Latest news with #climateactivism
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
Tighter borders bar poor nations from summits — on poor nations
Sudanese climate activist Roaa should have been leading meetings with other youth advocates at a United Nations climate conference in Germany in June. Instead, the 24-year-old was at home, having wasted hundreds of dollars and nearly two months preparing for a visa that was denied in less than 48 hours. Many of her peers, mostly from the Global North, flew into the city of Bonn without a hitch. "I was the one who was leading the whole process, but I wasn't on the ground. I cried a lot, like literally every night," said Roaa, who asked that her surname and location not be published. "Knowing everyone is there (at Bonn), but you are not there maybe because of your nationality gives you a very bad feeling, like I'm less than those people," she said from her home in the Middle East after leaving Sudan in 2023 when civil war began. Stricter border and visa rules are increasingly limiting the participation of nationals from the Global South in high-level talks that tackle climate, global health, economic systems, conflicts and other pressing issues, policy researchers say. "We are the ones who are affected the most, but we are not in the room," said Roaa, a medical student. "Most of the conferences happen in Europe and in the U.S. They are talking on behalf of us." The rejections also have an economic cost. In 2024, Africans paid some 60 million euros ($70.10 million) for rejected Schengen visa applications, up from nearly 54 million euros in 2023, according to analysis by Britain-based research group LAGO Collective. Despite its lower volume of visa applications compared to other continents, Africa had some of the highest rejection rates from the European Commission, which issues Schengen visas for short visits to the European Union, the data showed. In recent years, far-right and populist parties have made gains in places like Italy, Sweden, Germany and the U.S., fueling anti-immigrant policies across Western countries, where most global conferences are held. Underrepresented Nations most vulnerable to climate impacts, from flooding to droughts and rising seas, are often among the poorest, the least polluting and underrepresented at global talks, according to U.N. climate body, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The UNFCCC, which hosts the Bonn summit and November's COP30 climate conference in Brazil, said it had no sway on visa processes, but had taken steps to diversify participation at its events by boosting the quota for Global South delegates. "The major international conferences are the places where big decisions are being made with respect to global commitments," said Kathryn Nwajiaku-Dahou, director of politics and governance at Britain-based think-tank ODI Global. If those who are expected to implement global policies "are not at the table," it compounds the inequalities they have been campaigning to change, said Nwajiaku-Dahou. Despite providing details of her job, university studies, financial accounts and letters of support to attend the UNFCCC summit, Roaa was told she did not submit sufficient evidence to prove she would return home from Germany. Roaa said she was denied the visa even after an appeal. The European Commission said in emailed comments that cases are assessed according to the "purpose of stay, sufficient means of subsistence, and the applicants' will to return to their country of residence." 'Unfair' Ugandan HIV/AIDS youth advocate Joseph Robert Linda said he secured around $4,000 from sponsors to pay for flights, visa and hotel fees to attend last year's International AIDS Conference in Munich, Germany, only for his visa to be rejected. Linda said he was told there were "reasonable doubts" about the authenticity of his documents and his intention to leave Germany, leading to his visa refusal. "That was not fair at all to me because they gave me feedback just three to four days before the conference, so there is no way I could appeal," the 28-year-old said in a phone call. Although the majority of global diseases occur in poorer countries, where around 80% of the world's population live, only 4% of health summits were held in these regions, according to a 2021 paper by Harvard Medical School researchers that reviewed more than 100 conferences spanning three decades. Between 1997 to 2019, just 39% of health conferences analyzed had attendees from developing countries, said the study published in BMJ Global Health journal. While Linda was able to attend the conference virtually, he said that option required stable and affordable internet, something not available to people in many parts of the world. He said conference organizers should work more closely with authorities to get visas approved so more people can have their voices heard. Geneva-based group International AIDS Society (IAS), which runs the International AIDS Conference, said it has been switching its host city since 2023 after many delegates were unable to attend the year prior in Canada due to visa issues. Large conferences have to prioritize finding safe and welcoming spaces for "the most marginalized among us," an IAS spokesperson said. Sudanese medical student Saida, who was refused a visa to attend a medical workshop in Italy this month, said it was ultimately up to Global South citizens to keep demanding change. "You have to speak up ... This is a pattern that we see happening and that's something that needs to be changed," said Saida, who also asked that her surname not be published.
News24
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News24
Inside SA's fog of lies, 5 fascinating reads, wines from Wellington, and weighted vests
This week, Andrew Thompson reflects on what five months running News24's disinformation desk reveals about truth, trust, and how easily they can unravel; Anneliese Burgess talks to climate activist Ayakha Melithafa about her mom's wisdom and meeting Greta Thunberg; Noluthando Ngcakanifound 13 recipes for eat-out classics to recreate in your kitchen this weekend; Daléne Fourie gets lost in the wines of the eclectic Wellington Valley; Shaun de Waal curates five fascinating reads; Marilynn Manuel talks to Sheldon Tatchell, founder of Legends Barber, about how he spends his Saturdays; and she looks at the use of weighted vests for workouts.
