Latest news with #ThomsonReutersFoundation
Mint
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Indigenous Ecuadorians say axing ministries hurts Amazon forest
Ecuador puts Environment Ministry under Energy and Mines Ecuador ramps up oil drilling and mining in Amazon Indigenous groups say moves hurt them and the rainforest LIMA, Aug 8 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa's decision to axe the Environment Ministry and bring it under the Energy and Mines Ministry could prove disastrous for biodiversity, Amazon forest protection and Indigenous rights, activists warned. Noboa announced in July that more than a dozen ministries would be merged, cutting the number from 20 to 14, in an attempt to rein in public spending. The Ministry for Women and Human Rights was also folded into the Ministry Of Government. Around 5,000 workers were laid off. The objective was efficiency, said government spokesperson Carolina Jaramillo. "The national government has set itself the goal of having an efficient state that truly provides quality public services to citizens," she said. But environmentalists and Indigenous people say Ecuador needs independent ministries to defend human rights and to protect fragile Amazon and Andean ecosystems from both formal and illegal mining, oil drilling and other forms of damaging development that drive deforestation. Nemonte Nenquimo, an activist and leader of the indigenous Waorani people, expressed her alarm. "How is it possible that, overnight, the Ministry of Environment disappears and suddenly, oil and mining interests are in charge?" she asked. The Waorani people have previously won important court victories to protect their ancestral land from oil companies in parts of the Amazon rainforest. "That is extremely dangerous. It strips away the rights of Indigenous peoples and the rights of nature," Nenquimo told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "It's a strategic move to enable future exploitation in the name of national development or for global markets. They speak of protecting the rainforest, but in practice, they authorise oil drilling and mining," she said. The government did not respond to requests for comment. The ministerial changes come as Ecuador aims to ramp up oil drilling in the Amazon despite court rulings and an August 2023 referendum limiting drilling in the megabiodiverse Yasuni National Park. The nature reserve is home to the Waorani and the Tagaeri and Taromenane people, two of the world's last "uncontacted" Indigenous communities living in voluntary isolation. In the 2023 vote, more than 10 million people - almost 60% - voted to keep crude in the ground in the Yasuni '43-ITT' oil block. Business heir Noboa, then a presidential candidate, supported the proposal not to drill in the area. However, now president after winning a full term in May, Noboa appears to have made a U-turn, insisting Ecuador cannot afford not to exploit its natural resources. The country relies heavily on oil exports to underpin its economy. Noboa aims to boost oil production and Ecuador expects foreign oil companies to invest around $42 billion in the sector over the next five years. "How can the body responsible for curbing extractivism be subordinate to those who promote it? Who will safeguard the rights of nature when they get in the way of mining or oil interests?" asked YASunidos, a local civil society group that promoted the Yasuni vote, in a statement. Ecuador is also pushing to increase mining due to rising mineral prices, particularly for gold, which has hit record highs. Analysts predict mining in Ecuador could be worth $4 billion in annual export revenues in 2025 and displace bananas as the country's third biggest export. Ecuador experienced an economic slump last year caused by drought-driven electricity shortages and budget constraints that stymied investment and normal business operations. An International Monetary Fund report last month suggested Ecuador make structural reforms to attract private investment in what it called high potential sectors such as mining, hydrocarbons and energy. Together with the Waorani, another Indigenous people, the A'i Cofan won an important court victory to prevent gold mining in their territory. Alex Lucitante, an A'i Cofan leader and a Goldman Environmental Prize winner, called the latest government move a "direct attack on Indigenous peoples and every struggle we've led to defend our territories." "This isn't an isolated decision, it's part of a broader strategy," he said. He cited a recently approved Protected Areas And Local Development Law, which he called an attempt to exclude Indigenous peoples from the consultation process involving new development projects. "These actions represent a devastating step backward. They threaten to undermine everything we've achieved and violate our right to self-determination," Lucitante said. "It's as if the government wants to wipe out both our lands and the lives of Indigenous peoples entirely," he said. (Reporting by Dan Collyns; Editing by Anastasia Moloney and Jon Hemming. The Thomson Reuters Foundation is the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters. Visit
