Daily Archives: November 28, 2021

MEPC 77: For climate progress, shipping needs action from IMO member states on concrete initiatives – Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

Posted: November 28, 2021 at 10:06 pm

During COP26 it was encouraging to see the maritime sector being included in the discussion between governments. International liner shipping companies, who for some time have been taking the lead when it comes to commitments as well as investments in actual technology development, were at the fore in Glasgow calling for government action. Some promising coalitions and declarations were launched and going into the IMO MEPC 77 this week there was a positive undercurrent.

It is then all the more disappointing to watch the same governments that were making lofty statements at COP26 just days ago, again fail to walk the talk when it comes to real action at the IMO.

The goal for liner shipping is clear: move away from fossil fuels as quickly as possible. The people of the world depend on trade, and we must make efficient trade possible without the climate impact of today the sooner the better. It is a moral imperative, keenly felt by us working in the industry, as much as it is what our customers and investors demand.

Our challenge as a hard-to-abate sector is that the technology and fuels needed for a transition to zero are not yet available. We see the direction, and now need to drive progress towards a tipping point where the technologies for zero-GHG shipping can be applied and a clear demand picture can drive availability of and infrastructure for alternative fuels. That is why IMO member countries inexplicable stalling around the IMRB/IMRF is so dangerous. We can talk all we want about the ambitions for 2050, but unless we put initiatives to drive real progress in place, we are not going to get there, says John Butler, President & CEO of World Shipping Council (WSC).

WSC members are among the carriers exploring and investing in alternative technologies and solutions, but this will not be enough to change the entire industry. It also risks leaving some countries, sectors, and companies behind. A global industry is dependent on global infrastructures and global market-based measures to drive change.

Our appeal to political leaders and regulators is to not get stuck in a cycle of ambition bidding, but to take action for inclusive change in the shipping industry. Whilst we are disappointed there was no decision, the MEPC 77 saw a notable increase in the number of nations supporting the establishment of an industry-financed research fund, pushing USD 5 billion into R&D towards zero-GHG technologies that will be available to all nations. The initiative is ready to launch, has support from the Green Climate Fund, and we will keep supporting member nations working for a positive resolution at MEPC 78, continues John Butler.

With the IMRB/IMRF established zero-GHG vessels can be on the water by the early 2030s. With technologies in place, progress has the potential to be quick, especially with market-based measures to help the adoption of zero-GHG technologies and ensure the availability of well-to-wake zero-GHG alternative fuels.

Debating ambitious targets for far-away deadlines avoids the more difficult discussions on discrete actions to be undertaken and should not be mistaken for actual progress. We need the political establishment to move from targets to action, John Butler concludes.Source: World Shipping Council

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Shooting victim continues to make progress in recovery – The Salem News

Posted: at 10:06 pm

SALEM As the victim of last weeks attempted murder-suicide in Salem continues to make progress in her recovery, the New Hampshire Supreme Court is expected next week to release results of a review of a judges decision to deny her an extension of a restraining order against the shooter.

A spokeswoman for the court said an internal review of Hampton District Court Judge Polly Halls Oct. 20 decision not to extend an order that would have barred Richard Mark Lorman from access to his guns was turned over to the states Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Lorman, 55, of Wilton, New Hampshire, shot Lindsay Smith, 33, outside Doyle Sailmakers on the evening of Nov. 15, then turned the gun on himself. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Smith, who was an executive at the Swampscott Road firm, survived and has been at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

Her mother Cindy Smith posted an update Tuesday on Smiths condition, saying doctors and nurses believe her recovery will be a marathon.

Smiths vital signs have improved and, while still on a ventilator, she is able to communicate with a nurse by holding up her fingers. She is also receiving physical therapy.

Smith still has bullet fragments lodged in her head, vertebrae and lungs (which appeared to have been inhaled) and will undergo additional procedures to remove them and to allow for some facial fractures to heal, her mother posted on Caringbridge.

Smith, 33, who grew up in Marblehead, owned a condo in Hampton, New Hampshire, where she lived with Lorman. Their relationship had become strained in recent months, and in an affidavit filed with the court, Smith described ongoing sexual exploitation and abuse by Lorman.

A preliminary order was issued. Police said Lorman indicated he had turned over his guns to a third party for safekeeping, which was allowed under New Hampshire law. Hampton police also confiscated a concealed carry permit. On Oct. 20, at a hearing Lorman did not attend, Hall declined to extend the order.

That removed any legal impediment for Lorman to retrieve his guns.

The New Hampshire Judicial Branch has begun putting together a task force to review how domestic violence cases are handled in that states courts. The National Center for State Courts is also being brought in as a consultant to the process.

Courts reporter Julie Manganis can be reached at 978-338-2521, by email at jmanganis@salemnews.com or on Twitter at @SNJulieManganis

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Courts reporter Julie Manganis can be reached at 978-338-2521, by email at jmanganis@salemnews.com or on Twitter at @SNJulieManganis

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Austin continues to make progress on bold 2016 sidewalk initiative – Austin Monitor

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Wednesday, November 24, 2021 by Andrew Logan

Halfway through a 10-year plan to upgrade the citys network of sidewalks, officials say the initiative has gone better than expected but still needs considerable work to extend walkability to the majority of residents.

