Thursday, September 02, 2021

THEY ARE ALL PATRIARCHIAL 

Child sex abuse takes place in almost all major UK religions, inquiry finds

 2 September 2021

Religious groups in UK have failed children over sex abuse, report finds.
Religious groups in UK have failed children over sex abuse, report finds. Picture: Alamy 

By Emma Soteriou

An inquiry into child sexual abuse says it has found "shocking failings" of religious organisations to protect children.

The Independent Inquiry said child sexual abuse had been found in most major UK religions and described the 'blatant hypocrisy' of those claiming to teach right from wrong.

Victim-blaming, an absence of discussion around sex and sexuality, abuse of power by religious leaders and discouraging external reporting are among the "shocking failures" outlined in the report from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

The Child Protection In Religious Organisations And Settings report examined evidence from 38 religious organisations with a presence in England and Wales.

The report, based on 16 days of public hearings held during March, May and August 2020, said there was likely to be a significant under-reporting of child sexual abuse in religious organisations and settings.

These included Jehovah's Witnesses, Baptists, Methodists, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and non-conformist Christian denominations.

The IICSA had already held separate investigations into the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church, the two largest religious groups in the country.

Read more: Children could be at risk due to how Met investigates online child abuse - watchdog

It found that what marks religious organisations out from other institutions is "the explicit purpose they have in teaching right from wrong; the moral turpitude of any failing by them in the prevention of, or response to, child sexual abuse is therefore heightened".

However, there was "significant diversity" between religious organisations as to whether they had adequate child protection policies in place and the extent to which they effectively follow them.

"Religious believers can find it difficult to accept that members of their congregation or religious leaders could perpetrate abuse," the report said.

"As a result, some consider that it is not necessary to have specific child protection procedures or to adhere strictly to them."

An example was given of four people who were sexually abused when they were approximately nine years old whilst they were being taught the Koran by a teacher in a mosque.

Read more: 'Harrowing' rise in deaths of children linked to abuse or neglect during pandemic

In 2017, the perpetrator was convicted and sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment, the report said.

Another example given was of a girl who was sexually assaulted by a church volunteer when she was 12 years old. She disclosed the abuse to her mother, who reported it to the police.

After being made aware of the allegations, a church minister told her mother that the abuser was "valued" and must be considered "innocent until proven guilty".

The report said it later became known that the abuser had previously been dismissed from a police force following charges of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

Professor Alexis Jay, chairwoman of the Inquiry, said: "Religious organisations are defined by their moral purpose of teaching right from wrong and protection of the innocent and the vulnerable.

"However when we heard about shocking failures to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse across almost all major religions, it became clear many are operating in direct conflict with this mission.

"Blaming the victims, fears of reputational damage and discouraging external reporting are some of the barriers victims and survivors face, as well as clear indicators of religious organisations prioritising their own reputations above all else.

"For many, these barriers have been too difficult to overcome.

"We have seen some examples of good practice, and it is our hope that with the recommendations from this report, all religious organisations across England and Wales will improve what they do to fulfil their moral responsibility to protect children from sexual abuse."

Read more: Police allege Hillsong Church founder concealed child sex abuse

Richard Scorer, a specialist abuse lawyer who acts for seven victim and survivor groups in the inquiry, said children had been "catastrophically failed" by some religious groups with non-existent safeguarding policies.

He added: "This is simply unacceptable. It is clear from the report that too many religious organisations continue to prioritise the protection, reputation and authority of religious leaders above the rights of children."

There are an estimated 250,000 children in England and Wales who receive "supplementary schooling" or "out-of-school provision" from a faith organisation, the report revealed.

That said, there is no reliable information on how many settings there are, and as there is no requirement for such schools to be registered with any state body, they have no supervision or oversight in respect of child protection.

The report provided two recommendations moving forward: that all religious organisations have a child protection policy and that the government should legislate to amend the definition of full-time education to bring any setting that is the pupil's primary place of education within the scope of a registered school.

Read more: 40 arrested in major inquiry into child sexual abuse in West Yorkshire

In response to the inquiry, the Methodist Church said it "welcomes" the findings.

"While it will take time for us to study today’s report, early indications are that it includes many areas where religious organisations are still failing their members and we are truly sorry for where this happens in our churches," a statement from the secretary of the Conference of the Methodist Church, Rev Dr Jonathan Hustler, read.

It went on to say: "There can be never be any excuse for failings in safeguarding and it is the responsibility of everyone connected with the Methodist Church to uphold the highest standards in order to protect children and vulnerable people."

Meanwhile, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said the abuse inquiry report "makes for difficult reading and underlines the importance of education centred around the wellbeing of children".

It added: "The protection of children is rooted in our religious traditions and should be at the centre of all Muslim institutions. This includes child safeguarding policies and regular on-going training.

"Crucially, children must feel confident in reporting any concerns they have.

