World | Jotup

A reflexive act of military revenge burdened the US − and may do the same for Israel

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

In the wake of the shocking invasion of southern Israel by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to destroy Hamas.

Key Points:

In the wake of the shocking invasion of southern Israel by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to destroy Hamas.
On that same day, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant went further, stating, “We will wipe this thing called Hamas, ISIS-Gaza, off the face of the earth.
The immediate goals were to force the Taliban from power and destroy al-Qaida.
Very little thought or resources were put into what happened after those goals were attained.
That’s what happened in Afghanistan, and that is what could happen in Gaza.

A war of weak results

The U.S. invasion toppled the Taliban from power by the end of 2001, but the war did not end.
Nongovernmental and international relief organizations began to deliver humanitarian aid and reconstruction support, but their efforts were uncoordinated.
U.S. trainers began creating a new Afghan National Army, but lack of funding, insufficient volunteers and inadequate facilities hampered the effort.
The Taliban entry into Kabul in August 2021 merely put an exclamation point on a campaign the United States had lost many years before.

A goal that’s hard to achieve

An Israeli invasion of Gaza could well lead to an indecisive quagmire if the political goal is not considered ahead of time.
Israel has invaded Gaza twice, in 2009 and 2014, but quickly withdrew its ground forces once Israeli leaders calculated they had reestablished deterrence.
The newly declared goal of destroying Hamas as a military force is far more difficult than that.
Israel has the capacity to level Gaza and round up segments of the population, but that may not be wise.

The World Bank and the IMF need to keep reforming to become fit for purpose

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are being challenged to make substantial reforms so that they become fit for purpose in the 21st century.

Key Points:

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are being challenged to make substantial reforms so that they become fit for purpose in the 21st century.
Some suggest that they cannot be sufficiently reformed and should be shut down.
Others, including myself, contend the world needs effective international financial institutions.

Some history

The purpose of the 1944 Bretton Woods conference was to create a new international monetary order.
Only 44 out of the then 99 officially recognised countries were represented.
A large portion of humanity was living under colonial domination and didn’t take part in the negotiations.
This effectively modified the principle of sovereign equality which is at the core of the international legal order.

Evolution

However, because of their relative level of economic development, they lacked the votes to change policies and priorities.
Third, concerns about the environmental and social impacts of economic activity were beginning to grow around the world.
It resulted in controversies involving projects funded by the World Bank and programmes funded by the IMF.
They were concerned that the operations of these institutions were causing substantial harm to local communities and the environment.
They also educate external actors about what they can expect from the bank in regard to environmental and social issues.
It is one of the few international organisations that does not offer its external stakeholders any means for holding it accountable.

What next?

Decades of underfunding, blockade have weakened Gaza's health system – the siege has pushed it into abject crisis

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

By then, four hospitals had already ceased functioning in Gaza’s north due to damage from Israeli bombs.

Key Points:

By then, four hospitals had already ceased functioning in Gaza’s north due to damage from Israeli bombs.
Insufficiently and poorly resourced for decades, doctors and hospitals also had to contend with the devastating effects of a 16-year blockade imposed by Israel, in part with coordination with Egypt.

A system completely overwhelmed

Hospitals in Gaza are completely overwhelmed.
They are seeing around 1,000 new patients per day, in a health system with only 2,500 hospital beds for a population of over 2 million people.
People maimed in the bombing are being treated for horrific injuries without basics such as gauze dressings, antiseptic, IV bags and painkillers.
The U.N. estimates this fuel will run out any day due to a complete siege placed on Gaza by Israel.

A century of underfunding

But Gaza’s health care system was already under stress before the latest bombardment.
In fact, policies that stretch back decades have left it unable to meet even the basic health needs of Gaza’s residents, let alone respond to the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.
What each have had in common is that, from my perspective as a global health expert, they invested little in Palestinian health.
For periods of the 20th century, the health priorities of successive governing bodies appeared focused more on reducing the spread of communicable disease to protect foreigners interacting with the native Palestinian population.

Dying before they can leave

Since then, chronic underfunding of public hospitals has meant that Palestinians in Gaza have remained reliant on outside money and nongovernmental organizations for essential health services.
During the passage of the Oslo Accords in the mid-1990s, the Palestinian Authority was established to administer services in the occupied territories.
The Palestinian Authority received a significant influx of humanitarian aid as it took on civil responsibilities, including health.
As a result, health indicators for Palestinians, including life expectancy and immunization rates, started to improve in the late 1990s.

Gaza health services after the siege

It is uncertain what the health system of Gaza will look like in the future.
Already at least 28 doctors and other health workers have been killed in Gaza, with ambulances and a number of hospitals rendered useless by the bombs.