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Hindu
India's E20 petrol rollout sparks driver revolt
As India puts more of the emissions-cutting biofuel ethanol in its petrol, consumers complain it damages their engines. The government's fast-expanding ethanol programme aims to cut costly oil imports by blending petrol with ethanol, a biofuel derived from agricultural produce or organic waste that burns more cleanly than traditional gasoline. India last month hit its target of reaching a 20% ethanol mix in petrol, known as E20 petrol, five years ahead of schedule. But car reviewer Amit Khare, who reaches 15 million people every month across social media platforms, including YouTube, Meta and Instagram, criticised the fuel. "Ethanol is a dry and corrosive fuel," Khare told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "It can damage several parts involved in supplying fuel to the engines," he said. "Neither the government nor the petrol pumps in the country are informing users about all these issues ... Consumers are being kept in dark." Thousands of worried drivers shared their fears in comments on a video he posted on the issue late last month. Consumers are demanding the right to choose what they put in their cars, filling social media with complaints of lower fuel efficiency, damage to older engines and the ensuing costly repairs. Punjab-based car critic Sunderdeep Singh said the government should make it mandatory for petrol stations to sell different blends and clearly colour-code them. "Most consumers do not know how much ethanol is mixed in the petrol they are buying," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The government said on Monday concerns over E20 fuel were unfounded. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said the criticism lacked "technical foundation" and said its own reports found no major engine damage or performance loss. The government admitted mileage might dip slightly, by between 1% and 2% in newer cars and by up to 6% in older ones, but said this could be managed with routine servicing. Vehicle owners responded swiftly, sharing mileage numbers online and accusing the government of hiding the truth. Khare said he tested an E20-compliant car for two months and saw a mileage drop of between 5% and 6%. There is no publicly available data on how many of the millions of cars and motorbikes sold before 2023 are compliant with E20 fuel, but Khare estimates most of them are not. Biofuels are a key part of the Indian government's plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions and the cost of importing oil. The policy saved India about 1.06 trillion rupees ($12.09 billion) in crude oil import costs between 2014 and 2024, according to government data, and helped to avoid 54.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in the same decade. This is roughly the equivalent of the emissions from 12 million gasoline-powered cars a year, according to a calculator from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But the gains come with trade-offs. India has ramped up ethanol production by diverting crops like sugarcane, maize and rice to make fuel, reducing the availability of grains for people and cattle, and shifting land away from food production. Two of India's largest motorcycle and scooter makers Hero MotoCorp and TVS Motor, have also issued advisories about ethanol and said their vehicles made before 2023 require modifications to the fuel system to run efficiently on E20. Shell India warned customers that they bear the risk of engine damage or warranty loss from E20 fuel. "It is unfair of the government to push us to use higher ethanol blends when our cars are not ready," said Bangalore-based car-owner Antony Mathew. "The least the government can do, while charging over 30% tax on a new petrol car, is to ensure compatible fuel is available in the market."