It feels like a tale of two cities: Its the best of times, its the worst of times, said John Eastman, manager of the citys Sidewalk and Special Projects Division. Sidewalks as a transportation facility have suffered from literally decades of no funding and neglect. The fact that were doing great doesnt mean that sidewalks overall are doing great.

When City Council approved the Sidewalk Master Plan/ADA Transition Plan Update in 2016, Austin had 2,400 miles of existing sidewalks. However, only 20 percent of those sidewalks were in good condition, and approximately 40 percent of pedestrian pathways were obstructed by overgrown vegetation, according to the plan.

Five years later, Eastman and his department have doubled the reach of sidewalks in areas where people need to access them as part of their basic transportation needs, according to preliminary city estimates. Official numbers of all the citys sidewalk infrastructure improvements are expected in the spring, Eastman said.

The Sidewalk Master Plan was adopted in 2016 with the overall goal to build out the sidewalk network. It established a goal to spend $25 million a year for new sidewalks and $15 million a year toward repairing existing sidewalks over a 10-year period.

Sidewalks are incredibly important, said Heyden Black Walker, who is chair of the board for Reconnect Austin, a local transportation advocacy group. People have been walking for as long as people have existed, for thousands of years, and weve just neglected that piece of our infrastructure for far too long.

The majority of funding for the new and upgraded sidewalks comes from a combination of city bond proposals, including the 2016 mobility bond, the 2018 transportation infrastructure bond and the 2020 mobility elections bond.

In addition, the city has initiated a number of additional programs to help supplement the $25 million annual price tag, including the Corridor Mobility, the Regional Mobility and the Safe Routes to School programs.

Eastman notes that private development and redevelopment adds or repairs almost as many miles of sidewalks, if not more, than the city does each year.

The city of Austin is sort of cranking out sidewalks, and doing it really cheaply and efficiently, said Jay Blazek Crossley, executive director of Farm&City, a nonprofit that works on Texas public policy issues. Every dollar going to the city sidewalk program is basically spent more efficiently than almost any other kind of public dollar.

However, the measure of success for the city isnt just about how much and how fast sidewalks are built its also about where.

Community leaders prioritized different locations for sidewalk improvements as part of the original 2009 Sidewalk Plan process. Their recommendations factored in population density, income, health outcomes andproximity to affordable housing and transit stops.

Those deliberations resulted in a really profoundly equitable prioritization model, Eastman said. Weve been following (it) ever since.

Subsequent amendments in the way the city prioritizes its sidewalk projects focused on high-priority areas, where people rely more heavily on walkability and public transportation. The city has invested up to 10 times as much in some Council districts, especially along the eastern crescent of Austin, where the need is highest.

If you cant afford a car or youre in a household where you only have one car but you have two working adults, somebodys taking transit to get to work, Eastman said, and you need a sidewalk and a safe route to get there.

Despite the citys success, Eastman says there is still much more to be done to complete the pedestrian network in Austin. And those efforts go beyond just building sidewalks.

A major focus has become safe street crossings, especially along busy corridors. The city has a growing number of busy corridors that might not have traffic lights for a half-mile or more.

That really makes walking not a viable option, Eastman said. But if theres a safe place to cross that busy street, people would walk to and from that place, and that would reduce congestion and reduce pollution.

The new plan update expected in the spring will outline the citywide pedestrian crossing improvement plan. That is part of a broader review of the overlaps and collective goals for various mobility programs.

The city, and especially the citizens in terms of what theyve been willing to approve in bond funding through citizen initiatives, are definitely doing very well in terms of meeting the sidewalk plan goals, Eastman said. But weve still got a long ways to go.

View the interactive map of Austins sidewalk projects currently underway.

This story has been changed since publication to clarify that the plan set spending goals for each years, but the money was not allocated for those goals as part of the plan.

This story was written by a journalism student at the University of Texas at Austin. TheAustin Monitoris working in partnership with the UT School of Journalism to publish stories produced by students in the City and County Government Reporting course.

The Austin Monitors work is made possible by donations from the community. Though our reporting covers donors from time to time, we are careful to keep business and editorial efforts separate while maintaining transparency. A complete list of donors is available here, and our code of ethics is explained here.

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Speech on Campus | American Civil Liberties Union

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The First Amendment to the Constitution protects speech no matter how offensive its content. Restrictions on speech by public colleges and universities amount to government censorship, in violation of the Constitution. Such restrictions deprive students of their right to invite speech they wish to hear, debate speech with which they disagree, and protest speech they find bigoted or offensive. An open society depends on liberal education, and the whole enterprise of liberal education is founded on the principle of free speech.

How much we value the right of free speech is put to its severest test when the speaker is someone we disagree with most. Speech that deeply offends our morality or is hostile to our way of life warrants the same constitutional protection as other speech because the right of free speech is indivisible: When we grant the government the power to suppress controversial ideas, we are all subject to censorship by the state. Since its founding in 1920, the ACLU has fought for the free expression of all ideas, popular or unpopular. Where racist, misogynist, homophobic, and transphobic speech is concerned, the ACLU believes that more speech not less is the answer most consistent with our constitutional values.

