In spite of everything, a culture of peace is emerging in all fields of human endeavour
monthly, year 21st, no. 304 – 2nd October 2021
Good News Agency carries positive and constructive news from all over the world relating to voluntary work, the work of the United Nations, non governmental organizations and institutions engaged in improving the quality of life – news that doesn’t “burn out” in the space of a day. It is distributed free of charge through Internet to media and editorial journalists, NGOs, service associations and high schools and colleges around the world.
It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà Mondiale, an educational charity associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information It is a supporter of the Global Movement for the Culture of Peace. In the final report of the Decade for a Culture of Peace project (2001-2010) provided to the UN Secretary-General for presentation to the UN General Assembly, Good News Agency is included among the three NGOs that have been playing an active role in the field of Information through Internet.*
* * * * * * *
Dear readers of Good News Agency,
with this issue 304 we are proposing a new structure for the collection and presentation of the good news we find monthly. The news will be divided into seven areas of reference:
1. Government and politics
2. Education and teaching
3. Economy, finance and planning
4. Arts of living and relationships
5. Work, science and industry
6. Society and communication
7. Rules, regulations and environment
In this way we intend to cover seven main fields of human life and activities, in which to record and promote, as always, the presence of goodwill in action and the culture of peace and cooperation that are for us the guiding values in these complex times.
Each news item you will find in the seven fields will in turn be linked to one in particular of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
This issue 304 covers the month of September and the month of October, during which we will be able to refine the new model in order to present ourselves in our final form with issue 305 in November.
Thank you as always for your interest and participation in our initiative.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals of Agenda 2030 United Nations
SDGs number 1-No Poverty-
Goal : End poverty in all its forms everywhere
SDGs number 2-Zero Hunger
Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
SDGs number 4-Quality Education
Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
SDGs number 5-Gender Equality
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
SDGs number 6-Clean Water and Sanitation
Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
SDGs number 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
SDGs number 10-Reduced Inequalities
Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
SDGs number 12-Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
SDGs number 13-Climate Action
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
SDGs number 14- Life below Water
Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
SDGs number 15-Life on Land
Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
News related with SDGs number 17-Partnerships to achieve the Goals
Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
* * * * * * *
Government and politics – Education and teaching – Economy, finance and planning
Arts of living and relationships – Work, science and industry
Society and communication –Rules, regulations and environment
Global Leaders Dialogue on People of African Descent: a journey towards equality
9 September 2021 - International experts, leaders and activists will discuss ways to galvanize global leaders and influencers into action, identify solutions towards achieving a just and equitable future and highlight gender-based inequalities that contribute to violence and harmful practices perpetrated against women and girls.
News related with SDGs number 10-Reduced Inequalities
Georgia-Pacific Supports the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and the International Human Trafficking Institute – IHTI
7 September 2021 - Georgia-Pacific respects human dignity and works to help all people reach their potential. Through our support of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and the International Human Trafficking Institute - IHTI we hope to raise awareness of and help stop human trafficking. Learn Something. See Something. Do Something.
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
International Law and Justice
September 2021- Among the greatest achievements of the United Nations is the development of a body of international law, which is central to promoting economic and social development, as well as to advancing international peace and security. The international law is enshrined in conventions, treaties and standards. Many of the treaties brought about by the United Nations form the basis of the law that governs relations among nations. While the work of the UN in this area does not always receive attention, it has a daily impact on the lives of people everywhere.
https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/international-law-and-justice//
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institution
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2021/1312 of 19 July 2021 authorising the opening of negotiations for a cooperation agreement between the European Union and the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO-INTERPOL)
10 August 2021 – THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (…) HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
1. The Commission is hereby authorised to open negotiations, on behalf of the European Union, for a cooperation agreement between the European Union and the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO-INTERPOL). (…)
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
United Nations – Economic and Social Council – United Nations Children’s Fund Executive Board – Second regular session 2021 – Item 4 of the provisional agenda
4 August 2021 - UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2022–2025
Summary
The UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2022–2025, the first of two sequential, coherent plans towards 2030, charts a course towards inclusive recovery from the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, and the realization of a society in which every child is included and has agency, opportunity and their rights fulfilled.
This Strategic Plan sets out measurable results for children, especially the most excluded, including in humanitarian crises and fragile situations, and defines the change strategies and enablers that support their achievement. (…)
https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N21/183/77/pdf/N2118377.pdf?OpenElement
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
REGULATION (EU) 2021/1232 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 14 July 2021 on a temporary derogation from certain provisions of Directive 2002/58/EC as regards the use of technologies by providers of number-independent interpersonal communications services for the processing of personal and other data for the purpose of combating online child sexual abuse (Text with EEA relevance)
30 July 2021 – THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (…) HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: (…)
Article 1
Subject matter and scope
1. This Regulation lays down temporary and strictly limited rules derogating from certain obligations laid down in Directive 2002/58/EC, with the sole objective of enabling providers of certain number-independent interpersonal communications services (‘providers’) to use, without prejudice to Regulation (EU) 2016/679, specific technologies for the processing of personal and other data to the extent strictly necessary to detect online child sexual abuse on their services and report it and to remove online child sexual abuse material from their services. (…)
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2021/1210 of 22 July 2021 on an assistance measure taking the form of a general programme for support to the African Union under the European Peace Facility in 2021
23 July 2021 – THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (…) HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION
Article 1
Establishment, objectives and scope
1. An assistance measure taking the form of a general programme for support to the African Union is hereby established, to be financed under the European Peace Facility (EPF) (the ‘Assistance Measure’). The Assistance Measure shall finance actions approved by the Political and Security Committee (PSC) before 31 December 2021.
