“They Defend Their Own Side:” NYPD Accused Of Protecting Violent Blue Lives Matter Marchers In Bay Ridge

An NYPD officer at the "Back the Blue" rally in Bay Ridge

Despite numerous assaults committed by the pro-cop group in clear view of police, just two people were arrested — both of them Black men protesting police brutality. [ more › ]

Coronavirus: Sailors around the world stranded because of COVID-19 pandemic | Business| Economy and finance news from a German perspective | DW | 13.07.2020

Estimates from the UN’s International Maritime Organization and surveys by the International Transport Workers’ Federation show that between “120,000 to 150,000 seafarers were still waiting to leave their jobs and go home,” said Schwiegershausen-Güth. She also pointed to “a similarly large number of sailors who are waiting at home to return to work on board the ships.”

A carousel slows down

The coronavirus crisis has slowed down a complicated carousel of personnel that has been working for years. More than 1.2 million sailors work on around 55,000 merchant ships worldwide and of these around 200,000 of them are replaced every month by fresh crews.

But this system no longer works because of different quarantine regulations in different places. Now, constantly changing visa regulations must be observed. In addition, there is often no possibility of traveling by plane.

 

Source: Coronavirus: Sailors around the world stranded because of COVID-19 pandemic | Business| Economy and finance news from a German perspective | DW | 13.07.2020

Texas Supreme Court denies Texas GOP’s appeal to hold in-person convention this week in Houston

The Texas Republican Convention in Fort Worth in 2012.

The Texas Republican Convention in Fort Worth in 2012.
Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune

The Texas Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by the Republican Party of Texas seeking to host its in-person convention this week in Houston. Justices also denied a similar petition spearheaded by other party officials and Houston activist Steve Hotze.

Monday’s news effectively kills the party’s chances of holding its in-person gathering as planned, which was set to begin July 16 at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center. As of Saturday, the State Republican Executive Committee, considered the party’s governing board, had reaffirmed the party’s commitment to proceeding with the event, which was expected to draw roughly 6,000 people.

Last week, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner directed the city’s legal department to work with Houston First Corp., the operator of the convention center, to review its contract with the party. The group later sent a letter to the party informing them that the event had been canceled. The party responded, saying it would sue Turner, the city of Houston and Houston First Corp., arguing that the gathering was protected under both the Texas and U.S. Constitutions and should be allowed to continue as planned. A Harris County judge denied a request by the party that would have let them proceed with the convention, and, soon after, the party said it would file an appeal to the Texas Supreme Court.

As the back and forth has ensued, party officials have said repeatedly that they have a contingency plan to host the event virtually.

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School shark, sold as ‘flake’ in Australian fish and chip shops, listed overseas as critically endangered

Earn your dollars differently, fools!

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Species classed as ‘conservation dependent’ under national laws so can be commercially traded despite suffering 90% drop in numbers

A shark routinely sold in Australian fish shops has been listed as critically endangered by an international conservation body, prompting environmentalists to call for stronger protection of the species.

It comes as the government is due to release an interim report into Australia’s national environmental laws, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

Continue reading…

Team Lioness: the Kenyan women rangers risking their lives for wildlife | Environment | The Guardian

Purity Amleset Team Lioness, a patrol unit among 76 rangers from the local Maa community. Their job is to protect wildlife from poaching, trafficking in bushmeat and human-wildlife conflict.

“I risk my life to spare their life [wildlife],” says Amleset, who is on a regular 20km patrol to visit the local community, tracking and recording GPS coordinates of wildlife sightings, as well as threats like snares or any suspicious activity along the way.

“I grew up here with wildlife as our friends. We are thriving together. The water point, we share together with wildlife. The grass we use to herd the cattle, [we] herd together with wildlife,” she says.

Eunice Mantei, 20, says: “You know before, us females in our community we were seen as a weak point. In our society we are not recognised, our worth is just to give birth and take care of the children. But now we have been recognised.

“We are working in the same field like men … Our families depend on us, [whereas] before they used to depend on men solely. Now … I can use my salary to educate my younger brother … to give my mother good health and raise the standard of my family. That feeling of being recognised drives me to be a female ranger.”

 

Source: Team Lioness: the Kenyan women rangers risking their lives for wildlife | Environment | The Guardian

Poem of the week: The Sparrows of Butyrka by Irina Ratushinskaya | Books | The Guardian

Irina Ratushinskaya

 

The Sparrows of Butyrka 

Now even the snow has grown sad –
Let overwhelmed reason go,
And let’s smoke our cigarettes through the air-vent,
Let’s at least set the smoke free.
A sparrow flies up –
And looks at us with a searching eye:
‘Share your crust with me!’
And in honourable fashion you share it with him.
The sparrows – they know
Who to ask for bread.
Even though there’s a double grille on the windows –
And only a crumb can get through.
What do they care
Whether you were on trial or not?
If you’ve fed them, you’re OK.
The real trial lies ahead.
You can’t entice a sparrow –
Kindness and talents are no use.
He won’t knock
At the urban double-glazing.
To understand birds
You have to be a convict.
And if you share your bread,
It means your time is done.

  • Translated by David McDuff

Source: Poem of the week: The Sparrows of Butyrka by Irina Ratushinskaya | Books | The Guardian

The Netherlands Permanently Shuts Down Mink Fur Farms — Lady Freethinker — Truth Troubles

In a significant win for animal rights, the Netherlands – one of the world’s largest producers of mink fur – has voted to permanently shut down its mink farms as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday, the Dutch Parliament voted on several proposals impacting the mink industry, including a ban on restocking 17 […] […]

The Netherlands Permanently Shuts Down Mink Fur Farms — Lady Freethinker — Truth Troubles

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