But the right to free speech is not just about the law; its also a vital part of our civic education. As Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson wrote in 1943 about the role of schools in our society: That they are educating the young for citizenship is reason for scrupulous protection of Constitutional freedoms of the individual, if we are not to strangle the free mind at its source and teach youth to discount important principles of our government as mere platitudes. Remarkably, Justice Jackson was referring to grade school students. Inculcating constitutional values in particular, the value of free expression should be nothing less than a core mission of any college or university.

To be clear, the First Amendment does not protect behavior on campus that crosses the line into targeted harassment or threats, or that creates a pervasively hostile environment for vulnerable students. But merely offensive or bigoted speech does not rise to that level, and determining when conduct crosses that line is a legal question that requires examination on a case-by-case basis. Restricting such speech may be attractive to college administrators as a quick fix to address campus tensions. But real social change comes from hard work to address the underlying causes of inequality and bigotry, not from purified discourse. The ACLU believes that instead of symbolic gestures to silence ugly viewpoints, colleges and universities have to step up their efforts to recruit diverse faculty, students, and administrators; increase resources for student counseling; and raise awareness about bigotry and its history.

A:The First Amendment does not require the government to provide a platform to anyone, but it does prohibit the government from discriminating against speech on the basis of the speakers viewpoint. For example, public colleges and universities have no obligation to fund student publications; however, the Supreme Court has held that if a public university voluntarily provides these funds, it cannot selectively withhold them from particular student publications simply because they advocate a controversial point of view.

Of course, public colleges and universities are free to invite whomever they like to speak at commencement ceremonies or other events, just as students are free to protest speakers they find offensive. College administrators cannot, however, dictate which speakers students may invite to campus on their own initiative. If a college or university usually allows students to use campus resources (such as auditoriums) to entertain guests, the school cannot withdraw those resources simply because students have invited a controversial speaker to campus.

A:In Brandenburg v. Ohio, the Supreme Court held that the government cannot punish inflammatory speech unless it intentionally and effectively provokes a crowd to immediately carry out violent and unlawful action. This is a very high bar, and for good reason.

The incitement standard has been used to protect all kinds of political speech, including speech that at least tacitly endorses violence, no matter how righteous or vile the cause. For example, in NAACP v. Clairborne Hardware, the court held that civil rights icon Charles Evans could not be held liable for the statement, If we catch any of you going in any of them racist stores, were going to break your damn neck. In Hess v. Indiana, the court held that an anti-war protestor could not be arrested for telling a crowd of protestors, Well take the fucking street later. And In Brandenburg itself, the court held that a Ku Klux Klan leader could not be jailed for a speech stating that there might have to be some revengeance [sic] taken for the continued suppression of the white, Caucasian race.

The First Amendments robust protections in this context reflect two fundamentally important values. First, political advocacy rhetoric meant to inspire action against unjust laws or policies is essential to democracy. Second, people should be held accountable for their own conduct, regardless of what someone else may have said. To protect these values, the First Amendment allows lots of breathing room for the messy, chaotic, ad hominem, passionate, and even bigoted speech that is part and parcel of American politics. Its the price we pay to keep bullhorns in the hands of political activists.

People often associate the limits of First Amendment protection with the phrase shouting fire in a crowded theater. But that phrase is just (slightly inaccurate) shorthand for the legal concept of incitement. (Although, if you think theres a fire even if youre wrong youd better yell!)The phrase, an incomplete reference to the concept of incitement, comes from the Supreme Courts 1919 decision in Schenck v. United States. Charles Schenck and Elizabeth Baer were members of the Executive Committee of the Socialist Party in Philadelphia, which authorized the publication of more than 15,000 fliers urging people not to submit to the draft for the First World War. The fliers said things like: Do not submit to intimidation, and Assert your rights. As a result of their advocacy, Schenck and Baer were convicted for violating the Espionage Act, which prohibits interference with military operations or recruitment, insubordination in the military, and support for enemies of the United States during wartime.

Writing for the Supreme Court, Justice Oliver Wendell HolmesJr. held that Schencks and Baers convictions did not violate the First Amendment. Observing that the most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic, Holmes reasoned by analogy that speech urging people to resist the draft posed a clear and present danger to the United States and therefore did not deserve protection under the First Amendment. This is the problem with the line about shouting fire in a crowded theater it can be used to justify suppressing any disapproved speech, no matter how tenuous the analogy. Justice Holmes later advocated for much more robust free speech protections, and Schenck was ultimately overruled. It is now emphatically clear that the First Amendment protects the right to urge resistance to a military draft, and much else.

A:The Supreme Court ruled in 1942 that the First Amendment does not protect fighting words, but this is an extremely limited exception. It applies only to intimidating speech directed at a specific individual in a face-to-face confrontation that is likely to provoke a violent reaction. For example, if a white student confronts a student of color on campus and starts shouting racial slurs in a one-on-one confrontation, that student may be subject to discipline.

Over the past 50 years, the Supreme Court hasnt found the fighting words doctrine applicable in any of the cases that have come before it, because the circumstances did not meet the narrow criteria outlined above. The fighting words doctrine does not apply to speakers addressing a large crowd on campus, no matter how much discomfort, offense, or emotional pain their speech may cause.

