COP27: Inside one of UK's oldest green power stations

Steffan Messenger - BBC Wales Environment Correspondent
Mon, November 7, 2022 

Interconnecting reservoirs drive power generation at Cwm Rheidol

Hidden away in a remote valley you'll find one of the UK's oldest renewable power stations.

For 60 years, Rheidol Hydropower Plant, near Aberystwyth, has been generating clean electricity from abundant rain.

Operators say Wales has the key ingredients to be a "strong player" in producing green energy, but the Institute of Welsh Affairs has warned progress has been too slow.

The Welsh government said it had bold ambitions to meet energy needs.

It is set to talk later about its plans to tackle climate change, while world leaders are meeting in Egypt for the COP27 summit.

Renewable sources like wind, solar and hydro meet 56% of Wales' electricity demand, but the Welsh government hopes this will reach 70% by 2030, although this is currently under review.

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People are "always surprised" when they stumble across the vast hydro power plant in Ceredigion's scenic Cwm Rheidol valley, according to boss Dennis Geyermann.

"But this is the story of renewable energy - it brings interesting, high tech jobs into rural areas," he said.

Made up of a series of interconnecting reservoirs, dams, underground tunnels and power stations, it is the largest project of its kind in Wales and England.

It covers a total area of 62 sq miles (162 sq km), and supplies enough electricity to power up to 15,000 homes.

Since 2008, it has been owned by Statkraft, an offshoot of the Norwegian government, and Europe's largest producer of renewable power.

Dennis Geyermann: "We have the right landscape, we have enough rain and wind and there's a great coastline"

From here the firm's other renewable energy schemes - as far afield as the Scottish Highlands - are also monitored 24 hours a day.

"This is kind of like the brains of the operation," explained Mr Geyermann, vice president for operations and maintenance.

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He said the company - which recently announced it hopes to develop a new green hydrogen plant in Pembrokeshire - had a "large project pipeline for the UK".

And Wales, in particular, could be "a strong player when it comes to renewable energy", he added.

"We have the right landscape, we have enough rain and wind and there's a great coastline," he said.

"The Welsh people are up for it too."

Sarah South advised young people to gain skills to take advantage of the "big push" towards green energy

Sarah South, who is responsible for health and safety at Statkraft UK, grew up nearby and recalled fishing with her father in the scheme's reservoirs, as well as countless school trips to the site.

She said she would encourage young people to gain the skills needed to take advantage of the "big push" towards green energy.

"Your English, sciences, maths, geography - you might think they're boring subjects in school - but they'll be really important," she said.

"It's such a big industry that's coming through now, and so important to the future of the world."
What has changed?

Built in 1962, long before concern about climate change filled the headlines, Rheidol's hydropower scheme has lived through an energy revolution in the UK.

At the time, virtually all our power came from burning coal.

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Fast forward to 2020 and, for the first time in more than 200 years, the official energy statistics showed coal had played no part in Wales' energy generation mix.

And 56% of the country's electricity demand is now met from renewable sources like wind, solar and hydro.

Officially, the Welsh government's target is to reach 70% by 2030, though that is currently under review.
'Progress is too slow'

Auriol Miller, director of the Institute of Welsh Affairs think-thank, said progress had, so far, been too slow.

"We've got to look higher, further and faster in terms of those targets," she argued.

The think-tank has urged Welsh ministers to aim for 100% by 2035 in a series of reports in recent years.

Scotland, by comparison, is virtually already there.

The dam at Nant-y-Moch reservoir helps to generate enough electricity to power up to 15,000 homes

Neil Lewis, founder of Carmarthenshire Energy which has helped develop wind, solar and electric vehicle projects across the county, said it took too long to get schemes off the drawing board.

"We have colleagues who've built community-owned windfarms which have taken 10 to 20 years to get permission to build them," he said.

"It's really important that we speed up our efforts."

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Meanwhile, the Senedd's climate change committee has also expressed concern over a slowdown in renewable energy development since 2015.

The Welsh government, which this year carried out what it described as a deep dive investigation into the barriers facing renewable energy, has pledged new targets by next summer and a national energy plan by 2024.