2. The objectives of the Assistance Measure are to reduce the incidence, duration and intensity of violent conflicts in Africa and to strengthen the role of the African Union (AU) regarding peace and security on the African continent. (…)
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
ICRC launches its new 2021-2026 strategy on access to education
9 September 2021 - The 9th September marks the International Day to Protect Education from Attack and symbolizes the commitment of states as well as humanitarian and development actors to ensure safe, enabling learning environments in humanitarian emergencies. In 2017, the ICRC stepped into the space of education precisely for this reason. Today, in 2021, the access to education program marks its 4th year, ensuring that children and school communities at frontlines, in remote areas and in highly violent zones can continue to go to school.
https://www.icrc.org/en/document/icrc-new-strategy-access-education//
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
Build Forward Better: how to prepare now to respond more effectively to crises’ impact on education
(by Bushra Zulfiqar, Global Education Director & Emma Wagner, Head of Education Policy & Advocacy, Save the Children)
6 September 2021 - The education of hundreds of millions of children in 48 countries is at extreme or high risk of collapsing as factors such as climate change, lack of COVID-19 vaccines, displacement, attacks on schools and lack of digital connectivity are jeopardising their access to safe, inclusive and quality learning – unless action is taken now. Given the scale of the learning crisis that existed before the pandemic, it’s vital that we don’t limit our ambition to building ‘back’ to how things were. Now it’s imperative we build forward better and differently.
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity
September 2021- International solidarity is the expression of a spirit of unity among individuals, peoples, States and international organizations. It encompasses the union of interests, purposes and actions and the recognition of different needs and rights to achieve common goals. International solidarity is a foundational principle underpinning contemporary international law in order to preserve international order and to ensure the survival of international society.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/solidarity/pages/iesolidarityindex.aspx//
News related with SDGs number 10-Reduced Inequalities
Tracking mosquitoes to prevent malaria in Venezuela
1 September 2021 – (…) Malaria was almost under control in Venezuela in the 1960s but has made a major comeback in recent years. According to the World Health Organization, there were nearly 470,000 cases in 2019, which makes Venezuela one of the most affected countries in Latin America. Sucre is one of the regions with the highest incidence of malaria in the country. Since 2019, MSF has worked in the communities of Yaguaraparo, Coicual, Putucual, Guaca, Caño Ajíes, Agua Clarita and San Vicente, where the disease prevalence is particularly high. The local health authorities and MSF are focusing on three main activities: diagnosis and treatment, health promotion and vector control. Vector control refers to preventing the transmission of diseases through the insects that carry them, the so-called vectors. It can be complex to carry out because, for the measures to be effective, teams need to know absolutely everything about these mosquitoes. The first step is to locate possible breeding sites. The vector control team visit streams and lagoons near where malaria cases are found to collect water samples, and confirm the presence and density of Anopheles larvae. Next, the team go to local people’s homes to follow and trap mosquitoes with the intention of studying them. The information they are looking for includes determining which species are present, their number, their average life span, the preferred time of day when they bite, and whether they enter houses and rest on walls. Once they have all this information, the results are analysed to develop effective and sustainable vector control strategies. This might include treating ponds with biolarvicides, setting up schedules to spray the walls inside people’s houses, and distributing mosquito nets. (…)
https://www.msf.org/controlling-mosquitoes-prevent-malaria-venezuela
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
IFRC launches multiregional plan to ramp up humanitarian assistance to migrants and displaced people
26 August 2021, Geneva – The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched today a three-year plan to extend humanitarian assistance and support to migrants and displaced people along the migration routes of greatest humanitarian concern in Africa, the Middle East and Europe, three regions facing some of the most complex and critical migration dynamics in the world. As a global humanitarian network with a presence in 192 countries and 14 million community-based volunteers, the IFRC witnesses every day the enormous suffering that many migrants and displaced people face along their journeys. Xavier Castellanos, IFRC Under Secretary General, National Society Development and Operations Coordination, said:“Migrants and displaced people are taking increasingly dangerous routes, both across land and sea. During their journeys, they face significant risks and challenges: many are abused and face exploitation – others face protection risks, including child abuse, sexual and gender-based violence and human trafficking. We are extremely concerned that migrants and displaced people are not able, at all stages of their journey, to access what they need most – such as food, water and sanitation, shelter, and healthcare. Our multiregional humanitarian assistance plan aims to bridge this gap”. The IFRC multiregional plan brings together humanitarian operations of 34 National Societies across Africa, the Middle East and Europe and focuses on delivering humanitarian assistance and protection to over 2 million people and more than 500,000 individuals from host communities every year. The plan also includes assistance and protection to people in distress at sea on the Central Mediterranean route. (…)
News related with SDGs number 10-Reduced Inequalities
France helps WFP support Palestinian families affected by hostilities in Gaza
11 August 2021, Jerusalem – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomed a € 500,000 contribution from France to meet pressing food needs of vulnerable non-refugee populations in the Gaza Strip. The funds will be used to provide electronic food vouchers to more than 32,000 people for one month to purchase diverse nutritious food of their choice from 200 retail shops across the Gaza Strip. This donation comes at a critical time when families in the Gaza Strip are coping with exacerbating deterioration in food insecurity, unemployment, and poverty due to the recent escalation in conflict. The recent upsurge in conflict caused significant suffering and destruction. People in the Gaza Strip were already living on the edge and many families have been struggling to put food on the table. Before the recent conflict, seven out of ten people were food insecure. In Gaza and the West Bank, WFP provides regular food assistance to more than 350,000 of the poorest and most food insecure non-refugee Palestinians through food vouchers, multi-purpose cash and in-kind food parcels.
