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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Federal Assistance for Hurricane Helene Exceeds $344 Million as FEMA Expands Dual Response Efforts as Hurricane Milton Forecast to Make Landfall This Evening

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Federal Assistance for Hurricane Helene Exceeds $344 Million as FEMA Expands Dual Response Efforts as Hurricane Milton Forecast to Make Landfall This Evening

    Federal Assistance for Hurricane Helene Exceeds $344 Million as FEMA Expands Dual Response Efforts as Hurricane Milton Forecast to Make Landfall This Evening

    WASHINGTON – FEMA, under the direction of the Biden-Harris Administration, continues to lead a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to assist communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. As of October 9, federal disaster assistance for survivors has surpassed $344 million and has reached 375,000 households.

    More than 8,000 federal workers from all parts of the country are supporting the response efforts in six states and three Tribal Nations for both Hurricanes Helene and Milton. As the agency prepares for Hurricane Milton’s impacts to Florida, these assets remain in partnership with state, tribal and local partners to support of Hurricane Milton recovery efforts to ensure every available resource is mobilized.

    Hurricane Helene Response

    The agency is actively working alongside state, local and tribal partners to assess damage and support those affected by Helene. To date, FEMA has shipped over 17 million meals, nearly 14 million liters of water and 210 generators. 

    FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground meeting with survivors in neighborhoods across the affected states to help them apply for assistance and connect them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. 

    Disaster survivors in designated areas of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia can begin their recovery process by applying for federal assistance through FEMA. People with damage to their homes or personal property who live in these areas should apply for assistance, which may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies. 

    Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay. Homeowners and renters with damage to their home or personal property from previous disasters—whether they received FEMA funds or not—are still eligible to apply for and receive assistance for Helene.   

    Those with access to power and cellular service can apply for FEMA assistance in one of three ways:  

    FEMA reminds survivors who applied for assistance that a letter from FEMA saying they’re ineligible for assistance may not be a final decision. If you believe your application was not approved in error, or if you have additional information that could strengthen your claim, you may appeal the decision. To learn more, visit http://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/fema-answers-appeals-process-qa.

    Voluntary Organizations

    Voluntary agencies are supporting all affected states by providing critical feeding operations and support for survivors with hot and prepared meals and shelf-stable meals. Organizations are also providing personnel and resources to the hardest hit areas. The American Red Cross has hundreds of trained disaster workers providing comfort and operating shelters. 

    Survivors can receive free services like cutting fallen trees, tarping roofs and mitigating mold with the help of Crisis Cleanup by calling 844-965-1386. The hotline is open through Oct. 11 and can connect survivors with volunteers from local relief organizations, community groups and the faith-based community who may be able to assist.  

    Additional support and assistance provided to each state includes: 

    Support for Florida  

    Recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene continue in Florida even as the federal government is supporting the state in preparing for Hurricane Milton’s landfall on the Gulf Coast. FEMA has approved approximately $142 million for nearly 49,000 households impacted by Hurricane Helene. FEMA specialists are canvassing Florida communities affected by Helene to help survivors apply for assistance. Additionally, FEMA inspectors are visiting applicants’ homes to verify disaster-caused damage.

    There are more than 90 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods and 10 Disaster Recovery Centers are open where they may speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents in need of information or resources should call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at 800-342-3557. English, Spanish and Creole speakers are available to answer questions.  

    Residents can find additional resources and information at Florida Division of Emergency Management’s website, FloridaDisaster.org. 

    Support for Georgia 

    FEMA has approved over $59 million for nearly 76,000 households. 

    There are more than 120 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods and one Disaster Recovery Center is open where they may speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Resources: Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. 

    Support for North Carolina

    Financial Support: FEMA has approved approximately $60 million in housing and other types of assistance for nearly 52,000 households.

    Staffing: As response efforts continue in North Carolina, more than 1,000 FEMA staff are on the ground, with more arriving daily. Nearly 400 Urban Search and Rescue personnel remain in the field helping people. These teams have rescued or supported over 3,200 survivors to date. There are over 1,200 Department of Defense personnel supporting the response. Experienced FEMA leaders from around the country are in the field to bolster response efforts. 

    Sheltering: Shelter numbers continue to decline, with 17 shelters housing just more than 700 occupants. Over 2,600 people who cannot return home are staying in safe and clean lodging through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. Transitional Sheltering Assistance is available for North Carolinians displaced by Helene. Residents in declared counties who have applied for disaster assistance may be eligible to stay temporarily in a hotel or motel paid for by FEMA while they work on their long-term housing plan. People do not need to request this assistance. FEMA will notify them of their eligibility through an automated phone call, text message and/or email, depending upon the method of communication they selected at the time of application for disaster assistance. 

    Power and Cellular Restoration: As of today, power was restored to more than more than 90% of originally reported power outages have been restored as a result of approximately 8,000 crew on the ground. Cellular restoration continues to improve, with more than 90% of cellular sites operating. FEMA is boosting response coordination by providing 40 Starlink units to ensure first responders can communicate with each other. 

    Commodities: Commodity distribution, mass feeding, and hydration operations are underway in areas of western North Carolina. FEMA commodity shipments are enroute to support operations. Voluntary organizations are supporting feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming via truck and aircraft. Mobile feeding operations are reaching survivors in heavily impacted areas, including three mass feeding sites in Buncombe, McDowell and Watauga counties. 

    The Salvation Army has 20 mobile feeding units supporting the massive operation and has provided emotional and spiritual care to survivors. To date, the American Red Cross is engaging in targeted distribution of emergency supplies in low-income communities with high levels of minor or affected residential damage. 

    Resources: 

    • Residents can visit: ncdps.gov/helene to get information and additional assistance.  
    • Residents can get in touch with loved ones by calling 2-1-1 or visiting unitedwaync.org to add them to search and rescue efforts.  
    • There are more than 300 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors without cell coverage or power.

    Support for South Carolina 

    In South Carolina, FEMA has approved over $77 million for nearly 97,000 households. FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties continuing to help survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connect them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. 

    There are nearly 50 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors without cell coverage or power.

    Residents with questions on Helene can call the state’s toll-free hotline, open 24 hours a day, at 866-246-0133. 

    Residents who are dependent on medical equipment at home and who are without power due to Helene may be eligible for a medical needs shelter. Call the state’s Department of Public Health Care Line at 855-472-3432 for more information. 

    Residents can find additional information at South Carolina Emergency Management Division’s website.

    Support for Tennessee 

    FEMA has approved more than $5.1 million for disaster assistance for over 900 households. 

    Residents can call 800-824-3463 to report a missing person. Callers should be prepared to provide as much information as possible including names, phone numbers, vehicle identification and last known whereabouts.  

    There are more than 20 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors without cell coverage or power.

    Counties continue to establish donation centers. For the evolving list, visit Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s website. 

    Support for Virginia  

    To date, FEMA has approved over $1.3 million for over 700 households. 

    There are about 30 Disaster Survivor Assistance members going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors without cell coverage or power.

    mashana.davis

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Pressley Celebrates Signing of Massachusetts Liquor License Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    Pressley Championed, Helped Enact Landmark Reforms as a Boston City Councilor in 2014

    Video (YouTube)

    BOSTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) celebrated the enactment of state legislation to authorize additional liquor licenses in Boston and delivered remarks at a ceremonial bill signing at the Massachusetts State House. As a Boston City Councilor, Pressley championed and helped enact the last major liquor license reform in 2014.

    “Restaurants are the economic, social, and cultural anchors of our streets and every Bostonian deserves the chance to realize the fundamental idea that this city and all its blessings belong to each of us. Today’s signing of legislation to reform Massachusetts’ archaic liquor license laws—and build upon the reforms we enacted in 2014—gives our restauranteurs and our communities a chance to enjoy an equitable opportunity to build community and wealth—from Hyde Park to East Boston from Dorchester to Jamaica Plain and all across the city.

    “When I authored the home rule petition to lift the cap as a Boston City Councilor a decade ago, I was hopeful it would set a new floor for future reform, and I am so proud to see that playing out today. Thank you to Senator Liz Miranda, Rep. Chris Worrell, Councilor Brian Worrell, Governor Maura Healey and every restauranteur and advocate who invested the sweat equity that made today possible. Today, we raise a figurative drink to this achievement and look forward to tomorrow to actualize the potential of this legislation.”

    During her time on the Boston City Council, Pressley championed legislation to overhaul the liquor license process in Boston by eliminating the cap on liquor licenses and returning control over licensing to the city. In 2014, in partnership with then-Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, her City Council colleagues, and the Massachusetts Legislature, Pressley’s reforms returned the Boston Licensing Board to the City of Boston and created 75 new liquor licenses to be distributed across the city.

    In 2017, Pressley and Walsh announced a new proposal to grant the City of Boston additional liquor licenses as part of an ongoing effort to attract new businesses and restaurants, encourage expansion of current establishments, and support Boston’s growing economy.

    A transcript of Rep. Pressley’s remarks is below, and the full video is available here.

    TRANSCRIPT: Pressley Celebrates Signing of Massachusetts Liquor License Reform Bill

    October 9, 2024

    Boston, Massachusetts

    Governor, I have to say that, you know, because there are so many people here today, it’s easy to have oversights, and if there are any more, know that it’s an error of the head and not the heart.

    But I would say that it is incredibly heartening that there are so many people here. This was not always the case on this issue. Many people saw this is a third-rail issue. There were a lot of people that were happy with an unjust status quo.

    10 years ago, when I was an At-Large Boston City Councilor and Chair of the Committee on Healthy Women, Families and Communities, making the case that walkable amenities, that restaurants, had something to do with healthy communities. That it was about public health and public safety, social and economic mobility. These critical anchors.

    And so to stand here today, President Spilka, I have to say, it feels good to be in the Massachusetts Seventh. It feels good to be home.

    It feels good to be in Boston as we celebrate the signing of game-changing legislation to reform our archaic liquor license laws to give our restaurateurs and our communities a chance to enjoy in equity and opportunity to build community and to build wealth.

    It never gets old. I feel just as hopeful as I did 10 years ago, when we were here with Governor Deval Patrick, when we signed the economic development bill that included our first bite at reforming this antiquated, unjust liquor licensing system.

    Governor Patrick signed that after we had worked for four-and-a-half years with two mayors: Mayor Menino—this was the last action on his desk—Mayor Menino and Mayor Walsh. So if we could just acknowledge both of those mayors and Governor Patrick.

    I was proud to lead that effort as an At-Large Boston City Councilor. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to celebrate with Governor Healey as we take the next step towards economic justice for all of Boston’s neighborhoods.

    Are you tired of making history yet? You keep doing it. Okay.

    The legislators in this room: Councilor Brian Worrell, Representative Chris Worrell, State Senator Liz Miranda. When I say that they have poured their blood, sweat, and legislative capital into making today a reality, it was not easy.

    But this is a glorious day. It is so rare, as a lawmaker, when you plant a seed that you can see it bear its fruit in your lifetime. So this is an incredible, incredible day.

    When I first raised this issue a decade ago, we knew that reforming a century-old system designed to strip Boston of the flexibility to raise or lower the cap on liquor licenses was a long, difficult and politically risky process.

    But we showed what was possible when we bring together a diverse coalition of existing and aspiring restauranteurs, economic justice advocates, and community members who recognize the need to disrupt an unjust status quo and address the disparity in neighborhood sit-down restaurants.

    I am proud of the cultural and economic impact that our liquor license reform has had since passing in 2014. The impact has been undeniable in the restaurants that have been able to open, remain open, and become staples of their respective neighborhoods.

    And for the entrepreneurs and workers who have found opportunities that were previously closed to them—and take it from me, there is simply no better feeling than traveling this incredible city from Hyde Park to East Boston, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Roxbury—seeing the fruits of that labor and new neighborhood restaurants.

    Restaurants are the economic, social and cultural anchors of our streets. They incentivize foot traffic. They feed our bodies and our souls. They create space for us to celebrate and to grieve the milestones of life. And the folks up here know that every single Bostonian deserves the chance to do that in the community they call home.

    10 years ago, I was hopeful that our liquor license reform would set a new floor for future reform as we saw today. It is a joy to celebrate this new legislation, which gives us the chance to realize that fundamental idea that this city, in all its blessings, belong to all of us.

    And now we know that even a historic day like today is not a magic wand. We’re all committed to putting in the work to make sure this game-changing legislation has the transformative and equitable impact we all know it can.

