Sarajevo marks 30th anniversary of siege with memories still alive

Over 11,500 people killed in Bosnian capital in what is described as longest military siege in modern history

Ahmet Nurduhan and Kemal Zorlak |05.04.2022

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The 1992 Bosnian War, which started with Serbian troops' siege of Sarajevo and left over 100,000 people killed, has still its traces alive though decades have passed.

The EU recognized the independence of Slovenia and Croatia on Jan. 15, 1992; however, it required a referendum for the independence of Bosnia-Herzegovina, to which it responded positively.

The Bosnian Serbs decided to boycott the referendum in a bid to make it invalid as a result of the lack of participation. Despite all obstacles and difficulties, Bosnia-Herzegovina declared independence from Yugoslavia following the referendum on March 1, 1992.

Shortly after the Balkan country became an independent state, Serbian troops besieged Sarajevo on April 5. The siege started a bloody war that continued for three-and-a-half years and left great tragedies and haunting memories.

The Serbs began targeting areas with a Muslim majority following the referendum; their goal was to declare a new Bosnian Serb region affiliated with Serbia.

The Serbs deployed 13,000 soldiers on the hills surrounding Sarajevo and besieged the city, targeting it with both heavy and light weaponry.

In response, the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina – composed of 70,000 soldiers – was formed in the next 19 months. Nevertheless, the defense forces were not able to break the siege as they did not have enough equipment.

Longest military siege in modern history

Acknowledged as the longest military siege in modern history, the siege of Sarajevo continued for 1,425 days and 11,541 people, including 1,601 children, lost their lives.

The war spread across the country following the siege of Sarajevo, leaving some 100,000 people dead. At least 2 million others were forced to abandon their homes.

The war and bloodshed came to an end on Nov. 21, 1995, when Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian parties reached an agreement in Ohio, the US.

Upon the initiative of US diplomat Richard Hallbrooke, the Dayton peace agreement was signed by Alija Izetbegovic, first president of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and then presidents of Serbia and Croatia, Slobodan Milosevic and Franjo Tudjman, respectively.

Sarajevo was attacked on April 5, 1992, and it remained under siege till Feb. 26, 1996.

Siege map

Fikret Logic, a former employee in Bosnia and Herzegovina's cartography agency, mapped the 44-month siege of Sarajevo.

Logic said he aimed to enlighten future generations on what happened during the siege, and not let them forget about the bloody siege.

He also said that the preparation of the map took around three years and it should be distributed in schools in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

*Writing by Ali Murat Alhas

Inventors and innovations in the era of AI

IGOR SLABYKH
YAROSLAV EFERIN

|APRIL 05, 2022

WORLD BANK BLOG

Image: Syda Productions/Shutterstock

Since the time of cavemen, every technological discovery has been made by a human being: the digging stick, the scraper, the wheel, the car, penicillin. For many years, nobody challenged a worldwide legal approach that only a human being can be an inventor. It was until an American scientist and inventor, Doctor Stephen Thaler created an artificial intelligence (AI) Device for the Autonomous Bootstrapping of Unified Sentience (DABUS) and tried to change the established view. In 2018-2019, Dr. Thaler conducted a fascinating experiment that was eventually only a first step in a long road to understanding if AI can be a creator, innovator, and inventor.

The lack of certainty here may lead to long-lasting consequences for innovation and the economic development of nations. Observers believe that if AI-devised inventions are unable to be patented, there may be less investment in this technology. In this case, AI-generated products should be placed in a public domain. Alternatively, AI works protection may incentivize investment in AI and the use of AI systems. Though, a proliferation of patents covering AI-devised inventions might have a detrimental impact on R&D, leading to a decrease of researchers and, generally, jolting the current intellectual property regime, which relies on the "human inventor" rather than on “AI inventor”.

DABUS, the inventor

This discussion became hot after DABUS, without any human help, created an improved food container that used fractal geometry to change its shape. Dr. Thaler submitted patent applications in several countries naming AI as an inventor. The prosecution of applications went in different directions in different countries.

The patent offices in the UK, EU, and the US rejected granting inventorship to an AI machine, pointing out that an inventor must be a human being, not a machine. Nevertheless, the patent applications went off the road in South Africa and Australia. In June 2021, South Africa became the first country globally to accept the possibility for an AI to be an inventor. Now you may find the following text in the inventor’s name line: “DABUS. The invention was automatically generated by an artificial intelligence”.

The following month, the Federal court of Australia sided with Dr. Thaler and overturned the Australian patent office’s decision to reject granting inventorship to an AI machine. Here is a very testimonial paragraph from the court’s opinion: “…Who is the inventor? And if a human is required, who? The programmer? The owner? The operator? The trainer? The person who provided input data? All of the above? None of the above? In my view, in some cases, it may be none of the above. In some cases, the better analysis … is to say that the system itself is the inventor. That would reflect the reality”.



