Saturday, June 29, 2024

Bolivia's leader: General accused of leading failed coup wanted to be president
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June 29, 2024
By Associated Press

Bolivia's President Luis Arce speaks during an interview at the government palace, in La Paz, Bolivia, June 28, 2024, two days after army troops stormed the palace in what Arce called a coup attempt.

LA PAZ, BOLIVIA —

Bolivian President Luis Arce said Friday a former general planned to "take over" the government and become president in a failed coup, and he denied that the Andean nation was in an economic crisis.

In an interview with The Associated Press, the embattled leader denied once again that Wednesday's attack on the government palace was a "self-coup" designed to garner him political points.

"I didn't escape. I stayed to defend democracy," Arce said.

Arce washed his hands of claims by relatives of the 21 people detained by the government that they were innocent of attempting a coup and had been tricked by ex-Gen. Juan Jose Zúñiga.

"It's a problem of those who were involved, it's not the government's problem," Arce told AP.

Arce said also his government has been "politically attacked" by his one-time ally turned rival, former President Evo Morales, saying the infighting has snarled legislative activities and hamstrung his government confronting economic problems.

Despite that, he said, Bolivia's economy is growing and his administration is working to "diversify" means of producing, investing in things like lithium and industrializing. Bolivia has the largest reserves of lithium — a metal known as "white gold" and considered essential in the green transition — in the world that has gone largely untapped, in part due to government policy.

Arce said the government "has taken action" to address intermittent gasoline and dollar shortages and other hurdles ailing the South American nation's economy.

"Bolivia has an economy that's growing. An economy in crisis doesn't grow," he said.

He said it was "completely normal" for Bolivians to run to stockpile food in supermarkets and make a run on ATMs upon seeing an emerging coup in the capital, instead of following his call to take to the streets in support of the government.

He said Bolivians were traumatized by the political turmoil in 2019 that led Morales to resign as president and flee and also caused 37 deaths.

"Where there is a political situation, this rupture, a coup d'état, of course people will be scared that there won't be food … so they'll go get money to go stock up," Arce said.

He added that the government was investigating if the attack was organized by the country's political opposition. That same day, Arce's governmental minister, Eduardo del Castillo, said the government claimed that there were "snipers who did not arrive in time to the Murillo square" where the coup was staged.

UK
Unite against police repression of Just Stop Oil

'We refuse to die for fossil fuels and we refuse to stand by while millions are murdered," said JSO

Raids, raids, raids of Just Stop Oil backers (Picture: Just Stop Oil)

In an outrageous attack on protest rights—and using recent repressive laws—cops have seized Just Stop Oil (JSO) supporters before they have carried out any actions.

Police arrested 27 Just Stop Oil (JSO) protesters on suspicion of planning to cause widespread disruption at airports during the summer holidays.

Police chiefs said a number of “key organisers” were detained in co-ordinated raids in ten counties including Greater London, Oxford, Surrey, Norfolk, Manchester and West Yorkshire.

JSO said, “Over the last 12 hours the British state has acted unlawfully in detaining a total of at least 27 ordinary people sharing food at a community event and at their homes. Their only crime? They are Just Stop Oil supporters.

“Being a Just Stop Oil supporter is now enough to make you a suspect. Believing that no government has the right to tyrannise the entire world by encouraging the extraction and burning of fossil fuels, marks you out as a dangerous radical.”

All the suspects were arrested under a new offence under the Public Order Act 2023 which makes it illegal to conspire to disrupt national infrastructure.

During all such raids the police seize valuable equipment, searching out those who will be regarded as “suspect” and imposing financial costs on the campaign.

“Every time they raid us we lose phones and laptops. They must have a mountain by now,” said

The arrests began on Tuesday, when cops held four people after “being identified at Gatwick Airport”, police said. They have since been released on bail.

The Met said all those released on bail are subject to a condition that prohibits them from travelling within 1 kilometre of any British airport unless passing through by vehicle or public transport.

JSO is right to say, “We refuse to die for fossil fuels and we refuse to stand by while millions are murdered.

“We demand that our government stops the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030 and that they support and finance other countries to make a fast, fair and just transition.”

JSO needs support and everyone who wants to defend the right to protest has to speak out against these seizures.

Aer Lingus pilots stage eight-hour work stoppage

PA Media
Pilots held banners as they marched at Dublin Airport on Saturday morning

BBC

Hundreds of striking Aer Lingus pilots have marched at Dublin Airport as part of an ongoing dispute with the airline over pay.

The eight-hour strike began at 05:00 local time and ended at 13:00.

