the 1995 commemoration, Jews were largely invisible — in fact, Walesa forgot to mention the Jews in his speech.

    Dates in the Hebrew calendar

    Among Jews, primarily in North America and Israel, Holocaust commemorations are typically associated with three dates in the Hebrew (lunar) calendar:

    1. The ninth day of the Jewish month of Av: Since time immemorial, Jews commemorated on this day the destruction of the First Temple (in 586 BCE) and the destruction of the Second Temple (in 70 CE).

    2. The 10th day of the Jewish month of Tevet: This day, King Nebuchadnezzar II began the siege of Jerusalem that was to lead to the destruction of the First Temple. Traditionally on this day, Jews say the prayer of the dead for family members whose date of death is unknown. As the date of death of most of the Jews murdered in the Holocaust is indeed unknown, the 10th of Tevet became quite prominent in Israel as a date of Holocaust commemoration.

    3. The 27th day of the Jewish month of Nisan: This day, established in 1953 as Yom Hashoah (Shoah Day) by the Israeli government, coincides with the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, which is a point of great pride to Jews. Thus, Yom Hashoah was meant to commemorate not only the depth of the catastrophe, but at the same time one of the few points of light within the Holocaust.

    In American society, a custom arose in the 1980s to hold a commemorative day of the Holocaust in the period that stretches from the Sunday preceding Yom Hashoah to the Sunday following Yom Hashoah, creating a clear link with the Jewish practice. In Canada, Jews mobilized to introduce provincial days of remembrance, insisting that they would follow Jewish practice and be held on Yom Hashoah.

    Germany

    Months after the 1995 Polish commemoration, the leaders of the allied nations and Germany gathered in Berlin on May 8, 1995 to observe the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. German President Herzog noted that while many Germans still remembered May 8 as a day of defeat, in fact that day had opened a door to a future of peace and co-operation in Europe.

    However, some Germans believed that it was now time to move on and stop talking about the the Nazis, the war and the Holocaust.

    Herzog decided something had to be done to force continued engagement with the Nazi past, and to shut up revisionists who stressed German victimhood. He proclaimed Jan. 27 as Day of Commemoration of the Victims of National Socialism. It was a politically astute move. He knew that in any discussion about the meaning of the Third Reich, the name “Auschwitz” was the ultimate trump card that could not be beaten.

    Sweden, U.K., EU, UN

    In 1998, Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson declared Jan. 27 to be an official day of Holocaust Remembrance. This move was to lay the groundwork for a larger Swedish-led inter-governmental educational initiative founded to combat rising antisemitism.

    In support of this project, which lead to the Stockholm Declaration and the establishment of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), the British and Italian governments adopted Jan. 27 as a day of commemoration in 1999 and 2000.

    A few years later, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia — plus Malta and Cyprus — joined the EU. Until then, it had consisted of countries that had been either stable liberal democracies since 1945, or had become such in the 1970s.

    Most of the new members had been communist-ruled. There was nervousness about the baggage they would bring — especially persistent antisemitism. On Jan. 27, 2005, the European Parliament called on the European Council, Commission and member states to make Jan. 27 European Holocaust Memorial Day, to be observed across the EU.

    The effects were profound: Aleida Assmann, a prominent historian of collective memory, observed that pan-European importance of the Jan. 27 day of commemoration since 2005 confirmed the Holocaust as a common “europäischer Gründungsmythos” or European foundation narrative

    Later in 2005, the General Assembly of the United Nations made Jan. 27 an annual International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. The resolution establishing the date invoked the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and reaffirmed “that the Holocaust, which resulted in the murder of one third of the Jewish people, along with countless members of other minorities, will forever be a warning to all people of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice.”

    What to think of Jan. 27?

    While deeply committed to the study of the history of Auschwitz and profoundly engaged with the commemoration of both the Holocaust in general and Auschwitz in particular, if forced to choose, I have a clear preference for Yom Hashoah over Jan. 27.

    Jan. 27 as a day of commemoration emerged from initiatives taken by non-Jews at the highest political level, without much consultation with Jews.

    A few of my now-deceased Auschwitz survivor friends told me that the entire Jan. 27 date should be cancelled as it has no or little meaning for Jews, and it certainly had no meaning for them as Auschwitz survivors, because they had been taken away from Auschwitz in a death march before the arrival of the Red Army.

    Yet now it exists, and better to work with it. All the good reasons why Auschwitz became a symbol of the Holocaust are still valid — especially the fact that it ties a very complex series of events to a real place that everyone can visit.

    But I would like to invite all who gather on Jan. 27 to remember the Holocaust to consider also its profoundly political origins. And I hope that they will decide to also attend a similar event a few months later, on Yom Hashoah.

    Robert Jan van Pelt is curator for the Auschwitz exhibit at the ROM.

    – ref. How Jan. 27 came to be International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust – https://theconversation.com/how-jan-27-came-to-be-international-day-of-commemoration-in-memory-of-the-victims-of-the-holocaust-248104

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canada’s claim that it champions human rights is at odds with its mining practices

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Véronique Plouffe, PhD candidate in Feminist and Gender Studies, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

    Canada presents itself as a gender equality and human rights champion both at home and abroad. But it’s also a global leader in mining, an industry with an abysmal human rights record.

    Under the previous Conservative federal government, Canadian foreign aid was more directly aligned with mining and commercial interests. But when Liberal Justin Trudeau was elected in 2015, it appeared to signal a return to more “progressive” values.



    Read more:
    Justin Trudeau’s resignation creates a progressive void in Canada, part of a long-established cycle

    The launch of the Feminist International Assistance Policy in 2017 was a powerful symbol in this direction. But despite Canadian mining companies being accused of environmental and human rights violations in various countries, the Liberal government continues to actively support mining abroad.

    Canada is a global mining powerhouse, home to almost half of the world’s publicly listed mining and mineral exploration companies.

    According to 2023 data, Canadian mining companies operate in 95 foreign countries and the value of Canadian mining assets totalled $336.7 billion. Half of Canadian foreign mining assets are located in Latin America and the Caribbean.

    Canadian mining in Peru

    Peru is a key mining partner; 71 firms operate in the country and Canada has nearly $10 billion of mining assets in the South American country. Canada has the largest number of mining exploration projects in Peru at 24, and ranks third (after the United Kingdom and Peru itself) in terms of mining exploration investments.

    At last year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Lima, Trudeau announced investments to create “a better future by focusing on a healthier planet and equal opportunities for all.” These included initiatives to support women’s and girls’ rights as well as improving access to the justice system for Indigenous and Afro-Peruvian communities.

    Trudeau also announced the creation of a Canada-Peru Dialogue of Critical Minerals and Mining Sustainability.

    But can Canada be both a human rights champion and a global mining leader? While Canada describes its mining industry as sustainable and socially responsible, human rights organizations paint a different picture.

    Backing Boluarte government

    Canadian mining companies have been accused in Peru of environmental contamination, criminalizing community leaders, land dispossession and the violation of Indigenous self-determination. Canada has also supported Peruvian mining law reforms in favour of foreign mining investment.

    Canada’s support of the current and highly unpopular Dina Boluarte government, which ousted left-wing president Pedro Castillo in 2022, points to the ongoing prioritization of mining interests over human rights, even those of Canadian citizens.

    Castillo meanwhile had proposed a plan to renegotiate mining contracts with multinational companies so that more profits stayed in Peru.

    The impact on women

    Reports have shown that women bear the brunt of mining’s negative impacts, which include gender violence, economic and food insecurity and health problems.

    Women human rights defenders confronting extractive industries also face gender-specific risks and challenges. Indigenous women are often at the forefront of resisting extractive projects.

    Despite the bold ambitions of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy to promote a “more peaceful, more inclusive and more prosperous world,” critics have highlighted several weaknesses and challenges.

    Among them: insufficient funding, its instrumentalist approach (when women are used for broader economic and political goals), as well as its emphasis on neoliberal capitalist growth and the private sector.

    Some have also highlighted its lack of coherence with other policy areas, including trade and security, its support for Israel and its treatment of Indigenous women in Canada.



    Read more:
    Canada’s inaction in Gaza marks a failure of its feminist foreign policy

    Structural causes not addressed

    My ongoing research with civil society organizations in Peru suggests that Canada is providing much-needed and highly appreciated support for women’s rights, LGTBQ+ and Indigenous women’s organizations, namely through its Women’s Voice and Leadership Program. The positive impacts of such initiatives should not be overlooked.

    But even though these projects — often short-term — may benefit some people and some organizations, they often fail to tackle the structural causes of poverty and gender inequality. They also neglect to take into account Canada’s role in creating and maintaining global inequalities through its disruptive mining activities.