The Guardian
16-07-2025
- The Guardian
Death threats and falsehoods among online abuse reported by land and climate defenders
Death threats, doxing and cyber-attacks are just some of the online threats recounted by land and climate defenders in a new report, amid concerns that harassment is having a chilling effect on environmental activism. Interviews and questionaires sent out to more than 200 environmental defenders across six continents by Global Witness found that nine in 10 activists reported receiving abuse over their work. Three in four defenders who said they had experienced offline harm believed that digital harassment contributed to it. The findings come after Meta announced in January that it was axing factchecking, reducing 'censorship' and increasing political content, following similar moves by X since 2022. Fatrisia Ain, a member of a collective of women fighting to regain land rights taken through Indonesia's palm oil plantation partnership programme in Sulawesi, told the Guardian about repeated intimidation attempts. 'Accounts have taken selfies from my personal Instagram and posted them on Facebook groups, spreading lies about me and 'red-tagging' – a very sensitive issue in Indonesia.' The posts remain visible in public groups with up to 40,000 members. Almost two-thirds of defenders who had received abuse said it led them to fear for their safety, and Ain felt that being a woman made her 'even more vulnerable'. 'They falsely accused me of having an affair with a married man because I'm an unmarried woman activist,' she said, describing it as 'another serious allegation in Indonesia'. She said the online attacks had seriously worried her family, who had begged her to stop her activism. Ain said Facebook refused to remove the posts about her after she reported them for hate speech. 'It said they're not dangerous – but I explained that it is in Indonesia,' she said, calling on platforms to exercise cultural sensitivity in their moderation practices. Just 12% of defenders who reported abuse said they were happy with platforms' responses, and Global Witness found evidence suggesting European defenders were more likely to receive responses when reporting harmful content. In 2023, at least 196 land defenders were killed worldwide for their work, and Ain told the Guardian that she had been physically attacked last year. 'I was hit by another motorbike on our way to an assisted village surrounded by plantations,' she said, describing the attack as 'very intentional'. 'I just had a few scratches, but it was very terrifying. Now, for security, we use cars.' She said she had received WhatsApp messages condemning her activism before the attack. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion The poll, carried out by Survation, is a global first. Challenges with reaching land defenders en masse mean it may not be representative of all activists. Ava Lee, Global Witness's campaign lead, said digital threats – and platforms' increasingly lacklustre responses to tackling them – harmed climate and environmental advocacy. 'We're definitely concerned that it will have a chilling effect on the movement. We know that there are lots of women that don't want to go into politics because of the abuse that they see female politicians getting online – the same can be said now for the climate movement,' she said. While she called on social media companies to invest in content moderation, Lee also noted that 'these algorithms are designed to keep people online as much as possible and platforms have discovered that the best way of doing that is through division … That's also a choice.' Global Witness contacted Google, Meta, TikTok and X with the report's findings. Meta pointed to its Safety Center and resources on bullying and harassment prevention, which include a 'hidden words' feature that allows users to filter offensive comments and direct messages. It said it had limits in place to prevent abuse of its features. TikTok referenced its community guidelines on harassment and bullying and said it did not allow harassing, degrading or bullying statements and behaviour. The others declined to comment. Lee said: 'It doesn't have to be this way. We're talking about some of the most wealthy companies that hold so much power. [The climate] is the biggest crisis of our lifetimes – if they put their resources into making sure their platforms are safe, we'd have a much better chance of meeting it head-on.'
Arab News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
EU lawmakers reject attempt to curb far right's sway on climate talks
BRUSSELS: The European Parliament on Wednesday rejected a proposal to fast-track talks on the EU's new climate target, scuttling a move by liberal, socialist and green lawmakers to try to limit the influence of climate skeptic lawmakers on the goal. The far-right Patriots of Europe group, which rejects EU policies to curb climate change, on Tuesday took on the role of lead negotiators for the 2040 climate target, seeking to steer talks on the goal, which the group said it firmly opposed. Lawmakers rebuffed a proposal on Wednesday to fast-track the negotiations, which would have skipped stages where the Patriots could exert most influence, and limited their ability to set the timings for negotiations. A total of 379 lawmakers rejected the plan to accelerate the talks, versus 300 in favor and eight abstentions. The vote puts the Patriots firmly in the lead for the parliament as it negotiates the final 2040 climate target with EU member countries. The Patriots will now draft an initial negotiating proposal for the parliament. A Patriots spokesperson said the group would not prioritize trying to meet a September deadline for countries to submit new climate targets to the United Nations. 'What truly matters is achieving a deal that delivers real benefits for our citizens. Patriots have never negotiated under pressure like traders in a marketplace,' the spokesperson said. The Patriots are the third-biggest lawmaker group in the EU Parliament and the group includes the political parties of France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The Patriots secured the lead negotiating role in a closed-door meeting on Tuesday by outbidding the parliament's biggest group, the center-right European People's Party, EU officials told Reuters. Green lawmakers said they feared the target would now be watered down or face long delays. 'There is an acute danger that the European Union's climate target will be buried,' said German EU lawmaker Michael Bloss. The attempt to fast-track the talks failed because it was not supported by the EPP — the party of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Dutch EPP EU lawmaker Jeroen Lenaers said the group did not deem the fast-track procedure necessary, and wanted to 'improve' the Commission's proposed target to cut emissions 90 percent by 2040, without specifying further. Some EPP lawmakers have said a 90 percent target is too ambitious. Governments from Italy to Poland have pushed back this year on ambitious emissions-cutting goals, citing concerns over the costs for industries.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Greta Thunberg's sister distances herself from her 'very different' sibling and reveals she wants to make people feel 'uplifted' while her older relative focuses on campaigning against Israel
