Feed aggregator

Nigeria suffer defeat in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup while Jordan Ayew hits a hat-trick to inspire a comeback win for Ghana.

South Africa claim a nervy four-run win over Bangladesh that puts them on brink of reaching the T20 World Cup Super 8s.

Plusieurs personnes ont été tuées vendredi 7 juin dernier dans une attaque revendiquée par les rebelles ADF dans des localités en territoire Béni, dans le Nord-Kivu à l'Est de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC).

A village with 9,144 solar panels about eight kilometers from Juazeiro, a city and municipality in Brazil's semi-arid Northeast region, hosts a failed electricity and income generation project, which for three years enabled investments in the urbanization and community development of the 1,000 resident families. Credit: Mario Osava / IPS

By Mario Osava
JUAZEIRO, Brazil , Jun 10 2024 (IPS)

“I feel like a mother who lost her son to drugs, to vice, destroying himself,” says Lucineide da Silva, 56, mother of eight children and grandmother of 11.

With her lost son, she symbolizes a novel solar energy project that used the roofs of a village built by the government programme “My House My Life” in Juazeiro, a municipality with 238,000 people in the state of Bahia, in the Northeast region of Brazil.

The 174 two-story buildings, totaling 1,000 family housing units, turned into a small power plant, with 9,144 photovoltaic panels installed on their roofs. With an output of 2.1 megawatts and the capacity to supply 3,600 low-consumption homes, the installation generated electricity from February 2014 to October 2016.

In addition to self-supply, each family in the village earned income from energy surpluses sold to the local power distribution company. Of this income, 60 per cent was distributed among the villagers and 10 per cent went to equipment maintenance.

The remaining 30 per cent of the profits were invested in Morada do Salitre and Praia do Rodeadouro, the two complexes the unnamed village was divided into for community administration.

Lucineide da Silva helped install the solar panels, having been trained with other residents of the two complexes that make up the unnamed village in northeastern Brazil. Her efficient work and passion for the project earned her the nickname “Galician of the panels”. Credit: Mario Osava / IPS

Energy for community cohesion

This income enabled residents to urbanize the town, with trees, clean streets, speed bumps for vehicles and security officers. Also, two community centers were built, offering medical and dental care, as well as computer and sewing courses.

Such benefits helped build a real community, with a sense of belonging and social organization, the stated goal of the project, developed by the company Brasil Solair and financed by the Socio-environmental Fund of the Caixa Economica Federal, a state bank with social purposes.

“It’s the best of the My House My Life villages I know,” assured Toni José Bispo, 64, despite his criticism of the solar project. “I had no benefit, the panels break the tiles, better take them all off as a neighbor did,” said the food merchant, who built a store in the front yard of his house.

A Community Center built by one of the two complexes in the city of Juazeiro, with income from the sale of electricity. Computer and sewing courses, apart from doctors and dentists, were other benefits of the small photovoltaic power plant installed in the village in northeastern Brazil. Credit: Mario Osava / IPS

The useless photovoltaic panels have caused widespread complaints since October 2016, when the state-owned National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) cancelled the license to operate the small power plant.

The project had been launched with a license from Aneel, with a three-year deadline for it to comply with the specific regulation for distributed generation, up to five megawatts and carried out by the consumers, who can produce energy for self-supply and not for sale.

Brazilian regulation only allows “prosumers” (consumer producers) to deduct from their electricity bill the amount of energy generated and supplied to the distribution network, which is the basis for the development of community or distributed electricity. Certain types of association, such as cooperatives, allow this benefit to be shared, but without commercial purposes.

With the non-compliance by Brasil Solair, a company that disappeared from the market, and Caixa Economica Federal, the 9,144 photovoltaic panels remain for the last eight years a sad reminder of the project that was to be the inspiration of other My House My Life communities, which since early 2019 has provided 7.7 million homes.