"The MCB is committed to providing resources and support for our affiliated organisations, and to sharing good practice already out there, to foster safe and nurturing environments for children in religious settings."

Children's charity NSPCC said the report highlighted "a host of fundamental, reoccurring safeguarding flaws" that left children vulnerable.

A spokesman said: "As a result, many young people have suffered terrible abuse and then found there is no-one willing to listen to them and provide help and support.

"A significant barrier to tackling child sexual abuse within religious settings has been a failure of members to prioritise safeguarding and make it a serious issue that requires substantive attention and action."

The charity recognised that, although the safeguarding of children and young people in their community should always be prioritised, "it is important to recognise the shortage of support and advice for religious organisations seeking to improve their safeguarding policies and procedures".




NEW REPORT

UK religions display 'Blatant hypocrisy and moral failing' due to lack of lack of child safeguarding policies

Child sexual abuse has been found in most major UK religionous organisations, according to a new report by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

The Child Protection in Religious Organisations and Settings investigation examined child protection policies and safeguarding cultures in religious organisations in England and Wales. These included Jehovah’s Witnesses, Baptists, Methodists, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism and non-conformist Christian denominations.

Religious organisations play a central and even dominant role in the lives of millions of children in England and Wales. The report highlights the 'blatant hypocrisy and moral failing of religions' purporting to teach right from wrong and yet failing to prevent or respond to child sexual abuse.

The report found many religious organisations and settings do not consistently undertake DBS checks of those who may have contact with children, an essential prerequisite for adequate child protection.

Throughout the investigation, the Inquiry heard of 'shocking failings' across a number of religious organisations, and cases of child sexual abuse perpetrated by their followers.

One victim was sexually assaulted by a church volunteer when she was 12 years old. Another disclosed the abuse to her mother, who reported it to the police. After being made aware of the allegations, a church minister told her mother that the abuser was “valued” and must be considered “innocent until proven guilty”.

Further victims were all sexually abused when they were approximately nine years old whilst they were being taught the Qur’an by a teacher in a mosque. In 2017, the perpetrator was convicted and sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment.

The report finds that organisational and cultural barriers to reporting child sexual abuse within religious organisations and settings are numerous, varied and difficult to overcome.

These include victim-blaming, an absence of discussion around sex and sexuality, and discouraging external reporting, thus prioritising the organisation’s reputation above the needs of victims of sexual abuse.

Comprehensive child protection policies and procedures are essential to ensuring that children are protected against sexual abuse. Whilst the Inquiry found that some organisations do have effective policies implemented, in some settings not even basic child protection procedures are in place, despite serving large congregations.

The report highlights that an estimated 250,000 children in England and Wales receive ‘supplementary schooling’ or ‘out-of-school provision’ from a faith organisation. However, there is no reliable information on how many settings there are, how many children attend them and for how many hours, what activities are provided and who runs them.

As there is no requirement for such schools to be registered with any state body, they have no supervision or oversight in respect of child protection.

Professor Alexis Jay, Chair of the Inquiry said: “Religious organisations are defined by their moral purpose of teaching right from wrong and protection of the innocent and the vulnerable. However when we heard about shocking failures to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse across almost all major religions, it became clear many are operating in direct conflict with this mission.

“Blaming the victims, fears of reputational damage and discouraging external reporting are some of the barriers victims and survivors face, as well as clear indicators of religious organisations prioritising their own reputations above all else. For many, these barriers have been too difficult to overcome.”

“We have seen some examples of good practice, and it is our hope that with the recommendations from this report, all religious organisations across England and Wales will improve what they do to fulfil their moral responsibility to protect children from sexual abuse.”

Analysis of the data from Operation Hydrant, which examines cases of non-recent sexual abuse, indicates that from early 2015 to January 2020 of all known institutions where offending had taken place, 11 percent (443 instances) were committed within a religious organisation or setting; and 10 percent of suspects (726 people) were employed by, or somehow linked to, a religious organisation or setting.

The report makes two recommendations. Firstly, that all religious organisations should have a child protection policy and supporting procedures.

And, secondly, that the government should legislate to amend the definition of full-time education to bring any setting that is the pupil’s primary place of education within the scope of a registered school, and provide Ofsted with sufficient powers to examine the quality of child protection when undertaking inspection of suspected unregistered schools.

Reporter and columnist

Child sexual abuse inquiry raises serious alarm about illegal schools

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has today published its report on child protection in religious organisations and settings. Its report substantially focuses on issues related to out-of-school settings, particularly illegal schools. The report provides significant evidence of widespread abuse in these settings, and makes the argument that such abuse is enabled due to the lack of regulation. This is because of loopholes in the law. Closing these loopholes is one of the report’s two recommendations.

Humanists UK has been campaigning for the last seven years for action to close illegal schools. It has called today’s report a wake-up call that must be taken seriously by the Government and at last lead to swift action.