Time of India
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
India's E20 petrol rollout sparks driver revolt
As India puts more of the emissions-cutting biofuel ethanol in its petrol, consumers complain it damages their engines. The government's fast-expanding ethanol programme aims to cut costly oil imports by blending petrol with ethanol, a biofuel derived from agricultural produce or organic waste that burns more cleanly than traditional gasoline. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program India last month hit its target of reaching a 20% ethanol mix in petrol, known as E20 petrol , five years ahead of schedule. But car reviewer Amit Khare, who reaches 15 million people every month across social media platforms, including YouTube, Meta and Instagram, criticised the fuel. "Ethanol is a dry and corrosive fuel," Khare told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Live Events "It can damage several parts involved in supplying fuel to the engines," he said. "Neither the government nor the petrol pumps in the country are informing users about all these issues ... Consumers are being kept in dark." Thousands of worried drivers shared their fears in comments on a video he posted on the issue late last month. Consumers are demanding the right to choose what they put in their cars, filling social media with complaints of lower fuel efficiency, damage to older engines and the ensuing costly repairs. Punjab-based car critic Sunderdeep Singh said the government should make it mandatory for petrol stations to sell different blends and clearly colour-code them. "Most consumers do not know how much ethanol is mixed in the petrol they are buying," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. MILEAGE DIP The government said on Monday concerns over E20 fuel were unfounded. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said the criticism lacked "technical foundation" and said its own reports found no major engine damage or performance loss. The government admitted mileage might dip slightly, by between 1% and 2% in newer cars and by up to 6% in older ones, but said this could be managed with routine servicing. Vehicle owners responded swiftly, sharing mileage numbers online and accusing the government of hiding the truth. Khare said he tested an E20-compliant car for two months and saw a mileage drop of between 5% and 6%. There is no publicly available data on how many of the millions of cars and motorbikes sold before 2023 are compliant with E20 fuel, but Khare estimates most of them are not. INDIA'S BIOFUEL DRIVE Biofuels are a key part of the Indian government's plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions and the cost of importing oil. The policy saved India about 1.06 trillion rupees ($12.09 billion) in crude oil import costs between 2014 and 2024, according to government data, and helped to avoid 54.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in the same decade. This is roughly the equivalent of the emissions from 12 million gasoline-powered cars a year, according to a calculator from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But the gains come with trade-offs. India has ramped up ethanol production by diverting crops like sugarcane, maize and rice to make fuel, reducing the availability of grains for people and cattle, and shifting land away from food production. ENGINE WARNINGS Two of India's largest motorcycle and scooter makers Hero MotoCorp and TVS Motor , have also issued advisories about ethanol and said their vehicles made before 2023 require modifications to the fuel system to run efficiently on E20. Shell India warned customers that they bear the risk of engine damage or warranty loss from E20 fuel. "It is unfair of the government to push us to use higher ethanol blends when our cars are not ready," said Bangalore-based car-owner Antony Mathew. "The least the government can do, while charging over 30% tax on a new petrol car, is to ensure compatible fuel is available in the market."
NBC News
01-08-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Going Dutch: LGBTQ Americans find Trump-free life in Netherlands
AMSTERDAM — It had been months since Alex and Lucy, a trans couple from Arizona, felt safe enough to hold hands in public. They rediscovered that pleasure after moving to Amsterdam this year. The couple, who did not want to give their last names because of the sensitivity of the subject, decided to leave the United States soon after Donald Trump was re-elected last year. They arrived in the Netherlands on Jan. 19, the day before Trump was inaugurated and swiftly issued an executive order saying the government would only recognize two sexes — male and female. 'We're both visibly trans and faced growing discrimination. It ramped up right after the election,' said Lucy, sitting alongside Alex in their De Pijp apartment in Amsterdam's south. 'It felt like people had taken off their masks — waiting for an excuse to finally say what they wanted. We went from being tolerated to openly despised,' she added. Alex, who is disabled, feared staying put might also mean losing access to their federal health insurance. 