The much-awaited ‘Sport for Peace’ football tournament has finally started at the Yei Checkpoint playground in South Sudan’s capital, Juba.
Sponsored by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) with support from the South Sudan Football Association and Inter-Community Peace Initiative (ICPI), the tournament brings together a total of 12 teams that include four women-only clubs.
Matches are being played between football clubs from the Juba Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp adjacent to UNMISS headquarters and sports clubs from six surrounding communities such as Moroyok, Nakitun and Jondoru, and so forth.
Male and female players are competing alternately to determine who will take home the trophies on the final day.
In the opening game, Camp One Girls FC locked horns with Camp Three Central Girls FC. The well-attended match ended on a score of 3-1, in favour of Camp One FC, sending jubilant fans onto the pitch, ululating thunderously.
The tournament harnesses the power of sport to bring together young people in a common pursuit, thereby promoting reconciliation and unity.
“Do not discriminate against one another during the game based on your ethnic or cultural identity,” said Brigadier General Malek Mapor from the South Sudan Police Service during the opening ceremony. “If you lose a match, work hard enough to win next time. This tournament is not aimed at dividing our people, but at bringing everybody together in social harmony.”
Captain Chan Thomas from the POC Three Girls FC, also a member of a national football team, was upbeat about the prospect of peace being achieved through the game. “Playing football together like this creates a much-needed bond between our different cultures and helps us build relationships, thereby advancing an acceptance of our diversity,” she states.
Ms. Thomas feels that girls around the country should take part in sport: “When a girl or a woman is interested in playing football, she shouldn’t be stopped. Every young girl has the right to achieve her own dreams. It’s only by empowering young girls to follow their heart will love and unity prevail in our young nation.”
Local musician, King of the Forest, also from the Juba IDP camp agrees. “We are one people, we are one nation,” were his lyrics of choice as he performed for the cheering crowd. “We do not want any more ethnic divisions in South Sudan. Peace has come and let’s embrace it.”
For his part, Wilson Stephen Ladu, Chair of the ICPI, believes that economic development will only come about if South Sudanese eschew intercommunal rivalries. “Peace has to begin from the heart of the individual, before it permeates to the hearts of others; if someone steps on your toe and says sorry, please forgive him or her,” he averred.
The male segment of the game played between Nakitun FC and Lokwilili FC on the same day ended 1-0 in favour of Lokwilili FC.
Checkpoint FC player Kano Kuot eloquently spoke about the power of sport. “Football isn’t just about scoring goals. It’s about physical fitness and playing as a team,” he said. “It teaches us to work together and live together. Football teaches us to unite and that is what we need to do as a nation if we are to achieve a sustainable peace for everyone across our great nation.”
Prior to the tournament, the UN peacekeeping mission helped train some 100 local coaches and 75 community leaders drawn from residents across Juba IDP camp on the rules of the game.
Furthermore, the UNMISS Community Outreach Unit provided necessary sports gear to all participating clubs and distributed T-shirts, facemasks, pens and other promotional materials.
The tournament finals will be played on 9 August. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Very soon, the NFT STARS platform will be hosting one of the most high-profile auctions in NFT history. The “Art of Blockchain” collection featuring the legendary painting “CryptoMother” is at long last to go on sale. This masterpiece has caught the eye of one of the most influential personas in the blockchain market, Vitalik Buterin, making the piece even more valuable. The painting will be sold via auction on the NFT STARS platform and part of the funds will be donated to charity. This NFT masterpiece is currently estimated to be worth millions of dollars and many crypto investors have already expressed their desire to compete for it at auction.
This will be a big event for the entire NFT art market and for the NFT STARS team. The picture “CryptoMother” has already been dubbed the ‘Crypto Mona Lisa’, which has gained much recognition over the years. Add to that the unexpected signature of Vitalik Buterin and all the signs indicate that the time is right to put the painting up for auction and present it to the public viewing and admiring. A share of the profit to go to charity.
The picture has an interesting background and has not been available to purchase for a long time. Some millionaires were ready to give fantastic sums of money for the NFT, one from the United States even offered $6 million for it but the owner would not sell it for ideological reasons.
The media has already received a list of charitable organizations that will receive a share of the proceeds from the NFT auction. Some of it will be donated to medical and environmental funds and some will go to support crypto developers. Each organization will receive 1% of the earnings.
The WWF (World Wildlife Fund) is one of the largest independent international environmental organizations. More than 5 million people from 100 countries work there. For 27 years, the WWF Foundation has been fighting for the preservation of the Earth’s biological diversity.
The Givewell charity organization supports people around the world in various humanitarian efforts, ranging from the fight against malaria to supporting poor families in Africa.
The Methuselah Foundation is a bio-medical, non-profit charity organization founded in 2001 by David Gobel and Dr. Aubrey de Grey. This organization is engaged in regenerative medicine, helping people to prolong a healthy life.
The Gitcoin Foundation specializes in issuing grants for novice developers of projects on the Ethereum network.
The name of the last fund will be announced later. For now, we can say that this organization will work on a carbon offset, a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide.
Why is there so much hype around “CryptoMother”?
Most new crypto users who have not been following the world of NFT art in recent months do not have a good understanding of why “CryptoMother” is the most significant and real asset of the NFT market. Many people raise the masterpiece “CryptoMother” to the level of world art, comparing it to the ‘Mona Lisa’. That’s how it got its nickname ‘Crypto Mona Lisa’. So what makes this NFT a masterpiece?
We can say that “CryptoMother” has waited for its most opportune hour to shine in front of the public. With Ethereum’s approaching London hard fork (scheduled for August 4th, 2021), the Crypto Mona Lisa is the personification of all the hard work of Vitalik Buterin’s entire team. So the auction is a huge event for the entire crypto market. After all, the London hard fork promises to decrease Gas prices.
Ethereum’s founder first saw the picture at a blockchain conference and liked it so much he left his signature on it. The work was first presented to the public in 2017 and since then, it has been exhibited at various cryptocurrency and blockchain conferences in Russia, the United Arab Emirates and many European countries.
What will the new owner of the “CryptoMother” masterpiece get? A 100×100 oil painting on canvas and the tokenized NFT. Both will be sold together at an auction organized by NFT STARS. “CryptoMother” is the centerpiece of the “Art of Blockchain” collection, consisting of five works of art in NFT form and their original oil paintings: “CryptoMother”, “Miss Coin”, “CryptoFather”, “Ethereum” and “Bitcoin”.
“Art of Blockchain” is not just a collection, it reflects the progress that crypto enthusiasts have made, not only taking the financial market but also the art market to an entirely new level. All the pieces in this collection represent the era of blockchain technology and everything that our society has achieved in the process of creating a new ecosystem. The picture “CryptoMother” has the Ethereum logo on it for a reason. It conveys the significant contribution that the Ethereum team has made to the overall development of the blockchain sphere.
What’s special about this NFT auction?
Many people believe that technology and art have nothing in common and that only one can show substantial growth. But this is not true. Blockchain and NFT bring the two together. NFT art is a big step forward for the cryptocurrency market and for art.
Now, NFT auctions are reaching the status of traditional auctions because tokenized artwork is also selling for millions of dollars and their popularity is only growing. But not all such events have charitable intentions. “Art of Blockchain” is more than just an exhibition of unique masterpieces such as “CryptoMother”, it will share part of the proceeds with those in need. This reveals a higher purpose to the auction and increases the value of the masterpiece several times over.
The NFT STARS auction will soon be presenting this iconic asset of the blockchain market to the world. “CryptoMother” will be the pearl of any collection because up to this moment, no other painting can claim to have the signature of one of the most important personas in the field of blockchain, Vitalik Buterin.
Follow the auction updates on NFT STARS social networks:
Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of NFT STARS, on Tuesday 27 July, 2021. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/
Following the success of last year’s competition, World Animal Day HQ has launched its second international ‘Animal Photos of the Year’ challenge. The contest is aimed at both amateur and professional photographers and invites them to submit inspiring images of animals from around the world.
World Animal Day, an annual celebration of animals, is held on October 4 every year and is coordinated by Naturewatch Foundation, a UK-based animal welfare charity that has campaigned on behalf of animals for 30 years.
On and around World Animal Day, hundreds of activities are held by individuals and groups to increase awareness or fundraise for a multitude of animal welfare causes and issues. In 2020, much of the participation was virtual, due to COVID-10 social distancing restrictions, which made the ‘Animal Photos of the Year’ challenge an ideal activity for keen photographers.