https://www.wfp.org/news/france-helps-wfp-support-palestinian-families-affected-hostilities-gaza
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia supports WFP refugee operations in Tanzania
29 July 2021, Dar Es Salaam – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed a contribution of 36 metric tons of nutritious dates worth USD 88,437 from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) to support refugees living in north-west Tanzania. The consignment of dates will supplement WFP’s monthly food assistance to over 50,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women, children under five years of age and other vulnerable groups in the Kigoma Region. This latest contribution from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia comes at a time when WFP is facing significant funding gaps that has led to only 68% of humanitarian food being distributed to refugees in Tanzania. Refugees are solely reliant on WFP to meet their basic food needs. They receive a food basket that consists of Super cereal, pulses, salt, vegetable oil and fortified maize meal. The distribution of dates will take place this month and provide more than 50,000 beneficiaries with much-needed healthy nutrients. Currently, WFP is assisting nearly 235,000 Burundian and Congolese refugees in Kigoma’s Mtendeli, Nduta, and Nyarugusu refugee camps.
https://www.wfp.org/news/kingdom-saudi-arabia-supports-wfp-refugee-operations-tanzania-29-july-2021
News related with SDGs number 10-Reduced Inequalities
Ways Soccer Clubs are embracing Sustainability
(by Victoria Masterson)
9 September 2021 - The pitches may be green – but how sustainable is soccer?
Next year, we are being promised the world's first carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup. Pulling this off will be no mean feat – from construction to travel and accommodation, Qatar 2022 is expected to produce up to 3.6 million tonnes of CO2. The event plans to tackle its emissions through a variety of measures including offsetting, reusing construction waste, and building a stadium from recycled shipping containers.
And across the sport, there are many other examples of small changes that could have a big impact if widely adopted. Here are some of them.
https://www.ecowatch.com/soccer-sustainability-2654946993.html//
News related with SDGs number 13-Climate Action
NEW YORK New Energy Nexus launches First-ever Climate Fintech Cards & Payments Challenge, in partnership with Barclays, Mastercard, Doconomy and Patch
9 September 2021: New Energy Nexus today launched its inaugural Climate Fintech: Cards & Payments Challenge (C&P Challenge) to catalyze innovation across the financial sector to address climate change. This innovation program brings together multinational financial institutions and fintech leaders to nurture cross-collaboration with startups that offer digital financial climate solutions, and is supported by, Barclays US Consumer Bank; Rise, created by Barclays; Mastercard; Doconomy; and Patch. The C&P Challenge brings together innovators using the latest technologies and partnership models that can help inform the way we spend, the things we buy and how payments are handled – making everyday consumption more sustainable. The initiative offers a $100,000 first-place prize to the winning startup, and the goal of the challenge is to discover and elevate climate innovation in the digital payments space, while advancing relevant proof-of-concept (POC) projects with established financial stakeholders.
News related with SDGs number 13-Climate Action
Korea contributes CHF 290,000 to help developing countries participate in global trade
8 September 2021 - The Republic of Korea has contributed CHF 290,000 to support the WTO’s efforts to help developing countries improve their trading capacity and participate fully in global trade negotiations. This donation to the WTO’s Global Trust Fund will finance training workshops aimed at helping government officials to better understand and implement WTO agreements and improve their negotiating capacities.
