What Defines You?
Saania's diary - reflections, learnings, sparkles
As we go through our lives, we get to discover ourselves. Sometimes, however, we see people around us who “seem” better than us, and we start to question our very selves. We see someone who is smart and think we aren’t smart enough. We see someone who is pretty and we think we aren’t beautiful enough. I have often been around a group of people where sometimes, I would feel like I’m not as gorgeous as them. Or sometimes, I would think “oh my word I’m so dumb!”. But then I asked myself, what really defines us?
I think embracing our individuality is the bravest thing we can ever do. To gather every ounce of courage to accept ourselves for who we are when we live in a society that is burdened with labels and opinions. Lizzie Velasquez, a motivational speaker, was 17 when she stumbled upon a video about…
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A Arte do Greenwashing – “Lavagem verde” por Mercadores de Luxo e Morte da Natureza e Povos Indígenas … em suas próprias palavras … – O Povo das Mercadorias de Ouro e Diamante – atualizado – The Art of Greenwashing – “Green washing” by Luxury Merchants and Death of Nature and Indigenous Peoples… in their own words… – The People of Gold and Diamond Merchandise – updated| Barbara Crane Navarro
Coconut with Ice Cream – PeoPlaid
Day In My Eyes
Sweet and chaste White mist of dawn Tinseled dew glaze Blades of grass.. The day comes undone A pastel embraced rush Beguiling farewell to The silence of sleep. Midnight stars lull To the sun-struck lilts of birds Chrysanthemum clouds offer the moon A ride home.. On lyrical wings, gossamer. A floral wind takes shape In the green of leaves Air fills with breath of flowers I breathe into my dreams Feeling the unfolding of my soul I see your face draped by smiles Your smile warmer than the morning sun.
Myanmar military coup draws condemnation from around the world
The United States led governments around the world in calling for the restoration of #Myanmar’s democracy on Monday after the military staged a #coup, arresting civilian leader Aung San #SuuKyi and other politicians.
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Myanmar Coup Sends ‘Chilling Message that Military won’t Tolerate Dissent’

Myanmar’s military has sized control of government and reportedly detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, senior members of her governing National League for Democracy (NLD) as well as human rights activists and student leaders. Courtesy: Yves Alarie on Unsplash
By Nalisha Adams
BONN, Germany, Feb 1 2021 (IPS)
Responding to reports this morning that Myanmar’s military has sized control of government in a coup on the eve of the country’s opening session of its new parliament, rights group Amnesty International said it “sends a chilling message that the military authorities will not tolerate any dissent amid today’s unfolding events”.
Civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, senior members of her governing National League for Democracy (NLD) as well as human rights activists and student leaders were reportedly detained this morning, Feb. 1. The BBC reported military “was handing power to commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing because of “election fraud”” and that soldiers were “on the streets of the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, and the main city, Yangon”.
Amnesty International said in a statement today that phone lines and the internet have been cut in some areas, further stating, “the military-owned television station announced that a one-year state of emergency was being imposed under the authority of the Commander in Chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing”.
The President of the European Council Charles Michel condemned the coup in a tweet this morning.
I strongly condemn the coup in #Myanmar and call on the military to release all who have been unlawfully detained in raids across the country.
The outcome of the elections has to be respected and democratic process needs to be restored.
— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) February 1, 2021
As did the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
I condemn the coup and unlawful imprisonment of civilians, including Aung San Suu Kyi, in Myanmar. The vote of the people must be respected and civilian leaders released.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 1, 2021
A statement from White House spokesperson Jen Psaki read the United States was alarmed by the reports of the coup and subsequent arrest of Suu Kyi and civilian officials. “The United States opposes any attempt to alter the outcome of recent elections or impede Myanmar’s democratic transition, and will take action against those responsible if these steps are not reversed,” the statement read.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the coup and called for Suu Kyi’s release as well as that of other leaders and government officials.
Guterres expressed “grave concern regarding the declaration of the transfer of all legislative, executive and judicial powers to the military. These developments represent a serious blow to democratic reforms in Myanmar”, a statement said.
Myanmar’s Nov. 8 election, which was won by Suu Kyi’s NLD which increased its parliamentary majority — taking 396 of the 498 seats — had been disputed by the military. The Rohingya population had been excluded from participating in the vote.
Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Campaigns, Ming Yu Hah, called it “an ominous moment for people in Myanmar”, stating it threatened “a severe worsening of military repression and impunity. The concurrent arrests of prominent political activists and human rights defenders sends a chilling message that the military authorities will not tolerate any dissent amid today’s unfolding events” he said in a statement.
“Previous military coups and crackdowns in Myanmar have seen large scale violence and extrajudicial killings by security forces. We urge the armed forces to exercise restraint, abide by international human rights and humanitarian law and for law enforcement duties to be fully resumed by the police force at the earliest opportunity,” Hah said.
Concern remains about the safety of the Rohingya, an ethnic minority in the mostly Buddhist country.
The Rohingya have long been persecuted by the military and according to an October report by Human Rights Watch, “have faced decades of systematic repression, discrimination, and violence under successive Myanmar governments”.
According to the UN Refugee Agency, a million Rohingya refugees have fled violence in Myanmar since the 1990s. However, in August 2017 when violence broke out in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, more than 700,000 Rohingya fled to neighbouring Bangladesh.
In November, The Gambia brought a case against Myanmar to the UN’s International Court of Justice, arguing that the mainly-Muslim Rohingya had been subjected to genocide. Suu Kyi had downplayed the allegations of genocide and serious human rights violations.
Last month, Jan. 23, the ICJ ruled that Myanmar must take steps to protect its minority Rohingya population. ICJ’s orders are binding against Myanmar.
But as late as last November, Amnesty International reported it had “documented a litany of serious human rights crimes in Rakhine, Chin, Kachin and northern Shan States in recent years, including attacks killing or injuring civilians, extra-judicial executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture and other ill-treatment, forced labour, looting and confiscation of property”.
Amnesty International’s Hah said today, “Reports of a telecommunications blackout pose a further threat to the population at such a volatile time – especially as Myanmar battles a pandemic, and as internal conflict against armed groups puts civilians at risk in several parts of the country. It is vital that full phone and internet services be resumed immediately.”
The post Myanmar Coup Sends ‘Chilling Message that Military won’t Tolerate Dissent’ appeared first on Inter Press Service.
Myanmar coup: Germany condemns army takeover

The international community has criticized Monday’s coup in Myanmar, urging the army to release all political leaders. Germany said the military’s actions “jeopardize progress made so far towards democratic change.”
Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi urges people to reject ‘dictatorship’ after military declares control

After being detained in an early morning military coup, the leader of Myanmar’s democratically elected ruling party urges “people not to accept this, to respond and wholeheartedly to protest against the coup by the military”.
Estonia’s first female prime minister vows to tackle climate crisis

Kaja Kallas, 43, took power on Tuesday after the previous coalition collapsed due to a corruption scandal
Estonia’s first female prime minister has promised to implement changes in both style and substance in the governance of the Baltic nation, as she takes charge after two years in which a far-right party was in the ruling coalition.
Kaja Kallas, a 43-year-old lawyer and head of Estonia’s Reform party, was sworn into office on Tuesday.
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