This year’s winning images will be displayed on the World Animal Day website banner throughout the month leading up to October 4. Four outstanding images will feature on the day itself, when website traffic is at its busiest. People from around the world, and from all walks of life, are invited to take part.
In 2020, Anne Holden, from Queensland, Australia, submitted a stunning image of her British Shorthair cat, Sarah Bear Pusskins. She said: “I was so delighted to be a winner in the World Animal Day photo competition in 2020 and get behind two things I am passionate about – photography and, of course, my love of animals. I hope by taking part in this event, I can do a small part to raise the status of animals and their welfare as well as share some of my images with the world.”
The youngest winner was Eva, aged 13, from England. While on holiday in the Scottish Highlands, she used her father’s camera phone to take a perfectly timed photo of a deer near Rhiconich. She said: “Taking part in the competition was fun, and I loved taking the photo. It was also amazing looking at all the other entrants’ photos!”
Animal welfare organisations are welcome to submit images of the animals in their care and the competition is an opportunity to highlight their crucial work. World Animal Day has over 90 voluntary ambassadors in more than 70 countries, all working as animal welfare professionals.
Himalayan Animal Rescue Trust (HART), based in Pokhara, Nepal, has been an ambassador organisation for over 15 years and regularly participates in World Animal Day activities, including the ‘Animal Photos of the Year’ challenge.
Anjani Gurung is the Communications Officer at HART. She said: “Last year, we had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of the World Animal Day photo contest and it was an incredible experience. Not only did we have a chance to share our work through the photos, but we were equally amazed to see beautiful pictures from other participants. A picture is worth a thousand words and through these pictures, we witnessed change and a brighter future for all the creatures on the planet.”
Caroline Ruane, Coordinator at World Animal Day HQ, said: “We were delighted with the response to our photo challenge in 2020 and hope that it will be even more successful this year. As a non-profit organisation, we aren’t able to offer a cash prize. However, with the photographer’s permission, all images used will be clearly credited and will be shared on our social media channels as well as the website. Being featured on our home page is a fantastic opportunity for photography businesses or animal welfare organisations to showcase their work. Last year on October 4, World Animal Day reached over 100 million people!
We enjoyed seeing the images sent to us in 2020. Eva’s natural shot of a deer was taken with a phone camera, which shows that you don’t need expensive equipment to take beautiful, engaging photos. Our goal is to raise the status of animals around the world so we’re more interested in images that we know our supporters will appreciate – pictures that inspire empathy and action. Animals desperately need us to speak up for them, not just on World Animal Day, but throughout the year.”
The deadline for entries is 11:59 on Tuesday August 31, 2021. There is no admission fee.
Images must adhere to animal welfare standards.
Full information, including guidelines and submission requirements, can be found on the website:
Find out more about World Animal Day and how to get involved: worldanimalday.org.uk
Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of Naturewatch Foundation, on Tuesday 27 July, 2021. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/
When Senga was five years old, he and his parents fled genocide and were living on the streets. “We were alive,” Senga says, “but we often went to sleep without having had anything to eat.”
One day, he was approached by a man who told him that if he went to fight with them, he would get a chance to find a good job. He decided to leave his family and joined the rebel forces, where he was given food and was trained as a soldier. Back then, Senga explains, “I did not know how traffickers operate, or what human trafficking is.” He only saw an opportunity which he could not refuse.
After serving as a child soldier for over a decade, he finally managed to escape his traumatic ordeal when he surrendered to United Nations peacekeepers. Throughout these years, Senga says, “I was praying to make it back home alive.”
But then he found himself again living on the streets. He felt isolated and had no one to help him deal with his trauma as child soldier survivor, due to a lack of integration support. In desperation, he turned to alcohol as he hoped to escape his nightmares.
His mother, seeing what he was going through, managed to console him with lots of love and understanding. But it was through his engagement with the survivor-led organization “Footprint to Freedom” that he began to feel empowered and respected again.
Together with the founder, Malaika Oringo, in partnership with the “Soul of Rwanda” foundation he is helping with the reintegration of street children, since they can easily fall prey to traffickers. “We are reaching out to them through the circus. And we are teaching them circus acts,” he explains.
Acrobatics is a powerful tool, helping to teach children the skills of responsibility, trust, cooperation, empathy, and self-confidence, Senga says.
He also helps to empower survivors of human trafficking by providing them with entrepreneurial skills, such as teaching them how to make masks, home decorations, handbags and shoes. “Safe and sustainable self-employment is one of the most effective ways to prevent exploitation,” Senga says.
Survivors also know exactly what circumstances led to their exploitation, and most importantly, Senga says, “they can advise on the best form of reintegration support for victims”.
Senga believes that most of the support currently available for victims is gender biased. He says there is a need for governments to ensure services that are serving the needs of all victims, regardless of gender. “Because boys are not for sale either,” he concludes.https://www.youtube.com/embed/uiulo7pyfEU
200 Pakistani kids received the EDU-BOX as part of the Chance to Study Program
Muhammad Asad, USIDHR Regional Director for Pakistan with Cristina Brugiolo, Chief of Sindh Office – UNICEF
Pakistani girl recipient of the Chance to Study EDU-BOX
Amid the pandemic, the US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights continues to support children from disadvantaged communities go to school
We are trying to find these 258 million children around the world and help them all go to school. It’s an ambitious goal, but with public support, we can make the impossible possible.”
— Isabelle Vladoiu, Founder, USIDHR
WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, July 27, 2021 /EINPresswire.com/ — A few years ago, world leaders at the United Nations were gathering to adopt the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, among which, was the goal for Quality Education. However, by 2018 estimates were showing that more than a quarter-billion children are out of school. According to UNESCO, globally there are an estimated 258 million children who are not in primary and secondary school. The most affected are girls in developing countries, the disabled, refugees, and ethnic minorities who are excluded from access to education mainly due to poverty. Accessing education is, therefore, a difficult feat on its own, and the global pandemic that has put a stop to the world’s usual cycle only further complicates that. UNICEF states that school closures in 188 countries, directed at containing the spread of COVID-19, put over 1 billion children at risk of falling behind in their education. While well-funded universities and secondary schools have opted to move to online learning, not many have had the technological means and resources to do so. This online shift has proven to be much more difficult for pre-primary and primary schools due to the age of the children and the resources needed to transition.Working to provide children with the support needed to attend school and get educated, the US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights, a nonprofit based in Washington, DC, has come up with a program called Chance to Study to enable kids and youth worldwide to have access to resources and educational materials. USIDHR teamed up with in-country partners from around the world to identify young girls and boys from disadvantaged communities that need help most and provide them with the Edu-box, an educational gift box containing shoes, uniforms, backpacks, and school supplies for an entire year. Most recently, USIDHR has partnered with MAPS, a youth-led organization from Pakistan to identify, select and award 200 children with the Edu-box and give them a chance to study in unprecedented times. Student volunteers from MAPS have stopped by different schools across the poor regions of Pakistan to meet with children and provide them with the Edu-box. According to statistics at UNICEF, Pakistan has the second-highest number of out-of-school children in the world with over 22.8 million children ages 5 to 16 that are out of school. When asked about the partnership with USIDHR and the Chance to Study program, Ahmad Toor, executive at MAPS, said: “In Pakistan, the average monthly salary for a family with 2-3 children is $100. This money must go towards food, home, and other expenses, making it impossible for a family to have the financial resources to send its children to school. This is why the work that the USIDHR has done and will continue to do for children and families in Pakistan is so important.” The initiative by USIDHR was also welcomed by Cristina Brugiolo, Chief of Sindh Office – UNICEF, and other local government leaders who acknowledged the need for a program like Chance to Study in Pakistan.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states in Article 26 that “everyone has the right to education.” More than 70 years have passed since the declaration was adopted, and the number of children out of school remains a major issue that needs to be addressed. Isabelle Vladoiu, founder of USIDHR, elaborated on the importance of the issue, stating: “We are trying to find these 258 million children around the world and help them all go to school. It’s an ambitious goal, but with public support, we can make the impossible possible.” While there is so much work that the USIDHR is still trying to do, the program functions on a rotating basis. The USIDHR’s goal is to help more organizations bring the Chance to Study program to their countries, in addition to those already being collaborated with. The next focus after Pakistan is Romania, a small country in Eastern Europe, where USIDHR hopes to help 400 orphans go to school this year.
