Hostility towards politicians soars in Brexit Britain

Daily Sabah reported that the violence and death threats against British politicians has soared during recent years. The number of alleged crimes reported by Members of Parliament was 151 in 2017 and 342 in 2018. It is estimated that the amount will be over 450 this year. Women and ethnic minorities have been targeted more than others.

Read the full story on Daily Sabah:

https://www.dailysabah.com/europe/2019/12/08/brexit-divides-britain-to-the-point-of-toxifying-countrys-protest-culture

Italian far-right leader Salvini goes nuts at Nutella

Even though we are spoilt for choice, these days, award for the most outlandish right-wing populist stunt of the week has to be given to Matteo Salvini, leader of the Italian far-right anti-immigration party Northern League. Salvini had become famous for his enthusiastic devotion to world-famous Italian chocolate spread Nutella. However, Salvini now declared that he had abandoned Nutella after finding out that the hazelnuts used in Nutella spread are actually imported from Turkey.

Read the full story on Financial Times:

https://www.ft.com/content/a6f9d0e8-1824-11ea-9ee4-11f260415385

Green ideas: Turkey’s record-breaking National Forestation Day

Turkey set the new world record by planting 303 150 trees in one hour on the 11th of November – the record was confirmed by Guinness World Records. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared 11th of November National Forestation Day and he hoped that these kind of planting ceremonies will become an annual event for the Turkish public and will set an example for the world.

Read the full story on UN Convention to Combat Desertification website:

https://www.unccd.int/news-events/turkey-plants-millions-trees-set-world-record

Green ideas: Ecological civilization in China

I will introduce some interesting and positive environmental ideas, policies and actions around the world. These posts have label “Green ideas.”

One of the most interesting ideas, at the moment, is the idea of ecological civilization in China. That idea is now part of Chinese constitution.

Here are some articles regarding the ecological civilization:

1) Kuhn, Berthold: “Ecological civilisation in China” DOC Research Institute 26.8.2019

https://doc-research.org/2019/08/ecological-civilisation-china-berthold/

2) Korten, David: “Ecological Civilization: The Vision”

https://davidkorten.org/home/ecological-civilization/

3) Lent, Jeremy: “What Does China’s ‘Ecological Civilization’ Mean for Humanity’s Future?” EcoWatch 9.2.2018

https://www.ecowatch.com/china-ecological-civilization-2532760301.html

4) Fell, Hans-Josef: “Ecological Civilization, the Great Project in China” Pressenza 5.11.2019

https://www.pressenza.com/2019/11/ecological-civilization-the-great-project-in-china/

Large climate change protests in Madrid and around the world

Large climate change protests took place in Madrid and around the world on Friday. People took to the streets in Madrid to protest the slow progress that has been made in action on climate change. (1) The Guardian reported earlier that even though the rise in carbon dioxide emissions was much smaller this year compared to two previous years, the world is still not on track to meet the goals of the Paris agreement on climate change. (2)

References:

1) “Protests hit Madrid as frustration over climate failure boils over” Politico 6.12.2019

https://www.politico.eu/article/protests-hit-madrid-as-frustration-over-climate-failure-boils-over/

2) “Paris climate deal: world not on track to meet goal amid continuous emissions” The Guardian 4.12.2019

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/04/paris-climate-deal-world-not-on-track-to-meet-goal-amid-continuous-emissions

How Facebook is used to profit from far-right hatred

The Guardian investigation reveals how there have been attempts to take control of some of Facebook’s largest far-right pages and harvest Islamophobic hate for profit. In this case, the vast covert operation seemed to have been run from Israel.

Read the full story on The Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/dec/06/inside-the-hate-factory-how-facebook-fuels-far-right-profit

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warns of rising intolerance during visit to Auschwitz

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned of the rising intolerance during her visit to former Auschwitz concentration camp.

Read the full story on Politico:

https://www.politico.eu/article/merkel-warns-of-rising-intolerance-historical-revisionism-on-auschwitz-visit/