Feed aggregator

565435 Volunteers with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek (POiB) team, accompanied by Ambassador Alexey Rogov, Head of the OSCE POiB, at the Youth Tree Planting, Batken, 23 March 2024. Chyngyz Zhanybekov Aida Almazbekova

BISHKEK, 23 March 2024 - Youth of Kyrgyzstan planted more than 1000 seedlings of Virginia juniper and 555 seedlings of rose hips in the Batken region, thereby launching the traditional Youth Tree Planting campaign across the country.

The "Jashyl Muras" national campaign seeks to enhance environmental awareness among youth, safeguard and enrich Kyrgyzstan's natural heritage, and broaden the youth volunteer environmental movement. It was initiated by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, in March 2022. 

Within this campaign, environmental activists will gradually visit every region of the country to rally youth in planting over 1,000 seedlings per region. Through the collective efforts of the youth, the goal is to plant over 7,000 seedlings nationwide.

“Promoting the development of the Batken region is among the top priorities of the OSCE, and we are especially proud of the opportunity to support its youth in the fight against global warming,” emphasized Ambassador Alexey Rogov, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek is commited to advancing environmental security and protection. In collaboration with our partners, we view this initiative as a driving force in uniting youth to combat the pressing global issue of climate change.

The event was organized by the NGO “Students of Kyrgyzstan for a Green Economy” together with the Forest Service under the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Information, and Youth Policy, with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, GIZ in Kyrgyzstan, and the National Red Crescent Society of Kyrgyzstan.

L'intervention il y a un mois de Judith Butler n'en finit donc pas de produire du remous. Judith Butler a dit « résistance » — et pu mesurer ce qui s'en est suivi. Arié Alimi lui rétorque « éthique de la résistance ». On a compris le fond de l'affaire : il va s'agir de juger — donc de condamner. C'est à ça que servait « terrorisme » : à produire de la condamnation, dont l'unique fonction est que rien ne puisse être ajouté derrière elle. Mais « terrorisme » c'est du niveau de Macron, BHL ou Léa Salamé. Entre intellectuels, on passera donc par l'éthique et la philosophie morale.

- La pompe à phynance / Idées, Palestine (Gaza), Israël

565462 Željka Šulc

From 26 to 29 March 2024, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) organized a study visit to the Central Election Commission of Georgia for representatives of the BiH Central Election Commission (CEC), the BiH Agency for the Protection of Personal Data, the BiH Agency for Identification Documents, the Records and Data Exchange as well as the BiH Parliamentary Assembly. This visit provides insights into the application of election technologies and electoral processes.

Giorgi Kalandarishvili, Central Election Commission of Georgia Chairperson, emphasized the significant international interest surrounding Georgia’s Election Administration operations and the utilization of technological advancements. "I am pleased to announce that, under the auspices of the OSCE Mission, we are currently hosting a delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina. This presents an opportunity for us to impart our insights into Election Administration practices, particularly concerning the integration of technology, and other relevant electoral matters."

“The study visit to Georgia is being undertaken at a crucial moment for Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is because the experiences and lessons learned from a country that has implemented as many as 8 pilot projects are essential at this juncture, particularly as Bosnia and Herzegovina embarks on significant reforms regarding the piloting of election technologies. We are grateful to the OSCE Mission to BiH for facilitating the transfer of Georgia's experience to the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Irena Hadžiabdić, President of the BiH Central Election Commission.

The study visits to the Central Electoral Commission of Georgia featured presentations on experiences by electoral implementation bodies and other institutions involved in the political/legislative processes preceding the pilot project implementation. Topics included procurement modalities, staff training, data transfer, cyber security, and other issues pertaining to the introduction of election technologies

“As we navigate the complexities of electoral processes, it is imperative that we remain open to learning from the experiences of others, and Georgia certainly has a lot of experience with election technologies to share. By actively learning and adapting, we can strengthen our endeavours towards electoral reform” said Ahmed Rifatbegović, National Political Officer at the OSCE Mission to BiH. “Addressing electoral fraud and corruption is essential to rebuilding trust in the electoral process and governmental institutions, marking a crucial step towards restoring public confidence.”

The study visit also resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between CEC BiH and CEC Georgia, as well as for discussing the modalities of further cooperation between the two election management bodies.

This study visit is part of the OSCE Mission to BiH's broader project, "Improving the Integrity of Electoral Processes in 2024 and 2026 in accordance with the recommendations of the ODIHR and international standards." This project is implemented with the support of the Governments of the Germany, Kingdom of Norway, United Kingdom, and USA.