The pilots, in full uniform, passed the airline’s head office before setting up a picket line at the entrance to the airport.

Aer Lingus has cancelled 120 flights on Saturday with up to 17,000 passengers affected.

The Irish Airline Pilots' Association (Ialpa) previously called for a 24% pay rise for members, and pilots began a work-to-rule on Wednesday.

Ialpa president Captain Mark Tighe said the strike action demonstrated "that they mean business".

"Our passengers are extremely important to us and unlike managers we meet them every day.

"This is not what we want, but we are left in a situation created by management whereby we are just exercising the same rights as everybody else in this country has," he told Irish broadcaster RTÉ.

Hundreds of Aer Lingus pilots march at Dublin Airport amid eight-hour strike
Union and company are due to return to Labour Court on Monday with almost 400 flights already canceled

Barry O'Halloran
Sat Jun 29 2024 -

Some 500 Aer Lingus pilots marched in the rain around Dublin Airport on Saturday as their trade union president warned the company to accept that their pay demands were reasonable ahead of Labour Court hearings on their dispute.

Most members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) at the company gathered in full uniform at the Aer Lingus head office shortly after beginning an eight-hour strike at 5am to march around both Dublin Airport’s terminals to a picket line.

Pilots halted work on Saturday morning, stepping an ongoing industrial action that began this week in pursuit of a long-running pay claim. Aer Lingus has cancelled hundreds of flights in response “to protect as many services as possible”.

Saturday’s turnout hit 500 from around the Republic, out of a full pilot crew of 766, according to union estimates. Those who were not there were out of the State or unable to show up for reasons including rules requiring pilots to rest between flying.

Aer Lingus cancelled flights: Full list of 270 services disrupted due to industrial action

Hundreds of Aer Lingus pilots march at Dublin Airport amid eight-hour strike

Ryanair rejects claims of price hikes as Aer Lingus customers scramble for flights

Union overseeing pilots’ group tells other Aer Lingus staff to work as normal

Speaking on the picket line, Ialpa president Capt Mark Tighe declared the number “pitching up on a soft Irish summer’s morning like this” spoke volumes for pilots’ confidence in their pay claim.

[ Aer Lingus pilots are unlikely revolution leaders but wages will have to rise for social peace ]

Ialpa, part of trade union Fórsa, is seeking an increase of more than 20 per cent. Capt Tighe noted the union had moderated its stance significantly through 22 months of talks with Aer Lingus, including at negotiations that broke down on Thursday.

Pilots say their demand will cost the company less than €5 million extra a year, but Aer Lingus argues the figure is closer to €40 million.

The union and company are due at the Labour Court on Monday in a fresh bid to resolve the row, which has prompted the airline to cancel almost 400 flights, including 120 as a result of Saturday’s strike.

“We now look to the company and the Labour Court to acknowledge the reasonableness of our claim,” Capt Tighe said.

He added that the union hoped next week’s move to the court would resolve the dispute.

The striking pilots gathered before 6am for the action. Photograph: Fintan Clarke

The Labour Court invited both sides on Friday as the dispute neared a critical stage, with Ialpa preparing to step up its industrial action following the failure of Thursday’s talks.

A Fórsa dispute committee, whose approval was needed before the pilots escalated their industrial action, met on Friday but adjourned after the organisation received the Labour Court’s invitation.

Union members have been on a strict work to rule since Wednesday, severely curtailing flexibility and limiting Aer Lingus’s ability to fly its full holiday schedule.

That measure and Saturday’s stoppage forced the airline to cancel 392 flights up to Sunday, July 7th, hitting an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 passengers.

Monday will be the third time the dispute has gone to the Labour Court. Most recently, Aer Lingus and Ialpa met the court separately on Tuesday, but that intervention failed to resolve the row.

Aer Lingus accused Ialpa of damaging the airline’s finances and reputation and apologised to passengers hit by Saturday’s strike.

The company welcomed the Labour Court’s intervention, adding it hoped that “Monday’s engagement in the court can result in an outcome that will bring normality back to the travelling public”.

Airline pilots are really silage contractors of the sky

In the olden days, the pilot was worshipped - just like the farmer. One was a hero of the sky, the other a god on the ground, writes Farming columnist Denis Lehane in this week's Lighten Up

SAT, 29 JUN, 2024 -
DENIS LEHANE

IRISH EXAMINER

Flying a plane is no joke. Granted it isn't as hard as catching a ram, flipping him over and tending to his feet for foot rot. But it's tough enough too.

A good friend of mine, a pilot for many years, recently gave up the job to take up a role with the AI world.

He told me over a pint that he is much happier now when he's serving a cow than flying a jet plane to Timbuctoo.