Toni José Bispo’s small store, set up in front of his home, as is typical of the northeastern Brazilian town, has caused strong competition in a community with low demand and income. Credit: Mario Osava / IPS

Social decay

The town, with an estimated population of almost 5,000, is evidently in decay. Aging, fading walls, broken or missing roof tiles, garbage in the streets that was not noticeable during IPS’ previous visit in June 2018, are the most apparent signs. Some panels also appear damaged.

Violence and drug trafficking are other side-effects that can be attributed, at least in part, to the impoverishment of the local community.

Nicknamed “the Galician of the panels” because she excelled in their installation, Lucineide da Silva is “proud” of working on the project, as one of the trained villagers, and dreams of its restoration.

“We have many poor families. Solar energy would help them with their expenses, to have air conditioning to counter the heat, that is strong here”, he said.

“This complex is better than others, it gets top marks, but if the project were active it would be a reference for everyone”, said Da Silva, who rejected offers to continue installing panels, because she would have to work far away. She prefers to take care of children and senior citizens.

Gilsa Martins was an administrator in one of the two complexes organized for community management. She failed in her attempt to restore the photovoltaic energy and income generation project, but did not lose hope of giving back to her community the benefits of distributed generation. Credit: Mario Osava / IPS

Gilsa Martins, who was a community administrator of the Morada do Salitre complex during the good years while the project was active, and the bad ones that followed, still hopes to restore it. At 66, she is willing to “return to Brasilia” to negotiate with the government, as she has done in the past.

The useless photovoltaic panels have caused widespread complaints since October 2016, when the state-owned National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) cancelled the license to operate the small power plant

“Everything is deteriorating as a result of the neglect we are subjected to, with no support from the public administration,” she lamented. The computer and sewing courses are cancelled, and without the income from the solar power plant “we no longer have dentists or doctors here, since the public authorities don’t contribute anything,” she added.

The numerous stores in residential front yards reveal a lack of income sources. Many try to survive with informal businesses in a local market with insufficient demand. “Too much competition and not enough buyers,” Bispo said.

“The local population is sustained by the jobs offered by the irrigation districts, including young people who finish high school, but they have no opportunities in nearby commerce and industry,” he explained.

Juazeiro is at the center of an irrigated agriculture hub, with water from the São Francisco river pumped to seven irrigated districts or perimeters where the government settled small, medium and large farmers, and to large independent farms that stand out as the largest producers of mango and grapes for export.

Hired workers commute daily on buses from these companies and from the districts, generally subject to the seasonality of the fruit. “They are our salvation,” said Martins.

The Bolsa Familia, a government income transfer program, also “protects many unemployed mothers. That’s why we don’t go hungry here,” he said.

But people complain about inadequate transportation. They only have one bus to commute to the city of Juazeiro, the municipal capital, eight kilometers away. It is a common adversity among My House My Life communities, usually located far from the city and its urban infrastructure and services.

A roof with solar panels and transformers installed on a neighboring building. This equipment is going to waste since the small power plant was shut down in 2016. Brazilian restrictions on distributed or community generation make its restoration difficult. Credit: Mario Osava / IPS

Solar roofs

Complaints against photovoltaic panels are also widespread, assured Martins. “Many complain of holes in the roof and blame them on the panels, others want them removed,” he said.

“Since the panels were installed I’ve had leaks in the roof, draining down the walls. Then they spread to one room and the corridor, then to two rooms. My husband plugged them with cement. We have already lost a bed and a closet,” explained Josenilda dos Santos, 37 and with five children.

She remembers having received income from electricity only for three months, 280 reais (about 120 dollars at the time) the first time and only 3 per cent of that the last time. “I will take all of them off, since they are useless, they only heat the rooms,” she concluded.

“The sun, like water, is a common wealth, but only capital appropriates it. Solar roofs for decentralized electricity generation can generate income for the population and reduce poverty, especially in the countryside,” according to Roberto Malvezzi, a local activist with the Catholic Pastoral Land Commission.

The failure of the My House My Life pilot project hinders a promising path, in addition to wasting 9,144 panels already installed on the roofs.

