Cannabis Church: Religious Freedom in Indiana

Story by Refresh News • 


The USA. 

A country that is mainly for freedom stands. The new law for the restoration of the religionFreedom in Indiana. At first glance a great thing, at second glance not. Critics fear the law will legalize it homophobia. And that in a country where same-sex marriage is possible almost everywhere. Still, the new law would give business owners the power to fire homosexuals or deny them services because of their sexual orientation. This is then based on religion. A blatant political blow to gay and transgender rights. Even the presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has spoken out against this law. Today, on Diversity Day, one more reason to keep fighting for colorful diversity in our society without discrimination and exclusion.

Despite these sad consequences for homosexuals, the new law holds untold benefits for a very different group of people. A cannabis church was founded by people who advocated harmony, goodness and of course the drug to dedicate yourself. Nice. Religious freedom can therefore also be interpreted by the population to their advantage. For politicians, of course, the whole thing is a slap in the face. We find it right. The blatant discrimination against gays and transgender people is packaged as religious freedom law, so it’s only fair to think of cannabis use as a religion. While the church has no authority to buy or sell drugs, members are permitted to use them as part of their religious practice. Of course, it is also clear that the church should be viewed less as a religious group and more as a political statement. All that remains to be said is: long live freedom

Image source: Circuito Fora de EixoaboveCC by 2.0

The fascinating story behind 'Earthrise' — the most famous picture of Earth ever taken — which turned 54 yesterday

Story by dspector@businessinsider.com (Dina Spector,Kelsey Vlamis) • Yesterday 

The famous "Earthrise" photo taken by Apollo 8 astronauts during their trip around the moon on December 24, 1968. 

NASA© NASA

"Earthrise" is the first image of Earth captured by humans from space.

 
The photo of Earth was taken aboard Apollo 8 on December 24, 1968, by lunar module pilot Bill Anders.

The image highlighted Earth's fragility, since it was seen against the vast blackness of space.

On December 24, 1968 — exactly 54 years ago — Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders became the first humans to circle the moon.

The mission was historic, but equally memorable was the famous "Earthrise" photo that resulted, showing Earth rising above the lunar landscape.

Until that point, no human eyes had ever seen our blue marble from so far away.

In Life Magazine's "100 Photographs That Changed the World," acclaimed wilderness photographer Galen Rowell described the unprecedented view of Earth as "the most influential environmental photograph ever taken."

The image of our planet, which appeared small and vulnerable suspended in the blackness of space, made people more aware of its fragility.

"Earthrise" is now one of the most reproduced space photos of all time, appearing on US postage stamps, posters, and the cover of Time magazine in 1969. Many have pointed out the irony of the photo, since Apollo 8 was sent to study and take pictures of the moon's surface — not Earth

"Of all the objectives NASA had set before launch, no one had thought of photographing the Earth from lunar orbit," Robert Zimmerman wrote in his book "Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8: the First Manned Flight to Another World."

The famous photo was taken during the mission's fourth pass around the moon, at which point the spacecraft had changed its orbit, making it possible to see the Earth above the lunar horizon.



From left to right: Apollo 8 crew James A. Lovell Jr., William A. Anders, and Frank Borman, are photographed in their space suits at the Kennedy Space Center simulator. NASA© NASA

None of the astronauts were prepared for the moment, including lunar module pilot Anders, who had been put in charge of photography.

In an interview for a BBC documentary in 2012, Anders described the sequence of events: "I don't know who said it, maybe all of us said, 'Oh my God. Look at that!' and up came the Earth. We had had no discussion on the ground, no briefing, no instructions on what to do. I jokingly said, 'well, it's not on the flight plan,' and the other two guys were yelling at me to give them cameras. I had the only color camera with a long lens. So I floated a black and white over to Borman. I can't remember what Lovell got. There were all yelling for cameras, and we started snapping away."

Initially, both Borman and Anders claimed responsibility for the now-famous picture. An investigation of transcripts later revealed that Borman, who was the first to recognize the importance of the moment, took a black-and-white photo before Anders snapped the iconic color photograph.

Fred Spier, a senior lecturer at the University of Amsterdam, wrote in his article "The Elusive Apollo 8 Earthrise Photo" that Borman and Lovell each played a crucial part in prompting Anders, who had the only color camera, to take the shot.