It also announced earlier this month that it was setting up a state-owned renewable energy developer for Wales - in a UK first.

'Wealth and value'

In a statement, the Welsh government said it had "bold ambitions for renewable generation to at least fully meet our energy needs in Wales - while receiving a fair share of its wealth and value".

It said it was "making progress towards our targets but we need to go further and faster".

"We are supporting local organisations to tackle climate change and we will support businesses to develop their staff for the clean energy future," it added.

"In this cost of living crisis, we must focus on finding the most affordable, least impactful solution as the decisions we make today will have a massive impact on generations to come."

Cornwall takes on first space industry apprentices on courses

Mon, November 7, 2022 

Apprenticeships and training courses in space technology have begun in Cornwall for people wanting roles in the sector.

Cornwall Space and Aerospace Technology Training (CSATT) courses include a Higher National Certificate in space technology and a foundation degree.

They include training in satellite technology, physics and astronomy.

Course bosses said the training, using state-of-the-art facilities, was preparing people to support the county's growing space industry.

Spaceport Cornwall, at Cornwall Airport Newquay, will be launching satellites into space from UK soil

The CSATT training, run by Truro and Penwith College, includes the use of facilities at its £7m specialist technology Valency centre in Truro.

The training comes as Spaceport Cornwall, based at Cornwall Airport Newquay, works towards its first launch of satellites into space from UK soil.

A Virgin Orbit plane and rocket arrived at Cornwall Airport Newquay in October.

Cornwall Council said the county's space sector had grown 164% since 2010 and was set to contribute £1bn to the local economy by 2030.

One of the apprentices, 17-year-old Sennen, who said he had been learning about satellites and coding, said getting on a course had been helping him with one of his "main dreams", as he had wanted to be an astronaut since he was seven years old.

He said: "It's been that sort of dream that has been out of reach for so many years now. I have this entry way into it - it's amazing."

Course project manager Dr Heidi Thiemann said: "While we only have a few apprentices on courses at the moment, we know that courses are going to grow and grow as more companies move down to Cornwall and start employing people in the region."

American crocodiles are rare and one just showed up on a Florida beach, video shows


Facebook video screengrab

Mark Price
Mon, November 7, 2022 

A rarely seen American crocodile found its way ashore along Florida’s Treasure Coast, 160 miles north of Miami.

It happened the first week of November in Indian River County, and video shows beachgoers were shaken when the 8-foot reptile decided to stick around.

Only 1,500 to 2,000 adult crocodiles survive in southern Florida’s brackish swamps, so seeing one on a public beach is highly unusual, according to the South Florida Wildlands Association.

“This rare capture of a croc in Sebastian, Florida, is at the very northern end of the range,” the association wrote on Facebook.

“American crocodiles range from the northern coast of South America through Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. In the U.S., only the southern end of Florida hosts a population of these native American reptiles.”

The video was credited to Tiara Alessandra and it reports the sighting occurred between Sebastian Inlet and the Mel Fisher Treasures Museum.

It shows the crocodile sat still at the edge of the surf (jaws closed), with only its tail occasionally moving. The association noted it seemed “to love having the waves splash over its body.”

A longer version of the video posted to TikTok shows the reptile eventually walked into the ocean, where it quickly vanished beneath the waves.

Florida is home to crocodiles and alligators, and it’s typically the alligators that show up on public beaches. However, alligators have a preference for fresh water, and don’t stay long, experts say.

“American crocodiles” have a higher tolerance for saltwater, but are “shy and reclusive” making beach encounters less likely, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says.

Male American crocodiles can reach 20 feet, “but rarely exceed 14 feet in the wild,” according to Everglades National Park.

The crocodile video has gotten nearly 200,000 views on Facebook since being posted Nov. 2, and hundreds of reactions and comments. This includes some who didn’t know the state had crocodiles and others who said they never heard of one being that far north.

“I think he’s going to get his way and have the beach to his self until he decides to leave,” one woman wrote.

“These scare me way more (than) sharks! Crocs just shouldn’t be in the ocean,” another posted.