In fact, the Supreme Court has made clear that the government cannot prevent speech on the ground that it is likely to provoke a hostile response this is called the rule against a hecklers veto. Without this vital protection, government officials could use safety concerns as asmokescreen to justify shutting down speech they dont like, including speech that challenges the status quo. Instead, the First Amendment requires the government to provide protection to all speakers, no matter how provocative their speech might be. This includes taking reasonable measures to ensure that speakers are able to safely and effectively address their audience, free from violence or censorship. Its how our society ensures that the free exchange of ideas is uninhibited, robust, and wide-open.

A:Symbols of hate are constitutionally protected if theyre worn or displayed before a general audience in a public place say, in a march or at a rally in a public park. The Supreme Court has ruled that the First Amendment protects symbolic expression, such as swastikas, burning crosses, and peace signsbecause its closely akin to pure speech. The Supreme Court has accordingly upheld the rights of students to wear black armbands in school to protest the Vietnam War, as well as the right to burn the American flag in public as a symbolic expression of disagreement with government policies.

But the First Amendment does not protect the use of nonverbal symbols to directly threaten an individual, such as by hanging a noose over their dorm room or office door. Nor does the First Amendment protect the use of a non-verbal symbol to encroach upon or desecrate private property, such as by burning a cross on someones lawn or spray-painting a swastika on the wall of a synagogue or dorm. In R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul, for example, the Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional a city ordinance that prohibited cross-burnings based solely on their symbolism. But the Courts decision makes clear that the government may prosecute cross-burners under criminal trespass and/or anti-harassment laws.

A:Yes. Speech does not merit constitutional protection when it targets a particular individual for harm, such as a true threat of physical violence. And schools must take action to remedy behavior that interferes with a particular students ability to exercise their right to participate fully in the life of the university, such as targeted harassment.

The ACLU isnt opposed to regulations that penalize acts of violence, harassment, or threats. To the contrary, we believe that these kinds of conduct can and should be proscribed. Furthermore, we recognize that the mere use of words as one element in an act of violence, harassment, intimidation, or invasion of privacy does not immunize that act from punishment.

A:Historically, restrictions on speech have proven at best ineffective, and at worst counter-productive, in the fight against bigotry. Although drafted with the best intentions, these restrictions are often interpreted and enforced to oppose social change. Why? Because they place the power to decide whether speech is offensive and should be restrained with authority figures the government or a college administration rather than with those seeking to question or dismantle existing power structures.

For example, under a speech code in effect at the University of Michigan for 18 months, there were 20 cases in which white students charged Black students with offensive speech. One of the cases resulted in the punishment of a Black student for using the term white trash in conversation with a white student. The code was struck down as unconstitutional in 1989.

To take another example, public schools throughout the country have attempted to censor pro-LGBT messages because the government thought they were controversial, inappropriate for minors, or just wrong. Heather Gillmans school district banned her from wearing a shirt that said I Support My Gay Cousin. The principal maintained that her T-shirt and other speech supporting LGBT equality, such as I Support Marriage Equality, were divisive and inappropriate for impressionable students. The ACLU sued the school district and won, because the First Amendment prevents the government from making LGBT people and LGBT-related issues disappear.

These examples demonstrate that restrictions on speech dont really serve the interests of marginalized groups. The First Amendment does.

A:Bigoted speech is symptomatic of a huge problem in our country. Our schools, colleges, and universities must prepare students to combat this problem. That means being an advocate: speaking out and convincing others. Confronting, hearing, and countering offensive speech is an important skill, and it should be considered a core requirement at any school worth its salt.

When schools shut down speakers who espouse bigoted views, they deprive their students of the opportunity to confront those views themselves. Such incidents do not shut down a single bad idea, nor do they protect students from the harsh realities of an often unjust world. Silencing a bigot accomplishes nothing except turning them into a martyr for the principle of free expression. The better approach, and the one more consistent with our constitutional tradition, is to respond to ideas we hate with the ideals we cherish.

A:Free speech rights are indivisible. Restricting the speech of one group or individual jeopardizes everyones rights because the same laws or regulations used to silence bigots can be used to silence you. Conversely, laws that defend free speech for bigots can be used to defend civil rights workers, anti-war protestors, LGBT activists, and others fighting for justice. For example, in the 1949 case of Terminiello v. City of Chicago, the ACLU successfully defended an ex-Catholic priest who had delivered a racist and anti-Semitic speech. The precedent set in that case became the basis for the ACLUs defense of civil rights demonstrators in the 1960s and 1970s.

A: Universities are obligated to create an environment that fosters tolerance and mutual respect among members of the campus community, an environment in which all students can exercise their right to participate meaningfully in campus life without being subject to discrimination. To advance these values, campus administrators should:

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UN chief sees firsthand the progress and challenges five years after Colombia’s historic peace deal – UN News

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Peace and family ties

The Secretary-General visited the northern town of Llano Grande, in the Department of Antioquia, along with Colombias President, Ivan Duque, as well as the former FARC-EP commander, Rodrigo Londoo. The town is one of several areas in the country where the former guerillas are being reincorporated into civilian life.

Colombia has 32 Departments, or States. With up to 80 per cent of its population affected, Antioquia was one of the areas most impacted by the more than 50-year conflict.

Llano Grande is a town of 150 inhabitants, where former enemies now live and work together. With the support of the United Nations and the Government, the small village has become a place where peace reigns, and as inconceivable as it may have seemed five years ago, FARC combatants and locals now consider themselves family.

