‘Some of our greatest heroes died alone’: Indigenous Veterans Day takes steps towards reconciliation

Story by The Canadian Press  • 

Concerns of an emerging climate enemy coupled with calls for hope at an Indigenous Veterans Day ceremony held in Vancouver.

At the Victory Square Cenotaph in Vancouver, a crowd of about 100 gathered beneath drizzling, overcast skies to pay their respects to Indigenous veterans. It was one of dozens of ceremonies held in major cities across Canada on Wednesday. Since the first Indigenous Veterans Day was held in Canada on Nov. 8, 1994, veteran Mike Dangeli said a lot has changed.

“When we started this, it was a different time,” he said. “We weren't treated with the same respect even though we spilled some of the same blood in some of the same mud as our non-Indigenous relatives.”

Established 75 years after the national day of remembrance on Nov. 11, a history of neglect has plagued the treatment of Indigenous veterans in Canada. On Wednesday, the vibration of drums and voices in song echoed through the streets of downtown Vancouver as an array of distinctly honoured speakers took their turn at the mic.

Dangeli stood at the mic with his four-year-old son, Hayetsk, and wife, Mique’l.

“As a parent, many of us know we don't have the luxury of being pessimistic or jaded,” he said. “We need to have hope. And I feel that hope and that humanity every time I'm with my Indigenous veterans.”

Records of Indigenous people serving in the Canadian military begin with the War of 1812. More than 4,000 Indigenous people served in the First World War and more than 3,000 in the Second World War, according to estimates by the federal government. These numbers don’t reflect the unknown number of Métis, Inuit and other Indigenous recruits who are undocumented.

'Fought for human rights we share': First Indigenous Veterans Day held at Edmonton city hall

Related video: Indigenous veterans honoured at Winnipeg ceremony (cbc.ca) Duration 2:11 View on Watch

 ''The federal government has acknowledged that due to systemic racism and ongoing colonialism, Canada has mistreated Indigenous veterans and neglected to offer them the same support systems as their non-Indigenous comrades.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a statement to acknowledge Indigenous Veterans Day.

“Indigenous Peoples have historically faced unique challenges — from having to travel far from their communities to enlist, to overcoming language barriers and adapting to cultural differences while in service to Canada,” he said.

In April, the Assembly of First Nations and Veteran Affairs Canada signed a joint letter to symbolize a step forward in supporting First Nations veterans, increasing representation in commemoration activities and establishing a historical record of their service.

Despite initiatives being taken, Indigenous Veterans Day currently doesn’t receive the same recognition as Remembrance Day in Canada. While Nov. 11 is a public holiday, Nov. 8 has yet to be granted a similar status.

Damien Clarke, regional addictions specialist at the First Nations Health Authority, said it’s his first year attending a ceremony because he didn’t know the day existed before.

This year, he laid a wreath with his colleagues during the ceremony.

“I think it's important that Aboriginal veterans have their own day to show respect and support for the sacrifices they made for our country and for their nations,” he said.

Veteran Carolyn Orazietti, a member of the Sou’West Nova Métis, said Indigenous veterans have been regularly pushed aside in Canada, despite their huge sacrifices.

“They gave their lives knowing that they had to give up their identity. They have to give up their status. So when they got back, they couldn't get back onto the reserves,” she said.

“Some of our greatest heroes died alone.”

This year, she attended her eighth ceremony as a way to stand up for those who once stood up for her, she said.

Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs’ Grand Chief Stewart Phillip told the crowd at the Vancouver cenotaph that it’s important to acknowledge the blanket of security Canadians may take for granted isn’t a happy accident.

“We are incredibly fortunate, as Canadians, to live in a country that doesn't have to worry about bombs and missiles and the atrocities of war,” he said.

But that’s not to say Canada is without its own challenges, he said. Hurricanes, wildfires, floods and droughts are emerging as a new threat and one Phillip said Canada is going to need its military to help combat.

“There’s a new enemy that has made its presence known. And that's a climate crisis,” he said. “We're moving into a whole different world, full of dangers that we never ever imagined.”

Phillip said he hopes the same inspiration felt by the veterans who fought overseas will compel today’s Forces to prepare for battle as scientists predict extreme weather events will worsen.

“As long as we continue the traditions, uphold the values and most importantly, carry that respect for the military community and what it represents, our families will continue to be safe.”

Pippa Norman, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada's National Observer

Aseniwuche Winewak letter calls on Parks Canada for negotiations

Story by The Canadian Press  • 1d

 One week after two First Nations came together in Jasper National Park for a harvest and hunt, a third band has come forward with its own request for the same consideration.

In a letter to Supt. Alan Fehr dated Oct. 27, David MacPhee, president of the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation (AWN), expressed his band’s dismay that both the Simpcw First Nation and the Stoney Nation were allowed to hunt in a national park and increase their role in the management of the park.