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Flexible working has benefits for employee well-being — but access to the right technology is crucial

Insider Inc.
Tue, November 8, 2022 


Research suggests that flexible work arrangements are a key driver of overall employee well-being.

Businesses must adapt their technology strategy to support employees in hybrid roles.

HP portfolio of products have key built-in features designed to accommodate the various facets of flexible work.

Whatever your grandfather did for a living, his work arrangements probably weren't very flexible — and they certainly weren't designed to maximize his sense of well-being or autonomy. Today, as the sudden shift to remote work gradually gives way to the age of hybrid offices, employers who don't prioritize worker flexibility, autonomy, and well-being may find it difficult to hire or retain talent.

What might surprise your grandfather's boss the most is that this could be a win-win situation for everyone. A growing body of research suggests that flexible work arrangements provide a wide range of well-being benefits, and can help drive productivity and employee engagement. Giving workers the freedom and flexibility to work from anywhere, at any time, and to seamlessly collaborate across boundaries not only leads to happier, healthier employees — it also builds more efficient companies that retain employees longer, encourages collaboration, and improves productivity.

A clear link between employee well-being and flexible working arrangements

Employees who have access to remote-work opportunities — including flexible work location, distributed teams, and virtual work options — were 43% less likely to experience workplace burnout, 75% more likely to report being often or always engaged with work, 63% more likely to report often or always being innovative, and 30% less likely to look for another job in the next year, according to a 2020 global study. Likewise, in a 2022 study of workers across England and Scotland, 78% said that being able to work from home gave them an improved work-life balance, 50% said it enabled them to more easily and quickly complete their work, and 47% said it improved their overall well-being.

Julia Yates, a senior lecturer in organizational psychology at City University of London, said the autonomy provided by flexible arrangements "leads to increased work satisfaction, increased life satisfaction, and decreased levels of stress — so generally it is a very positive thing to have in work."

"Autonomy definitely leads to increased productivity, because it makes people happier, which makes them more productive," she added, citing several studies, including a 2020 research project that used a neuroscience experiment to investigate the mechanisms through which greater autonomy affects individual and team performance. "It also makes them feel more valued, boosting their self-confidence and leading to more creativity, more resilience, and therefore more productivity. It allows them to play to their strengths."

For employers, the challenge now is to design a technology strategy that delivers not only flexibility but connectivity and security. That means providing tools that employees can use to work from almost anywhere, which enable them to seamlessly collaborate under any conditions.
Technology that is adapted to the flexible work age

For the large majority of workers, the one indispensable tool will be a versatile laptop. Though there are dozens of models advertised as ideal for hybrid work, many don't offer critical features that enable hybrid working, such as the ability to connect in low-Wi-Fi environments, long battery life, and a lightweight, portable design.

This is why the HP Elite Dragonfly G3 has consistently been a popular choice for employers. Not only does it check the necessary boxes, but it also provides innovative features specifically designed for working from unconventional spaces. For example, its AI Noise Reduction feature allows the user to filter out ambient or unwanted noises when on a video call — a potential lifesaver for parents of young children, or anyone working in a public environment, like a coffee shop. It also contains a wide field-of-view 5MP camera that allows users to move more freely during calls.

Indeed, being freed from ergonomically challenged office desks could be one of the great wellness benefits of the shift to remote work, assuming workers have the proper equipment. In a survey of nearly 900 remote workers, 40% said they no longer worked from a desk, and one-third admitted to purchasing their own equipment to accommodate their healthier posture.

Employers can accommodate these good habits with wireless equipment, such as the HP 655 keyboard and mouse combo. In addition to long battery life, the mouse contains a multi-surface sensor that allows it to operate on a wide variety of surfaces. And workers who need to be on frequent video calls but don't want to sit at a desk all day may appreciate an exterior camera like the HP 960 4K Streaming Webcam, which allows for greater movement than some other internal laptop cameras do.

Lastly, as any IT worker can tell you, a distributed workforce makes it exponentially harder to secure your organization's data. To give your employees the freedom they want without sacrificing the security your company needs, it's imperative to upgrade your IT architecture. The HP Wolf endpoint security solutions safeguard people, devices, and data.