    Read more:
    The role of Canadian mining in the plight of Central American migrants

    For years, Canadian civil society organizations have been demanding greater accountability and regulation for Canadian overseas corporations. Despite promises to hold companies accountable for abuses abroad with the creation of the Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise, the Trudeau government has been criticized for failing to deliver on these pledges.

    With the possible election of a Conservative federal government in the coming months, it’s unlikely that tightening regulations for private Canadian companies operating in other countries will be a priority.

    Despite its feminist ambitions, taking a closer look at Canada’s role in countries where it has significant mining interests reveals a more complex and nuanced image of Canada in the world.

    Véronique Plouffe receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

    – ref. Canada’s claim that it champions human rights is at odds with its mining practices – https://theconversation.com/canadas-claim-that-it-champions-human-rights-is-at-odds-with-its-mining-practices-246757

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Call for witnesses – Assault – Darwin

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for witnesses in relation to an assault that occurred in Muirhead this afternoon.

    At 3.05pm, police received reports of an alleged assault of an 11-year-old boy by an unknown male youth at the William Forest Park in Muirhead.

    The victim had been walking along Asche Street when he was allegedly followed by the offender riding a black two-wheel push scooter. As the victim entered the William Forest Park, the offender allegedly assaulted him, causing him to fall to the ground. The offender allegedly further assaulted him while on the ground, before the victim was able to get away and call for help.

    The offender subsequently fled the area on the scooter and remains outstanding.

    He is described as being of Aboriginal appearance, aged between 16-18 years old, about 5’10”, with a skinny build, wearing a long white and black dress with puffy hair.

    Detectives are currently investigating and urge anyone who witnessed the incident, or with CCTV footage or dash cam footage of the location between 2pm-3.30pm, to make contact on 131 444 and quote reference NTP2500009737.

    Anonymous reports can also be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/. 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Trump’s ‘free speech’ vision comes at expense of press freedom

    Pacific Media Watch

    Among his first official acts on returning to the White House, President Donald Trump issued an executive order “restoring freedom of speech and ending federal censorship”.

    Implicit in this vaguely written document: the United States is done fighting mis- and disinformation online, reports the Paris-based global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

    Meanwhile, far from living up to the letter or spirit of his own order, Trump is fighting battles against the American news media on multiple fronts and has pardoned at least 13 individuals convicted or charged for attacking journalists in the 6 January 2021 insurrection.

    An RSF statement strongly refutes Trump’s “distorted vision of free speech, which is inherently detrimental to press freedom”.

    Trump has long been one of social media’s most prevalent spreaders of false information, and his executive order, “Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship,” is the latest in a series of victories for the propagators of disinformation online.

    Bowing to pressure from Trump, Mark Zuckerberg, whose Meta platforms are already hostile to journalism, did away with fact-checking on Facebook, which the tech mogul falsely equated to censorship while throwing fact-checking journalists under the bus.

    Trump ally Elon Musk also dismantled the meagre trust and safety safeguards in place when he took over Twitter and proceeded to arbitrarily ban journalists who were critical of him from the site.

    ‘Free speech’ isn’t ‘free of facts’
    “Free speech doesn’t mean public discourse has to be free of facts. Donald Trump and his Big Tech cronies like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are dismantling what few guardrails the internet had to protect the integrity of information,” said RSF’s USA executive director Clayton Weimers.

    “We cannot ignore the irony of Trump appointing himself the chief crusader for ‘free speech’ while he continues to personally attack press freedom — a pillar of the First Amendment — and has vowed to weaponise the federal government against expression he doesn’t like.

    “If Trump means what he says in his own executive order, he could start by dropping his lawsuits against news organisations.”

    Trump recently settled a lawsuit out of court with ABC News parent company Disney, but is still suing the Des Moines Register and its parent company Gannett for publishing a poll unfavourable to his campaign, and the Pulitzer Center board for awarding coverage of his 2016 campaign’s alleged ties with Russia.

    Trump should immediately drop both lawsuits and refrain from launching others while in office.

    After a campaign where he attacked the press on a daily basis, Trump has continued to berate the media and dismissed its legitimacy to critique him.

    During a press conference the day after he took office, Trump reproached NBC reporter Peter Alexander for questions about Trump’s blanket pardons of the January 6th riot participants, saying, “Just look at the numbers on the election.

    “We won this election in a landslide, because the American public is tired of people like you that are just one-sided, horrible people, in terms of crime.”

    An incoherent press freedom policy
     The executive order also flies in the face of his violent rhetoric against journalists.

    The order asserts that during the Biden administration, “the Federal government infringed on the constitutionally protected speech rights of American citizens across the United States in a manner that advanced the government’s preferred narrative about significant matters of public debate.”

    It goes on to state, “It is the policy of the United States to ensure that no Federal Government officer, employee, or agent engages in or facilitates any conduct that would unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen.”

    This stated policy, laudable in a vacuum, even if made redundant by the First Amendment, is rendered meaningless by Trump’s explicit threats to weaponise the government against the media, which have recently included threats to revoke broadcast licenses in political retaliation, investigate news organizations that criticise him, and jail journalists who refuse to expose confidential sources.

    Instead, the policy appears designed to amplify disinformation, which benefits a President of the United States who has proven willing to spread disinformation that furthered his political interests on matters small and large.

    “If Trump is serious about his stated commitment to free speech, RSF suggests he begin by ensuring his own actions serve to protect the free press, rather than censoring or punishing media outlets,” the watchdog said.

    “The United States has seen a steady decline in its press freedom ranking in RSF’s World Press Freedom Index over the past decade to a current ranking of 55th out of 180 countries, with presidents from both parties presiding over this backslide.

    “While Trump is not entirely responsible for the present situation, his frequent attacks on the news media have no doubt contributed to the decline in trust in the media, which has been driven partly by partisan attitudes towards journalism.

    “Trump’s violent rhetoric can also contribute to real-life violence — assaults on journalists nearly doubled in 2024, when his campaign was at its apex, compared to 2023.”

    Pacific Media Watch collaborates with RSF.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China Cultural Center holds event to celebrate Chinese New Year in Moscow

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China Cultural Center holds event to celebrate Chinese New Year in Moscow

    Updated: January 26, 2025 21:11 Xinhua
    Visitors experience Chinese calligraphy at the China Cultural Center in Moscow, Russia, Jan. 25, 2025. An event to celebrate the Chinese New Year is held here on Saturday, attracting many visitors. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People look at cultural and creative products at the China Cultural Center in Moscow, Russia, Jan. 25, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People look at painting and calligraphy works at the China Cultural Center in Moscow, Russia, Jan. 25, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People watch a staff member rubbing the Chinese character “fu” (meaning happiness, blessing, and good fortune) at the China Cultural Center in Moscow, Russia, Jan. 25, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to promote high-quality development of index investment in capital market

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, Jan. 26 — The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) on Sunday released an action plan to promote the high-quality development of index investment in the Chinese capital market.

    According to the plan, the country will significantly increase the scale and proportion of index investment in the capital market while fostering a new development pattern for the public funds industry, where active and passive investment strategies develop in a coordinated manner and provide mutual reinforcement.

    China will also strengthen the asset allocation function of index funds, steadily enhance long-term returns for investors, and streamline the market entry of medium and long-term capital to build an ecosystem featuring long-term capital and long-term investment.

    The two-way opening-up of index investment will be promoted steadily, according to the document. China will expand the institutional opening-up of index products, improve the exchange-traded fund (ETF) connectivity mechanism, and attract foreign capital to participate in China’s A-share market through index investment.

    The CSRC has pledged to coordinate the efforts of various units and departments to optimize specific institutional arrangements, continue to spur the vitality of market institutions, and strengthen regulation and risk prevention efforts.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man charged with Putney murder

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man has been charged with murder following a death in Putney.

    Rory Talbot, 30 (12.10.94), of Mossbury Road, Wandsworth, was charged on Saturday, 25 January with the murder of his father Mark Talbot, aged 75.

    Rory Talbot is remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 27 January.

    On Friday, 24 January at 03:36hrs police were called to an address in Deodar Road, SW15 following reports of a stabbing.

    Officers attended alongside the London Ambulance Service who treated Mr Talbot.

    Despite their best efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

    Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mark Talbot who have been affected by this tragic incident, and who continue to receive support from specialist officers.