Humanists UK Education Campaigns Manager Ruth Wareham commented:

‘For far too long the Government has been mulling over how to shut down illegal schools. In the meantime, thousands of children are being badly let down. This includes not only a failure to make sure they receive a suitable education but, as today’s report outlines, also extends to child sexual abuse and corporal punishment.

‘It is long past time that action is taken to close such settings for good. The Department for Education must now bring forward legislation as a matter of urgency.’

The report’s findings

The report explains that there are as many as half a million children attending out-of-school settings, around half of which are religious. A substantial number of these are so-called ‘unregistered schools’, also known as illegal schools. Such settings exploit loopholes in the law that mean that settings that only provide religious instruction do not meet the minimum definitions of a school and are therefore able to evade regulation. The report quotes Ofsted as saying that ‘this leads to a perverse situation where, “As the law stands, the more inadequate the educational provision, the more likely a setting is to be exempt from regulation.”’

In Humanists UK’s experience, unregistered schools with a religious character generally provide an extremely narrow curriculum. This is usually focused on learning religious scripture to the exclusion of subjects such as English, Maths, and Science. Former pupils have described leaving these ‘schools’ unable to speak English. One said he left with the education level of the average nine or ten-year-old. Illegal schools often operate in appalling conditions, with a total lack of safeguarding, and many pupils are exposed to extreme homophobic and misogynistic content, as well as physical abuse.

Today’s report outlines how this lack of regulation also results in a consequential lack of any oversight when it comes to child safeguarding. Settings have evaded child safeguarding procedures that would otherwise apply to them, and evidence of child sexual abuse and corporal punishment is widespread. The report sets out in huge detail the history of failure to tackle these issues over the last six years.

The report concludes, ‘Respect for a diversity of beliefs is a hallmark of a liberal democracy. However, freedom of religion and belief can never justify or excuse the ill-treatment of a child, or a failure to take adequate steps to protect them from harm.’ Its second of two recommendations is that ‘The government should introduce legislation to: change the definition of full-time education, and to bring any setting that is the pupil’s primary place of education within the scope of the definition of a registered educational setting; and provide the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) with sufficient powers to examine the quality of child protection when it undertakes inspections of suspected unregistered institutions.’

Notes:

For further comment or information, please contact Humanists UK Education Campaigns Manager Ruth Wareham at ruth@humanists.uk or phone 020 7324 3000 or 0772 511 0860.

Read the report.

Read our most recent article on the humanist peers pressing the Government for action on illegal schools.

Read our recent article on the Charity Commission’s failure to take action on charities operating suspected illegal schools five years after being alerted to them.

Read our 2016 investigation into illegal schools operating as charities.

Read our article about illegal schools operating during lockdown.

Read more about our work on illegal schools.

Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by 100,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.

In 2021, Humanists UK is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a renewed focus on its history. The new website Humanist Heritage is a rich new web resource that uncovers the untold story of humanism in the UK – a story of people, groups, objects, places, movements, publications, and ideas.

Child abuse inquiry criticises religious groups’ “egregious failings”

Posted: Thu, 02 Sep 2021

Child crying

There are "egregious failings" in the way various religious organisations have handled child abuse, with a variety of cultural factors contributing to the problem, an inquiry has said.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) published a report on child protection in religious organisations and settings today.

The report drew on evidence concerning 38 religious organisations of varying size and character, including the Jehovah's Witnesses, Islam, Judaism and others.

It said the organisations in question had "significant or even dominant influence on the lives of millions of children".

The inquiry has previously published reports on the handling of abuse in the Anglican and Catholic churches.

Key findings

The report identified a range of factors that may impede the reporting and effective management of abuse allegations.

These included the fear that exposure would damage organisations' reputation or be seen as a betrayal of a community. Some organisations encouraged internal reporting, rather than disclosure to state bodies.

The report also said barriers included:

  • Cultures of victim blaming, shame and honour
  • Religious taboos around the discussion of sexuality
  • Abuse of power by religious leaders
  • Mistrust of police and child protection agencies
  • Male-dominated leadership making it less likely that women and children would report abuse.

It added that the concept of forgiveness was "misused" in some religious settings, both to put pressure on victims not to report allegations and to justify religious leaders' failures to take appropriate action.

It also said there was "likely to be a significant under-reporting of child sexual abuse in religious organisations and settings".

Recommendations

The report made two recommendations. It said all religious organisations should have a child protection policy and supporting procedures.

It also said the government should legislate to protect children in out-of-school educational settings, and to ensure Ofsted had sufficient power to examine child protection in unregistered schools – which are often run by religious organisations. The National Secular Society has long campaigned for similar measures.

The report also said religious freedom is "a qualified right" and religious organisations "remain fully subject to general law".

"It is axiomatic that neither the freedom of religion or belief, nor the rights of parents with regard to the education of their children, can ever justify the ill-treatment of children or prevent governmental authorities from taking measures necessary to protect children from harm."