    So while we continue to do the work to break down barriers to entry, like disparate access to capital, the shortage of built out commercial space for restaurants in our communities, the importance of today cannot be underestimated or understated.

    So let’s raise a figurative drink to today’s achievement, roll up our sleeves tomorrow, to actualize the potential of this game-changing legislation.

    And with that, I’m proud to introduce my sister-in-service, who speaks the same love language that I do—policy—lead of this historic piece of legislation, State Senator Liz Miranda.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Johnson Leads Delegation Letter Demanding EPA Regulate BioLab Chemicals

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

    U.S. Senators Ossoff, Warnock, and Reps. Scott, McBath, Williams Join Johnson in Urging EPA To Enhance Federal Oversight of Facilities That Manufacture and/or Store Hazardous Chemical TCCA.

    CONYERS, GA – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), along with U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock and U.S. House Reps. David Scott (GA-13), Lucy McBath (GA-07) and Nikema Williams (GA-05), sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan today urging him to enhance federal oversight of facilities that manufacture and/or store the hazardous chemical Trichloroisocyanuric Acid (TCCA), which is at the heart of the incident at the BioLab plant in Conyers – an environmental and health crisis that has been ongoing since Sept. 29.  

    “We are concerned that facilities like BioLab Conyers, which manufacture and/or store TCCA are improperly managing these substances,” the lawmakers wrote. “When not handled correctly, these chemicals can contaminate local air, water, and soil, posing severe public health risks which include respiratory issues, skin irritations, and long-term conditions like lung and heart disease.”

    Specifically, the lawmakers urge the EPA to “include it on the list of regulated substances under the Risk Management Program (RMP),” which would prompt federal and state agencies to develop more effective safety protocols and management strategies, ensuring stricter adherence to safety standards for facilities handling this chemical.

    “The gravity of this situation underscores the need for changes to the federal and state regulatory systems.”

    Lawmakers are also requesting the agency respond to nine key questions surrounding the reactive chemical in question. 

    Read the letter HERE or below. 

    The Honorable Michael Regan 
    Administrator 
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
    1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW 
    Washington, DC 20460

    Dear Administrator Regan,

    We are writing to urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take immediate action to enhance federal oversight of facilities that manufacture and/or store the hazardous chemical Trichloroisocyanuric Acid (TCCA). 

    On September 29, 2024, just after Hurricane Helene slammed the area, a catastrophic chemical fire took place at the BioLab facility in Conyers, Georgia, that stores TCCA. The fire released a large, billowing plume of hazardous, toxic gasses into the air, which caused the closure of parts of Interstate 20 for nearly 17 hours, with local businesses and government offices forced to close while 17,000 residents living near the plant were forced to evacuate.   

    As of today, toxic substances continue to rise into the air from the smoldering ruins of the plant, with corporate and government officials being unable to offer a specific timetable as to when the danger will end.   People not just in the immediate vicinity of the plant but also millions across southeastern metropolitan Atlanta are under constant exposure to hazardous air quality. This incident has raised serious concerns about the community’s vulnerability to toxic chemical exposure. The danger is heightened by approaching rain which will douse the collapsed building under which millions of pounds of TCCA remain exposed to moisture.

    BioLab, a division of KIK Consumer Products, manufactures and stores millions of pounds of chemical mixtures primarily composed of TCCA at the Conyers, Georgia facility. When TCCA comes into contact with small amounts of water, a hazardous chemical reaction is triggered that generates heat and causes decomposition of the chemical and can in turn produces toxic chlorine gas and can also produce explosive nitrogen trichloride. The Conyers BioLab facility has experienced three separate chemical incidents in the past seven years, four in the past 20. Each event resulted in dangerous chemical reactions and fires, releasing toxic gases like chlorine into the air. 

    There have been conflicting reports on what caused the most recent fire at the Conyers facility. One report cited water used to douse a fire on the roof of the plant seeping in, while another report blames the fire on a malfunctioning sprinkler system. Rainwater from Hurricane Helene seeping into the BioLab facility during and after Hurricane Helene has not been ruled out as a cause as well. 

    We are concerned that facilities like BioLab Conyers, which manufacture and/or store TCCA are improperly managing these substances. When not handled correctly, these chemicals can contaminate local air, water, and soil, posing severe public health risks which include respiratory issues, skin irritations, and long-term conditions like lung and heart disease.

    A similar incident occurred on August 27, 2020, at the Lake Charles BioLab facility in Westlake, Louisiana, in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura. The facility sustained severe damage after TCCA manufactured and stored therein was moistened by small amounts of water and decomposed, producing toxic chlorine gas and nitrogen trichloride. These gases ignited, causing a fire and noxious clouds of toxic gases. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazardous Investigation Board (CSB) investigated the incident and issued safety recommendations to minimize the consequences of future accidental chemical releases like the Lake Charles incident. 

    The 2023 (CSB) report on BioLab Lake Charles found a regulatory gap regarding the oversight of chemicals like TCCA, particularly in their classification and management under existing federal regulations. Given TCCA’s involvement in multiple safety incidents due to its highly reactive properties, we urge the EPA to include it on the list of regulated substances under the Risk Management Program (RMP). 

    This action will prompt federal and state agencies to develop more effective safety protocols and management strategies, ensuring stricter adherence to safety standards for facilities handling this chemical. We hope the Conyers debacle will prompt the inclusion of TCCA to the Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

    We call on the EPA to collaborate with states to implement training programs specifically designed for emergency responders and facility staff. These programs should address the unique challenges posed by reactive chemicals that adversely react to water used to extinguish fires, focusing on appropriate firefighting techniques, chemical behavior, and risk assessment. The EPA, in partnership with state fire marshals and chemical safety experts, can establish comprehensive guidelines for fire suppression techniques tailored to reactive chemicals, including recommendations for effective alternative extinguishing agents, such as dry chemical extinguishers or foam.

    Considering these concerns, we respectfully request clarification by November 20, 2024, on the following matters regarding regulatory oversight and preventative measures at chemical facilities like BioLab:

    1.    Has the EPA, in conjunction with the State of Georgia, initiated any investigations or inspections regarding BioLab Conyers’     
    2.    What immediate actions are the EPA and State agencies taking in response to this latest fire, given the history of public safety      concerns at the Conyers facility?
    3.    The 2023 Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) found that TCCA and TCCA-based formulations are not            covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard. Has there been any progress in addressing     this regulatory gap?
    4.     Following the BioLab Conyers incident is the EPA considering adding TCCA to the list of regulated substances under the Risk     Management Program (RMP)?
    5.    How is the EPA collaborating with state agencies to ensure that chemical facilities like BioLab Conyers are prepared for extreme     weather events that could worsen fire hazards or hazardous material spills?
    6.    In response to BioLab Conyers’ repeated safety failures, what specific measures will the EPA implement with state agencies to improve fire preparedness protocols, particularly for training facility staff and local emergency responders on handling fires involving non-water extinguishable substances?
    7.    Does the EPA anticipate monitoring potential groundwater, soil, and water contamination from the chemical fire at the Conyers BioLab facility?
    8.    We understand that the EPA is working to monitor air quality following the chemical fire. What steps has the EPA taken to inform     affected communities of their findings and recommendations to safeguard the health and safety of these communities and their environment? 
    a.    How have the locations and spatial extent of the EPA’s air quality monitoring area changed as the location and direction of the smoke plume has shifted? 
    9.    What specific additional authority and resources does the EPA need to effectively prevent future incidents at chemical facilities like BioLab Conyers?

    The gravity of this situation underscores the need for changes to the federal and state regulatory systems. We look forward to your prompt response and urge robust, decisive measures to address the serious environmental and safety concerns posed by incidents like this.

    ###
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Garcia and Asm. Schiavo Lead Bipartisan Letter to Governor Newsom to Declare State of Emergency for Chiquita Canyon Landfill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Garcia (CA-25)

    SANTA CLARITA, CA– Today, Representative Mike Garcia (CA-27) and Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-AD-40) led a bipartisan letter of state representatives petitioning Governor Newsom for a State of Emergency declaration at Chiquita Canyon. The letter, signed by 15 state legislators, outlines the urgent need for this declaration to protect the health and safety of residents living near the landfill.
    “The environmental disaster at Chiquita Canyon has only worsened for residents in Val Verde, Castaic, and the Santa Clarita Valley,” said Rep Garcia. “Innocent residents continue to face severe health problems and financial hardships because of this ongoing issue. It’s more urgent than ever: We need a State of Emergency. I’m grateful to have Assemblywoman Schiavo as a partner committed to taking this fight directly to the Governor. This joint letter proves that this issue transcends political boundaries – it’s about protecting the community and urging the state and county to do more for residents,” concluded Rep. Garcia.  “Residents of Val Verde, Castaic, and students of nearby schools have been subjected to prolonged exposure to harmful emissions, leading to a range of health issues including headaches, nausea, asthma, heart palpitations, and a newly identified cancer cluster,” said Asm. Schiavo. “Last week, to get a full understanding of the impacts, I stayed overnight with a family in the area. On their street of 14 houses, seven neighbors have been fighting cancer – one has passed away. While I am grateful for the robust state, federal, and county response to the disaster on the landfill site, neighbors just a few yards away do not have the protections or relief they need to keep themselves or their children safe. We must do more and we need to act now before more people get sick, or worse, die. A state of emergency must be declared and we need to focus relief efforts to get the community out of harm’s way and the healthcare and support they need,” concluded Asm. Schiavo.

    Rep. Garcia has been actively leading the response to the Chiquita Canyon crisis since it was brought to his attention last year. He has welcomed the EPA’s involvement, led a bipartisan letter urging the Governor for a State of Emergency, called for the immediate suspension of landfill operations except for local waste collection, demanded a thorough investigation to hold responsible parties accountable, secured federal funding for emissions monitoring and emergency response, and introduced the Chiquita Canyon Tax Relief Act. Throughout this time, he has maintained regular communication with affected residents to ensure they receive the necessary relief.

    A full copy of the letter text is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: No savings? No plans? No Great Australian Dream. How housing is reshaping young people’s lives

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wendy Stone, Professor of Housing & Social Policy, Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology

    Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock

    Australia’s housing crisis is dramatically reshaping the lives and hopes of young people, highlighted in a new report launched today in Canberra as part of World Homeless Day.

    The research, developed by Swinburne University of Technology and funded by YWCA Australia, provided a platform for young women and gender diverse people from around Australia to share their housing experiences and aspirations.

    Our research found many young people are frustrated about the affordability, quality and security of housing in Australia.

    These housing barriers are changing the traditional life course that many of these young people expected to follow, undermining their sense of what it means to be an “adult”.

    Louise, 26, told us, as part of our research:

    I don’t feel like an adult sometimes because of my living circumstances … I thought I’d be like ‘Sex and the City’, having my own apartment and going out for drinks with my friends. But none of us have time to do that.

    The report highlights how such housing barriers and frustrations are severely impacting young people’s relationships, health and wellbeing, education, employment, and ability to plan for the future.

    Housing dreams are ratcheted down

    Home ownership is still “the great Australian dream” for many. However, numerous young people feel buying a home is out of reach or impossible.

    Erin, a young woman in her late 20s, states:

    It feels like you have to buy a house to be in the game, but to get there it just feels completely out of our grasp. And that’s quite scary.

    For many, buying or even renting is seen as unattainable without a partner. This has gendered implications where young women need to depend financially on a partner, potentially leading to disadvantage in the future.

    Amy, 30, articulates:

    It’s very hard to get a rental as a single female […] the uncertainty of not getting another place keeps me here.

    Participants with hopes of having children express anxiety when their housing circumstances are unpredictable and/or unaffordable.

    Jamie, a non-binary person in their mid-20s, says:

    The biggest negative impact of being stuck on the lowest end of the rental market is that it severely limits my ability to plan to start a family. My partner and I both want a child but are terrified of the idea of not being able to afford rent with a new baby and limited family support.

    Health and wellbeing are undermined

    Young people describe feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, trapped and crushed by their housing situations. For some, this stems from the daily challenge of simply making ends meet.

    Celia, a woman in her late 20s, describes:

    The constant cycle of living in a place for a year, getting a massive rent increase, having to find a new place and move again is exhausting, financially unsustainable and demoralising. It feels pretty hopeless because I’m stuck in this cycle and I’ll never save for a house deposit because I’m losing it all on exorbitant rent.

    For other participants, the health and wellbeing impact stems from their less-than-ideal dynamics at home, with many living with family as adults to save on rent.

    As Zoe, a woman in her late 20s, describes:

    It’s like you don’t pay with money to live with family […] but you pay with your mental health.