2D image generated by DABUS
Source: www.copyright.gov

Threat to human-devised inventions?

Indeed, data-driven AI is rapidly becoming ingrained in many facets of society, from voice and facial recognition systems to automatic language translation services to customer service chatbots and virtual assistants. But as with all great inventions, advances in AI also present new concerns and uncertainties to social and economic norms and structures.

Right now, AI is literally challenging the essence of innovation. A standard mechanism of invention starts with research and ends up with patents and benefits. But AI seems to do everything by itself, so it can lessen the incentives for innovations and question the beneficiaries. Clearly, AI identified existential questions about the core tenets of the patent system including ownership, inventorship, and infringement. And the DABUS case aggravated such an issue.

What is to be done?

The degree of depth of this discussion varies in different countries. But the question of what to do next is acute almost everywhere and there is no clear answer. The graph below shows different AI policies that leading economies utilize. The policies are limited to database rights and national AI strategies. One of a few good practices is a series of consultations happening in the UK on how to regulate AI-devised inventions.



Source: based on WIPO

Today countries need to unambiguously state at least what AI can and cannot do. There are four possible scenarios for lawmakers depending on national priorities:
No legal changes. This “Let-it-resolve-by-itself” approach is definitively not optimal, and we are not calling for this, but yet it can help to avoid major shakeouts in the patent system.
Prohibit AI to be an inventor. With this approach, one does not interfere with human R&D, but it can decelerate AI advancements.
Allow AI works and do not protect them. This scenario may facilitate innovation in AI technology and promote its use for the public good. But who will bear responsibility for possible negative consequences of AI inventions then?
Allow and protect AI works. Protecting AI works may boost the sector and promote new AI inventions. Though it may be at the expense of human R&D and devalue human creativity. Should it be protected for a limited period, say, one year? Or should it be allowed only for socially significant sectors, such as education and health?

We look forward to your views on these scenarios and the existential question of whether AI can indeed sway unquestioning only human creativity tenet. Clearly, there is a sense of urgency for developing countries to choose the appropriate scenarios for their national agenda. AI inventions may have a critical impact on national innovation potential and economic growth. If no action, AI may amplify digital divide globally.

THE WORLD REGION

Authors


Igor Slabykh

Lawyer, Director, First Priority Consulting LLC
MORE BLOGS BY IGOR


Yaroslav Eferin

Digital Development Consultant
MORE BLOGS BY YAROSLAV

Green Deal: EP backs updated guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure

Press Releases PLENARY SESSION
ITRE


Energy infrastructure policy to help achieve climate neutrality goals

Funds should support hydrogen, and carbon capture and storage

Projects should also increase security of supply


The legislation aims to align the deployment of energy infrastructure with the Green Deal objectives © AdobeStock/fotowunsch

Parliament approved on Tuesday new rules for selecting which energy projects can receive EU funding and aligning the existing regulation with the EU’s Green Deal.

The legislation, agreed upon with Council in December 2021, sets criteria and the methodology for choosing energy projects of common interest (PCIs), such as high-voltage transmission lines, pipelines, energy storage facilities and smart grids, which would benefit from fast-track administrative procedures and be eligible to receive EU funds.

Boost hydrogen, phase out natural gas

During negotiations, MEPs supported the inclusion of the funding of projects related to the development of hydrogen infrastructure and carbon capture and storage. Eligible projects should also drive market integration and increase the security of energy supply.

The selected projects will have to help EU countries move away from solid fossil fuels such as coal, lignite, peat and oil shale. MEPs secured funding for projects that repurpose existing natural gas infrastructure for hydrogen transport or storage during a transitional period. Projects of this nature will be eligible to receive EU financial assistance until 31 December 2027.

Ending Cyprus and Malta’s energy isolation

New projects based on natural gas will no longer be eligible for EU funding. However, a temporary derogation will allow Cyprus and Malta to have one hydrogen-ready gas project each, funded with a view of connecting them to the EU network and operating under strict conditions.

Quote

“Today’s tragic reality of war in Europe and the European Union’s dramatically low level of energy security proves that, for years, the EU has made serious mistakes in assessing its needs, including in terms of trans-European energy infrastructure”, said lead MEP Zdzisław Krasnodębski (ECR, PL).

With the new legislation, “we are not only improving the infrastructure planning process, but also pushing for new types of projects of common interest, in line with the climate objectives. The revised TEN-E framework will encourage investments in hydrogen and CO2 networks, as well as offshore grid development”, he added.

Next steps

The text was approved by Parliament with 410 votes to 146, and 72 abstentions. It will now have to be formally adopted by Council before publication in the Official Journal and subsequent entry into force.

Background

In its resolution of 10 July 2020, Parliament called for a revision of the trans-European networks in energy (TEN-E) regulation, which sets out EU guidelines for cross-border energy infrastructure and outlines the process for selecting so-called projects of common interest (PCI). In December 2020, the Commission adopted a proposal to revise the TEN-E regulation.

