HIROSHIMA VS GAZA BOMB IMPACT
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
Clean-up operation after oil spill blackens part of Singapore coastline
Jun 18, 2024 #coastline #oilspill #singapore
Workers were cleaning up the beach after an oil spill caused by a dredger hitting a stationary tanker blackened part of Singapore’s southern coastline, including the popular resort island of Sentosa.
HINDUTVA VIEW
Canadian Parliament's 'moment of silence' to mark one year of Nijjar's killingNijjar was killed in a targeted shooting in Canada's Surrey, outside British Columbia's Gurudwara.
Khalistani
India Today News Desk
New Delhi,
UPDATED: Jun 19, 2024
Written By: Akhilesh Nagari
In ShortHardeep Singh Nijjar was killed on June 18 last year
His name was on the list released by the Indian government with 40 other 'designated terrorists'
Written By: Akhilesh Nagari
In ShortHardeep Singh Nijjar was killed on June 18 last year
His name was on the list released by the Indian government with 40 other 'designated terrorists'
Four Indian nationals are accused of killing Nijjar
Canada's Parliament marked the one-year anniversary of the Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death by holding a moment of silence in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
Nijjar, the chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was killed in a targeted shooting in Canada's Surrey, outside British Columbia's Gurudwara, on June 18 last year. His name was on the list released by the Indian government with 40 other 'designated terrorists'.
Four Indian nationals, including Karan Brar, Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh, are accused of killing Nijjar.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar's murder, in which Canada claimed the Indian government's role, has been a thorn in bilateral ties.
However, earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy. Speaking about the meeting, Trudeau said that he sees an "opportunity" to engage with the new government, including economic ties, and national security.
WHO WAS HARDEEP SINGH NIJJAR?
After moving to Canada in 1997 under a fake passport, Nijjar's refugee claim was rejected, following which he married a woman who sponsored him for immigration, which too was rejected, the Global reported.
However, soon after his death, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called him a Canadian national in Parliament.
Nijjar, according to the security agencies, was actively recruiting and training people for KTF, a banned terrorist organisation. He was also a part of the separatist outfit Sikhs of Justice, which held a Khalistan referendum on September 10.
Over the years, India has several times conveyed its concern regarding Nijjar's activities. In 2018, ex-Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh gave a list of wanted persons to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Nijjar's name on it.
In 2022, the Punjab police sought Nijjar's extradition as he was wanted in cases of spreading terrorism in the state.
He was wanted in various cases, including the 2017 Ludhiana blast, which claimed the lives of six people and left 42 injured.
Earlier, the Punjab police registered a case against Nijjar for his alleged role in the bomb blast near a temple in Patiala.
Published By:
Akhilesh Nagari
Published On:
Jun 19, 2024
Israel had prior intel of Oct 7 Hamas blitz but chose not to act — report
Newly uncovered documents from Israeli army reveal unprecedented details of Palestinian resistance group's plans to raid Israeli military and settlements, including orders to take between 200-250 hostages, according to Israel's public broadcaster.
AA
Hamas fighters overwhelmed Israeli defences during the October 7 raid in southern Israel. / Photo: AA
Israeli military intelligence possessed advanced knowledge of an imminent Hamas raid on October 7 but chose not to act on it, according to Israel's public broadcaster.
Kan says that the intelligence brief, prepared by Unit 8200 [an Israeli Intelligence Corps] in mid-September, outlined Hamas' meticulous preparations for the surprise blitz, including training elite fighters for hostage-taking operations and planning raids on communities in the southern region.
The brief specifically noted Hamas' intention to seize between 200 to 250 hostages. The fighters later took 251 people hostage, 116 of whom remain in Gaza including 41 the Israeli army says are dead, many of them in indiscriminate Israeli strikes.
The document, titled "Detailed End-to-End Raid Training," notes a description of a series of exercises conducted by Hamas' elite Nukhba unit in the weeks before its publication.
"At 11 A.M., several companies were observed converging at the beginning of the training sessions, not before prayer and lunch," the memo says.
AA
The daring Hamas raid on Israel and Tel Aviv's full-scale war on Gaza are being viewed as a cataclysmic event in the Middle East with far-reaching global implications.
Pre-emptive action not taken
Despite the dissemination of this critical intelligence to senior military officials, decisive preemptive actions were not implemented.
Critics argue that had the warnings been acted upon effectively, the devastating toll of the raid might have been mitigated.
The document shared with Kan by a military source further notes: "At 12 P.M., equipment and weapons were distributed" to Hamas fighters which was followed by "an exercise of the company's headquarters." Eventually "at 2 P.M. the raid began."
The Nukhba units were given an order that was highlighted: Search the area when you leave and leave no documents behind, per the memo.
The revelation has ignited debates over the efficacy of Israel's intelligence assessment and the decision-making processes during heightened security threats.
Delaying formal inquiry
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to defer any formal inquiry until after the ongoing conflict, now in its ninth month, has underscored the political sensitivities and complexities involved in addressing the aftermath of the attack.
Meanwhile, Israel's continued ruthless war in Gaza have heightened tensions in the region, further intensifying the scrutiny on the handling of intelligence and security policies.
More than 37,372 Palestinians — majority of them women, children and infants –– have been killed in Israeli bombing and shelling. Close to 85,452 people have been wounded. Thousands of bodies are reportedly lying under the rubble of bombed out homes.
Around 85 percent of Gaza's 2.4 million people have fled their homes. Severe hunger is widespread, and UN officials say parts of the territory are experiencing famine.
The unfolding situation highlights broader implications for Israel's military strategy, national security protocols, and the accountability of leadership during a period of heightened security threats and conflict.
Hamas says its October 7 offensive against Israel was in retaliation for continued Israeli assaults on Al Aqsa Mosque, violence by illegal Zionist settlers in the occupied West Bank, and to bring the Palestinian cause back into international focus.
In an assault of startling breadth, Hamas fighters rolled into as many as 22 locations outside Gaza, including towns and other communities as far as 24 kilometres from the Gaza fence.
At some places they are said to have gunned down many soldiers as Israel's military scrambled to muster response.
The hours-long attack and Israeli military's haphazard response including controversial Hannibal Directive resulted in the killing of more than 1,130 people, Israeli officials and local media say.
Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice.
Newly uncovered documents from Israeli army reveal unprecedented details of Palestinian resistance group's plans to raid Israeli military and settlements, including orders to take between 200-250 hostages, according to Israel's public broadcaster.