"With the cow and AI straw, you know where you stand. With a plane load of anxious people, it's really all up in the air," he said.

My friend had flown planes all over the world, over a long and illustrious career.

Rarely did he crash, and more seldom was he late for work.

To my mind, he was one of the best.

He is known to one and all as Murty.

"But surely Murty, you miss the rumble of the engine and the screeching of the brakes?" I asked.

"Not a bit of it!" he roared back.

"They should never have gotten rid of the hot air balloon. The hot air balloon got everyone everywhere without half the fuss. The plane was a step in the wrong direction if you ask me," he said.

"The problem with flying nowadays is that everyone expects to get to their destination in one piece.

"Safety has become a priority," he moaned. "It's P.C. gone mad."

He was talking sense, of course. It's a pity there aren't more like him.

But safety aside, I wondered if flying was a handy number.

Murty wouldn't hear of it. Murty maintains that pilots nowadays are no better off than teenagers working for a silage contractor over the summer months.

"At least the teenager can take his girlfriend along for a spin, a pilot can do no such thing.

"Romance at high altitude is frowned upon.

"'Tis no wonder pilots go on strike and 'tis no wonder I'm still single," he spluttered.

Murty believes there is too much red tape in flying nowadays.

"Piloting a plane is almost as bad as farming, with the height of cross-checks needed," he said.

"However, at least a pilot won't get shot down suddenly with a letter from the department stating that the Single Farm Payment will be delayed."

And fair play to Murty; he got that one right.

"With silage contacting," he went on, "Even at peak season, once the dew comes down, the stopper is pulled, and everyone can go for a pint.

"When piloting a plane, the dew fall has little bearing on proceedings. Indeed, sometimes it can only add to the confusion."

And as for going for a pint? Well, Murty had to laugh. "It's usually a case of being too late to get a jar after you land and too early to go for one before you depart again.

"It's a catch-22," he stated. "You are damned if you do, and damned if you don't."

But it wasn't always this bad, as Murty recalls.

"I remember a time when flying a plane was like steering a cattle truck into an empty mart yard. "You could back in wherever you damn well pleased and offload to your heart's content.

"Out would come the cigarettes," he recalled, "and nobody would chastise you for smoking too near the fuselage.

"Nowadays,'" he said. "Flying a plane into a busy airport is like dropping a sheep into a dipping tank. Your time is limited. You know the next one is up your behind.

"I remember," says he, "In the olden days, the pilot was worshipped - just like the farmer. One was a hero of the sky, the other a god on the ground.

"Both were respected for the tremendous work they did and admired for the courage they displayed.

"Nowadays, the world is full of cynics, with everyone believing they know more about the job than the professional themselves.

Friday, June 28, 2024

CRIMINAL CAPITALI$M

Global watchdog adds Monaco to money laundering 'grey list'

Jamaica and Turkey were removed from the FATF's grey list

17 hours ago| AFP

Global anti-money laundering watchdog the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) said on June 28, 2024 it had added Monaco to a "grey list" of countries subject to increased monitoring.

Credit: Valery HACHE / AFP

Global anti-money laundering watchdog the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) said on Friday it had added Monaco to a "grey list" of countries subject to increased monitoring.

At a plenary meeting in Singapore, it also added Venezuela to the list of nations considered to have "strategic deficiencies" in countering money laundering and terrorist financing, while however cooperating with the FATF to correct the problems.

Jamaica and Turkey were removed from the list after resolving the deficiencies identified by the FATF, which monitors efforts by more than 200 countries and jurisdictions to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

The FATF also has a "black list" of nations which are considered high-risk jurisdictions.

The body urged countries to apply countermeasures against Iran and North Korea and warned about the latter's "illicit activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and its financing".

It urged countries to end all business with North Korean banks and limit business with Pyongyang entities.

The FATF also urged countries to apply countermeasures to Iran, which it noted had not ratified the Palermo and Terrorist Financing Conventions.

Monaco is committed to exiting the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force in line with a timetable agreed with the global anti-money laundering monitor, its government said Friday.

"The principality confirms its determination to implement the latest FATF recommendations set out in the declaration, in accordance with the planned deadlines," the government of the Mediterranean tax haven said after the FATF added Monaco to a "grey list" of countries subject to increased monitoring.

SPECIESISM

Neanderthal community cared for child with Down syndrome, fossil suggests

Bone found in Spain provides evidence of collaboration, compassion.

Study challenges view of Neanderthals as brutish, stupid.

Previous studies found Neanderthals might have cared for vulnerable.

