Day: May 24, 2023

German companies in Malaysia expect a more promising outlook for business development in the next 12 months despite naming inflation as a top concern in the next five years, the latest AHK World Business Outlook Spring 2023 survey found.

The bi-annual survey which captures the sentiments of German firms operating in Malaysia saw 70.5% of respondents saying they expect better business development while 53.3% said their company’s current business situation remained unchanged.

Source: Nam News Network (NNN)

Can a metropolis home to millions really be environmentally friendly? Paris experiments with vegetable gardens, repair cafés and railroad tracks with a green future.

From Eiffel Tower selfies to walks in Montmartre, there are many reasons Paris is one of the most-visited cities in the world. Tourists can’t get enough of the Louvre museum, the Arc de Triomphe or Notre-Dame Cathedral. But there is another, less-chic facet of the French capital that cannot be overlooked: Congested boulevards, street noise and trash. Such unpleasant realities are a thorn in the side of many Parisians. Fortunately, there are an increasing number of sustainable initiatives in the city which aim to combat this — from industrial areas turned into parks to apps that promote walking instead of tourist buses.

From train station to urban farm

Sustainability initiatives in Paris extend to the world of fashion. In the city’s many second-hand clothing stores — many are located in the Marais district in the city center — garments easily find new owners. Meanwhile, in the city’s 18th arrondissement to the north, the Recyclerie eco-culture project is situated in the former Ornano train station. “The building was the former station of the Petite Ceinture, the predecessor of the Métro,” says Marie-Eugénie Chanvillard, director of Recyclerie, which started in 2014 with the mission of promoting eco-responsibility and social justice. “The station has been used in different ways over the years, including as a bank. We wanted to keep the space and remind people of the station’s past,” she said.

The Petite Ceinture was a 32-kilometer (19 mile) circular rail line that ran around Paris. In 2007, a first section was made into a pedestrian area, and others followed. Over the years, nature has started to take over and the tracks became a thriving green space — and now one that has been developed for public use.

In France, “Recycleries” refer to places where non-functional equipment is repaired and resold. As the name suggests, the Recyclerie still has a workshop where broken items can be repaired. The sustainability theme is complemented with a cafeteria, urban gardens and even the sale of organic food and natural wine. The old tracks are now a cozy public courtyard, while there’s also a vegetable garden with a chicken coop in the space’s urban farm.

From train track to park

The Recyclerie is not the only place in Paris where a train track has been converted into an outdoor space for people to enjoy. The Coulée verte René-Dumont is a four-kilometer-long elevated park on a disused railroad line that begins near the Place de la Bastille in the city’s center.

It’s unsurprising that converted train tracks should find a new use. Train lines have a special use in the French capital, especially considering the city’s main means of transportation is the Metro. Despite what heavy traffic on the streets might suggest, Paris has an extensive public transportation network that is constantly being expanded. It connects the city’s suburbs with the center.

Pre-Olympic changes

In recent years, however, some Parisians have switched to riding bikes for their work commute, making use of the bicycle lane network that continues to be expanded. The Rue de Rivoli between the Louvre and the Bastille, for example, was converted into a bike lane just three years ago.

In preparation for the 2024 Olympics, the city of Paris is also planning several environmentally conscious changes to the city’s busiest squares, including the Place de la Nation. The administration hopes to reduce traffic in tourist hotspots and provide more space for pedestrians. The area around the Eiffel Tower, for example, will be expanded and landscaped.

A break from Paris’ urban jungle

In the southeast of Paris, the Cité Fertile in the suburb of Pantin is another area where old meets new. The converted freight station is on a large site that also includes a brewery, greenhouse, restaurant, workrooms and around 250 plant species. This urban oasis was created four years ago as part of the éco-quartier Pantin, a project to create an ecological urban district. It’s popular with people living in the neighborhood, too. “On Sundays, many families come to the Cité Fertile. It’s right next door, in the fresh air, and is a great place to linger for a little while,” says Hélène Flourac, who is responsible for its development and partnerships.