Following the French parliament's surprise dissolution announced by President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday [9 June], political manoeuvering has already started to form coalitions that could win the upcoming legislative election.

Spain’s deputy prime minister and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, announced this Monday that she was leaving the leadership of the left-wing Sumar platform, a junior partner of the Socialist Party (PSOE/S&D) in the executive, after the very poor result in Sunday’s European elections, although she continues in her position as minister.

(B2) Oubliés le discours de la Sorbonne, les cérémonies du 6 juin, les grands et beaux discours, le président français apparait aujourd’hui largement affaibli. Non seulement en France, mais aussi dans les couloirs européens. En cause, sa propre décision de dissoudre l’Assemblée nationale.

Une décision incompréhensible…

Quand il arrivera à la réunion des leaders au G7 dans les Pouilles, le 13 juin, puis au Conseil européen, le 17 juin, l’accueil que recevra Emmanuel Macron ne sera sûrement plus le même qu’avant le 9 juin. La France restant la France, il sera reçu avec élégance. Mais pour l’influence, c’est autre chose. Le président français aura fort à faire pour convaincre de la pertinence de son choix de dissoudre l’Assemblée nationale. Décision jugée inconséquente pour l’équilibre européen et surtout incompréhensible !

… que rien ne justifiait

Le résultat de la liste Renaissance (14%) est certes très mauvais : deux fois moins que le Rassemblement national et à quasi-égalité avec la liste du PS (envoyant le même nombre de députés au Parlement européen : 13 élus). Mais ce résultat était attendu et, d’une certaine manière, anticipé. Ce n’est pas la première fois qu’un parti de gouvernement boit la tasse dans un vote européen (élection ou référendum). Cela n’a jamais entraîné une telle crise politique. D’autant que les centristes français gardent un poids notable dans leur groupe (la première délégation) et comptent nombre de personnalités bien au fait des dossiers (N. Loiseau, P. Canfin, C. Grudler, etc.) qui permettront de compenser un effectif plus faible.

… transformée en crise politique majeure

En dissolvant l’Assemblée nationale, le président se tire une balle dans le pied. Il ouvre une période d’incertitude. Ce que la plupart des Européens détestent. Nul ne sait si la France sera gouvernable demain, quel sera le profil de la future assemblée, et donc du futur gouvernement. Ou plutôt chacun pressent que cette assemblée pourrait très bien être bleue foncée à l’image du Rassemblement national. Jamais le parti d’extrême-droite n’ayant été aussi proche du pouvoir. Nul ne peut prédire ce que sera l’avenir après le 7 juillet. Macron jouera-t-il le jeu de la cohabitation ou préférera-t-il remettre en jeu son mandat de président ? et démissionner ?

Une faiblesse européenne

De manière quasi-automatique, le poids de la France va être réduit. A la fois pour des raisons psychologiques et politiques. Comment faire confiance à un président qui pourrait ne plus être en position de décider le lendemain, qui est démonétisé en quelque sorte. D’autant qu’Emmanuel Macron a commis une erreur politique notable. Trop confiant dans son aura, il a mené une campagne quasi-publique contre le renouvellement de Ursula von der Leyen, par presse interposée ou via le commissaire européen (1). Or l’Allemande — dont le parti, le PPE, a gagné quelques sièges — est bien partie aujourd’hui pour trouver les voix nécessaires au Parlement européen à sa reconduction. Et aucun candidat alternatif ne se présente vraiment.

Malheur au vaincu

Cramé, Thierry Breton va pouvoir faire ses valises (2). Un nouveau nom devra être proposé par Paris : un homme ou une femme (3). Mais quelle que soit la personnalité, au sein du futur exécutif européen, la France ne sera pas assurée de récupérer un portfolio aussi majeur (marché intérieur, électronique, défense et services) que celui détenu depuis 2019. Il va falloir choisir de façon subtile le bon secteur. D’autres pays, tels l’Italie ou la Pologne notamment, sont à la recherche d’une place plus importante.