    Mark Talbot’s family said: “We are grateful for the support provided by police, our neighbours and others. We ask that our privacy is respected while we come to terms with the tragic loss of a highly respected member of the community.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs detects case involving possession of suspected “space oil drug” by passengers (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong Customs detects case involving possession of suspected “space oil drug” by passengers (with photo)
    Hong Kong Customs detects case involving possession of suspected “space oil drug” by passengers (with photo)
    ******************************************************************************************

         Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 25) detected a case involving possession of suspected etomidate (the main ingredient of “space oil drug”), a kind of Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations, by incoming passengers at the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui. One vape stick containing suspected “space oil drug” was seized.     A 18-year-old woman and a 19-year-old woman arrived Hong Kong from the China Ferry Terminal yesterday. During customs clearance, a vape stick containing suspected “space oil drug” was found from the handbag of the 18-year-old woman. Upon investigation, the 19-year-old woman was found to be connected with the case. Both of them were then arrested.       The arrested women, both claimed to be students, have been jointly charged with one count of possession of Part 1 Poison and the case will be brought up at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (January 27).     Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour report hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

     
    Ends/Sunday, January 26, 2025Issued at HKT 20:05

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A new building of the St. Petersburg HSE has opened in the historic building of the Rope Shop

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    The famous monument of constructivism — the Rope Shop of the Krasny Gvozdilshchik Plant — has become the new building of the National Research University Higher School of Economics — Saint Petersburg. About four thousand students will study in the building on the 25th Line of Vasilievsky Island.

    Press service of the National Research University Higher School of Economics

    The grand opening ceremony of the new building, timed to coincide with Russian Students’ Day, took place on Saturday, January 25. The event was attended by government officials, members of the HSE – St. Petersburg Board of Trustees, industrial partners, students and teachers. The symbolic red ribbon was cut by the Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergey Kravtsov, Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg Vladimir Knyaginin, Rector of HSE Nikita Anisimov and Director of HSE – St. Petersburg Anna Tyshetskaya.

    The new educational space “Rope Workshop” is more than 20 thousand square meters of modern classrooms, coworking spaces, rooms for practical and project work, museum and exhibition spaces. The building will accommodate students of the joint School of Informatics, Physics and Technology with VK, the School of Design, as well as educational programs in the areas of “Media Communications”, “Sociology”, “State and Municipal Administration”.

    “Today is a significant event not only for St. Petersburg, but for our entire country — the opening of the new building of the Higher School of Economics. I would like to thank the government of St. Petersburg for the attention paid to the city’s education system. Today, the Higher School of Economics is one of the leading Russian universities. It has very high quality and standards of education, a very strong teaching staff and, accordingly, high competition for admission. I am sure that students from all regions of our country, as well as from other countries, will study in the new building of the university. It is important that the areas that will be presented here are very relevant and in demand by the leading sectors of the domestic economy,” emphasized the Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergey Kravtsov.

    Vice-Governor of Saint Petersburg Vladimir Knyaginin congratulated the students of the Saint Petersburg HSE on the holiday and noted the importance of integrating the educational space into the urban environment. “I am pleased that engineers, builders, designers, architects treated the heritage with care, and we really have a pearl of constructivism that will work for the city, for students, for all of us. The Higher School of Economics in Saint Petersburg is growing with such wonderful objects, and I am looking forward to the opening of the Patriotic Institute building. It seems to me that these will be two wonderful architectural masterpieces, newly opened to the city, its residents and tourists,” Vladimir Knyaginin noted.

    HSE Rector Nikita Anisimov emphasized that Russian Students’ Day is an important holiday for everyone, and celebrating it in St. Petersburg is especially symbolic, because it is here that the traditions of Russian education were formed. “Dear students, teachers, graduates, friends, honored guests! I sincerely congratulate you on our common holiday: St. Tatyana’s Day, Russian Students’ Day. The day when we open our hearts to the future. You, students, are our future. Of course, we pass on our experience, our knowledge, our opportunities to you, but the future is yours. The spirit of education has always lived and will live within the university walls. The traditions of this day were laid here, in the capital of the Russian Empire, in St. Petersburg, in the city where we are opening this building today. Remember – our university is always open for you 24/7, this is your home. Happy holiday!” HSE Rector Nikita Anisimov addressed the students.

    Director of the National Research University Higher School of Economics in St. Petersburg Anna Tyshetskaya congratulated those gathered on the occasion and noted that the opening of the building in the historic building of the Rope Workshop will become an incentive for the development of new areas. “Together with our partners, we are presenting a new approach to organizing the educational process. The key concept is the integration of the competencies of the Higher School of Economics and leading technology companies. In addition to standard classrooms and laboratories, we have created spaces that unite the educational and business environment. The new building will house an IT cluster, media communications, and design. In 2025, several new areas of training will open, including a program in architecture. Thus, a new technological and creative educational cluster is being formed on Vasilievsky Island,” emphasized Director of the National Research University Higher School of Economics in St. Petersburg Anna Tyshetskaya.

    The restoration of the famous constructivist monument, where the students of the HSE in St. Petersburg will study, was carried out by the Setl Group company. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the holding company, Maxim Shubarev, is a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Research University Higher School of Economics – St. Petersburg. “It is pleasant to realize that the restoration of the Rope Shop allowed us not only to return an iconic cultural heritage site to the city, but also, thanks to our long-standing partner, the Higher School of Economics, to fill its space with the spirit of science and education. The architectural monument has become an Alma Mater and today opened its doors to students of this respected educational institution. I hope that the amazing and rich history of this building will create a special atmosphere here that motivates knowledge, and will contribute to new discoveries, achievements and creative processes,” said Maxim Shchubarev.

    After the ceremony, HSE St. Petersburg Director Anna Tyshetskaya gave guests a tour of the Rope Workshop. The first floor of the educational space houses the workshops and studios of the School of Design. In 2025, the educational program “Architecture” will open here in partnership with leading design companies and museum institutions of the federal level.

    Part of the Rope Workshop space will be occupied by representative offices of industrial partners of the HSE St. Petersburg: VK, BIOCAD, t2, Yadro, 1C, Yandex, Gazprom Neft, Lesta Igri, RBC and others. The integration of the business environment into the educational process will allow students from the first year to work on real cases and tasks of leading Russian companies.

    As part of a strategic partnership with VK, a new School of Informatics, Physics and Technology will begin operating in 2025, where information systems developers, system architects, ML researchers and ML developers will be trained. The programs were designed under the guidance of leading experts from HSE – St. Petersburg and VK and will allow future specialists to gain relevant knowledge and practical business experience.

    In addition, in 2025, the new building will open the “Programming and Engineering of Computer Games” program. The leading game developer in the CIS, “Lesta Igri”, will act as an industrial partner. On the day of the opening of the Rope Workshop, the Director of Business Development of the group of companies, Gaukhar Aldyyarova, and the Director of the National Research University Higher School of Economics – St. Petersburg, Anna Tyshetskaya, signed an agreement on strategic partnership aimed at developing research activities and training specialists.

    The Yakov Chernikhov Museum of Architecture is located under the unique metal trusses of the Rope Shop. The cultural and educational space is being created to popularize Russian architecture and the legacy of Yakov Chernikhov, whose work is inextricably linked with Leningrad. It is planned to hold open educational events for residents of St. Petersburg and tourists on the museum site.

    After the tour of the new building, guests, students and teachers took part in a large-scale cultural and educational marathon. The celebration in honor of Russian Students’ Day was opened by musician, presenter and blogger Alexander Pushnoy. He moderated the discussion “Artificial Intelligence in Education, Creativity and Content”. VK and industry experts, designers, scientists, teachers and students of the HSE St. Petersburg discussed the role, application and benefits of AI in various professional fields. The event was broadcast exclusively on VK Video. About two thousand people will be able to attend master classes, lectures, expert discussions with leading representatives of science, business and the media sphere throughout the day.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Officials pay caring visits across city

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Government’s principal officials today toured Yau Tsim Mong, Sha Tin, Kwai Tsing and Tuen Mun to meet different families and celebrate the Lunar New Year on the second day of the year-end caring visits in 18 districts.

    Accompanied by district officers, district council members and representatives from the District Services & Community Care Team, the officials learnt about citizens’ daily lives and needs as well as gave them blessing bags.

    Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing visited an elderly singleton in Tai Kok Tsui and presented her with a fruit basket, lap-mei or Chinese preserved meats and a panda doll. 

    Mr Cheuk also shared the festive joy with a family newly-arrived in Hong Kong residing in Tai Kok Tsui.

    While Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan engaged with grassroots families, an elderly couple and an elderly singleton living in Shui Chuen O Estate, Sha Tin.

    In addition, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn met singleton seniors in Kwai Fong Estate.

    Meanwhile, Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak called on an elderly singleton and a person with disabilities living in Tin King Estate, Tuen Mun.