The bone of a 6-year-old found in Spain’s Valencia region provides evidence of communal care by Neanderthals, researchers say, and maybe even compassion.

By Frances Vinall
Updated June 27, 2024

The word Neanderthal is sometimes used as a synonym for stupid or brutish, but a new fossil analysis has added weight to the hypothesis that our prehistoric cousins actually had collaborative or even compassionate qualities. Evidence of a Neanderthal child with Down syndrome who survived to the age of 6 suggests the youngster was cared for by the social group, according to a new study.

The piece of bone was found in the Cova Negra cave site in Spain’s Valencia region and analyzed by a research team led by Mercedes Conde-Valverde of the University of Alcalá in Madrid. The results, published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, concluded that the fragment probably came from the inner ear of a 6-year-old.

The specimen had evidence of abnormalities, and “the only syndrome that is compatible with the entire set of malformations present in [the fossil] is Down syndrome,” the authors wrote.

Down syndrome — which also occurs in great apes and modern humans — would have presented a range of survival challenges for a child, including “poor sucking strength,” which makes breastfeeding difficult; lack of motor coordination and balance; and impaired cognitive development, the study notes. The child probably experienced severe hearing loss and frequent issues with acute, disabling vertigo and imbalance, it added.

“Because of the demanding lifestyle of Neanderthals, including high levels of mobility, it is difficult to think that the mother of the individual would have been able to provide such care alone and also carry out normal daily activities over a prolonged period of time,” the authors wrote.

It was therefore likely that the mother continuously received help from other members of the social group, they added.

“The idea that the individual with Down syndrome (whom we affectionately call Tina) received the care and affection of her group is the simplest explanation for the surprising fact that an individual with Down syndrome survived for at least six years in prehistoric times,” Conde-Valverde said in an email on Thursday.

Neanderthals, or Homo neanderthalensis, were a close relative of modern humans that went extinct about 40,000 years ago, leaving traces across Europe and southwest and central Asia. They evolved there as our ancestors — Homo sapiens — were evolving in Africa, and probably diverged from a common ancestor at least half a million years ago, according to the Natural History Museum in England.

Implications that Neanderthals could have exhibited care for vulnerable members of their group have been found in previous studies. In 2018, researchers from the University of York reviewed available evidence and concluded that a sample of Neanderthal fossils with healed traumatic injuries suggested that health care was widespread. The care was most likely to be motivated by investment in the well-being of the members of their social groups, the authors argued.

“This study presents exciting evidence for kinship care on other hominids, where the survival of a little kid with a disability was likely the result of group care, as the pathology … will have deeply affected the ability of the child to survive on its own,” Sofia C. Samper Carro, a senior lecturer in archaeology at the Australian National University specializing in Neanderthal behavior, who was not involved in the study, said in an email.

Samper Carro said there has long been an interest in “discussing what makes us, anatomically modern humans, unique in evolution history. Why did we [survive] when others perished? One of the proposed factors for our survival against Neanderthal extinction states that our creativity and compassion, caring for others, made us more prone to survive.”

Other scientists have said Neanderthals may have provided care to sick or injured members of their group with the expectation of a reciprocal benefit, rather than out of benevolence. Critics say compassion cannot be authoritatively deduced from remains and requires too many assumptions, the paper in Science Advances acknowledged. Evidence of Neanderthal cannibalism published in 2016 also points to the species’ capacity for brutality.

But the fossil of the child with Down syndrome was “particularly interesting because social care was destined to an immature individual who had no possibility to reciprocate the assistance received,” the authors of that study noted. They added that a caregiving instinct could have a “very ancient origin” in our shared genus.

“Although the link between injuries or pathologies and care for dependents is difficult to demonstrate in ancient bones, I think that the paper … [provides] enough evidence to demonstrate a clear link between child disability and caring commitments from Neanderthals,” Samper Carro said.

“Will we be able to prove unequivocally that Neanderthal had this capacity? Probably not, but studies like the one published are certainly a step in the right direction on demystifying our uniqueness and Neanderthal’s less ‘humane’ behaviour,” she said. “[It] builds on modern research demonstrating how our assumptions about Neanderthal ‘bruteness’ need to be revisited, how the traditional clear cut between ‘simplistic’ Neanderthals and ‘advanced’ Homo sapiens is not longer supported.”

Initially, the researchers’ reaction to the results of the fossil analysis was “one of skepticism,” Conde-Valverde said. She added: “It was difficult for us to believe that we had discovered a Neanderthal individual whose inner ear pathologies clearly pointed to Down syndrome,” a condition she said was typically diagnosed through genetic studies and had not previously been determined through anatomical evidence in a fossil specimen.