    Relationships and safety are affected

    Compromised safety is a concern among young women and gender diverse people we spoke with – whether it be escaping family and domestic violence, living in housing that is physically safe (such as with working locks on doors and windows), or sharing with others comfortably.

    Our research found gender has a material impact on housing experiences, and shaped young women’s and gender diverse people’s perceptions of safety.

    Julia, a woman in her early 20s, highlighted safety concerns:

    My family home was filled with a lot of domestic violence. And so when I left and now I have my own place, I feel very, very safe there in comparison. And also no one in my family knows where I live. So that makes me feel very safe.

    Some of the challenges of living with family were summarised by Ryde, a non-binary person in their early 20s:

    Even now I’m like learning how to like be my own person while still being under my parents’ roof […] like still living at home is a bit emotionally kind of weird.

    So what needs to change?

    Participants involved in the research provide a number of solutions for addressing their housing barriers, including:

    Beth told us:

    I feel like our education totally failed us. I always think there needs to be some kind of unit in Year 11 or 12, like a compulsory unit where it’s like just life skills. So taxes, superannuation, getting your first job, buying your first house, getting into the rental market. If we have the skills or knowledge from that education, we might be able to make more informed choices.

    Finally, young people urgently need a seat at the table when it comes to decisions about housing. They know what is needed and what politicians need to hear.

    In the words of Taylor, a 24-year-old woman:

    I think one thing that the politicians struggle to understand is that we’re not asking for, you know, four bedroom, three bathrooms at $400.00 a week. We’re asking for houses with working locks. No mould. And you know, we’re asking for very basic secure housing at affordable prices, it’s not a matter of us being picky. It’s a matter of health and safety.

    (All participants’ names have been changed).

    Wendy Stone receives funding from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI), the Australian Research Council (ARC), the Brian M. Davis Charitable Foundation, Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG), Kids Under Cover and YWCA Australia, the funder of the research this article reports on. She has previously received funding from the Victorian Government.

    Catherine Hartung received funding from YWCA Australia to undertake this research.

    Sal Clark received funding from YWCA Australia to undertake this research

    Zoe Goodall has received funding from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI), the Victorian government, the Brian M. Davis Charitable Foundation, Kids Under Cover, and YWCA Australia. YWCA Australia funded the research this article reports on.

    – ref. No savings? No plans? No Great Australian Dream. How housing is reshaping young people’s lives – https://theconversation.com/no-savings-no-plans-no-great-australian-dream-how-housing-is-reshaping-young-peoples-lives-240435

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Yes, nature is complex. But saving our precious environment means finding ways to measure it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Wintle, Professor in Conservation Science, School of Ecosystem and Forest Science, The University of Melbourne

    Shutterstock

    Nature loss directly threatens half the global economy. The rapid destruction of biodiversity should alarm the many Australian businesses dependent on nature, such as those in agriculture, tourism, construction and food manufacturing. Yet nature considerations are often ignored in business decision-making.

    At the Global Nature Positive Summit in Sydney this week, scientists, politicians, conservationists and business leaders have gathered to discuss ways to help nature in Australia – not just by protecting it from damage, but improving it. Getting more businesses interested in – and taking positive action on – nature conservation is key to the talks.

    Reducing the environmental impact of a business first requires measuring that impact. It might seem an impossibly difficult task. After all, nature is a diverse and intricate web of connections. How can we capture that in a number?

    After all, nature is complex – but measuring how a business intersects with it need not be.

    Uncovering impacts on nature

    The fishing industry depends directly on stocks of wild fish. And a housing developer has a direct impact on nature if they clear natural vegetation to build a new suburb.

    Businesses interactions with nature can be indirect, too – for example, a margarine producer who uses canola oil from a grower who depends on bees for pollination. Builders might indirectly harm rainforests in Indonesia by buying timber grown there. A superannuation company investing in that developer is also having an indirect negative impact.

    From next year, Australian companies will be required to measure and report their climate impacts. While businesses are not yet required to disclose their impacts on nature more broadly, many are moving in that direction – both in Australia and globally.

    For example in 2022, more than 400 of the world’s largest corporations called for mandatory disclosure of nature impacts. They included Nestlé, Rio Tinto, L’Oréal, Sony and Volvo. And many early-adopter businesses have begun voluntary disclosures.

    Guidelines are available to help businesses understand and measure their impacts, however progress is slow. This is partly due to a perception from business that the task is too complex.

    Nature assessment is challenging. Unlike identifying a company’s contributions to climate change – by measuring tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions – there is no agreed single measure of impacts on nature.

    What’s more, different people ascribe different values to aspects of nature. Rightly or wrongly, for instance, most people would probably value a koala over a mosquito.

    What do you value more – a koala or a mosquito?
    Shutterstock

    Drawing on the expertise of ecologists

    Despite the difficulties, gauging the extent to which a business affects the environment can be done. Essentially, it involves three steps:

    1. understanding how a business broadly intersects with nature

    2. evaluating how specific business activities intersect with and put pressure on nature

    3. measuring and reporting the degree to which specific activities are impacting on the condition of nature. In other words, is the state of animals, plants and ecosystems improving or worsening?

    Online tools such as ENCORE can get businesses started on the first step – understanding a business’ broad impacts and dependency on nature.

    Many businesses are moving to the second stage – evaluating the specific business activities that put pressure on the environment, and determining the extent to which businesses depend on particular services ecosystems provide.

    The pressure a business places on nature can be measured via specific metrics, such as the amount of water consumed, air pollutants emitted, waste generated or area of land changed. Again, a suite of online tools and metrics can help with this.

    The next step is more complicated, yet essential. It requires businesses directly measuring their impacts on specific animals, plants and ecosystems. For this, we can turn to the expertise of ecologists.

    Individuals of a species can be hard to count, and extinction risk can be hard to measure. So ecologists often describe and monitor a species’ habitat – the environments in which a species can survive and reproduce – as a proxy for the fate of the species itself.

    Ecosystems – such as a rainforest, wetland or desert – can be described as being in good or poor condition. The rating depends on whether all the ecosystem’s plants, animals and other components are present, or whether unwanted components, such as weeds or invasive species, are found there.

    A graphic showing how ecologists measure the state of nature.
    TNFD

    In addition, maps, showing ecosystem condition and extent are available for much of Australia.

    Habitat mapping is also available for most threatened animals and plants, and thousands of other species. And mapping exists for World Heritage areas, important wetlands, national parks, Indigenous Protected Areas and other environment types.

    These resources are not difficult or expensive to access, and people and organisations with the skills to interpret and use such data are becoming more common.

    Some businesses are attempting these measurements. For example, plantation forestry company Forico last year prepared a natural capital report on a range of nature metrics, including the extent of species habitats, and assessment of vegetation condition.

    But many businesses are not yet grappling with this deeper nature analysis.

    This map, from ecosystem research organisation TERN, is one of many freely available to businesses seeking nature data.
    TERN

    Looking ahead

    We have the information and metrics to help businesses measure their impact on nature.

    Collaboration is urgently needed between business and nature experts, so the data available can be tailored to the needs of businesses, and presented in a form they can use.

    Governments can support this – for example by establishing accessible and practical online data platforms, and funding training for more nature experts who understand business.

    A new federal government agency, Environment Information Australia, will also hopefully become an important hub for data and information.

    By measuring what might seem immeasurable, businesses can become part of the solution to the nature crisis. There is cause for optimism – but no time to waste.

    Brendan Wintle has received funding from The Australian Research Council, the Victorian government, the NSW government, the Queensland government, the Commonwealth National Environmental Science Program, the Ian Potter Foundation, the Hermon Slade Foundation and the Australian Conservation Foundation. Wintle is a Board Director of Zoos Victoria and a lead councillor of the Biodiversity Council.

    Sarah Bekessy receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Ian Potter Foundation and the European Commission. She is a Lead Councillor with The Biodiversity Council, a board member of Bush Heritage Australia, a member of the WWF Eminent Scientists Group and an advisor to ELM Responsible Investment, the Living Building Challenge and Wood for Good.

    Simon O’Connor is affiliated with the Australian government as a member of the Minister for Environment and Water’s Nature Finance Council, and previously oversaw the national consultation group for the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures

    William Geary receives funding from the Victorian government and is associated with the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.

    – ref. Yes, nature is complex. But saving our precious environment means finding ways to measure it – https://theconversation.com/yes-nature-is-complex-but-saving-our-precious-environment-means-finding-ways-to-measure-it-240583

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China calls for peace, stability on Korean Peninsula

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Wednesday called on all parties to work together to uphold peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and advance the political settlement process of the Korean Peninsula issue.

    It is reported that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) said it will completely cut off roads and railways connected to the Republic of Korea (ROK) and fortify the relevant areas of its side with strong defence structures from Wednesday. The DPRK will take a substantial military step to completely separate the territory of the DPRK, where its sovereignty is exercised, from the territory of the ROK.

    In response to a related query, spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily news briefing that China is following the developments on the Korean Peninsula and DPRK-ROK relations.

    “China believes that upholding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and advancing the political settlement process of the Korean Peninsula issue serves the common interests of all parties, and it is what the international community expects,” Mao said, adding all parties need to work together for this end. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Security Council resolutions binding for all states: Chinese envoy

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    UN Security Council resolutions are binding for all states, as stipulated in the UN Charter, and there is no room for distortion or interpretation, said Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, at the Security Council briefing on the humanitarian situation in Gaza on Wednesday.

    Fu said that since October last year, the Gaza conflict and the situation in the Middle East have been at the forefront of the Security Council’s work. “Yet the situation has not improved so far. Instead, it has continued to deteriorate.”

    “We cannot ignore the marginalization of the Council,” he emphasized.

    Fu noted that there is broad consensus among the vast majority of council members on the Palestinian-Israeli issue. He recalled that after repeated vetoes of the council’s demand for an immediate ceasefire, the U.S. side put forward a ceasefire initiative last May, claiming that Israel had accepted it and requesting the council’s support for an agreement through diplomatic talks.

    “However, over the past five months, the so-called diplomatic efforts seemed to be going in circles, and more time and patience have led to greater civilian casualties and more reckless military adventurism,” he added.

    The ambassador said it is necessary to take a deep look at the current impasse and reaffirm some self-evident principles. “Security Council resolutions are binding for all states, as stipulated in the UN Charter, and there is no room for distortion or interpretation.”

    In this regard, the implementation of international humanitarian law is a non-negotiable obligation and cannot be used as a bargaining chip, and the principles of international law are universally applicable to all states, he said, warning that “double standard and selective application would set a terrible precedent with wide-ranging negative consequences.”

    “We certainly cannot lose faith in genuine diplomacy,” the envoy said, urging the country concerned to prioritize the saving of lives, show political will, take an impartial stand, give up its political calculations, and exert all available influence on the relevant party.

    “At the same time, we support the Council in utilizing all options in its toolbox to take further actions to end the war and restore peace as soon as possible,” he said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Mainland, HK agree to promote services trade

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) have agreed to build closer ties in services trade, China’s Ministry of Commerce said Wednesday.

    Li Yongsha, an official with the ministry, and Paul Chan, financial secretary of the HKSAR government, signed a document on amending the service trade agreement under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

    The agreement will take effect from the date of signing and will be officially implemented as of March 1, 2025.

    According to the amendment, thresholds of market access for Hong Kong service providers in fields including finance, telecommunications, architecture and tourism, will be further lowered or removed.

    Signed between the mainland and Hong Kong in 2003, the CEPA has significantly facilitated trade liberalization in both goods and services.

    The amendment is an important measure to improve the mechanism for Hong Kong to play a better role in China’s opening-up, said the ministry, adding that it is the second time the CEPA service trade agreement has been amended, the first time being in 2019. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police graduates keeping it in the family

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Families and friends were at Te Rauparaha Arena to watch seventy new police officers graduate from their initial police training  in Porirua today. Twenty three out of the seventy graduates joined police because they had whānau already in police as constables, sergeants, senior sergeants, detectives and even members of the police executive.

    In attendance at the 378 Wing graduation was Hon Hekia Parata, the Wing Patron, The Hon Mark Mitchell – Minister for Police, The Hon Casey Costello – Associate Minister for Police with Acting Commissioner Jevon McSkimming and members of the police executive. 

    Constable Steven Karehana was the recipient of the Commissioner’s Leadership Award. 