    The principal officials will continue to visit different families in the coming two days to extend care and blessings and bring festive joy to the public.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Urban food gardens produce more than vegetables, they create bonds for young Capetonians – study

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Tinashe P. Kanosvamhira, Post-doctoral researcher, African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town

    Urban agriculture takes many forms, among them community, school or rooftop gardens, commercial urban farms, and hydroponic or aquaponic systems. These activities have been shown to promote sustainable cities in a number of ways. They enhance local food security and foster economic opportunities through small-scale farming initiatives. They also strengthen social cohesion by creating shared spaces for collaboration and learning.

    However, evidence from some African countries (and other parts of the world) shows that very few young people are getting involved in agriculture, whether in urban, peri-urban or rural areas. Studies from Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Nigeria show that people aged between 15 and 34 have very little interest in agriculture, whether as an educational pathway or career. They perceive farming as physically demanding, low-paying and lacking in prestige. Systemic barriers like limited access to land, capital and skills also hold young people back.

    South Africa has a higher rate of young people engaging in farming (24%) than elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa. However, this number could be higher if young people better understood the benefits of a career in farming and if they had more support.

    In a recent study I explored youth-driven urban agriculture in Khayelitsha, a large urban area outside Cape Town whose residents are mostly Black, low-income earners.

    The young urban farmers I interviewed are using community gardens to grow more than vegetables. They’re also nurturing social connections, creating economic and business opportunities, and promoting environmental conservation. My findings highlight the transformative potential of youth-driven urban agriculture and how it can be a multifaceted response to urban challenges. It’s crucial that policy makers recognise the value of youth-led urban agriculture and support those doing the work.

    The research

    Khayelitsha is vibrant and bustling. But its approximately 400,000 residents have limited resources and often struggle to make a living.

    I interviewed members of two youth-led gardens. One has just two members; the other has six. All my interviewees were aged between 22 and 27. The relatively low number of interviewees is typical of qualitative research, where the emphasis is placed on depth rather than breadth. This approach allows researchers to obtain detailed, context-rich data from a small, focused group of participants.

    The first garden was founded in January 2020, just a few months before the pandemic struck. The founders wanted to tackle unemployment and food insecurity in their community. They hoped to create jobs for themselves and others, and to provide nutritional support, particularly for vulnerable groups like children with special needs.

    The second garden was established in 2014 by three childhood friends. They were inspired by one founder’s grandmother, who loved gardening. They also wanted to promote organic farming, teach people healthy eating habits, and create a self-reliant community.

    All of my interviewees were activists for food justice. This refers to efforts aimed at addressing systemic inequities in food production, distribution, and access, particularly for marginalised communities. It advocates for equitable access to nutritious, culturally appropriate food.

    One of the gardens, for instance, operates about 30 beds. It cultivates a variety of produce: beetroot, carrots, spinach, pumpkins, potatoes, radishes, peas, lettuce and herbs. 30% of its produce is donated to local community centres each month (they were unable to say how many people benefited from this arrangement). The rest is sold to support the garden financially. Its paying clients include local restaurants and chefs, and members of the community. The garden also partners with schools, hospitals and other organisations to promote healthy eating and sustainable practices.

    The second garden, which is on land belonging to a local early childhood development centre, also focuses on feeding the community, as well as engaging in food justice activism.

    Skills, resilience and connections

    The gardens also help members to develop skills. Members gain practical knowledge about sustainable agriculture, marketing and entrepreneurship, all while managing operations and planning for growth.

    Read more: Healthy food is hard to come by in Cape Town’s poorer areas: how community gardens can fix that

    This hands-on experience instils a sense of responsibility and gives participants valuable skills they can apply in future careers or ventures. The founder of the first garden told me his skills empowered him to seek help from his own community rather than waiting for government intervention. He approached the management of an early childhood development centre in the community to request space on their land, and this was granted.

    Social connections have been essential to the gardens’ success. Bonding capital (close ties within their networks) and bridging capital (connections beyond their immediate community) has allowed them to strengthen relationships between themselves and civil society organisations. They’ve also been able to mobilise resources, as in the case of the first garden accessing community land.

    Additionally, the gardens foster community resilience. Members host workshops and events to educate residents about healthy eating, sustainable farming and environmental stewardship.

    By donating produce to local early childhood centres, they provide direct benefits to those most in need. These efforts have transformed the gardens into safe spaces for the community.

    Broader collaboration has also been key to the gardens’ success. For instance, the second garden has worked with global organisations and networks, like the Slow Food Youth Network, to share and gain knowledge about sustainable farming practices.

    Room for growth

    My findings highlight the need for targeted support for youth-driven urban agriculture initiatives. Policy and financial backing can enable these young gardeners to expand their efforts. This in turn will allow them to provide more food to their communities, create additional jobs, and empower more young people.

    At a policy level, the government could prioritise land access for urban agriculture projects, especially in under-served communities. Cities can foster an environment for youth initiatives to thrive by allocating spaces within their planning for urban farming.

    Read more: Africa’s megacities threatened by heat, floods and disease – urgent action is needed to start greening and adapt to climate change

    There’s also a need for educational programmes that emphasise the value of sustainable urban agriculture, and workshops and training on entrepreneurship and sustainable farming techniques. Community organising could further empower young farmers. Finally, continued collaboration with national and international food networks would help strengthen such initiatives.

    – Urban food gardens produce more than vegetables, they create bonds for young Capetonians – study
    – https://theconversation.com/urban-food-gardens-produce-more-than-vegetables-they-create-bonds-for-young-capetonians-study-243500

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: What France loses by closing its military bases in Africa

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Thierry Vircoulon, Coordinateur de l’Observatoire pour l’Afrique centrale et australe de l’Institut Français des Relations Internationales, membre du Groupe de Recherche sur l’Eugénisme et le Racisme, Université Paris Cité

    Senegalese president Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced on 31 December 2024 that all foreign military bases in his country would close by 2025. On the same day, the Ivorian president said France would hand over control of the Abidjan military base to his country’s army.

    These announcements followed the planned withdrawal of French forces from Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Researcher Thierry Vircoulon discusses the potential implications of these decisions for France.

    What advantages could France lose by withdrawing its troops from African countries?

    France’s military presence in French-speaking Africa has evolved in strategic importance over the past 65 years. Over time, the significance of this presence has diminished. By the end of the 20th century, some French military bases had been closed and the number of pre-positioned troops had reduced from 20,000 in 1970 to 6,000 in 2022.

    Military bases have been a strategic asset for France, initially securing newly independent and fragile regimes in the aftermath of independence. They also played a key role in conducting external operations. These bases served as logistical hubs that enabled French military interventions and the evacuation of French nationals during crises.

    For instance, Operation Sagittarius, which evacuated European nationals from Sudan at the start of the war in April 2023, relied on the resources of the French base in Djibouti.

    Without these logistical points, projecting military strength becomes much more challenging and, in some cases, impossible. The closure of these military bases implies the end of major French military interventions, such as Operation Licorne (2002-2015) or Barkhane (2014-2022).

    In recent years, the cost-benefit analysis of these bases has been questioned in Paris. They have become a political and strategic issue. On one hand, these bases symbolise the old post-independence security pact between Paris and the leaders of some countries, making them appear as a legacy of neocolonialism.

    On the other hand, from a strategic point of view, having a pre-positioned military presence in Africa serves little purpose when the main threats to France come from elsewhere (for instance, eastern Europe and the Middle East). As a result, the strategic value of France’s military bases in Africa has diminished in recent years.

    What impact could military withdrawal have on France’s political and diplomatic influence in its former African colonies?

    The closure of the bases would signal the end of France’s capacity to intervene – whether justified or not – in certain conflicts across Africa.

    This would weaken its influence in the region, particularly as conflicts intensify across the continent, with more and more African countries seeking security providers. Addressing, stabilising or resolving these conflicts requires a combination of diplomacy and military intervention.

    It’s important to distinguish between countries that have chosen to sever military cooperation agreements with Paris (such as Chad and Senegal) and those that have simply closed military bases but maintained the military cooperation (like Ivory Coast).

    The announcement of base closures by African leaders, rather than by Paris, symbolises a rejection of French policy. This marks a significant loss of influence for France in the countries involved.

    Could this withdrawal reduce France’s influence in managing security crises in Africa?

    As part of the informal division of security responsibilities among western nations, France has long been considered the “gendarme of Africa”.

    Between 1964 and 2014, France conducted no fewer than 52 military operations across the continent. At the start of the 21st century, it played the role of lead nation in European military interventions in Africa. Other western powers recognised France’s expertise in managing African crises. In most cases, they either supported or simply followed its policies.