UNMVC

Secretary-General Antnio Guterres visits a clothing workshop that reintegrates former guerrilla fighters into civil society, in Llano Grande, Colombia.

The UN chief walked through the town and was able to talk with its residents who are benefiting from different reincorporation entrepreneurial projects.

I am very pleased to be in Llano Grande and I see first-hand the achievements of peace, Mr. Guterres while visiting the towns tailoring workshop.

There, he spoke with worker Monica Astrid Oquendo, who recently told UN News that the Peace Agreement had brought with it initiatives that have greatly helped their community.

Mr. Guterres also spoke with other workers about their labour and discussed the importance of womens leadership in the peace process.

Meanwhile, a group of former combatants took advantage of the UN Chiefs visit to launch Trpicos, a new coffee brand created by a cooperative with 1,200 members.

Mr. Guterres was very interested in the cultivation process of the plant and the different types of coffee that are produced in Colombia.

Trpicos [Spanish for tropics regions] is a brand whose geography offers special characteristics. The rebellion of the tropics makes this coffee special because it comes from the community, and from people in the process of reincorporation. It not only has a social background but also quality standards. We have carefully selected each grain to be able to achieve high quality and to offer Trpicos to the world, explained Frey Gustavo de Mat, one of its creators.

The Secretary-General also learned of other projects such as a town school, an arepas (Colombian cornmeal cakes) factory, and a soap factory.

Later, in a brief address to the community on the town's soccer field, Mr. Guterres congratulated everyone for their enthusiasm and dedication to these projects, which, he added, have the support of the Government and the international community.

He also acknowledged that the projects have been hampered by financial difficulties and stressed that as such, it will be necessary to redouble efforts to guarantee their sustainability, as well as to involve the private sector to help find solutions.

The UN chief recognized the work of the community in the entire municipality of Dabeiba, of which Llano Grande is part, and in other nearby municipalities, which he praised as an example of integration and reconciliation for receiving ex-combatants with open arms and normalizing democratic life.

This shows true human qualities of teamwork, generosity, hope and courage to build a better future, he added.

After hearing from many more members of the community, Mr. Guterres said they know better than anyone that peace does not come overnight.

It costs work to build it, take care of it, sustain itThere is a paradox: the objective of peace is a society with no enemies, but unfortunately there are enemies of peace, he said expressing his solidarity with the victims and their families.

Since 2017, there have been 30 homicides and four disappearances, mostly men, only in the Department of Antioquia, according to UN reports.

Moreover, throughout the country, more than 300 former combatants have been murdered, with some 25 disappearances. Almost 500 human rights defenders and civic leaders have also lost their lives in violent attacks.

Mr. Guterres said he admired the tenacity and commitment of the people who continue to bet on building peace in Colombia on a day-to-day basis. He also warned that ensuring their security is vital to consolidating peace.

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The reintegration of former FARC combatants into civil society is being facilitated at a site in the small town of Llano Grande in Dabeiba, Colombia.

The Secretary-General reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to support the peace process and assured that he will discuss with the Government both the issue of security and housing. We are all going to take advantage of this meeting to enhance our work, he said.

However, he said that he recognized with humility that the Organizations work is secondary and that the essential work in the construction of lasting peace belongs to Colombians.

If this were a film, we would not be candidates for the Oscar for Best Actor, but for the best Supporting Actor, he concluded

Joining Mr. Guterres in Llano Grande was the ex-commander of the FARC-EP, Rodrigo Londoo, who stressed that even though some 300 signatories to the peace deal had been killed, we remain committed.

The visit of the Secretary General, he said, shows that we have made progress and that this is not a failed process. It also refutes the assertions of those who do not believe in this process.

Mr. Londoo also expressed gratitude to Colombian President, Ivn Duque, saying that the leaders presence in Llano Grande is encouraging and a hopeful sign that the Colombian people must continue travelling the path of peace.

In his remarks, President Duque stated that the progress underway in Llano Grande showed the will of his Government to support efforts to build lasting peace.

I think the most important thing that we see today is the rejection of violence We value those who have made the decision to categorically reject the violence that was once justified, the President said, and added: This implies that there is no cause or ideology that justifies murder, kidnapping or any other form of violence that threatens our freedom.

UNMVC

UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres, left, along with the Colombian President Ivn Duque, during a ceremony in the town of Apartad to mark the fifth anniversary of the Colombia peace agreement.

From Llano Grande, Mr. Guterres and President Duque flew by helicopter to Apartad, in the Urab region, a province dedicated to the cultivation of bananas and where the Government chose to hold a regional commemorative event to mark the fifth anniversary of the peace accord.

Ahead of that event, they visited the regions Territorial Development Programme, which seeks to improve the collaboration of different territorial agencies to achieve more effective sustainable development. With the Governments backing these programmes are supporting a range of reconciliation projects, including the building of a school that will be inaugurated soon.

The celebration event was held in a park and was attended by a large audience comprised of members of the municipality and the national government.

For his part, the Secretary-General highlighted the role of women in the peace process and stressed that their participation can help generate more inclusion.

He went on to express concern about the fact that several regions continue to face increasing insecurity.

The actions of the illegal armed actors diminish the hopes of local communities, as well as jeopardize the prospects for sustainable development, said the Secretary-General.