"Experienced astronaut Frank Borman was the first to the importance of the picture, while equally experienced astronaut James Lovell was quick to follow," Spier writes. "Space rookie William Anders, however, was in charge of taking the photos. In doing so, Anders had to follow a rather tight and well-defined photo plan, in which there was little or no room for unplanned snapshots."


1 of 33 Photos in Gallery

Spier continued: "Anders first offered some resistance and then quickly did what the other told him to do. Although it now seems beyond doubt that Anders actually snapped the famous picture, it also seems fair to say the picture came as a result of the combined efforts of all three astronauts."

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Plan B does not cause abortion, FDA says clearly

.

Texas Republicans go after abortion pills  View on Watch

After more than two decades on the market, the emergency contraception drug Plan B One-Step will get a new label by federal regulators to make clear that the pills work by preventing ovulation and do not cause an abortion or impact implantation of a fertilized egg, the Food and Drug Administration announced Friday.

The surprise regulatory move ahead of a holiday weekend is aimed at clearing up confusion on how the drug works. Some pharmacists have cited religious objections tied to abortion in declining to sell the drug, while lawmakers in conservative states have raised the prospect of restricting access or banning it entirely.

The debate has become particularly urgent following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. In his concurring opinion, conservative Justice Clarence Thomas questioned whether state legislatures also should be given more power to decide access to birth control.

MORE: How Plan B works and why it's not abortion

The labeling change came as the result of a request by the manufacturer and would apply to generic versions of the drug, according to the FDA.

"Plan B One-Step will not work if a person is already pregnant, meaning it will not affect an existing pregnancy," the FDA now states in an update online. "Plan B One-Step prevents pregnancy by acting on ovulation, which occurs well before implantation. Evidence does not support that the drug affects implantation or maintenance of a pregnancy after implantation, therefore it does not terminate a pregnancy."

Sometimes known as the "morning-after pill," Plan B was approved in the late 1990s to prevent pregnancy. The pills are considered a backup option and must be taken within three days after unprotected sex or if another form of birth control fails, such as a broken condom. The pills are available in pharmacies and online without a prescription, although some pharmacies keep the drug behind the counter.



FILE - FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf speaks during a news conference at a Walgreens on U Street NW, Oct. 19, 2022.© Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images, FILE

The drug was never considered by the FDA or medical community as an abortion pill because it only works to prevent, not end, a pregnancy once a fertilized egg is implanted.

When the drug first hit the market, the FDA noted it primarily worked much like other birth control pills by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary. But regulators speculated at the time there was a chance it also might prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg or prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the womb.

It was this possibility of discarding a fertilized egg -- cited on the drug label and later on the FDA website -- that put the drug in the crosshairs of the conservative movement, with some right-leaning advocacy groups labeling it an "abortifacient" despite objections from the medical community.MORE: 6 months after overturning of Roe v. Wade, what abortion access looks like in America

Susan Wood, the former director of the FDA's Office of Women's Health, told ABC News this week more recent studies have shown that the drug doesn't impact a fertilized egg. With more data on people who have taken it "at certain stages of their reproductive cycle," she said, it "turns out it only works taken before ovulation."

"If you take it after ovulation, it doesn't work," she said.

Wood, now a professor at George Washington University, said the decision likely didn't come sooner from the FDA because it wasn't necessary from a medical standpoint. There weren't safety issues with the drug, and any agency review of a drug diverts resources away from staff reviewing other drugs. Drug makers also have to request a label change.

In the end, the FDA move will hopefully settle confusion, she said.

"It takes Plan B out of the line of fire for attacks against contraception," Wood said.

ABC's Sony Salzman contributed to this report.

ROBBER BARON'S RETINUE

The CEO of Elon Musk's Boring Company slept at Twitter HQ with his partner and newborn baby

Story by jmann@insider.com (Jyoti Mann) • Yesterday

Steve Davis became head of The Boring Company in 2019. Mark Ralston/Getty Images, James Clayton/BBC© Mark Ralston/Getty Images, James Clayton/BBC

The Boring Company CEO slept at Twitter's HQ with his partner and baby, The Information reported.

Steve Davis and his family all slept in its makeshift bedrooms for weeks after the baby was born.

The former SpaceX engineer was brought in by Elon Musk after he took over Twitter in October.

The Boring Company's chief executive slept at Twitter's headquarters with his partner and newborn baby, The Information reported.