“Ultimately, we became convinced of our results” after more research, she added, and through this process designed a “rigorous methodology for diagnosing diseases from skeletal remains, particularly for the inner ear” that “can now be applied to other fossils to determine whether cases like Tina’s were mere exceptions or represented a common behavior.”

An exhibit in 2010 at the Neanderthal Museum in Krapina, Croatia, shows the life of a Neanderthal family in a cave. (Nikola Solic/Reuters)

Gazans' extreme hunger could leave its mark on subsequent generations

by Hasan Khatib, The Conversation JUNE 28, 2024

As Israel's offensive in Gaza rages on, people across the entire Gaza Strip find themselves in increasingly dire circumstances, with nearly the entire population experiencing high levels of food insecurity, including malnutrition, hunger and starvation. A famine review analysis from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification reported on June 25, 2024, that "a high risk of Famine persists across the whole Gaza Strip as long as conflict continues and humanitarian access is restricted."

The Conversation asked Hasan Khatib, an expert in genetics and epigenetics, to explain the growing crisis in the Gaza Strip and what history lessons from earlier famines can teach us about the short- and long-term consequences of starvation, malnutrition and food insecurity.

What is food insecurity and how widespread is it in Gaza?

Food insecurity refers to the lack of regular access to safe and nutritious food necessary for normal growth and development and maintaining an active, healthy life. Severe food insecurity is characterized by running out of food and going a day or more without eating, leading to the experience of hunger.

An initiative called the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, managed by United Nations bodies and major relief agencies, was established in 2004 to enhance analysis and decision-making on food security and nutrition.

The IPC classification system identifies five distinct phases of food security: 1. Minimal/none; 2. Stressed; 3. Crisis; 4. Emergency; 5. Catastrophe/famine.

The IPC estimates that 96% of the population in Gaza—2.15 million people—are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, classified as IPC Phase 3 or higher.

Approximately 50% to 60% of buildings throughout Gaza, and over 70% of those in northern Gaza, have been damaged or destroyed, including more than 90% of schools and 84% of health facilities.

Due to the destruction of food production and distribution infrastructure, all households skip meals daily, with adults reducing their portions. The IPC projects that by July 2024, half of the population will be classified as being in a famine, experiencing acute malnutrition or death.

As of June 6, 2024, the World Health Organization reported that 32 patients had died from malnutrition and 73 had been admitted because of severe acute malnutrition in Gaza. Malnutrition can weaken the immune system, increasing the risk of serious illness and death, primarily due to infectious diseases.

And as of the same date, the WHO reported 865,157 cases of acute respiratory infections, 485,315 cases of diarrhea, 57,887 cases of skin rashes and 8,538 cases of chickenpox, all of which can be exacerbated by malnutrition.

How do stress and trauma add to hunger?

Strikes by the Israeli forces across the Gaza Strip have resulted in civilian casualties, the destruction of homes and the displacement of over 1.7 million people since October 2023, including many families who had already been displaced multiple times.

The United Nations Children's Fund estimates that at least 17,000 children have been separated from their parents as of February 2024, and nearly all children in Gaza need mental health and psychological support. Symptoms observed among these children include heightened anxiety levels, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances and panic attacks.

A Palestinian girl who is a cancer patient with malnutrition speaks of her desire to travel to receive help.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency has provided critical psychological support, including psychological first aid, fatigue management sessions and individual and group counseling, to over 650,000 displaced persons, including 400,000 children.

UN Women, an organization focused on gender equality and the empowerment of women, reported that from October 2023 to April 2024, 10,000 Palestinian women in Gaza were killed, resulting in 19,000 children being orphaned. Approximately 50,000 pregnant Palestinian women and 20,000 newborn babies face limited access to health care facilities due to the bombardment of hospitals and health clinics.

In addition, more than 180 women per day are giving birth without pain relief, leading to a 300% increase in miscarriages due to the severe conditions. These dire conditions are causing severe stress and trauma among Palestinian children and women. This combination of stress, trauma and hunger can leave a lasting impact on both the women and their offspring.

What might the consequences be for future generations?

Over the past two decades, extensive research has investigated whether environmental factors such as hunger, stress and trauma can affect future generations that are not directly exposed to them. Pioneering studies of the Dutch famine, which occurred in the Netherlands from 1944 to 1945, found that these types of intergenerational effects were indeed happening.