AA
Hamas fighters overwhelmed Israeli defences during the October 7 raid in southern Israel. / Photo: AA
Israeli military intelligence possessed advanced knowledge of an imminent Hamas raid on October 7 but chose not to act on it, according to Israel's public broadcaster.
Kan says that the intelligence brief, prepared by Unit 8200 [an Israeli Intelligence Corps] in mid-September, outlined Hamas' meticulous preparations for the surprise blitz, including training elite fighters for hostage-taking operations and planning raids on communities in the southern region.
The brief specifically noted Hamas' intention to seize between 200 to 250 hostages. The fighters later took 251 people hostage, 116 of whom remain in Gaza including 41 the Israeli army says are dead, many of them in indiscriminate Israeli strikes.
The document, titled "Detailed End-to-End Raid Training," notes a description of a series of exercises conducted by Hamas' elite Nukhba unit in the weeks before its publication.
"At 11 A.M., several companies were observed converging at the beginning of the training sessions, not before prayer and lunch," the memo says.
AA
The daring Hamas raid on Israel and Tel Aviv's full-scale war on Gaza are being viewed as a cataclysmic event in the Middle East with far-reaching global implications.
Pre-emptive action not taken
Despite the dissemination of this critical intelligence to senior military officials, decisive preemptive actions were not implemented.
Critics argue that had the warnings been acted upon effectively, the devastating toll of the raid might have been mitigated.
The document shared with Kan by a military source further notes: "At 12 P.M., equipment and weapons were distributed" to Hamas fighters which was followed by "an exercise of the company's headquarters." Eventually "at 2 P.M. the raid began."
The Nukhba units were given an order that was highlighted: Search the area when you leave and leave no documents behind, per the memo.
The revelation has ignited debates over the efficacy of Israel's intelligence assessment and the decision-making processes during heightened security threats.
Delaying formal inquiry
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to defer any formal inquiry until after the ongoing conflict, now in its ninth month, has underscored the political sensitivities and complexities involved in addressing the aftermath of the attack.
Meanwhile, Israel's continued ruthless war in Gaza have heightened tensions in the region, further intensifying the scrutiny on the handling of intelligence and security policies.
More than 37,372 Palestinians — majority of them women, children and infants –– have been killed in Israeli bombing and shelling. Close to 85,452 people have been wounded. Thousands of bodies are reportedly lying under the rubble of bombed out homes.
Around 85 percent of Gaza's 2.4 million people have fled their homes. Severe hunger is widespread, and UN officials say parts of the territory are experiencing famine.
The unfolding situation highlights broader implications for Israel's military strategy, national security protocols, and the accountability of leadership during a period of heightened security threats and conflict.
Hamas says its October 7 offensive against Israel was in retaliation for continued Israeli assaults on Al Aqsa Mosque, violence by illegal Zionist settlers in the occupied West Bank, and to bring the Palestinian cause back into international focus.
In an assault of startling breadth, Hamas fighters rolled into as many as 22 locations outside Gaza, including towns and other communities as far as 24 kilometres from the Gaza fence.
At some places they are said to have gunned down many soldiers as Israel's military scrambled to muster response.
The hours-long attack and Israeli military's haphazard response including controversial Hannibal Directive resulted in the killing of more than 1,130 people, Israeli officials and local media say.
Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice.
At least 1 dead in New Mexico wildfire that forced thousands to flee, governor’s office says
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Thousands of southern New Mexico residents fled a mountainous village as a wind-whipped wildfire tore through homes and other buildings, and killed at least one person. Officials warned the danger isn’t over.
June 18, 2024
Residents of a southern New Mexican mountain village flee their homes as fast-moving wildfires bear down. (June 18, 2024 / AP Video)
By Morgan Lee The Associated Press
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Thousands of southern New Mexico residents fled a mountainous village as a wind-whipped wildfire tore through homes and other buildings, and killed at least one person. Officials warned the danger isn’t over.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency that covers Ruidoso and neighboring tribal lands and deployed National Guard troops to the area. A top-level fire management team is expected to take over Wednesday, and winds will continue to challenge crews, officials said.
The governor’s office confirmed the fatality but said it had no other details.
Christy Hood, a real estate agent in Ruidoso, said the evacuation order Monday came so quickly that she and her husband Richard, only had time to grab their two children and two dogs.
“As we were leaving, there were flames in front of me and to the side of me,” she said. “And all the animals were just running — charging — trying to get out.”
The family headed out of Ruidoso, but heavy traffic turned what should have been a 15-minute drive to leave town into a harrowing two-hour ordeal.
“It looked like the sky was on fire. It was bright orange,” she said. “Honestly, it looked like the apocalypse. It was terrifying and sparks were falling on us.”
More than 500 structures have been destroyed or damaged, but it’s unclear how many were homes. A flyover to provide more accurate mapping and a better assessment of damage was planned Tuesday night, Lujan Grisham said.
“It will really allow us to see inside the fire in a way that we cannot do now because it is too dangerous to be in the heart of the fire,” she said.
The emergency declaration frees up funding and resources to manage the crisis in Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Lujan Grisham said two fires have together consumed more than 31 square miles (80 square kilometers).
Other than the one fatality, no one has been seriously injured, she said.
Nationwide, wildfires have scorched more than 3,280 square miles (8,495 square kilometers) this year — a figure higher than the 10-year averages, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. About 20 wildfires currently burning are considered large, and include blazes in California and Washington state.
On Tuesday, two wildfires menaced Ruidoso, a high-altitude vacation getaway nestled within the Lincoln National Forest with a casino, golf course and ski resort operated by the Mescalero Apache Tribe nearby. What caused the blazes hasn’t been determined, but the Southwest Coordination Center listed them as human-caused.
New Mexico has grappled in recent years with a devastating series of wildfires, including a 2022 blaze caused by a pair of prescribed fires set by the U.S. Forest Service that merged during drought conditions to become the largest wildfire in the state’s recorded history. That year, a separate fire consumed 200 homes in Ruidoso and resulted in two deaths.
This week, Ruidoso officials didn’t mince words as smoke darkened the evening sky Monday and 100-foot (30-meter) flames climbed a ridgeline: “GO NOW: Do not attempt to gather belongings or protect your home. Evacuate immediately.”
Jacquie and Ernie Escajeda were at church Monday in Ruidoso, located about 130 miles (210 kilometers) southeast of Albuquerque, when they heard about a fire about 20 miles (30 kilometers) away. By mid-morning, smoke was rising above a mountain behind their house and the smell filled the air.