Both the Recyclerie and the Cité Fertile see themselves as retreats from the busy Paris metropolis; and as places to explore ways to create sustainable futures. In addition to festivals in the summer, the Cité Fertile organizes various sports classes and is a platform for environmental political topics. The aim is to bring together ideas about sustainability from a variety of fields. “Ecologically designed events are a real issue for the city of the future,” says Flourac.

Through the city with an app

These days, it’s not necessary to hop on a classic tourist bus to see Paris. Tourists can choose a more sustainable option by using the app “Balades Paris durable” (Walks in Sustainable Paris). Developed by the city, the app allows people to leisurely explore the green areas of Paris on foot and includes over two dozen routes that go through almost all Parisian neighborhoods. Ranging from two to five kilometers in length, each walk features different stops on a map. The app displays images and information about the sustainable features of these locations — from drinking water fountains to local community gardens. The walking routes lead curious city strollers through neighborhoods like Clichy, with its energy-friendly building designs. In other green places, such as the Buttes Chaumont park or the famous Père Lachaise cemetery, you can also use the app to get to know the city’s animal and plant species better. Some stops are located in well-known neighborhoods in the historic city center — but in locations where tourists are less likely to take a closer look. With the help of the app, for example, users can learn about hidden green oases on the banks of the Seine that might be missed on a conventional sightseeing tour.

Paris is notable for its places and innovations that show how sustainability can be explored in a metropolis of 2.1 million people. Whether tourists will make use of them — or continue with the classic tourist sites, its up to them.

Source: Deutsche Welle

Bulgarian writer Georgi Gospodinov has won the prestigious award for his novel “Time Shelter,” a story of patriotic nostalgia also driving Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“We tend to live in the past, to bury our heads in the sand and escape from the present. Sometimes we even think the past is our future,” said acclaimed Bulgarian author, Georgi Gospodinov.

He is referring to the theme of his International Booker Prize-winning novel, “Time Shelter,” a darkly comedic story about the dangerous appeal of nostalgia and seeking refuge in the past.

In Gospodinov’s novel, going back in time is initially used as therapy for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. But the idea becomes dystopian as referendum are held across Europe to choose a decade to which everyone can return to,. The decision ultimately leads to the outbreak of World War III.

Using the past to jutify Russian invasion

For 55-year-old Gospodinov, one of Bulgaria’s most internationally renowned writers, “Time Shelter” is a warning to what could become a reality, more than one year into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“The war against Ukraine is a referendum on Russia’s past,” the author said. Russian president Vladimir Putin wants to restore his nation’s borders to where the Soviet Union reigned when it collapsed in 1991, he believes.

“Finally time will be turned back to September 1, 1939, to the beginning of World War II,” the author added.

The writer sees many parallels with 1939. “Putin went into the Ukraine war claiming that Ukraine simply did not exist — reminiscent of the way Stalininvaded Poland on September 17,1939.”

Nationalism threatens Europe

Gospodinov believes that nationalism — which is partly founded on glorifying and repeating the past — is the greatest threat to Europe today.

“Europe should be resistant to this virus, and yet it has been spreadingmore and more in recent years,” says the author.

The Times compared Gospodinov to George Orwell,” his work echoing Orwell’s dictum from his dystopian novel, “1984”: “He who controls the past controls the future.”

The internationally aclaimed writer believes, however, that today’s nationalist movements are trying to replace people’s historical memory with a false past.

Bulgarian patriots with Russian flags

In his novel, Bulgarians are given two alternatives when voting on the decade they want to return to: they can choose to return its years of socialism behind the Iron Curtainpre-1989; or to an unspecified “golden era” characterised by patriotic nationalism. In the end, a mixture of both prevails.

This is exactly what Gospodinov is currently observing in his homeland, where many Bulgarians are campaigning against their state’s support for Ukraine.

Participants in so-called “peace demonstrations” claim to be Bulgarian patriots demonstrating for Bulgarian neutrality, yet Russian flags fly at their marches.