Double solitude à Bruxelles

Cette bataille perdue se double d’un certain isolement au Conseil européen. Le Français avait déjà perdu la compagnie de son ami  luxembourgeois Xavier Bettel, il va perdre celles du Néerlandais Mark Rutte comme du Belge Alexander De Croo, sévèrement étrillé lors des élections belges et qui a présenté sa démission au Roi. Les « trois mousquetaires » libéraux sortis, la majorité au Conseil européen bascule au profit des conservateurs ou souverainistes devenus, après les démocrates-chrétiens, le second groupe en importance (lire : [Fiche-Mémo] Un Conseil européen à droite toute).

Un suicide politique ?

Autant dire que, dans un panorama déjà compliqué, l’annonce de la dissolution — qui apparait surtout guidée par une blessure d’amour-propre mal digérée — s’apparente à une faute, qui pourrait affaiblir durablement la position française. Effacées les belles propositions du discours de la Sorbonne et autres déclarations des cérémonies du débarquement aux côtés de l’Américain Joe Biden ou de l’Ukrainien Volodymyr Zelensky. Ce véritable coup de poker, sauf réussite peu évidente, pourrait apparaitre alors comme un véritable suicide politique.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

1. Jamais en retard d’adresser une pique, par média interposé à la présidente de la Commission, Thierry Breton l’avait ouvertement critiqué, en mars dernier, sur twitter : « Est-il possible de (re)confier la gestion de l’Europe au PPE pour 5 ans de plus, soit 25 ans d’affilée? (quand) le PPE lui-même ne semble pas croire en sa candidate ». La presse a aussi été mobilisée par l’Élysée pour indiquer combien il serait difficile à l’Allemande d’avoir une majorité au Parlement ou imposer une alternative type Mario Draghi.
2. On voit mal en effet von der Leyen s’accommoder, à nouveau, durant cinq ans, de cette compagnie.
3. Par Emmanuel Macron ou encore avec le nouveau gouvernement issu des urnes.

French President Emmanuel Macron's surprise announcement on Sunday evening (June 9) that he was dissolving the National Assembly and calling early parliamentary elections has put a halt to debates on the long-awaited end-of-life bill.   

The European Commission opened a new foreign subsidies investigation into a commercial acquisition that would see UAE state-owned Emirates Telecommunications Group Company (e&), be in 'sole control' of the European telecom operator PPF Telecom, according to a press release.

Citizens in the EU Member States will elect their representatives to the European Parliament during the European elections of 6 to 9 June. The newly elected Members, representing EU citizens until 2029, will meet in July to elect their President, Vice-Presidents and Quaestors. They will decide on the composition of Parliament's standing and sub committees - thereby launching the new legislative term. The committees will then hold their first meetings to elect their respective Chairs and Vice-Chairs.
European Elections 2024 website
European Elections News
Fact Sheet: Electoral procedures for the European Parliament
AFET-SEDE-DROI calendar of meetings 2024
Meeting documents
Webstreaming
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Parmi les 4 500 espèces de cafards, la blatte germanique est la plus répandue sur la quasi-totalité de la planète.

Very popular in social networks close to the Spanish far-right, Luis “Alvise” Pérez achieved on Sunday’s European elections what polls had predicted and his “ultra” formation Se acabó la fiesta (The party is over) made history entering the European Parliament with three MPs, deploying a disruptive speech that has captivated 800.000 voters outraged by politics.

The announcement by President Emmanuel Macron that he is dissolving the National Assembly and calling snap elections caught me (and the rest of the world, probably) by surprise just two minutes before I went live on TV on Sunday night.

Az új Európai Parlamentre vonatkozó frissített mandátumbecslés 26 ország végleges, illetve előzetes eredményei, valamint egy tagállam választások előtti adatai alapján (11.38 órakor).