“AWN calls on Parks Canada to immediately enter negotiations with AWN to restore our access to the Park and to prioritize our involvement in the co-management of Jasper both as the Park’s current neighboring Indigenous peoples and its former inhabitants,” he wrote.  

“We also insist that Parks Canada consult with AWN prior to implementation of the Simpcw and Stoney agreements to ensure that Canada understands and can address any potential impacts of those agreements on AWN’s rights and outstanding claim to Park lands.”

The letter elaborated that AWN does not oppose the rights of other Indigenous peoples but rather stipulated that not all First Nations have the same connection to the land contained within Jasper National Park.

MacPhee wrote that both the Simpcw and Stoney now make their homes approximately 400 kilometres away.

“By comparison, the Park was home to the Aseniwuche Winewak for generations and it is the core of traditional lands. AWN’s unresolved loss of lands in the Park is well known to Parks Canada and Canada has yet to address our people’s traumatic removal from the Park. A trauma that continues to impact our Nation.”

There are more than 500 band members of the AWN, most of whom reside in the Grande Cache area, approximately 200 kilometres northwest of the Jasper townsite.

When contacted by the Fitzhugh, AWN President David MacPhee had no further comment.

Supt. Alan Fehr said the AWN is an important partner to Parks Canada.

“We value that relationship,” he said, indicating that their perspective is legitimate and respected.  

“They were and have always been involved in discussions about things like harvesting and the gathering.”

He noted that the Simpcw and Stoney initiated discussions about their harvest. Parks Canada’s involvement was to help facilitate their gathering.  

“They wanted to work with us. We were happy to work with them and felt honoured to work with them to ensure that everything was conducted safely, and that all the conservation issues were addressed.”

If any other Indigenous partners were interested in approaching Parks Canada to achieve something similar in Jasper National Park, Fehr’s door is open.

“We’re certainly interested in having those bilateral conversations,” he said, noting that Parks Canada meets with the AWN periodically and its representatives come to the Jasper Indigenous Forum regularly as well.

“We would be very pleased to continue to work with them and help advance the mutual goals.”

There are 21 Indigenous partners to Jasper National Park, including the Simpcw First Nation, the Stoney Nation, and the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation.

The Fitzhugh attempted to reach out to the other 18 Indigenous partners. Only one responded to indicate that it had no issue with the Simpcw and Stoney Nations rekindling their agreement and participating in a hunt.

Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Jasper Fitzhugh

Former Manitoba Speaker fulfils last goal with dedicated space for Indigenous art

© Provided by The Canadian Press

WINNIPEG — Scattered throughout the century-old Manitoba Legislative Building are the works of famed Indigenous artists, including Daphne Odjig and Jackson Beardy. 

Some pieces hang in offices, while others are placed for passersby to see. 

Now, one room in the historic building is home to a semi-permanent exhibit showcasing more than 20 pieces of Indigenous art.

Having one space that captures the province's vast collection of contemporary and traditional Indigenous art was something Myrna Driedger envisioned during her years as Speaker. She chose not to seek re-election as a Progressive Conservative legislature member earlier this year. 

"It was always at the back of my mind that it was something that I would love to see in the building, so that the building itself becomes a little bit more representative of our history," Driedger said in an interview on Thursday. 

"Manitoba is pretty lucky that we have a building as beautiful as this, and now we have a room that is as inspiring as this."

Artwork from Beardy, who was Oji-Cree, and Odjig, who was Potawatomi, shares the same walls as pieces from Ojibway artist Jackie Traverse and Inuk artist Marion Tuu'luq in the Golden Boy room, named after the prominent statue perched on the top of the Legislative Building. 

The public room was chosen because it is available to everyone and is often used to host events.

"(The works of art) are not stuck in some office somewhere where people can't enjoy them," said Driedger. 

"To have them on display in one room, it has a bigger impact than if it's scattered all over and nobody sees them."

The province has amassed more than 2,800 pieces in the roughly 50 years since it started its art collection. A diverse array of artists and art is represented in the collection, a spokesperson for the province said. This includes portraiture, still life, caribou tuftings, bold abstractions and wildlife studies. 

While the province has obtained a considerable amount of Indigenous art, the spokesperson said they do not have a total figure due in part to incomplete documentation and artists' heritage disclosure. 

The province's art collection is displayed in more than 100 buildings and public spaces across Manitoba. 

When it came to deciding which pieces would be included in the exhibit, Driedger turned to Amy Karlinsky, who is the province's visual arts consultant. 

"We researched where were some of what we understood to be significant pieces, where were they in which offices," said Karlinsky. 