The couple started watching their cellphones and turned on the radio for updates. There was no “get ready,” nor “get set” — it was just “go,” Ernie Escajeda said. They grabbed legal documents and other belongings and headed out.
“Within an hour, the police department, the fire department, everybody’s there blocking, barricading the roads to our area and telling everybody to leave,” he said. “Thank God we were ready.”
Earlier Tuesday, they learned the home of their best friends didn’t survive the fire, Jacquie Escajeda said.
“There’s only one home standing in their whole little division that they live in, so there are a lot of structures lost,” she said. “We have no idea if we’re going to have a home to go to.”
Public Service Company of New Mexico shut off power to part of the village due to wildfire. The Ruidoso Downs that hosts horse races and the Lincoln Medical Center were evacuated later Tuesday.
Amid highway closures, many evacuees had little choice but to flee eastward and into the city of Roswell, 75 miles (121 kilometers) away, where hotels and shelters were set up. A rural gas station along the evacuation route was overrun with people and cars.
“The Walmart parking lot is packed with people in RVs,” said Enrique Moreno, director of Roswell Community Disaster Relief. “Every single hotel in Roswell is filled to capacity right now. ... We go to the gas stations and we see just a bunch of people hanging around their cars.”
Animals and livestock were moved to the state fairgrounds in Roswell, including five horses that arrived Monday night, as well as four llamas, according to Leslie Robertson, the office manager. Robertson said 30 more horses were headed her way Tuesday evening.
Both the South Fork Fire and the smaller Salt Fire started on the Mescalero Apache Reservation where the tribe’s president declared a state of emergency.
___
Associated Press writers Sarah Brumfield in Washington, D.C.; Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff, Arizona; and Rio Yamat and Ken Ritter in Las Vegas; and Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada, contributed to this report.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Thousands of southern New Mexico residents fled a mountainous village as a wind-whipped wildfire tore through homes and other buildings, and killed at least one person. Officials warned the danger isn’t over.
June 18, 2024
Residents of a southern New Mexican mountain village flee their homes as fast-moving wildfires bear down. (June 18, 2024 / AP Video)
By Morgan Lee The Associated Press
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Thousands of southern New Mexico residents fled a mountainous village as a wind-whipped wildfire tore through homes and other buildings, and killed at least one person. Officials warned the danger isn’t over.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency that covers Ruidoso and neighboring tribal lands and deployed National Guard troops to the area. A top-level fire management team is expected to take over Wednesday, and winds will continue to challenge crews, officials said.
The governor’s office confirmed the fatality but said it had no other details.
Christy Hood, a real estate agent in Ruidoso, said the evacuation order Monday came so quickly that she and her husband Richard, only had time to grab their two children and two dogs.
“As we were leaving, there were flames in front of me and to the side of me,” she said. “And all the animals were just running — charging — trying to get out.”
The family headed out of Ruidoso, but heavy traffic turned what should have been a 15-minute drive to leave town into a harrowing two-hour ordeal.
“It looked like the sky was on fire. It was bright orange,” she said. “Honestly, it looked like the apocalypse. It was terrifying and sparks were falling on us.”
More than 500 structures have been destroyed or damaged, but it’s unclear how many were homes. A flyover to provide more accurate mapping and a better assessment of damage was planned Tuesday night, Lujan Grisham said.
“It will really allow us to see inside the fire in a way that we cannot do now because it is too dangerous to be in the heart of the fire,” she said.
The emergency declaration frees up funding and resources to manage the crisis in Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Lujan Grisham said two fires have together consumed more than 31 square miles (80 square kilometers).
Other than the one fatality, no one has been seriously injured, she said.
Nationwide, wildfires have scorched more than 3,280 square miles (8,495 square kilometers) this year — a figure higher than the 10-year averages, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. About 20 wildfires currently burning are considered large, and include blazes in California and Washington state.
On Tuesday, two wildfires menaced Ruidoso, a high-altitude vacation getaway nestled within the Lincoln National Forest with a casino, golf course and ski resort operated by the Mescalero Apache Tribe nearby. What caused the blazes hasn’t been determined, but the Southwest Coordination Center listed them as human-caused.
New Mexico has grappled in recent years with a devastating series of wildfires, including a 2022 blaze caused by a pair of prescribed fires set by the U.S. Forest Service that merged during drought conditions to become the largest wildfire in the state’s recorded history. That year, a separate fire consumed 200 homes in Ruidoso and resulted in two deaths.
This week, Ruidoso officials didn’t mince words as smoke darkened the evening sky Monday and 100-foot (30-meter) flames climbed a ridgeline: “GO NOW: Do not attempt to gather belongings or protect your home. Evacuate immediately.”
Jacquie and Ernie Escajeda were at church Monday in Ruidoso, located about 130 miles (210 kilometers) southeast of Albuquerque, when they heard about a fire about 20 miles (30 kilometers) away. By mid-morning, smoke was rising above a mountain behind their house and the smell filled the air.
The couple started watching their cellphones and turned on the radio for updates. There was no “get ready,” nor “get set” — it was just “go,” Ernie Escajeda said. They grabbed legal documents and other belongings and headed out.
“Within an hour, the police department, the fire department, everybody’s there blocking, barricading the roads to our area and telling everybody to leave,” he said. “Thank God we were ready.”
Earlier Tuesday, they learned the home of their best friends didn’t survive the fire, Jacquie Escajeda said.
“There’s only one home standing in their whole little division that they live in, so there are a lot of structures lost,” she said. “We have no idea if we’re going to have a home to go to.”
Public Service Company of New Mexico shut off power to part of the village due to wildfire. The Ruidoso Downs that hosts horse races and the Lincoln Medical Center were evacuated later Tuesday.
Amid highway closures, many evacuees had little choice but to flee eastward and into the city of Roswell, 75 miles (121 kilometers) away, where hotels and shelters were set up. A rural gas station along the evacuation route was overrun with people and cars.
“The Walmart parking lot is packed with people in RVs,” said Enrique Moreno, director of Roswell Community Disaster Relief. “Every single hotel in Roswell is filled to capacity right now. ... We go to the gas stations and we see just a bunch of people hanging around their cars.”
Animals and livestock were moved to the state fairgrounds in Roswell, including five horses that arrived Monday night, as well as four llamas, according to Leslie Robertson, the office manager. Robertson said 30 more horses were headed her way Tuesday evening.
Both the South Fork Fire and the smaller Salt Fire started on the Mescalero Apache Reservation where the tribe’s president declared a state of emergency.