Enterprise software platform HP Anyware was specifically designed to keep workers productive with secured access to their digital workspaces, without the headaches of a VPN. It also enables teams to work together in real-time by accessing the same desktop or application from virtually anywhere and avoiding large file downloads.

The rules of work have changed. Flexibility has joined paid time off and lunch hours as the minimum benefits employees will accept to work for your company. Smart employers already recognize that these new rules will benefit them, too, as employees become happier, better connected, and more productive. All they need is the right technology, and an employer that's bold enough to provide it.
How HP products make it easier to work from anywhere
HP Elite Dragonfly G3. Your best work, anywhere.

Ultra-light (it starts at less than 1 kilogram) and featuring HP Wolf Security for Business, HP's new Dragonfly G3 notebook is a powerhouse that has been painstakingly crafted for today's professionals. Its secret weapon is its 5G connectivity, enabling users to work well beyond the confines of a WiFi signal. The HP Elite Dragonfly is enhanced by HP Presence AI audio and video technology, which provides optimal conditions for collaborative and productive virtual meetings.
HP 950 4K Webcam. Best-in-class picture for meetings.

We all need to be camera-ready in the world of flexible work, and this webcam helps us put our best face forward. The built-in privacy shutter blocks the webcam from uninvited eyes and the AI face framing ensures that your face is always in focus. Best of all, there are universal mounting clips to mount the camera wherever it works best.
HP USB-C Travel Hub G2. Connecting your world.

Created with the demands of today's roving business traveler in mind, HP's versatile new hub lets remote workers expand their laptop's connectivity wherever they are. Adding an extra display is the work of moments — and when plug sockets are thin on the ground, you can plug in your phone to charge it too. You can even charge your devices and laptop battery at the same with the one single USB cable.

Find out more about how HP can support flexible working.

This post was created by Insider Studios with HP.

Philippines' unemployment hits new low since start of pandemic


Daily life in Manila amid new coronavirus cases

Mon, November 7, 2022 

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines' unemployment rate in September fell to a new low since the COVID-19 pandemic began, highlighting more green shoots of recovery as the country fully reopens its domestic economy.

The unemployment rate eased for a third month in a row to hit 5% in September, the statistics agency said on Tuesday, which bodes well for third quarter growth.

"The recent survey results show the gains of the full reopening of our economy," Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in a statement.

Gross domestic product was 7.4% in the second quarter, bringing the average growth in the first half of the year to 7.8%, above the government's 6.5-7.5% growth target for 2022. Official third quarter GDP data will be released on Nov. 10.

COP27 app gives Egypt’s Sisi access to every move attendees make

Sébastian SEIBT -

Egyptian authorities have unveiled a COP27 application to "help" participants at the climate change summit in Sharm El Skeikh, which ends on November 18. But NGOs and cybersecurity experts warn that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s regime can very easily and effectively use the app to surveil attendees, including top diplomats and Egyptian activists.


COP27 app gives Egypt’s Sisi access to every move attendees make© Stefan Rousseau, AP

The 2022 UN Climate Change Conference, which began on Sunday, November 6 in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El Sheikh, is a summit under tight surveillance. Human rights groups and cybersecurity experts believe the Egyptian application made available to COP27 participants is a weapon of massive espionage for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s regime.

"It’s not the official UN application that’s the problem; it’s the one developed by the Egyptian government that bothers us," explained Katharina Rall, senior environment researcher at Human Rights Watch, who participated in the NGO’s investigation into the repressive measures put in place by Egypt ahead of COP27.

The Egyptian app, which was rolled out on October 24, is supposed to "improve the COP27 experience for all participants". It allows users to manage flight and hotel reservations, get information about Covid-19, and provides agendas for on-site meetings as well as a calendar of negotiations and roundtables.

The all-in-one tool has already been downloaded by more than 5,000 delegates and visitors (out of a total of 44,000 registered participants) who were probably reassured by the fact that this Egyptian application is promoted on the official UN website for the COP27. The UN imprimatur "appears very problematic to us, and we have the right to wonder why there was no verification beforehand", said Rall.