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres21_e/pr886_e.htm//
News related with SDGs number 17-Partnerships for the Goals
LONDON - Bloomberg L.P. joins forces with leading global brands to support the Earthshot Prize and help repair our planet this decade
2 September 2021The Earthshot Prize has announced today that 14 influential global companies and brands – including Bloomberg LP – will come together to support and scale the innovative and ground-breaking solutions developed by the soon-to-be-announced fifteen Earthshot Prize Finalists. These global companies will make up the first Earthshot Prize Global Alliance Members and include: Arup, Bloomberg L.P., Deloitte, Herbert Smith Freehills, Hitachi, Ingka Group (IKEA), Microsoft, The Multichoice Group, Natura & Co, Safaricom, Salesforce, Unilever, Vodacom and Walmart. Founded by HRH Prince William in 2020 and inspired by President Kennedy’s ‘Moonshot’, The Earthshot Prize is an ambitious global environmental prize to discover and scale the best solutions to help repair our planet over the next 10 years. Every year from 2021 until 2030, The Earthshot Prize will find and reward inclusive solutions to the five ‘Earthshot’ goals: Protect and Restore Nature; Clean our Air; Revive our Oceans; Build a Waste-Free World; and Fix our Climate. Announced later this month, the first fifteen Earthshot Prize Finalists have been selected for their solutions representing a range of innovations, technologies and movements which, if scaled, could transform our ability to combat the world’s greatest environmental challenges. Joining forces with these companies and brands will help the Finalists develop their solutions faster and have the greatest impact as they work to restore our planet. With the collective power of the Global Alliance Members, the Finalists will have access to resources across numerous professions and sectors including manufacturing, retail, supply chains, legal advice, digital technology, business strategy and government relations.
News related with SDGs number 12-Responsible Consumption and Production
PORTLAND - KEEN Footwear launches First Upcycling Certification Program Reducing Industrial Waste
02 September 2021: KEEN, Inc. (KEEN), the global footwear brand on a mission to make the outside inclusive and accessible to all, today announced it will expand its Detox the Planet Initiative with the debut of the KEEN Harvest Certified Program, a tiered program designed to reduce industrial waste by upcycling it into shoes. The initiative builds on KEEN’s growing Harvest offering, providing transparency into how much industrial waste is upcycled into its shoes. The goal is to relieve pressure on global landfills and minimize the use of virgin materials and lower greenhouse gas emissions. KEEN intends to share the details of this process beginning 2022. Specifically, the KEEN Harvest Certification Program features three levels of certification: Gold (greater than 50% upcycled materials); Silver (greater than 25%); and Bronze (greater than 10%). The ratings provide transparency to the percentage of waste upcycled into shoes. The first shoe with this certification, the Howser Harvest, is Gold certified using upcycled car seat leather in 80% of the upper, launching this November 2021. For spring ‘22, The Harvest Collection will expand with: the Howser Harvest Sandal for men and women; Elsa sneakers for women; and additional Howser Harvest slip-on and lace-up styles for men and women. Select new models will feature upcycled waste coffee grounds. This keeps coffee grounds out of landfills where they create methane, a greenhouse gas known to be more harmful than carbon dioxide, another greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
To learn more about KEEN Effect, visit www.keenfootwear.com/the-keen-effect.html
News related with SDGs number 12-Responsible Consumption and Production
European Union launches project to improve Karamoja's response to shocks
1 September 2021, Kotido – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Office of the Prime Minister are collaborating under a European Union funded project to improve how the Karamoja region responds to food shocks. At the launch of the EUR 4 million Pro-Resilience Action project (Pro-ACT), the UN agencies and government emphasized the need for greater inclusion of poor and vulnerable people in Uganda’s entire disaster response. The project is working towards strengthening shock response systems in all the nine districts of Karamoja through early warning on weather patterns and assistance that enables households take action to reduce their risk. The lean season is the period between planting and harvest, usually occurring from March to July, when there is little food and minimal rainfall. A total of 361,000 people in Karamoja, 30% of the population, faced high levels of food insecurity between March and July this year. FAO has already piloted a drought early warning system to improve community preparation for the lean season and other cyclic shocks that affect food security. As part of Pro-ACT, the EU is contributing to WFP’s lean season response by providing a protective ration. The protective ration is assistance that will help reduce the likelihood of sharing specialized nutritious food that is meant for treatment of malnutrition in children under five and pregnant and breastfeeding women.
https://www.wfp.org/news/european-union-launches-project-improve-karamojas-response-shocks
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
$127 million from World Bank to shore up food security and rural livelihoods in Yemen
Support for joint work by FAO, UNDP and WFP comes as hunger intensifies
29 July 2021, Washington DC/New York/ Rome - The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Food Programme (WFP) have welcomed $127 million in support, provided by the World Bank, for an interagency project to fight the spread of extreme hunger in Yemen. The project will provide rural families with opportunities to build sustainable household food security. Humanitarian needs in Yemen continue to rise. The country is reeling from the impacts of over six years of incessant conflict and economic disruptions compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, floods and desert locusts. Currently, 16.2 million Yemenis face crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 and above) according to the latest Integrated Food Security Classification analysis. This includes approximately 47,000 people experiencing catastrophic (IPC Phase 5) levels of food insecurity -famine like conditions. The World Bank grant will focus on delivering immediate support to vulnerable households through cash-for-work opportunities and nutrition support for mothers and children. The project will also provide targeted livelihoods support aimed at boosting agricultural production in the short term, while enhancing agriculture's contributions to food security and economic activity over the longer term and building capacity for food security management. The grants were made possible by generous contributions from the Bank's International Development Association (IDA) ($100 million) and the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) ($27 million).
