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A kormány a Büntető törvénykönyv módosításával növelte a tolvajok ösztönzését a lopásra, és közvetlenül veszélyezteti a polgárok vagyonát – állítja az ellenzéki Progresszív Szlovákia (PS), amely ősszel a parlament elé terjeszti a szabálysértésről szóló törvény módosítását a kialakult helyzet orvoslása érdekében.

Nahe der ägyptischen Stadt Dahab liegt das Blue Hole, einer der beliebtesten Tauch-Spots der Welt. Ein Tauchgang hier ist aber nicht nur schön, sondern auch lebensgefährlich. Schätzungen zufolge sollen schon weit über 100 Personen gestorben sein.

Laut Comparis sind die Preise für Freizeitgüter massiv teurer geworden. Betroffen sind vor allem Freizeitkurse, das Fernsehen und Bergbahnen.

Die Musiker Nelly und Ashanti können sich über Nachwuchs freuen. Schon vor einem Monat erblickte ihr gemeinsames Kind das Licht der Welt, wie jetzt bekannt wurde.

WARSAW, 22 August 2024 – Safeguarding the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief protects the inherent dignity of every individual and at the same time helps to build more tolerant and inclusive societies, reducing tensions and allowing our diverse communities to exist together, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said on today’s International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.

“Freedom of religion or belief is at the heart of our democracies and our sense of identity,” said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. “Safeguarding this right increases mutual understanding and respect, helping to increase the resilience of our societies to polarization, and act as a barrier against violence and hatred.”

Freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief protects every individual’s right to have, not to have, adopt, change, or leave a religion or belief. OSCE states have committed to “recognize and respect the freedom of the individual to profess and practice, alone or in community with others, religion or belief” in line with their own conscience. Nobody should face prosecution or persecution because of their choice to exercise this right in a peaceful way.

It is the primary duty of governments to prevent and protect people against violence and attacks based on their religion or belief, or any other aspect of their identity. All OSCE countries have committed to “prevent intolerance, violence and discrimination on the basis of religion or belief (…) and endeavour to prevent and protect against attacks directed at persons or groups based on thought, conscience, religion or belief.”

Violence based on religion or belief can be a threat to the stability and security of our societies. OSCE states have stressed the importance of “fostering a climate of mutual tolerance and respect between believers of different communities as well as between believers and nonbelievers”.  They have also noted the “role that discrimination and intolerance can play in fuelling violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism,” and recognized the role of interfaith and interreligious dialogue in fostering an inclusive climate that protects freedom of religion or belief.  

States act as the guarantors of all human rights, including the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief. This freedom must be respected not just in times of peace, but also during conflict or war. In guaranteeing this right, states should act with impartiality, not commenting on the validity of religions or beliefs and not discriminating or treating any specific communities differently. The autonomy of religious or belief communities must also be protected, including the right to organize themselves within their own institutional structure.

In essence, the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief reflects the understanding that diversity of religion or belief exists in every society, and that respecting our differences is the only way for us to live together peacefully.

VIENNA, 22 August 2024 - As we observe the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, we once again express our deep concern at the alarming level of hate crime and acts of violence based on religion or belief across the OSCE region. 

The high and increasing number of reported incidents of intolerance, violence and discrimination against Muslims show that the root causes of anti-Muslim hatred, coupled with xenophobia, are deep-rooted in many countries in the OSCE region. 

The worrying levels of anti-Semitism since the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, and ensuing developments in the Middle East have led Jews in many OSCE participating States to fear for their physical safety and to hide their Jewish identity in public.

Acts of intolerance against Christians and members of other religions or beliefs continue unabated. 

Such acts of violence are often interlinked with aggressive nationalism, racism, chauvinism and xenophobia and can have a differential impact on diverse groups within society, including women, migrants, and Roma and Sinti.

The role of social media in promoting and amplifying these acts and expressions of intolerance and xenophobia, as well as in disseminating false information for the sake of provocation is a serious cause for concern and must be addressed to ensure safe and peaceful societies for all. Freedom of expression is a basic tenet of democracy, but it cannot be an excuse for unchecked hatred, based on religion or belief, which targets the physical and emotional wellbeing of individuals.

Violence based on religion or belief is a threat to social cohesion, peaceful coexistence, and the security of our societies. It ultimately risks the erosion of our basic democratic values and principles, vital to the welfare of our communities and a function of peace on a larger scale. 