He concluded that peace requires facing the suffering of the past and reconciliation is the only way to a stable and lasting peace.

Tomorrow on his last day in Colombia, Mr. Guterres will participate in the commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Final Peace Agreement in the capital, Bogot. He will also attend the La Paz es Productiva fair.

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Should doctors be allowed to spread medically inaccurate information under free speech? – WZVN-TV

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CAPE CORAL, Fla. Should Florida doctors be able to spread information that isnt medically accurate?

A new bill could give your doctor more free speech and make it harder to discipline them for spreading questionable information. While free speech is a right it does have its limits.

Some medical experts say House Bill 687 could make it harder to discipline doctors for spreading misinformation.

Sometimes they can base opinions on their religious beliefs or their background, said Teresa Melendez who has concerns with the bill.

She, like many, feels a doctors right to free speech should not affect her health.

We want something that is scientifically proven for the sake of my health and anybody else, Melendez stressed.

The new bill would give doctors more free speech on social media and it makes it harder to discipline medical experts for spreading misinformation.

Barbara Garret of Fort Myers called it horrible.

Its scary and we trust them for science and information. Thats why you go to them because you feel like youre safe, Garret said.

Dr. Sue Hook runs The Samaritan Health Clinic in Cape Coral and also has concerns with the proposed bill.

Personally Im not going to tell my patients something that I dont know for sure, Hook said.

Dr. Hook, a nurse practitioner with a doctorate degree and specializes in family medicine said she fears HB 687 could muzzle licensing boards meant to hold doctors medically accountable.

If somebody is out there touting untruths and we can prove that is not true and its hurting people they should definitely be placed under some kind of discipline, Dr. Hook said.

The bill requires licensing boards to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the medical experts post was harmful.

I think this particular bill may have gone a little bit too far, said Dr. Pamella Seay

FGCU Constitutional Law Professor Dr. Pamella Seay stresses that free speech has limits and causing harm is one of those limits.

How far do we go in saying you can talk about everything. Are we going to have snake oil salesmen again? What is it that were going to have, Dr. Seay asked.

The bill also applies to nurses, dentists and massage therapists. The house bill does not have a companion bill yet in the senate, something needed before it could proceed to becoming law.

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Native Americans See Progress, Work Ahead to Protect Cultural Lands – Voice of America

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CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK, NEW MEXICO

The stillness that enveloped Chaco Canyon was broken only by the sound of a raven's wings as it circled overhead.

Then a chorus of leaders from several Native American tribes began to speak, their voices echoing off the nearby sandstone cliffs.

The Indigenous leaders from the Hopi Tribe in Arizona and several New Mexico pueblos were beyond grateful that the federal government is taking what they believe to be more meaningful steps toward permanent protections for cultural resources in northwestern New Mexico.

They spoke of a deep connection to the canyon the heart of Chaco Culture National Historic Park and the importance of ensuring that oil and gas development beyond the park's boundaries does not sever that tie for future generations.

After fighting for years with multiple presidential administrations, they're optimistic the needle is moving now that one of their own U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland holds the reins of the federal agency that oversees energy development and tribal affairs.

Haaland, who is from Laguna Pueblo and is the first Native American to lead a Cabinet agency, joined tribal leaders at Chaco this week to celebrate the beginning of a process that aims to withdraw federal land holdings within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of the park boundary, making the area off-limits to oil and gas leasing for 20 years.

New leases on federal land in the area will be halted for the next two years while the withdrawal proposal is considered.

Haaland also committed to taking a broader look at how federal land across the region can be better managed while taking into account environmental effects and cultural preservation.

"It's a nice day a beautiful day that our father the sun blessed us with. The creator laid out the groundwork for today," Hopi Vice Chairman Clark Tenakhongva said Monday.

Hub of Indigenous civilization

A World Heritage site, Chaco is thought to be the center of what was once a hub of Indigenous civilization with many tribes from the Southwest tracing their roots to the high desert outpost.

Within the park, walls of stacked stone jut from the bottom of the canyon, some perfectly aligned with the seasonal movements of the sun and moon. Circular subterranean rooms called kivas are cut into the desert floor, and archaeologists have found evidence of great roads that stretched across what are now New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado.

Visitors often marvel at the architectural prowess of Chaco's early residents. But for many Indigenous people in the Southwest, Chaco Canyon holds a more esoteric significance.

The Hopi call it "Yupkoyvi," simply translated as way beyond the other side of the mountains.

"Whose land do we all occupy? We walk the land of the creator. That's what was told to us at the beginning at the bottom of the Grand Canyon," Tenakhongva said. "Many of us have that connection. Many of us can relate to how important the Grand Canyon is. Ask the Zuni, the Laguna, the Acoma. They made their trip from there to this region. We know the importance of these areas."

Source of strength

Pueblo leaders also talked about areas near Zuni Pueblo in western New Mexico and Bears Ears National Monument in Utah that are tied to Chaco civilization.

Laguna Governor Martin Kowemy Jr. said Chaco is a vital part of who his people are.

"Pueblo people can all relate through song, prayer and pilgrimage," he said. "Now more than ever, connections to our peoples' identities are a source of strength in difficult times. We must ensure these connections will not be severed, but remain intact for future generations."

Acoma Pueblo Governor Brian Vallo said the beliefs, songs, ceremonies and other traditions that have defined generations of Pueblo people originated at Chaco.