"We were looking for what are some of the earliest acquisitions in contemporary Indigenous art. And we balanced that with some of the more recent acquisitions."

Some of those earlier works, including drawings by Odjig, were purchased by the government in the 1960s and 1970s. 

One of the more recent pieces comes from Cree and Métis artist Carly Morrisseau, whose work uses Cree syllabics as a way to revitalize the language. 

When asked which artwork resonates most with her, Driedger pointed to a large, colourful painting. 

The piece by Traverse called "Council of Women" depicts a circle of women against a vibrant orange background. 

"I just love it," said Driedger, who worked to break down barriers for women in leadership roles during her 25-year career. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 10, 2023. 

Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press

Suncor says still hunting for cost savings after wave of job cuts

CALGARY — Suncor Energy Inc. says it has wrapped 1,500 job cuts two months ahead of schedule, but that it will continue to look for areas to trim as part of a wider efficiency push.

Chief executive Rich Kruger said on an earnings conference call Thursday that the cuts are expected to save $450 million a year, or about $50 million more than what they expected when the cuts were announced in June.

The extra savings came in part from additional reductions of contingent workers and contractors, while the overall cuts, combined with leadership and structural changes, put the company in a more competitive position, said Kruger.

"We are a simpler, more focused organization, positioned to compete and win."

The company is also pushing ahead with plans for fewer, bigger trucks; buying and leasing a combined 55 ultra-class 400-ton trucks that will displace nearly twice as many smaller third-party vehicles, said Kruger.

The trucks will be driverless-ready as part of a wider push into the technology.

Suncor will be ramping up the number of trucks running autonomously at its Base Plant operation from 31 as of the second quarter this year to 91 by the end of next year.

"If our data is correct, this will be the largest single mine fleet of autonomous ultra class trucks globally," said Kruger. 

The company is not done finding efficiencies in its contractor base, but further improvements will be harder as much of the waste has already been taken out of the system, said Peter Zebedee, executive vice-president of oilsands.

"Now we're looking at more sophisticated examples of integrated planning and scheduling, and maintenance, scheduling activity to drive further efficiencies. So do I think there's more? Yes, absolutely. But this stuff is a bit more difficult to go after."

Kruger stepped into the chief executive role in April with a commitment to cost-cutting and simplifying Suncor's operations.

He drew criticism earlier this year for saying the company had been too focused on the longer-term energy transition and the shift toward clean and low-carbon energy sources. 

Kruger made no mention of climate change on Thursday's call, though Kris Smith, chief financial officer, reiterated the company's commitment to its 2030 emission reduction goals that it plans to achieve though initiatives such as a cogeneration project and carbon capture plans.    

On Thursday's call Kruger instead kept his focus on savings, talking about how much company efforts would reduce its break-even price on a barrel of oil. The job cuts should work out to about US$1.20 per barrel, while the more efficient trucks should shave about US$1 per barrel, he said.

"We're looking at it very, very closely in terms of, you know, bang for the buck."

He said that along with operational changes, the company would also look at the corporate side as it works towards a US$5 per barrel initial savings target.

The ongoing savings push comes as the company reported on Wednesday evening a profit of $1.54 billion in the third quarter of 2023, compared to a net loss of $609 million in the prior year's quarter.

On an adjusted basis, Suncor earned $1.98 billion or $1.52 per common share in the third quarter of 2023, compared to $2.57 billion or $1.88 per common share in the third quarter of 2022.

The company attributed the decrease in adjusted earnings to lower crude prices year-over-year and a weaker business environment, as well as increased royalties and decreased sales volumes due to international asset divestments.

Suncor has also been pushing to improve its safety record. At least 12 workers have died at the company's oilsands operations in northern Alberta since 2014, and former CEO Little resigned just one day after a fatality in July last year.

Kruger said the company's track record is improving, including zero life-threatening or life-altering injuries so far this year, while its refining operations had no recordable injuries in the third quarter, the first injury-free quarter in the company's history. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2023.

Companies in this story: (TSX:SU)

The Canadian Press

These companies have laid off Canadian workers in 2023



© Provided by The Canadian Press

Awave of layoffs last year, which left thousands of Canadian workers jobless, is continuing this year as recession predictions loom and the tech sector downturn deepens.

These are some of the companies which have said goodbye to Canadian workers so far in 2023.

Absolute Software Corp.: The Vancouver-based security software company said it would cut about 40 jobs as part of an April restructuring plan to reduce its operating expenses.

BCE Inc.: The telecommunications giant said in mid-June that it would slash 1,300 positions, including six per cent of its media arm. It blamed the job cuts on a challenging public policy and regulatory environment, raising specific concerns about Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act, and Bill C-18, the Online News Act.

Benevity: The Calgary-based company which creates charity-centric software revealed plans to slash its team by 14 per cent, leaving 137 workers without a job in January.