PCIs are infrastructure projects considered essential for delivering on EU objectives in the energy field, including improved interconnection between national markets, greater competitiveness, security of supply and promotion of renewables.

Darwin notebooks missing for 20 years returned to Cambridge

JILL LAWLESS
Tue, April 5, 2022, 



Britain Darwin's NotebooksIn this photo provided by Cambridge University Library on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, a view of the Tree of Life Sketch in one of naturalist Charles Darwin's notbeooks which have recently been returned after going missing in 2001, in Cambridge, England. Two of naturalist Charles Darwin’s notebooks that were reported stolen from Cambridge University's library have been returned, two decades after they disappeared. (Stuart Roberts/Cambridge University Library via AP)

LONDON (AP) — Two of naturalist Charles Darwin’s notebooks that were reported stolen from Cambridge University's library have been returned, two decades after they disappeared.

The university said Tuesday that the manuscripts were left in the library inside a pink gift bag, along with a note wishing the librarian a Happy Easter.

The notebooks, which include the 19th-century scientist’s famous 1837 “Tree of Life” sketch, went missing in 2001 after being removed for photographing, though at the time staff believed they might have been misplaced. After searches of the library’s collection of 10 million books, maps and manuscripts failed to find them, they were reported stolen to police in October 2020.

Local detectives notified the global police organization Interpol and launched an international hunt for the notebooks, valued at millions of pounds (dollars).

On March 9 the books reappeared, left in a public area of the building, outside the librarian’s office, which is not covered by security cameras. The two notebooks were wrapped in clingfilm inside their archive box, and appeared undamaged. The accompanying note said: “Librarian Happy Easter X.”

Darwin filled the notebooks with ideas shortly after returning from his voyage around the world on HMS Beagle, developing ideas that would bloom into his landmark work on evolution, “On the Origin of Species.”

The university's director of library services Jessica Gardner said her feeling of relief at the books’ reappearance was “profound and almost impossible to adequately express.”

“The notebooks can now retake their rightful place alongside the rest of the Darwin Archive at Cambridge, at the heart of the nation’s cultural and scientific heritage, alongside the archives of Sir Isaac Newton and Professor Stephen Hawking,” she said.

The notebooks are set to go on public display from July as part of a Darwin exhibition at the library.

Cambridgeshire Police said its investigation was continuing, “and we are following up some lines of inquiry."

“We also renew our appeal for anyone with information about the case to contact us,” the force said.

Residents ordered to evacuate building near to site of Miami condo collapse

Second building ordered evacuated in North Miami Beach since collapse of Champlain Towers South last June in nearby Surfside, which killed 98 people

Rescue personnel work in the rubble at the Champlain Towers South Condo on 25 June 2021 in Surfside, Florida. Photograph: Gerald Herbert/AP

Associated Press in North Miami Beach
Tue 5 Apr 2022 14.03 BST

Residents of a five-storey apartment building in North Miami Beach have been ordered to evacuate after officials deemed the building “structurally unsound” during its 50-year recertification process, officials said.

The residents were ordered out on Monday by city officials. It is the second building ordered evacuated in the city since the collapse of Champlain Towers South last June in nearby Surfside, which killed 98 people.

In a 1 April report, engineer Brownie P Taurinski wrote that the building “must be evacuated immediately”, the Miami Herald reported.

The building, which has 60 units, had been undergoing repairs since July as part of the recertification process, the city said in a statement on Monday.

The city manager, Arthur “Duke” Sorey, told the Herald he just learned of the engineer’s report because officials received it in their emails after working hours on Friday.

“I was told while I was walking my dog that we had to be evacuated from the building,” resident Sebastian Rojas told WSVN.

He and his family have lived in the building for about 25 years.

“It’s astonishing, you know. This is where I grew up, having to take all of your stuff. You have to figure out what’s important to you, what’s not,” Rojas said.

“They said, ‘Grab anything light and get out of here,”’ resident Clara Ulffe told WPLG.

City officials said residents would be able to return later this week to gather more belongings.

Many residents told news outlets they were notified by phone and given little notice to leave. They were allowed to enter the building through 11pm on Monday, showing IDs to get inside.

They were given three-day hotel vouchers and the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust and the American Red Cross will help with housing if they have difficulty finding accommodations, said the mayor, Anthony Defillipo.

Shortly after the Surfside collapse, North Miami Beach officials ordered the evacuation of the 10-storey Crestview Towers Condominium. Residents of that building have not yet been allowed back. That building is about five miles from the collapsed Surfside site.

IPCC: We can tackle climate change if big oil gets out of the way

Experts say criticism of oil and gas’s ‘climate-blocking activities’ cut from final draft, reflective of industry’s power and influence

The report made clear that the obstacles to action over the climate crisis are politics and fossil fuel interests. 