It did not make a recommendation on whether there should be mandatory reporting of child abuse. The inquiry is set to consider this in its final report.

Comment

NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said the report highlighted "an all too familiar pattern of religious groups prioritising the protection of their reputation over the welfare of children".

"The significant failures outlined in this report, along with those on the Church of England and the Catholic Church, point to the need for independent oversight.

"And a mandatory reporting law is needed, to compel institutions to report safeguarding concerns to the statutory authorities – without providing an exception for religious institutions.

"Deference to religion, or fear of upsetting religious sensitivities, mustn't stand in the way of efforts to protect children from abuse and harm."

Richard Scorer, a specialist abuse lawyer who acted for victims in the inquiry and is also an NSS vice-president, said: "Today's report confirms that some religious groups have catastrophically failed to protect children in their care and that many have patchy or non-existent safeguarding policies and support for victims and survivors of abuse. This is simply unacceptable.

"It is clear from the report that too many religious organisations continue to prioritise the protection, reputation and authority of religious leaders above the rights of children.

"In the light of today's report, the arguments for mandatory reporting and independent oversight of religious bodies are overwhelming."

Criticism of inquiry

In a blog for the NSS website last week, former Jehovah's Witnesses elder Lloyd Evans raised concerns that the inquiry had failed to gather the evidence needed to root out abuse within the Witnesses.

Today he described the report as "wishy washy".

During the inquiry's hearings, evidence highlighted serious failings in a variety of religious groups' handling of abuse.

Image: ESB Professional/Shutterstock.com.


UK INSURERS 

ABI reveals code of practice for child sexual abuse claims

By Clare Ruel24 August 2021


The trade association has responded to the 2019 report from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

The ABI has this month revealed its code of practice for insurers responding to civil claims for child sexual abuse.

The code addresses issues identified by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), in its Accountability and Reparations Investigation Report, which was published on 19 September 2019.

In this report, two recommendations were made concerning the ABI. The first recommendation called on the Local Government Association and the ABI to produce codes of practice for responding to civil claims of child sexual abuse.

In a statement published online, the ABI said: ”The ABI and its members are grateful for the opportunity to engage with and work with the Inquiry to ensure that, to the extent that they are involved in the provision of redress to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, there is a fair, just and clear process for all.”



Read more…Ecclesiastical committed to improving claims handling following Independent Inquiry

The new code is effective for new and ongoing child sexual abuse claims from the 17 August 2021, which was the publication date for this code.

The code applies to ABI member firms that provide, or have previously provided, insurance which covers civil claims for child sexual abuse. It will be reviewed where appropriate, updated periodically and may be withdrawn if the ABI considers it appropriate to do so.

The ABI initially sent a letter to the Inquiry on 18 March 2020, followed a further letter dated 22 February 2021, providing it with an update on the ABI’s work to progress the proposed recommendations

.
ABI code of practice

The ABI’s code was designed by a working group of insurer representatives with expertise in handling child sexual abuse cases.

The code includes guidance on all four areas contained in the Inquiry’s recommendation. The four areas suggested by the IICSA are that:

Claimants should be treated sensitively throughout the litigation process.

The defence of limitation should only be used in exceptional circumstances.

Single experts jointly instructed by both parties should be considered for the assessment of the claimants’ psychiatric, psychological or physical injuries.

Wherever possible, claimants should be offered apologies, acknowledgment, redress and support.


The ABI’s code ensures that insurers will:

• Recognise that pursuing a civil child sexual abuse claim can be intimidating and distressing for victims and survivors, so insurers should handle such claims appropriately and with sensitivity.

• Not seek to defend child sexual abuse claims on the basis of limitation or consent other than in exceptional circumstances.

• Seek to resolve the claim without the need for the claimant to undergo assessments by multiple medical experts.

• Never prevent or discourage policyholders from apologising to a claimant and will never require a claimant to agree to confidentiality terms as a condition of settlement of a child sexual abuse claim.
National register

The second recommendation from the IICSA’s report suggested that the Department for Work and Pensions should work with the ABI to introduce a national register of public liability insurance policies.

This register should provide details of the relevant organisations, the name of the insurer, all relevant contact details, the period of cover and the insurance limits - these requirements should apply to policies issued and renewed after the commencement of the register and for those against which a claim has already been made.

The IICSA also said that the FCA should make the necessary regulatory changes to encourage insurers that provide public liability insurance to retain and publish details of all current policies.

Study: Warmer Arctic led to killer cold in Texas, much of US

Warming of the Arctic caused by climate change has increased the number of polar vortex outbreaks, when frigid air from the far north bathes the central and eastern United States in killer cold, a study finds.

The study in the journal Science Thursday is the first to show the connections between changes in the polar region and February´s Valentine´s Week freeze that triggered widespread power outages in Texas, killing more than 170 people and causing at least $20 billion in damage.