ABOUT: USIDHR is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established in Washington, DC with the mission to advance research and education and provide solutions to individuals and organizations to enhance global understanding of diplomacy and human rights. Trusted by thousands of individuals around the world, USIDHR’s programs and training in human rights and diplomacy have been designed to provide professionals with the relevant skills to pursue a career in these fields. Through its humanitarian program, Chance to Study, USIDHR provides underprivileged children from around the world with educational resources to go to school. Learn more about USIDHR at: https://usidhr.org
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p class=”contact c9″ dir=”auto”>Isabelle Vladoiu US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights +1 202-594-6080 email us here
The staff and residents at Viera Gray House in Barnes are demonstrating the ways in which they prevent loneliness within the home, in time for International Day of Friendship on Friday 30th July.
‘Chronic loneliness’ is a pressing issue for many older adults worldwide, more so than for their younger counterparts, with 6% to 13% of people aged over 65 living in the UK saying that they felt lonely all or most of the time. Older adults who are socially isolated are also at a higher risk of both mental and physical health issues.
International Day of Friendship sees countries around the world celebrate the power of human connection. Many of us have spent so much of the last year apart, and care homes in particular have felt the effects of social distancing, as many residents rely on their daily visitors to strengthen their sense of social connection.
Viera Gray House, a Greensleeves Care home in Barnes, is focusing on how the periods of lockdown actually strengthened friendships within the home, amongst its residents.
One inseparable pair is Dodie and Gladys. The two ladies have been a great comfort to each other at Viera Gray House, having met years ago when they arrived at the home at similar times.
Activities Co-ordinator, Lorraine, said of their friendship:
“These two ladies have been in the home for many years. As soon as they met, they instantly clicked. They really do everything together. Gladys looks after Dodie and Dodie relies on Gladys for comfort. Gladys is very protective of Dodie.”
Gladys said about Dodie: “She is a very good friend. I love her very much, like I love my children.”
Residents at the home are encouraged to interact through the many scheduled activities, as well as one to one time with both staff members and each other. However, most of the residents do not need encouraging, and will befriend others with no trouble.
Some more unlikely friendships have formed, for example Beryl and Sandy, who have been described by staff at Viera Gray House as ‘chalk and cheese.’ Sandy can be quite shy, and enjoys spending time reading in her room, whereas Beryl is much more outgoing, and therefore helps to bring Sandy out of her shell at times. Beryl will encourage Sandy to join in with activities in the home.
Sandy said of her friendship with Beryl: “She’s a good friend, and I wouldn’t want to be without her.”
Activities co-ordinator, Gemma, said: “We like to encourage everyone to join in group activities so that we all spend time together. One-to-ones are also something we plan in so that everyone gets to have a chat about how they are feeling.”
The care home environment can provide opportunities for older adults to regain a sense of inclusion that is often lost during later life, and initiatives like International Day of Friendship will hopefully encourage new friendships worldwide.
Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of Greensleeves Homes Trust, on Tuesday 27 July, 2021. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/
KAMPALA, UGANDA, July 27, 2021 /EINPresswire.com/ — A new African start-up will deliver blockchain banking to the 2.3 billion underbanked adults in the world. Bora Finance is developing an online banking environment that will include a saving and investment platform, a loan and collateralization segment, insurance, and payment/POS platform. The Bora Finance solution will give access to secure and profitable banking services to billions right through their mobile devices. More information is available at https://borafinance.io/.
“The traditional financial system has left billions of people behind,” said Fanna Park, Founder of Bora Finance. “Bora Finance is building a better system for those that need it most. Access to basic financial services must be on the list of basic human rights. Bora Finance will provide a range of financial services to those that need it most.”
Bora Finance services will include: ● Savings ● Smart Contract Insurance ● Micro Loans ● Point of Sale System ● Small- and Medium-sized Business Loans ● Tokenizing Real World Assets ● Peer-to-Peer Payments ● Micro-insurance ● NFT Investment Vehicle ● Smart Identification ● Payment Network ● Much more
The simple goal of Bora Finance is to provide a complete banking and finance suite to those who have little or no access to banking now. The power of banking, being able to keep and grow one’s financial assets safely and effectively, is the hallmark of cultural and financial development. Bora Finance will bring these services to Africa, then South America and Southeast Asia. Bora Finance will build its suite of financial services on the Cardano blockchain platform to keep transaction fees low and to provide security of blockchain recording.
“We must do better for the underbanked,” Park said. “The traditional financial system was not designed for the developing world. We must create a better system; Bora Finance is that system. The irony is that those 2.3 billion adults represent the single largest market for growth of financial services, but American, European, and Asian finance companies are too rigid to open their doors to these people. Bora Finance is being built to tap into that market to the benefit of everyone, the customers, the investors, and the company.”
About Bora Finance Bora Finance is a mobile banking environment that will offer all the traditional banking services to the world 2.3 billion underbanked. Using the power of blockchain and by creating a cryptocurrency token (BORA), the company will be able to fund itself, offer interest and incentives, and build an environment where banking is accessible to the world’s poorest and least served by the current banking system. Bora Finance represents the marriage of modern technology with a service vision aimed at opening a new market and providing a vital service to billions.
Fanna Park Bora Finance info@borafinance.io Visit us on social media: Twitter
Freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental human right. It encompasses the right to publicly exercise one’s religion, including the possibility to dedicate special places – churches, synagogues, mosques, cemeteries and other holy sites – to religious and cultic purposes. Since such sites are increasingly under threat in Europe and beyond, the Conference of European Churches (CEC) addressed this critical issue in its online Summer School on Human Rights from 20 – 23 July 2021.
The event prepared by CEC’s Thematic Group on Human Rights explored how places of worship are targeted by intolerance and hatred, even violence and destruction, putting religious freedom at stake. The Summer School highlighted that believers must be able to visit and worship at such sites, and that state and society are obliged to protect their rights.
“In our church buildings we celebrate the life given to us by the Creator,” said Bishop Petra Bosse-Huber of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), this year’s cooperation partner for CEC’s annual Summer School. She emphasised that the issue of religious freedom needs to be perceived beyond one’s own denomination and religion.
CEC Vice-President Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia added an Orthodox perspective. “Our sacred places of worship house the life-giving Sacrament of Holy Communion and serve as the stage for the celebration of the divine drama and bloodless sacrifice that commemorates Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross during every Divine Liturgy.”
“All religious communities are vulnerable to attacks,” said Andrea Volkmer, a lawyer and police officer from the Ministry of Interior Germany. “We need to stand together and work together to be prepared and better protect worshippers and religious sites. The EU stands ready to support and foster the cooperation and the dialogue between different religions and with authorities, especially with law enforcement,” she added.
Ophir Revach, CEO of Security and Crisis Center by the European Jewish Congress, stated how “religious communities share similar security challenges with human rights violations as consequences.” He said that “religious communities need to stay in solidarity in sharing the knowledge and experience to combat possible threats and challenges.”
During the Summer School, case studies on vandalism, attacks and destruction were presented from Armenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Kosovo, Sweden Turkey, UK and Vatican.
The speakers agreed that attacks on places of worship provoke and feed ongoing disputes, create lasting prejudice, and give rise to hatred. They emphasised that such places are part of the common cultural heritage of humanity, not only part of a specific tradition. Also, they deserve special attention and protection, not only from a human rights’ perspective.
As part of the Safer and Stronger Communities in Europe (SASCE) project, the Summer School builds capacities within religious communities. SASCE is a European Commission funded project, on which CEC works together with other religious European organisations.
The Summer School conducted a training for community members and leaders, highlighting the important task of the state to offer protection to religious communities, including precautionary measures – especially in contexts where threats are already tangible.
Similar to previous years, a training was conducted on reporting hate crime using mechanisms from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and SASCE.
An interfaith Guide for Law Enforcement was presented as part of the SASCE project.
Presentations from the Summer School webinars will be made available on CEC website.
A pilot project in Uzbekistan has demonstrated that trained and empowered primary health care professionals help increase testing and improve management of chronic viral hepatitis.
The project, which is in line with WHO recommendations on providing care close to people’s homes and in their communities, improved access to hepatitis services by strengthening primary health care. It serves as an example, showing how countries can act on viral hepatitis.
Enabling patients to easily access free testing and affordable treatment
Hepatitis B and C virus infections are highly prevalent in Uzbekistan, and are a priority in the Ministry of Health’s agenda. In 2016, an estimated 2.5 million people were living with hepatitis B and 1.3 million with hepatitis C infection in the country.