Photograph: Alain Pitton/NurPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock

Amy Westervelt
THE GUARDIAN                                 

Tue 5 Apr 2022 

The fossil fuel industry and its influence over policy was the major elephant in the room looming over the release of the third and final report, out this week, from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world’s leading climate authority. The major source of contention: how do you talk about mitigating climate change without confronting the fossil fuel industry? “It’s like Star Wars without Darth Vader,” says environmental sociologist Robert Brulle, of Brown University.


Climate action has been ‘a calamity’, says Senate Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse

The first two reports, both released over the last year, highlighted the physical science on climate effects and countries’ vulnerability to further warming. But this third report deals more with the potential solutions, which have been a focal point of controversy in recent years for both the fossil fuel industry and the governments of oil-rich nations.

Social scientists were successful in pushing for more of their research to be included in the IPCC’s reports, with chapters that touch on everything from debunking claims that less developed countries need fossil fuels to help tackle poverty to a rundown of efforts to block climate policy. The report made one thing abundantly clear: the technologies and policies necessary to adequately address climate change exist, and the only real obstacles are politics and fossil fuel interests.

The role of the fossil fuel industry is highlighted throughout the report’s nearly 3,000 pages, but researchers note it was mysteriously absent from the “Summary for Policymakers” – traditionally the first part of the report that’s released and often attracts the most media attention. An earlier draft of the summary leaked to the Guardian, however, described the fossil fuel industry and others invested in a high-carbon economy as “vested interests” that have actively worked against climate policy, noting: “Factors limiting ambitious transformation include structural barriers, an incremental rather than systemic approach, lack of coordination, inertia, lock-in to infrastructure and assets, and lock-in as a consequence of vested interests, regulatory inertia, and lack of technological capabilities and human resources.”

Brulle, whose research is cited multiple times in the report, was dismayed to see the cut. “The scientists clearly did their job and provided ample material on climate obstruction activities in the report,” he says. “The political process of creating the Summary for Policymakers ended up editing all of this information out.”

Unlike the research-heavy chapters, which are controlled entirely by the scientists who research and write them, the Summary for Policymakers must be approved by government representatives from 195 countries around the world; the approval process for this year’s mitigation report was the longest and most contentious in the history of the IPCC. According to leaked reports, representatives from Saudi Arabia in particular argued for multiple references to carbon capture and storage and the watering down of language on shutting down fossil fuel production.

Oil company representatives were also included in this process as both authors and editors of the report, which has been the case since the IPCC began. For the latest report, a senior staffer for Saudi Aramco – Saudia Arabia’s state-owned oil and gas company – was one of the two coordinating lead authors, a position of considerable influence, for the chapter on cross-sector perspectives. A longtime Chevron staffer was also the review editor for the chapter on energy systems.

“Obviously, none of this was secret,” notes Julia Steinberger, professor of ecological economics at the University of Lausanne, and a lead author of the section on mitigation pathways compatible with long-term goals. While authors and contributors are required to disclose their affiliations, Steinberger says that contributions from oil industry insiders represent an untenable conflict of interest.

“Just because a person fills out forms does not mean that they don’t have other interests at heart that are not reflective of the science and the public interest, but more reflective of their employer.”

Despite the influence of oil companies and oil-rich nations, the report does still highlight the fossil fuel industry’s influence on policymaking, and eviscerates some of the industry’s favorite myths. In the new chapter on “Demand, Services and Social Aspects of Mitigation”, for example, researchers challenged the long-held belief that fossil fuel consumption is entirely driven by demand. “What we were able to demonstrate was actually the contrary: there is no sustainable development or development, full stop, possible without climate mitigation,” said Steinberger, who was a contributing author on the chapter.

“Unless you mitigate climate, the impacts are going to catch you every step of the way and just make people’s lives increasingly hard and miserable, especially in the global south.”

The connection between social justice and climate mitigation is one that runs throughout the report. “People are beginning to realize how serious the climate crisis is, and that the ways to meet the challenges of the climate crisis – moving to low-carbon energy, looking after the environment, shifting transport – tend to also improve energy security, justice, social concerns, there are a lot of win-wins and co-benefits,” says Catherine Mitchell, professor of energy policy at Exeter University, and one of the two coordinating lead authors on the chapter focused on policy.

Social scientists hoping to make further inroads into not only the IPCC process, but policymaking more broadly, have a chicken-and-egg problem, according to Dana Fisher, director of the program for society and the environment at the University of Maryland and a contributing author to chapter 13. Fisher’s research focuses on the impact that activism has had on climate policymaking.

“We have insufficient funding to support the sort of large-scale research that enables you to have high confidence in your findings,” she says, which limits the amount of social science research that can be used in the report.

Less than 1% of research funding on climate from 1990 to 2018 went toward social sciences, including political science, sociology, and economics. That’s despite the fact that even physical scientists themselves agree that inaction on climate will probably not be solved by more scientific evidence.