'In the end, it became a matter of life and death,' Alex said. In his first six months in office, Trump has enacted multiple policies affecting the lives of LGBTQ Americans in areas from healthcare to legal recognition and education. In the face of this rollback of rights, some LGBTQ people have voted with their feet. While there is little official data, LGBTQ people and activists told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that many people head to Portugal and Spain, while Costa Rica and Mexico are also popular destinations, alongside France and Thailand. The Netherlands stands out, though, for its strong legal protections, its record on LGBTQ+ inclusivity, and due to a Dutch–American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) and its affiliated visa. DAFT — established as a 1956 act of Cold War cooperation — enables U.S. citizens to live and work in the Netherlands if they start a small business investing at least 4,500 euro ($5,200), can secure Dutch housing, and are able to prove they have enough money to live on. The permit is valid for two years and can be renewed. 'Europe was always on the cards, but the Netherlands had a really high percentage of queer folks, and we knew people here (who) were trans and happy,' said Lucy, who got a DAFT visa. 'Numbers increasing' While the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) does not keep statistics on the sexual orientation or gender identity of DAFT applicants, overall applications have increased since 2016, with January 2025 registering the highest number of any single month on record — 80. 'The numbers are increasing. We don't know why,' said Gerard Spierenburg, IND spokesperson. Immigration lawyers also report an increase. 'From the day after the election, my inbox began filling up with requests of U.S. citizens wanting to move to the Netherlands,' said lawyer Jonathan Bierback, adding that about a fifth came from the LGBTQ+ community. Three other lawyers in Amsterdam confirmed the trend in interviews with the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Jack Mercury, a trans adult performer from California, moved to Amsterdam almost a year and a half ago — 'literally the moment I knew Trump was going to be re-elected'. He said the DAFT visa was 'one of the few financially accessible visas' for him. He now lives in west Amsterdam with a partner and two cats. 'The words to describe the U.S. in the last 100 days are uncertainty and fear. For trans people, it's fear that they'll lose access to healthcare, rights like housing or the ability to work. And for gay people and lesbians, it's that they will become the next targets,' Mercury said. This year, more than 950 anti-trans bills were introduced in U.S. state legislatures, according to the Trans Legislation Tracker, of which 120 have passed, 647 failed, and 186 are still under consideration. 'I feel very lucky. I know many people who cannot afford to move, because they're not high earners, they are sick, have family or children,' said Mercury. His friend Topher Gross, a trans hair stylist from New York who has been in Amsterdam for four years, offered housing tips and recommended a lawyer. 'Everyone's exploring any possible way to get out,' said Gross. 'But not everyone can — many trans people of colour can't afford to leave. It's terrifying.' He noted that the climate of fear was exacerbated by deportations under Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. 'Basic rights are being stripped away.' Jess Drucker, an LGBTQ relocation expert with U.S.-based Rainbow Relocation, said many U.S. clients choose to go Dutch. 'People see how quickly rights can erode, with the global rise of right-wing extremism, and want to move somewhere where those rights are more likely to hold,' Drucker said. 'We've seen a major increase in requests for consultations. We are absolutely full.' Because not everyone can afford a DAFT visa, the Dutch NGO LGBT Asylum Support is urging the government to consider asylum options for LGBTQ Americans. Spokesperson Sandro Kortekaas said about 50 trans Americans had contacted the group since Trump's inauguration. In June, the group asked the government to reassess the status of the United States as a safe country for queer asylum seekers. However, Bierback does not expect success as such a shift would be seen 'as a provocation towards the U.S.' Spierenburg from the IND said there had been more asylum applications from the United States this year than last, although the numbers were still low — 33 against 9 in 2024. Lucy and Alex are grateful for their new life. 'When I came here, I felt more at home than I ever did. I have so much hope,' said Lucy. But she does worry that a future Dutch administration — a right-wing coalition collapsed in June — could kill off DAFT. 'I'm really concerned that the treaty is going to be damaged by current political agendas. And so I'm doing everything I can to make sure that I stay within the rules. I don't want to be extradited for any reason.'