http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/1418251/icode/
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
Mexico’s bold break with machismo: Congress is now half female, and gender parity is the law
9 September 2021, Hermosillo, Mexico — When Claudia Pavlovich ran for governor of Sonora, a vast swath of cowboy country south of Arizona, not a single Mexican state was led by a woman. Fewer than 10% of the nation’s mayors were female. As Pavlovich finishes her term this month, Mexico is celebrating an unlikely success. In the six years since that misogyny-plagued campaign, the number of female candidates for state and federal offices has soared. A country steeped in machismo is emerging as one of the world’s leaders in gender parity — and far outpacing the United States. For the first time, 50% of lawmakers in Mexico’s lower house of Congress are women. Women are set to lead nearly a quarter of Mexico’s 32 states, after historic gains in the June midterm elections. In several states, including Sonora, women will outnumber men in local legislatures. Thanks to an ambitious 2019 constitutional reform, Mexico is seeking “parity in everything” — giving women an equal shot at top jobs in the legislative, judicial and executive branches. Many believe a years-long campaign for more equality is fundamentally changing Mexico. This week, the country’s supreme court effectively decriminalized abortion, a key demand of women’s groups. Affirmative action in government has become widely accepted; not a single lawmaker voted against the 2019 gender-parity reform. The inauguration of six female governors this month is seen as particularly significant because the posts are so powerful.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/09/07/mexico-women-gender-parity/
News related with SDGs number 5-Gender Equality
Bogota, Colombia: Youth trained as facilitators of peace and reconciliation
9 September 2021 - Thanks to the coordination of the District Education Secretariat, ACDI / VOCA (North American NGO) and the Fe y Alegría Foundation, 110 students and two teachers from the towns of Kennedy and Bosa graduated as facilitators of peace and reconciliation. This initiative that began in November 2020 was carried out under the guidelines of the ECO Program – Protective and Reliable Educational Environments, with the purpose of contributing to the construction of the District’s ecosystem of peace and reconciliation.
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Resilience and Inclusion: the Culture of Peace in Post-Covid Recovery
7 September 2021- The General Assembly held a High-level Forum on the Culture of Peace under the theme “Transformative Role of The Culture of Peace: Promoting Resilience and Inclusion in Post-Covid Recovery”. Since 1997, the Culture of Peace remains one of the crucial items for the General Assembly and it became more relevant than ever with its scope expanded over the years. Taking place at the time when humankind faces enormous challenges intensified by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Forum strived to address the widening inequality and the rising violence, highlighting the imperative to implant the values of the Culture of Peace with particular attention to the younger generation.
https://en.unesco.org/news/resilience-and-inclusion-culture-peace-post-covid-recovery//
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Peace and Security
September 2021- "To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" are among the first very words of the UN Charter (in its Preamble), and those words were the main motivation for creating the United Nations, whose founders had lived through the devastation of two world wars by 1945. Since the UN's creation on 24 October 1945 (the date its Charter came into force), the United Nations has often been called upon to prevent disputes from escalating into war, or to help restore peace following the outbreak of armed conflict, and to promote lasting peace in societies emerging from wars.
https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/peace-and-security//
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Rooftop solar could meet up to three quarters of total grid demand by 2025
(by Giles Parkinson)
31 August 2021 – Rooftop solar systems are going to have such an impact in coming years that they will meet up to 77 per cent of total grid demand on occasions within five years, sending minimum operating demand down to levels that had never been contemplated until recently. The Australian Energy Market Operator says the pace of rooftop solar is increasing beyond its own expectations and homes and businesses will likely add at least another 8.9GW by 2025, on top of the existing capacity of 14GW. (…)
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY – Empowering “Smart Cities” toward net zero emissions
10 August 2021 – New IEA report for the G20 Italy Presidency examines how cities can be a key to a net-zero emissions future as digitalisation opens up a range of new opportunities. (…) New technologies and increased connectivity, as well as the sheer scale of the world's metropolises, are opening up massive opportunities to optimise urban planning, improve services and extend access, while at the same time creating revenue streams, jobs and business ventures. (…)
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
Canada provides support to WFP to help the poorest urban populations in Tanzania
5 August 2021, Dar Es Salaam – The Government of Canada has provided USD 3.74 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to contribute towards its efforts to support the Government’s social protection programme in the country. Both Canada and WFP are strong supporters of social safety nets, including cash transfers to the most vulnerable populations. Globally, WFP has extensive experience in supporting governments to implement social protection programmes, including public works and resilience building interventions such as irrigation canals, fish ponds, charcoal dams, tree planting and improving roads for market access. These aim at enabling communities to better adapt to shocks and economic stresses. In Tanzania, WFP is currently working with the Government to support the Productive Social Safety Net system managed by the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) to reach the most vulnerable households. With this contribution from Canada, WFP will be able to strengthen this support for the benefit of those living in the poorest urban areas of the country. Emphasis will be put on addressing gender related vulnerabilities, including those faced by female headed households.