In December 2019, the Center for Disease Analysis Foundation (CDAF) launched a 1-year pilot programme in the capital city Tashkent, in partnership with Uzbekistan’s Research Institute of Virology and Ministry of Health. The pilot allowed general practitioners to carry out testing and treatment at the primary health care level, resulting in patients gaining access to free testing and affordable treatment.
Twelve polyclinics were recruited as part of the pilot project. Nurses participating in the programme were trained on the use of rapid diagnostic tests, motivational interviewing and patient registration. Doctors were trained on the interpretation of laboratory results and treatment and management of uncomplicated cases of chronic hepatitis B and C. After the assessment by family doctors, patients without serious complications were enrolled in treatment in primary care settings, and those with advanced liver disease were referred to specialist care at the Research Institute of Virology.
“A month before the project launch, experts from the Research Institute of Virology, the CDAF and the University of Maryland trained general practitioners, equipping us with knowledge and technical skills, and introducing us to the latest information on the treatment of viral hepatitis,” explained Dr Sevara Nizamova, a 41-year-old general practitioner from Tashkent, who has now provided hepatitis testing and treatment for 4 months.
Dr Nizamova, further explained that the pilot project has acted as a catalyst in increasing the literacy of the population about viral hepatitis and encouraging them to seek testing and treatment. By the end of the project, results demonstrated the willingness of people to also invite family members to undergo testing for viral hepatitis.
Over 60 000 tested for viral hepatitis in 7 months
Around 62 000 people were tested for hepatitis B and C infections in Tashkent, over a period of 7 months. The programme had initially set a target of testing 250 000 adults but had to be suspended temporarily due to the sudden outbreak of COVID-19. Activities resumed in September 2020, after appropriate measures were introduced for the prevention of virus transmission.
Of the many patients who benefited from the pilot project, one offered this testimony: “As my family physician offered free testing, I got tested and learned that I was infected with the virus. Under my doctor’s guidance, I can count on a full recovery in due course. The project also benefited my family budget because the diagnostics was free of charge, and the medications were affordable”.
Scaling up of essential health services cannot wait
The project in Uzbekistan is one of many examples of ways in which countries across the WHO European Region are successfully tackling viral hepatitis.
In 2016, Member States committed to the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat. Achieving this ambitious goal will not be possible without the rapid expansion of access to hepatitis testing and treatment, through simplification and decentralization of the service. Now that the treatment of hepatitis has become more affordable in most countries of the Region, due to a rapid decrease in the cost of the medicines, service delivery capacity may become a significant bottleneck.
In many countries of the Region, hepatitis treatment is still only provided in specialist settings or in hospitals. This project has demonstrated that in Uzbekistan – and likely in other countries – family doctors can effectively conduct testing and treatment of chronic viral hepatitis.
It is estimated that there are 14 million people in the Region living with chronic hepatitis B and 12 million with hepatitis C. The majority are unaware that they are infected. Chronic hepatitis infections are often asymptomatic, slowly leading to advanced liver disease – cirrhosis and liver cancer – and death. Testing for hepatitis needs to be easily accessible, so people can be diagnosed in a timely manner and receive life-saving treatment.
To convey the urgency of efforts needed to eliminate hepatitis, the theme for this year’s World Hepatitis Day on 28 July, is “Hepatitis can’t wait”.
The Florida “Baker Act” has previously caused long lasting trauma to children who were removed from school for an involuntary mental health examination without their guardian’s knowledge.
Recent amendments to the Florida “Baker Act” law give parents and guardians a chance to intervene before a child is involuntarily sent to a mental hospital for examination.
While amendments to the law provide greater protection for children, Florida attorney Justin Drach says there is much more work to be done.
By creating relationships with school staff, they will know who to contact in case of an emergency with your child. …[T]hey will contact you first.”
— Justin Drach, Attorney at Law
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES, July 27, 2021 /EINPresswire.com/ — “In litigation we have going right now, people in the facility violently beat the client,” says Justin Drach, a Florida defense attorney who specializes in Baker Act cases and personal injury law. “They do it by going to where the cameras are not. They do it outside the camera’s view.”The 1971 Florida Mental Health Act, colloquially called the “Baker Act” after Miami Rep. Maxine Baker who sponsored the law, allows for doctors, mental health practitioners, judges and law enforcement to send anyone deemed a threat to self or others as a result of mental illness for an involuntary psychiatric examination in a mental facility. There they can be held against their will for up to 72 hours.
The Baker Act is “available to protect the citizens of Florida,” says Drach. “However, when you factor in insurance fraud and the lack of understanding [of the law] that is where you get abuse.” On top of that, factor in human rights violations against those held in mental hospitals. “Some of our clients have been violently beaten in these facilities,” says Drach. “It is really quite horrific.”
When it comes to children, abuse of the Baker Act law has been rampant. Children as young as 6 years old deemed a “threat to self or others” by a teacher for having a tantrum at school have been carted away in handcuffs by law enforcement and placed in the back of a cop car in front of their peers to be escorted to a Backer Act receiving facility. In many cases parents or guardians responsible for the child’s wellbeing were not contacted until the child had already left the campus in police custody.
A new bill, titled “School Safety,” which was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis last month makes amendments to the Baker Act law that seek to change this. The law now states that a “reasonable attempt to notify a student’s parent, guardian, or caregiver” must be made before the student is removed from “school, school transportation, or a school-sponsored activity to be taken to a facility for an involuntary examination.”
Some children’s rights advocates, such as the Dawn Steward of the Florida Parent Teacher Association’s Legislative Committee, had hoped for stronger wording that would mandate contact of a guardian before a child was removed from a school setting.
Nevertheless, the new wording is stronger than previous versions of the law. It now includes that the school principal or principal’s designee must “use available methods of communication to contact [the child’s guardian], including but not limited to, telephone calls, text messages, e-mails, and voice mail messages following the decision to initiate” a Baker Act on the child. The principal must also “[d]ocument the method and number of attempts made to contact the student’s [guardian] and the outcome of each attempt.” The bill passed unanimously in the Florida House of Representatives with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle congratulating each other on the advance in protecting children from what can often be a traumatic experience.
Diverse groups including the Florida Sheriff’s Association, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the mental health human rights watchdog group Citizens Commission on Human Rights Florida, and the Florida PTA came together to support changes to the law. “I enjoy advocating for people who have no voice,” says the Florida PTA’s Steward.
Parents and guardians of children with developmental disabilities, who have had far more than their share of bad experiences with the Baker Act law agree with working together and speaking out. “Nothing gets changed if you don’t speak about it,” says Cathy Lovejoy. Lovejoy has told the story of her grandson, born with a neurological condition called fetal alcohol syndrome, being wrongly Baker Acted, numerous times to media to effect change in the public conscience on the issue. Lovejoy called the new revision a “good step” towards protecting children and parent’s rights.
Attorney Drach, however, appears unsatisfied. “While this is a positive addition,” says Drach, “there is much more work to be done.”
“There are no teeth to the rights that Baker Act patients have,” he says. Drach states that the law should be amended to provide for “reasonable attorney’s fees” to attract more attorneys to the subject. Calling the subject an “underserved area of the law” he notes that most people cannot afford an attorney, which allows for human rights abuses and insurance fraud to go unchallenged.
“Fraud. It happens every day in the state of Florida,” says Drach. Every bed filled in a mental hospital after a Baker Act brings in thousands of dollars. If a child is incorrectly Baker Acted at the behest of school personnel, the insurance charges still come in. One individual received a $20,000 bill after a two-night, involuntary, stay in such a facility. Drach cites another client who was charged $40,000 for a helicopter ride to an involuntary examination, a ride they did not ask for and could not afford.
Drach is a founding member of the Baker Act Defense Attorney Summit and Symposium, a fully accredited, all-day educational event for defense attorneys fighting mental health human rights abuses, hosted by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights Florida. This year’s summit, at which he was a featured speaker, was held virtually on 23 July. According to CCHR there was record turnout online, with more and more attorneys interested in pursuing justice for clients wronged by the misapplication of Florida’s mental health law.
Despite the fact there is still so far to go, Drach, as a father himself, encourages parents to become familiar with the revisions to the Baker Act law to better care for their children.
This amended law “behooves parents in the State of Florida to maintain a connection with the front office of their child’s school,” says Drach. “By creating relationships with school staff, they will know who to contact in case of an emergency with your child. And in the case of the Baker Act, before your child is put in handcuffs and carted away, they will contact you first.”