‘Unlimited trust certificate’ with access to all

Shortly after the app was rolled out last month, cybersecurity experts realised that it was "a cartoon super-villain of an app”, as Gennie Gebhart from the Electronic Frontier Foundation put it in an interview with the British daily, The Guardian.

It’s difficult to imagine a more intrusive app: It "requires access to all the communication connectors of the smartphone, such as Bluetooth, GPS, camera, microphone, address book, NFC ['near-field communication', a wireless data transfer technology for very short distances],” explained Frans Imbert-Vier, CEO of UBCOM, a Swiss cybersecurity agency that has analysed the mobile service developed by the Egyptians.

Unlike most other apps, the COP27 one does not offer warnings that they want to have access to this or that function of the smartphone. "In this case, an unlimited trust certificate is submitted to the user," said Imbert-Vier. After acceptance, the phone's operating system acts like the app can mostly do whatever it wants.

Specifically, it transmits geolocation data, photos taken, messages exchanged and allows access to outgoing email content, according to The Guardian, which conducted its own security assessment of this quasi-spyware.

Users cannot simply refuse to allow access to certain functions and still use the application, warned Imbert-Vier. It's all or nothing, even though all the experts interviewed agree that such an application does not need to have access to emails or the microphone, for example, for the services it offers.

Cheaper, faster, better than standard spying operations

Experts are especially concerned about the app’s uninstalling function. Rall from Human Rights Watch warns that, "uninstalling the application is not enough to get rid of it". The elements that enabling spying on communications linger on smartphones. "You have to reset the operating system settings [an advanced reset to clean the heart of the smartphone] to put everything back in order," added Imbert-Vier.

The Egyptian authorities have thus developed the perfect little cyber spy that is difficult to get rid of and that, in addition, steals the user’s consent.

For the Sisi regime, "the COP27 has provided a unique opportunity to update, at low cost, all their information on diplomats and high-ranking dignitaries of the countries attending this event. What’s more, it’s much faster and more reliable than doing all the espionage work on the ground, since the information is provided directly by the victim," noted Imbert-Vier.

The app is also an additional weapon for the regime to monitor domestic dissent in a country routinely singled out for its gross human rights violations, including crackdowns on freedoms of expression and association. "We must not forget that some of the participants in COP27 are local organisations, and most of the international NGOs also work with Egyptian activists," said Rall.

Human Rights Watch fears that in a country where tens of thousands of detainees are considered political prisoners by NGOs, and which has increased arrests in the run-up to COP27, the official application can be used as a tool to increase repression.

>> Mother of jailed Egyptian activist on hunger strike fears for son’s life

Spying opportunities for regimes hosting events

Egypt is not the first country to be accused of using an official application for a major event for espionage purposes.

For the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing in February, China asked athletes and participants to download "My2022", an equally intrusive application.

A similar scenario appears to be emerging for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which starts on November 18. Activists and experts have flagged two applications, Ehteraz, a local Covid-19 app, and Hayya, a digital permit required to enter stadiums and the country, for giving Qatari authorities wide access to information on smartphones.

All these examples suggest that hosting major international now provide authoritarian regimes with an easy gateway to extend the scope of their cyber-surveillance.

'Qatar is a mistake,' says former FIFA President Sepp Blatter

Former soccer officials Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini face corruption charges in Swiss trial

ZURICH (Reuters) - Sepp Blatter, the former president of FIFA when Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup hosting rights in 2010, told Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger "Qatar is a mistake," adding that "the choice was bad."

The Qatar decision has been marred by controversy, including allegations of corruption and human rights violations, since it was first announced.

Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years, has also been embroiled in accusations of corruption during his tenure. He was cleared of fraud by a Swiss court in June. The prosecutors have appealed the ruling.

"It is too small of a country. Football and the World Cup are too big for it," Blatter said of Qatar, the first country in the Middle East to host the tournament.

He said FIFA in 2012 amended the criteria it used to select host countries in light of concerns over the working conditions at tournament-related construction sites in Qatar.

"Since then, social considerations and human rights are taken into account," he said.

