Japan grants visas to 300 Myanmar nationals amid political unrest

Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa said Tuesday Japan has granted an extension of visas for about 300 Myanmar nationals in Japan as an emergency measure amid political unrest following a military coup.

They include Pyae Lyan Aung, a goalkeeper in the Myanmar national soccer team who refused to return home with his teammates last month.

Source: Japan grants visas to 300 Myanmar nationals amid political unrest

Japan eyes 5,000-spectator cap for Tokyo Olympics

Japan plans to lower the spectator cap at the Tokyo Olympics to 5,000 per venue and may hold a fresh lottery for ticket holders if the ongoing COVID-19 quasi-state of emergency in the capital is extended due to a recent rebound in infections, officials familiar with the matter said Tuesday.

Organizers are also expected to stage all sessions after 9 p.m. without general spectators, including the opening and closing ceremonies at the National Stadium, according to the officials.

Amid emerging signs of a new wave of infections in Tokyo, driven by highly contagious variants of the coronavirus, the Japanese government and other organizers have found it more difficult to stage the Olympics under the current spectator policy, which allows venues to be filled to 50 percent of capacity with a maximum of 10,000 people.

Source: Japan eyes 5,000-spectator cap for Tokyo Olympics

« L’argent ne nous protège pas… il ne crée pas notre joie. Pour les *Blancs, c’est différent. »

Barbara Crane Navarro

Maison Communale Yanomami, Alto Orinoco, Amazonas, Venezuela

«Les chamans Yanomami ne travaillent pas pour de l’argent comme le font les médecins des Blancs. Ils agissent simplement pour que le ciel et la forêt restent en place, afin que nous puissions chasser, planter nos jardins et vivre en bonne santé. Nos anciens ne connaissaient pas l’argent. … L’argent ne nous protège pas… il ne crée pas notre joie. Pour les Blancs, c’est différent. Ils ne savent pas rêver avec les esprits comme nous le faisons. Ils préfèrent ignorer que le travail des chamans consiste à protéger la terre, autant pour nous et nos enfants que pour eux et les leurs. »

  • Porte-parole et chaman Yanomami Davi Kopenawa

* Le chaman Yanomami cité fait référence à la destruction de la forêt tropicale et des vies indigènes depuis la “conquête des Amériques” par les Européens blancs (non indigènes) qui a commencé la dépossession…

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Are Brazil’s Amazon Policies ‘Crimes Against Humanity’? – The Wire Science —

Barbara Crane Navarro

Are Brazil’s Amazon Policies ‘Crimes Against Humanity’? – The Wire Science https://ift.tt/3h6fb9v Are Brazil’s Amazon Policies ‘Crimes Against Humanity’?The Wire Science Superforest via “deforestation” – Google Newshttps://ift.tt/2tI2HiE

Are Brazil’s Amazon Policies ‘Crimes Against Humanity’? – The Wire Science —

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Desmatamento e seca se somam em nova temporada de fogo na Amazônia — — Mágica Mistura✨

Barbara Crane Navarro

Há quase 5 mil quilômetros quadrados de área, quase quatro vezes o município de São Paulo, com vegetação derrubada e seca só esperando alguém chegar com o fogo. A estação seca de 2021 na Amazônia traz uma sobreposição de fatores que podem levar a um aumento na incidência do fogo. Uma nova análise feita por[…]…

Desmatamento e seca se somam em nova temporada de fogo na Amazônia — — Mágica Mistura✨

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JET and Coca-Cola remove over 1,000 pounds of garbage from Jamaican coastlines through Circular Seas cleanups

Petchary's Blog

The Old Hospital Park Beach in Montego Bay, St. James was abuzz with activity on the morning of Saturday July 3, 2021 as the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) hosted the final Circular Seas beach cleanup in collaboration with Coca-Cola Jamaica and Ocean Conservancy, supported by the Coca-Cola Foundation. 

Coca-Cola Brand Manager, Amoye Phillpotts- Brown, at the Palisadoes Go-Kart Track coastal cleanup on April 17, 2021. (Photo: JET)

“These cleanup activities are not only important for removing waste from the environment, but also for raising public awareness of poor solid waste management practices,” said Lauren Creary, JET Programme Director. Despite the threat of Hurricane Elsa, nearly 40 volunteers were able to collect over 30 large bags of garbage from the beach. “We are pleased with the turn out despite concerns that the activity would be cancelled due to inclement weather,” she continued.

This cleanup held at the Old Hospital Park Beach…

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Iceland’s four-day working week trials an ‘overwhelming success’, report finds – ABC News

Trials of a four-day working week in Iceland have been lauded an “overwhelming success”, with research revealing the initiative helped increase productivity, and led to an overall improvement in workers’ wellbeing.

The trials, run by Reykjavík City Council and the Icelandic government, were held between 2015 and 2019, and ultimately included more than 2,500 workers — or about one per cent of Iceland’s working population.

Source: Iceland’s four-day working week trials an ‘overwhelming success’, report finds – ABC News

A strictly security-focused approach to crime prevention is costly, ineffective and paves the way for human rights violations

Petchary's Blog

Just a couple of days ago, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said, frowning heavily as he spoke at the opening of a new police station in his own constituency of Olympic Gardens, Kingston:

There is no doubt that our use of States of Public Emergency has worked to reduce murders and shootings where ever they have been deployed. Of greater importance is that the public views the States of Emergency (SOEs) as effective in improving their safety and security.

We have to use exceptional powers to address this epidemic that we have of crime and violence.

There must never be a time when criminals feel that they are above the law. If advised, I am prepared to call a State of Public Emergency in Central Kingston to respond to those criminals who are putting the lives of innocent citizens at risk.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness touting the positive impact of “exceptional…

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