A Japanese journalist has been arrested and held in prison in Myanmar for reporting the news. He is accused of reporting “fake news” under the tough restriction on reporting by the military junta.
PREDA
The killing goes on but it is not mainstream journalists that are widely reporting it. A new generation of amateur volunteer journalists- the civil reporters- who are often in the thick of the demonstrations reporting live over the internet when it is not shut off.
Two Spanish journalists, David Beriain and cameraman Roberto Fraile, were killed last month in an ambush attack against an army convoy in the tri-border Sahel zone of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso in the African Sahel region.
They were on the way to a national park where poachers and armed groups are active killing wildlife like elephants and rhino.
Life for professional journalists is increasingly precarious and dangerous. Many countries have introduced draconian anti-terrorist laws and media restriction laws that consider criticism of the government an act of subversion or even terrorism. Many professional journalists, while trying to report the news, have been arrested, jailed, and killed.
In 2015, there were 73 journalists killed, in 2018, as many as 56 were killed. In 2019, there were 26 killed. In 2020, another 32 killed and so far in 2021there have been 5 killed, according to the Committee to Defend Journalists (CDJ). Shocking records of violent response against the Free Press, most have been murdered for reporting unfavorably about corruption among politicians and criminal gangs. Others were caught in the crossfire in war zones.
That is not all. Hundreds have been jailed. Since 2020, the number of incarcerated journalists is 274 in jails around the world for their work telling the truth. The majority are in prisons in China and Turkey. There are 30 plus journalists jailed in each. These countries are among the most severe violators of human rights and free speech. They are oppressors of journalists and manipulators of the truth. Many more journalists are imprisoned in India, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, and Syria. In Belarus, 10 are in prison for reporting on the demonstrations.
Pope Francis underlines the importance of interdisciplinary research for a better understanding of our human nature, in a video message for the Fifth International Conference dedicated to “Exploring the Mind, Body and Soul.”
By Vatican News staff writer
Pope Francis on Saturday sent a message to the participants at the 5th International Conference taking place from 6 – 8 May under the theme: “Exploring the Mind, Body & Soul. How Innovation and Novel Delivery Systems Improve Human Health.”
Organized by the Pontifical Council for Culture, and co-hosted by the Cura Foundation, the virtual conference brings together scientists, physicians, ethicists, religious leaders, patient right advocates and policy makers to discuss breakthroughs in medicine, healthcare delivery and prevention, as well as the cultural impact and human implications of technological advances.
The organizers are also promoting a roundtable on “Bridging Science and Faith” aimed at exploring the relationship of religion and spirituality to health and wellbeing, including the relationship between mind, body and soul.
In the video message, Pope Francis acknowledged all who are personally and professionally committed to the care of the sick and the support of those in need, particularly in these recent times of the Covid-19 pandemic which continues to claim lives and challenge our sense of solidarity and authentic fraternity.
He also highlighted that the conference unites philosophical and theological reflection to scientific research, especially in the field of medicine.
Divisions
Considering the theme of the conference, Pope Francis noted that it is centered on mind, body and soul – three fundamental areas that differ somewhat from the “classical” Christian vision which understands the person as “an inseparable unity of body and soul, the latter being endowed with intellect and will.”
Moreover, St. Paul speaks of spirit, soul and body (1 Thess 5:23), a tripartite model that was taken up by Church Fathers and various modern thinkers.
These divisions, said the Pope, “rightly indicate that certain dimensions of our being, nowadays all too often disjoined, are in fact profoundly and inseparably interrelated.”
We are a body
He went on to explain that the biological stratum of our existence, expressed in our corporeity, represents the most immediate of these dimensions, even if it is not the easiest to understand.
“We are not pure spirits; for each of us, everything starts with our body, but not only: from conception to death, we do not simply have a body; we are a body,” Pope Francis affirmed, adding that Christian faith tells us that this will also be true in the Resurrection.
In this regard, the history of medical research presents us with one dimension of the “fascinating journey of human self-discovery” which is the case not only in “Western” academic medicine but also with the rich diversity of medicines in various civilizations all over the world.
Interdisciplinary studies
Bringing to the fore the importance of interdisciplinary studies, the Pope noted that thanks to them, we can come to appreciate “the dynamics involved in the relationship between our physical condition and the state of our habitat, between health and nourishment, our psycho-physical wellbeing and the care of the spiritual life – also through the practice of prayer and meditation – and finally between health and sensitivity to art, and especially music.”
It is, therefore, no accident “that medicine serves as a bridge between the natural and the human sciences, so much so that in the past it could be defined as philosophia corporis – medicine as philosophia corporis,” he said.