Says Drach: “That will create the best possible outcome for families in Florida.” ______
About CCHR: CCHR is a non-profit mental health watchdog group dedicated to eliminating abuses committed under the guise of mental health. CCHR, an expert in mental health human rights, works to ensure patient and consumer protections are enacted and upheld. In this role, CCHR has helped to enact more than 180 laws protecting individuals from abusive or coercive mental health practices since it was formed over 52 years ago. For more information on CCHR Florida visit, www.cchrflorida.org
CCHR was co-founded in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and Professor of Psychiatry Emeritus Dr. Thomas Szasz at a time when patients were being warehoused in institutions and stripped of all constitutional, civil and human rights. It was L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, who brought the terror of psychiatric imprisonment to the notice of the world. In March 1969, he said, “Thousands and thousands are seized without process of law, every week, over the ‘free world’ tortured, castrated, killed. All in the name of ‘mental health.’” For more information on the Church of Scientology visit, www.scientology.org
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9th Street NW Protected Bike Lane Project Virtual Open House
(Washington, DC) — The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will host a public meeting to present information on the 9th Street NW protected bike lane project. DDOT will be sharing with the community details on the design, impacts, and the exciting opportunity this project presents to create a significant new low-stress bicycling route and a safer street for all users.
WHAT: DDOT Virtual Open House for 9th Street NW Protected Bike Lane Project
WHEN: Thursday, July 29, 2021, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
If you need special accommodations, please contact Cesar Barreto at (202) 671-2829 or [email protected] 72 hours in advance of the meeting. If you need language assistance services (translation or interpretation), please contact Karen Randolph at (202) 671-2620 or [email protected] 72 hours in advance of the meeting. These services will be provided free of charge.
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, its projects, programs, activities, and services on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act and other related statutes.
In accordance with the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977, as amended, D.C. Official Code sec. 2-1401.01 et seq. (Act), the District of Columbia does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, source of income, status as a victim of an intrafamily offense, or place of residence or business. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination, which is prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above-protected categories is prohibited by the Act. Discrimination in a violation of the Act will not be tolerated. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action.
AYUDA EN SU IDIOMA
Si necesita ayuda en Español, por favor llame al 202-671-2700 para proporcionarle un intérprete de manera gratuita.
AVISO IMPORTANTE
Este documento contiene información importante. Si necesita ayuda en Español o si tiene alguna pregunta sobre este aviso, por favor llame al 202-671-2620. Infórmele al representante de atención al cliente el idioma que habla para que le proporcione un intérprete sin costo para usted. Gracias.
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Ce document contient des informations importantes. Si vous avez besoin d’aide en Français ou si vous avez des questions au sujet du présent avis, veuillez appeler le 202-671-2700. Dites au représentant de service quelle langue vous parlez et l’assistance d’un interprète vous sera fournie gratuitement. Merci.
GIÚP ĐỠ VỀ NGÔN NGỮ
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THÔNG BÁO QUAN TRỌNG
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The DC Multiverse is buzzing with talk of a rumored new project that will reportedly chronicle the story of Val-Zod, a Kryptonian from Earth 2. Michael B. Jordan is said to be developing a limited series centered around Val-Zod for HBO Max. There’s no official confirmation yet, but Jordan is no stranger to superhero movies, having appeared in “Black Panther” and “Fantastic Four.”
Val-Zod is a relatively new character to the Multiverse. Tom Taylor and Nicola Scott debuted the Black Superman persona in the “Earth 2” comics in 2014, but he appears in dozens of issues, which gives Jordan lots of content to potentially use. Val-Zod’s super powers include: superhuman strength, superhuman speed, superhuman stamina and agility, infrared vision, and X-ray vision. And of course, he can fly. He’s also has the power to start a hurricane with his breathe, and he has genius-level intellect. To learn more about the Black Superman, check below for a list of comic books to read. For more reading recommendations, check out Black Panther comics, and vintage comics books to add to your collection.
This fact-filled guidebook is essential whether you’re a newcomer to the DC world, or you just want to brush up on your facts. Featuring Val-Zod, and each of the 52 worlds in the Multiverse, “The Multiversity: Deluxe Edition” by Grant Morrison, analyzes events, and includes a map of known existences, and bonus adventures.
Although Val-Zod is only credited with having one appearance in this volume, it may arguably be his most significant. In “Earth 2: The Kryptonian,” Superman has gone to the dark side and joined forces with Darkseid. What happens when the most powerful superhero turns evil? Enter Val-Zod, a Kryptonian with superpowers to match, but only if the other DC superheroes can convince him to join them in the fight against evil. Will they do it in enough time? Order the comic book today and find out!
DC fans across the Multiverse love the twists and turns of this storyline. Continuing with the Superman’s descent into darkness, Val-Zod appears in “Earth 2: The Dark Age” along with the emergence of a new Batman who might just save the day from the rogue Superman.
“Earth 2: Society: Planetfall” picks up one year after Apokolips destroyed Earth 2 leaving your favorite heroes (plus a few new ones!) to rebuild and start a new society. In the midsts of trying to navigate this new world, Terry Sloan secretly creates a new technology that can alter the course of the future. In an effort to do good, our heroes must make sure that Sloan’s Genesis Machine doesn’t land in the wrong hands. It’s a race against time to see who will prevail.
“Earth 2: World’s End Vol. 1” lets you step inside a parallel existence and into Earth 2, where the horrible villain Apokolips and the Four Furies of War are determined to wreck havoc. Join Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, and the DC gang in their fight against evil.
The heroes of Earth 2 must face Travis Morgan (a.k.a. The Warlord) in “Convergence #4.” The book serves up a fascinating stories with heroes battling it out for the fate of their future. The evil alien, Brainiac, has stolen 50 doomed cities from across time and brought them to his own world to rule over in chaos. Meanwhile, Earth 2 heroes have entered Skartaris in hopes of finding a way to stop Telos, the life form controlled by Brainiac.
In “Earth 2: Collision,” Darkseid and his minions, who were thought to have been banished long ago, return to Earth 2 in a cataclysmic collision that could end it all. Batman, Huntress, and Power Girl are ready to defend Earth 2, but will it be Doctor Fate — the inexperienced sorcerer — who can join the DC heroes, defeat the evil armies, and save the planet?
At least half a million children under five in drought-afflicted southern Madagascar are on the verge of acute malnourishment, two UN agencies warned on Monday.
The number of acutely malnourished children is likely to “increase fourfold” since the previous assessment conducted last October, including 110,000 in severe condition whose growth and development will suffer “irreversible damage”, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said in a joint statement.
“What is currently happening in southern Madagascar is heart-breaking”, said WFP Representative Moumini Ouedraogo. “We cannot turn our backs on these children whose lives are at stake”.
Drastic deterioration
Four consecutive years of drought have wiped out harvests and cut off access to food.
More than 1.14 million people are food insecure in southern Madagascar and the number of people categorized as surviving in phase 5 ‘catastrophic’ conditions, risks doubling to 28,000 by October, the agencies said.
And with the lean season – the time of year when food stocks run low – around the corner, the crisis is forecasted to “drastically worsen”.
‘’We need to double our efforts to curb this catastrophic rise in hunger, but we cannot do it without significant funding resources and buy in from partners”, underscored Mr. Ouedraogo.
‘Urgent need’ to invest
With global acute malnutrition rates touching an alarming 27 per cent in the worst-affected Ambovombe-Androy district in the far south, urgent steps are needed to prevent further deterioration.
This crisis has been exacerbated by poor health and sanitation facilities as well as a lack of safe water.
“There is an urgent need to invest in the prevention and treatment of malnutrition in children to prevent the situation from becoming even more critical”, said UNICEF Representative Michel Saint-Lot.
Continuous price increases of basic foods topped with marked decreases in markets serve to threaten the health and well-being of young and old alike.
In addition to the danger of food insecurity, ongoing COVID-19 restrictions are posing additional challenges by limiting people’s access to food, markets and jobs.
Stepped-up efforts
Since last year, WFP and UNICEF have been working closely with the Malagasy Government and partners to address severe hunger in the south.
But as the crisis deepens, actions must be intensified.
While UN agencies are strengthening their emergency nutrition response in the south, there is a need for an integrated response tackling all drivers of malnutrition.
Treatment must go hand in hand with robust prevention on multiple sectors and a response in collaboration with all partners and national authorities, the UN agencies said.
“By providing families with access to safe water and treating malnourished children with therapeutic food, lives can be saved”, said Mr. Saint-Lot, adding “but we have to act now”.