Best Buy: The consumer electronics retailer said it would be reducing its workforce by 0.7 per cent, estimated to be about 700 employees, in January.

Canadian Tire Corp. Ltd.: The retailer said in November that it would cut about three per cent of its workforce as it faces softening consumer demand. At the same time, it planned to eliminate the majority of current job vacancies, resulting in a further reduction of three per cent.

Canopy Growth Corp.: The Smiths Falls, Ont. cannabis company announced plans to shed 800 staff — 35 per cent of its workforce — in February in an effort to help the business reach profitability.

The cuts continued in September, when BioSteel Sports Nutrition Inc., the sports drink maker Canopy has a majority stake in, filed for creditor protection and announced 68 staff would be laid off.

Cineplex Inc.: The theatre chain says it laid off about 30 workers in February because "the state of box office recovery isn't where we or the industry expected it to be:''

Clearco: Michele Romanow's e-commerce investing business said goodbye to 25 per cent of its workforce in January as the Dragons' Dens star departed her chief executive role. The company previously laid off 125 employees from its 500-person workforce in July and then 60 in August.

Clutch: The online car retailer reduced its team from 231 to 81 people in January with its chief executive Dan Park citing a "challenging microeconomic environment.''

Desjardins Group: The financial services co-operative announced it was cutting close to 400 jobs in October as part of its response to economic uncertainty.

Lightspeed Commerce Inc.: The Montreal e-commerce software business laid off 300 workers — about 10 per cent of its head count — in January with most of the coming from management. The company said the move is meant to help it unify several businesses it recently acquired and already has plans to hire between 150 and 200 more staff.

Google: Canadian Google employees affected by a 12,000-person cut the tech goliath announced in mid-January started being informed of their termination in early February.

Hootsuite Inc.: The Vancouver social media technology company cut seven per cent of its staff — about 70 people — in its third job cut in the last year.

Hudson's Bay: The department store chain said it was letting go of two per cent of its workforce, estimated to be about 250 employees, in January. The corporate roles were concentrated at The Bay and Hudson's Bay, the retailer's online and brick-and-mortar operations, and meant to help it navigate "significant external pressures.''

Meta Platforms Inc.: The company behind Facebook and Instagram announced in mid-March that it would lay off 10,000 people and cease hiring for 5,000 roles as the firm embarks on a "year of efficiency.'' The company had laid off 13 per cent or 11,000 workers in November 2022.

NordStar Capital LP: The publisher behind the Toronto Star and a slew of other media outlets announced in September that 605 staff — 60 per cent of its workforce — would depart its local newspaper chain, Metroland Media Group, which was seeking protection under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

Nordstrom: The Seattle department store chain said in early March that it would close all of its Canadian stores, leaving 2,500 staff unemployed.

Postmedia Network Corp.: Sources told The Canadian Press in January that the newspaper publisher behind publications like the National Post, Vancouver Sun and Calgary Herald would lay off 11 per cent of its editorial staff. Days later, unions said the company had cut more than 75 jobs by outsourcing the printing and inserting of the Windsor Star.

Ritual: The Toronto-based food pickup service laid off about 40 per cent of its company, amounting to 38 workers in June, as it made changes to its fee system.

Rogers Communications Inc.: The Toronto-based telecommunications firm confirmed in July that "a small percentage" of staff left involuntarily since Rogers combined with Shaw.

Rona Inc.: The Boucherville, Que.-based home improvement retailer said June that it was eliminating 500 jobs across Canada in a bid to simplify its organizational structure and adapt to a slowing economy.

Scotiabank: The bank said in October that it would cut about three per cent of its global workforce as a result of changes in customers' day-to-day banking preferences, as well as ongoing efforts to streamline operations.

Shopify Inc.: The Ottawa e-commerce software company laid off 20 per cent of staff in early May in a move meant to help it more intensely focus on its main operations. Shopify refused to say how many staff would be departing the company, but before it laid off about 1,000 workers last summer, it had roughly 10,000 employees.

Stornoway Diamonds Inc.: The Montreal-based diamond company said in late October that some 425 workers would be temporarily laid off from working at its Renard mine in north Quebec, a site where it was suspending operations.

Suncor Energy Inc.: The Calgary-based company said at the start of June that it would cut 1,500 jobs by the end of the year as it aims to reduce costs and improve the firm's lagging financial performance.

Telus Corp.: The Vancouver telecommunications firm announced plans to slash 6,000 jobs in August, attributing the move to the "evolving regulatory, competitive and macroeconomic environment."

Thinkific Labs Inc.: The Vancouver education technology company culled 76 jobs from its workforce in January with chief executive Greg Smith saying it was a necessary move to reach profitability.