On this day of commemoration, we encourage OSCE participating States to strengthen their efforts to protect freedom of religion and belief for all and implement their commitments in the area of tolerance and non-discrimination with legislation and enforcement, including comprehensive measures enabling the effective reporting, recording, and prosecution of hate crime, together with appropriate victim support.

Freedom of religion or belief is specifically acknowledged as an integral aspect of the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security, thus providing for a sound bulwark against discrimination, intolerance, racism, hatred and prejudice.  We therefore call on all participating States to implement their OSCE commitments while addressing the scourge of increasing hatred based on religion or belief. 

Together with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), we stand ready to lend our support in assisting participating States in ensuring respect for the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, as well as countering intolerance and discrimination.

Rabbi Andrew Baker, Personal Representative on Combating Anti-Semitism

Ambassador Evren Dağdelen Akgün, Personal Representative on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims

Dr Regina Polak, Personal Representative on Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Discrimination, with a focus on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions

Die Schweiz erlebt einen Bevölkerungsboom! Grund sind vor allem die ukrainischen Flüchtlinge. Am stärksten wächst das Wallis.

ČTK: A külföldön élő cseh állampolgárok ezentúl levélben is leadhatják a szavazataikat a parlamenti és államfőválasztás, valamint az EP-választások során. A választási törvény módosítását a várakozásoknak megfelelően hagyta jóvá a cseh szenátus – a parlament felső kamarájának 68 tagja közül 56-an szavaztak mellette. A törvénymódosítás adta jogukkal már a jövő évi csehországi parlamenti választások során is élhetnek a külföldön élő csehek.

Obwohl die meisten Rebberge weiterhin maschinell bewirtschaftet werden, setzen renommierte Weingüter auf die Pferde-Karte.

Tränen, Trauer, Wut: Das abrupte Ende des Weltbild-Verlags in der Schweiz bewegt die Angestellten und die Kunden. Blick hat drei Filialen besucht, mit den betroffenen Menschen gesprochen und zeichnet das emotionale Ende des Traditions-Buchladens nach.

Die Westschweiz punktet nicht nur in Sache Kulinarik. Auch Flora und Fauna der Romandie sind einen Besuch wert. Vier besonders schöne Routen in der Romandie, die Teil der Wanderchallenge «26 Summits» von Blick und UBS sind, stellen wir dir in diesem Artikel vor.

Der Bund konnte in Indien einen grossen Teil von früher gelieferten Schweizer Maschinenpistolen nicht überprüfen. Das könnte Folgen haben.

Frankreich sucht derzeit noch nach einem neuen Regierungschef. Am Freitag wird man nach Beratungen mit den Parteien wohl einen Schritt näher sein. Auf die neue Regierung warten dann schwierige Entscheidungen über die Haushaltslage, ansonsten könnten hohe Strafen drohen.

Frankreich sucht derzeit noch nach einem neuen Regierungschef. Am Freitag wird man nach Beratungen mit den Parteien wohl einen Schritt näher sein. Auf die neue Regierung warten dann schwierige Entscheidungen über die Haushaltslage, ansonsten könnten hohe Strafen drohen.

By CIVICUS
Aug 22 2024 (IPS)

 
CIVICUS speaks with Chris Garrard, co-founder and co-director of Culture Unstained, about the campaign to end fossil fuel sponsorship of cultural institutions, which oil companies use to try to present a positive public image.

The campaign has achieved some notable successes, with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Tate group of art galleries ending BP sponsorship deals and the Edinburgh Science Festival rejecting fossil fuel funding. Recently, the Science Museum in London ended its sponsorship arrangement with the Norwegian state-owned oil giant Equinor. It’s now under pressure to reconsider its relationships with Adani and BP.

Chris Garrard

How significant is the London Science Museum’s decision to end its sponsorship by Equinor?

The museum’s decision to end its eight-year sponsorship deal with Equinor is a major victory for the campaign against oil sponsorship. The museum finally cut ties with the oil company because it had failed to align its business plans with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

The museum’s decision also highlights a significant shift in its policy because its director, Ian Blatchford, had strongly defended taking funding from fossil fuel companies in the past, stating in a Financial Times interview that he would still seek such sponsorship ‘even if the museum were lavishly publicly funded’. The decision to cut ties with Equinor contradicts his stance and hopefully represents a step towards greater ethical responsibility, in line with the museum’s scientific mission.