    “This is the beginning of our journey in the New Zealand Police, but for all of us graduating, there are many people who have sacrificed and worked hard to allow us to be here, and we are very grateful.  We could not have done it without you. The call to service is one few answer, but it is a selfless sacrifice to put community above self and by graduating today we have all joined a proud and selfless organisation.”

    Top award winner in the wing, Constable Jesse McIntyre was presented with the korowai to wear on parade by Ministers Mitchell and Costello.

    He says, “College is where I became part of the Police family. Both recruits and staff were welcoming and respectful. From day one you could see the passion and drive that everyone had to serve their communities and help people.

    My advice to anyone thinking of joining is keep true to yourself, remember why you joined and what you are striving to achieve.  Look after your mates and don’t be afraid to ask for support, we all need a bit of help sometimes.
    All staff here want you to succeed and achieve your potential, therefore have an open mind, and take on advice. Stay humble and take it one day at a time.”

    Awards:
    Minister’s Award recognising top student: Constable Jesse McIntyre, posted to Canterbury District.  Constable McIntyre also wins the Firearms Award.
    Patron’s Award for second in wing, recognising second top student: Constable Daniel Coonan, posted to Auckland City District.
    Commissioner’s Award for Leadership: Stephen Karehana posted to Central district.
    Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award: Constable Ethan Comer posted to Bay of Plenty District.
    Physical Training and Defensive Tactics: Constable Marthinus Venter, posted to Tasman District.

    Deployment:
    The new constables will start their first day of duty in their Police districts on Monday, 21 October 2024 and will continue their training on the job as probationary constables. Northland 4, Tāmaki Makaurau a total of 22 and broken down as follows: Auckland – 7, Waitematā – 3, Counties Manukau – 12, Waikato – 5, Bay of Plenty – 8, Eastern – 3, Central – 7, Wellington – 10, Tasman – 2, Canterbury – 6, Southern – 3.

    Demographics:

    20.0 percent are female, 80.0 percent are male. New Zealand European make up 57.2 percent of the wing, with Māori 11.5 percent, Pasifika 10.0 percent, Asian 12.9. percent and Other 4.3 percent.

    Wing Patron:  The Honourable Hekia Parata – Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Porou.

    After a career as a senior public servant, Parata was a member of the New Zealand House of Representatives, representing the National Party, from 2008 until 2017. She served as the Minister of Education in the Fifth National Government. Some of her parliamentary roles included Minister for Women’s Affairs, Minister for Ethnic Affairs, Minister of Education and Minister for Pacific Island Affairs.  She retired from politics in 2017, and since then has had several appointments to ministerial inquiries, such as leading the 2023 inquiry into forestry land use after Cyclone Gabrielle.

    Please look out for a Ten One Magazine story that will be published on the Police website with more stories and photos about our recruits tackling work in their first week.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoyer Statement on Republican Disinformation Regarding Hurricane and Disaster Warnings

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today regarding the disinformation spread by Republicans about the hurricane warnings and resources from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):

    “With one of the most powerful hurricanes in history bearing down on America’s gulf coast, the last thing the hundreds of thousands of evacuees need is disinformation. Sadly, Donald Trump, the provocateur-in-Chief, Senator Vance as his deputy, and the members of the extreme MAGA far-right, have seized on this natural disaster to spread conspiracy theories and political hoaxes. 

    “Trump forces continue to vilify FEMA and raise doubts about the agency’s warning to Americans caught in the path of the deadly storm to evacuate before it is too late. Spreading these lies is not only morally disgusting; it is dangerous. 

    “Every second counts in an evacuation. Someone who cares more about maximizing the number of likes and views on a provocative tweet over minimizing the number of American lives lost to these storms has no place holding public office. Our response to these storms has been – and must remain – bipartisan and truthful. 

    “It is crucial that our House comes together to secure disaster aid to help those affected by these storms and the many other disasters America has experienced in recent months. I urge Americans to evacuate, and I urge their leaders to either reiterate that warning or refrain from their partisan lies.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Sub-Saharan Africa: Sharp rise in use of death penalty across region

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Executions more than tripled in 2023, while death sentences increased by 66% in the region

    Fresh call for abolition on World Day Against Death Penalty, with Kenya, Zimbabwe and Gambia leading the way

    ‘It’s time for all countries to move away from this cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment once and for all’ – Oluwatosin Popoola

    Sub-Saharan African countries on the cusp of abolition must ban the death penalty immediately, paving the way for others around the world to follow in their footsteps, said Amnesty International on World Day Against the Death Penalty (10 October).

    Last year, Amnesty documented a sharp increase in the use of the death penalty across sub-Saharan Africa, when recorded executions more than tripled and death sentences increased by 66% from 298 to 494. Somalia was the only country in the region known to have carried out executions.

    Death sentences were recorded in 14 African countries, an overall decrease of two compared to 2022.  However, there were increases in recorded death sentences in some countries, including Ghana (seven to 10); Mali (eight to 13); and Nigeria (77 to 246).

    Despite these bleak statistics, Kenya and Zimbabwe and Gambia are edging closer towards abolition. Kenya and Zimbabwe currently have bills tabled to abolish the death penalty for all crimes, while Gambia has begun a constitutional amendment process that will effectively abolish the death penalty. So far, 24 out of 53 countries across sub-Saharan Africa have abolished the death penalty for all crimes.

    Oluwatosin Popoola, Amnesty International’s legal advisor on the death penalty, said:

    “Although the sub-Saharan Africa region saw a surge in both recorded executions and recorded death sentences in 2023, Gambia, Kenya and Zimbabwe have the opportunity to buck that trend in the region.

    “Countries that still retain the death penalty in their laws often resort to the death penalty believing the punishment can make their people and communities safer. However, that is a misconception. The death penalty does not have a unique deterrent effect, and it violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

    “Countries that still retain the death penalty are an isolated minority as the world continues to move away from this cruel punishment. The more countries that abolish the death penalty for all crimes, the more isolated the remaining countries will become and the weaker their position on the death penalty will be. It’s time for all countries to move away from this cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment once and for all.”

    Progress in the region: Kenya

    Gambia, Kenya and Zimbabwe have not carried out an execution in more than a decade, while each country has commuted multiple death sentences in the same period. The last known execution in Kenya was in 1987, and although the country does not have an official moratorium on executions it has an established practice of not carrying them out. Kenyan courts continue to impose death sentences, but the country continues to make good progress against the death penalty. In 2023, 606 commutations of death sentences were granted, while four bills to abolish the death penalty are currently pending in Parliament.

    Progress in the region: Zimbabwe

    The last known execution in Zimbabwe was carried out in 2005 even though courts continue to impose death sentences. President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who assumed office in 2017, has also made his opposition to the death penalty clear.

    Oluwatosin Popoola explained:

    “Zimbabwe’s president was himself sentenced to death for ‘terrorism’ as a young man due to his involvement in Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle. He narrowly avoided execution as he was below the age of 21 at the time and was sentenced to ten years in prison instead. The president knows what it’s like to be facing the death penalty and he now has the opportunity to ensure no one else goes through that.”

    Last December, the Death Penalty Abolition Bill was published in the official gazette in Zimbabwe and the Government announced its support for it this February. The bill is currently pending before parliament.

    Progress in the region: Gambia

    The last execution in Gambia was carried out in 2012, when nine soldiers were executed by firing squad. However, since President Adama Barrow assumed office in 2017, Gambia has made significant progress in abolishing the death penalty: the country has established an official moratorium on executions, become party to an international treaty aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, and regularly commutes death sentences.

    The global picture

    In 2023, Amnesty recorded a sharp rise in  executions globally, with 1,153 executions, an increase of 31% (270) from the 883 known executions in 2022. This year has continued a disturbing trend with an alarming surge in executions in Iran and Saudi Arabia, a decision in Democratic Republic of Congo to resume executions, and Taiwan’s Supreme Court failing to abolish the death penalty. So far, 113 countries around the world have abolished the death penalty for all crimes.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UniSA appoints new Director of Defence and Space

    Source: University of South Australia

    10 October 2024

    The University of South Australia has appointed Ryan McClenaghan as its new Director of Defence and Space, responsible for steering research and education across the sector at a pivotal time in the nation’s defence history.

    McClenaghan has made a substantial impact in his most recent role as Director, Defence and National Security at Fleet Space Technologies, one of Australia’s leading satellite companies with a global presence. During his three-year tenure at Fleet, McClenaghan secured millions of dollars in defence contracts.

    At UniSA, he will draw on his extensive international experience with defence companies, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom, including working across the AUKUS partnership with government and industry.

    Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, McClenaghan moved to Australia in 2006, co-founding two start-up companies and working in various roles in the intervening years, including with the Australian Industry Group and Micro-X, an award-winning ASX-listed x-ray technology company.

    Announcing the appointment, UniSA Director: Enterprise Partnerships, Peter Stevens, says McClenaghan will strengthen the University’s defence and space footprint with industry and governments in Australia and worldwide.

    “South Australia is at the forefront of Australia’s space and defence sector, responsible for delivering a $368 billion nuclear submarine construction project for the AUKUS alliance, hosting the Australian Space Agency, and supporting more than 100 space-related companies,” Stevens says.

    “Academia, industry and government need to work hand-in-hand to ensure the sector thrives, highlighting the importance of this appointment. Ryan and his experienced team will work closely to bridge the gap between innovation and operational efficiency as well as collaborating to develop the skills required to deliver on our commitments.”

    UniSA has bolstered its sector credentials in recent years with programs like the Global Executive MBA in Defence and Space, software degree apprenticeships with BAE Systems and ASC, the Venture Catalyst Space program and the Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program.

    “All these underpin our strengths in research and collaboration in areas such as the SmartSat CRC and iLAuNCH Trailblazer program, which will be amplified by the creation of Adelaide University in 2026, bringing together the State’s two biggest universities,” Stevens says.

    Excited by the challenge, McClenaghan says he is looking forward to leading UniSA’s defence and space strategy at such a critical time.

    “As Australia seeks to grow its sovereign defence and capabilities, and Adelaide University is created, it is more important than ever that we align research with industry engagement and technology transfer and support the skills required for the future,” McClenaghan says.

    He will commence his new role on Monday 14 October.

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

    Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Anyone’s game in Auckland’s contest for 170 positions

    Source: Auckland Council

    Are you a community leader? Someone with the vision, community focus and commitment to help Auckland achieve its goals?

    There’s now one year to go until Aucklanders decide on the leaders who will take on the big opportunities heading our way.

    Those elected to Auckland Council’s Governing Body and its local boards will be taking on a critical leadership role for our large, diverse and growing region.  They will govern our organisation; guide and make decisions on how best to allocate resources and drive value for money for ratepayers and Aucklanders alike.

    With major infrastructure projects set for completion from 2025, notably the City Rail Link and Central Interceptor, this is the time Auckland can level up on its ambitions. That includes how its businesses thrive, how communities grow and meet their housing needs, how people get around efficiently and easily, how it takes on its environmental challenges and how its centres become great places to be.

    Tāmaki Makaurau’s leadership is a big team, with a range of roles and responsibilities: from the mayor and ward councillors, who make regional decisions as members of the council’s governing body, to local board members who represent 21 areas of Auckland and make local decisions.

    “It’s time to consider who will be next to take on that responsibility and lead Auckland towards becoming a world-class city,” says Auckland Council’s chief executive, Phil Wilson.

    “Elected members have roles that need to show a combination of great leadership skills, advocacy and quality decision-making abilities on behalf of the people they represent.

    “Regardless of your background, if you think you can make a difference and be the voice of your community, definitely consider standing as a candidate.

    “With our region being so rich in culture and ethnic diversity, it’s important that people from all walks of life are represented,” he says.

    “Auckland’s growth and uniqueness has shown how our size and scale has a range of different needs to address, requiring varied thinking and approaches from across the region to weigh in on plans and projects, and to prioritise and what’s best for our communities.

    “Elected representatives play a part in almost everything the council does – from decisions on arts, events, sporting and park facilities, libraries, community centres, to infrastructure, environment, emergency preparedness and much more,” says Mr Wilson.

    “I genuinely hope people take advantage of this opportunity to stand up for their communities.”

    Standing for your community

    Ever thought about what you could do to change things or considered taking on something more meaningful that would benefit your neighbourhood?

    If you’ve got what it takes or know someone else who could be part of the team to represent Auckland’s 1.7 million people – now’s the time – with less than a year to go, start considering the possibilities.

    To make a run for it, nominations open on 4 July 2025 – you’ll find key election dates here. Everything there is to know about how to be nominated is here.