Forrás : © Európai Unió, 2024 - EP

Updated projection for the composition of the new Parliament based on final and provisional results in 26 countries and pre-electoral data for one (as of 11.38).

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Updated projection for the composition of the new Parliament based on final and provisional results in 26 countries and pre-electoral data for one (as of 11.38).

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Updated projection for the composition of the new Parliament based on final and provisional results in 26 countries and pre-electoral data for one (as of 11.38).

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The results of the European Parliament elections suggest a shift towards the center-right, but it is too early to determine if there will be a second term for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Monday (10 June) morning.

Mavsuma M. Muini, deputy chairperson of the Majlisi Namoyandagon Majlisi Oli (Parliament) of the Republic of Tajikistan.

By IPS Correspondent
Jun 10 2024 (IPS)

It’s been 30 years since the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD30) was adopted in Cairo, transforming policy and thinking on population and development issues.

During this crucial year, parliamentarians are participating in the 30-year review, recognizing that while there has been significant progress, this is threatened by multifaceted crises, including the backsliding on the rights and choices of women and girls and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regional parliamentarians are gathering this week on the sidelines of the Third Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference in the Republic of Tajikistan.

On the agenda are topics related to demographic shifts, gender equality, young people’s empowerment, water scarcity and climate change, which will form a milestone on the way to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku in November 2024.

Ahead of the meeting, IPS interviewed Mavsuma M. Muini, deputy chairperson of the Majlisi Namoyandagon Majlisi Oli (Parliament) of the Republic of Tajikistan.

IPS: What role do people see for addressing climate change and ensuring that water scarcity is not exacerbated?

Mavsuma M. Muini: The Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) provides a good basis for multilateral cooperation across the entire spectrum of population issues. Adopted in Cairo in 1994, the document remains relevant and appropriate in the context of contemporary demographic processes.

With the adoption of the ICPD Programme of Action, governments set an ambitious agenda for achieving inclusive, equitable and sustainable global development and contributed to significant improvements in gender equality and women’s empowerment, poverty reduction, increased access to health and education, and environmental sustainability. The ICPD Program of Action was a landmark in the history of human rights, women’s empowerment and sustainable development.

Based on the ICPD agenda, we must now mobilize our supporters and our governments to implement the strategies, principles, goals, and targets identified in the Programme of Action related to demographics, climate change, water and food security, and increased access to renewable energy. More concrete and inclusive climate solutions must be accelerated and scaled up to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Environmental challenges, such as global climate change, which is largely driven by unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, are exacerbating threats to the well-being of future generations.  This situation is exacerbated by increasing and recurrent extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, which are straining our ecosystems and having catastrophic consequences for global food security.

In view of the above, the water initiatives of the Republic of Tajikistan, supported by the UN General Assembly, including the declaration of 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater, 2005–2015 as the International Decade of Action “Water for Life,”  2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation, and 2018–2028 as the International Decade of Action “Water for Sustainable Development,”  have strengthened the understanding of the world community of the need to move from the discussions on the expression of water for sustainable development. The International Decade of Action “Water for Life,” the 2013 International Year of Water Cooperation and the International Decade of Action “Water for Sustainable Development,”  2018-2028, strengthened the understanding of the world community’s need to move from discussions, expression of intentions and declaration of commitments to the implementation of practical measures. This is a new strategic goal of the international community for the sake of life and humanity.

Speaking at the World Water Forum in Istanbul, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rakhmon, proposed adapting fundamental international legal documents in the field of water resources management, taking into account modern requirements and challenges. He also took the initiative to declare 2012 the International Year of Water Diplomacy to strengthen cooperation in the settlement of water relations.

The solution to water problems on a global scale is becoming more complicated due to climate change, which is becoming increasingly evident in all regions of the globe. Recognizing climate change as the main challenge to water resources, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan proposed to declare 2025 the International Year of Glacier Conservation, as well as to define World Glacier Conservation Day and establish a special Trust Fund under the UN to promote glacier conservation.