___
Associated Press writers Sarah Brumfield in Washington, D.C.; Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff, Arizona; and Rio Yamat and Ken Ritter in Las Vegas; and Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada, contributed to this report.
UK Politics
Billionaire Tory donor John Caudwell switches allegiance to Labour
HE WILL GET ALONG SPLENDIDLY WITH SIR KEIR; THE RED TORY
John Caudwell had given Boris Johnson £500k to take on Jeremy Corbyn
Billionaire Tory donor John Caudwell switches allegiance to Labour
HE WILL GET ALONG SPLENDIDLY WITH SIR KEIR; THE RED TORY
John Caudwell had given Boris Johnson £500k to take on Jeremy Corbyn
Barney Davis
INDEPENDENT UK
INDEPENDENT UK
JUNE 18,2024
Phones4u founder John Caudwell (PA)
The billionaire founder of Phones4U who donated £500,000 to the Tory party in 2019 has switched his support to Labour in a fresh blow to Rishi Sunak’s stuttering election campaign.
John Caudwell has said he will be voting for Labour citing his amazement at Sir Keir Starmer’s transformation of the party.
Mr Cauldwell was one of the biggest donors to the Tories ahead of the 2019 general election, when he gave half a million pounds to Boris Johnson’s campaign.
Encouraging everybody to vote for Labour, Mr Caudwell said he was “amazed by how Keir Starmer brought it back from that Corbyn brink.”
The billionaire founder of Phones4U who donated £500,000 to the Tory party in 2019 has switched his support to Labour in a fresh blow to Rishi Sunak’s stuttering election campaign.
John Caudwell has said he will be voting for Labour citing his amazement at Sir Keir Starmer’s transformation of the party.
Mr Cauldwell was one of the biggest donors to the Tories ahead of the 2019 general election, when he gave half a million pounds to Boris Johnson’s campaign.
Encouraging everybody to vote for Labour, Mr Caudwell said he was “amazed by how Keir Starmer brought it back from that Corbyn brink.”
Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (PA Archive)
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was “delighted” that Mr Caudwell had “thrown his support behind the changed Labour Party”.
He said: “The message is clear: business backs change and economic stability with Labour, and rejects five more years of chaos and decline with the Tories.
“John was not just a Conservative voter but a substantial donor to the Conservative Party in 2019 – so it’s not a decision that he will have taken lightly.
“But it’s clear that he shares my plan for growth that I set out in the Labour manifesto.
“I’m campaigning non stop between now and 4 July to win the votes of other people who have backed the Tories in the past but see change with Labour as the best future for Britain.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was “delighted” that Mr Caudwell had “thrown his support behind the changed Labour Party”.
He said: “The message is clear: business backs change and economic stability with Labour, and rejects five more years of chaos and decline with the Tories.
“John was not just a Conservative voter but a substantial donor to the Conservative Party in 2019 – so it’s not a decision that he will have taken lightly.
“But it’s clear that he shares my plan for growth that I set out in the Labour manifesto.
“I’m campaigning non stop between now and 4 July to win the votes of other people who have backed the Tories in the past but see change with Labour as the best future for Britain.”
Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives are heading for a record defeat on July 4, according to a mammoth poll from Ipsos (PA Wire)
Mr Caudwell said he had supported the Conservatives for 51 years but had been “despairing” about their performance for many years.
He said: “Only five years ago, I donated half a million to the Conservatives to help avert the disaster that would have been Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street.
“But I’ve been increasingly critical of Tory failures since then, particularly over Rishi’s mismanagement of the economy during Covid, Boris’ lowering of ethical standards and, of course, associated with that the accusation that Tory cronies benefited improperly regarding Covid PPE – and then the Liz Truss debacle.
“Over the last two years especially, I have been amazed by how Keir Starmer has transformed the Labour Party and brought it back from that Corbyn brink.
“As I have always said, the Government must be much more commercially minded to grow GDP in order to finance the public services that benefit all of society without increasing taxes.
“When Labour launched its manifesto last Thursday, I was delighted to see that accelerating economic growth was front and centre, and that projected growth is clearly tied into making Britain a clean energy superpower.
“So, I can declare publicly that I will vote for Labour, and I encourage everybody to do the same.
“We need a very strong Labour government that can take extremely bold decisions and you can rest assured that I will be doing my best to influence them wherever I can, in putting the great back in Britain.”
The setback came as Rishi Sunak was warned he is “fighting the wrong campaign” after placing his hopes on Boris Johnson stave off an election meltdown.
Mr Caudwell said he had supported the Conservatives for 51 years but had been “despairing” about their performance for many years.
He said: “Only five years ago, I donated half a million to the Conservatives to help avert the disaster that would have been Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street.
“But I’ve been increasingly critical of Tory failures since then, particularly over Rishi’s mismanagement of the economy during Covid, Boris’ lowering of ethical standards and, of course, associated with that the accusation that Tory cronies benefited improperly regarding Covid PPE – and then the Liz Truss debacle.
“Over the last two years especially, I have been amazed by how Keir Starmer has transformed the Labour Party and brought it back from that Corbyn brink.
“As I have always said, the Government must be much more commercially minded to grow GDP in order to finance the public services that benefit all of society without increasing taxes.
“When Labour launched its manifesto last Thursday, I was delighted to see that accelerating economic growth was front and centre, and that projected growth is clearly tied into making Britain a clean energy superpower.
“So, I can declare publicly that I will vote for Labour, and I encourage everybody to do the same.
“We need a very strong Labour government that can take extremely bold decisions and you can rest assured that I will be doing my best to influence them wherever I can, in putting the great back in Britain.”
The setback came as Rishi Sunak was warned he is “fighting the wrong campaign” after placing his hopes on Boris Johnson stave off an election meltdown.
Flock of sheep flee as Rishi Sunak and David Cameron try to feed them.
(Ben Birchall/PA Wire)
The prime minister today took a trip to southwest England in a bid to rescue seats from a pincer movement by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK on the right and Labour and the Liberal Democrats on the left.
But as Mr Sunak was openly mocked by his rivals amid images of him speaking on hay bales and sheep running away when he tried to feed them, former chancellor George Osborne, who ran the winning election campaigns in 2010 and 2015, heaped criticism on the beleaguered prime minister.
Osborne said: “He should be trying to defend his blue wall seats which is where Labour are now running riot rather than focusing on the red wall seats that Boris Johnson won five years ago when, by the way, the Labour candidate was Jeremy Corbyn so it was a completely different election from having Sir Keir Starmer.”