"Our fight to protect this sacred place is rooted in what our elders teach us and what we know as descendants of those who settled here," Vallo said. "That is our responsibility to maintain our connection, our deep-felt obligation and protective stewardship of this sacred place."

Development pressure

Both the Obama and Trump administrations put on hold leases adjacent to the park through agency actions, but some tribes, archaeologists and environmentalists have been pushing for permanent protections.

Congressional legislation is pending, but there has been disagreement over how big the buffer should be.

The Navajo Nation oversees much of the land that makes up the jurisdictional checkerboard surrounding the national park. Some parts belong to individual Navajos who were allotted land by the federal government generations ago.

Navajo leaders support preserving parts of the area but have said individual allottees stand to lose an important income source if the land is made off-limits to development. Millions of dollars in royalties are at stake for tribal members who are grappling with poverty and high unemployment rates.

Haaland's agency has vowed to consult with tribes over the next two years as the withdrawal proposal is considered, but top Navajo leaders are suggesting they're being ignored. Noticeably absent from Monday's celebration were the highest elected leaders of the tribe's legislative and executive branches.

Navajo Nation Council Delegate Daniel Tso has been among a minority within tribal government speaking out against development in the region. He said communities east of Chaco are "under siege" from increased drilling.

"Yes, we want the landscape protected, we want better air quality, we want to protect the water aquifer, we want to protect the sacred," he said. "The undisturbed landscape holds much sacredness. It brings peace of mind, it brings a settled heart and it gives good spiritual strength."

No matter what side they're on, many Navajos feel their voices aren't being heard.

Listening sessions

Haaland on Monday invited everyone to participate in the listening sessions that will be held as part of the process, which she has dubbed "Honoring Chaco."

Environmentalists say the region is a prime example of the problems of tribal consultation and that Haaland's effort could mark a shift toward more tribal involvement in future decision-making when it comes to identifying and protecting cultural resources.

"By creating a new collaborative process with 'Honoring Chaco' we have the ability to ameliorate broken promises and to right the wrongs of consultation just being a check-the-box exercise," said Rebecca Sobel, of the group WildEarth Guardians. "Hopefully it will be the beginning of a new relationship."

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Preview of a farm show and a utility vehicle update – Farm Progress

Posted: at 10:06 pm

While the fall farm shows may not be that far behind, it's time to look ahead to the New York Farm Show, a significant event for Northeastern farmers. But what can you find when you're there? Chris Torres, American Agriculturist, offers a preview discussing the event and what it offers visitors.

The show is entering its 38th year and comes off a postponement from 2021. Farmers that attend this show are looking for new tools and ideas, and it represents a significant stop for dairy producers seeking new ways to boost returns. Torres fills listeners in on the program.

Then there's a discussion about the new Roxor utility vehicle, which after a 2019 launch hit a speedbump when lawyers from Jeep claimed the rugged machine looked a little too similar to on-road vehicles. Roxor and its engineers went back to the drawing board, but they didn't use a clean sheet design, instead they took a different approach. Rich Ansell, vice president of marketing, Roxor shares that backstory and what the finished product offers.

Give it a listen.

Beyond Around Farm Progress we've got more podcasts to share. Check out all our podcast links at FarmProgress.com/farm-progress-podcasts to keep up on not only Around Farm Progress but daily updates from Max Armstrong, and more.

And if you want quick access to top news from Farm Progress, sign up for our mobile text service by texting FARM to 20505. Note that there may be a text or data cost for using the service.

The podcast Around Farm Progress goes live online by 3 p.m. Central time each Friday and will engage editors from around the country as well as experts in our industry. You can listen to this week's episode above or subscribe using your favorite podcast service just search "Around Farm Progress" and subscribe so you don't miss an episode.

Farmers are getting their information in new ways. Farm Progress is a leader in reaching them as needed. From top magazines around the country to one of the first agriculture-focused mobile apps from Farm Futures, to the leading television presence with This Week in Agribusiness, the company covers all media for agriculture.

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Heather Heyer’s mom on Unite the Right verdict: Free speech is protected, but violent actions are not – jacksonprogress-argus

Posted: at 10:06 pm

After a jury awarded more than $26 million in damages in a lawsuit against White nationalists who organized and participated in a violent rally in 2017, the mother of a woman who was killed there said the verdict proves speech may be protected but violent actions are not.

Heather Heyer was killed and dozens were injured when James Alex Fields Jr. drove a car into a crowd of counterprotesters to the rally. Fields is serving multiple life sentences for killing Heyer.

The jury in a civil trial on Tuesday found the defendants, which included some of the most prominent figures of the alt-right -- Jason Kessler, Matthew Heimbach, Richard Spencer and Christopher Cantwell -- liable on a state conspiracy claim and other claims regarding the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

"The defendants seemed to want to argue that their speech was protected by First Amendment rights, and I would say speech is protected. Action from that speech is not protected," said Susan Bro, Heyer's mother. "So when you speak and you, yourself and others act on that speech, it is no longer protected."

Half of the punitive damages awarded were against Fields. In addition, the jury awarded punitive damages against Kessler, Spencer and Cantwell at $700,000 each, and Heimbach for $500,000.