Steve Davis spent the first few weeks after his baby was born sleeping in a makeshift bedroom in the San Francisco office, along with his partner. Twitter sources confirmed the report to Insider, with one saying they had seen Davis in the office.

Davis has spent the past two months working for Twitter after Elon Musk sought his help. He was among the first few to sleep overnight at the office, according to The Information, which cites former Twitter employees.

His partner, a real estate asset manager, sat in on meetings while nursing their newborn to discuss Twitter's real estate situation, the report says.

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Davis joined SpaceX in 2003 and by 2019 he was president of The Boring Company. He used to own a bar called "Thomas Foolery" as well as a yogurt store that he later sold for $1.

The news comes after a Twitter employee tweeted a photo of his manager asleep on the office floor with an eye mask, cushion and sleeping bag last month. The manager, Esther Crawford, responded in a tweet and said: "When your team is pushing round the clock to make deadlines sometimes you #SleepWhereYouWork."

Musk told staff in an email in the same month that they would be required to work "long hours at high intensity" and be "extremely hardcore" – or quit.

Forbes revealed earlier this month that the "Chief Twit" had converted some space in the San Francisco office into bedrooms. The bedrooms were furnished with TV screens, chairs, desk and a lamp, photos of the converted conference rooms show. One even has a wardrobe, air purifier and a washing machine.

Soon afterwards the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection said it was investigating the building's use after a complaint was made.

Musk hit out at London Breed, the mayor of San Francisco, in a tweet: "So city of SF attacks companies providing beds for tired employees instead of making sure kids are safe from fentanyl. Where are your priorities @LondonBreed!?"

Twitter and Davis did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider.

Additional reporting: Sam Tabahriti

Case „Dragon Lord“: 

The total failure of the judiciary, media and society

Story by Refresh News • 

Case „Dragon Lord“: The total failure of the judiciary, media and society© Provided by Refresh Lifestyle CAEN

The Franconian YouTuber „Drachenlord“ was sentenced to two years in prison for several offences. His actions are described by the judge as a sad consequence of hate and bullying on the Internet. But now the journalist and author Sascha Lobo describes the failure of the judiciary and „Dragon Lord“ is appealing against his verdict. What is behind the case of the controversial YouTubers?

The 32-year-old YouTuber “Drachenlord” from Middle Franconia has been uploading videos to the Internet or streaming them live for around ten years. Around 166,000 subscribers follow him on the YouTube platform. In his videos he comments on everyday events, computer games or even political events, according to the „Süddeutsche Zeitung“ partly misogynistic and anti-Semitic. Over the years he has collected both fans and haters, some of whom not only visit him virtually, but also at his private house. This leads to several police operations almost every day

What exactly happened?

„Dragon Lord“ had, among other things, hit a man in the forehead with a flashlight during an argument. He also threw a brick at another and insulted them police officers. It was not the first time that the YouTuber, whose real name is Rainer Winkler, was on trial for assault. After a pepper spray attack, he was sentenced to a suspended sentence of seven months in September 2019, but he already committed new offenses during his probationary period.

The YouTuber was recently back in court for seven cases of insult, defamation and assault. This time the sentence is two years in prison. The YouTuber is appealing his verdict with his lawyer. In a video, he said he felt the punishment was „unfair“ because he was „defending himself, nothing else.“ The public prosecutor’s office is also appealing – but is demanding an even higher sentence. The journalist, author and Internet expert Sascha Lobo, on the other hand, mentions the case in his column a catastrophic failure of the judiciary, media and society.

The mirror column

Lobo now wrote in his Spiegel column that, in his opinion, the verdict of the procedure was an outrageous one that testified to the ignorance, unwillingness and incomprehension of the district court and the public prosecutor. The case of the „Dragon Lord“ is a story of failure in digital society, for which media, politics, the executive, the judiciary and the public are responsible.

The many insults, threats and deprecation that the YouTuber has to endure every day now number in the hundreds of thousands. They invade his private life, he is ambushed, his sister is threatened and his father’s grave desecrated. In the summer of 2018, around 800 people gathered around his house and threw stones, eggs and firecrackers at it. The many haters, a real hate mob, claim it’s a game, Winkler wants it that way himself. In truth, according to Lobo, the YouTuber tried to fight back for years and finally tried to somehow live with it. It’s not a game, someone is being tortured here with the declared goal of driving Winkler to suicide.