TVA Group: The Montreal-based broadcaster said in early November that it was laying off 547 employees — nearly a third of its workforce — as it contended with declining audiences and ad revenues.

VerticalScope: The Toronto-based technology company owned by the company that bought Torstar Corp. said in February that it was laying off around 60 employees, or 22 per cent of the company's workforce, to help it navigate the current economic environment.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2023.

The Canadian Press

Canada's Suncor reports progress fixing operational, safety issues

By Nia Williams

(Reuters) - Suncor Energy on Thursday said it is making progress on fixing a number of safety and operational issues that caused the share price of Canada's second-largest oil producer to lag its rivals and spurred the resignation of its previous CEO.

Calgary-based Suncor has been dogged by performance issues in recent years, culminating in a string of fatalities at oil sands sites and slope stability issues at its Fort Hills mine in northern Alberta.

The problems prompted activist investment firm Elliott Management to build a stake in the company and demand changes. Mark Little resigned as Suncor CEO in July 2022 after another worker was killed in a site accident.

Rich Kruger, who replaced Little in April, said the company saw improvement in safety and plant turnaround performance and progress on Fort Hills in the third quarter of this year.

"We've got more to do. But I think we have a business plan that we'll be talking about in the not-too-distant future that has continuous improvement about it," Kruger told analysts on an earnings call on Thursday. "As I sit here seven months in, I feel better than I did in the first month."

Suncor reported third-quarter earnings that beat market estimates on Wednesday, helped by strong refining margins and higher sales volumes from its oil sands operations.

Related video: Project to bring more clean energy from Canada gets funding (WMUR Manchester)  Duration 1:32   View on Watch

The company also completed previously announced lay-offs of around 1,500 people.

Analysts said Suncor's results showed the company was moving in the right direction. Its shares rose 4.7% to C$45.33 on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Thursday. On a year-to-date basis, Suncor shares have only risen 5.3%, lagging the performance of rivals Canadian Natural Resources and Imperial Oil, which are up 17.9% and 15.8%, respectively.

(Reporting by Nia Williams; Editing by Paul Simao)

Germany accused of silencing pro-Palestinian voices at U.N. rights forum

Story by By Sarah Marsh  • 1d

FILE PHOTO: A woman speaks to police officers on Potsdamer Platz, during an unannounced pro-Palestinian protest, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, in Berlin, Germany October 22, 2023. 

REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo© Thomson Reuters

By Sarah Marsh

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany faced accusations from Muslim countries of silencing pro-Palestinian voices and failing to do enough to tackle Islamophobia in a United Nations review of its human rights record on Thursday.

German authorities have cracked down on pro-Palestinian groups since the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, and refused to authorize many pro-Palestinian protests, saying the curbs are to stop public disorder and prevent public antisemitism.

Supporters of the Palestinians say they feel blocked from publicly expressing support or concern for people in the Hamas-controlled enclave of Gaza without risking arrest, their jobs or immigration status.

Indonesia's envoy to the U.N. in Geneva urged Germany to "ensure the freedom of opinion and expression is fulfilled by avoiding discriminatory treatments by police officers against activists, in particular to the peaceful pro-Palestinian protesters."

That viewpoint was expressed by other Muslim countries, which also called for Germany to better tackle Islamophobic crimes that have been on the rise since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, in tandem with a surge in antisemitic incidents, according to activists.

"The rise of attacks on mosques and NSU (neo-Nazi) murders does demonstrate deep systemic failures of the German police and justice system in tackling such crimes," said Turkey's envoy.

"We recommend Germany to take serious steps against Islamophobic and xenophobic attacks and practices, including a comprehensive review of its police force and justice system, as well as additional protection for mosques," the Turkish envoy added.

Germany's Commissioner for Human Rights Policy Luise Amtsberg said there were limits on the right to peaceful demonstration in connection with criminal acts.

"Terrorism must not be celebrated," she said. "We have had prohibitions on demonstrations when it is to incite antisemitism, and freedom of opinion must not be abused to propagate hate."

Separately, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said earlier on Thursday that the country that perpetrated the Holocaust could not tolerate antisemitism. At the same time, however, the tensions fanned by the Israel-Hamas war should not be used to question the place of the more than 5 million Muslims in its society.

All 193 U.N. member states are subject to scrutiny as part of the review process established in 2008. A three-person U.N. "troika" will submit recommendations to the German government next week.

(Reporting by Sarah Marsh; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

SLAPP SUIT

Shell sues Greenpeace for $2.1 million after boarding oil vessel

“The claim is one of the biggest legal threats against the Greenpeace network’s ability to campaign in the organisation’s more than 50-year history,” 

Shell is suing Greenpeace for $2.1 million in damages after the environmental group’s activists boarded the company’s oil production vessel in transit at sea this year, according to Greenpeace and a document seen by Reuters.