    This was reflected in France’s diplomatic responsibilities within the European Union and at the United Nations. French diplomacy is well represented in the Africa division of the European External Action Service. The French delegation is tasked with drafting UN security council resolutions on Africa. The peacekeeping department at the UN is led by a French diplomat.

    People protest against the presence of French soldiers in Mali, and more broadly in west Africa, as part of Operation Barkhane in Toulouse in 2021. Alain Pitton/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    The end of France’s military interventionism will have diplomatic repercussions beyond Africa. They are already being felt in Brussels, Washington and New York.

    In Niger, the United States did not follow France’s hard line stance after the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in 2023. Instead it attempted to engage with the junta. This effort ultimately failed.

    In Chad, while Paris was complacent towards the dynastic succession from Idriss Déby to his son, Berlin took a critical stance. This led to a diplomatic crisis and the expulsion of ambassadors from Chad and Germany in 2023. In Italy, prime minister Giorgia Meloni publicly criticised French policy in Africa, causing tensions between Paris and Rome.

    How will the reduction in military presence affect France’s ability to protect its economic interests, particularly in the mining and energy sectors?

    In 2023, Africa accounted for only 1.9% of France’s foreign trade, 15% of its supply of strategic minerals, and 11.6% of its oil and gas supply.

    France’s top two trading partners in sub-Saharan Africa are Nigeria and South Africa – former British colonies which have never hosted a French military base.

    Since the beginning of the century, relations between France and African countries have been marked by a clear separation between economic and military interests. France not only has diminishing economic interests in Africa, but these are concentrated in countries that do not host French military bases.

    – What France loses by closing its military bases in Africa
    – https://theconversation.com/what-france-loses-by-closing-its-military-bases-in-africa-247898

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South African telescope discovers a giant galaxy that’s 32 times bigger than Earth’s

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Jacinta Delhaize, Lecturer, University of Cape Town

    You may not know it, but right now there’s a huge cosmic rave party happening far, far above our heads. The chief party goers are known as supermassive black holes. These mysterious objects can have masses several million or billion times that of the Sun and are so dense that they warp space time around them.

    As far as astronomers know, all galaxies harbour a supermassive black hole at their very centres. In some galaxies, large amounts of interstellar gas are spiralling around the supermassive black hole and getting pulled in beyond the event horizon and essentially on to the black hole. This process creates a huge amount of friction and energy, which can cause the “rave” I’m talking about – releasing huge amounts of light at many different colours and frequencies across the electromagnetic spectrum.

    In some cases, the black hole will even spew jets of plasma, millions of light-years across intergalactic space. The plasma gas is so hot that it’s essentially a soup of electrons moving close to the speed of light. These plasma jets glow at radio frequencies, so they can be seen with a radio telescope and are, aptly, named radio galaxies. In a recent episode of the astronomy podcast The Cosmic Savannah, I likened their appearance to two glow sticks (the plasma jets) poking out of a ball of sticky tack (the galaxy). Astronomers hypothesise that the plasma jets keep expanding outwards as time passes, eventually growing so large that they become giant radio galaxies.

    Millions of normally sized radio galaxies are known to science. But by 2020 only about 800 giant radio galaxies had been found, nearly 50 years since they had been initially discovered. They were considered rare. However, a new generation of radio telescopes, including South Africa’s MeerKAT, have turned this idea on its head: in the past five years about 11,000 giants have been discovered.

    MeerKAT’s newest giant radio galaxy find is extraordinary. The plasma jets of this cosmic giant span 3.3 million light-years from end to end – over 32 times the size of the Milky Way. I’m one of the lead researchers who made the discovery. We’ve nicknamed it Inkathazo, meaning “trouble” in South Africa’s isiXhosa and isiZulu languages. That’s because it’s been a bit troublesome to understand the physics behind what’s going on with Inkathazo.

    This discovery has given us a unique opportunity to study giant radio galaxies. The findings challenge existing models and suggest that we don’t yet understand much of the complicated plasma physics at play in these extreme galaxies.

    Here comes ‘trouble’

    The MeerKAT telescope is located in the Karoo region of South Africa, is made up of 64 radio dishes and is operated and managed by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory. It’s a precursor to the Square Kilometre Array, which will, when it commences science operations around 2028, be the world’s largest telescope.

    MeerKAT has already been pivotal in uncovering some of the hidden treasures of the southern sky since it was first commissioned in 2018.

    This is the third giant radio galaxy that my collaborators and I have discovered with MeerKAT in a relatively small patch of sky near the equator, around the size of five full moons, that astronomers refer to as the “COSMOS field”. We pointed MeerKAT at COSMOS during the early stages of the most advanced surveys of distant galaxies ever conducted: the International Gigahertz Tiered Extragalactic Exploration (MIGHTEE).

    Read more: Discovery of two new giant radio galaxies offers fresh insights into the universe

    The MIGHTEE team, a collaboration of astronomers from around the world, and I first published the discovery of the two other giant radio galaxies in COSMOS in 2021.

    We spotted Inkathazo more recently in my own MeerKAT follow-up observations of COSMOS, as well as in the full MIGHTEE survey.

    However, Inkathazo differs from its cosmic companions in several ways. It doesn’t have the same characteristics as many other giant radio galaxies. For example, the plasma jets have an unusual shape. Rather than extending straight across from end-to-end, one of the jets is bent.

    Additionally, Inkathazo lives at the very centre of a cluster of galaxies, rather than in relative isolation, which should make it difficult for the plasma jets to grow to such enormous sizes. Its location in a cluster raises questions about the role of environmental interactions in the formation and evolution of these giant galaxies.

    A spectral age map of ‘Inkathazo’. Cyan and green show younger plasma, while purple indicates older plasma. K.K.L Charlton (UCT), MeerKAT, HSC, CARTA, IDIA., CC BY

    MeerKAT’s exceptional capabilities are helping us to unravel this cosmic conundrum. We’ve created some of the highest-resolution spectral maps ever made for giant radio galaxies. These maps track the age of the plasma across different parts of the galaxy, providing clues about the physical processes at work.

    The results revealed intriguing complexities in Inkathazo’s jets. Some electrons within the plasma jets receive unexpected boosts of energy. We think this may occur when the jets collide with hot gas in the voids between galaxies in a cluster. This gives us hints about what sort of plasma physics might be happening in these extreme parts of the Universe that we didn’t previously predict.

    A treasure trove

    The fact that we unveiled three giant radio galaxies by pointing MeerKAT at a single patch of sky suggests that there’s likely a huge treasure trove of these cosmic behemoths just waiting to be discovered in the southern sky. The telescope is incredibly powerful and it’s in a perfect location for this kind of research, so it’s ideally poised to uncover and learn more about giant radio galaxies in the years to come.

    Kathleen Charlton, a Master’s student at the University of Cape Town, was the lead author of the research on which this article was based.

    – South African telescope discovers a giant galaxy that’s 32 times bigger than Earth’s
    – https://theconversation.com/south-african-telescope-discovers-a-giant-galaxy-thats-32-times-bigger-than-earths-248023

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Urban food gardens produce more than vegetables, they create bonds for young Capetonians – study

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Tinashe P. Kanosvamhira, Post-doctoral researcher, African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town

    Urban farms like this one in Nouakchott, Mauritania, have many benefits. John Wessels/AFP via Getty Images)

    Urban agriculture takes many forms, among them community, school or rooftop gardens, commercial urban farms, and hydroponic or aquaponic systems. These activities have been shown to promote sustainable cities in a number of ways. They enhance local food security and foster economic opportunities through small-scale farming initiatives. They also strengthen social cohesion by creating shared spaces for collaboration and learning.

    However, evidence from some African countries (and other parts of the world) shows that very few young people are getting involved in agriculture, whether in urban, peri-urban or rural areas. Studies from Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Nigeria show that people aged between 15 and 34 have very little interest in agriculture, whether as an educational pathway or career. They perceive farming as physically demanding, low-paying and lacking in prestige. Systemic barriers like limited access to land, capital and skills also hold young people back.

    South Africa has a higher rate of young people engaging in farming (24%) than elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa. However, this number could be higher if young people better understood the benefits of a career in farming and if they had more support.

    In a recent study I explored youth-driven urban agriculture in Khayelitsha, a large urban area outside Cape Town whose residents are mostly Black, low-income earners.

    The young urban farmers I interviewed are using community gardens to grow more than vegetables. They’re also nurturing social connections, creating economic and business opportunities, and promoting environmental conservation. My findings highlight the transformative potential of youth-driven urban agriculture and how it can be a multifaceted response to urban challenges. It’s crucial that policy makers recognise the value of youth-led urban agriculture and support those doing the work.