On December 14, 2022, the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on declaring 2025 the International Year of Glacier Conservation, proposed by the Republic of Tajikistan. It is unique in its essence, as it simultaneously declares both the International Day and the International Year of Glacier Conservation. All these efforts of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, respected Emomali Rahmon, are characterized by the desire to attract more attention from the world community to solving water issues and improving water cooperation.

IPS: As parliamentarians responsible for the legislative framework and financial resources for the ICPD POA, what key messages would you like to take to the Summit of the Future regarding reproductive health rights and women’s empowerment for the region?

Muini: The commitment of parliamentarians is vital as a bridge between the people and the government in creating support and an enabling environment to accelerate and implement the SDGs to increase gender equality and violence development.

Tajikistan, having endorsed the ICPD Programme of Action, adopted it as a framework for achieving national development priorities and implemented several policies and strategic and practical measures to ensure human rights and equality, which are fundamental to the country’s development. The Government of Tajikistan has identified reproductive health as a key priority of health reform and reproductive health-oriented measures as priorities of the National Development Strategy 2030 and SDGs.

It is significant that in order to implement the ICPD Program of Action in Tajikistan, a National Council on Population and Development was established, which brought together the efforts of the Parliament, the Government and civil society to develop and implement legislative acts, set and solve joint tasks and jointly monitor the implementation of legislation on population and development. It is clear that the development challenges facing the global community require the systematic involvement of all stakeholders in developing responses.

A world where everyone can live their lives with greater dignity is within reach. We must ensure that people’s rights and choices remain central to ensuring a sustainable future in a demographically diverse world. Parliamentarians must therefore focus their efforts in tandem with UNFPA, AFPPD and other regional or international partners to protect people’s rights and needs, reproductive health rights and women’s empowerment by improving or introducing more effective laws.

The legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan guarantees young people’s access to health care, reproductive health and family planning services, and training in healthy lifestyles.

We are fully committed to the continued implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and call for the inclusion of the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General and the results of the regional reviews in the 2030 Development Agenda.

IPS: While there is a perception that the world is far behind the projected outcomes of the ICPD, there are successes to celebrate. The conference has planned a session about how parliamentarians have contributed to adopting laws and policies addressing inequalities, positioning population dynamics in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and empowering women and young people. Could you please share some of these?

Muini: In April 2019, UN Member States at the UN Commission on Population and Development adopted a Political Declaration calling for the full, effective and accelerated implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This provided the political impetus for governments and all other relevant partners to come together, celebrate the adoption of the ICPD Programme of Action and celebrate its success in advancing rights and choices for all.

Our countries have made some progress towards achieving the goals of the International Conference on Population and Development, but concrete measures still need to be taken to fully implement the program. This requires, inter alia, systematically integrating population dynamics into national and international strategies and policies, reflecting such factors as population ageing and declining fertility, climate change, natural disasters, conflict and displacement, the reversal of the HIV pandemic, and comprehensively addressing international migration in the context of the ICPD.

In this regard, we reaffirm our commitment to the ICPD Programme of Action, recognizing that its implementation is essential for countries to eliminate social and economic inequalities, improve the lives of all their peoples, ensure the health and rights of women, men, girls and boys, including sexual and reproductive rights and health, promote gender equality and women’s health, create an environment in which all people can live in dignity, protect the environment, and protect the rights of women, men, girls and boys. We also reaffirm the commitments made at earlier ICPDs and emphasize our willingness to act with a sense of urgency.

We believe that progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the next steps in accelerating action to achieve the three transformative results by 2030 can only be achieved with an increased focus on protecting and promoting the rights and inclusive participation of women, adolescents and youth.

Note: The UNFPA, the Japan Trust Fund, the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) and the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) supported this workshop.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');  

Le président français Emmanuel Macron a appelé dimanche 9 juin à des élections législatives anticipées à la fin du mois, suite à la large victoire du parti de sa rivale, Marine Le Pen, lors du vote au Parlement européen.