But cyberbullying is in Germany no crime so far. According to Lobo, Winkler was a victim who was terribly tormented and who had no choice but to defend himself – the verdict was a classic one perpetrator-victim reversal with the most lavish means. The hate mob tries to elicit sentences from Winkler on the basis of which it is claimed that he is a Holocaust denier, racist, misogynist. For years, according to Lobo, the haters made sure that the results of superficial research made Winkler appear as a bad person. Of course, Winkler behaved incorrectly – but out of „a deep, inescapable desperation and forced lack of alternatives,“ said Sascha Lobo.

The future will show how the case will continue and whether „Dragon Lord“ can avert his punishment. 

Why some people are capable of so much hate is just upsetting and sad.

University of Calgary researchers say reindeer could hold key to scar-free healing

CALGARY — Reindeer could hold the key to regenerative healing in humans and animals, says research led by the faculty of veterinary medicine at the University of Calgary.



The study, published earlier this month in the journal Cell, explains how reindeer — also known as caribou — can help to better understand tissue regeneration and suggests scar-free healing could soon be possible.

It all started with a captive herd of about 25 reindeer at the veterinary school that's used to teach students about wildlife medicine and to study the effects of climate change on vulnerable species, such as caribou.

Jeff Biernaskie, a professor of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine at the university, said the annual regrowth of reindeer antlers also caught researchers' attention.

"Deer are the only mammal that are able to regenerate an entire organ as an adult so that, in itself, is really fascinating," he said in an interview. "The other thing is that it grows at such an enormous rate."

Biernaskie, who has a PhD in neuroscience, said he was blown away by how quickly the antlers grow back.

"They are growing at a rate of one centimetre a day, which means that they are regenerating millions of cells … and assembling them into really intricate tissue in such a rapid fashion in order to build this antler over a period of three to four months," he said.

"A deer, like a caribou or reindeer, if they damage a branch of their antler, it will actually regenerate."

Biernaskie's interdisciplinary lab has a primary interest in stem cell biology and tissue regeneration, including the skin.

"It got us thinking that maybe this would be a nice model to study skin regeneration," he said, adding researchers wondered whether the skin on the antler — called velvet — has the same regenerative ability.

"Could we use that to learn something about how we might promote regeneration of skin following an injury in other animals or humans?"

They did learn something.

Through a series of surgical experiments, researchers were able to compare wounds on the antlers to those on the back skin.

"In the back skin wound, we see formation of a fibrotic scar — this raised, non-pigmented scar that is very typical of what you might see in humans," he said. "In the velvet, it heals without any scar.

"This was really a breakthrough moment in that we now had a model that in the same animal where we could now compare the molecular and cellular processes that underlie the regeneration of skin in one setting and then the scar formation in another."

Biernaskie said researchers found a cell type, the fibroblast, that's very different between the two sites.

The ultimate goal, he said, would be to use what they've learned to develop treatments to promote skin regeneration in humans — or other animals — with a severe injury.

"We're trying to modify that wound environment but also the injury response," he said, noting that could limit the severity of a scar or even fully promote regeneration of the skin.

Biernaskie, who has the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society chair in skin regeneration and wound healing, said it could help patients with severe skin injuries due to trauma or surgical interventions.

"The burn survivor is where we would really like to apply this knowledge," he said.

Biernaskie said it's a groundbreaking advancement in the field of tissue regeneration that he hopes will help to come up with new ways to treat patients.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 21, 2022.

Colette Derworiz, The Canadian Press

FASCIST FUNDAMENTALISM

Will Israel stop haredi extremist violence?

Story by By PEGGY CIDOR • Friday

For many in the haredi sector, it wasn’t a question of if but when: When would the unrestrained violence of a few groups cross the line, not only causing property damage and disrupting public order but also physically harming people?


PERUSING ‘PASHKEVALIM.’© (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Last week, it happened. What started as another wild and violent demonstration by one of the extreme factions ended with a serious result, and perhaps, God forbid, in the loss of life.

From pashkevilim (posters with haredi pronouncements) laden with verbal assaults to burning trash cans, blocking roads and confronting the police, the protests reached new heights last Thursday when a giant trash can was spun out of control down Yehezkel Street, crushing a 40-year-old woman, the mother of 10, who’s still fighting for her life.

After 48 hours of silence and evasion, the outrageous response came from these extremist circles: From now on, they announced, they will have their own private security guards at demonstrations to prevent incidents like this happening again.