    The research

    Khayelitsha is vibrant and bustling. But its approximately 400,000 residents have limited resources and often struggle to make a living.

    I interviewed members of two youth-led gardens. One has just two members; the other has six. All my interviewees were aged between 22 and 27. The relatively low number of interviewees is typical of qualitative research, where the emphasis is placed on depth rather than breadth. This approach allows researchers to obtain detailed, context-rich data from a small, focused group of participants.

    The first garden was founded in January 2020, just a few months before the pandemic struck. The founders wanted to tackle unemployment and food insecurity in their community. They hoped to create jobs for themselves and others, and to provide nutritional support, particularly for vulnerable groups like children with special needs.

    The second garden was established in 2014 by three childhood friends. They were inspired by one founder’s grandmother, who loved gardening. They also wanted to promote organic farming, teach people healthy eating habits, and create a self-reliant community.

    All of my interviewees were activists for food justice. This refers to efforts aimed at addressing systemic inequities in food production, distribution, and access, particularly for marginalised communities. It advocates for equitable access to nutritious, culturally appropriate food.

    One of the gardens, for instance, operates about 30 beds. It cultivates a variety of produce: beetroot, carrots, spinach, pumpkins, potatoes, radishes, peas, lettuce and herbs. 30% of its produce is donated to local community centres each month (they were unable to say how many people benefited from this arrangement). The rest is sold to support the garden financially. Its paying clients include local restaurants and chefs, and members of the community. The garden also partners with schools, hospitals and other organisations to promote healthy eating and sustainable practices.

    The second garden, which is on land belonging to a local early childhood development centre, also focuses on feeding the community, as well as engaging in food justice activism.

    Skills, resilience and connections

    The gardens also help members to develop skills. Members gain practical knowledge about sustainable agriculture, marketing and entrepreneurship, all while managing operations and planning for growth.



    Read more:
    Healthy food is hard to come by in Cape Town’s poorer areas: how community gardens can fix that

    This hands-on experience instils a sense of responsibility and gives participants valuable skills they can apply in future careers or ventures. The founder of the first garden told me his skills empowered him to seek help from his own community rather than waiting for government intervention. He approached the management of an early childhood development centre in the community to request space on their land, and this was granted.

    Social connections have been essential to the gardens’ success. Bonding capital (close ties within their networks) and bridging capital (connections beyond their immediate community) has allowed them to strengthen relationships between themselves and civil society organisations. They’ve also been able to mobilise resources, as in the case of the first garden accessing community land.

    Additionally, the gardens foster community resilience. Members host workshops and events to educate residents about healthy eating, sustainable farming and environmental stewardship.

    By donating produce to local early childhood centres, they provide direct benefits to those most in need. These efforts have transformed the gardens into safe spaces for the community.

    Broader collaboration has also been key to the gardens’ success. For instance, the second garden has worked with global organisations and networks, like the Slow Food Youth Network, to share and gain knowledge about sustainable farming practices.

    Room for growth

    My findings highlight the need for targeted support for youth-driven urban agriculture initiatives. Policy and financial backing can enable these young gardeners to expand their efforts. This in turn will allow them to provide more food to their communities, create additional jobs, and empower more young people.

    At a policy level, the government could prioritise land access for urban agriculture projects, especially in under-served communities. Cities can foster an environment for youth initiatives to thrive by allocating spaces within their planning for urban farming.



    Read more:
    Africa’s megacities threatened by heat, floods and disease – urgent action is needed to start greening and adapt to climate change

    There’s also a need for educational programmes that emphasise the value of sustainable urban agriculture, and workshops and training on entrepreneurship and sustainable farming techniques. Community organising could further empower young farmers. Finally, continued collaboration with national and international food networks would help strengthen such initiatives.

    Tinashe P. Kanosvamhira 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. Urban food gardens produce more than vegetables, they create bonds for young Capetonians – study – https://theconversation.com/urban-food-gardens-produce-more-than-vegetables-they-create-bonds-for-young-capetonians-study-243500

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What France loses by closing its military bases in Africa

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Thierry Vircoulon, Coordinateur de l’Observatoire pour l’Afrique centrale et australe de l’Institut Français des Relations Internationales, membre du Groupe de Recherche sur l’Eugénisme et le Racisme, Université Paris Cité

    Senegalese president Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced on 31 December 2024 that all foreign military bases in his country would close by 2025. On the same day, the Ivorian president said France would hand over control of the Abidjan military base to his country’s army.

    These announcements followed the planned withdrawal of French forces from Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Researcher Thierry Vircoulon discusses the potential implications of these decisions for France.

    What advantages could France lose by withdrawing its troops from African countries?

    France’s military presence in French-speaking Africa has evolved in strategic importance over the past 65 years. Over time, the significance of this presence has diminished. By the end of the 20th century, some French military bases had been closed and the number of pre-positioned troops had reduced from 20,000 in 1970 to 6,000 in 2022.

    Military bases have been a strategic asset for France, initially securing newly independent and fragile regimes in the aftermath of independence. They also played a key role in conducting external operations. These bases served as logistical hubs that enabled French military interventions and the evacuation of French nationals during crises.

    For instance, Operation Sagittarius, which evacuated European nationals from Sudan at the start of the war in April 2023, relied on the resources of the French base in Djibouti.

    Without these logistical points, projecting military strength becomes much more challenging and, in some cases, impossible. The closure of these military bases implies the end of major French military interventions, such as Operation Licorne (2002-2015) or Barkhane (2014-2022).

    In recent years, the cost-benefit analysis of these bases has been questioned in Paris. They have become a political and strategic issue. On one hand, these bases symbolise the old post-independence security pact between Paris and the leaders of some countries, making them appear as a legacy of neocolonialism.

    On the other hand, from a strategic point of view, having a pre-positioned military presence in Africa serves little purpose when the main threats to France come from elsewhere (for instance, eastern Europe and the Middle East). As a result, the strategic value of France’s military bases in Africa has diminished in recent years.

    What impact could military withdrawal have on France’s political and diplomatic influence in its former African colonies?

    The closure of the bases would signal the end of France’s capacity to intervene – whether justified or not – in certain conflicts across Africa.

    This would weaken its influence in the region, particularly as conflicts intensify across the continent, with more and more African countries seeking security providers. Addressing, stabilising or resolving these conflicts requires a combination of diplomacy and military intervention.

    It’s important to distinguish between countries that have chosen to sever military cooperation agreements with Paris (such as Chad and Senegal) and those that have simply closed military bases but maintained the military cooperation (like Ivory Coast).

    The announcement of base closures by African leaders, rather than by Paris, symbolises a rejection of French policy. This marks a significant loss of influence for France in the countries involved.

    Could this withdrawal reduce France’s influence in managing security crises in Africa?

    As part of the informal division of security responsibilities among western nations, France has long been considered the “gendarme of Africa”.

    Between 1964 and 2014, France conducted no fewer than 52 military operations across the continent. At the start of the 21st century, it played the role of lead nation in European military interventions in Africa. Other western powers recognised France’s expertise in managing African crises. In most cases, they either supported or simply followed its policies.

    This was reflected in France’s diplomatic responsibilities within the European Union and at the United Nations. French diplomacy is well represented in the Africa division of the European External Action Service. The French delegation is tasked with drafting UN security council resolutions on Africa. The peacekeeping department at the UN is led by a French diplomat.

    The end of France’s military interventionism will have diplomatic repercussions beyond Africa. They are already being felt in Brussels, Washington and New York.

    In Niger, the United States did not follow France’s hard line stance after the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in 2023. Instead it attempted to engage with the junta. This effort ultimately failed.

    In Chad, while Paris was complacent towards the dynastic succession from Idriss Déby to his son, Berlin took a critical stance. This led to a diplomatic crisis and the expulsion of ambassadors from Chad and Germany in 2023. In Italy, prime minister Giorgia Meloni publicly criticised French policy in Africa, causing tensions between Paris and Rome.

    How will the reduction in military presence affect France’s ability to protect its economic interests, particularly in the mining and energy sectors?

    In 2023, Africa accounted for only 1.9% of France’s foreign trade, 15% of its supply of strategic minerals, and 11.6% of its oil and gas supply.

    France’s top two trading partners in sub-Saharan Africa are Nigeria and South Africa – former British colonies which have never hosted a French military base.

    Since the beginning of the century, relations between France and African countries have been marked by a clear separation between economic and military interests. France not only has diminishing economic interests in Africa, but these are concentrated in countries that do not host French military bases.