The British oil and gas major filed the claim in London’s High Court. Greenpeace activists boarded the vessel in January near the Canary Islands off the Atlantic coast of northern Africa to protest oil drilling and traveled on it as far as Norway.

In an email to Reuters, Shell confirmed legal proceedings were taking place when asked whether it was suing Greenpeace over the incident but declined to comment on the claim amounts.

Boarding a moving vessel at sea was “unlawful and extremely dangerous,” a Shell spokesperson said.

“The right to protest is fundamental and we respect it absolutely. But it must be done safely and lawfully,” the spokesperson said.

The vessel was destined for the Penguins oil and gas field in the North Sea, which is not yet in production.

Four Greenpeace activists used ropes to hoist themselves onto the vessel from inflatable boats that chased the ship at high speed.

Protests at sea against oil, gas or mining infrastructure have long been part of Greenpeace’s operations.

The damages Shell is seeking include costs related to shipping delays and expenses for extra security, as well as legal costs, according to a document seen by Reuters.

“The claim is one of the biggest legal threats against the Greenpeace network’s ability to campaign in the organisation’s more than 50-year history,” Greenpeace said in a statement.

The group said Shell offered to reduce its damage claim to $1.4 million if Greenpeace’s activists agree not to protest again at any of Shell’s oil and gas infrastructure at sea or in port.

Greenpeace said it would only do so if Shell complied with a 2021 Dutch court order to cut its emissions by 45% by 2030, which Shell has appealed.

A claim for additional damages of around $6.5 million by one of Shell’s contractors, Fluor, is unresolved, according to the document seen by Reuters. Fluor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Shell and Greenpeace have held negotiations since the case was filed, but talks ended in early November, Greenpeace said, adding it was now waiting for Shell to file further documents in court.

Greenpeace said it will then consider its next steps, including ways to stop the case from proceeding.

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Pastor's suicide brings grief, warnings of the dangers of outing amid erosion of LGBTQ+ rights

SMITHS STATION, Ala. (AP) — After the 2019 suicide of a local teenager, small-town mayor and pastor F.L. “Bubba” Copeland helped students place roadside signs in his Alabama community to try to reach others who might be hurting.

“You are worthy of love.” “Don’t give up.” “You matter.”

Those were the same messages friends said they tried to get through to Copeland before he took his own life along one of those county roads two days after a conservative news site exposed social media posts where he appeared in women’s clothing, a wig and makeup.

The disclosure bombarded Copeland, 49, with online ridicule and his death, experts said, underscores the dangers of outing people in an era that has seen the erosion of LGBTQ+ rights as states across the country introduce legislation based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Copeland's friends said they hope it prompts a wave of self-examination about how we treat others.

“I just want to ask you people who thought it humorous to publicly ridicule him. Are you happy now? What crime did he commit?” Larry DiChiara, a former school superintendent who knew Copeland from when he served on a county school board, wrote in a pointed Facebook post.

Related video: LGBTQ+ Community Grieves Loss of Leader (KJRH Tulsa, OK)

Duration 2:45  View on Watch

Copeland, the mayor of Smiths Station, a city of 5,300 near the Georgia border, ran a small grocery store and was pastor at First Baptist Church in nearby Phenix City, where a sign proclaims to passersby, “Jesus Loves You. All Are Welcome.”

His public social media presence detailed baptisms, family gatherings, homecoming parades and sales at his country store.

State Rep. Jeremy Gray, a legislator from nearby Opelika, said Copeland had been a “steadfast presence” after a 2019 tornado devastated rural sections of the county, killing more than 20 people. Copeland was photographed with then-President Donald Trump when he toured the area.

But Copeland's private online life became public on Nov. 1 when a conservative news blog posted the first of several items describing posts he made using an alias on Instagram and Reddit as a “transgender curvy girl” with photos of him wearing women’s clothing and makeup.

After the disclosure, the state Baptist organization said it was aware of allegations of “unbiblical behavior” involving the pastor. And a nationally syndicated radio show said Copeland should be ashamed because the Bible teaches that it is an “abomination” for a man to dress in women’s clothing.

An additional post on Nov. 3, the same day Copeland killed himself, accused him of using the names and photos of local residents, including a minor, without permission in posts, including the real name of a local businesswoman in a fictional story about a man who develops a deadly obsession with taking over her identity.

Copeland told the news site that he donned women’s clothing as a way to release stress but was not transgender. He stood before his congregation on Nov. 1 to apologize and said that the photos taken in the privacy of his own home were an attempt at humor.

“This will not cause my life to change. This will not waver my devotion to my family, to serving my city, to serving my church,” Copeland, a husband, father and stepfather, said in the livestreamed service.

Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said that at the time of the suicide, deputies were attempting a welfare check on Copeland because of concerns he might harm himself.

Friends said Copeland acknowledged he was struggling in the days before his death. DiChiara said he reached out to Copeland by text last Thursday and the mayor responded that “it’s been some very dark days.”

“When this story came out, it was already painful and hurtful just to see it and know that, that this is going to cause a lot of grief for Bubba and his family. But as I read what was out there, it just was getting progressively worse, and I just saw some real ugliness in people and their comments,” DiChiara said.

Jack Drescher, a clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University and the author of “Psychoanalytic Therapy and the Gay Man” said outing can be an act of violence and in this case it “precipitated a violent response.”

Drescher said people can have reasons to keep sexual or gender identities and behaviors, such as cross-dressing, secret because they don’t feel like they would be accepted.

“It was probably a great source of shame and embarrassment to be outed like that,” Drescher said.

Chad Peacock, a former Auburn resident, said Copeland was one of the few elected officials to show support for a local Pride event he organized. He said he believed the anti-LGBTQ climate in the state bears some responsibility for Copeland's suicide.

“You have to fit the box. You can be who you are, but you should be ashamed of who you are if you're different,” Peacock said of the atmosphere.

Alabama lawmakers have imposed bans on transgender women playing on female sports teams in schools and colleges and approved a ban, now in litigation, on treating transgender minors with gender-affirming hormones or puberty blockers. The state in 2019 changed the process for obtaining a marriage license because several probate judges had refused to issue them after the U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing same-sex couples to marry.

“The unrelenting anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric coming from state legislative houses and high-profile politicians has real life consequences in the form of online and in-person bullying, harassment and violence,” said Sam Lau, vice president of communications for LGBTQ+ advocacy group The Human Rights Campaign.

Lau noted the long history of outing public figures in the U.S., which he said "consistently causes harm — forced outing is a direct attempt to endanger the person being outed.”

Earlier in the week, flowers sat piled in a memorial against a wooden cross outside the church where Copeland’s funeral service was held Thursday. The church, like Copeland, has been targeted with hateful comments on social media, church member Dr. David White said.

“The anonymous nature of the internet seems to make a lot of people without sin. There are people that cast stones from across the horizon that you can’t respond to and you can’t defend. So I hope it makes us all reflect,” White said.

At his funeral, friends and family remembered Copeland as a boisterous man known for saying “ain’t God good,” doting on his family and going out of his way to spread kindness in their community.

“A person’s legacy is not created in a moment of despair. It is defined by his friends and those that love him,” White said.

Kim Chandler, The Associated Press

RIP

Astronaut who led humanity's first mission around the Moon dead at 95
Story by AFP • 19h


Apollo 8 crew member Frank Borman speaks during a NASA TV program in Washington, DC in 2008© ALEX WONG

Frank Borman, the NASA astronaut who led the 1968 Apollo 8 mission, the first human spaceflight to reach the Moon, has died at the age of 95, the US space agency said Thursday.

He passed away on November 7 in Billings, Montana.

"Today we remember one of NASA's best," said the agency's administrator Bill Nelson, in a statement

"His lifelong love for aviation and exploration was only surpassed by his love for his wife Susan."

Born on March 14, 1928 in Gary, Indiana, he began his career in the US Air Force where he flew as a fighter pilot, test pilot, and became an assistant professor of thermodynamics at West Point.

But he will be remembered as a pioneer of space exploration.

He set a then-record of 14 days in space during the 1965 Gemini 7 mission alongside Jim Lovell. The voyage featured the first space rendezvous with the Gemini 6 spacecraft.

Borman went on to command Apollo 8, where he became one of the first three humans, alongside crewmates Lovell and William Anders, to see and photograph the far side of the Moon.

Apollo 8 was also famous for producing "Earthrise" -- an iconic image of the Earth and part of the lunar surface, taken by Anders on December 4, 1968.

Following his career at NASA, he became the CEO of Eastern Airlines.

"Frank knew the power exploration held in uniting humanity when he said, 'Exploration is really the essence of the human spirit,'" said Nelson. "His service to NASA and our nation will undoubtedly fuel the Artemis Generation to reach new cosmic shores."

ia/md

I'm a native Hawaiian. Locals are tired of tourists treating the island like a theme park – here's what to know before you visit.

Story by insider@insider.com (Pooja Mistry) • 

Keani Rawlins-Fernandez grew up in Molokai, Hawaii, and now is a local council member. Keani Rawlins-Fernandez© Keani Rawlins-Fernandez

Keani Rawlins-Fernandez grew up in Hawaii and has seen tourism increase over the years.
Now a local council member, Rawlins-Fernandez says locals can feel overrun by tourists.
She said her advice for tourists is to be respectful and not entitled.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, a vice chair of the Maui County Council, about how tourism has affected her life in Hawaii. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

The tropical islands of Hawaii have long been a dream destination for tourists, drawn by the pristine beaches, vibrant culture, and an "aloha" free spirit. But for me it's home.

