Day: September 16, 2023

Putin’s war in Ukraine has triggered the growth of nationalism in many non-Russian groups inside his country, but one of the broadest and most dramatic examples of this is abroad in London’s Yurt Community which began as an anti-war movement but has now expanded to be a center for the promotion of non-Russian languages and cultures.

Lidiya Grigoryeva, an activist with the group, says the Yurt Community movement was launched a year ago in London to help non-Russians from the Russian Federation express their opposition to Putin’s war in Ukraine. That has led the group to work to promote the salvation and growth of their nations (idelreal.org/a/32577459.html).

Last month, she says, the group launched a Navigator of the Languages of the Indigenous Peoples of Russia, an internet project (t.me/yurt_community/38 and yurtcommunity.org/ru)that is “the only platform for the preservation and dissemination of academic and other materials on the languages of ethnic groups living on the territory of Russia.”

Grigoryeva herself is a Yakut who spoke her national language at home but lost the habit of doing so when she went to a Russian-language school. She recovered her interest in her national language when she studied in St. Petersburg and was subjected to bullying by Russians for using her language. Instead of repressing her, such experiences revived her interest in Sakha.

In her republic, she says, there is a general revival of interest in the Sakha language. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the situation among the numerically smaller peoples of the Russian north. There the rising generation rarely knows the national language, and these tongues face extinction in the near future. The Yurt Platform is designed to combat that.

Unfortunately, she continues, this is a difficult but absolutely necessary struggle: “The trend in modern society is toward simplification, seeing everything in black and white,” with people saying there’s no need for learning any languages except Russian and English. But “that is the same as saying we don’t need thousands of kinds of plants or more than seven colors.”

“Diversity of languages and cultures only enriches any society,” Grigoryeva says; “and it is very sad to realize that we are losing this wealth.” Of course, to reverse the current path requires more than instruction in these languages; it requires a wholesale revamping of society so that people will find the use of these languages useful to themselves.

According to the activist, “a language lives in a milieu – and few are interested in studying a language which does not help them find work or get a high-quality education, especially if one considers the large number of stereotypes and stigmas about indigenous languages.”

Activism in support of languages is thus connected with activism in support of nations more generally, she argues. “There exists a great diversity of ethnic activism, and the study of the culture, history and language of one’s people is not necessarily connected with national liberation ideas.” But they can support one another.

“For us,” she says, “de-colonization is in the first instance a return to ourselves of our cultural identity, a sense that we rank too as ‘a state-forming people,’ no better and no worse than others, are capable of resisted forced russification, and struggle for our right to be ourselves” rather than to be defined by others.

According to Grigoryeva, “our movement includes representatives of civil society … [because] each people and each individual has the right to a worthy life, respect for his or her culture and language. We must not be ashamed of our identities, cultures, and langauges, just as we must not discriminate against others on ethnic grounds.”

“The problem of Russia is that instead of a real discussion and resolution of problems … the authorities hypocritically speak about ‘the friendship of the peoples’ and create a beautiful picture for show while deepening the contradictions in the current system. Therefore, the popularity of national liberation movements and de-colonial discourse will only grow.”

“Our movement,” Grigoryeva says, “does not form a political unit; but we understand that in a democratic country, national-liberation movements could become one of the parties in republic parliaments.” Today, the situation in Russia is far from that; but it is a goal worth working towards.

A historic new international treaty, described as “a monumental win for the protection of the world’s oceans”, will be open for signature by member states beginning September 20 during the high-level meeting of world political leaders at the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

The treaty will regulate the world’s wide-open oceans which have been degraded by illegal and over-fishing, plastics pollution, indiscriminate seabed mining, and the destruction of marine ecosystems.

Officially known as the Agreement for Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), the UN Ocean Treaty is the result of almost two decades of negotiations and will be legally binding after ratification by 60 countries from among the UN’s 193 member states.

The ratification process includes final approval by heads of government or parliaments –depending on the country’s laws. In the US, presidents can sign treaties, but ratification requires the approval of two-thirds of the Senate.

The long-drawn-out discussions on the treaty included four elements of a package that guided the negotiations, namely marine genetic resources (MGRs), questions on benefit-sharing, area-based management tools (ABMTs), marine protected areas (MPAs), environmental impact assessments (EIAs), capacity building and the transfer of marine technology (CB&TT).

Out of 52 multilateral treaties to be highlighted at this year’s treaty-signing event, 17 are related to the environment, including the BBNJ Agreement.

A victory for multilateralism

The breakthrough Agreement, which was adopted on 19 June 2023, was called “a victory for multilateralism” by Secretary-General António Guterres.

“The oceans are in crisis,” said Vladimir Jares, Director of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, reiterating the importance of the Agreement. He said the UN hopes member states will aim for universal participation, of which the first step is signing the Agreement.

“Universal participation in these treaties is absolutely fundamental to their success,” David Nanopoulos, Chief of the UN Treaty Section, told reporters on 14 September.

He said the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer regulates nearly 100 ozone-depleting substances and has been credited with repairing the ozone layer and slowing down climate change.

“Thanks to universal participation in this treaty, the ozone layer is well on its way to full recovery,” he added.

In a new report released September 14, Greenpeace provided a major new analysis of the ocean threats.