    Thierry Vircoulon is a research associate at the Institut Français des Relations Internationales and an expert on the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime.

    – ref. What France loses by closing its military bases in Africa – https://theconversation.com/what-france-loses-by-closing-its-military-bases-in-africa-247898

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: South African telescope discovers a giant galaxy that’s 32 times bigger than Earth’s

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Jacinta Delhaize, Lecturer, University of Cape Town

    Inkathazo’s glowing plasma jets are shown in red and yellow. The starlight from other surrounding galaxies can be seen in the background. K.K.L Charlton (UCT), MeerKAT, HSC, CARTA, IDIA, CC BY

    You may not know it, but right now there’s a huge cosmic rave party happening far, far above our heads. The chief party goers are known as supermassive black holes. These mysterious objects can have masses several million or billion times that of the Sun and are so dense that they warp space time around them.

    As far as astronomers know, all galaxies harbour a supermassive black hole at their very centres. In some galaxies, large amounts of interstellar gas are spiralling around the supermassive black hole and getting pulled in beyond the event horizon and essentially on to the black hole. This process creates a huge amount of friction and energy, which can cause the “rave” I’m talking about – releasing huge amounts of light at many different colours and frequencies across the electromagnetic spectrum.

    In some cases, the black hole will even spew jets of plasma, millions of light-years across intergalactic space. The plasma gas is so hot that it’s essentially a soup of electrons moving close to the speed of light. These plasma jets glow at radio frequencies, so they can be seen with a radio telescope and are, aptly, named radio galaxies. In a recent episode of the astronomy podcast The Cosmic Savannah, I likened their appearance to two glow sticks (the plasma jets) poking out of a ball of sticky tack (the galaxy). Astronomers hypothesise that the plasma jets keep expanding outwards as time passes, eventually growing so large that they become giant radio galaxies.

    Millions of normally sized radio galaxies are known to science. But by 2020 only about 800 giant radio galaxies had been found, nearly 50 years since they had been initially discovered. They were considered rare. However, a new generation of radio telescopes, including South Africa’s MeerKAT, have turned this idea on its head: in the past five years about 11,000 giants have been discovered.

    MeerKAT’s newest giant radio galaxy find is extraordinary. The plasma jets of this cosmic giant span 3.3 million light-years from end to end – over 32 times the size of the Milky Way. I’m one of the lead researchers who made the discovery. We’ve nicknamed it Inkathazo, meaning “trouble” in South Africa’s isiXhosa and isiZulu languages. That’s because it’s been a bit troublesome to understand the physics behind what’s going on with Inkathazo.

    This discovery has given us a unique opportunity to study giant radio galaxies. The findings challenge existing models and suggest that we don’t yet understand much of the complicated plasma physics at play in these extreme galaxies.

    Here comes ‘trouble’

    The MeerKAT telescope is located in the Karoo region of South Africa, is made up of 64 radio dishes and is operated and managed by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory. It’s a precursor to the Square Kilometre Array, which will, when it commences science operations around 2028, be the world’s largest telescope.

    MeerKAT has already been pivotal in uncovering some of the hidden treasures of the southern sky since it was first commissioned in 2018.

    This is the third giant radio galaxy that my collaborators and I have discovered with MeerKAT in a relatively small patch of sky near the equator, around the size of five full moons, that astronomers refer to as the “COSMOS field”. We pointed MeerKAT at COSMOS during the early stages of the most advanced surveys of distant galaxies ever conducted: the International Gigahertz Tiered Extragalactic Exploration (MIGHTEE).



    Read more:
    Discovery of two new giant radio galaxies offers fresh insights into the universe

    The MIGHTEE team, a collaboration of astronomers from around the world, and I first published the discovery of the two other giant radio galaxies in COSMOS in 2021.

    We spotted Inkathazo more recently in my own MeerKAT follow-up observations of COSMOS, as well as in the full MIGHTEE survey.

    However, Inkathazo differs from its cosmic companions in several ways. It doesn’t have the same characteristics as many other giant radio galaxies. For example, the plasma jets have an unusual shape. Rather than extending straight across from end-to-end, one of the jets is bent.

    Additionally, Inkathazo lives at the very centre of a cluster of galaxies, rather than in relative isolation, which should make it difficult for the plasma jets to grow to such enormous sizes. Its location in a cluster raises questions about the role of environmental interactions in the formation and evolution of these giant galaxies.

    A spectral age map of ‘Inkathazo’. Cyan and green show younger plasma, while purple indicates older plasma.
    K.K.L Charlton (UCT), MeerKAT, HSC, CARTA, IDIA., CC BY

    MeerKAT’s exceptional capabilities are helping us to unravel this cosmic conundrum. We’ve created some of the highest-resolution spectral maps ever made for giant radio galaxies. These maps track the age of the plasma across different parts of the galaxy, providing clues about the physical processes at work.

    The results revealed intriguing complexities in Inkathazo’s jets. Some electrons within the plasma jets receive unexpected boosts of energy. We think this may occur when the jets collide with hot gas in the voids between galaxies in a cluster. This gives us hints about what sort of plasma physics might be happening in these extreme parts of the Universe that we didn’t previously predict.

    A treasure trove

    The fact that we unveiled three giant radio galaxies by pointing MeerKAT at a single patch of sky suggests that there’s likely a huge treasure trove of these cosmic behemoths just waiting to be discovered in the southern sky. The telescope is incredibly powerful and it’s in a perfect location for this kind of research, so it’s ideally poised to uncover and learn more about giant radio galaxies in the years to come.

    Kathleen Charlton, a Master’s student at the University of Cape Town, was the lead author of the research on which this article was based.

    Jacinta Delhaize receives funding from the Africa-Oxford Initiative and the National Research Foundation.

    – ref. South African telescope discovers a giant galaxy that’s 32 times bigger than Earth’s – https://theconversation.com/south-african-telescope-discovers-a-giant-galaxy-thats-32-times-bigger-than-earths-248023

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Negosyo napamura nang husto mga produkto sa pagtanggal ng single-use plastic

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Video grab from Rico Ibarra / Greenpeace

    QUEZON CITY, Philippines — Kapag sinabing “environmentally friendly” ang isang produkto, iniisip na mahal, sosyal, at pangmayaman ito nang marami. Pero ang isang negosyo, may sikreto kung bakit abot-kaya ang kanilang sustainable cleaning products — ang pagtanggal ng single-use plastic (SUP) mula sa produksyon.

    Hulyo 2022 nang magsimula ang kwento ng Sabon Express, sa layuning mahikayat ang publikong gumamit ng boteng matatagpuan na sa kanilang bahay sa tuwing bibili ng sabong panlinis. Ani Mellany Zambrano, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) ng kumpanya, talamak kasi ang bentahan ng household cleaning materials sa plastic sachet at mga boteng itatapon lang din.

    “Our campaign is towards [a] refill revolution,” sabi ni Mellany sa panayam ng Greenpeace Philippines. “So ‘yun ‘yung pangarap namin, na ‘yung mga Pilipino ay magiging responsable sa paggamit ng mga plastic na bote at mga lalagyan. Hindi ‘yung wala lang tayong pakialam na we are after convenience, na bumibili tayo, bumibili, kumukonsumo, at nagtatapon ng plastic.”

    “So ang gusto natin is bumili tayo consciously, magkonsumo tayo at maging responsable tayo na hindi tayo makadagdag sa lumalalang plastic pollution.”

    Video grab from Rico Ibarra / Greenpeace

    “Sachet country” kung ituring ng ilan ang mga bansang Third World gaya ng Pilipinas. Aabot sa 164 milyong sachet ang ginagamit sa bansa araw-araw, bagay na naiipon sa mga landfill, kanal at karagatan. Ito ay dahil sa walang-tigil na produksyon ng SUPs ng mga malalaking korporasyon at kawalan ng batas para  rito. 

    Marami rito’y pinaglagyan ng personal care (19%) o household cleaning products (17%). Hindi ito nabubulok at bumabara sa mga estero, bagay na nagpapalala sa baha tuwing may bagyo. Nadudurog lang ito hanggang sa maging microscopic. Pwede itong malanghap, mainom, o makain bilang “microplastic” na siyang nagdudulot ng pagkabaog at cancer.

    ‘Di gaya ng mararangyang bayan, limitado ang kakayahan ng mga Pinoy na bumili nang bultuhan. Dahil dito, pumatok ang konsepto ng “tingi” na siyang sinakyan ng mga dambuhalang kumpanya lalo na’t hindi ito mabigat sa bulsa. Nakapako kasi sa P645 kada araw ang minimum wage sa Metro Manila — ang pinakamataas sa buong Pilipinas — samantalang P1,205 kada araw ang kinakailangang kita ng pamilyang may limang miyembro para mabuhay nang disente.