    And whether you intend to stand or not, the team is counting on everyone to be enrolled before voting season starts. Make sure you’re in enrolled here. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: $410,000 to upgrade health facilities on the Mid North Coast

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 10 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Regional Health

    The Mid North Coast Local Health District will benefit from a $410,000 funding boost from the NSW Government to upgrade health facilities in the region.

    The Minns Labor Government is investing a total of almost $12 million in 61 projects as part of the Regional Health Minor Works Program.

    Port Macquarie Base Hospital, Kempsey District Hospital and Macksville District Hospital will share a $235,000 allocation to replace outdated waste management systems in each facility’s operating theatres.

    Wauchope District Memorial Hospital will also receive $175,000 to replace the decking structure between the main building and the hospital’s rehabilitation unit, improving accessibility for patients and staff at the facility.

    Quotes attributable to NSW Regional Health Minister Ryan Park:

    “The Minns Labor Government is committed to investing in health infrastructure to support better health outcomes for rural and regional communities.

    “This investment will allow Mid North Coast Local Health District to upgrade equipment and health facilities to enhance the working environment for health staff and improve patient experiences.

    “The program is one of a number of investments our Government is making to strengthen rural and regional health services, so people have access to the best possible care close to home.”

    Quotes attributable to Labor Spokesperson for Port Macquarie, Cameron Murphy MLC:

    “I’m proud to be part of a government which is making this important investment in regional health facilities.

    “This funding will benefit staff and patients, and it means we can upgrade outdated systems in operating theatres in Port Macquarie, Kempsey and Macksville and also improve accessibility for patients in Wauchope.”

    Quotes attributable to Labor Spokesperson for Oxley, Anthony D’Adam MLC:

    “Through investments like this one, our government is improving access to care in our regional, rural and remote communities.

    “This investment in health infrastructure supports improved working environments for our healthcare staff.”

    Quotes attributable to Jill Wong, Mid North Coast Local Health District Acting Chief Executive:

    “The replacement of outdated waste management systems at Port Macquarie, Kempsey and Macksville hospitals will ensure that we can continue to safely remove surgical waste at each of the facilities in an appropriate manner.

    “The upgrade to the deck structure at Wauchope District Memorial Hospital will enable patients, staff and visitors have improved accessibility when moving between the main building and the rehabilitation unit.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Being on TikTok is a modern political necessity. Look no further than Peter Dutton

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Grantham, Lecturer in Communication, Griffith University

    TikTok

    Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s recent decision to join TikTok marks a big shift in his approach to political campaigning. He previously criticised the platform over security concerns, but now he is embracing it.

    Dutton’s reversal reflects a broader trend of Australian politicians using the platform. This is especially the case in 2024, a year marked by pivotal elections worldwide.

    TikTok offers a unique form of engagement and allows politicians to reach a wide range of voters in ways traditional platforms don’t.

    Dutton’s conservative first post does contrast with TikTok’s casual and engaging style, but signals a willingness to adapt to modern political communication. While his initial concerns about TikTok’s data privacy remain valid, his shift to actively using the platform emphasises its importance in political campaigns today.

    TikTok’s rise as a political tool

    The political landscape is changing. Politicians worldwide who once criticised TikTok are now joining it.

    This shift not only marks evolving campaign strategies but also raises broader questions about the role of social media in democracy.

    Major political figures, such as US presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, continue to use TikTok despite proposed bans in the United States. These bans are currently being contested in court, but are due to commence in January 2025.

    The continued use of TikTok by both candidates underlines the platform’s undeniable significance in shaping political communication.

    TikTok’s popularity stems from its ability to deliver accessible and engaging content. Voters are drawn to TikTok as a source of political news and information because of its easy-to-consume format.

    TikTok allows politicians to bypass the formalities of traditional political communication and present their messages in a relatable way.

    For instance, Senator Fatima Payman’s viral “skibidi” speech is a clear example of how effectively TikTok can amplify political content. She delivered this speech in the Australian Senate, using only TikTok slang.

    It resonated with a younger demographic, and so far has more than eight million views.

    As a result, her account now has more than 100,000 followers and continues to receive significant views on all posts.

    However, when leaning into slang, trends and other visibility strategies, politician walk a fine line where content could be considered “cringe”. This cringe factor can arise if the trend being used is losing relevance or when the content seems out of place or forced (Dutton himself copped some flack for belatedly jumping on the “demure” trend).

    The role of authenticity

    One of the key factors behind successful political engagement on TikTok is authenticity. The platform thrives on genuine, relatable content. Politicians who can showcase a more human side tend to resonate with voters.

    Payman’s use of TikTok slang in her speech connected her with younger audiences, demonstrating the power of speaking the language of the platform’s primary users. Authenticity plays a significant role in TikTok’s algorithm, making it essential for politicians to come across as sincere.

    Because TikTok’s advertising policy bans political ads, politicians must rely on organic content to engage users. Authenticity is therefore an entry requirement.

    Dutton’s presence on TikTok will be closely scrutinised to see how he balances the platform’s demand for authenticity with his public persona. Voters are more likely to engage with politicians they find relatable, so Dutton’s ability to reveal his “ordinary” side without making people cringe may determine how well he is received on TikTok.

    Electioneering on TikTok

    TikTok’s impact on elections has already been demonstrated in several countries.

    In the 2022 Australian federal election, the Labor Party’s use of the app was linked to its success. UK Labour’s similar strategy in 2024 mirrored this result.

    Elections are won and lost for many reasons. There is also no direct data linking TikTok content to voter decisions. But there is a clear correlation between effective use of the platform and electoral victories.

    As Australia approaches its next federal election, TikTok will play a central role in how parties reach voters. For politicians like Dutton, mastering the balance between authenticity and policy will be key to successfully engaging and informing voters on this rapidly evolving platform.

    Challenges ahead

    TikTok’s short video format poses a challenge for conveying complex policy ideas, often leading to oversimplification. Politicians like Dutton must find ways to deepen engagement outside the platform to ensure voters understand their positions.

    Another challenge is the legal issues TikTok faces, particularly in the US. If the platform is banned or restricted in what is a major market, it could affect its use globally, including in Australia. This could disrupt political outreach and engagement strategies, particularly for those who have cultivated a strong presence.

    Dutton’s engagement with TikTok may also spark debate about balancing the benefits of reaching voters through a platform with concerns about data security and misinformation.

    Susan Grantham 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. Being on TikTok is a modern political necessity. Look no further than Peter Dutton – https://theconversation.com/being-on-tiktok-is-a-modern-political-necessity-look-no-further-than-peter-dutton-240009

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Court users may use integrated Court Case Management System for bulk claims in Small Claims Tribunal

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Court users may use integrated Court Case Management System for bulk claims in Small Claims Tribunal
    Court users may use integrated Court Case Management System for bulk claims in Small Claims Tribunal
    ******************************************************************************************

    The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:      The Judiciary today (October 10) announced that starting from October 31, the application of the integrated Court Case Management System (iCMS) will be extended to cover bulk claims in the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) such that court users can handle filing and payments electronically.      Bulk claims refer to claims filed by claimants who have been approved by the Principal Adjudicator to file claims in bulk for hearing at the same time in the SCT.      The iCMS is an integral part of the Judiciary’s Information Technology Strategy Plan. It aims to facilitate the handling of court-related documents and payments through an electronic mode across the various levels of court. Since 2022, the iCMS has been implemented in phases. It currently covers personal injury actions, tax claim proceedings, civil action proceedings and employees’ compensation cases in the District Court, as well as summons cases in the Magistrates’ Courts. It will incrementally be extended to other levels of court. It is also the Judiciary’s target to mandate the use of the iCMS for all legally represented litigants in respect of case types where the electronic mode have been made available, starting in 2026.      The major electronic services under the iCMS include sending case-specific court documents to the courts and receiving such documents from the courts, inspecting or searching filed documents and other case-related information held by the courts, searching cause books, and making payments for court services.      Eligible users need to register for a user account for using the full range of services under the iCMS. Eligible users include parties of an ongoing or new e-proceeding and their legal representatives (if any), the Hong Kong Bar Association, the Law Society of Hong Kong, law firms, government departments, law enforcement agencies and statutory bodies. Registration is free of charge.      Unregistered members of the public may also use certain types of iCMS services, mainly related to searching of electronic documents that are open to public inspection.      To encourage migration to e-filing and e-payment through the iCMS, a 20 per cent concession is offered to iCMS users for three years on fee items of the SCT, which are primarily or directly related to electronic handling of court documents.      As for technical requirements, the iCMS can be accessed using personal computers or mobile devices with an Internet connection, commonly used operating systems and browsers. Relevant technical requirements are available at http://www.judiciary.hk/doc/en/e_courts/AI_TechReq_iCMS_e.pdf.      Generally speaking, the iCMS operates around the clock except during system maintenance. The system maintenance schedules of the iCMS, as specified by the Judiciary, are published on the dedicated webpage of the Judiciary’s website (www.judiciary.hk/en/e_courts/index.html).      Any e-filing and e-payment received under the iCMS after the registry and the accounts office are normally closed to the public (i.e. after 5.30pm on a working day) will be deemed to be received upon the starting time of the normal opening hours of the registry and the accounts office on the following working day.      For enquiries, please call the general enquiry hotline at 2477 1002 or the technical helpline at 2886 6474, e-mail to enquiry@judiciary.hk or visit the Help Centre at 5/F, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai.

     
    Ends/Thursday, October 10, 2024Issued at HKT 9:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Rural By-election gazetted

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         ​The Government gazetted the Rural By-election today (October 10). Fifty-eight Rural Representative vacancies will be open for nominations from October 22 to November 4.     The by-election will return one Resident Representative (ReR) for each of the 35 Existing Villages, one Indigenous Inhabitant Representative (IIR) for each of the 22 Indigenous Villages, and one Kaifong Representative (KFR) for one Market Town (Cheung Chau). The 35 Existing Villages are Po Toi, Ngau Kwu Long, Pui O Lo Wai, Sha Lo Wan, Luk Keng Wong Uk, Nam Chung, San Tsuen, Wu Shek Kok, Shek Chung Au, Kam Tsin, Nga Yiu Ha, Lung Mei, Ma Nam Wat, Nam Wai, Pak Kong Au, Pak Tam Chung, Ping Tun, Sai Wan, Hoi Pong Street, Mui Tsz Lam, Ha Yeung, Pak Sha O, Ping Chau Sha Tau, Uk Tau, Fung Yuen, Kam Shan Village, Kau Lung Hang, Ma Wo Tsuen, Lin Au Cheng Uk, San Tsuen (Lam Tsuen), Tin Liu Ha, Ham Tin, Sai Lau Kok, Sheung Kwai Chung and Tseng Tau Tsuen (Upper); whereas the 22 Indigenous Villages are Po Toi, Sok Kwu Wan, Pui O Lo Wai, Wu Shek Kok, Mang Kung Uk, Pan Long Wan, Long Ke, Mau Ping New Village, Pak Tam Chung, Wong Keng Tsai, Ko Tong, Kei Ling Ha San Wai, Lai Chi Chong, Pak Tam Au, Tung Sam Kei, Uk Tau, Cheung Uk Tei, To Yuen Tung, Tong Sheung Tsuen, Yin Ngam, Sam Tung Uk and Sham Tseng.     For the IIR By-election, a candidate must be an indigenous inhabitant of an Indigenous Village/Composite Indigenous Village as well as an elector of the relevant Village and ordinarily resides in Hong Kong. For the ReR and KFR By-elections, a candidate must be a resident of the relevant Existing Village/Market Town and have resided there for six years immediately preceding the nomination. The candidate must also be an elector of the relevant Village/Market Town.     All candidates must be Hong Kong permanent residents aged 21 or above and must be nominated by at least five registered electors from that Village/Market Town. No person is allowed to stand as a candidate in more than one type of election (i.e. IIR, ReR or KFR By-elections).     Nomination forms are available at the Home Affairs Department (HAD), the New Territories District Offices (NTDOs) and the Rural Representative Election (RRE) website (www.had.gov.hk/rre).     Completed nomination forms must be submitted in person to the Returning Officer concerned between 9am and 5pm from Mondays to Fridays, and from 9am to noon on Saturdays, except general holidays.     A gazette notice on all valid nominations will be published within 14 days after the nomination period. Each validly nominated candidate will be informed separately.     A spokesman for the HAD said that if there is more than one validly nominated candidate for the same Indigenous Village, Existing Village or Market Town, a poll would be held for that Village/Market Town on December 1 (Sunday). Eligible electors will receive a polling notice which specifies the date, time and place of the poll.     For enquiries, please call 2152 1521 or contact the respective NTDO. Members of the public can also visit the RRE website for more information.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Shatters $500 Million Mark in Texas Disaster Relief Loans

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Francisco Sánchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration, announced today that SBA has approved more than $500 million in federal disaster loans for Texas businesses and residents impacted by recent disaster declarations. According to Sánchez, SBA has approved $140,398,750 for businesses and $364,812,900 for residents to help rebuild and recover from these disasters.