Alongside our allies, Culture Unstained played a key role in this campaign win. I was involved in protesting against Equinor’s sponsorship when it was first announced and ‘Wonderlab: the Equinor Gallery’ first opened to the public, so it was incredibly exciting to finally see this shift happen. Crucially, the campaign involved interventions by various groups over several years, including scientists, youth climate activists and young people from Norway.

Over time, pressure has grown on the museum to adopt new ethical sponsorship criteria that now require sponsors to have aligned their business plans with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C pathway, as assessed by the Transition Pathway Initiative. Its recent assessment clearly showed that Equinor didn’t meet this standard, which ultimately led to the ending of its relationship with the museum.

Why do oil companies sponsor cultural bodies?

Oil companies such as BP, Equinor and Shell sponsor arts and cultural institutions for two main reasons. Firstly, sponsorship deals help them to maintain what’s known as a ‘social licence to operate’. This is essentially a form of consent from wider society which relies upon a belief that they are responsible corporate citizens, and that what they are doing is ethically acceptable. By attaching their logos and brands to cultural institutions, they associate themselves with the progressive values of the arts, so when people think of BP, for example, they don’t associate it with climate impacts, polluting oil spills or toxic gas flaring in places like Iraq, but rather with culture, philanthropy and positive social contributions. It’s a form of cheap advertising and a way to clean up a toxic image.

This practice has been particularly widespread in the UK. BP, for example, had sponsored BP Exhibitions at the British Museum, the BP Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery and BP Big Screens at the Royal Opera House, all of which helped to normalise its tarnished brand. Our research has revealed how sponsorship deals are strategically planned to project a misleading image of these companies as philanthropists and responsible corporate citizens rather than the major polluters they are.

Relationships with cultural institutions also give fossil fuel companies a strategic platform for lobbying. For instance, our research found that BP sponsored a Day of the Dead event at the British Museum just before the Mexican government auctioned off new drilling licences in the Gulf of Mexico – several of which were awarded to BP. So while the public enjoyed the cultural event downstairs in the British Museum’s Great Court, BP executives were meeting with Mexican government officials upstairs, using the event as the backdrop for their corporate agenda.

Now, in response to the growing opposition to oil sponsorship of the arts, fossil fuel companies are increasingly shifting their focus to sport and music sponsorships, and often using their subsidiaries or ‘green energy’ brands for these partnerships. This combination of greenwashing and artwashing is a new strategy of fossil fuel companies, and we’re determined to oppose it.

What have been the most notable successes and challenges of your campaign so far?

Our campaign has had some notable successes, particularly in recent years. Since 2016, around 18 major UK cultural organisations ended their sponsorship deals with fossil fuel companies such as BP and Shell. They included the National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Opera House, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Tate ending long-running sponsorship deals with BP and, on London’s South Bank, three major institutions – the British Film Institute, the National Theatre and the Southbank Centre – ending their partnerships with Shell, which has its headquarters next door.

This trend has also gained traction internationally, with groups such as Fossil Free Culture NL in Amsterdam successfully pushing fossil fuel companies out of cultural institutions such as the Van Gogh Museum.

However, despite these successes, the Science Museum has explicitly avoided stating that Equinor’s dire record on climate change was the reason for ending its sponsorship deal and, even now, continues to defend its deals with Adani and BP, even though neither company is aligned with the Paris Agreement goals. Adani in particular is the world’s largest private coal producer, and the Science Museum has cynically sought to deflect criticism by weakly claiming it is only being sponsored by Adani’s renewable energy subsidiary, even though there are clear links between Adani Green Energy and the company’s coal mining business. This is a clear example of greenwashing and the Science Museum is actively helping promote it. Nevertheless, we see this victory with Equinor as a first step, and we’ll continue to push for Adani and BP to be removed from the museum as well.

Meanwhile, the British Museum took a huge backward step last year when it signed a new 10-year sponsorship deal with BP, despite numerous large-scale protests and growing opposition for over a decade. One of the biggest challenges, particularly with institutions such as the British Museum, is their lack of transparency and accountability and, in some cases, their closeness to the government. Although the museum is supposed to be independent, it will often be used for cultural diplomacy. Its notable lack of transparency isn’t limited to decisions around oil sponsorship, but also extends to issues such as the return of stolen artefacts and failure to address its origins in colonialism.