The polar vortex normally keeps icy air trapped in the Arctic. But warmer air weakens the vortex, allowing it to stretch and wander south. The number of times it has weakened per year has more than doubled since the early 1980s, said study lead author Judah Cohen, a winter storm expert for Atmospheric Environmental Research, a commercial firm outside of Boston.

"It is counterintuitive that a rapidly warming Arctic can lead to an increase in extreme cold in a place as far south as Texas, but the lesson from our analysis is to expect the unexpected with climate change," Cohen said.

Climate scientists are still debating how and whether global warming is affecting cold snaps - they know it's reducing the overall number of cold days, but they are still trying to understand if it leads to deeper cold snaps.

Cohen's study is the first to use measurements of changes in the atmosphere to help explain a phenomenon that climate models had struggled to account for.

FILE - In this Monday, Feb. 15, 2021 file photo, Traffic is sparse on the snow-covered Interstate 45 near The Woodlands Parkway following an overnight snowfall in The Woodlands, Texas, as temperatures plunged into the teens with light snow and freezing rain. A study published in the journal Science on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, is the first to show physical connections between climate change and the Valentine's Week 2021 extreme cold. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)

FILE - In this Monday, Feb. 15, 2021 file photo, Traffic is sparse on the snow-covered Interstate 45 near The Woodlands Parkway following an overnight snowfall in The Woodlands, Texas, as temperatures plunged into the teens with light snow and freezing rain. A study published in the journal Science on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, is the first to show physical connections between climate change and the Valentine's Week 2021 extreme cold. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Cohen´s study "provides a potentially simpler interpretation of what´s going on," said Pennsylvania State University climate scientist Michael Mann, who wasn´t part of the study.

Cohen was able to show how there have been dramatic differences in warming inside the Arctic itself, which drives how the polar vortex can stretch and weaken.

When the area north of England and around Scandinavia warms more than the area around Siberia, it stretches the polar vortex eastward and the cold air moves from Siberia north over the polar region and then south into the central and eastern part of the United States.

"The Texas cold blast of February 2021 is a poster child" for the link between a changing Arctic and cold blasts in lower latitudes, said climate scientist Jennifer Francis of the Woodwell Climate Research Center on Cape Cod. She helped pioneer the Arctic link theory, but wasn't part of Cohen´s research. "The study takes this controversial hypothesized linkage and moves it solidly toward accepted science," she said.

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Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears.

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This Associated Press series was produced in partnership with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute´s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

NEW SOCIAL COMPACT
4.1 billion lack social safety net

Published on September 3, 2021
By MD Staff


More than four billion people live without any welfare protection today to cushion them from crisis, the UN International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Wednesday, while highlighting how the COVID-19 crisis has pushed up government spending by some 30 per cent.

Leading the call for countries to extend social safety nets far more widely than they do now, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder insisted that such a move would help future-proof workers and businesses in the face of new challenges.

“This is a pivotal moment to harness the pandemic response to build a new generation of rights-based social protection systems,” said Mr. Ryder.


“These can cushion people from future crises and give workers and businesses the security to tackle the multiple transitions ahead with confidence and with hope. We must recognize that effective and comprehensive social protection is not just essential for social justice and decent work but for creating a sustainable and resilient future too.”

In a new report the UN body acknowledged that the COVID-19 crisis had led to greater social protections worldwide, albeit mainly in wealthy countries.

It noted that only 47 per cent of the global population are covered by at least one social protection benefit, while only one in four children has access to national welfare safety nets.

Newborns’ needs unmet

Further research indicated that only 45 per cent of women with newborns worldwide receive a cash benefit, while only one in three people with severe disabilities receive a disability benefit.

Coverage of unemployment benefits is even lower, ILO said, with only 18.6 per cent of jobless workers effectively covered globally.

On retirement welfare, the UN body found that although nearly eight in 10 people receive some form of pension, major disparities remain across regions, between rural and urban areas and women and men.
Regional imbalances

The ILO report underscores the significant regional inequalities in social protection.

Europe and Central Asia have the highest rates of coverage, with 84 per cent of people having access to at least one benefit.

Countries in the Americas are also above the global average (64.3 per cent), in stark contrast to welfare roll-out in Asia and the Pacific (44 per cent), the Arab States (40 per cent) and Africa (17.4 per cent).

Highlighting differences in government spending on social protection, ILO said that high-income countries spend 16.4 per cent of national turnover (above the 13 per cent global average, excluding health), while low-income countries budget just 1.1 per cent.
Billions more needed

The UN body noted that since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments have had to increase spending massively to ensure minimum social protection for all, by around 30 per cent.

And it maintained that to guarantee basic social protection coverage, low-income countries would need to invest an additional $77.9 billion per year, lower-middle-income countries an additional $362.9 billion and upper-middle-income countries a further $750.8 billion annually. That’s equivalent to 15.9 per cent, 5.1 per cent and 3.1 per cent of their GDP, respectively.