    “SBA’s disaster assistance employees are committed to helping businesses and residents rebuild as quickly as possible,” said Sánchez. “Don’t miss out on any assistance you may be entitled to by not registering for help. You don’t need to wait for your insurance to settle or obtain a contractor’s estimate,” he added.

    SBA continues to provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants in all the federal-state Disaster Recovery Centers and SBA Business Recovery Centers located throughout Texas. Please see a complete listing of locations and hours at SBA.gov/disaster.

    Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

    “SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” Sánchez continued. “Work with contractors and mitigation professionals to strengthen your property and take advantage of the opportunity to request additional SBA disaster loan funds for these proactive improvements.”

    Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles.

    Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 3.25 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 2.688 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.

    Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    For SBA declaration 20320 for severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that occurred April 26–June 5, 2024, the deadline to apply for a loan for property damage has passed, small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size still have until Feb. 18, 2025, to apply for an economic injury disaster loan to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

    For SBA declaration 20445 for Hurricane Beryl that occurred July 5-9, the deadline to apply for property damage is Oct. 10, 2024. The deadline to apply for economic injury is April 14, 2025.

    SBA will accept all disaster loan applications up to 60 days after the filing deadline without an explanation of why you were delayed. You can apply online using the MySBA portal at https://lending.sba.gov, or by coming into our centers.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit http://www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xinjiang’s protection of blue skies shows China’s determination to air pollution control

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

    Xinjiang’s protection of blue skies shows China’s determination to air pollution control

    URUMQI, Oct. 9 — Zhang Xin still remembers the complaints she saw on social media some years ago: “In winter, you can’t see the sun clearly in the city of Urumqi,” and “The snow is all black.”

    Zhang, who works in the ecology and environment bureau of Urumqi, capital of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has participate in the air pollution prevention and control work for a long time.

    Urumqi is among an economically vibrant urban cluster located on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains, which also contains parts of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture and the cities of Wujiaqu and Shihezi. The urban cluster is collectively referred to as the Wu-Chang-Shi area by locals.

    For a long time, Wu-Chang-Shi has been a key and challenging area for air pollution prevention and control in Xinjiang due to its heavy industrial and coal-dominated energy structure.

    However, 2023 was the year with the most significant improvement in air quality in the past decade for the urban cluster, thanks to the concerted and unremitting efforts made by the local ecology and environment authorities, enterprises and scientists.

    An aerial panoramic drone photo taken on May 9, 2024 shows a city view of Wujiaqu, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The transformation of Wu-Chang-Shi is a microcosm of China’s air pollution control efforts. Following the introduction of an action plan to prevent and control air pollution in 2013, China became the first developing country in the world to impose large-scale efforts to reduce PM2.5 density.

    China has announced that it will peak its carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

    IMPROVED AIR QUALITY

    Years ago, the Chinese government began publishing air quality rankings in major cities, and the cities in Wu-Chang-Shi, such as Urumqi, often ranked at the bottom of the list.

    “Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Urumqi has poor conditions for diffusion in both horizontal and vertical directions. According to an assessment, Urumqi’s self-purification capacity in winter is only one-tenth of that in summer,” said Zhang.

    In winter, when temperatures often drop to minus 20 to 30 degrees Celsius, residents in Urumqi relied heavily on coal-fired heating, which led to more pollutant emissions.

    Zhang said that with the central government funding, Urumqi has initiated projects, such as clean-energy heating. “The city has begun to improve its heating structure, from centralized heating and cogeneration to clean heating for all bulk coal users, which is a particularly effective experience in air pollution control,” she added.

    In 2012, the central urban area of Urumqi completed the transformation from coal to gas for large-scale coal-fired heating boilers. In October 2023, the city completed the treatment of the remaining villages and households in rural areas that were using bulk coal for heating, making it among the first cities in China to achieve full coverage of clean-energy heating.

    An aerial drone photo taken on April 25, 2024 shows a wind farm in Dabancheng District of Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]

    From Oct. 10, 2023 to April 10, 2024, Urumqi boasted 144 days of good air quality, an increase of 33 days year on year. The average concentrations of six major air pollutants, including PM2.5, decreased by 8.8 percent to 22.7 percent, reaching the best level since the monitoring began.

    Social media, which acts as an unofficial “air quality monitoring station,” also reflects the effectiveness of air pollution control measures.

    In recent years, Zhang noticed some positive changes on social media — residents in Urumqi often post photos and videos of the blue skies of the city.

    KEY INDUSTRIES, TARGETED MEASURES

    Located in the city of Shihezi in the Wu-Chang-Shi area, Tianwei Cement Co., Ltd. is a major cement-producing company in the city.

    China is among the world’s largest producers and consumers of cement. However, due to factors such as large emissions during production, the cement industry is also a major contributor to carbon emissions.

    In 2023, the regional government of Xinjiang proposed to spend three to five years to completely solve the air pollution problem in Wu-Chang-Shi. Various departments have implemented pollution control measures in key enterprises in the area.

    Tianwei Cement is among the 135 industrial enterprises in Wu-Chang-Shi that have been given priority treatment, which altogether accounts for more than 92 percent of the total pollutant emissions in the area.

    According to the ecology and environment bureau of Shihezi, in terms of the comprehensive management of air pollution, the city has implemented a performance-based grading system of key industries to cope with heavy-pollution weather, in sync with other regions across China.

    This photo taken on Aug. 22, 2023 shows a photovoltaic project in Shihezi City, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The four-tier grading system, involving 39 key industries including steel and chemicals, is a measure to implement differentiated control in response to heavy-pollution weather, with A representing the highest and D the lowest. When heavy-pollution weather occurs, Class-A enterprises can take measures independently based on their actual situations to reduce emissions without stopping or limiting production.

    To attain the Class-A rating as quickly as possible, Tianwei Cement has collaborated with the city’s ecology and environment bureau to develop a tailored pollution control plan. Measures have been taken during various processes of production, including the installment of dust-reduction devices in its warehouses.

    Last year, the company obtained the Class-A rating after completing the ultra-low emission transformations. Thanks to the upgrades, the company made a profit of over 80 million yuan (about 11.34 million U.S. dollars) in 2023.

    Meanwhile, Shihezi’s air quality in 2023 reached the best level since 2017, data shows.

    BUILDING TALENT BASE

    Sitting in an office of the air-pollution prevention and control center of Changji, Ma Tong can oversee the pollutant emissions in the entire prefecture in real time through a large screen, which displays data and charts, such as the forecast and dynamic control of heavy-pollution weather. However, she still worries.

    “A lot of data has been integrated into the platform, but the problem is how to effectively utilize it. We lack skilled personnel who can use the platform and information equipment,” she said.

    This photo taken on May 20, 2024 shows staff members working at an office of the air-pollution prevention and control center in Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Ma is an expert from the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences. Five years ago, she came to Xinjiang to provide intellectual support for local air pollution control. “Changji is already at the forefront of Xinjiang in terms of air-pollution treatment through sci-tech means, but compared with the whole country, the prefecture lacks equipment and talent,” said Ma.

    Since last year, the regional government of Xinjiang has pooled 10 billion yuan in funding to establish the Xinjiang talent development fund, which is used to introduce talent from other parts of China, among other objectives.

    In early 2024, the Urumqi-based Xinjiang University introduced Huang Haibao, an air-pollution control expert from Sun Yat-sen University in south China’s Guangdong Province.

    “In addition to cultivating talent ourselves, we have also introduced a group of scholars from universities including Beijing University of Chemical Technology,” said Huang.

    Within six months, Huang and his colleagues have established the air pollution control and research center at the university. He is working to establish the Xinjiang environmental science society, which will serve as a gathering place for the top scientific research talent in Xinjiang and a platform for international cooperation and exchange.

    He also stresses the importance of collaboration between academia and industry. “Ultimately, emission reduction needs to be implemented at the enterprise level,” he said, adding that his team has visited over 10 companies to strengthen cooperation in terms of technology and scientific research.

    “We will try to bring in the technologies, talent and companies from across the country to contribute to air pollution prevention and control work in Xinjiang,” he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Senior political advisors study guiding principles from Xi’s speech on CPPCC

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee started a standing committee session on Wednesday to study an important speech that Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, delivered on Sept. 20 to celebrate the 75th founding anniversary of the CPPCC.
    Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, attended the opening meeting.
    The meeting was presided over by Shi Taifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee. Shi called on CPPCC members to take the study and implementation of Xi’s important speech as a major political task, and give full play to CPPCC’s role as a specialized consultative body, so as to build consensus and pool strength for advancing Chinese modernization.
    Li Shulei, also a member of the Political Bureau and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, was invited to the meeting and gave a report on the advances on cultural fronts.
    The senior political advisors also heard reports on a number of topics, including developing fine traditional Chinese culture, building sci-tech innovation centers and improving foreign-related legal services.
    During the two-and-a-half-day session, they will also hold themed consultations with regional CPPCC committees in Henan, Guangdong and Xinjiang via videolink. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Colleagues Push DOJ to Investigate Requirements for Hamas-Linked Campus Orgs to Register as Foreign Agents

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley, a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote the Justice Department (DOJ) and FBI regarding Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) enforcement, raising concerns Hamas-linked entities are escaping FARA scrutiny as they seek to shape U.S. public opinion and policy outcomes through partnerships with campus organizations. Joining Grassley on the effort are Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.).

    The senators’ inquiry hones in on the National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) – which received backing from an organization whose associated entities the U.S. government has implicated for financing Hamas – and the hundreds of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapters NSJP claims to support across the U.S. Their letter reads, in part:

    “It is incumbent upon all of us crack down on hidden foreign influence. […] The introduction of hostile foreign adversaries into domestic political discussion is especially of issue when it is fueling an alarming rise in antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment. The public reporting appears to indicate that NSJP and related chapters may fit into the FARA definition of ‘publicity agent,’ at minimum, and its conduct, among other activity, may constitute a public relations effort designed to impact U.S. public opinion in favor of a foreign principal, which would meet FARA’s definition of political activities.

    “Taken as a whole, these actions require further investigation from DOJ and the FBI to fully determine whether NSJP and SJP chapters should register as foreign agents under FARA and the extent of Hamas and Iran’s potential involvement.”

    Grassley and his colleagues cite numerous examples that signal NSJP and SJP chapters may have an obligation to register as agents under FARA. Several follow.

    • Federal court filings from state Attorneys General assert NSJP’s material support to Hamas.
    • Dozens of SJP chapters echoed NSJP’s social media messages lauding Hamas’ brutal October 7, 2023, attack on Israel; some “[praised] the creativity” of Hamas’ surprise attacks on Israeli civilians.
    • NSJP urged SJP chapters in the U.S. to publicly facilitate and join “armed struggles, general strikes and popular demonstrations.”
    • NSJP launched a campaign against U.S. college administrators, pushing for divestments in Israel-connected assets.
    • NSJP held a summer 2024 program for SJP participants to “deepen our understanding of our current political moment […] with the aim entrenching the frameworks necessary to sustain and grow the Student Intifada.”
    • NSJP has stated it “aim[s] to develop a student movement that is connected, disciplined, and equipped” with tools toward fulfilling its mission.

    Considering this evidence and more, the senators are asking DOJ and FBI pointed questions about the steps they have taken to assess NSJP and SJP’s potential requirement to register as foreign agents.

    Read the full letter HERE.

    Background:

    Congress passed FARA in 1938 to identify Nazi propaganda and other foreign efforts to sway U.S. policy and public opinion. The content-neutral law was designed not to prohibit activity, but rather, to ensure certain individuals who act as agents of a foreign government or enterprise register with DOJ.

