UN human rights body adopts religious hatred motion, in boost to hardline countries

The UN Human Rights Council passed a Pakistan-led resolution on religious hatred, opposed by Western nations and human rights NGOs, which fear it could legitimize religious repression. The resolution, supported by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, follows an incident in Sweden where a Quran was burned. Critics, including the EU and the US, argue the resolution undermines human rights safeguards and freedom of expression. NGOs like Article 19 and the European Centre for Law and Justice expressed disappointment, suggesting the resolution could fuel intolerance and be used to justify repressive blasphemy laws. The vote indicates a shift in global power dynamics, with Western influence waning. The Universal Rights Group highlighted Western disengagement from the Istanbul process, a mechanism to combat religious discrimination, which may be at risk if Western nations do not recommit to it.

UN Special Rapporteur Urges Action Against Global Rise of Racism and Far-right Extremism

The UN Special Rapporteur on racism, Ashwini K.P, addressed the UN Human Rights Council, expressing concern over the rise of racist, nationalist, and far-right parties and organizations globally. Without naming specific countries, she highlighted the trend of extremist political groups, including neo-Nazi and skinhead factions. Ashwini urged member states to take substantial measures to combat hatred, referencing the Durban Declaration's strategies for eradicating racism. The declaration suggests investing in infrastructure and education, including colonial history in curriculums. Representatives from Côte d’Ivoire and the EU commented on the declaration's implementation. The article also touches on the rise of far-right parties in Europe, the Black Lives Matter movement's influence, and the Republican party's opposition to teaching about racial inequality in the US. Germany's representative emphasized the importance of combating racism and discrimination.

Apple Is Taking On Apples in a Truly Weird Trademark Battle

The Fruit Union Suisse, a major Swiss fruit farmer's organization, is facing a challenge as Apple Inc. is seeking intellectual property rights over apple depictions. The tech company's actions are part of a broader trend where companies aggressively pursue trademarks. Apple has approached IP authorities worldwide, with some countries granting their requests. The dispute in Switzerland dates back to 2017 when Apple sought to trademark a depiction of the Granny Smith apple. The Swiss Institute of Intellectual Property partially granted the request, leading to an ongoing legal battle. The case highlights the complexities of the global IP rights industry and raises questions about the ownership of generic images.

Island and developing countries are racing to beef up their defences against natural disasters, as UN warns disastrous events could top 500 by 2030.

The United Nations is intensifying efforts to mitigate the impact of natural disasters, which are expected to exceed 500 annually by 2030 due to climate change. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) predicts a breach of the 1.5ºC global temperature threshold within five years, exacerbated by the return of El Niño. To combat this, the WMO and UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) are focusing on early warning systems, aiming to equip all countries with these by 2027 through the EW4All initiative. The current phase requires $19.5 million for 30 developing countries and SIDS. Despite economic losses from climate disasters reaching $4.3 trillion over the past 50 years, early warning systems have reduced fatalities. Developing countries and SIDS, which suffer disproportionately from disasters, are prioritizing the implementation of these systems. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) emphasizes the importance of effective communication in disaster risk reduction. Success stories from Bangladesh and Mozambique highlight the life-saving potential of early warning systems. The UNDRR calls for richer countries to support poorer nations in these efforts, as the latter are least responsible for climate change but suffer the most.

Romania's Pesticide Problem and the Plight of Beekeepers

The article discusses how Romania, along with other EU countries, continues to use neonicotinoid pesticides (neonics) despite EU restrictions, by frequently granting emergency authorizations. Romania has been labeled as the 'EU champion' of neonic derogations by EU NGOs and Romapis, the Romanian federation of beekeeper associations. These derogations are criticized for ignoring alternatives and favoring powerful farming and agrichemical groups. The situation is particularly harmful to Romanian beekeepers, as neonics are used on crops that attract pollinators, benefiting only a few large crop growers and the government's position as a major EU cereal exporter. The article also points out the European Commission's failure to enforce its regulations and the ease with which member states exploit regulatory loopholes, undermining the EU's environmental policies.

Climate change threatens the EU’s lucrative culinary treasures

The article discusses the impact of drought on French dairy farmers in the Savoie region and other producers with geographical indications (GIs) labels. Due to the drought, the prairies have become too dry to provide the necessary grass for cows, which is essential for producing cheeses like Emmental de Savoie and Raclette de Savoie according to their traditional recipes. As a result, these farmers have sought derogations from production rules to continue using the EU stamp despite not meeting the standards. Similarly, farmers of the EU-protected Piment d'Espelette in southwestern France have obtained a derogation to irrigate their crops with water other than rainwater. French Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau and farmer representative Thomas Dantin have commented on the situation.

Experts say Ukraine war shows we need a new way to feed the world

The article discusses the vulnerability of poorer countries like Lebanon and Somalia to food crises, exacerbated by their reliance on a few major traders for food imports. The current crisis reveals the lack of options for these countries, with Lebanon importing 80% of its wheat and Egypt's reliance on a narrow range of suppliers. The article suggests a need for a major rethink in global food supply strategies, emphasizing the importance of diversifying food production and suppliers. It highlights the shift of farmers in Northern Africa towards water-intensive crops for export to Europe, which may undermine the cultivation of staple crops. The article also touches on the negative impact of cheap imports from the EU and U.S. on local African farmers and the importance of building sustainable and resilient local food systems in the face of increasing biodiversity and climate disruptions.

Brussels warns Spain over food safety risk of banned pesticide

The European Commission has expressed concerns over Spain's decision to relax residue tolerances for two banned pesticides, chlorpyrifos and dichlorvos, which exceed the safety levels deemed acceptable by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). In a letter to Spanish authorities, the Commission has urgently requested a rationale for Spain's deviation from EFSA's safety assessment. The Commission is also awaiting a full risk assessment from Spain and has asked for details on how maize imports will be safely used in feed, in compliance with EU standards. Similarly, Portugal has been asked to submit a risk assessment after it too relaxed rules for feed imports. Chlorpyrifos, linked to brain damage in children and reproductive toxicity, was banned in the EU in 2020 and is also banned in the U.S., where no residues are allowed on food.

Keeping tortillas and tamales on the table

The article discusses the Mexican government's decree to halt the use of glyphosate and restrict the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) corn, a move supported by President López Obrador. This policy aims to protect the environment and the livelihoods of rural communities, as well as to revive Mexico's national corn industry. The decree has faced criticism for its vague language and has sparked a corporate backlash, with agrichemical firms like Bayer-Monsanto and others filing unsuccessful appeals. The article also mentions the role of the CONACYT in researching alternatives to glyphosate and the legal victory of the No Country Without Corn campaign, which has been instrumental in protecting Mexico's diverse corn varieties and traditional seed saving practices.