In a bad day for Mr Sunak, two more polls delivered further bad news with Savanta finding that only one in five voters (21 per cent) believe his promises on reducing immigration, with 27 per cent thinking Labour were more likely to stop the boats.
The prime minister today took a trip to southwest England in a bid to rescue seats from a pincer movement by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK on the right and Labour and the Liberal Democrats on the left.
But as Mr Sunak was openly mocked by his rivals amid images of him speaking on hay bales and sheep running away when he tried to feed them, former chancellor George Osborne, who ran the winning election campaigns in 2010 and 2015, heaped criticism on the beleaguered prime minister.
Osborne said: “He should be trying to defend his blue wall seats which is where Labour are now running riot rather than focusing on the red wall seats that Boris Johnson won five years ago when, by the way, the Labour candidate was Jeremy Corbyn so it was a completely different election from having Sir Keir Starmer.”
In a bad day for Mr Sunak, two more polls delivered further bad news with Savanta finding that only one in five voters (21 per cent) believe his promises on reducing immigration, with 27 per cent thinking Labour were more likely to stop the boats.
Skolt Sámi met to discuss the repatriation of human remains
The Skolt Sámi who attended the forums in Finnish-Norwegian boarder villages Neiden and Nellim expressed a wish for the remains, currently stored at University of Oslo, to be returned and buried at Svanvik cemetery, in Norwegian Paatsjoki valley.
St. George's Chapel is found in the Skolt village by the Neiden River. The Russian Orthodox faith became the religion practiced by the Sámi minority in the 15th century. In 2011, 94 Skolt Sámi skeletal remains were returned and reburied in Neiden.
By Hannah Thule
June 18, 2024
The Skolt Sámi who attended the forums in Finnish-Norwegian boarder villages Neiden and Nellim expressed a wish for the remains, currently stored at University of Oslo, to be returned and buried at Svanvik cemetery, in Norwegian Paatsjoki valley.
St. George's Chapel is found in the Skolt village by the Neiden River. The Russian Orthodox faith became the religion practiced by the Sámi minority in the 15th century. In 2011, 94 Skolt Sámi skeletal remains were returned and reburied in Neiden.
Photo: Andrew Shiva / Wikipedia
By Hannah Thule
June 18, 2024
BARENTS OBSERVER
Last week, the Norwegian Sámi Parliament organised a forum on June 10 in Neiden, Norway and on June 11 in Nellim, Finland to discuss the repatriation of Skolt Sámi remains. The villages are part of the Skolt Sámi homeland, which spans the border area of northeastern Norway and Finland, as well as the western part of Russia’s Kola Peninsula.
The Sami Parliament has received a repatriation request for the skeletal remains of 21 Skolt Sámi people exhumed from the island Hautasaari in Paatsjoki river in 1958. Nearly 20 Skolt Sámi gathered in Nellim to discuss the potential return and reburial of the skeletons.
The remains, now at the University of Oslo, date from the pre-Christian era, around 1310, to 1925, and belong to residents of Pasvik Siida, which refers to a traditional local Sámi community. Descendants live in Norway, Finland, and Russia due to historical border divisions.
Last week, the Norwegian Sámi Parliament organised a forum on June 10 in Neiden, Norway and on June 11 in Nellim, Finland to discuss the repatriation of Skolt Sámi remains. The villages are part of the Skolt Sámi homeland, which spans the border area of northeastern Norway and Finland, as well as the western part of Russia’s Kola Peninsula.
The Sami Parliament has received a repatriation request for the skeletal remains of 21 Skolt Sámi people exhumed from the island Hautasaari in Paatsjoki river in 1958. Nearly 20 Skolt Sámi gathered in Nellim to discuss the potential return and reburial of the skeletons.
The remains, now at the University of Oslo, date from the pre-Christian era, around 1310, to 1925, and belong to residents of Pasvik Siida, which refers to a traditional local Sámi community. Descendants live in Norway, Finland, and Russia due to historical border divisions.
The Skolt Sámi homeland spans from northeastern Norway and Finland to the western part of the Russian Kola Peninsula. Skolt Sámi People are citizens of Norway, Finland and Russia.
Topics discussed in the forum were whether to rebury the skeletons, potential locations, and the manner of reburial. There was also consideration of conducting further research before any potential repatriation.
A strong wish for the return and reburial of the remains was expressed.
“The Skolt Sámi attending widely felt that the remains should be returned and reburied at the Svanvik cemetery, where some remains have previously been laid to rest. Discussions also included the return of items buried with the deceased,” reported Tauno Ljetoff, Finnish Sámi Parliament board member.
The items Ljetoff refers to were also retrieved during the 1958 exhumation. These artifacts, now exhibited at Tromsö Museum, may be trickier to receive as they are legally owned by the state under the Norwegian Cultural Heritage Act.
According to an agreement with the University of Oslo, The Norwegian Sámi Parliament has the final say on the fate of the remains.
A working group established in 2022, continues to prepare the repatriation matter so that it can be submitted to the plenary session of the Parliament for a decision.
The group includes representatives from the University of Oslo, Ä´vv Skolt Sámi Museum in Neiden, the Skolt Saami Siida Administration, and the Norwegian Sámi Parliament.
Ingeborg Larssen, Senior Advisor of Norwegian Sami Parliament and member of the working group, explains that the issue is complex and therefore the process takes time.
Topics discussed in the forum were whether to rebury the skeletons, potential locations, and the manner of reburial. There was also consideration of conducting further research before any potential repatriation.
A strong wish for the return and reburial of the remains was expressed.
“The Skolt Sámi attending widely felt that the remains should be returned and reburied at the Svanvik cemetery, where some remains have previously been laid to rest. Discussions also included the return of items buried with the deceased,” reported Tauno Ljetoff, Finnish Sámi Parliament board member.
The items Ljetoff refers to were also retrieved during the 1958 exhumation. These artifacts, now exhibited at Tromsö Museum, may be trickier to receive as they are legally owned by the state under the Norwegian Cultural Heritage Act.
According to an agreement with the University of Oslo, The Norwegian Sámi Parliament has the final say on the fate of the remains.
A working group established in 2022, continues to prepare the repatriation matter so that it can be submitted to the plenary session of the Parliament for a decision.
The group includes representatives from the University of Oslo, Ä´vv Skolt Sámi Museum in Neiden, the Skolt Saami Siida Administration, and the Norwegian Sámi Parliament.