“There is an enormous push for countries to move to fiscal consolidation, after the massive public expenditure of their crisis response measures, but it would be seriously damaging to cut back on social protection; investment is required here and now,” said Shahra Razavi, Director, ILO Social Protection Department.

Underscoring the multiple benefits of social welfare protection, Ms. Razavi insisted that it could promoted “better health and education, greater equality, more sustainable economic systems, better managed migration and the observance of core rights…The benefits of success will reach beyond national borders to benefit us all”.

CRIMINAL CAPITALI$M
Renaissance executives agree to pay around $7 Bln  to settle tax dispute with IRS -source

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) building is seen in Washington, U.S. September 28, 2020. REUTERS/Erin Scott

Sept 2 (Reuters) - Executives of hedge fund Renaissance Technologies LLC could pay as much as $7 billion under an agreement with the Internal Revenue Service, a source familiar with the situation said, following a long-running dispute over the tax treatment of certain derivative transactions.

The firm's founder, James Simons, who stepped down as the firm's chairman in January, will also make an additional settlement payment of $670 million, according to a letter obtained by Reuters which was sent to investors from Renaissance's Chief Executive Peter Brown on Thursday. The news was earlier reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Medallion, Renaissance's flagship fund, is solely managed internally for friends and family.

The letter, earlier published by the WSJ, said the fund had resolved its longstanding dispute with the IRS regarding the tax treatment of certain Medallion option transactions during 2005-15.

The dispute was over whether investors should be taxed on portfolio gains at the higher short-term capital gain rates, rather than at the lower longer-term capital gain rates of the options themselves.

"We engaged for several years in the IRS Appeals process," the letter said, but concluded that it was better to agree to the resolution with the IRS "rather than risking a worse outcome, including harsher terms and penalties, that could result from litigation."

According to the letter, the seven individuals who were members of Renaissance's board during those years, and their spouses, will be required to pay the tax and interest and penalties. Investors in the fund will be required to pay additional tax and interest but not penalties.

The IRS did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

The payment would dwarf that of a transfer pricing dispute with GlaxoSmithKline in 2006 which saw the drug firm pay $3.4 billion. The IRS's press statement said at the time it was the largest single payment to the IRS to resolve a tax dispute.

Elise Bean, a former longtime aide to former Sen. Carl Levin, who led the Senate investigation into the tax evasion, said “I wish Senator Levin were here, seven years after he first exposed its outrageous tax scam, to see RenTec finally held accountable.”

"It’s good to see that, despite a years-long knock-down bare-knuckles battle, the IRS prevailed in compelling at least one set of billionaires to pay the taxes they owe," Bean said.

In 2015, the IRS issued guidance that hedge funds using "basket options" had to report them on their tax returns and correct past returns, which came after a U.S. Senate subcommittee reported some funds were using this to avoid federal taxes.

Levin, a Democrat who was then head of the powerful U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, had presented the findings of a year-long probe into basket options, calling for tougher action from the authorities.

The report said the largest user of the options, Renaissance Technologies Corp, saved an estimated $6.8 billion in taxes.

Reporting by Manojna Maddipatla in Bengaluru, Maiya Keidan in Toronto, Paritosh Bansal and Megan Davies in New York and Pete Schroeder in DC; Editing by Amy Caren Daniel and Chris Reese
HEAD OF RUSSIAN SPACE PROGRAM TELLS ABSURD LIE ABOUT ABANDONING ISS
ROGOZIN IS EITHER SUFFERING FROM SEVERE MEMORY LOSS — OR, MUCH MORE LIKELY, HE'S TROLLING NASA ONCE AGAIN.





MIKHAIL SVETLOV FOR GETTY / FUTURISM

Emotional Rollercoaster


Dmitry Rogozin, the director-general of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, is now cozying up to its Western partners in the International Space Station after years of taking jabs at NASA and SpaceX.

Now he’s claiming that Russia won’t be leaving the International Space Station prematurely, Rogozin told CNN in his first interview with western media since taking charge of Roscosmos. That’s a total departure from Rogozin’s well-documented threats to pull Russia out of the longstanding international partnership and abandon a decades-long partnership with NASA.

“I think there is a problem in interpretation,” Rogozin told CNN. “I, most likely, did not say that.”


Lost in Translation

The only problem? That’s not remotely true. Just a few months ago, Rogozin told reporters that Russia was planning to “hand over the responsibility for our segment.” Roscosmos has also started to develop its own orbital research outpost.


And even more recently, he threatened to leave the ISS unless the US lifts sanctions against Russia.

“Either we work together, in which case the sanctions are lifted immediately, or we will not work together and we will deploy our own station,” he said during a Russian parliament hearing in June.