(Handout Photo/FBI)A screenshot from surveillance footage provided by the FBI shows Casey Cusick (red hat) inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan 6. along with his father Pastor Jim Cusick (white hat). (Handout Photo/FBI)
A 72-year-old Florida pastor facing federal criminal charges arising from the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump has appeared in a preliminary hearing before a judge.
James Cusick Jr., pastor of the Global Outreach Ministries of Melbourne, Florida, faces four misdemeanor charges related to the riot, including violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, Reuters news agency reported.
He was the first Christian clergy member in the U.S. known to be facing the law for the Jan. 6 uprising described by some commentators as a coup attempt or by one member of the opposition Republican Party in the lower chamber of Congress as a “normal tourist visit.”
The pastor’s son Casey Cusick, 35, also a pastor at his father’s church, faces similar charges but did not participate in the July 22 proceedings.
Pastor “Jim” Cusick and Pastor Casey Cusick, face the charges of entering a restricted building, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, TOPNews-USA reported.
GLOBAL OUTREACH CHURCH
A third man, Global Outreach church member David Lesperance, also faces charges.
The older Cusick holds credentials with the Association of Faith Churches and Ministers and actively works with the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, Patheos reported.
Casey Cusick is vice-president of Global Outreach Ministries, graduated from Rhema Bible Training College in 2014 and spent three years in Israel. The website and Facebook page of the pastors’ is no longer accessible.
Investigators said they first received a tip via telephone in January, followed by an anonymous letter on March 26, alleging that Lesperance and the Cusicks had traveled from Florida to D.C. and participated in the insurrection after listening to former President Trump speak.
The FBI found surveillance footage of the three men among the mob of Trump supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol during the riots that left five people dead and roughly 140 law enforcement officers injured.
The surveillance footage showed the three men standing inside the building as thousands of people flooded the Rotunda during the “Stop the Steal” rally that turned violent during a speech from Trump, who told his supporters the 2020 U.S. election results were fraudulent the Orlando Sentinel of June 24 reported.
More than 535 people have been charged with taking part in the mayhem.
Trump has refused to admit he lost the 2020 presidential election because of widespread electoral fraud.
The riot interrupted the formal congressional certification of President Joe Biden’s victory over Trump and also led to violent threats against the then vice president Mike Pence.
The Gateway Pundit, a website that describes the new U.S. administration as “The Regime” and its main news section is labeled ProTrumpNews has a link to a fund rasier for the pastors’ legal fees.
SCATHING EDITORIAL
The Orlando Sentinel carried a scathing editorial on July 9 on the six-month anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection saying it “was an embarrassing milestone for Florida.”
“About 60 Floridians have been arrested so far, exceeding the number of arrests from California, which has 18 million more people than Florida, and Texas, which has some 8 million more. With the national total at around 530, Florida accounts for more than 10 percent of the Jan. 6 arrests,” said the editorial.
It noted, “Maybe more alarming than the arrests of radical-group misfits have been those of people who held positions of responsibility and influence in the community.”
The editorial cited The Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, “who, eight months after the election, still can’t bring himself to admit Joe Biden’s election wasn’t rigged, despite zero evidence that it was” and one of the local U.S. Senator’s, Rick Scott” who voted with the mob and against democracy.”
Among others mentioned in the editorial are Kenneth Reda, a P.E. teacher and football coach at a Brevard County high school.
“It is time to organize PATRIOTS we need to get together and organize against this KABAL [sic] we need to overthrow it,” read one of Reda’s posts on the social media site Parler said the editorial.
It also named James Cusick Jr. and his son Casey Cusick., a vice president of the church.
But there’s a new title in town that you can bet the woke set won’t want anywhere near their tykes — but it very well may be just what more conservative adults prefer their kids set their eyes upon.
It’s called “Elephants Are Not Birds” — and conservative activist author Ashley St. Clair calls it an “unapologetic rebuke” of the transgender agenda.
“The book is an unapologetic rebuke of the transgender acceptance and the growing number of young people identifyin… https://t.co/pgEK2Bw94l
— Ashley St. Clair ???????? (@Ashley St. Clair ????????)1627159751.0
It’s the first title from Brave Books, which the New York Post reported will focus exclusively on stories for kids and offer parents “a conservative alternative to the current cultural activism that our children are being taught in schools, in the entertainment they watch and the books they read,” the publisher’s website says.
More from the paper:
Company CEO Trent Talbot, who had his first child a little more than a year ago, conceived of Brave Books when, he said, he started to notice “that there is a real war going on for the hearts and minds of our kids. And everywhere I looked was propaganda,” the Montgomery, Texas-based dad told The Post.
An ophthalmologist by trade, Talbot pointed to Ibram X. Kendi’s picture book, ” Antiracist Baby,” which urges parents and kids to “make equity a reality,” as content that needs a counterpoint.
“Once my eyes were open, I was seeing it everywhere, and I couldn’t unsee it,” Talbot told the Post. “I thought there was a need for books that could help parents teach the values they hold dear.”
What is ‘Elephants Are Not Birds’ about?
The paper said “Elephants are Not Birds” is about an elephant named Kevin who likes to sing and then is convinced by a vulture — named Culture — that he actually must be a bird since he sings so well.
But despite Culture bestowing a beak and pair of wings upon Kevin, he just isn’t able to do life as well by trying to be a bird, the Post noted.
“The book is an unapologetic rebuke of the transgender acceptance and the growing number of young people identifying as trans,” St. Clair tweeted.
“You get special attention now in the classroom if you say, ‘Hey, my name is not Billy, it’s Amanda,'” the 22-year-old author told the paper. “I am going to have a little boy in November, and it’s scary to think he could come home and say, ‘My friends all identify as something else, and that’s how I feel’ and have my son crying because he’s not put on hormone replacement therapy.”
How are leftists reacting to the book?
As you might expect, leftists are popping blood vessels far and wide over “Elephants Are Not Birds” and doing their snarky best to rip it to shreds:
“This is BEYOND VILE!” Twitter user The Big Gay Al wrote about the book. “I assumed it was satire but it appears not.”
Another commenter tweeted that the book is “hate speech” and “evil.”
“How about we support and accept humans for who they are and want to be,” another user noted.
“I was like, this has to be parody but then I scrolled down to see ‘elephants are not birds’ and I stopped thinking this was a parody. Smh,” one commenter tweeted.
“Motherf***ers are going to have blood on their hands,” another user declared.
Anything else?
“Elephants are Not Birds” is available only on the Brave Books website through an offer to parents of book per month for a $12.99 annual subscription, the Post said.
Other titles in the pipeline include, “The Island of Free Ice Cream” by conservative figure Jack Posobiec which will tackle communism, the paper noted, adding that Brave Books “is also courting Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), to write ‘Fame, Blame, and the Raft of Shame’ about cancel culture.”
The Trans Movement is coming for our kids. Drag queens in story time, propaganda on children’s TV, and sex ed forc… https://t.co/uFAkwJSon7
— BRAVE Books (@BRAVE Books)1626811162.0
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – From big fish to free lumberjack shows, families are invited to sample the fun and excitement of the outdoors at Conservation World at the 2021 Illinois State Fair in Springfield, open Aug. 13-22 and hosted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).
“We invite families to celebrate ‘One Illinois’ and all the great things Illinois has to offer by visiting Conservation World while they attend the 2021 Illinois State Fair,” said IDNR Director Colleen Callahan. “Families are our focus at Conservation World, with free activities and entertainment that will provide a great day at the fair for visitors of all ages.”
Conservation World is a 30-acre park with grass, park benches, ponds, and shade trees located on the northwest corner of the Illinois State Fairgrounds adjacent to the IDNR headquarters building.
Among the free entertainment and attractions at Conservation World:
• The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show with performances daily; • Music at the IDNR Outdoor Amphitheater (Aug. 15, 21 and 22); • Fishing Clinics for kids five times each day; • Fly Fishing Clinics for youth and adults (Aug. 13-15 and Aug. 20-22); • IDNR Fisheries staff will stock the see-through aquarium featuring sport fish popular in Illinois waters; • IDNR Division of Education will present a focus on snakes in Illinois; • Illinois State Parks, Illinois State Historic Sites and the Illinois State Museum will join together to host displays on the Prairie State’s natural wonders, recreation, history, and culture; • IDNR Wildlife staff will have information on habitat enhancement, wildlife conservation, and upcoming hunting seasons; • IDNR Private Land Programs, Natural Heritage Division, and Mason State Nursery staffs will team up to promote expanding pollinator habitat and present Conservation World’s butterfly house; • IDNR Forest Resources staff will be available with advice on tree planting, tree care, expanding urban forests, and forest management; • IDNR Mines and Minerals/Oil and Gas Resource Management staff members will present displays and activities on oil and gas production, safe mining practices, and the popular Mineral and Rock Box; • IDNR Conservation Police will welcome questions on outdoors laws, regulations, and safety. The Law Enforcement Tent will also host the IDNR Safety Education Youth BB Gun Range, as well as Illinois fishing and hunting license sales; • Activities, demonstrations and displays will also be featured from the IDNR Office of Water Resources, Illinois State Water Survey, Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois State Archaeological Society, Illinois EPA, and more; • The American Chemical Society Illinois Chapter will host science-made-fun games and exhibits daily.