Israel Police officers survey the damage after heavy rioting from ultra-Orthodox protesters in central Jerusalem, December 15, 2022. 

(credit: ISRAEL POLICE SPOKESMAN)© Provided by The Jerusalem PostI

No taking responsibility, no rethinking, no willingness to moderate the protests.

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Among the leaders of the general haredi public, their response caused great outrage. Not only is there no intention on the extremists’ part to moderate their conduct, but there doesn’t appear to be any practical dealings on the part of the local authorities with the extremists.

It’s the ultra-Orthodox who are the ones suffering the most from this violence, which, in this society, is not a new phenomenon. For many years, the fighting was directed inward, between rival groups, who spared no one, including respected rabbis. Bullying and attacks have long been present within the sector, not to mention the followers of sexual offender Eliezer Berland, who are well known for their violence.

The question that must be asked today is: Will the police finally intervene and stop the situation from deteriorating even further? “Everyone who... must act on this matter has long known what needs to be done, and the only question is why hasn’t it been done until now?” elected officials and leaders in the haredi community are asking.

As long as the violence was directed inward within the sector, it was seen at most as a foreign matter, the incomprehensible and discouraging conduct of an unfamiliar and withdrawn public. With the exception of demonstrations to protect the sanctity of Shabbat – such as preventing the opening of restaurants and cafés or any other activity they deemed desecrated the holy day, such as the operation of non-kosher shops and supermarkets in the city center – non-Orthodox Jerusalemites usually only heard about ultra-Orthodox violence from the news.

But in the last two decades, the haredi public has become not so distinct and separate anymore. They certainly continue to differ in their lifestyles, but the interaction with the other sectors, especially in the capital, deepened, and the increasing exposure to the ultra-Orthodox in the general public added friction that didn’t exist or was negligible until now. And as a result, the violence in recent years has reached the general public.

At violent demonstrations, the police have used water cannons and “skunk” water, whose stench often caused the children to faint, yet the violence continued to rage and nothing was done to address the root cause of the bullies in ultra-Orthodox society.

The claim among haredi leaders is that the police aren’t doing a thorough job in stopping the extremist groups.

“The feeling is that it is convenient for everyone that we, the ultra-Orthodox, suffer the most from the extremists and only when it spills over to the main street do the police come into the picture,” says former MK Yitzhak Pindrus bitterly. ❖

VIDEO

Follow the 'Yellow Brick Road' to Geologic Features of Liliʻuokalani Ridge Seamounts

What may look like a "yellow brick road" to the mythical city of Atlantis is really an example of ancient active volcanic geology! Our Corps of Exploration have witnessed incredibly unique and fascinating geological formations while diving on the Liliʻuokalani Ridge within Papahānaumokuakea Marine National Monument. At the summit of Nootka Seamount, the team spotted a "dried lake bed" formation, now IDed as a fractured flow of hyaloclastite rock (a volcanic rock formed in high-energy eruptions where many rock fragments settle to the seabed). The unique 90-degree fractures are likely related to heating and cooling stress from multiple eruptions at this baked margin. Throughout the seamount chain, the team also sampled basalts coated with ferromanganese (iron-manganese) crusts from across different depths and oxygen saturations as well as an interesting-looking pumice rock that almost resembled a sponge.

Our exploration of this never-before-surveyed area is helping researchers take a deeper look at life on and within the rocky slopes of these deep, ancient seamounts. Scientists are studying the microbial communities residing within the ferromanganese crusts found over rock surfaces and how the characteristics of the crusts vary from region to region in ocean basins as well the microorganisms that live on and within them. These studies will help provide baseline information on the living communities of seamounts which can inform management and conservation measures.

Learn more about this expedition funded by NOAA Ocean Exploration via the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute with additional support from the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.

E/V NAUTILUS EXPEDITION
Luʻuaeaahikiikekumu - Ancient Seamounts of Liliʻuokalani Ridge
This expedition will have E/V Nautilus returning to Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) to build on the accomplishments of the 2021 Luʻuaeaahikiikalipolipo expedition, which mapped the previously unmapped Liliʻuokalani Ridge Seamounts. The team returns for the first visual exploratory surveys of the seamount chain looking to investigate a puzzling split in the seamount trail.  LEARN MORE

Ex-Maoist rebel leader Prachanda becomes Nepal PM for third time

Pushpa Kamal Dahal, better known as Prachanda, will head the new government until 2025 as part of a deal reached with another party.