Greta Thunberg 's little-known sister has spoken out about her relationship with the climate activist in rare comments after footage of her singing went viral. Bea Ernman, 19, told Swedish outlet Hänt that she was finding her time in the limelight 'fun' after MailOnline revealed how she had changed her name and was pursuing a career as a performer. She acknowledged she is often mentioned in the same breath as her famous older sister, 22, who made international headlines last month as she tried to sail to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid in an audacious awareness campaign. Asked how she feels about the comparisons, she reflected: 'I think it happens to all people who are in the spotlight. 'But there you have such different things you do and you have completely different careers, so in the end it will be very different.' The young singer was pithy in her assessment of how they were as people: 'Very different.' Ernman came out of the shadows earlier this summer when she shared clips of herself singing in Stockholm. She said she has been performing since childhood and at the age of just 19-years-old is now putting the final touches on her first album. 'It's very cocky,' she told Hänt. 'I want people to feel uplifted when they listen to it.' The album is expected to be released later this year. Previously known as Beata Thunberg, the performer has started using her mother's maiden name, perhaps in an effort to put some distance between herself and her controversial older sibling, or echo the artistic flair running through the family. Bea's mother is Malena Ernman, a former Eurovision contestant and mezzo-soprano opera singer. Her father is Swedish film producer and screenwriter, Svante Thunberg. Bea is following in the footsteps of her successful parents - and sister - while insisting she wants to carve her own path. She acknowledged the attention can be overwhelming, but said that being an artist is 'about being seen, being on stage and getting attention'. While the Thunberg sisters have not shied away from building public profiles, Greta has in the past recognised the strain it can take. In 2019, she acknowledged the toll her work took on her sister when she admitted, 'the one who suffers is my sister'. 'The people who write threats and hate to me do it to the whole family, even to her. 'The difference between me and the people who are left at home is that I am always travelling, inaccessible. People don't know where I am staying, where I sleep at night, where I am. I have no daily life. 'But for my sister at home, who tries to have a daily life … she is much more reachable.' Bea, now old enough to embark on her own journey, judged that her 'voice was built from pain' as she reflected on a recent performance at Stockholm's Musikaliska - the same concert hall where Albert Einstein received his Nobel Prize over a century ago. She revealed on Instagram that the path to becoming a star has not been easy. Some in the audience 'looked scared' while others 'covered their ears', she said. Still a teenager, she has already built up enough resilience to take it on the chin. 'I don't care if people love my artistry or hate it, as long as I make them feel something,' she wrote. 'Not pity. Love or hate. That's the point of being an artist.' Greta has been supportive and protective of her little sister in the few comments made publicly. After Bea performed a rendition of her single Bara Du Vill (a Swedish phrase that translates to 'Only if you want') on Swedish TV in 2019, Greta plugged the song on her own Instagram and expressed admiration for 'my super talented sister' on Facebook. She reiterated her stance months later, while calling for kindness towards Beata. After her famous speech at the United Nations climate summit made her a household name, Greta - then 16 - told Swedish news outlet Dagens Nyheter how her 'wonderful and strong' sister had to bear the brunt of her activism work. When she was 13, she performed a rendition of her single Bara Du Vill (a Swedish phrase that translates to 'Only if you want') on Swedish prime-time TV show Bingolotto. Beata is pictured here at a music festival in Stockholm in 2019 Despite the hateful messages that were directed at Beata, she continued supporting Greta by showing up for the older Thunberg's Fridays for Future - or School Strike for Climate - action that turned the spotlight on the Swedish activist in 2018. In 2020, Beata was cast opposite her mother when she was chosen to play a young Edith Piaf in a musical, Malena depicting the French singer in her later years. 'I have been dancing and singing for as long as I can remember,' Beata reacted to the casting announcement, according to news agency DPA. 'To be able to perform her immortal music is a dream come true,' she said, referring to the iconic songstress Piaf. Greta has taken a vastly different path, becoming a recognisable face at the front of a number of activist campaigns. Thunberg shot to fame aged 15, in 2018, when she started skipping school in protest of Sweden's climate policies. Her School Strike for Climate garnered international attention, building a platform for the teenager to go on pressuring world leaders to do more to mitigate the impacts of climate change. More recently, Greta has piled criticism on Israel for its conduct in the war with Hamas in Gaza, and in June sailed from Sicily towards the beleaguered Palestinian enclave in an effort to raise awareness and deliver a symbolic amount of aid to the civilian population.