For more details on times for shows and activities – as well as information on other displays and popular vendors in Conservation World – check the IDNR website Conservation World page.
As part of the 2021 Illinois State Fair, Conservation World will be open Friday, Aug. 13 through Sunday, Aug. 22 from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. each day. Staff and visitors to Conservation World will be required to observe all current guidance from the CDC and Illinois Department of Public Health regarding face coverings and social distancing.
Negotiations began on Monday to approve a UN science report which will anchor high level summits later this year, charged with boosting climate action worldwide.
The assessment comes as record-breaking heat waves, devasting floods and drought struck across three continents in recent weeks. “This report has been prepared in exceptional circumstances, and this is an unprecedented IPCC approval session,” Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Chair, Hoesung Lee, told the opening session of the meeting.
“Throughout this cycle, we have been telling the world that science has spoken & it’s now up to the policymakers for action.” – #IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee at today’s opening ceremony for the 54th Session of the IPCC & the 14th Session of Working Group I.
The report, Climate Change 2021: the Physical Science Basis, by IPCC Working Group I brings together the latest advances in climate science and multiple lines of evidence to provide an up-to-date physical understanding of the climate system and climate change.
‘Climate crossroads’
“Assessments and special reports have been foundational to our understanding of climate change, the severe and growing risks it poses throughout the world and the urgent need for action to address it,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa, on Monday.
But she warned that the world is at a “climate crossroads” and decisions taken this year would determine whether it will be possible to limit global warming to 1.5°C above the pre-industrial era by the end of the century.
3 degrees looming
“The world is currently on the opposite track, heading for a 3°C rise,” she said. “We need to change course urgently.”
“Climate change is already very visible. We don’t have to tell people that it exists,” WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas told the opening session. “We are seeing more extreme events. Heatwaves, drought and the flooding events in Europe and China,” he said.
“Massive heating” in the Arctic is affecting the atmospheric dynamics in the northern hemisphere, as evidenced by stagnant weather systems and changes in the behaviour of the jet stream, added the WMO chief.
‘Science has spoken’
Some 234 authors have contributed to the assessment, which will provide the latest detailed assessment on past warming and future warming projections; show how and why the climate has changed and include an improved understanding of human influence on the climate.
There will also be a greater focus on regional information that can be used for climate risk assessments.
Time for action
“We have been telling the world that science has spoken and it’s now up to the policymakers for action”, said IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee.
The meeting is being held remotely from 26 July to 6 August, with the aim of ensuring that the summary for policymakers is accurate, well-balanced and presents the scientific findings clearly.
Subject to the decisions of the panel, the report will be released on 9 August, just weeks ahead of the UN General Assembly opening, a G20 summit, and the 197-nation COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. The document is the first part of the Sixth Assessment Report, which will be will be finalised in 2022.
Think tank led by acclaimed human rights specialist, Isabelle Vladoiu opens doors to its post-pandemic headquarter in the heart of Washington, DC.
During Covid-19, USIDHR has educated more than 800 DC residents on their human rights and certified them as consultants to help educate others and inspire tolerance and peace.”
— Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington DC
WASHINGTON, DC, USA, July 26, 2021 /EINPresswire.com/ — The US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights (USIDHR) opens its doors in a new office space on Connecticut Avenue, in the heart of the nation’s capital. The Washington, DC-based think tank opens its new office in light of loosening COVID restrictions, approaching the new environment in an accessible blended manner. USIDHR now calls the amenity-rich Central Business District, one block from Dupont Circle in downtown’s Golden Triangle home. Its new prime location allows for easier access not only to the White House but numerous foreign embassies, all within walking distance. Moreover, the headquarters of leading national and international corporations and organizations sit just one block away. This opens many new opportunities for the exponentially growing non-profit think tank.In response to the new COVID environment, many organizations and institutions have sought to respond by developing effective approaches to increase accessibility. USIDHR transitioned all their in-person programs and training to adapt to a virtual world and developed worldwide accessible online courses in a range of subjects from diplomacy to human rights education. The efforts to continue to advance education for all have not gone unnoticed. The mayor of Washington, DC congratulated USIDHR and its founder at the beginning of the year for their dedication to help uplift the community even during such challenging times.“During Covid-19, USIDHR has educated more than 800 DC residents on their human rights and certified them as consultants to help educate others and inspire tolerance and peace,” says Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington, DC.
Since then, USIDHR’s notoriety has grown considerably due to its innovative and much-loved training course on human rights education, which has created more than 3,000 human rights consultants and developed an incredible community of professionals. They further have gone forth to create a huge change in their communities and many even opened their own specialized nonprofits and charities, thus creating change globally.
USIDHR’s mission to advance education for all and make it accessible further develops into their highly successful humanitarian program called a Chance to Study. Proceeds from their training courses are used for the Chance to Study program, which provides educational resources globally to children from disadvantaged communities. Most recently, USIDHR helped 200 underprivileged children in Pakistan, providing each one of them with the Edu-box, a package that contains uniforms, shoes, backpacks, and necessary materials needed for an entire school year. Next, they focus on Romania, a small country in Eastern Europe, where they hope to raise the funds necessary to send 400 orphans to school.
ABOUT USIDHR: USIDHR is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established in Washington, DC with the mission to advance research and education and provide solutions to individuals and organizations to enhance global understanding of diplomacy and human rights. Trusted by thousands of individuals around the world, USIDHR’s programs and training in human rights and diplomacy have been designed to provide professionals with the relevant skills to pursue a career in these fields. Through its humanitarian program, Chance to Study, USIDHR provides underprivileged children from around the world with educational resources to go to school. Learn more about USIDHR at: https://usidhr.org
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p class=”contact c9″ dir=”auto”>Press Office US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights +1 888-487-4347 info@usidhr.org
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Backed by the eradicateMalaria initiative, German company BioNTech announces a malaria project consisting of the development of an mRNA-based vaccine against the disease and the evaluation of mRNA vaccine production in Africa; The initiative can count on substantial financing by Team Europe, including for the late-stage trials of BioNTech’s project; eradicateMalaria is run by the kENUP Foundation and benefits from the convening power of the World Health Organization and the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
Backed by the eradicateMalaria initiative, German biotech company BioNTech SE (https://bit.ly/3iQ6Zdq) (“BioNTech”) announced a project to develop a malaria vaccine candidate based on its proprietary mRNA technology today. The project also aims to expand vaccine production capacity across Africa. BioNTech co-developed the first mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine with its partner Pfizer. The company has benefited from two European Investment Bank (EIB) loans under the Investment Plan for Europe (https://bit.ly/3zC2UQJ) for its cancer and COVID-19 research.
The scientific and entrepreneurial progress made during the pandemic raises hopes that a highly efficacious vaccine could soon help to eradicate malaria. This goal was out of reach so far, despite the enormous financial and public health efforts of the global community. BioNTech is the first major vaccine developer in over 30 years to commit to working towards eradicating malaria. The company follows a two-pronged approach. 1) It aims at developing a first-generation mRNA (https://bit.ly/3ycwDzC) vaccine, using a known antigen, the CSP protein. The clinical trial for this first-generation vaccine candidate is expected to start at the end of 2022. 2) It will be running a dedicated antigen discovery process to potentially identify new antigens, which may pave the way for a second-generation vaccine with higher efficacy. In addition, the company has pledged to manufacture the potential vaccine in African facilities – either with licensed production partners or on its own.
BioNTech plans to use revenues from the COVID-19 vaccine to develop its malaria vaccine candidates and bring them to the first phase of clinical trials. The EIB and the European Commission pledge to support companies that aim to eradicate malaria via the joint InnovFin Infectious Diseases Finance Facility (https://bit.ly/3eS6ZIH), backed by Horizon 2020. EIB investment will cover projects that enter late-stage clinical development, which primarily aims at demonstrating the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of a medical product.