Gospodinov says that the situation has been exploited by manipulating the past. “They sell an invented plastic past, where it doesn’t matter whether you wave the Bulgarian or the Russian flag,” he said.

The memory of war

The writer, poet and playwriter has been successfully crafting stories for around 25 years.

Gospodinov’s first novel, “Natural Novel” (1999), is the most translated Bulgarian book after the fall of the Communist dictatorship in 1989.

Meanwhile, the animated film adaptation of his short story, “Blind Vaysha” (2001), was nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 2017 Academy Awards.

More recently, the English translation of “Time Shelter” won the prestigious Italian Strega European Prize in 2021.

Gospodinov latest work intersects with a human struggle for survival in Ukraine.

“The war will eventually end, but our memory of it will remain,” Gospodinov said.”We will continue to think and experience the war; so it is very important what memory we have of it.”

The author hopes it is a memory of “the last war imaginable.”

Source: Deutsche Welle

Teagasc Grass10 advisor, Joseph Dunphy, is on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast to discuss grazing management on farms at the moment and the dos and don’ts when it comes to harvesting silage.

Teagasc Grass10 advisor, Joseph Dunphy, is on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast to discuss grazing management on farms at the moment and the dos and don’ts when it comes to harvesting silage.

Joseph outlines steps farmers are taking to overcome the difficult spring and for paddocks that may have got damaged, he discusses how they can they be rectified now.

With silage ground closed late on farms, Joseph discusses the options for cutting and the impact delaying harvesting will have on quality and grass growth for the rest of the year.

Source: EMM/ The Agriculture and Food Development Authority

The Grassland Farmer of the Year competition is now in its sixth year and rewards the top grassland farmers in the country who are growing and utilising more grass on their farms in a sustainable manner.

The awards are supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, with an overall prize fund of €25,000. The winners were announced today, May 24th, at the Teagasc Moorepark. Diarmaid Fitzgerald, Cratloe, Co. Clare was awarded the Overall Winner of the Grassland Farmer of the Year 2022.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. congratulated all of the finalists in their achievements in grassland management.

“As finalists, you are joining a group of top class grassland farmers, and I would particularly like to congratulate Diarmaid Fitzgerald on winning the overall Grassland Farmer of the Year Award.

“It’s an achievement you can be really proud of. It is clear that initiatives such as Grass10 and the Grassland Farmer of the Year are to the fore in helping farmers achieve the most they can from the natural resource they have on their farm, which is grass. Good management of grass clover swards is essential in meeting the targets set down in the AgClimatise Strategy,” he said.

The Grassland Farmer of the Year awards are part of the Teagasc Grass10 Campaign, which is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Teagasc, AIB, FBD, Grassland Agro and the Irish Farmers Journal. The Grass10 Campaign continues to focus on improving nutrient management and efficiency on farm and clover establishment and its management.

Young Farmer Category – Diarmaid Fitzgerald, Cratloe, Co. Clare;

Mixed Soils Category – Michael Walsh, Ballinakill, Co. Laois;

Clover/Sustainable Farming Category – John Casey, Causeway, Co. Kerry;

Innovation in Grassland – Michael McGuigan, Longwood, Co. Meath.

Enterprise Category Winners:

Drystock Category – Michael McGuigan, Longwood, Co. Meath;

Dairy Category – David Gannon, Craughwell, Co. Galway.

Speaking on behalf of the competition judges, Aidan Brennan Irish Farmers Journal said: “One thing that stood out for the judges this year was a notable shift in attitude towards developing clover on the farm and protecting the environment.

“This was seen as important as grass production itself and it probably reflects the changing attitude among farmers in general. The fact that the average grass growth among the finalists was 13.5 t DM/ha just shows that you can be very efficient, while also being very sustainable,” he said.

Diarmuid Fitzgerald, Overall Winner of the Grassland Farmer of the Year, said: “Our thinking on clover and how we best manage it is constantly evolving.