During the Nazi occupation, food supplies were cut off from the western part of the Netherlands between November 1944 and May 1945, leading to widespread starvation. Decades later, researchers discovered that children and grandchildren of pregnant women exposed to the famine had a higher risk of health problems later in life, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

Similarly, the Great Chinese Famine from 1959 to 1961, which resulted in an estimated 15 million to 40 million deaths, is one of the deadliest famines in history. It profoundly affected the physical and mental health, cognition and overall well-being of those exposed to it and their offspring.

Interestingly, our recent research into sheep demonstrated that paternal diet can alter traits such as muscle growth and reproductive characteristics, which can be passed down to two subsequent generations of sheep.

This inheritance of traits is mediated by chemical groups known as epigenetic marks. These epigenetic tags—known as DNA methylation or histone modifications—can originate from external sources, such as diet, or from within our cells. Histones are proteins that help organize and compact the DNA inside our cells.

These changes can control which genes are turned on or off. When exposed to hunger or stress, the epigenetic marks instruct our cells to behave differently, leading to altered traits. Remarkably, some of these epigenetic marks are inherited by offspring, influencing their traits as well.

Stress and trauma have been the focus of extensive research, particularly in understanding how extreme trauma can have biological effects that are transmitted to subsequent generations. Rachel Yehuda, an expert in psychiatry and the neuroscience of trauma, found that experiencing captivity or detention during the Holocaust was linked to elevated levels of epigenetic marks in a gene called FKBP5, which is involved in stress regulation. These epigenetic alterations were also observed in the children of Holocaust survivors.

Epigenetic changes can be reversible

Research shows that lifestyle and environmental factors play a significant role in influencing epigenetic marks. So positive changes in these areas can lead to the reversal of some of these epigenetic shifts.

One study showed that stress responses in adult rats that are programmed early in life can be reversed later in life. The researchers supplemented methionine, a methyl group donor that alters DNA methylation, to adult rats and observed that the stress response caused by maternal behavior in early life can be reversed in adult life.

I see an urgent need for the medical and scientific community to investigate the potential long-term impacts of current trauma and hunger on vulnerable populations in Gaza, particularly pregnant women and children. Notably, some of the epigenetic marks responsible for these long-term effects of trauma and hunger are reversible when conditions improve.

Provided by The Conversation

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Building Tomorrow: The Challenges and Promises of Pakistan’s First Smart City

Indonesia and Egypt are two notable countries building new capital cities, which are expected to be completed in the next few years or may take shape in the coming decade.

BYWAQAS JAN

MODERN DIPLOMACY
JUNE 28, 2024

photo: Unsplash

Indonesia and Egypt are two notable countries building new capital cities, which are expected to be completed in the next few years or may take shape in the coming decade. Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital city, built by Greek Architect Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis in 1960, is the second new capital city in the world with Brazil’s Brasilia being built in the 1950s, which is the unique feat of both cities being built from scratch. Looking at the capital cities of various Empires in history, we can notice one thing: cities once built rarely vanish from the face of the Earth; unlike Empires and countries, be it the Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire or the Mughal Empire, all these Empires vanished, giving birth to many new countries. However, the cities are still there. Parag Khanna, an author of the famous books like “The Future is Asian” and “Connectography”, termed, “Cities as humanity’s most enduring and stable mode of social organisation, outlasting all empires and nations over which they have presided.

Pakistan is home to some of the most historic and lively cities in the world, and also, to its credit, building a new planned capital city, Islamabad, yet Pakistan is kind of lost in the race to keep its urban planning on par with the rest of the world. But this doesn’t mean we cannot bounce back from that stagnation. The world is now going through a new kind of Urban revolution to make cities climate-compliant and intelligent so that technology is embedded in every nook and corner. It is generally believed that smart cities are expensive and useless pursuits of rich countries, while this proposition about smart cities is unfounded. It is falsely conceived as a city that is to be built from the Scratch and thus belongs to an exclusive club of great powers only. While the fact is that any city can become a smart city, the prerequisite to conceive and build a smart city is a culture of innovation and invention and not the coffers of any nation. Smart City is a holistic term for the hundreds of projects to upgrade its healthcare, grid systems, and energy infrastructure, using cutting-edge technologies from software to materials used in its construction to its modern state-of-the-art law enforcement and crime control units and efficient cyber threat neutralisation mechanisms.