    Plastic packaging: salarin sa mahal na produkto?

    Isa sa appeal ng plastic ay ang “mababang presyo” nito. Pero alam n’yo bang malaking bahagi ng binabayaran ng consumer sa mga produkto ay packaging?

    Karaniwang 10% hanggang 40% ng kabuuang retail price ng iyong binibili ay dahil sa lalagyan nito. Gayunpaman, dedepende ito sa uri ng packaging material na ginamit, laki at bigat ng produkto, at production process. Ito’y nasa porma ng plastic na bote, galon, sticker labels, shrink plastics o sachet na madalas itinatapon matapos ang isang gamit.

    Video grab from Rico Ibarra / Greenpeace

    Sa pagtalikod ng Sabon Express sa SUPs at pag-engganyo sa customers magdala ng sariling bote at lalagyan, nagawa tuloy nilang makapaglabas ng produktong mas mura kaysa sa mga ibinebenta sa malls at supermarkets. 

    “Every time na bumibili kayo ng inyong mga produkto na gumagamit ng mga single-use plastics… at itinatapon niyo, hindi lang kayo nakakadagdag sa polusyon kundi actually nagsasayang po kayo ng pera,” prangkahang pagbabahagi ni Mellany.

    “Kami po as manufacturer, ito po ay tapat na sinasabi namin sa inyo. Kayo po actually ay nagsasayang ng minimum 30% to a maximum of 70% [ng presyo ng produkto] sa packaging na itinatapon ninyo… So, imagine ninyo po ‘yung mase-save po ninyo [oras na umiwas kayo rito] at imagine din po ninyo yung perang itinatapon ninyo every time po nagpa-patronize kayo yung single-use plastic.”

    Sa halagang P20, makabibili ka na ng 400 milliliters na dishwashing liquid sa Sabon Express. Ang kailangan mo lang gawin, magdala ng sariling bote o lalagyang ire-refill. Malayo ang presyo nito kumpara sa mahigit-kumulang P100 halagang dishwashing liquid (355 ml sachet refill pack) na mabibili gaya ng kilalang brand na Joy.

    Video grab from Rico Ibarra / Greenpeace

    Ang Sabon Express ay isang case study ng University of Portsmouth sa United Kingdom bilang bahagi ng research at campaign nito sa pagbubuo ng isang Global Plastics Treaty. Una nang sinabi ni Mellany na naging katuwang nila ang Department of Science and Technology (DOST) sa pagtitimpla ng kanilang mga produkto.

    Gayunpaman, aminado si Mellany na wala pang insentibo mula sa gobyerno para itulak ang mga negosyong maging plastic-free. Malaki raw sana ang magagawa ng pagpapababa ng buwis para mga negosyong gaya ng kanila para maeengganyo ang iba pa. Bukod pa rito, mainam daw kung mapapadali ang pagproproseso ng business permits atbp. dokumento.

    ‘Kulturang tingi’ pwede palang eco-friendly

    Isa ang kulturang “tingi” ng mga Pilipino — o pagbili ng mga produkto sa maliitang sukat — sa isinisisi ng ilan sa pamamayagpag ng mga plastic sachet atbp. SUPs sa bansa. Pero alam n’yo bang environmentally-sustainable ang pinagmulan nito bago i-hijack ng mga korporasyon gamit ang mga plastic na pakete? 

    Tradisyunal na nagdadala ng kani-kanilang mga bote, garapon at bayong ang mga Pinoy noon sa mga palengke at sari-sari store na siya nilang pinupuno ng produkto sa tuwing bibili. Ang “reuse and refill” practice na ito ang nais ibalik ng mga negosyo gaya ng Sabon Express, bagay na kanilang minomodernisa sa pamamagitan ng mga makabagong kagamitan.

    Kaugnay nito, nagdisenyo sila ng mga agaw-pansing vendo machines para mapadali ang proseso ng refilling sa kanilang mga tindahan. Hindi inumin o pagkain ang iniluluwa nito kundi dishwashing liquid, fabric conditioner, liquid detergent at hand soap. Puwede itong sahurin gamit ang mga lalagyang dala ng customer kontra plastic pollution.

    Tumatanggap ang kanilang mga makina ng P5, P10, at P20 barya.

    Video grab from Rico Ibarra / Greenpeace

    “Our dream is to be visible in all supermarkets, convenience stores, public markets, grocery stores,” patuloy ni Mellany. 

    “Pangarap po namin na laging merong Sabon Express dispensing machines or vendo machines na makakapag-offer ng murang produkto para sa mga Pilipino, para sa mga consumers na magdadala ng sarili nilang [containers]… para mabigyan po ng pagkakataon ‘yung lahat ng Pilipino na makabili ng produkto na high quality pero very affordable.” 

    ‘Plastics Treaty’ at insentibo sa sustainable MSMEs

    Bahagi ang Sabon Express, sampu ng iba pang progresibong negosyo, sa lumalawak na koalisyong Champions of Change. Layon nitong pagbuklurin ang mga Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) atbp. negosyong lumalaban sa krisis ng SUPs. Nabuo ito sa inisyatiba ng Greenpeace International, Plastic Pollution Coalition and the Break Free From Plastic.  

    Lumaki ang grupo sa hanay ng mga entrepreneur habang hindi pa rin napagkakaisahan ng mga kasapi ng United Nations ang isang Global Plastics Treaty. Itinutulak dito ng Greenpeace ang hindi bababa sa 75% na pagbabawas sa produksyon ng plastic kasabay ng SUP bans. 

    Ayon kay Mellany, malaki ang maitutulong ng isang malakas na tratado sa pagsugpo ng plastic pollution para makapagbalangkas ng polisya ang mga bansang aayon at raratipika rito.

    “A more concrete [example of this would be] sana… ma-incentivize ‘yung mga MSMEs na kagaya namin at magkaroon ng solid support ng government sa mga negosyo [na plastic-free],” paliwanag niya nang matanong kung ano ang nais niyang makita sa kasunduan.

    Video grab from Rico Ibarra / Greenpeace

    Dagdag pa niya, responsibilidad ng mga negosyong maging kampeon ng kalikasan upang matiyak na malinis at mapakikinabangan ito ng mga susunod na henerasyon. Aniya, walang “satellite Earth” na malilikasan ang mga tao kung saka-sakaling tumindi ang krisis.

    Napipintong plantsahin ng huling pagpupulong ng Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) ang isang Global Plastics Treaty sa darating na 2025. Nananawagan ang Greenpeace Philippines sa UN member states na pagkaisahan ang isang tratadong magtitiyak ng karapatan sa kalusugan at ligtas na kapaligiran habang hinihikayat ang publikong suportahan ang mga negosyong tumatalikod sa plastic wala pa mang kasunduan. 

    Pumirma rito para ipakita ang suporta.

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    Help build a plastic-free future.

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    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI China: China issues over 734 mln USD of relief funds for disaster-affected people

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, Jan. 26 — The Ministry of Emergency Management said on Sunday that 5.272 billion yuan (about 734.96 million U.S. dollars) of relief funds from the central budget had been fully distributed, benefiting 30.92 million people.

    These funds are intended to support local governments in helping those affected by natural disasters to deal with living difficulties during the winter and spring seasons.

    The ministry has also provided guidance and support to localities to better implement relief measures, accurately distribute relief funds and materials, and enhance the coordination of policy and resources.

    Regarding the sharp temperature plunges expected over the next few days, the ministry said it would step up monitoring of disaster developments in various regions to ensure that every affected person stays safe and warm during the winter.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s foreign investment, cooperation remain stable in 2024: official

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, Jan. 26 — China’s foreign investment and cooperation saw steady growth in 2024, an official with the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Sunday.

    The country’s non-financial outbound direct investment rose 10.5 percent year on year to 143.85 billion U.S. dollars last year, with investments in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries increasing by 12.6 percent year on year, according to the official.

    Investments in leasing, business services, manufacturing, and wholesale and retail sectors drove the growth. The turnover of China’s foreign contracted projects totaled 165.97 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, an increase of 3.1 percent year on year, the official said.

    In 2024, the number of workers dispatched abroad reached 409,000, a 17.9 percent increase year on year, with a total of 594,000 Chinese workers employed overseas by the end of the year.

    Non-financial investment in countries along the Belt and Road increased by 5.4 percent year on year to 33.69 billion U.S. dollars last year, MOC data showed.

    MIL OSI China News –