“I keep a close eye on the latest research from Teagasc and tailor my fertiliser plans accordingly. Getting clover established across the farm has enabled me to substantially reduce chemical nitrogen use. I’m not seeing any impact on pasture growth, in fact some of my best paddocks are getting low levels of chemical nitrogen and the cows love them.”

Congratulating the finalists today, Liam Herlihy, Teagasc Chairman said: “Very well done to all you, as exceptional farmers doing an excellent job and today is the day to acknowledge this. In relation to the Grass10 Campaign, the main focus is to challenge four main areas. These areas are specifically: moving grassland knowledge out to the industry; continuing to increase the usage of PastureBase Ireland; improving nutrient use efficiency on grassland farms; and – in 2023 – increasing the emphasis and adoption of clover in grassland swards.“

The judging panel for the Grassland Farmer of the Year competition consisted of John Maher, Teagasc Grass10; Diarmuid Donnellan, AIB; John O’Loughlin, Grassland Agro; Aidan Brennan, Irish Farmers Journal; Pat Gilligan, FBD; and Liz Hyland, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Photo caption: Pictured in Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork at the Grassland Farmer of the Year Awards 2022 are: overall winner Diarmaid Fitzgerald, Cratloe, Co. Clare, his parents Sean & Deirdre; with sponsors Donal Whelton, AIB; Enda McDonald, Grassland Agro; Michael Berkery, FBD; Charlie McConalogue T.D., Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Aidan Brennan, Irish Farmers Journal; Prof. Frank O’Mara, Teagasc Director; and Liam Herlihy, Teagasc Chairman.

Source: EMM/ The Agriculture and Food Development Authority

With “crisis atop of crisis” threatening millions in the Horn of Africa, the international community cannot afford to stand idly by, Secretary-General António Guterres said at a pledging event to raise $7 billion for the region, held at UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday.

More than 43 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia continue to suffer through one of the worst droughts in recent history, caused by five consecutive seasons of poor rains.

Years of conflict and insecurity have sparked mass displacement, while skyrocketing food prices and most recently, the fighting in Sudan, have compounded the situation.

It was announced later in the day that $2.4 billion had been pledged by donors.

Appeal for action

“We must act now to prevent crisis from turning into catastrophe,” Mr. Guterres said. “Let us act together now – with greater urgency and far greater support.”

The pledging event was convened by the UN and Italy, Qatar, the United Kingdom and the United States, in collaboration with the three affected countries.

The Secretary-General saw the devastating impact of the drought first-hand during recent visits to Kenya and Somalia.

Families search for food

“In parts of northern Kenya, parched landscapes and perished livestock have driven families from their homes in search of water, food, and incomes,” he said.

While in the Somali city of Baidoa, he met communities who lost their livelihoods to drought and insecurity, as the battle against Al-Shabaab militants continues.

“I was deeply moved by their struggles. And I was inspired by their resilience, courage, and determination to rebuild their lives. But they cannot do it alone,” he said.

Step up support

The UN chief assured that “action will make all the difference.” Last year, donors delivered life-saving assistance to 20 million people and helped avert a famine.?

He called for increased support for humanitarian plans for the region which are currently less than 20 per cent funded.

This is “unacceptable”, he said, warning that without an immediate financial injection, “emergency operations will grind to a halt, and people will die.”

Build climate resilience

He said the drought in Somalia last year claimed 40,000 lives, and half were children under five, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Although recent rains have brought some relief, vulnerable communities are still facing another year of immense hardship.??

“People in the Horn of Africa are paying an unconscionable price for a climate crisis they did nothing to cause,” he said.?

“We owe them solidarity. We owe them assistance. And we owe them a measure of hope for the future.??This means immediate action to secure their survival.??And it means sustained action to help communities across the Horn adapt and build resilience to climate change.”

New challenges emerge

The heads of major UN agencies working in areas such as aid delivery, food security, health, and assistance to migrants and refugees, made the case for scaled-up support in a video played during the event.