https://www.wfp.org/news/canada-provides-support-wfp-help-poorest-urban-populations-tanzania
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
Nearly 3 million acres enrolled in Conservation Reserve Program
(by Laura Bies)
9 September 2021 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has accepted 2.8 million acres of private land into the Conservation Reserve Program in 2021. The program allows landowners to receive an annual payment in exchange for removing environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and planting species that will improve environmental health and quality. Conservation Reserve Program enrollment, which provides vital wildlife habitat on private lands, has been falling in recent years.
https://wildlife.org/nearly-3-million-acres-enrolled-in-conservation-reserve-program//
News related with SDGs number 15-Life on Land
Conditions are ideal for a new climate club
(by Simone Tagliapietra and Guntram B. Wolff)
9 September 2021 - This article argues that both technological and political conditions are now ideal to establish a new climate club, in which members commit to stronger domestic climate measures and agree on the coordinated introduction of carbon border adjustment measures. On the technology side, there have been stunning clean technology cost reductions.
https://www.bruegel.org/2021/09/conditions-are-ideal-for-a-new-climate-club//
News related with SDGs number 13-Climate Action
EUROPEAN COMMISSION - Ceremony marks launch of the third Estonia-Latvia electricity interconnector
27 August 2021 – A new electricity connection between Estonia and Latvia was launched on August 25 by the respective electricity system operators Elering and AST. This is the third electricity connector between the two countries and a further step in synchronising the Baltic with the continental European network. As well as improving security of supply and strengthening the grid, the project will facilitate the integration of renewables into the grid and contribute to reducing EU greenhouse gas emissions. Indeed, an important element about this new connection is that it will be compatible with developing an offshore network and the related building of offshore wind farms (…)
News related with SDGs number 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY – How Solar Water Heaters Industry Benefits the Local Economy
24 August 2021 – (…) In its latest addition to the Leveraging Local Capacity series, IRENA examines beyond the environmental benefits of solar water heaters by outlining the ample opportunities for the creation of local socio-economic value presented by domestic solar water heaters industry. The Renewable Energy Benefits: Leveraging Local Capacity for Solar Water Heaters examines the kinds of jobs created and suggests ways for policymakers to build on existing solar water heaters industry. (…)
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
United Nations – General Assembly – Seventy–fifth session – Agenda item 136 – Impact of rapid technological change on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 17 August 2021: Impact of rapid technological change on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets
19 August 2021 - The General Assembly, (…)
1. Encourages Member States to continue to consider the impact of key rapid technological changes on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets in order to benefit from opportunities and address challenges, promote the development of national strategies and public policies, science, technology and innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals road maps (STI for SDGs road maps), capacity-building and scientific engagement, and share best practices;
2. Urges Member States and other stakeholders to take actions to bridge the digital and knowledge divides, recognizing that approaches must be multidimensional and include an evolving understanding of what constitutes access, emphasizing the quality of that access, (…)
https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N21/227/62/pdf/N2122762.pdf?OpenElement
News related with SDGs number 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Laser-powered fusion energy inches closer to reality
(by J. Fingas)
18 August 2021 – Scientists have just edged closer to a fusion energy system that doesn't lean on magnetic field-based tokamak reactors or twisty stellarators. Science reports that a team at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has achieved a breakthrough in laser-powered fusion energy by coming much closer to "ignition," or a blast that produces an excess of energy. (…)
https://www.engadget.com/laser-powered-fusion-energy-breakthrough-134058739.html?src=rss
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
First half of 2021 sees record investment in renewable energy
(by John Engel – Source BloombergNEF)
4 August 2021 – More money was invested in renewable energy in the first six months of 2021 than the first half of any other year, according to tracking by BloombergNEF. But analysts still say “immediate” funding is needed to reach global net-zero emissions goals. Globally, $174 billion of new investment was made in renewable energy capacity, equity raised by specialist companies, and related areas, like storage (…)
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
ASIA/HOLY LAND - Solar panels at the University of Bethlehem and in Catholic schools, to guard the "common home" and concentrate resources in educational activities
22 September 2021: While the "Time of Creation" opens again this year, a period of the year in which Christians of different confessions around the world are invited to pray and work together for the custody of the "common home", the growing ecological sensitivity of the baptized is also reflected in the concrete and operational choices made by various ecclesial institutions in the context of their own pastoral, charitable and educational activities. The series of "agreements" stipulated by the "Pontifical Mission" in the Holy Land with Catholic institutions and academic schools present in the Holy Land is also part of this framework to encourage the use of renewable energy sources in these institutions to provide for ones energy needs. In concrete terms, the agreements provide for the launch of a series of technical projects - financed also thanks to funds offered by the German charity Misereor - which will allow the installation of solar panels in Christian schools and academic institutions capable of covering up to half of the energy needs of individual institutes. The first academic institutions involved in the project are the University of Bethlehem and two educational institutes - the school of the Brothers of Christian schools and the Holy Land College - which are located in Beit Hanina, a suburb of Jerusalem. Even today, the organization promotes and supports charitable, humanitarian and educational initiatives aimed "at the needy in the Holy Land, Palestinians and Israelis, of all ages and beliefs". "Today - Pope Francis recalled during the general audience held on Wednesday, September 1st in Paul VI Hall - we celebrate the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation". The Pontiff added that this day marks "the beginning of the time of Creation, which will take place on October 4th, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. "With Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby" added the Bishop of Rome, "we have prepared a Message that will be issued in the coming days. Together with our brothers and sisters of different Christian denominations, let us pray and work for our common home in these times of grave crisis for the planet".