And that’s without getting into what Rogozin’s colleagues have been saying. Just one day before the CNN interview was published, for instance, a prominent Russian spaceflight official was complaining about potentially-irreparable damage in Russia’s Zarya module at the space station. Last month, Russian officials even accused a NASA astronaut — extremely dubiously — of intentionally damaging ISS equipment so that she could go home early.

All told, Rogozin is either suffering from severe memory loss — or, much more likely, he’s trolling NASA once again.

“It’s just that we’re talking about how we can continue our comradery, our friendly relations with our American partners, when the US government is implementing the sanctions against the very same organizations which supply the International Space Station,” he added in the CNN interview.

READ MORE: ‘Divorce is not possible’ with US over space station, says Russian space chief who threatened to pull out [CNN]

More on Dmitry Rogozin: Russia Says It’s Quitting the ISS, But It’s Also Testing a New ISS Module
NO TRUMP HOTELS IN CANADA
Trump-appointed ambassador 'lined the president's pockets' by making sure to stay at his hotels: report
Brad Reed
September 02, 2021

U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft isn't sure what science is really all about (Photo: Screen capture)
Kelly Craft, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump to be an ambassador first to Canada and then the United Nations, insisted on staying at his hotels during travel.

Forbes has obtained internal emails showing that Craft told a staffer that she wanted to stay at Trump's D.C. hotel when she was in town for a conference for ambassadors.

"I would prefer the TRUMP HOTEL," Craft wrote to the staffer.

And this was not a one-time arrangement, as Forbes found that "Craft stayed at Trump's D.C. hotel at least three times in the first half of 2018 while in town on government business."

Jack Patterson, a spokesperson for government watchdog American Oversight, said Craft's decision to enrich the man who appointed her on the taxpayer's dime was symbolic of the corruption that was rife during Trump's tenure.

"Ambassador Craft's apparent eagerness to direct business to a Trump-owned hotel sends a signal that U.S. foreign policy is pay-to-play," he said. "An American diplomat using their position to line the president's pockets is an example of the casual corruption that permeated the Trump administration and undermines confidence in the United States."
Spain: Intense flooding sees cars swept into Mediterranean Sea and buildings filled with mud in Alcanar

Flash flooding quickly turned into rivers that swept away all in their path, with residents of Alcanar saying it was lucky no one had been killed.


Flash floods hit eastern Spain

Intense flooding in Spain has seen cars swept into the Mediterranean Sea, while homes and businesses have been filled with mud and debris.

Residents of the northeast town of Alcanar said it was lucky no one had been killed, as more than 250 litres per square metre of rainfall flooded the area between 12am and 6pm on Wednesday.

"We had to get upstairs to our apartment and then leave it all in God's hands," said Rosa Maria Sancho, the 67-year-old owner of a restaurant on the Alcanar boardwalk.

Image:Wrecked cars got stuck in the rocky shore of Alcanar, in northeastern Spain. 
Pic: AP

Flash flooding quickly turned into rivers that swept away everything in their path. Several cars were carried away, and around a dozen ended up tossed in the surf of the Mediterranean Sea.

Firefighters had to use a helicopter to rescue three people in serious danger, while more were pulled from cars caught in rising waters.

Almost 60 residents were relocated to hotels, while a further 16 spent a night on cots in a sports pavilion. Four people had to be rescued from a nearby camping ground.


Image:Almost 60 residents have been relocated to hotels. Pic: AP

Other parts of Spain's central and northern areas, including Madrid, were also flooded on Wednesday.

Authorities were working to re-establish transit on roads and train lines made unpassable by mud and water, while large areas of Spain's north and its Balearic Islands remain on alert for storms for a second consecutive day.

Image:Flash flooding quickly turned into rivers that swept away all in their path. Pic: AP

Image:Spain's national weather service said the country is seeing an increase in hard rainfall. Pic: AP

Spain's national weather service said that the country is seeing an increase of hard rainfall and droughts linked to climate change.

"Spain is observing, above all in points of the Mediterranean, periods of torrential rain that are more intense and longer periods of drought that are interrupted by these intense rains," national weather service spokesman Ruben del Campo said.

Image:Cars seen in the sea after floods caused by heavy rains. Pic: AP

It comes as the UN has warned weather disasters are striking the world four to five times more often and causing seven times more damage than in the 1970s.

Experts say such extreme weather events will only become more common, with growing calls for national governments to take urgent action to reduce carbon emissions.

Image:Residents are now cleaning up the town. Pic: AP

Image:Large areas of Spain's north and its Balearic Islands remain on alert for storms. Pic: AP

Meanwhile, in America, a state of emergency has been declared in New York and New Jersey after Storm Ida dumped a month's worth of rain on New York City. Nine people have reportedly been killed in the flooding.