'Gaza is being strangled': why Israel's evacuation order violates international law

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

During the second world war, for instance, thousands of children across Europe were sent to rural areas or abroad under evacuation schemes initiated by governments and child welfare agencies.

Key Points:

During the second world war, for instance, thousands of children across Europe were sent to rural areas or abroad under evacuation schemes initiated by governments and child welfare agencies.
We are witnessing an urgent, chaotic evacuation ordered by a belligerent party to the conflict, which is fast becoming a humanitarian catastrophe.
Israel has told 1.1 million people in northern Gaza to move to the south ahead of an impending ground invasion.
He said if we are dying anyway, let’s be at home in Gaza.

Evacuating civilians under international law

Evacuations in armed conflict are strictly governed by international humanitarian law, which seeks to balance military and humanitarian needs.
International law requires it to allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need.
As an occupying power under international humanitarian law, Israel may order an evacuation for imperative military reasons, or for the safety of civilians, but civilians must still be protected.
Specifically, Israel must ensure displaced civilians have adequate shelter, hygiene, health, safety and nutrition, and that family members are not separated.

‘Extremely dangerous’

Gaza is being strangled and it seems that the world right now has lost its humanity.
Gaza is being strangled and it seems that the world right now has lost its humanity.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, the custodian of the law of war, rarely publicly rebukes governments.

Treating Gazans as refugees

Gazans are also unable to reach safety in other countries.
Read more:
How the 'laws of war' apply to the conflict between Israel and Hamas
Gazans are normally protected as refugees by the UN relief agency for Palestinians, under a bespoke legal regime.
However, the relief agency’s present inability to provide protection and assistance means Palestinian refugees who do reach another country should be automatically protected as refugees under the 1951 Refugee Convention, without the need for further status determination.

Worried about your child's teeth? Focus on these 3 things

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

People, Food, Pain, Parent, Eating, Tooth decay, World, Community, Child, Public, Fruit, Toothache, Risk, Milk, Snack, Honey, Mouth, Dentist, Medicare, Sleep, Infection, News, Drinking water, Life, Dental, Quality of life, Water, Drinking, Dentistry, Toy, Health insurance, Soft drink, Dietary supplement

Teeth decay occurs when frequent and excessive amounts of sugar disturb bacteria in the mouth.

Key Points:

Teeth decay occurs when frequent and excessive amounts of sugar disturb bacteria in the mouth.
Tooth decay is the most common cause of toothache among children and tooth decay is a leading cause of preventable hospital admission.
The good news is tooth decay is preventable with three good dental habits: early dental check-ups, twice daily brushing and limiting sugar.

1. Early dental check-ups

Early dental check-ups can pick up early signs of tooth decay.
Australian children from families experiencing the greatest adversity are the least likely to access dental services.
However, all preschool-aged children are eligible for free dental check-ups through public dental services.

2. Brush their teeth

Many young children have teeth spaced apart, so flossing between teeth may not be necessary.
However, your dentist may recommend flossing if teeth are in tight contact.
While most Australian adults brush their teeth twice daily, tooth brushing is less consistent in the early years.

3. Limit sugar

Consuming sugar early in life can increase the preference for sugar as children get older.
Parents and carers should be wary of aggressive marketing and deceptive labelling of sweet drinks and snacks as healthy alternatives.
Read more:
Misleading food labels contribute to babies and toddlers eating too much sugar.
Early dental check-ups, brushing teeth twice a day with age-appropriate fluoridated toothpaste, and limiting sugar will allow children to reach adulthood with healthy mouths.

Press release - MEPs adopt new trade tool to defend EU from economic blackmail

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

The Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) seeks to protect EU and member state sovereignty in a geopolitical context where trade and investment are increasingly weaponised by foreign powers.

Key Points:

The Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) seeks to protect EU and member state sovereignty in a geopolitical context where trade and investment are increasingly weaponised by foreign powers.
Although this kind of coercion undermines the EU's strategic autonomy, it is not covered by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement.
The WTO dispute settlement mechanism is unavailable for cases of economic coercion specifically, unless they also involve aspects that violate WTO rules.
In May, G7 leaders announced the launch of a coordination platform against economic coercion, echoing the EU’s initiative.

'We could eradicate malaria by 2040' says expert after revolutionary vaccine is approved by WHO

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Trials have shown that the R21/Matrix vaccine, developed by Oxford University together with the Serum Institute of India, reduces malaria by up to 75%.

Key Points:

Trials have shown that the R21/Matrix vaccine, developed by Oxford University together with the Serum Institute of India, reduces malaria by up to 75%.
The Conversation Weekly spoke to chief investigator Adrian Hill, who is also director of the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford, about this revolutionary vaccine.

Why is the R21/Matrix vaccine a game-changer?