According to historical accounts, Amsterdam was built in the 12th century, but it became a smart city in 2016 through an initiative called (ASC) Amsterdam Smart City, launched in 2009. The European Commission termed it the European Capital of Innovation; this shows that we don’t have to search for new locations or new special economic zones (SEZs) to develop a smart city from Scratch. The development of Sondogo International Business District in South Korea cost a whopping $40 billion. This kind of amount to build a smart city is understandably discouraging for a country like ours, which is in the midst of recovering from the losses incurred by terror attacks as TTP-led terrorism not just resulted in thousands of deaths but also barred the country from vital investment at the crucial juncture of 21st century. But it doesn’t mean we should abandon our pursuit of smart cities. The decisive victory against Tehrik e Taliban Pakistan allowed the country to progress towards rebuilding and focusing on infrastructure and climate issues. As the elections in Pakistan are over, and Federal and Provincial Governments are in operation, another decisive victory for Pakistan will be to garner political stability because big-shot investors always go for long-term to permanent investment venues, and Pakistan’s potential as an investment hub due to its viable transhipment hub in the region is unmatched. The new tenure of all the provincial governments and their prioritisation of urban planning in respective provinces aided by the Federal Government will provide a sound ground to turn Pakistan’s Urban spaces into inclusive, resilient and sustainable ecosystems under the umbrella of local innovative solutions.

With floods becoming an annual occurrence in our country and high temperatures worsened by electricity outages due to old and outdated energy infrastructure, resilience is evident in the proactive stance of citizens and expatriates alike, who, armed with social media, highlight the urgent need for urban renewal and climate resilience. The traditional political promises which are evident in South Asian democracies, including Pakistan, have no place in modern democratic societies as Pakistan’s social order is now defying client politics and actively questioning Federal and Provincial government decisions about various issues, at the same time, people appreciate public facilitation projects like Metro Bus, Orange Line Train, Inauguration of motorways, development of tourist attractions, healthcare initiatives and modernising the internet infrastructure to be on par with international bandwidth.

The presence of Political Parties, treasury ministers and opposition members, government departments, healthcare departments, and law enforcement agencies serves as the first push towards adjusting our course towards smart cities. The public participation via social media with all these officials, departments, and even the executives of this country shows that Pakistan is not left behind in turning its society into a tech-savvy society, where citizens are connected to the internet and are using it to their advantage.

Turning our gaze towards building Pakistan’s first smart city, it’s clear that the path to modernization is fraught with hurdles yet ripe with potential. The transformation of Lahore into a smart city is not just a dream but a necessity, given its historical significance, industrial base, and wealthy urban tapestry. Lahore, currently grappling with the dubious distinction of being one of the most polluted cities globally, is at a crossroads. The journey towards becoming Pakistan’s first smart city is ambitious but achievable, requiring a blend of political will, public-private partnerships, the interest of overseas Pakistanis in the smart city projects and community engagement.

A 360-degree view of the previous governments, their manifestos, and development projects in terms of infrastructure building, urban development, adopting a three-dimensional strategy by various governments,

Upgrading rural areas by providing road connectivity, electricity and essential healthcare units.
Establishing local manufacturing units in the Suburb
Gradual Modernization of the urban regions.

The politics in Pakistan is now polarised to the extent that a public facilitation project is also subject to political wrangling, terming the Metro Bus service as Jangla Bus Service. Peshawar BRT was also criticised for delays and over budget. This political sloganeering is only limiting the scope of urban development in the eyes of the Pakistani population. PML(N) is known for its gradual urbanisation strategy, which grants district status to various municipalities across Pakistan; most of those municipalities are now thriving cities waiting for much-needed upgrades. The 2024 election campaign also saw such Urban promises made by the party leadership.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan Tehreek Insaf spearheaded a revolutionary new system, which now results in clean cities free from pollution, thus improving the quality of life considerably. Clean water supply and removing waste from streets and markets is the prime focus of the Water and Sanitation Company, commonly known as WSSC. This company was formed in PTI’s first reign in KPK, and it operates in most of its main metropolises across KPK. Waste management is of prime importance for any thriving modern city, and in Pakistan, the Chief Ministers of all the provinces can learn best practices from each other. Thus, for vibrant Urban Planning and New Smart Cities Like Lahore, the onus is on every political office bearer to bring harmony and keep Urban Planning decisions away from politics.

Though it may sound idealistic to bring politicians from different political parties together to form a consensus on establishing Pakistan’s first smart city, if a person far from the corridors of power can sense progress in our neighbourhood, then these politicians who are actually present in those corridors of power know much more than an ordinary person.

GENDER APARTHEID

Outrage as Afghan women excluded from UN-led talks with Taliban

AFP

Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities will meet international envoys on Sunday in Qatar for talks presented by the United Nations as a key step in an engagement process, but condemned by rights groups for sidelining Afghan women.

The Taliban government has not been officially recognised by any state and the international community has wrestled with its approach to Afghanistan’s new rulers.

When the UN, some 25 envoys including from the United States and a Taliban delegation meet in Doha on June 30 and July 1, the agenda will include economic issues and counter-narcotics.