In a video message sent Saturday to participants in the VAX Live concert, Pope Francis stresses the need for deep healing, both from the effects of the Covid-19 virus and the virus of individualism and closed nationalism.
By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ
“Receive a cordial greeting from this old man, who does not dance or sing like you, but who believes as you do that injustice and evil are not invincible,” said Pope Francis in a video message to participants at “VAX Live: The Concert to Reunite the World.”
The event, which takes place on Saturday, aims to celebrate the hope that Covid-19 vaccines are offering families and communities around the world. It is also part of a growing chorus of voices seeking wider and more equitable distribution of the vaccines.
Need for healing from the roots
Amid the “darkness and uncertainty” brought about by the ongoing pandemic, “we need light and hope. We need paths of healing and salvation,” Pope Francis said.
Elaborating further, he specifies that he is referring to is a “healing from the roots, which cures the cause of evil and is not limited only to the symptoms.”
The Holy Father, therefore, encouraged everyone not to forget the most vulnerable in the face of the pandemic, which has “produced death and suffering, affecting the lives of all,” and also contributed to exacerbating already existing social and environmental crises.
Individualism makes us indifferent to sufferings of others
Illustrating some of the ills we need to heal from, the Pope noted that within “these diseased roots, we find the virus of individualism, which does not make us any freer or more equal, nor more brothers” but rather makes us indifferent to the sufferings of others.
Other variants of this cultural virus, he said, are closed nationalism which prevents sharing of vaccines, and putting the laws of the market or intellectual property above the laws of love and the health of others.
Likewise, another variant is “when we believe in and foment a sick economy that allows a very rich few to possess more than all the rest of humanity, and when models of production and consumption destroy the planet, our ‘common home’.”
Everything is interconnected
Pope Francis went on to highlight the interconnectedness of everything, pointing out that we are united in nature and person, and thus every social injustice and act of marginalization against poor people also affects the environment.
He added that God instills in our hearts a new and generous spirit that enables us to abandon individualism in order to promote the common good.
It is a “spirit of justice that mobilizes us to ensure universal access to vaccines and the temporary suspension of intellectual property rights; a spirit of communion that allows us to generate a different, more inclusive, just, sustainable economic model,” the Pope said.
A better, post-pandemic society
The Pope then reminded everyone that “we do not come out of a crisis the same, we either come out better or worse.”
However, he noted that “the problem lies in having the inventiveness to look for paths that are better” in our efforts to deal with the crisis we are experiencing due to the pandemic.
He thus prayed that God may comfort the suffering and welcome those who have died into His kingdom.
He also implored our Lord that for us, pilgrims on earth, He may grant “the gift of a new brotherhood, a universal solidarity, so that we may recognize the good and beauty he has sown in each of us, to strengthen bonds of unity, of common projects, of shared hopes.” The Holy Father concluded his video message with an expression of gratitude to the participants for their efforts and a request for prayers for himself.
Guiuan, Eastern Samar – Manicani environmental defenders, Protect Manicani Island Society, Inc. (PROMISI), stage yet another silent protest at the Eastern Samar State University as the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the Guiuan Marine Reserve Protected Landscape and Seascape (GMRPLS).
One of the GMRPLS PAMB’s agenda is to conclude the field assessment in the island of Manicani in relation to the application for a Special Use Agreement in Protected Area (SAPA) of Hinatuan Mining Corporation (HMC) for the planned causeway construction in Brgy. Banaag and the rehabilitation of the existing causeway in Brgy. Buenavista, Manicani Island.
In 2017, Hinatuan Mining Corporation (HMC), a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corporation attempted to file for the renewal of its mining contract in Manicani Island but was denied by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), amidst a camp-out held by PROMISI members and support organization in front of the of agency’s central office. HMC remains in the island despite the non-renewal of its mining contract.
Manicani Island along with portions of Homonhon Island, Candulo, Suluan, Tubabao, Calicoan, and their surrounding reefs, and mainland Guiuan municipality are part of the RA 7586 “National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992″ and RA 11038 Expanded National Protected Area System Act (E-NIPAS Act).
Melody Asia of the Partnership Mission for Peoples’ Initiatives (formerly Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc.) said, “HMC’s presence in the island and the un-rehabilitated former mine site contravenes Section 20 of the E-NIPAS Act that mandates all areas must be restored or rehabilitated by the permit holders once their permits, contracts, or agreements ended and without renewal.”