“Back in the 80s, we believed in the information deficit model of social change, and that if we could only get the information to policymakers they would do the right thing,” says atmospheric scientist Ken Caldeira, senior scientist for Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy. “And now we see that really it’s not about information deficit, it’s about power relations, and people wanting to keep economic and political power. And so just telling people some more climate science isn’t going to help anything.”

That’s not to say there’s no further need for atmospheric models, or a better understanding of various aspects of climate science. But what this report makes abundantly clear is that acting on climate is not being restricted by a lack of scientific knowledge or technological options, but by entrenched power structures and an absence of political will. To effectively address that, and act in time to avoid the worst impacts of warming, social scientists agree: we’re going to need more than climate models.


This story is published as part of Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of news outlets strengthening coverage of the climate story

Planet’s Data Helps Amnesty International Tackle Deforestation In Cambodia

PlanetScope image of logging along the eastern boundary of the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary in Cambodia on January 10, 2022. © 2022, Planet Labs PBC. All Rights Reserved.

Shreya Reichelt | April 1, 2022
Graphics by Leanne Abraham, analysis and annotations by Amnesty International.

In the ancient forests of Cambodia, Amnesty International relies on Planet’s daily monitoring to help fulfill its mission of ending human rights abuses worldwide. Our satellite data, along with a “tip and cue” strategy, help Amnesty International identify and shed light on environmental abuses to slow or stop them before they irreversibly harm people and the ecosystem.

Map showing the location of the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary in Cambodia (Data Sources: Planet monthly mosaic, Natural Earth, Open Development Cambodia)

Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary is southeast Asia’s largest lowland evergreen forest. The sanctuary spans approximately 500,000 hectares across four provinces of Cambodia. Designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 2016, Prey Lang is government-protected land, containing diverse flora and fauna. This land plays a vital role in the traditions, local customs, and beliefs of indigenous people and local communities. Yet, recent events have weakened the sanctuary’s natural defenses and degraded its borders. The sale of timber rights on land just outside the sanctuary’s eastern border has negatively impacted Prey Lang.

Amnesty International began monitoring illegal logging in Prey Lang, and Micah Farfour, a Special Advisor in Remote Sensing for their Crisis Response Program, has a long history of working with GIS and satellite imagery to monitor change globally. She and her team have effectively used Planet’s satellite data to identify and track illegal activity within the sanctuary’s borders.

After the government sold the timber rights to the land bordering Prey Lang, the winning company actively and legally clear-cut and harvested its concession, but with unintended consequences for Prey Lang. The disappearance of trees bordering the sanctuary eased access for people and vehicles. Easier access and high timber prices for certain tree species contributed to the illegal logging of the sanctuary’s old resin and other trees.

Given the vast size of the sanctuary, monitoring the area is difficult for Farfour and her team. The high level of cloud coverage over the region hinders remote sensing. And degradation happens at the individual tree level, which requires a high level of detail for effective monitoring.

Every year, Farfour’s team assesses an annual dataset of Cambodia’s forests to see the deforestation of the past. Although valuable, this data, Farfour says, “is not stopping trees from being cut. It’s just showing that the tree has been cut and obviously getting ahead of the problem is our goal.”

To counter these challenges, Amnesty International has adopted Planet’s satellite imagery. Using our data, Amnesty can now identify and address areas of rapid deforestation within the sanctuary in real-time and work to prevent further harm.

Our satellite images help Farfour’s team monitor Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary for environmental abuse by remotely monitoring, capturing, and inspecting the entire sanctuary expanse using our PlanetScope constellation. Along with this data, Farfour effectively employs a “tip and cue” strategy, which uses medium resolution, high-frequency PlanetScope images to identify areas of concern in order to task a high-resolution SkySat satellite for more detail.

New road construction leading into the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary captured in PlanetScope imagery between January 2020 and January 2021. Planet SkySat on February 5, 2021 then captured high resolution imagery of the new clearing, showing piles of logs and loaded trucks. While this clearing is outside of the sanctuary, some of the tracks from this clearing lead directly into Prey Lang. Annotations courtesy of Amnesty International.

Amnesty relies on PlanetScope data to monitor Prey Lang. Image details are scrutinized, and Farfour’s team is alerted to potential areas of deforestation. The daily frequency improves the chances of getting a cloud-free picture. Spatial resolution of approximately 3 meters per pixel can quickly pick up deforestation over a large area. From there, a high-resolution SkySat is then tasked to focus on those targeted areas for a closer look at the forest, individual trees, and even machinery.

Farfour shares, “High-resolution imagery is actually quite rare over these wildlife sanctuaries in Cambodia, so we’ve had to be resourceful with the lower resolution imagery and develop areas of interest to task with high resolution since the protected areas are very large.”