Last night, New York City suffered its wettest hour on record, with more than 80mm of rain falling in Central Park in the space of 60 minutes.
Hurricane Ida shows the increasing impact of climate change since Katrina & SANDY

September 2, 2021 

Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana 16 years to the day after Hurricane Katrina. (Hilary Scheinuk/AP Pool)

Sixteen years to the day that Hurricane Katrina made landfall, Hurricane Ida struck at Port Fourchon, La., on Aug. 29, as a Category 4 hurricane with 240 kilometres per hour winds. Given the date and location of the area affected, Katrina and Ida comparisons are being made.

While no two disasters are the same, looking at differences between past and present disasters can help us to better understand what is needed to prepare for future disasters. As a professor of emergency management, I was on the ground in New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina, making observations to study aspects of the hurricane’s impact and hurricane evacuations.

Given the scope of the emerging impacts of Hurricane Ida, we see that while this is not a repeat of a Katrina disaster, questions are being raised about the effect of climate change and the resiliency of lifeline infrastructure like electricity.

Remembering Katrina


When Hurricane Katrina made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in 2005, its associated storm surges were among its most significant impacts. The levees that separated New Orleans from Lake Pontchartrain failed. Katrina’s toll was 1,833 killed with US$163 billion in economic losses, making it the costliest weather disaster in the past 50 years.

In looking back at Katrina, forces of nature were not the only causative factors for the disaster. Human-caused circumstances, such as a history of economic and engineering decisions that over time replaced natural coastal wetland buffers against storm surges with a 120-kilometre long industrial canal, were in part to blame for the disaster.

In addition, numerous disaster response debacles complicated the immediate aftermath of Katrina. The disaster exposed racial- and class-based segregation that resulted in disproportionate disaster impacts being felt by racialized populations. What started as a natural disaster played out more like a complex humanitarian emergency.

As the aftermath of Hurricane Ida continues to play out, it remains to be seen if the disaster recovery and the economic losses will approach those of Katrina.


The damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward in April 2006. (Jack Rozdilsky)
, Author provided

Differences in hurricane behaviour


A hurricane’s behaviours related to disaster damage include the combination of the effects of high-speed damaging winds, intense periods of rainfall and storm surge flooding in low lying coastal areas.

Katrina’s behaviour is remembered for its devastating water-related hazards with storm surges inundating New Orleans neighbourhoods such as the Lower Ninth Ward.

For Ida, the entire breadth of the storm’s wind field stood out as significant. The storm’s behaviour will be remembered for its wind-related hazards. Ida had a slow path of inland movement with highly destructive sustained winds of 200 kilometres per hour for eight hours over a 120-kilometre long path through portions of Jefferson and LaFourche parishes.

In 2005, Katrina crossed a cooler water column in the Gulf of Mexico as it neared the shore, weakening it from a Category 5 to a Category 3 storm at landfall. In 2021, Ida did not encounter any cooler waters, resulting in its rapid intensification. Rising water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico are related to climate change.



New preparedness challenges

While the situation remains tenuous in hurricane-stricken locales, at least Ida’s casualty count appears to be nowhere near that of Katrina. As of Sept. 1, Ida’s death toll was at six and counting. It is too early to estimate Ida’s economic losses.

Unlike the situation in 2005 with Hurricane Katrina, the levees and drainage systems protecting New Orleans held up under the stress of Ida’s storm surge. Since Katrina, the U.S. federal government has spent $14.5 billion on levees, pumps, seawalls, floodgates and drainage. Apparently, in the case of Hurricane Ida, that investment in hazard mitigation paid off.

However, while preparations to protect against Katrina-like storm surge flooding appeared to be successful, other aspects of preparation did not fare as well. The region’s electrical grid did not remain functional under the hours of sustained hurricane force winds. Local utilities serving Louisiana said it would take days to assess the damage to their equipment and weeks to fully restore service across the state as problems with the electrical grid continue. All the eight main transmission lines bringing electricity from power plants into New Orleans were knocked out, and more than one million people remain without power three days after landfall.

Without power, the situation is becoming increasingly desperate. As one example of the collateral damages related to a lack of electricity, the gasoline distribution system imploded. As conditions degrade due to a prolonged electrical outage, people who did not evacuate during the storm may be forced to, and those who evacuated will be prevented from returning.

Looking at the aftermath of Hurricane Ida illustrates how climate change is making hurricanes more devastating. While studies continue to assess the climate change contribution to hurricane intensity, there is little doubt that the increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes impacting the Gulf Coast of the U.S. is being influenced by global warming.

Sixteen years of additional climate change since Hurricane Katrina adds to preparation needs. Even if we are doing better with challenges like protecting against storm surge flooding, the impacts of future hurricanes call for additional measures. These include increasing the resiliency of our infrastructure to better meet the risks of a changing climate.

Author
Jack L. Rozdilsky
Associate Professor of Disaster and Emergency Management, York University, Canada
Disclosure statement
Jack L. Rozdilsky is a Professor at York University who receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research as a co-investigator on a project supported under operating grant Canadian 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Rapid Research Funding.