The best vaccine prior to this was about 50% over a year, and lower than that over three years.
The big difference is how you can manufacture it at a scale that is really needed to protect most of the children who need a malaria vaccine in Africa.
There are about 40 million children born every year in malaria areas in Africa who would benefit from a vaccine.

Why has developing a malaria vaccine been so difficult?

Malaria is not a virus, it’s not a bacterium.
This is one of the reasons that malaria is super complex.
If you can get a really good vaccine for one of those, you will break the cycle of transmission.
It’s a silent infection until it gets into the blood and starts multiplying inside your red blood cells.
So the sporozoite is a natural target to try and kill the parasite before it multiplies very quickly.

Tell us about past attempts to develop a malaria vaccine

In about 1943, there was a trial of the whole malaria parasite vaccine candidate in New York with zero efficacy.
And then within 10 years we had 5,000 candidates because everyone hoped that the gene they had sequenced might be a malaria vaccine.

Why aren’t vaccines for whole parasites effective against malaria?

It’s the same reason that just getting infected once by malaria doesn’t give you protection against the next infection.
In the areas of malaria where we test our vaccines in Africa, some children get up to eight episodes in three or four months.
They get quite unwell with the first and three weeks later they’re having a second bout and so on.

Will we ever eradicate malaria entirely?

Malaria is very high on the list of diseases we want to eradicate.
I don’t think it’s going to happen in five years or 10 years, but it should happen in something like 15 years.

The long road to a new malaria vaccine, told by the scientists behind the breakthrough – podcast

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we find out why it’s been so hard to find a malaria vaccine – and hear from the scientists behind the new breakthrough.

Key Points:

In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we find out why it’s been so hard to find a malaria vaccine – and hear from the scientists behind the new breakthrough.
In 2021, 619,000 people died from malaria, the majority of them children.
The search for a vaccine has been underway for decades, but it’s particularly difficult due to the complexity of the malaria parasite.
“It begins with a mosquito bite,” says Faith Osier, co-director of the Institute of Infection at Imperial College London.

HIV self-test kits are meant to empower those at risk − but they don't necessarily lead to starting HIV treatment or prevention

Retrieved on:

Monday, October 2, 2023

Infection, Systematic review, Female, HIV, Self-test of intelligence, World, Research, Meta-analysis, Partner (business rank), Man, Population, Risk, Human, World Health Organization, Vaccine, Pharmaceutical industry, Birth control

In 2016, the World Health Organization recommended HIV self-test kits as a way for people to confidentially test for HIV in their homes or other private places.

Key Points:

In 2016, the World Health Organization recommended HIV self-test kits as a way for people to confidentially test for HIV in their homes or other private places.
Each kit contains detailed instructions on how to administer the test and read the results without the help of a clinician.
Our team conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published research and data to understand how HIV self-testing influences access to HIV care and sexual behavior.
Despite the availability of HIV test kits, many people at heightened risk have never been tested for HIV.

Too hard basket: why climate change is defeating our political system

Retrieved on:

Sunday, October 1, 2023

When I was first asked to write an opening piece in The Conversation’s series on climate change and the energy transition, I wanted to say no.

Key Points:

When I was first asked to write an opening piece in The Conversation’s series on climate change and the energy transition, I wanted to say no.
It may already be too late to save the world as we know it.
Or should I write “be under threat” instead of “likely be gone”, to soften the story?
The focus on rising temperatures itself makes the future seem more benign than it’s likely to be.

The Albanese government’s softly-softly response

In his 2023 Intergenerational Report Treasurer Jim Chalmers included climate change as one of the five major forces affecting future wellbeing.
It’s one among many, and the emphasis is on the economic opportunities and jobs offered by the energy transformation.
Chief Climate Councillor Tim Flannery said:
Climate dwarfs everything else in this report.
In The New Daily, Michael Pascoe asked, “What is Albanese hiding?
The Labor government’s response to the greatest emergency we face seems set on slow, as if we have time for an incremental response with little disruption to daily life and it’s OK to keep subsidising fossil fuels and approving new gas and coal projects.

Government can and must act

All this after four decades of neoliberalism in which both the federal and state governments have surrendered capacity to the private sector.
But as the COVID crisis showed us, when faced with an emergency our governments can act decisively and put the lives of people ahead of the interests of business.
A report from the Centre for Independent Studies claimed voters born after 1996 were the most progressive since the Second World War.
As the electoral weight shifts away from the old baby boomers Labor’s federal future is likely to be as a minority government with support from Greens and independents who will demand bolder action.

Why we struggle to face facts

Elliot from “Burnt Norton”, the first of his “Four Quartets”:
Go, go, go, said the bird: human kind
Cannot bear very much reality.
Time past and time future
What might have been and what has been

Point to one end, which is always present.
Time past and time future What might have been and what has been Point to one end, which is always present.