Ingeborg Larssen, Senior Advisor of Norwegian Sami Parliament and member of the working group, explains that the issue is complex and therefore the process takes time.
The Arctic University Museum in Tromsø has several crosses among the items from the Gravholmen excavation in Pasvik. The Skolt Sámi wish for the items to be returned and buried with the remains. Photo: Arctic University Museum in Tromsø
“There are ethical aspects to take into consideration, and we have to make sure we have heard all descendants from Norway and Finland. We do not have any contact with Russia due to the political situation,” Larssen explains.
Ljetoff is optimistic about the return of the remains, but he expects it to take time.
“I doubt anything will happen this year.”
The repatriation process has after all been going on for many years.
In 2013 the Eastern Orthodox Church, which the majority of the Skolt Sami are members of, requested the remains to be returned so that they could be reburied. There has been interest in continuing research on the remains to gain new historical insights of the Skolt Sámi, University of Oslo reports.
Repatriation efforts were initiated, but in 2015 The Sámi Parliament and the University of Oslo’s joint application for 350,000 NOK to return Skolt Sámi remains was rejected, NRK reported.
In Norway, the Sámi Parliament has overseen several reburials. The most extensive took place in Neiden in 2011, involving skeletal remains from 94 Skolt Sámi that were retrieved in Neiden in 1915.
“There are ethical aspects to take into consideration, and we have to make sure we have heard all descendants from Norway and Finland. We do not have any contact with Russia due to the political situation,” Larssen explains.
Ljetoff is optimistic about the return of the remains, but he expects it to take time.
“I doubt anything will happen this year.”
The repatriation process has after all been going on for many years.
In 2013 the Eastern Orthodox Church, which the majority of the Skolt Sami are members of, requested the remains to be returned so that they could be reburied. There has been interest in continuing research on the remains to gain new historical insights of the Skolt Sámi, University of Oslo reports.
Repatriation efforts were initiated, but in 2015 The Sámi Parliament and the University of Oslo’s joint application for 350,000 NOK to return Skolt Sámi remains was rejected, NRK reported.
In Norway, the Sámi Parliament has overseen several reburials. The most extensive took place in Neiden in 2011, involving skeletal remains from 94 Skolt Sámi that were retrieved in Neiden in 1915.
Can climate engineering be responsibly tested?
Researchers at the Finnish Arctic Centre at University of Lapland investigate if, and under what conditions, solar geoengineering can be responsibly tested and how research should be governed.
Ilona Mettiäinen is an environmental social scientist, and on of three researchers from the Arctic Centre participating in the Co-CREATE project. Photo: Hannah Thulé
By Hannah Thule
June 14, 2024
BARENTS OBSERVER
Due to insufficient cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, the idea of climate interventions as a supplementary method for curbing global warming has gotten more attention over the past years.
The aim of keeping global warming at a relatively safe level of 1.5°C is according to the most recent report released by the United Nations International Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) not looking promising. The report states that the rate at which global emissions are reduced is too slow for meeting this goal by 2100.
One form of climate intervention that has gained the European Union’s attention is solar geoengineering, also known as Solar Radiation Modification (SRM). This is an umbrella term for a set of technologies that aim to lower Earth’s temperature by reflecting sunlight away or by allowing more heat to escape into space.
As an example, the rapid warming of the Arctic is causing faster melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet and Arctic sea ice. This in turn could potentially slow down the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, which is an ocean current helping to redistribute heat around the globe, influencing weather patterns and climate. The slowed ocean current could lead to changes in South American monsoons, which in turn may lead to more frequent droughts in the Amazon rainforest, reducing its ability to store carbon and intensifying climate change.
Arctic case study
The Arctic will be the special focus area for the Lapland team, as they will participate in developing a case study focusing on area-specific circumstances for responsible governing of SRM research in the region.
The project aims to compile a total of five to six case studies to provide a thorough understanding of responsible SRM research governance for different contexts in the European Research Area. The case selection will consider different factors, for example in choosing regions where research could be conducted.
By the time the project concludes in 2026, the goal is to have increased the understanding of whether, and under what circumstances, research can be conducted in an ethical, responsible and fair manner. The project will also have developed guidelines and principles for a governance framework for SRM research including experiments. The work will also assist research funders in determining whether they wish to support such research.
Mapping the science
In the initial stage of the project, the focus will be on mapping the current landscape of SRM research, including methodologies in use as well as identified risks.
So far, solar geoengineering has been generally researched from a Natural Science perspective, through climate modeling. Simulations have been used, for instance, to explore the regional and global climate impacts of different scenarios, for example by considering the different amounts of particles that would be added to the atmosphere by stratospheric aerosol injection.
There are fewer studies in which researchers have involved and engaged with communities, but they do exist. For instance funding has been provided to researchers in the Global South to analyze local impacts of solar geoengineering and expand the conversation around SRM with local stakeholders.
Essential to involve the public
So far solar geoengineering has mainly been discussed among experts in the Global North. Yet, public acceptance is crucial for research to take place, as seen in recent cases.
Such a case took place in Kiruna in 2021, when a Harvard research group was prohibited from launching a balloon into the stratosphere to test equipment for possible future aerosol release (as part of the SRM technology known as Stratospheric Aerosol Injection).The test was objected by the Sami Council and environmental groups in an open letter, stating that the research “must not be advanced in the absence of full, global consensus on its acceptability”.
It is important to increase awareness and public discussion about the technologies and to consider the public’s support as part of the governance framework, Mettiäinen says.
Researchers at the Finnish Arctic Centre at University of Lapland investigate if, and under what conditions, solar geoengineering can be responsibly tested and how research should be governed.
Ilona Mettiäinen is an environmental social scientist, and on of three researchers from the Arctic Centre participating in the Co-CREATE project. Photo: Hannah Thulé
By Hannah Thule
June 14, 2024
BARENTS OBSERVER
Due to insufficient cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, the idea of climate interventions as a supplementary method for curbing global warming has gotten more attention over the past years.
The aim of keeping global warming at a relatively safe level of 1.5°C is according to the most recent report released by the United Nations International Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) not looking promising. The report states that the rate at which global emissions are reduced is too slow for meeting this goal by 2100.
One form of climate intervention that has gained the European Union’s attention is solar geoengineering, also known as Solar Radiation Modification (SRM). This is an umbrella term for a set of technologies that aim to lower Earth’s temperature by reflecting sunlight away or by allowing more heat to escape into space.
There are several proposed solar radiation modification technologies.