But the exclusion of civil society groups including women’s rights activists has sparked an outcry.

“Caving into the Taliban’s conditions to secure their participation in the talks would risk legitimising their gender-based institutionalised system of oppression,” said head of Amnesty International Agnes Callamard in a statement.

“Sidelining critical discussions on human rights would be unacceptable and set a deeply damaging precedent.”

Taliban authorities were excluded from the first talks in May last year. They refused an invitation in February, insisting on being the only Afghan representatives at the official meeting, to the exclusion of civil society groups.

In this round, that condition has been met.

The UN and international delegations will have the chance to meet with civil society representatives, including women’s rights groups, on July 2, after the close of the main meetings.

Since returning to power in 2021, Taliban authorities have enforced rules based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law, which they have said ensure all citizens’ rights.

Women have borne the brunt of restrictions the UN has labelled “gender apartheid”. They have been pushed out of public life, including bans from secondary schools, universities, various jobs as well as public parks and gyms.

In a letter to the UN seen by AFP, G7+ countries said they were “disappointed” over the lack of human rights on the agenda.

An open letter from 12 high-ranking women politicians from various countries called the exclusion of women “outrageous” and out of step with the UN Charter.

Afghan activists have urged invitees to boycott the meeting and called for protests in multiple countries.

‘Engagement doesn’t mean recognition’ –

The Taliban authorities had warned shortly after announcing that they would attend the talks that changes to the agenda could affect their decision.

Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, will chair the talks.

She defended the set-up, saying: “This is not an inter-Afghan dialogue.”

“I would hope we could get to that someday but we’re not there,” she told reporters in New York.

DiCarlo said the talks were a positive step in a process of engagement that would “take time”.

“This is not a meeting about recognition. This is not a meeting to lead to recognition,” she said. “Engagement doesn’t mean recognition.”

But Nader Nadery, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Wilson Center, cautioned that the international community cannot assume the Taliban government has bought in for future meetings where more contentious issues such as women’s rights could be on the table.

“Based on evidence from past talks with the Taliban, unlike what the international community thinks, they are looking at each of these meetings as an event, not a process,” said Nadery, who is also a former negotiator with the Taliban for the ousted Afghan government.

“The meeting would certainly add to their success of making the international community accept to meet with them on their own terms,” Nadery told AFP.

“The agenda as it stands attempts to throw a softball to the Taliban.”

Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has said the invitation to Doha “indicates that the international community understands the importance and status of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan more day by day”.

World 'failing' to deliver on gender equality as economic violence against women continues: UN rights chief

'To put a stop to economic violence, and proactively ensure economic equity, we need complete overhaul of discriminatory laws and practices,' says Volker Turk

SO THE UN HAS A MEETING WITH THE TALIBAN TO DISCUSS AFGHANISTAN, NO GIRLS ALLOWED

Beyza Binnur Donmez |

28.06.2024 -

GENEVA

The UN human rights chief on Friday said the world is "failing to deliver on the promise of gender equality" as "all women and girls live with the threat of gender-based violence," including economic violence.

Volker Turk's remarks came in his opening speech at an annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women as part of the 56th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Noting that economic violence is a form of gender-based violence against women and girls, Turk said: "Today, regardless of income or background, all women and girls live with the threat of gender-based violence."

Almost one in three women have been subjected to some form of it at least once in their life, he stressed, and added that those forms would be physical, sexual, psychological, or economic.

"If one in three men globally were subject to such devastating and pervasive harm we would be convening an emergency summit," he said.

Explaining forms of economic violence as economic control, economic sabotage, and economic exploitation, he said in all its forms, economic violence is facilitated by "archaic gender norms" that consider men the financial decision-makers.

"The world is failing to deliver on the promise of gender equality," the human rights chief said. "Failing to put in place the measures needed to ensure half of humanity enjoy their fundamental rights and freedoms."

Some 3.9 billion women worldwide face legal barriers affecting their economic participation, Turk said, adding that women earn just 77 cents for every dollar paid to men.

While 92 countries lack provisions mandating equal pay for work of equal value, the wealth gap between women and men globally stands at a "staggering" $100 trillion, he lamented.

"To put a stop to economic violence, and proactively to ensure economic equity, we need a complete overhaul of discriminatory laws and practices," he said. "Gender equality needs to be positively fostered through laws governing all areas of life – economic, public and political."

"And we need policy measures to ensure that these laws are applied," he added.

Turk also noted that violence against women and girls -- in all its forms -- is "abhorrent and inexcusable."

LA REVUE GAUCHE - Left Comment