Fr. James Abella, Parish Priest of San Lorenzo Ruiz in Manicani Island said, “This project is quite alarming especially that it is going to be funded by HMC.” He continued, “Many are asking what it is for? Is the project their new ticket to operate again in the island?” PROMISI demands from GMRPLS PAMB to deny HMC’s application for a SAPA permit and compel the mining company to rehabilitate the mine site and altogether exit the island. They chide HMC for its lack of transparency and accountability to the community and demand from the mining company, to release their rehabilitation plan and discuss the same to the community. In this time of pandemic, they also call on the LGU to prioritize social and health services and support the livelihood of those negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas – KMP May 11, 2021.
A timeline of injustice and neglect
Photo of Canlas grabbed from a video recorded last April 1 while in detention.
Peasant leader Joseph Canlas was in stable physical condition before his illegal arrest and detention. The quick deterioration of his health in less than two months is unquestionably due to neglect of jail authorities, on top of severe and miserable jail conditions.
We particularly call the attention of BJMP Angeles District Warden Jsupt. Rebecca Manalo-Tiguelo who appears to belittle the plight of Canlas and other detainees. Last week, Canlas expressed that he was not feeling well but Manalo-Tiguelo simply dismissed Canlas’s ailment as ‘umaarte lang.’
If jail authorities thoroughly checked Canlas’s health condition, they would have known that he has hypertension and diabetes which makes him more vulnerable to COVID infection. If he received proper medical attention while in detention, then the risks could have been lessened.
After a series of quarantines, no COVID testing was done on Canlas (and reportedly also on other detainees) so there was no way to determine if a detainee, even under quarantine, is COVID positive or not.
We highly suspect that Joseph Canlas got COVID infected while under quarantine inside BJMP jail facilities.
March 30 – Peasant leader Joseph Canlas was illegally arrested in Barangay Sapang Maisac, Mexico, Pampanga. He was then brought to PNP Camp Olivas in San Fernando, Pampanga.
April 1 – He was transferred and put under quarantine at the CIDG Region 3. While in quarantine, he was not allowed to receive visitors even from family members and counsel.
by Umberto Bacchi | @UmbertoBacchi | Thomson Reuters Foundation
Wednesday, 28 April 2021 11:00 GMT
A worker holds a passport as she queues to talk with the public health authorities for a COVID-19 investigation in Bangkok, Thailand, December 22, 2020. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa
Digital tools to certify immunity from COVID-19 could help ease lockdowns, but raise equality and privacy concerns
By Umberto Bacchi
April 28 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Britain plans to use a National Health Service phone app as its COVID-19 ‘vaccine passport’ certificate that will allow its population to travel internationally this summer, fuelling the global debate over the use of certificates to reopen the economy.
As the rollout of vaccines against COVID-19 gathers pace, countries are exploring how documents, mostly digital, could help reopen borders by identifying those who are protected against the virus.
France became the first EU country to trial an app-based travel pass that stores negative COVID-19 test results and will soon allow vaccination certificates on flights to Corsica and its overseas territories.
Thailand has laid out plans to adopt a vaccine passport to allow travel to other countries.
Proponents say identifying people who are immune to the novel coronavirus or at lower risk of spreading it could help open up travel and other services. But, critics have raised questions about privacy, health and discrimination.
As more technology firms develop digital certificates that can be accessed on smartphones by employers, airlines and others, here is all you need to know about health passports.
WHAT ARE HEALTH PASSPORTS?
The term health passport, or health pass, generally refers to documents – in paper or digital format – that certify a person is unlikely to either catch or spread a disease.
With the novel coronavirus, the proposed certificates would attest one of three things: that the holder has been vaccinated, has tested negative for the virus or has recovered from it.
Their use could allow governments to lift some pandemic-induced restrictions, allowing people to travel in planes, attend concerts, go to work or dine out, supporters say.
“We’ve tried many different solutions to properly and safely reopen hospitality, sport venues and other things that are very important, not just for our economy, but also for mental wellbeing of people,” said Ryan Wain, an advisor at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, a British think tank.
“And really, the only way that we can properly get those open is knowing that people entering those venues don’t have COVID,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a phone interview.
WHERE ARE THEY BEING USED?
Different health passes have been trialled by governments and firms around the world in recent months.
Tech giants including Microsoft Corp , Oracle Corp and healthcare companies Cigna Corp and Mayo Clinic in January become part of a coalition pushing for digital records of people who get vaccinated against COVID-19.
The project, called Vaccination Credential Initiative, aims to help people get encrypted digital copies of their immunization records stored in a digital wallet of their choice.
Bahrain launched a digital COVID-19 vaccine passport in February, one of the first countries to do so. Sweden plans to launch a vaccine passport by summer.
Last October, Estonia and the World Health Organization started a pilot for a digital vaccine certificate.