GMA Network
26-07-2025
- GMA Network
Online gambling boom sparks calls for ban in Philippines
MANILA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) — Before helping fellow gamblers quit the roulette wheel or forgo the glory of a royal flush in poker, Filipino Reagan Praferosa fought his own addiction—a passion that almost cost him his life. Enthralled by the "big-shot identity" that came with early casino victories in Las Vegas and later in Manila, Praferosa went on to lose P50 million ($873,515) in seven years. He was jailed for theft to cover the debt, sent to rehabilitation centers and then tried to take his own life. "Gambling is an emotional disease. It only leads to three places: jail, institution or death," said Praferosa, who created a support group in 2011 for Filipinos with a gambling addiction. The group, managed by five people, has helped more than 300 people with online daily meetings. Its members are as young as 13 and as old as 72. Lawmakers and the Catholic Church worry that addiction is soaring, with ever more gamblers drawn to online games, their need accelerated by social-media ads and e-wallet platforms. "The number of callers we received is 10 times more than usual. Before, callers were dominated by men. But now they're dominated by mothers... children as well," said Praferosa. Several lawmakers have filed bills seeking restrictions on online gambling, such as prohibiting the use of e-wallets that enable bigger, faster bets. Others want a total ban. Online gambling has taken off quickly in the Philippines, with government revenues from taxes and fees paid by local operators for the first quarter estimated at P51 billion ($892 million), according to news reports citing data from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the government's gaming regulator. It accounted for about half of the government's total gaming revenues so far this year. At least 80 electronic gaming operators have licenses in the Philippines, according to PAGCOR. Gian Samson, a PAGCOR employee, said he backs an outright ban, claiming the human risks far outweigh the economic benefits. "Online gambling must be stopped immediately, and we should determine what is legal or illegal. It's not contributing anything to our society," said Samson, a representative of PAGCOR's employee association. The chairman of PAGCOR, founded in 1977 to regulate gaming and stop illegal casinos, rejects a total ban and instead favors stricter regulation. Growing problem Former President Rodrigo Duterte ushered in online gambling in 2016, opening the door to mostly Chinese-owned firms that catered to customers outside the country. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reversed track and imposed a ban on the outside entities last year, citing a "grave abuse" of laws by the industry. However, domestic digital versions of traditional casino games, such as slot machines, poker and roulette, are still permitted and can be accessed from mobile devices. While online gambling is legal, Samson said regulators have failed to limit the industry or control who can access these games, as is mandated. "They are giving Filipinos easy and convenient access to gambling. In just a tap of a button, you can deplete your life savings," he said. Players can join a game, then withdraw all their earnings through popular e-payment apps that even children can use, he said. DigiPlus Interactive, operator of gaming sites BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone, said banning licensed operators would "drive players toward illegal, unregulated sites with no safeguards" as well as hit some 50,000 workers in the sector. "We are open to evolving and improving wherever needed. If there are new standards to meet, or better ways to protect players, we will act swiftly and responsibly," DigiPlus Chair Eusebio Tanco said in a statement. Recovery The church has decried online gambling as a "moral and social crisis" and called for a ban. "It is now a public health crisis in our society, just like drug addiction, alcoholism and other types of addiction. It destroys not only the person but also their families," Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, said in a pastoral letter. He said online gambling hurts poor Filipinos who have almost no salary or savings and young people who are already struggling with the cost of education as well as other vulnerable people. In one Facebook recovery group with more than 25,000 members, one user said he tried to stop by installing an online gambling blocking app called Gamban but failed to curb his addiction. Gamban, a software provider based in Britain, can be installed on personal devices to block online gambling sites. Gamban founder Matt Zarb-Cousin said the Philippines is the app's third-highest source of new signups, after Brazil and Britain, reflecting a surge from about 26,000 visitors in 2024 to more than 32,000 in the first half of 2025. "It may be driven by the prevalence of online gambling, legal and illegal," said Zarb-Cousin. He said online casinos are associated with higher rates of addiction than traditional gambling, and about 80% of Gamban users play mostly slots. "Everyone wants to make better lives for themselves, and gambling is something that can completely destroy that in a very short space of time," said the former gambling addict. In countries such as Britain, the Netherlands and Norway, Gamban is free. In the Philippines, it costs $3.49 a month. "There must be responsibilities placed on gambling operators to protect consumers sufficiently. And in my ideal world, there wouldn't be as many people needing Gamban," he said. "Regulation, if done properly, can prevent or at the very least curtail online gambling significantly." — Reuters