News related with SDGs number 15-Life on Land
AMERICA/UNITED STATES - Against polarization and division: empower individuals, families, and communities to be bridgebuilders across perspectives
9 September 2021 - Washington (Agenzia Fides) - The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has launched a new initiative today aimed at addressing polarization in society. Based on Pope Francis’ call in his encyclical, Fratelli Tutti for “a better kind of politics, one truly at the service of the common good” (no. 154). The new initiative, Civilize It: A better kind of Politics asks Catholics to respond to this invitation with charity, clarity, and creativity.
News related with SDGs number 17-Partnerships for the Goals
ASIA/CAMBODIA - Catholics and Buddhists celebrate the "Time of Creation" together
8 September 2021In Cambodia the "Time of Creation" is a fruitful opportunity to develop dialogue, friendship and deep interreligious relations between Christians and Buddhists. As Fides learned, from September 1st, Catholic priests and Cambodian Buddhist monks began to meet and plant trees together to celebrate the "Day of Prayer for the Environment" and the special season in which, at a universal level, Christians place the emphasis on safeguarding creation. In the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang, in the northwest of Cambodia, about 300 kilometers from the capital Phnom Penh, "we live the joyful experience of collaborating with Buddhist monks for the good of the environment, of society, side by side, united for a better future", said Mgr. Figaredo. For five years, on the occasion of the "Time of Creation", Catholics and Buddhists have taken this initiative to take care of the territory and to give an example to all citizens, of any religious creed. In Cambodia in particular, collaboration for the protection of the natural environment and creation "is also a way to promote peace, solidarity and understanding between all of us", notes the Prefect. With this spirit, the Prefecture of Battambang simultaneously celebrates the "Day of Interreligious Dialogue" in September, with accents and initiatives that touch and involve the "Time of Creation".
News related with SDGs number 15-Life on Land
Pakistan: Launch of the DLP Forum marks 72 years of the Geneva Conventions and creates IHL discussion space
8 September 2021 - Marking the 72nd anniversary of the Geneva Conventions on 12 August, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Research Society of International Law (RSIL) jointly launched the Diplomacy, Law and Policy (DLP) Forum.
https://www.icrc.org/en/document/pakistan-dlp-forum-launch-72-years//
News related with SDGs number 17-Partnerships for the Goals
Churches and religions in Ukraine working to protect Creation
(By Svitlana Dukhovych)
6 September 2021 - For the second year in a row, the Catholic University of Lviv, Ukraine, has organized an Ecumenical Social Week, taking its cue from Pope Francis' Laudato si'. Following last year's edition dedicated to "Hearing the Cry of the Earth. Integral Ecology in Action," the university's Institute of Ecumenical Studies has chosen for this year's event the theme "Promoting the Common Good: Toward Sustainable Development." Work will begin on October 5, 2021.
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-09/stories-laudato-si-ukraine-social-week.html//
News related with SDGs number 15-Life on Land
AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - Ending the Culture of Murder: Call for Peace by Religious Leaders in Western Equatoria
4 September 2021 - The denunciation that the religious leaders address once again to the entire people of the Western Equatorial State follows the appeal for peace launched last August 4 by the Interfaith Council and the Interreligious Council.
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
ASIA/IRAQ - The bells of Mosul ring again
4 September 2021 - Mosul (Agenzia Fides) - The appointment is set for Tuesday September 14, the day on which the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is celebrated, a solemnity particularly dear to the Christian communities present in Iraq. On that day, the bell of the historic "Church of the Hour", officiated by the Dominican Fathers, will return to ring again in the streets and squares of the old city of Mosul.
http://www.fides.org/en/news/70737-ASIA_IRAQ_The_bells_of_Mosul_ring_again//
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Rules, regulations and environment
(top)
New Metric allows Businesses to quantify positive Biodiversity Impacts
9 September 2021 - September 9, 2021 /CSRwire/ - The Species Threat Abatement and Restoration Metric (STAR) will, for the first time, allow businesses to estimate the potential contributions of specific nature-positive actions in specific places towards global biodiversity targets. STAR is based on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM and estimates the contribution of both threat abatement and habitat restoration actions towards reducing species extinction risk. This makes it possible to identify the most appropriate actions that will yield benefits for globally threatened species and permits a company to add up their total potential contributions to preventing biodiversity loss across the world.