The events surrounding August 11-12, 2017, saw White nationalists and supremacists marching through Charlottesville and the University of Virginia campus chanting, "Jews will not replace us," "You will not replace us" and "Blood and soil," a phrase evoking Nazi philosophy on ethnic identity.

The violence -- which enveloped the rally to protest the planned removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee -- reached a crescendo when Fields, who was protesting the statue's removal, sped his car through the crowd, injuring dozens and killing Heyer.

Bro said she wanted people to "stop putting Heather on a pedestal."

"She was a normal 32-year-old, feisty woman," Bro told CNN's John Berman. "She had rough edges, just like anybody, and she was a random murder in a mass car attack. She just happened to be the one that took the brunt force."

"So what I want you to take away from that is, stand up and do the right thing. You don't know what kind of impact that will have," Bro said.

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The jury's decision "speaks volumes to trying to set things straight" in her daughter's murder, Bro said.

"This is the first, and God knows I hope, the only murder in my life," she said. "I don't know that you ever feel complete justice. But I don't know what else could be done."

The plaintiffs included town residents and counterprotesters injured in the violence, and Bro said she was proud of them "for not buckling under pressure when questioned by the defendants."

Attorneys for the plaintiffs said on Tuesday they were "thrilled" with the verdict.

"Today's verdict sends a loud and clear message that facts matter, the law matters, and that the laws of this country will not tolerate the use of violence to deprive racial and religious minorities of the basic right we all share to live as free and equal citizens," plaintiffs' attorneys Robert Kaplan and Karen Dunn said Tuesday.

Despite the large jury award, there's the question of whether the plaintiffs will see much of that money. While Fields is serving multiple life sentences, some of the other defendants -- individuals and White supremacist organizations -- have indicated they are financially stressed.

"The defendants in the case are destitute, none of them have any money," said attorney Joshua Smith, who represented three defendants. "I don't know how any of the plaintiffs are going to get anything for any of this."

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Heather Heyer's mom on Unite the Right verdict: Free speech is protected, but violent actions are not - jacksonprogress-argus

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‘No progress’ ahead of Iran nuclear talks, says United Nations agency – FRANCE 24

Posted: at 10:06 pm

Issued on: 25/11/2021 - 00:20

The UN nuclear watchdog said Wednesday there had been "no progress" in talks with Tehran on disputes over the monitoring ofIran's atomic programme, just days before talks restart on reviving the 2015Irannuclear deal.

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told a quarterly meeting of the agency's board that talks he held in Tehran on Tuesday were "inconclusive" despite being "constructive".

Grossi had sought to tackle constraints put on IAEA inspections earlier this year, outstanding questions over the presence of undeclared nuclear material at sites inIran, and thetreatment of IAEA staff in the country.

"In terms of the substance... we were not able to make progress," Grossi told reporters, saying that the lack of agreement had come "in spite of my best efforts".

Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization ofIran, told Iranian television his team "tried until the last moment" but there is still work to be done.

Among other officials in Tehran, Grossi met Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Amir-Abdollahian put a positive gloss on the talks, telling the official Irna agency on Wednesday that a "common declaration" had been reached which would be published "as soon as possible".

'Foot-dragging'

Grossi's visit came ahead of the scheduled resumption on Monday of negotiations between Tehran and world powers aimed at reviving the 2015 deal that gaveIransanctions relief in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.

The United States said it was "disappointed" by the outcome of Grossi's visit and said it was ready to negotiate in Vienna.

"But of courseIran's failure to cooperate is a bad sign about their seriousness in a successful conclusion to our negotiations," a State Department spokesperson said.

The remaining members of the accord -- France, Germany, the UK, China, Russia andIran-- will attend with the US taking part indirectly.

The deal has been gradually disintegrating since former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018.

The following yearIranretaliated by starting to move away from its commitments under the deal, also known as the JCPOA.

The US negotiator for the JCPOA talks Rob Malley warned that Washington would not "sit idly" ifIrandelayed progress at the talks.

"If (Iran) continues to do what it appears to be doing now, which is to drag its feet at the nuclear diplomatic table and accelerate its pace when it comes to its nuclear program... we'll have to respond accordingly," Malley told US broadcaster NPR.

At the IAEA Board of Governors' meeting, the EU issued a joint statement saying it was "deeply concerned at the inconclusive outcome of the discussions" with Grossi.

Russia's representative meanwhile said it supported Grossi's "intent to continue working with the Iranian side and call for Tehran to do the same".

'Excessively invasive'

One of the steps away from the deal came earlier this year whenIranbegan restricting some IAEA inspections activity.

Iranand the agency currently have a temporary agreement that gives the IAEA access to monitoring equipment atIran's nuclear facilities.

However, the Agency has warned that the agreement is not a durable solution and Grossi said he was "close to... the point where I would not be able to guarantee continuity of knowledge" ofIran's nuclear programme if it continued.

Grossi also said he had raised concerns while in Tehran about security checks on IAEA inspectors which the agency has described as "excessively invasive".

He noted that the IAEA andIranhad a legal agreement "which is intended to protect inspectors from intimidation, from seizure of their property".

"Our Iranian colleagues have instituted a number of measures which are simply incompatible" with this, he said.

(AFP)

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'No progress' ahead of Iran nuclear talks, says United Nations agency - FRANCE 24

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