Les électeurs d’Emmanuel Macron qui basculent vers Raphaël Glucksmann pour les Européennes le font pour des enjeux nationaux, à l’inverse de ceux de Jean-Luc Mélenchon qui choisissent le candidat du PS pour des questions internationales.

Die am DIW Berlin angesiedelte forschungsbasierte Infrastruktureinrichtung Sozio-oekonomische Panel (SOEP) ist eine der größten und am längsten laufenden multidisziplinären Panelstudien weltweit, für die derzeit jährlich etwa 30.000 Menschen in knapp 15.000 Haushalten befragt werden. Das SOEP hat den Anspruch den gesellschaftlichen Wandel zu erfassen und steht somit immer neuen und vielfältigen Themen- und Aufgabenfelder gegenüber. Seine Datenerhebung und -generierung folgt dem Konzept des Survey bzw. Data Life Cycle.

Vorbehaltlich der Finanzierungszusage durch den Drittmittelgeber suchen wir zum 01.06.2024 eine*n  

Wissenschaftler*in (w/m/div) (Teilzeit mit 75%)

Diese Stelle ist zur wissenschaftlichen Qualifizierung gemäß § 2 (1) WissZeitVG geeignet.

Rumänien hat in den letzten Jahren nicht wie andere EU-Staaten Maßnahmen zur Senkung des Energieverbrauchs ergriffen. Die Begründung dafür sei nicht überzeugend, so Energia Inteligentă, ein rumänischer Fachverband für Energie.

Die Kandidatur von EU-Justizkommissar Didier Reynders für das Amt des Europarat-Generalsekretärs stellt Spanien vor Probleme. Reynders wird damit als zentraler Vermittler zwischen Regierung und Opposition in der langjährigen Kontroverse um den Generalrat der Justiz (CGPJ) fehlen.

Pour la première fois depuis que le Hamas a attaqué le sud d'Israël le 7 octobre, provoquant une guerre à Gaza, le Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies (CSNU) a adopté une résolution appelant à un cessez-le-feu immédiat entre les deux parties.

Der französische Multi-Energiekonzern TotalEnergies zieht sich aus der Öl- und Gaserschließung im potenziellen Khan-Asparuh-Feld in den nordbulgarischen Gewässern des Schwarzen Meeres zurück. Damit überlässt der Konzern seinem rumänischen Projektpartner das Feld.

Pour la première fois depuis que le Hamas a attaqué le sud d'Israël le 7 octobre, provoquant une guerre à Gaza, le Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies (CSNU) a adopté une résolution appelant à un cessez-le-feu immédiat entre les deux parties.

Laut dem jüngsten Bericht der EU-Kommission wird die polnische Staatsverschuldung bis 2034 auf fast 80 Prozent des Bruttoinlandsprodukts ansteigen. Der Ökonom Jakub Sawulki hält diese Einschätzung für pessimistisch, dennoch warnt er, dass die aktuellen Trends auf eine explodierende Staatsverschuldung hindeuten.

Bayerns Ministerpräsident Markus Söder bricht bei seiner China-Tour mit der Linie der Europäischen Volkspartei (EVP), zu der auch die CSU gehört. Am Mittwoch sprach er sich gegen EU-Zölle auf chinesische Waren aus und kritisierte auch die Franzosen.

By restoring the ponds, the community at Patqapara Village, a small hamlet in India's West Bengal State, was able to save their village and livelihoods. Credit: Umar Manzoor Shah/IPS

By Umar Manzoor Shah
PATQAPARA VILLAGE, India, Mar 28 2024 (IPS)

The people of Patqapara Village, a hamlet in India’s West Bengal State, were until recently reeling under absolute distress due to water scarcity. The lack of irrigation facilities in this far-flung and inaccessible hamlet had resulted in a steady decline in agricultural activities.

With a population of around 7,000, as per government estimates, the village primarily depends on agriculture for its livelihood. However, in recent years, drastic changes in weather patterns, including unseasonal rainfall, delayed monsoons, and soaring temperatures above normal levels, led to the drying up of irrigation canals and wells in the village. This left the local population in chaos, as their cultivable fields were bereft of any irrigation facilities.

According to the latest report from the Center for Science and Environment (CSE) on India’s state of the environment in 2023, West Bengal has experienced a significant escalation in the severity of climate change within a short span of one year. The report, released on the eve of World Environment Day in June last year, draws attention to the alarming increase in extreme weather events in Bengal. So far, since 2023, the state has already experienced 24 such events, a stark contrast to the total of 10 events recorded throughout the entire year of 2022.