Blatter said he will be watching the tournament, which kicks off in less than two weeks, from his home in Zurich.

(Reporting by Noele Illien; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

Miss Argentina and Miss Puerto Rico announce they are married after secret romance

Charlie Jones - 

Two beauty queens have announced they are married after keeping their relationship secret for two years.

Former Miss Argentina Mariana Varela, 26 and former Miss Puerto Rico Fabiola Valentín, 22, revealed they tied the knot on October 28.

The two met at Miss Grand International (MGI) 2020 but have kept the relationship secret since then.

Argentina made same-sex marriage legal in 2010, and Puerto Rico made it legal in 2015.

Mariana represented Argentina at the 2019 Miss Universe contest and ended up in the top 10 of MGI 2020 the following year.

Fabiola also reached the final 10 of the MGI competition that year, representing Puerto Rico.


The happy couple released pictures documenting their romance© Jam Press Vid


Their fans were quick to congratulate the couple© Jam Press Vid

Fabiola said on social media: “After deciding to keep our relationship private, we opened the doors to them on a special day. 10/28/22.”

The happy couple shared images of their romantic proposal, wedding and honeymoon period after first meeting at MGI in 2020 where they both made the final 10.

The models’ adoring followers wished them well in the comments section, with one Instagram user writing: “The best that Miss Grand has given us!”

“Omg congratulations MGI brought together a beautiful union,” commented another.



The two have married after years of keeping their affair secret© Jam Press

Someone else said: “Congratulations! May they be very very happy.”

“Beautiful couple. Congratulations and blessings on your marriage!”

“Congratulations ladies!” remarked another.

The pair have over 100,000 Instagram followers each.

Mariana thanked everyone for their kind words of support: “Thanks for all the love! We are very happy and blessed. I wish you that the love you are giving us is multiplied! Infinite thanks.”



Mariana Varela represented Argentina in the 2019 Miss Universe competition© Jam Press

Beauty pagents have been in the news recently but not for such heart warming reasons.

A beauty pageant turned ugly in New York when a brawl erupted between contestants at an after party.

In a now-viral video, a melee erupts as a mob of well-dressed men and women lay into each other after NYC's first ever Miss Sri Lanka beauty pageant.

The motive for the fight at the The Vanderbilt in South Beach, which is home to a large Sri Lankan population, is currently unknown.

Sujani Fernando, one of the organisers, said none of the contestants were involved in the brawl.

She said all 14 were inside the building as the fight erupted outside.



The loved up couple appeared thrilled to announce the news to their fans© Jam Press Vid


Picture from their happy day© Jam Press Vid

In 2021, a similar scuffle broke out at a top pageant in Sri Lanka.

The reigning beauty queen had to be handcuffed after she snatched the crown from her rival's head.

She claimed her competitor shouldn't have won, and should've been disqualified because she was divorced.

But the organiser said that social media users have blamed the scuffle on an inaccurate Sri Lankan stereotype, calling the ruck "just a fight".

“Sri Lankans are good people,” she said.

“It’s just a fight — fights happen, kids fight. That happens in any culture, any nationality, it doesn’t have to be Sri Lankans.

"We’re not that type of people.”

Opinion: Iran's regime cannot be fixed

Yalda Zarbakhch
Commentary
November 5, 2022

For weeks now, Iranian women have been fighting for democracy and freedom. Many have been arrested, beaten or killed. DW's Yalda Zarbakhch asks why Western governments still seek compromise with Iran's regime.

World leaders have kept mum as Iran's regime has intensified violence against protestersImage: SalamPix/abaca/picture alliance

Every day another funeral: young people carried to their graves by their families, mothers carried to their graves by their children. For weeks now, these images have dominated the news from Iran.

Right now, the picture circulating around the world is of a 5-year-old weeping beside her mother's grave. Fereshteh Ahmadi, who had two children, was shot and killed by security forces. The image of her little daughter at her grave is heartbreaking for me as a mother — for every mother, for every human being. Or so you would think.