Prachanda gestures as he leaves for the president's office to claim majority for his appointment as the new prime minister, in Bhaktapur on the outskirts of capital Kathmandu [Dipesh Shrestha/AFP]

Published On 25 Dec 2022

A former Maoist leader who led a decade-long rebellion against Nepal’s monarchy has been appointed prime minister for a third time, in alliance with the main opposition after last month’s election returned a hung parliament.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who still goes by his nom de guerre Prachanda – meaning “terrible” or “fierce” – will head the new government for the first half of the five-year term with the support of the opposition communist Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) party and other smaller groups, party officials said on Sunday.

“He has been appointed and commands the support of a big majority of parliament,” Tika Dhakal, an aide to President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, told Reuters news agency.

Prachanda is likely to take the oath of office on Monday and prove his majority in the 275-member house later in the week. Seven parties have pledged their support for him.

Prachanda, who replaces Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress party, will step down in 2025, making way for the UML to take over the office, local media reported.

“This is the understanding. Remaining work of distribution of key other posts and ministries is still to be worked out,” Dev Gurung, the general secretary of Prachanda’s Maoist Centre party told Reuters after a meeting of the new coalition.

The new coalition comes to power hours after Prachanda, 68, surprisingly walked out of the ruling alliance led by 76-year-old Deuba.

Deuba, whose Nepali Congress emerged as the single largest party after the November 20 polls, refused to back Prachanda for the prime minister’s job.

Prachanda’s Maoist Centre party won 32 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives. The UML has 78 seats, and the rest, required for the 138-majority, will be controlled by smaller groups.

The Nepali Congress party will be the main opposition controlling 89 seats.

Prachanda hid out for years in the jungle during Nepal’s 1996-2006 civil war that killed nearly 17,000 people and led to the end of the 239-year-old monarchy.

In 2006, the Maoists gave up their armed revolt, joined a United Nations-assisted peace process and entered mainstream politics. Prachanda served briefly as prime minister in 2008-09, and again in 2016-17.

Analysts said Prachanda was unlikely to provide the country with stability due to many coalition partners. He also faces serious economic challenges.

Inflation is more than 8 percent, the highest in six years. Nepal also faces dwindling foreign exchange reserves, with an increasing dependence on imports of basic goods.

“It is unlikely for the economy to grow as political instability will spook investment and businesses,” former central bank governor Deependra Bahadur Kshetri told Reuters.

Nepal has been hampered by political instability, frequent changes in government and squabbles among parties, which have been blamed for delays in writing the constitution and slow economic development.

The Himalayan nation has seen 10 government changes since 2008, when the monarchy was abolished.

KEEP READING
New faces win Nepal polls, vow to ‘change political discourse’
What are the key issues in Nepal’s national elections?
Nepal votes to elect new government to revive economy

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES

AFRICAN SLAVERY IS THE ORIGIN OF CAPITALI$M 

King Willem-Alexander welcomes government’s apology for Netherlands’ slave past

Story by Daniel Stewart 

Dutch King Willem-Alexander on Sunday welcomed the government's apology for the state's slave-owning past and stressed that doing so lays the foundation for a future "free of discrimination, exploitation and injustice."


Archive - The kings of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander and Máxima.

 - Hans Punz/APA/dpa© Provided by News 360

The monarch pointed out that "by honestly facing" that episode of history, recognizing that crimes against humanity were committed, "the foundations are laid for a shared future" in the fight against "all contemporary forms of discrimination, exploitation and injustice".

"The apology offered by the government is the beginning of a long road. Let us continue," he said during his Christmas Day address to the nation.


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This past Monday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte acknowledged the damage caused by the Dutch state during the colonial era and apologized for the crimes against humanity that were committed, such as slavery.

During that public apology, Rutte announced that the government will launch a 200 million euro fund to raise awareness and show the impact of its slave past on Dutch society.

In 2023, the Netherlands, one of the last states to abolish slavery, is scheduled to hold a series of events to acknowledge those crimes. An estimated 600,000 people were enslaved before the practice was officially ended on July 1, 1863.

Source: (EUROPA PRESS)

Capitalism and Slavery

https://glc.yale.edu › pdf › capatlism_and_slavery

PDF

Capitalism. &. Slavery. <I. Eric Williams. NORTH C ... slaves in other colonies, the Georgian planters found them- selves in the position, as Whitefield ...

148 pages