In addition to deforestation, Planet data helps detect land clearing for road development or agriculture. For example, Farfour used our satellite imagery to identify a new road on the other side of the sanctuary’s eastern boundary. She says, “a lot of the access comes from the edges, the boundaries, where there are roads already established, but sometimes potentially from the villages. The new road not only increased access to the area, it provided an easy route for the illegal logging and transport of timber outside of the sanctuary.”

Today, we are working with Amnesty to refine the data analysis even further. Farfour comments, “We’re doing things like testing radar imagery to be able to detect through cloud cover and testing road detection algorithms with Planet.” As these capabilities expand, satellite images will help Farfour and her team better protect Prey Lang on the ground.

This critical work with Amnesty provides a blueprint for greater transparency and better monitoring of potential illegal activities. Many civil governments and NGOs can benefit from Planet satellite imagery and a “tip and cue” strategy to monitor environmental damage. Our data helps organizations form an objective picture and build greater transparency to move beyond monitoring and to move beyond responsive monitoring to results-driven advocacy. become proactive advocates for human rights.

Good occupation, bad occupation

 

By: Mohsen Pakaein

TEHRAN, Apr. 05 (MNA) – The reversal of concepts and realities under the guidance of powerful governments and their mass media is a new phenomenon in the international system.

During Obama's presidency in the United States, new terms such as "good terrorism" and "bad terrorism" entered the world's political literature. With this approach in the case of Israel's invasion of Palestine, the Western media described the oppressed Palestinians as an example of "bad terrorism" and called the Zionist regime's crimes against Palestine "a defense of the rights of the Jews." After the creation of ISIS and al-Qaeda, the Americans described takfiri groups as a kind of "good terrorism" fighting against the dictatorship in Syria to justify their presence in this country.

The division of terrorism by the West into good and bad groups was a dangerous distance that led to the growth and development of terrorism even in Europe. Naturally, the issue of terrorism and terrorism is condemned and irrational in every way, and at that time, Iran, which is at the forefront of the fight against terrorism, condemned the false concepts of good and bad terrorism.

With the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, the concepts of "good occupation" and "bad occupation" are entering the world political literature. The United States, which has never condemned the Israeli occupation of Palestine and has supported the Saudi-led invasion and occupation of Yemen, has raised the banner of opposition to the occupation of countries, including Ukraine, and supports Ukraine's territorial integrity. Interestingly, the occupying regime in Jerusalem, which has been committing crimes against the occupation of Palestine for many years, also declares its opposition to the occupation of Ukraine. More interestingly, Turkey, which has occupied northern Cyprus since 1974 with a military offensive, also condemns Russia's occupation of Ukraine. In another double standard, Turkey opposes the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh in the Caucasus, while considering itself an occupier of Northern Cyprus. The US and NATO occupation of Afghanistan were one of the good occupations under the pretext of fighting terrorism, which led to the destruction of Afghanistan and the humiliating defeat of NATO.

But more disgusting is the occupation of territories, the division of occupation into good and bad, and the dual attitude of Western countries and their allies and international organizations, including the United Nations, in support of the territorial integrity of countries. In their view, if a European country is occupied by mobs and whites, it is a "bad occupation" and should be dealt with severely. But if Palestine or Yemen and other West Asian countries are occupied, it is a "good occupation" and should be supported.

In the Ukraine crisis, Western countries and international institutions deprived Russia of its rights. In this crisis, FIFA ignores the "non-political nature" of sports matches, and Russia, as a "bad occupier", can not participate in the Qatar World Cup. While Saudi Arabia is present in these games as a "good occupier" and the UAE has reached the playoffs as a "good occupier". The Zionist regime, Turkey and Armenia are also good occupiers who are present in all European and world games.

What is certain is that the occupation of independent countries by any other country is disgusting and contrary to international standards. For this reason, the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a principled position, never supports the occupation of territories. Iran has not supported the occupation of northern Cyprus by Turkey or the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenia, as it has condemned the occupation of Palestine by Israel or the occupation of Yemen by the Saudi coalition. In the Ukraine crisis, Iran has also supported the country's territorial integrity and has not even voted in favor of Russia or the occupation of Abkhazia and Georgia in international forums, including Crimea.

It seems that the world, after dividing terrorism into good and bad, should also experience the division of "good and bad occupation". Today, the dual treatment and unfair division of internationally accepted concepts and values ​​are one of the main reasons for the emergence of various wars and the world moving away from just peace. Until international organizations, especially the United Nations, can end the current divisions between "good and bad terrorism" and "good and bad occupation", we must see the growth of terrorism and the occupation of countries in future.

SINGAPORE

MPs including those from Workers' Party call for more parental leave

Several MPs called for a more equal split of leave between mothers and fathers. 

ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE

Amelia Teng
Education Correspondent

SINGAPORE - Several MPs called on Tuesday (April 5) for the Government to provide more parental leave, and for a more equal split of leave between mothers and fathers.

Workers' Party (WP) MP Louis Chua (Sengkang GRC) urged the Government to adopt a shared parental care leave scheme that would entitle parents to a total of 24 weeks of government-paid leave, in lieu of the current 16-week maternity and two-week paternity leave entitlements.