To date, at least 270 Iranians — women, men and 30 minors — have been shot or beaten to death because they took to the streets to express their anger and outrage following the death of Jina Mahsa Amini on Sept. 16. People are being murdered because they are fighting for democratic values. They want to live according to these values. And for this they are paying with their lives.
Protests at graveyards

Every day marks 40 days since a protester's death in Iran right now — and relatives and demonstrators turn out to observe the occasion. Despite the significant security presence, tens of thousands of people come to gather in and around the cemeteries. They mourn Jina Mahsa, Nika, Sarina, Hananeh, Asra and Hadis, to name just a few of the brave girls and women killed. Parents are being arrested in order to force "confessions" by torture — made to say that their children died of heart failure or a stroke or by suicide.

Cemeteries and universities are now the biggest sites of protest. Every innocent victim increases the anger and determination of Iranian women and men, and strengthens their unity in standing up against the government.

Protesters traveled to Jina Mahsa Amini's grave to mark 40 days since her death

Human rights organizations estimate that about 14,000 people are being held and abused in Iran's overflowing jails, including at Tehran's infamous Evin prison. These people, too, ought to be acknowledged by name: the activists, musicians, children and students abducted from their homes, schools and residences — some of whom may now face the death penalty.

Every day, their calls grow louder and more clear: "Death to the dictator, death to a regime that murders children," they cry. "Death to the whole apparatus of power, death to the Islamic Republic."
A regime beyond reform

In the West, of all places, it seems that many political leaders cannot hear the screams of Iranians. Or is it that they don't want to? Why is the West clinging to possible reform scenarios when people in Iran have known for many years that this system cannot be fixed?

With Iran in the midst of a unique feminist revolution, Germans have directed their expectations for a response to Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. But how is it possible that the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, remained silent for five weeks? It wasn't until Oct. 31 that he condemned, in a tweet, the "disproportionate violence of the security forces" against demonstrators in Iran. And why is the West still hoping for a resumption of the Iran nuclear agreement, signed in 2015 and abandoned in 2018? This is a slap in the face of all Iranian women and men who are currently putting their lives on the line.

The demonstrators do not want reforms or compromises. Because what compromises can you make with a regime that arrests schoolgirls, rapes them, shoots them, beats them to death?

As an Iranian, and as a journalist following the pictures, videos and flood of news stories coming out of Iran every day, I speak for my compatriots who have been protesting for weeks when I say that people want regime change. They want to live self-determined lives in a free and democratic country. This is not possible with the current regime in Tehran.
Listen to the protesters

I am not calling for intervention by the West — or for outside involvement in overthrowing the Islamic Republic. That is up to the people of Iran alone. What I am calling for, though, is governments to listen to the protesters: Do not contribute to the strengthening of the regime.

It is irresponsible to strengthen or legitimize a regime that will stop at nothing to remain in power. A regime that no longer has any legitimacy among its own population cannot be legitimized by the international community as a diplomatic partner for dialog.

It is a paradox. In the liberal West, of all places, there is a widespread fear of regime change. I keep hearing warnings that a revolution in Iran would result in instability throughout the region — that it could spark a civil war and turn the country into a second Syria.

I wonder what these warnings are based on. The region is already far from stable, and the Islamic Republic and its Revolutionary Guard, supported by Hezbollah, play a significant part in that, as well. The narrative of a second Syria or impending civil war as the sole alternatives to the Islamic Republic has put the brake on change for years now, both at home and abroad.

An initiative in Washington commemorates the at least 270 Iranians killed in the protests

Apart from the machinery of power that is centered on the Revolutionary Guard and Basij militias — who would give everything for their religious ideology and their leader, Ayatollah Khamenei — the vast majority of the population is united in the struggle against the Islamic Republic. This has seldom been as apparent as in the past six weeks: People of all ethnicities and minorities, Kurds, Baluchis, women and men, old and young, Muslims, people of other faiths, atheists: All are protesting together across the entire country — with and without hijabs.

Despite all the repressive measures, a strong civil society has developed in Iran in recent years. A great many activists, lawyers, women's rights activists, and others who could provide an alternative to the Islamic Republic are currently being held in Evin prison. If they are freed in time, they would be able to build a new Iran. This could stabilize the entire region. If they are not released, they face show trials and execution.