News related with SDGs number 15-Life on Land
Designing sustainable habitats at the San Diego Zoo
(by Teresa Bergen)
9 September 2021 - What’s more amazing, a tiny nectar-drinking bird that weighs less than a nickel and can fly backward, or a giant carnivorous lizard that can smell a dying animal up to six miles away? They’re both impressive, and now visitors to the San Diego Zoo can experience both hummingbirds and Komodo dragons in brand new habitats just steps away from each other.
The two new habitats have been carefully designed, both from an eco-materials standpoint and considering what will make these creatures feel most at home.
https://inhabitat.com/designing-sustainable-habitats-at-the-san-diego-zoo//
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
World’s biggest machine capturing carbon from air turned on in Iceland
9 September 2021 - Operators say the Orca plant can suck 4,000 tonnes of CO2 out of the air every year and inject it deep into the ground to be mineralised. The world’s largest plant designed to suck carbon dioxide out of the air and turn it into rock has started running, the companies behind the project said on Wednesday. The plant, named Orca after the Icelandic word “orka” meaning “energy”, consists of four units, each made up of two metal boxes that look like shipping containers.
News related with SDGs number 12-Responsible Consumption and Production
New French Law will help millions of people drive on sunshine
(by Zachary Shahan)
31 August 2021 – (…) France has just announced in this climate bill that 30% of the surface of new commercial and industrial buildings will have to be solarized starting on January 1, 2023 — a year and a half from now. Those solar panels will power a lot of electric vehicles, but they won’t be the only ones in a wave of new solar power capacity. Parking areas that surpass 500m² will have to solarize at least 50% of their surface area starting on January 1, 2024. (…)
https://cleantechnica.com/2021/08/30/new-french-law-will-help-millions-of-people-drive-on-sunshine/
News related with SDGs number 13-Climate Action
EUROPEAN COMMISSION – State aid: Commission approves 5.7 billion French scheme to support production of electricity from small solar installations on buildings
August 30, 2021 – The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a 5.7 billion French aid scheme to support renewable electricity production from small solar installations located on buildings. The measure will help France achieve its 2030 target of producing 33% of its energy needs from renewable sources and will contribute to the European objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, without unduly distorting competition. (…)
News related with SDGs number 12-Responsible Consumption and Production
INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY – IRENA and the European Space Agency agree to advance Energy Transition in Space Activities
3 August 2021 – The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today (July 30) to advance the global energy transition through space-based services and products. (…) Data and images from satellites can play a significant role to help countries better assess the geographical potential of renewables, identify the best locations for projects, forecast weather patterns and support long-term planning of new renewable generation capacity and infrastructure. (…)
News related with SDGs number 17-Partnerships for the Goals
United Nations – Economic and Social Council – 2021 session – Agenda item 18 (b) – Economic and environmental questions: science and technology for development
Resolution adopted by the Economic and Social Council on 22 July 2021: Science, technology and innovation for development
2 August 2021 – The Economic and Social Council, (…)
Recommends the following for consideration by national Governments, the Commission on Science and Technology for Development and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development:
(a) Governments, individually and collectively, are encouraged to (…) consider taking the following actions:
(i) To closely link science, technology, innovation and strategies of sustainable development by prominently featuring capacity-building in information and communications technologies and science, technology and innovation in national development planning;
(ii) To promote local innovation capabilities for inclusive and sustainable economic development (…)
https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N21/207/37/pdf/N2120737.pdf?OpenElement
News related with SDGs number 13-Climate Action
* * * * * * *
(top)
Good News Agency is published monthly (except August) in English, Italian and Portuguese. Past issues are available at www.goodnewsagency.org . Rome Law-court registration no. 265 dated 20 June 2000. Managing Editor: Fabio Gatti (fabio.gatti@goodnewsagency.org). Editorial research by Fabio Gatti, Isabella Strippoli, Elisa Minelli, Salvatore Caruso Motta, Chiara Damilano, Francesco Viglienghi, Carlo Toraldo, Andrea Landriscina, Nazzarena Franco. Webmaster, media and NGO coverage: Simone Frassanito (simone.frassanito@goodnewsagency.org)
Good News Agency is distributed free of charge through Internet to media and editorial journalists of the daily newspapers and periodical magazines and of the radio and television stations, NGOs, service associations, high schools and colleges as well as over 26,000 Rotarians around the world.
It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà Mondiale, a registered, not-for-profit educational charity chartered in Italy in 1979 The Association operates for the development of consciousness and promotes a culture of peace in the ‘global village’ perspective based on unity in diversity and on sharing. It is based in Piazzale degli Eroi 8, 00136 Rome, Italy. The Association is a member of the World Association of Non Governmental Organizations.
* http://decade-culture-of-peace.org/2010_civil_society_report.pdf - In section A - International Organizations, page 12, the Report says: ”Diffusion and exchange of culture of peace information via the Internet has become the major instrument for several international organizations, notably the Culture of Peace News Network, the Good News Agency and the Education for Peace Globalnet.”