The message was carried forward by Joyce Msuya, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator.

She said even though improved rains have started to ease the impacts of the drought, they have also brought new risks and challenges, including disease outbreaks.

“The humanitarian community is determined to provide the support that people need. But five months into the year, funding is critically short,” she told participants.

Cash-based food assistance “has fallen off dramatically”, she said, “and humanitarian partners are already running out of money, with many facing the possibility of having to suspend, scale back or shut down programmes.”

Sowing seeds of hope

Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abshir Omar Huruse was among senior representatives from the affected countries who addressed the pledging conference.

He said it comes at a critical time, as the Federal Government and partners have liberated more than a third of those areas previously controlled by Al-Shabaab.

“This means that we can reach more people with life-saving humanitarian support and high impact development projects,” he said.

Mr. Huruse urged donors to consider increasing their funding, saying “together we shall sow the seeds of hope (and) nurture a future in which no life is lost due to lack of assistance.”

Source: EMM/ United Nations

The two organisations will support local and regional administrations to implement child protection and social integration measures.

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and UNICEF have signed an agreement to support regional and local administrations in the European Union in their work on child protection, and promote the European Child Guarantee with a focus on refugee children from Ukraine.

More specifically, the agreement aims to facilitate knowledge sharing between the CoR, UNICEF and local and regional authorities on how to best design, coordinate and successfully implement programmes for refugee children from Ukraine, with a look at their long-term integration into European cities and regions.

This joint initiative will also build on the legislative work of the European Committee of the Regions – the EU’s political assembly for local and regional politicians – to secure children’s rights in EU law, including the European Child Guarantee adopted by the EU in 2021. The legislation provides guidance and tools for EU countries so that every child in the European Union at risk of poverty or social exclusion has access to adequate education, health care, nutrition, and housing by 2030. Many of the public services that are critical to the achievement of these objectives are run by local and regional administrations.

More than 8.2 million people – the majority of whom are women and children – have fled the war against Ukraine into neighbouring countries, with many continuing their journey onwards to other destinations. European sub-national authorities have shown unprecedented solidarity in welcoming refugee children and families from Ukraine.

Vasco Alves Cordeiro (PT/PES), President of the European Committee of the Regions, said: “As of today, it is official that the CoR and UNICEF join forces in a new partnership to increase support to EU cities and regions in their work on child protection, with a particular focus on children from Ukraine. This partnership agreement shows the CoR’s commitment in promoting and defending children’s rights, including the most vulnerable. Thanks to this new cooperation, we will be able to facilitate exchanges between UNICEF and the CoR’s membership. UNICEF’s technical expertise will be crucial to guarantee that local and regional authorities apply the right standards for children’s accommodation, integration and education. Especially remote regions and small towns, who are welcoming displaced children but don’t have much experience or close connections to international child care experts, will benefit from the coming exchanges. Local and regional authorities bear a huge responsibility and are showing tremendous solidarity when they welcome displaced children. This is why we recognise today the work of both UNICEF and local and regional authorities in Europe, willing to upskill their staff, improve their facilities and make their cities and regions an even more welcoming place for vulnerable and refugee children.”

Philippe Cori, UNICEF Regional Director a.i for Europe and Central Asia, said: “Children and families from Ukraine have endured more than a year of war and displacement. Ensuring that children are in a safe environment where they can play, learn and interact with their peers is essential to their wellbeing. Local and regional administrations play a vital role in improving services and promoting social cohesion. Through this partnership with CoR, UNICEF will support local authorities to strengthen their systems for protecting vulnerable children, including refugee children from Ukraine.”

In June 2022, the CoR and territorial associations from Ukraine and the EU created the European Alliance for Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine which will contribute to the reconstruction of public infrastructure, including schools. The CoR is serving as the secretariat of the Alliance.

The European Union and UNICEF share the values underpinned by Article 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Source: EMM/ European Committee of the Regions