Ever since it was established, the Islamic Republic has cemented its power with brutality, oppression, and human rights abuses. It is still doing so 40 years later, and before the very eyes of the international community. For how much longer?

This article has been translated from German.

Yalda Zarbakhch Head of DW Persian@yaldina

SPAIN

Mallorca hotel cleaners fight exploitation

Without the women who clean hotel rooms every day, Mallorca's tourism industry would come to a halt. The so-called Kellys are fighting for better working conditions.

Jonas Martiny
November 7, 2022

For the past 19 years, Sara del Mar has been working as a housekeeper in a Magaluf hotel on the Spanish island of Mallorca, which is especially popular with British holidaymakers. The 52-year old says she is perfectly healthy, although few of her colleagues are as fortunate. Housekeeping is strenuous work that entails constant bending and lifting to clean rooms and make beds. Despite this reality, del Mar has avoided developing spinal disc herniation, carpal tunnel syndrome or lateral epicondylitis, better known as tennis elbow. Such health problems blight many of the 30,000 hotel cleaners employed on Spain's Balearic islands.

Sara del Mar has been fighting for better working conditions

Image: J. Martiny

Tough working conditions

For the past six years, del Mar has headed the Mallorca housekeepers' association. Almost all cleaners are women, about half of them are immigrants. They call themselves the "Kellys," short for "Las que limpian," or "those that clean" in Spanish.

Their line of work is nothing short of break breaking. Every day, del Mar must tidy and clean 24 hotel rooms in just six hours — a quota that's practically impossible to meet, she says. Other cleaners face even bigger workloads. "The pressure is enormous, few of us can afford to take lunch breaks, let alone drink anything, because we can't afford to lose time going to the toilet," she says.

Their working conditions have attracted considerable attention in Spain lately. So much so that Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met with a group of cleaners while visiting Mallorca in early October. In a press statement released after the meeting, Sanchez promised his government would work with determination to improve their working conditions, and that without cleaners, the "economically essential tourist sector would cease functioning."

Spanish leader Pedro Sanchez (pictured at the back) is under pressure to ease the plight on hotel workers

After all, the women put in hard work that often translates into health problems just to feed their families and keep the one of Spain's biggest economic sectors, the tourist trade, ticking along. Prime Minster Pedro Sanchez's meeting with Mallorca housekeeping representatives therefore carried huge symbolic significance.

Since organizing in 2016, the "Kellys" have already pushed through a spate of improvements: Many physical ailments common among housekeepers are now recognized as occupational illnesses. And a wage agreement established for the Balearic tourist sector guarantees workers a monthly take-home income of €1,400 euro ($13,900) — more than most Mallorca employees.
Hoteliers forced to install height-adjustable beds

Lawmakers on the Balearic islands recently decided that all hotels must install height-adjustable beds to improve the working conditions of housekeepers — a decision that sparked resentment among hoteliers due to the major investment costs involved. Members of Mallorca's hotelier association, for instance, do not understand why so much attention is devoted to housekeepers yet so little to cooks, receptionists and servers.

Hotel owners have installed height-adjustable beds to ease working conditions

One reason lies in in the cleaners' determination to improve their situation since banding together. "We achieved all this because we took to the streets," says del Mar. "We staged protests on the major squares in all key cities."

Arbitrary work quotas

That said that their most urgent request — that hoteliers be barred from setting arbitrary high daily work quotas to keep labor costs low — has not been fulfilled, says del Mar. She wants to see an agreement reached to determine how many rooms a housekeeper can be reasonably be expected to tidy and clean in a day, with an independent body assuring this quota isn't exceeded. The "Kellys" have, however, successfully pushed for a study to determine what workload should be considered too onerous for housekeepers.

Patrons should not take a freshly made bed and clean hotel room for granted

Sara del Mar's good health might well result from her willingness to stand up to her employer. Most recently, when she felt her hotel was asking too much of her, she filed a complaint with the labor inspectorate. It found that her workload was indeed too high. And "one day later, the hotel hired an extra housekeeper," says del Mar.

This article was originally published in German.