Many economic, social, and financial issues arise with unrestricted tourism, and I don't know how Hawaii will continue to cope with these numbers.

I grew up in Molokai, the only island of Hawaii where the economy is not reliant on tourism. Here, agriculture and farming are our main industries.

As a policymaker, I use my platform to fight against unrestricted tourism, counteract our current housing crisis, and campaign to protect our ocean and reef health.
It's my responsibility to advocate for my local community

When I was growing up, big corporations fell in love with the white-sand beaches, canoes, and divers and transformed our land into a shoreline of resorts like Waikiki in Oahu. They attempted to do this in Molokai, but the community fought it.

I went to law school to become a policymaker because it was my kuleana — responsibility — to advocate for my community the same way my elders did.

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I was inspired by the work of Uncle Walter Ritte, a Native Hawaiian activist and educator who protested the military bombing practices on Kaho'olawe and won its eventual return to Native Hawaiian control from the US military.

I hold the County Council seat for the Molokai residency area and am part of the Efficiency Solutions and Circular Systems Committee, where I can discuss high-level budgets and allocation of resources to solve economic inequality that has been around for generations.


Rawlins-Fernandez is a vice chair of the Maui County Council. Keani Rawlins-Fernandez© Keani Rawlins-Fernandez

Tourism has displaced Native Hawaiians by driving up costs

The number of tourists in Hawaii is overwhelming the local population and threatening the islands' cultural heritage.

Native Hawaiians, already displaced from their lands during colonization, are experiencing a housing crisis. When houses become available, they are bought by tourists instead of locals.

People are buying our land as investment properties, so our Kanaka 'Ōiwi — locals — are forced to move further out, and they can't maintain their local traditions or routines. Basically, they need to start over and make a new place their home.

The cost of living has skyrocketed as demand drives up real-estate prices. Residents of islands like Maui and Oahu, where tourism is at peak levels, rely on resorts and hotels for jobs to support their livelihood.

During COVID, there was no tourism, and their jobs were the first to go. My island in Molokai fared better because the model is to cater to local businesses and local patrons instead.

We can't commute easily because tourists are getting their sunset pictures

A large part of Hawaii's economy is reliant on tourism, but in popular tourist areas, overtourism is placing huge strains on the infrastructure and environment — especially when the number of visitors exceeds the resident population.

For example, famous sights like Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head on Oahu draw crowds of tourists for sunrise or sunset views. This clogs up our highways during the hours when locals are trying to commute or drop their kids off at school.

The state Department of Transportation wants to create more parking spots or widen highways. Instead, people should consider group trolley systems like the ones in Zion National Park in Utah, which I recently visited, to manage tourists. This makes more sense than allowing tourists to rent their own car for the duration of their visit.
Locals feel like their home is a theme park — and it can be dangerous

Our locals feel like their homes are treated like a theme park and there's no more privacy.

We've heard stories of tourists trespassing on properties for photo opportunities. But they need to understand that unlike television or social-media posts, this is real life.

There aren't always safeguards and railings at places like our waterfalls or volcanoes. Tourists have passed away or become severely hurt. It puts our emergency responders at risk if tourists are trespassing in dangerous places.

Our beaches and reefs are being degraded for the sake of tourism

Excessive tourist activity is also taking a major toll on Hawaii's fragile island ecosystems.

For instance, the natural sand dunes in Hawaii enable a cyclical restoration of the white-sand beaches. However, the construction of resorts and hotel chains on the dunes disrupts this cycle, preventing the beaches from replenishing lost sand. With the dunes unable to supply fresh sand, the beaches steadily erode away.

I've seen temporary seawalls being built in front of condos and resorts which interrupt the natural cycle of sand migration. We see how degraded our coral reefs, essential for marine wildlife, are in the face of pollution, sunscreen toxins, and careless snorkelers.

We are islands, and we don't have that much land to bury trash in landfills, so excessive rubbish ends up in our waters and damages the ecosystem.

Tourism has perks, but it needs to be managed better

There are some positives to the steady increase in tourists, like those tourists who volunteer with the Red Cross. However, extractive tourism needs to stop. I also want our community to rely on other jobs, because tourism ebbs and flows.

My message to tourists is to visit responsibly, respect local culture, and minimize one's footprint. Support local businesses over chain restaurants, go on tours instead of taking your own or a rented vehicle, make sure you're staying at a legitimate Airbnb or VRBO, and come with respect and gratitude, not entitlement.