The proposal, which is in WP's manifesto, will result in a more equitable distribution of statutory parental leave and help reshape societal perceptions about gender roles and stereotypes, said Mr Chua, who was speaking in Parliament during the debate on the White Paper on Singapore Women's Development.

Mr Chua said the WP's proposal would see mothers and fathers share the 24 weeks of government-paid leave as they choose, but with a minimum of four weeks to be granted to the father and 12 weeks to the mother.

As an incentive, an additional bonus number of weeks could be awarded to the shared pool if fathers use the full four weeks of parental leave they are entitled to, he added.

"The hope is that over time, these increased entitlements become entrenched as social norms - as has happened in countries like Germany - as more parents utilise their full entitlement, initially to benefit from the bonuses, and over time because it is simply the thing to do," said Mr Chua.

"These new social norms will encourage fathers to spend more time with their children and take on a greater role in the child's development, take on their fair share of household chores, and lead to an overall uplift in our society's perception of gender roles."

Fellow Sengkang MP Associate Professor Jamus Lim said that having a minimum number of weeks being granted to fathers - instead of a maximum of four weeks under the existing shared parental leave scheme - will help families where women may be the primary breadwinner.

He added that mothers who utilise more of their leave entitlement - even when fully justified and accounted for - end up bearing a cost, such as having their career progression delayed.

"This is another reason why minimum paternity leave requirements can also indirectly help limit the gender wage gap from rising even further," said Assoc Prof Lim.


People's Action Party MP Louis Ng (Nee Soon GRC) urged the Government to set a target year, perhaps 2030, by which Singapore could see an equal share of paternity and maternity leave.

"We can increase paternity leave in phases, giving our employers time to plan ahead, while also providing a clear signal of our intentions to reduce gendered perceptions of parenthood," he said.

The current low amount of paternity leave entrenches gender stereotypes, said Mr Ng, who referred to a 2019 Institute of Policy Studies research paper that found that family policies in Singapore signal that childcare is a woman's responsibility.

"The worst part of the problem is that it is self-reinforcing. Because we give fathers less leave, they don't get to develop the skills and confidence needed to care for their kids. This, the IPS study finds, causes them to leave childcare to mothers."

He also cited research that showed that fathers' involvement at home has long-term benefits, such as lower family conflict, lower maternal depression, and fewer behavioural problems for the child.

Mr Ng added: "Some have said that mothers need more leave than fathers because mothers need to physically recover from childbirth. But this is all the more reason why paternity leave needs to be equal with maternity leave.

"The father needs to be there as well, otherwise mothers will spend their 16 weeks of leave single-handedly caring for the newborn - and that is no rest at all."

Progress Singapore Party Non-Constituency MP Hazel Poa also called for equal parental leave between mothers and fathers, with couples having the flexibility to reallocate the amount of leave based on mutual agreement and a minimum period for each parent.

"The default equal share of parental leave between the couple underlines the belief that parenthood is a responsibility that should be shared equally by both parents. Equal parental leave would also give less reason for employers to discriminate against female employees," she said.

In response, Minister of State for Social and Family Development and Education Sun Xueling said that any leave enhancements will need to balance parents’ caregiving needs with employers’ manpower and operational needs.

How leave ought to be shared between parents would also depend on other factors like individual families’ considerations, societal mindsets and norms about the role of fathers, she said.

Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information, added that providing more leave does not automatically lead to more leave being taken.

There is no simple answer as to whether paternity and maternity leave benefits should be equalised to better reflect the desire for equal sharing of responsibilities between fathers and mothers in caregiving, said Mrs Teo.

“At which point would mindsets have shifted sufficiently, such that the equal provision of parental leave would in fact result in the equal sharing of responsibilities?” she said.

Several MPs like Ms Poa also said more work needs to be done to understand why not all fathers take up paternity leave. Latest figures show that 55 per cent of new fathers used their leave in 2019.

Nominated MP Shahira Abdullah cited a study by the National University of Singapore last year which showed that men with lower incomes were less likely to use paternity leave. This was especially so for those involved in manual labour.

Suggesting that provisions be made to allow for some amount of paternity leave to be compulsory, she said: "This will be a strong signal to the community regarding the importance of shared gender responsibilities as well as towards enhancing the support of women in low-income families as well."

During Tuesday's debate, some MPs like PAP's Rachel Ong (West Coast GRC) and WP's Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC) called for family care leave to be legislated.

"This will help in recognising that caregivers' contributions are on par with that of parents with young children," said Mr Giam.

All Singaporean employees should have up to six days of leave to look after young children or immediate family members with long-term illnesses or disabilities, he said.

"The first three days should be paid by the employer, with the remaining days paid by the Government," he suggested. An extra two days could be granted if the employee has more than one recipient to care for, he added.