Photo: Lapland University
SRM research is a controversial issue: some are concerned about its political implications and current uncertainties and risks over its deployment, while others view it as a potential chance to limit the harms of our warming planet. So far, there has been limited research and public deliberation on experimental research, testing, and potential deployment of SRM technologies.
The European Union has asked for support to examine whether, and under which circumstances, SRM research may be justified from scientific and societal viewpoints - as well as how research could be governed responsibly, and whether the present European Research Area regulations are suitable for the task.
These questions are to be answered over the next three years by the Co-CREATE project: a consortium of European researchers, including the Arctic Center at Lapland University.
The Arctic Centre’s team is composed of professor John Moore (glaciologist and climate researcher), professor Timo Koivurova (legal scholar), and Ilona Mettiäinen (environmental social scientist).
Mettiäinen and her colleagues will examine SRM research from social, legal, ethical, and scientific perspectives.
“We will look at the technical scientific side, how current international jurisdiction and governance frameworks can be applied to solar geoengineering research, ethical perspectives, and whether previous research has engaged communities and people. Moreover, public engagement has a central role in the project, including an inclusive expert and stakeholder dialogue process,” she explains.
What are the SRM technologies?
SRM technologies include:
- Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), which involves injecting tiny reflective particles into the lower stratosphere to scatter sunlight back into space, resulting in planetary cooling. Balloons or airplanes can be used in the process. This is the most researched technology.
- Marine Cloud Brightening, which would inject sea salt aerosols into low clouds in the sea, to increase their reflectivity. Today, this technology has been developed quite far.
- Surface albedo enhancement, which in theory would aim to reflect sunlight off the Earth’s surface. The technology could also be used as a local adaptation strategy in cities by painting roofs white, and thus decrease the warming of the urban area.
- Cirrus Cloud Thinning, which reduces the number of cirrus clouds (wispy, feather-like clouds) to trap less heat on Earth.
Mettiäinen explains that many of the ideas to the technologies stem from real life scenarios. As an example, the idea for marine cloud brightening is inspired by ship tracks, which forms clouds resembling long strings over the ocean.
The Arctic in focus
The Arctic is a cross-cutting theme in the project. This is because warming happens faster in the region - at a rate estimated of around three times faster, or, in the Barents Sea area, four times faster than, elsewhere.
Research shows that already exceeding 1.5°C global warming could trigger multiple irreversible climate tipping points in the Arctic, such as abrupt loss of the Barents sea ice, a collapse of the Arctic winter sea ice and Greenland ice sheet.
“In order to avoid reaching these tipping points many think it is also necessary to investigate climate interventions,” Mettiäinen says.
Crossing these crucial thresholds in the Arctic would trigger a domino effect of irreversible changes on climate systems.
SRM research is a controversial issue: some are concerned about its political implications and current uncertainties and risks over its deployment, while others view it as a potential chance to limit the harms of our warming planet. So far, there has been limited research and public deliberation on experimental research, testing, and potential deployment of SRM technologies.
The European Union has asked for support to examine whether, and under which circumstances, SRM research may be justified from scientific and societal viewpoints - as well as how research could be governed responsibly, and whether the present European Research Area regulations are suitable for the task.
These questions are to be answered over the next three years by the Co-CREATE project: a consortium of European researchers, including the Arctic Center at Lapland University.
The Arctic Centre’s team is composed of professor John Moore (glaciologist and climate researcher), professor Timo Koivurova (legal scholar), and Ilona Mettiäinen (environmental social scientist).
Mettiäinen and her colleagues will examine SRM research from social, legal, ethical, and scientific perspectives.
“We will look at the technical scientific side, how current international jurisdiction and governance frameworks can be applied to solar geoengineering research, ethical perspectives, and whether previous research has engaged communities and people. Moreover, public engagement has a central role in the project, including an inclusive expert and stakeholder dialogue process,” she explains.
What are the SRM technologies?
SRM technologies include:
- Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), which involves injecting tiny reflective particles into the lower stratosphere to scatter sunlight back into space, resulting in planetary cooling. Balloons or airplanes can be used in the process. This is the most researched technology.
- Marine Cloud Brightening, which would inject sea salt aerosols into low clouds in the sea, to increase their reflectivity. Today, this technology has been developed quite far.
- Surface albedo enhancement, which in theory would aim to reflect sunlight off the Earth’s surface. The technology could also be used as a local adaptation strategy in cities by painting roofs white, and thus decrease the warming of the urban area.
- Cirrus Cloud Thinning, which reduces the number of cirrus clouds (wispy, feather-like clouds) to trap less heat on Earth.
Mettiäinen explains that many of the ideas to the technologies stem from real life scenarios. As an example, the idea for marine cloud brightening is inspired by ship tracks, which forms clouds resembling long strings over the ocean.
The Arctic in focus
The Arctic is a cross-cutting theme in the project. This is because warming happens faster in the region - at a rate estimated of around three times faster, or, in the Barents Sea area, four times faster than, elsewhere.
Research shows that already exceeding 1.5°C global warming could trigger multiple irreversible climate tipping points in the Arctic, such as abrupt loss of the Barents sea ice, a collapse of the Arctic winter sea ice and Greenland ice sheet.
“In order to avoid reaching these tipping points many think it is also necessary to investigate climate interventions,” Mettiäinen says.
Crossing these crucial thresholds in the Arctic would trigger a domino effect of irreversible changes on climate systems.
As an example, the rapid warming of the Arctic is causing faster melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet and Arctic sea ice. This in turn could potentially slow down the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, which is an ocean current helping to redistribute heat around the globe, influencing weather patterns and climate. The slowed ocean current could lead to changes in South American monsoons, which in turn may lead to more frequent droughts in the Amazon rainforest, reducing its ability to store carbon and intensifying climate change.
Arctic case study
The Arctic will be the special focus area for the Lapland team, as they will participate in developing a case study focusing on area-specific circumstances for responsible governing of SRM research in the region.
The project aims to compile a total of five to six case studies to provide a thorough understanding of responsible SRM research governance for different contexts in the European Research Area. The case selection will consider different factors, for example in choosing regions where research could be conducted.
By the time the project concludes in 2026, the goal is to have increased the understanding of whether, and under what circumstances, research can be conducted in an ethical, responsible and fair manner. The project will also have developed guidelines and principles for a governance framework for SRM research including experiments. The work will also assist research funders in determining whether they wish to support such research.