    Grassley previously pressed for FARA enforcement as Confucius Institutes cropped up on college campuses, working to combat Chinese Communist Party influence in the U.S. education system. He has probed potential FARA violations in recent Congresses, including by Qatari media network Al Jazeera, a Ukrainian operative who consulted for the Democrat National Committee and a Russian lobbyist who attended a meeting with Donald Trump, Jr. Grassley questioned the Biden family’s FARA compliance amid business dealings with a Chinese energy company and sought answers upon learning the top lobbying firm for Ukrainian energy company Burisma filed incomplete disclosures. A longtime advocate of enforcing FARA to the fullest extent, he is leading congressional oversight and legislative reforms to further strengthen the law.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Israel has banned the UN secretary-general. Is this legal – or right?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Berhanu Woldemariam, Lecturer in law, University of Newcastle

    In early October, Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, announced on X he had declared the United Nations secretary-general, António Guterres, persona non grata. In other words, he had banned Guterres from setting foot in Israel.

    Katz said Guterres’ failure to “unequivocally condemn” Iran’s recent attack on Israel was the reason he was no longer welcome. The strongly worded statement further accused the UN chief of failing to “denounce” Hamas’ massacre in southern Israel on October 7 2023. He added:

    A secretary-general who gives backing to terrorists, rapists and murderers from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and now Iran — the mothership of global terror — will be remembered as a stain on the history of the UN.

    Security Council members expressed their support for Guterres after Katz’s declaration. And Guterres’ spokesperson called it “a political statement” and “just one more attack […] on UN staff” by the Israeli government.

    What is the significance of Israel’s declaration? And what kind of impact could it have?

    What does persona non grata mean?

    The Latin phrase persona non grata means “an unwelcome person”. In international law, it refers to the right of states to exclude a diplomat or consular officer from their territory. This can take the form of expelling a diplomat or denying them entry.

    Under international conventions, nations are not required to provide a reason for such a declaration.

    Diplomats and consular staff enjoy a wide range of immunities and privileges under international law. Among other things, they cannot be subjected to any form of arrest or detention, nor can they face legal action in a criminal or civil court.

    The diplomat’s home nation must waive immunity for this kind of action to be taken.

    The concept of persona non grata was therefore devised as a way to balance against these immunities and privileges. A nation that is aggrieved by the actions of a diplomat or consular officer can simply bar them from their territory, without even providing a reason.

    Can UN officials be declared persona non grata?

    There is a longstanding debate between the UN and its member states about the legality of such declarations.

    The UN maintains its officials cannot be barred from member nations because they are not diplomats accredited to those countries. Rather, they are international civil servants who are accountable to a global organisation.

    The UN also notes that declaring its officials persona non grata seriously interferes with the organisation’s functions, as well as the powers of the UN secretary-general under the UN Charter.

    Many countries, however, do not agree with the UN’s position. In recent years, Ethiopia, Mali, Sudan and Armenia have all declared UN officials to be persona non grata, just to name a few.

    Israel’s declaration is only the second time a nation has specifically banned the UN secretary-general. The first time was in the 1950s when both the Soviet Union and the Republic of China declared the first secretary-general, Trygve Lie, persona non grata.

    In 1961, the Soviet Union also said it would not recognise Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold as an “official of the United Nations”.

    Power must be handled with restraint

    I am researching this issue, which has not yet been widely explored. My study is looking at two main questions: whether states have the right to bar UN officials and the implications of doing this.

    On the first question, I believe there are strong legal reasons to support the rights of states to kick out – or keep out – UN officials.

    For one, nations have a wide scope of sovereign rights to decide who enters and leaves their territory. This is a cardinal principle of sovereignty.

    If UN officials are suspected of engaging in conduct harmful to a country’s national interests and security, it also has a right to defend and protect itself. One way of doing so is to expel the suspected UN official.

    Lastly, there is no direct rule under international law that prohibits this kind of action.

    Beyond these legal rights, however, is the important issue of what such an action means for the longer-term credibility and efficacy of the UN.

    Because countries are not required to provide a reason for banning a foreign diplomat, this makes it a powerful political weapon if used against a UN official.

    And banning UN officials specifically could also seriously jeopardise the organisation’s work and put innocent lives at risk. This is especially true in the context of armed conflicts where the UN is called upon to provide humanitarian assistance.

    For example, in 2021, Ethiopia expelled five UN humanitarian officials who were providing food, medicine, water and other life-saving items to more than 5 million people in a region that was engaged in armed conflict with the federal government. Given the expelled officials were high-ranking staff, the action disrupted the co‑ordination and provision of assistance.

    And banning the secretary-general, in particular, is perhaps the strongest indicator of the breakdown of the relationship between a state and the UN.

    The secretary-general is the chief international civil servant and the embodiment of the organisation. Their leadership is also critical for providing emergency relief, brokering ceasefires and promoting peace.

    Declaring the secretary-general persona non grata, therefore, seriously damages his or her standing, especially in the context of an armed conflict. It’s also a strong political statement against the UN more broadly, which could significantly complicate its humanitarian work.

    Therefore, while countries do have the sovereign power to declare UN officials persona non grata, they need to exercise restraint in how they use this power. What such restraint should look like is an open question, but one that must be urgently addressed.

    The author’s ongoing research work on the topic has received internal funding support from the College of Humanities and Social Futures at The University of Newcastle, NSW.

    – ref. Israel has banned the UN secretary-general. Is this legal – or right? – https://theconversation.com/israel-has-banned-the-un-secretary-general-is-this-legal-or-right-240674

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Cypriot gov’t approves urgent dispatch of humanitarian aid for Lebanon

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Cypriot government has approved an urgent dispatch of medicine and other consumables for Lebanon, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Wednesday.

    The spokesman said the health ministry has studied a request by Lebanon, “for the provision of pharmaceutical assistance and consumables to address the humanitarian crisis.”

    He added that the Cypriot government has also approved additional financial aid specifically for the Palestinians.

    The spokesman also announced that more than 2,000 people of 20 different nationalities have been evacuated from Lebanon through Cyprus.

    The vast majority of them have already departed to their countries of origin, with the remaining being hosted at accommodation facilities prepared by Cypriot authorities until they find flights out of Cyprus, he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese, Japanese FMs hold phone talks

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday held phone talks with Japan’s newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya.

    Iwaya said the new Japanese cabinet is willing to comprehensively promote the strategic relationship of mutual benefit between Japan and China and is committed to building a constructive and stable bilateral relationship.

    There is huge potential for Japan-China cooperation in various fields, and Japan is willing to strengthen communication with China at all levels to resolve pending issues through consultation, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples, said Iwaya.

    Japan and China bear significant responsibilities for the peace and stability of Asia and the world, said Iwaya, noting that in the face of a turbulent international situation, the new Japanese cabinet is committed to advancing diplomacy through dialogue and coordination, and is willing to jointly work with China to strengthen cooperation and make greater contributions to promoting regional peace and stability and addressing global challenges.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China appreciates the positive signals sent by the new Japanese cabinet and Iwaya since taking office, which reflect a desire to stabilize and develop bilateral relations.

    Wang noted that China and Japan are close neighbors, and that mutual cooperation and shared development are in the fundamental interests of both peoples, expressing his hope that the new Japanese cabinet would bring new momentum and foster fresh developments in China-Japan relations.

    Wang called on both sides to learn from history, stay true to their original aspirations, expand cooperation, eliminate disruptions, and comprehensively advance their strategic relationship of mutual benefit, so as to build a constructive and stable bilateral relationship that meets the requirements of the new era.

    Wang emphasized that China’s policy toward Japan has always maintained consistency and stability. He expressed hope that Japan would honor its political commitments on the Taiwan question, adhere unwaveringly to the one-China principle, and establish an objective, rational, positive, and friendly perception of China.

    He urged Japan to translate the important consensus including “being partners, not threats” into concrete actions, promoting the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations along the right path.

    In light of the complex and turbulent international situation, Wang stressed that the overall peace and stability in the region is hard-won and should be cherished, particularly by preventing external forces from stirring up regional division and confrontation. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Growth target within reach despite challenges

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A worker is pictured at the production line of a textile company in Jimo district of Qingdao city, East China’s Shandong province, Oct 7, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China will likely hit this year’s annual growth target of around 5 percent with a projected pickup in fourth-quarter GDP growth, given the recently unveiled, bolder than expected stimulus policy measures and forthcoming incremental policies, economists said.

    They also said that the weaker than expected economic indicators in recent months point to persistent challenges stemming from sluggish domestic demand, prompting calls for intensified policy support to sustain growth. The key focus should be expanding effective investment, boosting consumption and stabilizing the real estate sector, they added.

    The economists’ comments came after Premier Li Qiang emphasized on Tuesday the need for faster and more effective implementation of economic policies to achieve China’s growth targets for the year, as authorities ramped up measures in recent days to further bolster the world’s second-largest economy.

    Speaking at a symposium with business leaders and economists, Li called for swift actions to put in place the newly rolled out policies, which are designed to stabilize growth and enhance support for businesses.

    Citing a package of incremental policies announced recently, Guo Liyan, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research’s Economic Research Institute, said the move aims to address pressing challenges and pressures faced by the economy, which will significantly boost confidence among investors and consumers.

    “In fact, some economic indicators have shown fluctuations since the third quarter, and the economic contribution in the fourth quarter is significant for the entire year,” she said. “Implementing a package of incremental policies at this juncture is conducive to strengthening confidence for meeting the annual growth target.”

    To promote closer monetary and fiscal policy coordination, the People’s Bank of China, the country’s central bank, and the Ministry of Finance held their first joint working group meeting on the treasury bond trade, vowing to provide a conducive market environment for treasury bond trade operations, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

    In addition, as part of the country’s ongoing efforts to meet the annual growth target, the National Development and Reform Commission announced on Tuesday that the country will move ahead to this year part of the investment plans set for 2025.

    Raymond Ma, Invesco’s chief investment officer for the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, said: “We believe that the NDRC’s further confirmation, together with the recently announced supportive monetary and fiscal policies, will bolster the economy. This reinforces our long-term positive outlook on Chinese equities.”

    After a strong rally following stimulus announcements by Chinese authorities, Chinese stocks dropped on Wednesday as the market eagerly awaited bolder moves to revive the economy, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index slumping 6.62 percent to close at 3,258.86 points.

    “While achieving the around 5 percent annual growth target may be challenging, the government’s newly announced policies are expected to provide substantial stimulation for the economy in 2024 and beyond,” Zhu Baoliang, former chief economist of the State Information Center, said, adding that the nation can meet its annual growth target this year.

    Du Yue, an associate researcher at the investment research institute of the NDRC, said that to coordinate macro policies for this year and next to ensure steady growth, it is important to optimize and implement policies aimed at spurring investment as soon as possible, including enlarging the support provided by local government special bonds.

    Du said that the policy of moving to this year the allocation of 200 billion yuan ($28.3 billion) in investment plans and projects that were set for 2025 will help the country’s fixed-asset investment maintain reasonable growth while lifting market expectations.

    Zhang Ming, deputy director of the Institute of Finance and Banking, which is part of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, suggested at a recent forum establishing a national institution to manage the acquisition of existing commercial housing in lower-tier cities, which will help avoid the creation of new local government debt.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Nation’s housing market sizzles on policy measures

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Optimization measures rolled out by China’s central government as well as major cities, along with large-scale promotional activities by real estate developers, have led to a better-than-expected housing market performance during the weeklong National Day holiday, industry experts said on Wednesday.

    To seize market opportunities brought on by favorable policies, property developers are looking to strengthen their competitiveness by enhancing quality and branding instead of resorting to price wars, experts said.

    Despite a conventional low season for home transactions, the just-concluded National Day holiday saw greater transaction volumes for new homes in several Chinese cities, according to Chen Wenjing, director of research at the China Index Academy.

    “The conditions are more evident in first-tier cities. In Guangzhou and Shenzhen of South China’s Guangdong province, new home transaction volumes of projects monitored by China Index Academy are double that from the whole of September, and the number of deals inked during the same period surpassed that of September in Beijing and Shanghai,” Chen said.

    “It is worth noting that similar hot sales took place in second-tier cities including Chengdu of Sichuan province and Hangzhou of Zhejiang province,” she said, attributing it to the bigger discounts that helped activate the real estate market.

    During the first seven days of October, new home transactions in the key 22 cities tracked by China Real Estate Information Corp soared 26 percent in terms of space year-on-year, and that of Beijing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou surged 42 percent, according to Ding Zuyu, CEO of E-House (China) Enterprise Holdings Ltd.

    Along with the improved new home trade volumes, major real estate developers also reported outstanding sales. Some of the top 20 developers saw their sales grow between 60 percent and 150 percent, Ding said.

    “The positive figures indicated that the home market confidence is steadily recovering,” said Ding.