Furthermore, the report highlights that in 2022, India encountered a staggering 314 extreme weather events out of 365 days, resulting in the loss of over 3,026 lives and damage to 1.96 million hectares of crops. While heatwaves predominated in early 2022, hailstorms have taken precedence as the predominant extreme weather event in 2023.

Babu Ram, a local villager, along with his wife, was contemplating leaving the village and moving to the city to search for menial work for sustenance.

“The irrigation canals used to provide us with livelihood. Besides watering our fields, we used to catch fish from there and sell it in the market, earning a living. But the weather changed everything. No, no—it actually dried everything up,” Ram told IPS.

Teams of workers from the village eagerly participated in the restoration of the ponds. Credit: Umar Manzoor Shah/IPS

Sanjoy Kumar, another farmer, says the water scarcity in the village had taken such a toll that it was feared that people would die due to hunger.

“Our crops failed and our fields became barren. We had no option but to migrate and leave our homes behind. I even worked as a daily wage laborer in the city at a private firm. The wages were meager and the living was getting wretched with each passing day,” Kumar told IPS News.

However, it was last year when the villagers mooted an idea to overcome water scarcity in their hamlet. Extensive deliberations were held between the villagers and local headmen, also known as ‘Panchs’ in the local language.

Through these discussions, a proposal to restore the village’s ponds emerged.

“The irrigation facilities were minimal. In the past, there used to be ponds in almost all major areas of the village, but they were left unutilized as the villagers were unaware of their benefits. Our proposal was to restore these ponds,” explained Babu Sarkar, a senior member of Caritas, a non-government organization that helped the villagers in the restoration of the ponds.

The agency, along with local villagers, identified 30 villagers who were tasked with working two hours every day on a rotational basis for the restoration of these abandoned ponds. Understanding the benefits of this initiative, the villagers formed several groups and enthusiastically undertook the task at hand. They identified and rehabilitated an estimated 15 ponds that had been abandoned, dried up, and forgotten.

Through their tireless efforts, the villagers cleared dust, dirt, and debris from the ponds, allowing water levels to increase and hopes to soar among the once-perturbed villagers.

“Soon, with the arrival of monsoons, rainwater was harvested in these ponds, bringing them back to life. Not only is the project now irrigating local crops, but the villagers are also developing fish farms in them,” Sarkar told IPS News.

Jadhav Prakash, a local farmer, is now involved in fish farming due to these restored ponds and earns a good living.

“I earn about 3 thousand rupees (30 USD) a month by selling fish. Other villagers are also benefiting from the restoration of ponds,” Prakash said.

Sunjoy Kumar, who had left the village, returned to his village earlier this year, hopeful that the fields would never be bereft of water and the lands wouldn’t turn barren again. “I am sowing the crops again with the eager hope that I will never face the hardships again. This is my land and my world. I do not want to go back to the city and face hardships there. I want to live here and work here,” Kumar told IPS.

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');   Related Articles

• Snowless Winter and a Climate Crisis: Kashmir’s ‘Unprecedented’ Weather
• What’s in Store for Indian Farmers After Cop 28’s Conclusion in Dubai?
• Charting Out a Sustainable Path for Island, Coastal Communities Facing Climate Crisis

Tschechien hat am Mittwoch (27. März) gegen die EU-Nachrichtenseite voiceofeurope.com durchgegriffen und zwei damit in Verbindung stehende Person sanktioniert. Das Portal soll eine Front für prorussische Einflussoperationen sein. 

Bei den Grünen knallen die Korken: Das umstrittene europäische Gentechnik-Gesetz muss verschoben werden, denn in dieser Legislaturperiode ist dafür nicht mehr genug Zeit.

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, speaks to the BBC.

Einige italienische Parteien links der Mitte um den ehemaligen Ministerpräsidenten Matteo Renzi (Italia Viva, Renew) werden ihre Kräfte bei den Europawahlen bündeln und gemeinsam antreten. Laut Renzi will man dies mit einer dezidiert pro-europäischen Botschaft tun. 

La Slovénie a raté l'opportunité de légiférer sur la fin de vie. Mais la majorité de centre-gauche a préféré se cacher derrière son petit doigt, invoquant un sujet clivant. Aujourd'hui, c'est tout juste si le pays envisage un référendum consultatif, non contraignant.

- Articles / Slovénie, Santé, Société, Politique intérieure, Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso

Aujourd’hui dans L’Expresso : les sociaux-démocrates allemands se divisent sur l'Ukraine, liste italienne « États-Unis d’Europe », Total en Bulgarie, projet de loi numérique et bien-être animal au Conseil.