Likewise, Ms Ong said that childcare leave should be convertible to family care leave, besides being made mandatory.

Respite options for caregivers was another topic covered by MPs such as Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar GRC) and Ms Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson).

Both MPs proposed expanding institutional capacity for respite care across Singapore, while Ms Tin sought more flexible financing options, including using extended family members' MediSave to pay for such services.

Recognising this, Ms Rahayu Mahzam, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Communications and Information, said the Government will enhance the options for respite care to ease the caregiving load, through plans like broadening the Household Services Scheme to include basic elder-minding and childminding services.

"MOH is reviewing the respite care landscape to better meet the needs of caregivers, and make respite care more accessible, affordable, and available," she said, adding that more details will be shared later.

Minister of State for Community, Culture and Youth, and Trade and Industry, Ms Low Yen Ling said that from next month, community-based peer support networks will be formed to connect caregivers of persons with mental health conditions for mutual support.

A buddy programme will also be set up to match experienced caregivers of individuals with disabilities with new ones, she said.

"With greater respect and partnership in caregiving, men, as well as women, can contribute towards this important role which cannot afford to be neglected, or society and families may suffer," she added.

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SINGAPORE

MPs discuss flexiwork implementation, gender pay gap in White Paper debate on S'pore women's development

Some MPs proposed that the Government accelerate the pace of entrenching flexiwork arrangements as a workplace norm. 

PHOTO: ST FILE

Chin Soo Fang
Senior Correspondent

SINGAPORE - With the Covid-19 pandemic showing that it is possible for some workers to work from home full time, some MPs have proposed that the Government accelerate the pace of entrenching flexible work arrangements as a workplace norm.

Others said more can be done to close the gender pay gap, which they felt was not addressed adequately in the White Paper on Singapore Women's Development.

The White Paper was presented to Parliament by Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo on Tuesday (April 5).

On flexiwork arrangements, Mr Melvin Yong (Radin Mas), who is NTUC's assistant secretary-general, said: "While I understand that it takes time to engage the industry and ensure that there is consensus on the Tripartite Guidelines, we should strike when the iron is hot... and roll out the guidelines when many employers are still fresh from having the majority of their workforce telecommuting."

Others like Ms Jessica Tan (East Coast GRC) and Dr Wan Rizal (Jalan Besar GRC) also asked for an earlier implementation of flexible work arrangements.

Responding, Minister of State for Manpower Gan Siow Huang said a calibrated approach is needed in implementing flexiwork arrangements. Employers have to be equipped with capabilities to manage a more flexible workplace, while employees also have to understand the roles that they play in making flexible arrangements sustainable for business operations.

She pointed out that over 10,000 companies have adopted the tripartite standard on flexible work arrangements, covering more than one in four employees in Singapore today.

The White Paper proposed that by 2024, employers must consider staff requests for flexible work arrangements fairly and properly, under a new set of guidelines for such arrangements. But employers can consider their business needs when assessing whether or not to grant approval.

The gender pay gap was raised by Workers' Party MPs He Ting Ru and Jamus Lim (Sengkang GRC), as well as Nominated MP Shahira Abdullah.

Ms He said: "While this pay gap is on the decline, it nonetheless still exists, and it is disappointing the White Paper does not make addressing this an action item. Our efforts at reducing this pay gap must persist, until women in Singapore achieve equal pay to their male counterparts for equal work."

In response, Ms Gan said a practical approach is needed to close the wage gap, pointing out that even in countries like the United States and Canada that have legislated equal pay for equal work, the adjusted pay gap remains higher than Singapore's.

"The main reason for the gender wage gap in Singapore is occupational segregation," she said, adding that some women who disrupted their careers because of caregiving responsibilities are not able to earn as much as their partners.

Besides flexiwork and the gender pay gap, MPs also made suggestions on how to help more women to grow their careers and balance their homemaking roles.

To help women become home-based entrepreneurs, Mr Yong suggested a Home-Based Business Grant to help defray the start-up cost of equipment, and tie up with schools such as Shatec to provide subsidised training courses for baking, cooking and safe food preparation.

This was echoed by Mr Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio GRC), who suggested start-up grants or avenues of micro-financing for these "mumpreneurs", or mothers who become entrepreneurs.

Even as flexiwork takes root, some MPs spoke about the importance of protecting privacy and family time.

Mr Sharael Taha (Pasir Ris-Punggol) said that as flexible work arrangements blur the line between work and home, employers and workers have to come to a new understanding about work-life balance and respect for personal space and time.

The House members also said more can be done to encourage and support women to choose and excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) industries.

Ms Poh Li San (Sembawang GRC) noted that only 55 per cent of the women who graduated with Stem degrees or diplomas pursued related careers, compared with 70 per cent of men.

Ms He said the green transition represents a chance to ensure that women are well and justly represented in new "green jobs", adding that the gender gap in Stem skills must not be a barrier to greater gender equality.