The 30×30: From Global Ocean Treaty to Protection at Sea report sets out a political roadmap to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.

Greenpeace report provides a “shocking extent of threats to ocean health” and calls for urgent protection using the new UN Ocean Treaty

Between 2018 and 2022, apparent fishing activity in the high seas rose 8.5% to nearly 8.5 million hours, and in the areas identified for protection under 30×30, the figure rose 22.5%.

These trends show reality at sea is moving in the opposite direction to the ambition laid out in the Treaty, Greenpeace said.

New treaty consistent with SDGs

As well as fishing, the report details how ocean warming, acidification, pollution and the emerging threat of deep-sea mining are placing ever more strain on ocean ecosystems, making clear the urgency of political action to deliver 30×30 using the Ocean Treaty.

Drifting longlines make up over three-fourths of total apparent high seas fishing activity. Longlining is a destructive fishing method, responsible for high levels of bycatch.

Currently, less than 1% of the high seas are properly protected and to reach 30×30 around 11 million KM2 of ocean must be protected every year.

Dr Palitha Kohona, who co- chaired the UN Ad Hoc Working Group on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), told IDN that consistent with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the new treaty seeks to advance conservation goals as well as benefits sharing and technology transfer.

“While the enthusiasm of the NGO community for ocean conservation is laudable, we must not forget the need to strike a balance with the needs of millions of those depending on fisheries for their livelihood and protein intake,” he pointed out.

Millions in the developing world depend on fisheries for their livelihood and they really have no alternative, he argued.

In parallel, marine products constitute the main source of protein for further millions in the global South. Dr Kohona is a former Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations and, most recently, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to China.

He noted that in a world threatened by a possible food crisis, the needs of millions dependent on fisheries must be kept in mind.

Humanity’s relationship with the oceans

“The needs of the global South may be addressed to some extent by implementing the benefits sharing and technology transfer provisions of the draft treaty with the same enthusiasm demonstrated for marine conservation.”

While keeping all this in mind, he said, “we must applaud the opening for signature of this treaty, which will define another important aspect of humanity’s relationship with the oceans. Most likely, life originated in the oceans, and the oceans continue supporting life.”

Chris Thorne of Greenpeace’s Protect the Oceans campaign said: “The Ocean Treaty was a historic win for nature, but as our report shows, the threats to marine life worsen every day.”

“The Treaty gives us a powerful tool to protect the oceans, but now governments must urgently ratify the Treaty and deliver ocean sanctuaries to give the oceans space to recover and thrive,” he declared.

Thorne also warned that destructive practices at sea threaten the future of ocean health and by extension, the future health of our whole planet.

To give marine life a chance, at least 30% of the oceans must be protected in a network of ocean sanctuaries by 2030.

“We have just seven years left. Countries serious about ocean protection must sign the Ocean Treaty next week at the UN General Assembly and ensure that it is ratified by the UN Ocean Conference in 2025.”

The Greenpeace report also outlines the political steps and actions necessary to establish these ocean sanctuaries using the Treaty.

And it recommends three specific sites on the high seas to be among the first set of ocean sanctuaries due to their ecological significance: the Emperor Seamounts in the Northwest Pacific Ocean, the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, and the South Tasman Sea/Lord Howe Rise between Australia and New Zealand.

The Daily Beat: 13 September  Civil Georgia

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 16, 2023  Critical Threats Project

Georgia Tech Mississippi Football | National Sports | idahopress.com  Idaho Press

Wisconsin awakens in second half, tops Georgia Southern  National Football Post

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un discussed practical issues in stepping up military cooperation with Russia’s defense minister, state KCNA news agency said Sunday.

During his visit to Russia, Kim inspected Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers, hypersonic missiles and warships Saturday, accompanied by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Kim’s trip comes at a time when “a fresh heyday of friendship and solidarity and cooperation is being opened up in the history of the development of the relations between the DPRK and Russia,” KCNA said, using North Korea’s official name.

Kim met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday and discussed military matters, the war in Ukraine and deepening cooperation.

Kim and Shoigu “exchanged their constructive opinions on the practical issues arising in further strengthening the strategic and tactical coordination, cooperation and mutual exchange between the armed forces of the two countries and in the fields of their national defense and security,” KCNA reported.

Shoigu told Russian media earlier that Moscow is discussing joint military exercises with North Korea.

On Friday, South Korea and the U.S. said military cooperation between North Korea and Russia would violate U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang and that the allies would ensure there was a price to pay.

Russia has gone out of its way to publicize the visit and to drop repeated hints about the prospect of military cooperation with North Korea, which was formed in 1948 with the backing of the Soviet Union.

Kim also toured Russia’s Pacific Sea Fleet equipped with strategic nuclear submarines among other military vessels, KCNA said, quoting him as praising the fleet for its contribution to peace in the region.

Earlier this month, North Korea launched its first operational “tactical nuclear attack submarine.”  

‘We are starving to death:’ Residents of Nagorno-Karabakh fear for …  KRDO

6 patients evacuated from Nagorno-Karabakh through ICRC  ARMENPRESS

Azerbaijan continues movements of troops along Armenian border and Nagorno-Karabakh line of contact – PM  ARMENPRESS