While many museums and galleries have shifted away from fossil fuels and other unethical sponsors, some institutions will, when challenged, defend the records of their corporate sponsors. For example, even when presented with clear evidence, the British Museum has continued its partnership with BP while falsely claiming that BP is helping to lead the transition away from fossil fuels. Often, staff and workers at these institutions support or are sympathetic to our campaign, so the real obstacle to change is the concentration of decision-making power in a few people who aren’t properly accountable.

A different but important challenge is to ensure our campaigning in the UK and the global north is connected and accountable to those directly affected by the fossil fuel companies we are campaigning against. Whether it’s communities in Egypt, the US Gulf Coast or West Papua suffering from pollution and environmental degradation, or those already feeling the effects of climate change, we seek to build relationships of solidarity with them and find ways to offer them a platform.

What space is there for climate activism in the UK?

The space for climate activism in the UK is certainly under threat and needs defending. Recently introduced laws have restricted protests and free speech, and we’ve seen climate activists given lengthy and draconian sentences that discourage others from getting involved, speaking out and taking action. This is deeply worrying and many are calling on the new government to review and repeal these laws. What’s disturbing as well is that we’ve also seen attempts to stifle discussion of issues such as the genocide in Palestine, notably when Adani’s partnership with the Israeli arms company Elbit has been highlighted during protests at the Science Museum.

On the positive side, there are many in the climate justice movement who are constantly finding creative and imaginative ways to protest, in cultural spaces and on the streets. More importantly, there’s also a growing awareness of the need to adopt an intersectional approach emphasising not just climate action, but climate justice. For instance, a group called Energy Embargo for Palestine is currently campaigning against BP’s sponsorship of the British Museum, but linking different struggles and highlighting how fossil fuel extraction is connected to the repression of Palestinian people. It is essential to support and amplify such efforts, as our activism must constantly evolve and adapt to address complex and overlapping concerns. As the activist and poet Audre Lord put it, ‘There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives’.

Civic space in the UK is rated ‘obstructed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor.

Get in touch with Culture Unstained through its website, and follow @Cult_Unstained and @TheGarrard on Twitter.

 

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Csehszlovákia 1968-as megszállása kapcsán soha nem feledkezhetünk meg a több tíz meggyilkolt polgártársunkról, sem pedig a hazánkban élő emberek millióiról, akiknek meghiúsították a szabad élet utáni vágyát – konstatálta Michal Šimečka, a PS elnöke a Varsói Szerződés haderőinek 56 évvel ezelőtti bevonulására emlékezve.

Am Mittwochnachmittag ereignete sich bei Matt GL ein tödlicher Bergunfall. Ein Rentner rutschte aus und stürzte mehrere Meter in die Tiefe.

Aujourd'hui dans l'Expresso : les comptes publics de la France dans le viseur de la Commission, dans l’est de l’Allemagne, la guerre en Ukraine domine les élections régionales, Fabio Panetta plaide en faveur d’une capacité budgétaire commune de l’UE.

A Magyar Honvédség újabb kezdeményezéssel hívja a hazafiakat: a „Szeretem, megvédem!” mottó jegyében területvédelmi tartalékosokat keresnek. Az M1-en futó „HadERŐ” magazinműsorban elhangzott, hogy az önkéntesek élményalapú kiképzésben részesülhetnek, túlélési ismereteket sajátíthatnak el, és fizikai felkészültségük is javul.

Takács Attila altábornagy, a Honvéd Vezérkar főnökének területvédelmi helyettese kiemelte az anyagi juttatások jelentőségét: szerződéskötéskor 150 ezer forintos azonnali kifizetés jár, az éves rendelkezésre állási díj pedig eléri a 600 ezer forintot. Emellett toborzási bónusz is elérhető. A cél elsősorban az egyetemisták és a technikus képzésben részt vevő fiatalok megnyerése.

A műsorban megszólaltak hagyományőrző csoportok képviselői is. A fonyódi kishuszárok például bemutatták, hogy a hagyományőrzés milyen fontos szerepet játszik a nemzeti identitástudat erősítésében. Domina Barnabás, a csoport alapítója elmondta, hogy a családja számára a hazaszeretet és a hagyományőrzés közös érték.

The post Hazát szolgálni, hagyományt őrizni – A Magyar Honvédség hívása appeared first on Biztonságpiac.

Am Mittwochmorgen ist ein Jugendlicher auf einer fahrenden Zugskomposition durch einen Stromschlag der Fahrleitung verletzt worden. Er kletterte vorgängig auf das Dach eines Personenwagens der Rhätischen Bahn RhB.