“Malaria is a tricky disease to vaccinate against – this is why it takes a lot of courage and dedication to embark on the endeavour BioNTech just committed to,” said Werner Hoyer (https://bit.ly/3eYD3up), President of the EIB. “Finding an efficient vaccine is the only way to eradicate one of the biggest causes of death in children in less developed countries. mRNA technology has shown itself to be a game changer to end the pandemic, and the EIB confirmed its support for this innovative approach with two loans to BioNTech, one in 2019 for developing cancer treatments and the other in 2020 for research on the COVID-19 vaccine. If mRNA can revolutionise malaria vaccine development as well, the EU bank would be proud to support this mission.”
Ursula von der Leyen (https://bit.ly/3iRiW2i), President of the European Commission: “We are witnessing the start of a revolution in medical science – the revolution of messenger RNA technology, pioneered by BioNTech and others. Thanks to this, billions of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine are being produced for Europe and the world. And mRNA technology can be a game changer in the fight against other diseases too – including malaria. Eradicating malaria is a realistic goal and now we know that it might be achieved already in this generation. The European Commission is supporting the global effort to develop mRNA vaccines against malaria. This initiative is also a part of the broader engagement by the EU for health in Africa and the Developing World. If we succeed, we will not only be better equipped for the next pandemic. We will also invest in an African continent that is finally free from malaria.”
Mariya Gabriel (https://bit.ly/3BG6hbg), Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth: “For decades, the European Union’s research and innovation programmes along with its financial instruments have provided the framework and financing to contribute to the global research agenda for malaria, and we are committed to continuing these efforts. Solving the global threats of malaria requires breakthrough discoveries, the efforts of our brightest minds, and also the joint actions of policymakers and investors. Today, I am very pleased to embark on a new venture with our global partners with the aim of bringing an mRNA-based vaccine against malaria from the idea to the patient to address and eradicate the disease once and for all.”
Jutta Urpilainen (https://bit.ly/3i3wubO), Commissioner for international partnerships: “I warmly welcome the ground-breaking announcement of BioNTech, that aims to use the mRNA technology in the fight against Malaria, a major disease affecting the African continent. Our Team Europe initiative on enhancing vaccine manufacturing and access to medicines and health technologies in Africa will support this important project.”
Uğur Şahin (https://bit.ly/3i4Ahpp), CEO and co-founder of BioNTech, said: “We’re committed to reducing the suffering of people worldwide, so we feel we have a duty to utilise our technology to develop and manufacture an mRNA-based vaccine that addresses this life-threatening disease. We want to develop sustainable solutions for and together with the people of Africa. Setting up infrastructure could help to address various diseases using this disruptive technology. Building on our mRNA technology and the expertise gained during the pandemic, our efforts will include substantial investments in vaccine development as well as transferring manufacturing expertise to sites on the African continent.”
In parallel to developing a malaria vaccine, BioNTech will evaluate how to establish sustainable mRNA manufacturing capabilities on the African continent. The company plans to co-locate its potential African facilities with the technology transfer hubs under development by the World Health Organization (WHO). The hubs will strengthen low- and middle-income countries’ capacity to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines and increase global vaccine production. BioNTech’s commitment to vaccine production on the African continent supports Team Europe’s Sustainable Healthcare Industry for Resilience in Africa (SHIRA) initiative (https://bit.ly/3rECevR), as the company’s projected mRNA vaccine manufacturing facilities could also produce the existing vaccine against COVID-19 or an envisioned tuberculosis vaccine – pending successful development of candidates and regulatory approval.
The fight against malaria has been one of the European Union’s priorities in the health and development sectors for some years now. In 2019, the EIB and the European Commission supported the EU Malaria Fund, a public-private partnership between the European Union, international organisations, corporations, and civil society, initiated by the kENUP Foundation. With the advancement of the BioNTech malaria vaccine candidate on a proven technology platform, the EU Malaria Fund accomplished its mission earlier than expected. Therefore, on June 30, its investment period came to an end. The fund has successfully initiated more than two dozen novel scientific approaches to fighting malaria and financed several innovative companies. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of European Investment Bank (EIB). Background Information:
Team Europe: The Team Europe (https://bit.ly/3zGifQr) approach was born in the context of COVID-19 and was initially conceived as a way to brand collective European support for partner countries in response to the pandemic. The team comprises EU institutions, EU countries and their implementing organisations, well as various development banks. Today, Team Europe also responds to longer-term political trends and the concept now serves as a blueprint for EU-wide development cooperation.
Malaria: According to the WHO’s latest world malaria report (https://bit.ly/3kXO6YM), more than 1.5 billion cases of malaria and 7.6 million deaths have been averted since 2000 through global efforts to control the disease. However, in recent years, the gains in combating malaria have plateaued, and progress towards critical targets is no longer on track. In 2019, there were approximately 229 million new cases of malaria worldwide, an annual estimate that has remained virtually unchanged over the last four years. Malaria claimed some 409 000 lives in 2019 compared to 411 000 in 2018, with about three-quarters of the total represented by children under five.
eradicateMalaria: The eradicateMalaria (https://bit.ly/3iN4Wqo) initiative is managed by the kENUP Foundation, a non-profit public benefit foundation supporting research-based innovation in the wider health industries for societal benefit. It aims to initiate innovations against malaria. Following the guidance of the WHO and the eradicateMalaria Scientific Advisory Board, further projects by various companies may be considered under the eradicateMalaria scheme.
European Commission support for malaria research: Under the FP7 and Horizon 2020 framework programmes for research and innovation, the European Union has supported 86 malaria research projects with funding of €160 million. These projects focused on diagnosis, vaccine development, vector control, treatment, as well as basic and operational research, research infrastructure and training.
Europe also led the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), which was launched in 2003 with 16 European countries to support clinical trials and capacity building to fight malaria and other infectious diseases in Africa. To date, this initiative has supported 74 projects with a total of €135 million.
Infectious Diseases Finance Facility: The InnovFin Infectious Diseases Finance Facility is a joint European Commission and EIB Group initiative and part of Horizon 2020, the 2014-2020 EU research and innovation programme. The facility enables the Bank to provide between €7.5 million and €75 million of funding to innovative players in the development of vaccines, drugs, medical and diagnostic devices and research infrastructure for combating infectious diseases. Financing mainly goes to projects that have completed the preclinical stage and require clinical approval for further development. The facility has been increased by €400 million to boost its capacity for tackling the outbreak of the coronavirus.
As part of Rugby Africa’s (www.RugbyAfrique.com) work in growing the culture of sport across the African continent, 2 exceptional creatives will be recognised for their contributions in the promotion and progression of the game and will have the opportunity to walk away with an incredible US$1500!
With the deadline for entries being extended to July 31, 2021, don’t miss out on this golden opportunity to submit your application. Results will be announced in the first week of September, 2021.
For further information on how to enter, prizes you can expect, and the judging panel, visit the links below for the two separate awards.
This year, our esteemed jury panel, assembled by APO Group – who has been the Main Official Sponsor of Rugby Africa since 2017, is chaired by World Rugby Chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont, and brings together luminaries from the world of business and sport. No fewer than three of South Africa’s Rugby World Cup winners of 2019 are on the jury – including Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira.
There are representatives from dozens of multinational organisations operating in Africa, from Google to Uber; Toyota to Visa; Pfizer to Harley Davidson and more!
Over the years, many moments have shaped the face of Rugby on the African continent, and the Media & Photography Awards will be held in recognition of the women and men who have been there to capture them. These are the unsung heroes and heroines of African Rugby, working tirelessly to promote the sport in every corner of the continent, widening its impact as it continues to change and bridge lives.
We know great content can come from anywhere, so even you can submit your “drop-kick at posts” in this exciting new competition. Fans and players together are the pulse of every game, both young and old, therefore the competition is open for all to participate in and to take part in the action – we would be honoured to consider your submission. If your friends and family like it, there is a great chance that our judges will like it too.
Rugby continues to make its mark by elevating the promise of brand Africa through the exploits of countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, and many others. As the bastillion of Rugby on the African continent, Rugby Africa is impressed by the far-reaching achievements of all the stakeholders in the game, which has ensured broad-based recognition of the sport, as it should be.
The work of the talented men and women who chronicle the sport deserves recognition, and we are delighted that we are able to share and celebrate the best of African journalism and photography on this grand scale. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa. Media contact: rugby@apo-opa.com
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