Mapping the science
In the initial stage of the project, the focus will be on mapping the current landscape of SRM research, including methodologies in use as well as identified risks.
So far, solar geoengineering has been generally researched from a Natural Science perspective, through climate modeling. Simulations have been used, for instance, to explore the regional and global climate impacts of different scenarios, for example by considering the different amounts of particles that would be added to the atmosphere by stratospheric aerosol injection.
There are fewer studies in which researchers have involved and engaged with communities, but they do exist. For instance funding has been provided to researchers in the Global South to analyze local impacts of solar geoengineering and expand the conversation around SRM with local stakeholders.
Essential to involve the public
So far solar geoengineering has mainly been discussed among experts in the Global North. Yet, public acceptance is crucial for research to take place, as seen in recent cases.
Such a case took place in Kiruna in 2021, when a Harvard research group was prohibited from launching a balloon into the stratosphere to test equipment for possible future aerosol release (as part of the SRM technology known as Stratospheric Aerosol Injection).The test was objected by the Sami Council and environmental groups in an open letter, stating that the research “must not be advanced in the absence of full, global consensus on its acceptability”.
It is important to increase awareness and public discussion about the technologies and to consider the public’s support as part of the governance framework, Mettiäinen says.
Illustrative picture. Balloons can be used for releasing particles in the stratosphere. Photo: Esrange Space Center
Later on, the researchers will listen to stakeholders’ opinions and engage them in the conversation. There will be meetings and workshops with politicians, experts, government officials, the general public, indigenous populations in the Arctic, and communities from the Global South.
“Everybody is a stakeholder concerning the atmosphere. And when it comes to Indigenous people, they’re considered Rightsholders (as declared by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples),” Mettiäinen says.
Why is SRM controversial?
Regardless of whether one is for or against solar geoengineering, scholars agree that the technology does not address the root cause of climate change. Moving away from burning fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere is crucial to combat global warming.
“The primary solution to climate change is decarbonisation. Also planned adaptation is needed for coping with those climate induced risks that are already observed or cannot be avoided anymore, given the emission levels in the atmosphere. Climate interventions such as SRM have been suggested to serve as a supplement to buy us time for efficient emission reductions to work, for instance “shaving off” the highest temperature peak,” says Mettiäinen.
Nevertheless, opinions diverge on whether solar geoengineering should even be developed.
In 2021, scholars and scientists opposed to SRM technologies published an open letter calling for a Non-Use Agreement.
The letter proposes a full stop to the development and future deployment of SRM technologies, because of its many uncertainties and risks - for instance on rainfall, which would then affect agriculture and water availability.
The letter also refers to the “moral hazard”, suggesting that SRM could weaken political resolve by diverting attention and resources away from mitigation efforts, and giving countries and companies an excuse to slow decarbonisation.
A third argument is that the deployment of SRM technologies is undemocratic, since it cannot be governed globally. Furthermore, some countries may use the technology for their own interest without considering global effects.
As a response to the Non-Use Agreement, researchers in favour of SRM research published an open letter expressing need for faster action in lowering the planet’s temperature. The letter states that mitigation efforts aren’t happening fast enough to avoid hitting crucial climate tipping points in the near future.
Mettiäinen stresses that support for research doesn’t automatically mean researchers support the deployment of these technologies.
Later on, the researchers will listen to stakeholders’ opinions and engage them in the conversation. There will be meetings and workshops with politicians, experts, government officials, the general public, indigenous populations in the Arctic, and communities from the Global South.
“Everybody is a stakeholder concerning the atmosphere. And when it comes to Indigenous people, they’re considered Rightsholders (as declared by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples),” Mettiäinen says.
Why is SRM controversial?
Regardless of whether one is for or against solar geoengineering, scholars agree that the technology does not address the root cause of climate change. Moving away from burning fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere is crucial to combat global warming.
“The primary solution to climate change is decarbonisation. Also planned adaptation is needed for coping with those climate induced risks that are already observed or cannot be avoided anymore, given the emission levels in the atmosphere. Climate interventions such as SRM have been suggested to serve as a supplement to buy us time for efficient emission reductions to work, for instance “shaving off” the highest temperature peak,” says Mettiäinen.
Nevertheless, opinions diverge on whether solar geoengineering should even be developed.
In 2021, scholars and scientists opposed to SRM technologies published an open letter calling for a Non-Use Agreement.
The letter proposes a full stop to the development and future deployment of SRM technologies, because of its many uncertainties and risks - for instance on rainfall, which would then affect agriculture and water availability.
The letter also refers to the “moral hazard”, suggesting that SRM could weaken political resolve by diverting attention and resources away from mitigation efforts, and giving countries and companies an excuse to slow decarbonisation.
A third argument is that the deployment of SRM technologies is undemocratic, since it cannot be governed globally. Furthermore, some countries may use the technology for their own interest without considering global effects.
As a response to the Non-Use Agreement, researchers in favour of SRM research published an open letter expressing need for faster action in lowering the planet’s temperature. The letter states that mitigation efforts aren’t happening fast enough to avoid hitting crucial climate tipping points in the near future.
Mettiäinen stresses that support for research doesn’t automatically mean researchers support the deployment of these technologies.
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Resolving the issue of illicit trade in small arms and light weapons is essential to combating terrorism and transnational organized crime, maintaining regional peace and stability, and promoting the socioeconomic development of all countries, Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the general debate of the Fourth Review Conference of the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Geng said that all countries should, in accordance with their national conditions, establish and improve relevant laws, regulations and institutional systems while enhancing law enforcement and control efforts.
Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. /CFP
Geng called on the international community to take practical measures to promote economic development and social stability in all countries and eliminate the root causes of conflict and instability. He highlighted the importance of upholding a common and sustainable concept of security, jointly addressing global and regional security threats, and preventing new sources of conflict.
Noting that innovations like 3D printing increase proliferation risks while AI and big data can enhance control over small arms, he called on all parties to assess these technologies' pros and cons and improve arms control methods.
Developed countries should assist developing countries in such areas as capacity-building, financial contributions, technology transfer and personnel training, he said.
Geng emphasized that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the issue of illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. China has continuously improved laws and regulations, strengthened institutional safeguards, and continued to enhance coordination and cooperation among customs, criminal investigation, public security and other departments to improve law enforcement capabilities, he added.
China is willing to uphold the concept of a community with shared future, actively implement Global Security Initiative and Global Development Initiatives, and work with all parties to make unremitting efforts to build a world of lasting peace, universal security and freedom from gun violence, he said.