    Policies announced by the central and local governments to stabilize the home market have played a great role in boosting market confidence. Meanwhile, significant promotions by real estate developers have also contributed to the market performance, said Li Yujia, a researcher on residential policy in Guangdong province.

    According to Li, several residential projects resorted to offering gold, new energy vehicles and huge discounts to homebuyers, but regardless of the appealing gifts or discounts, the bestselling projects are always the ones with reasonable prices and high quality under big-name developers.

    With the home market entering its conventional peak season, some developers are adjusting their pricing strategy, which is also in line with the central government’s call for market stabilization, according to local news portal ThePaper.cn.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: These 5 ‘post-truth’ claims are fuelling the water wars in Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Quentin Grafton, Australian Laureate Professor of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

    Mr Privacy/Shutterstock

    The contest between truth and post-truth matters when trying to solve big public policy questions. One of these questions is how to sustainably manage water in Australia for the benefit of all.

    Truths can be confirmed or, at the very least, can be proved false. Post-truths, however, are opinions that masquerade as facts and are not supported by verifiable evidence.

    Post-truths muddy political and policy debates. They leave everyday people simply not knowing what to believe anymore. This prevents good policy being enacted.

    As I outline in a speech to the National Press Club today, several post-truths, espoused by a wide range of people and organisations, are getting in the way of Australian water reforms. These reforms are essential to secure a better water future for the driest inhabitable continent.

    Water policy in Australia is now at a crucial juncture. This year is the 20th anniversary of the National Water Initiative that was meant to lay the foundations for sustainable water management. The completion date of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, accompanied by billions of dollars in funding, is just two years away.

    Yet the so-called “water wars” are raging again. Here are five post-truth claims to watch out for.

    Australia’s water wars are raging again.
    Shutterstock

    1. Water buybacks to sustain rivers harm communities

    The Australian government buys water rights from willing sellers to return water to the environment. These buybacks have been controversial and blamed, with little evidence, for causing many farmers to become distressed and bankrupt, and to leave farming.

    It’s true some irrigators are opposed to buybacks and prefer subsidies to build more efficient irrigation infrastructure on their properties.

    But converting state water licences to a system of tradeable water rights gifted irrigators rights now worth tens of billions of dollars. In return, the government was supposed to buy back enough water from willing sellers to return rivers to health.

    But insufficient water has been bought back from irrigators, for a couple of reasons.

    First, the federal budget for buybacks was much less than needed to reduce irrigators’ water use to sustainable levels.

    Second, the Abbott government capped buybacks in 2015. Its justification was the post-truth claim, based on “low quality” consultant reports, that buybacks were “destroying” irrigation communities.

    The truth is, buybacks from willing sellers are much more cost-effective than taxpayer-subsidised irrigation infrastructure. Research shows infrastructure subsidies give irrigators an incentive to use even more water.

    And there is robust evidence that, overall, the net social and economic impacts of water buybacks are positive. They give sellers the flexibility to adjust their farming practices in ways that are best for them.

    2. Efficient irrigation ‘saves’ water and increases stream flows

    Australia’s irrigation industry, in general, uses water efficiently. It’s a result of many practices, ranging from drip irrigation to covered water channels to digital monitoring technology, among other things.

    However, spending on irrigation efficiencies has not saved much water.

    Landholders have been paid billions of dollars for efficiency improvements. These same taxpayer dollars, paradoxically, may have reduced stream flows in some of our largest rivers. That’s because more efficient irrigation can decrease the amount of water flowing from farmers’ fields to rivers and aquifers.

    3. Australia has world-best water management

    Australia has one of the world’s largest formal water markets. But that doesn’t mean everyone benefits.

    For a start, the water markets are unjust. First Peoples, who were dispossessed of their land and water from 1788 onwards, still have only a tiny share of Australia’s water rights.

    In key areas, Australian water management is also far from best practice. For example, building weirs and dams has partly or completely disconnected groundwater from surface water and prevented or restricted the water flows to floodplains and wetlands that keep them healthy.

    Fish, bird and invertebrate habitats have been destroyed as a result. This must change if we are to avoid further degradation of river ecosystems.

    There is no more obvious sign of the ongoing destruction of Australia’s waterways than the fish kills along the Baaka (Lower Darling River) at Menindee. This happened in 2018–19, during a drought, and again in early 2023, when there was no drought.

    The New South Wales Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer investigated the 2023 fish kill. Its report found:

    Mass fish deaths are symptomatic of degradation of the broader river ecosystem over many years […] failure in policy implementation is the root cause of the decline in the river ecosystem and the consequent fish deaths.

    4. All Australians have reliable access to good-quality water

    It’s true that residents of Australia’s biggest cities and towns enjoy reliable, good-quality water supplies 24/7. But it’s also true that hundreds of thousands of Australians in rural and remote areas regularly face multiple drinking water threats.

    These threats result in temporary public advice notices to boil water to remove microbiological pollution and health warnings about contaminants that boiling cannot remove, such as nitrates. A few dozen communities have elevated levels of the “forever chemicals”, PFAS, in their tap water.

    5. Dams can ‘drought-proof’ Australia

    It’s true that dams have helped Australia cope with variable rainfall from year to year. It’s also true, however, that despite building very large water storages in the 20th century, too much water is being diverted in multiple places. They include the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia’s “food bowl”.

    Australia is over-extracting the available water in its dams. It’s happening in the northern Murray-Darling Basin, where there is little control over how much overflow from rivers onto floodplains can be taken.

    Over-extraction is a big problem, especially during long droughts when there may be very little water to spare. It means the livelihoods of downstream irrigators with perennial plantings, such as grapes or fruit trees, are at stake. If their trees die, so do their businesses.

    A sustainable future must be built on facts

    Responding to Australia’s water crises is a huge challenge. It’s made even more difficult if we accept the post-truth claims, rather than verifiable facts about how we manage our waters.

    Real reform is needed to secure a sustainable Australian water future. To achieve this, we must tell the truth, acknowledge what’s wrong and be clear about what works and what doesn’t.

    Quentin Grafton receives funding from the Australian Research Council in relation to his water research. He is a former Member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists (2010-2011).

    John Williams is affiliated as founding member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, a former Chief CSIRO Land and Water and former NSW Comissioner of Natural Resources.

    – ref. These 5 ‘post-truth’ claims are fuelling the water wars in Australia – https://theconversation.com/these-5-post-truth-claims-are-fuelling-the-water-wars-in-australia-239941

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Mozambicans vote for new leaders

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Ossufo Momade (Front) of Mozambique’s main opposition party Renamo is seen after casting his vote at a polling station in Maputo, Mozambique, on Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Mozambicans began voting on Wednesday for a new president.

    Around 17 million people are registered to vote, including 333,839 voters registered in the diaspora participating from seven African and two European countries as part of Mozambique’s global electoral process.

    The 2024 general elections mark the seventh presidential election, with the ruling party Frelimo’s candidate, Daniel Chapo, 47, aiming to succeed incumbent President Filipe Nyusi, who is completing his maximum of two terms.

    Chapo faces competition from three other candidates: Lutero Simango of the Democratic Movement of Mozambique, Ossufo Momade of the main opposition party Renamo, and independent candidate Venancio Mondlane backed by Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique.

    In addition to the presidential race, voters will elect 250 members of parliament and 794 members for provincial assemblies, with 35 political parties competing for national parliamentary seats and 14 parties and civic groups vying for provincial positions.

    According to observers from national and international organizations, the one-day electoral process is proceeding smoothly. Reports indicate that 92.8 percent of the 3,297 voting stations visited by 800 electoral observers had the presence of party delegates.

    After casting his vote at around 7:05 a.m. local time on Wednesday at the Josina Machel Secondary School in the country’s capital of Maputo, President Nyusi urged for calm throughout the voting process.

    “The game has 90 minutes. Only after the whistle do we know the result. We must avoid declaring victory prematurely, after 15 or 20 minutes, or even during halftime,” he stated, emphasizing that results should not be announced before the official conclusion.

    He also underscored the necessity of maintaining peace and transparency during the election, saying “Let’s ensure our democracy strengthens the development of our country.”

    Despite the rainy weather in the capital, which he referred to as a “blessing,” Nyusi encouraged all eligible voters to head to the polls within Mozambique and in the nine other countries where they are voting.

    Chapo, if elected, would become the first leader born after Mozambique’s independence. After casting his vote in Inhambane Province in southern Mozambique, he called for a peaceful continuation of the electoral process, urging that the celebratory spirit of the campaign carry through to the voting and counting phases.

    “We saw that during the campaign, all Mozambicans were in a festive mood. The campaign was orderly, peaceful, and without violence. Our appeal is that we continue in this manner today, even after the polls close, during the counting, and the announcement of results,” Chapo said.

    Momade expressed his desire for the elections to be free, fair, and transparent, respecting the will of the voters. “We want free, fair, and transparent elections. We want the decision of Mozambicans to be respected,” Momade said shortly after voting at Josina Machel Secondary School in Maputo.

    After casting his vote at the 25 de Setembro Primary School in Maputo, Mondlane called for continued vigilance among voters, especially the youth, until results are announced.

    “Today is a pivotal day for our future. I think it’s a historic moment. History is anxious, announcing a generational transition, a democratic changeover,” he said to journalists, warning that if there are signs of fraud, the reaction will not be as peaceful as in previous elections.

    Vote counting is expected to begin immediately after polls close. The National Election Commission (CNE) has up to 15 days to deliver the full results to the Constitutional Council for validation and formal declaration.

    According to the CNE, the electoral process is being monitored by 11,516 national observers and 412 international observers, including delegations from the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries, the European Union, and the Southern African Development Community. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China calls on US to lift sanctions

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    People visit the China Homelife USA expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, the United States, on Sept. 11, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Stable China-United States business ties would contribute to the security and stability of global industrial supply chains, fostering a favorable policy environment for collaboration between companies from both sides, said market watchers and business executives on Wednesday.

    China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday that China has called on the US to promptly lift sanctions on Chinese companies and enhance the business environment for its firms operating in the US.

    During a phone call with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on the same day, China’s Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao expressed serious concerns over US policies on semiconductors, targeting China, and restrictions on Chinese intelligent connected vehicles.

    It is necessary to clarify national security boundaries in the economic and trade fields, as it is conducive to maintaining the security and stability of global industrial supply chains and creating a favorable policy environment for cooperation between the business communities from the two countries, Wang stressed.

    This conversation was part of the institutional communication arrangement between the commerce authorities of both countries, said the Ministry of Commerce.

    As many global industries, such as electronics, automotive and pharmaceuticals, rely on components and materials sourced from both China and the US, a stable relationship can minimize disruptions and prevent production delays and supply shortages in many business areas, said Wang Zhongmei, a researcher at the Institute of World Economy of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

    Zhang Yongjun, a researcher at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges in Beijing, warned that given various factors such as the upcoming US election in early November, it is critical to view Sino-US economic and trade relations with caution.

    In the short term, there will be challenges, but in the long run, the trend of mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the US remains unchangeable, said Zhang.

    “For US companies, China is an indispensable market,” he added. “If trade tensions escalate, these companies may once again urge the US government to adopt a more proactive and balanced economic and trade policy. Business needs can, to a certain extent, influence government actions.”

    According to the 2024 Kearney FDI (foreign direct investment) Confidence Index, reflecting investors’ expectations for FDI over the next three years, China’s global ranking has risen from seventh to third place.

    “Multinational companies initially looked at China as a supplier and then as a huge market. But now, increasingly, we are looking at China as an innovation center,” said Andrew Wu, general manager of the China branch of US-based commercial data and analytics firm Dun & Bradstreet.

    Also viewing China as crucial to its global business strategy, Willie Tan, CEO of Skechers China, South Korea and Southeast Asia, said that despite external challenges, China remains a crucial market for global brands. Its vast consumer base, strategic importance in global supply chains and ongoing commitment to reform and innovation create significant opportunities.

    With over 3,500 stores in China, the US footwear brand plans to continue market expansion in the coming years.

    Mark Jaffe, CEO of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, said that no one wants to halt cooperation and exchange between the two countries. China and the US have already established long-term partnerships in fields such as artificial intelligence and pharmaceuticals.

    In the face of increasingly intense global competition, Jaffe said it will be necessary for the two sides to further expand and deepen trade relations in the future.

    In the first eight months of 2024, the US remained China’s third-largest trading partner, with the total trade value between the two countries reaching 3.15 trillion yuan ($446.21 billion), up 4.4 percent year-on-year and accounting for 11 percent of China’s total foreign trade value, statistics from the General Administration of Customs showed.

    MIL OSI China News –