Government, Issues, Politics, Society

Дадзеныя раскрываюць змрочную рэальнасць канфлікту: справаздача Mediazona раскрывае значныя страты расійскіх вайскоўцаў, падкрэсліваючы рэзкі кантраст з афіцыйнымі лічбамі

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Тбілісі, Грузія, 17-Aug-2023 — /EPR GOVERNMENT NEWS/ — Гэтым летам чатыры антываенныя расійскія эмігранты сабраліся разам дзякуючы ўдзелу ў першай у гісторыі артыстычнай рэзідэнцыі «Мастацтва міру» пры падтрымцы Campaigns for Humanity («Кампаніі за чалавечнасць»), дабрачыннай арганізацыі лічбавага маркетынгавага агенцтва Renaissance3, арыентаванай на правы чалавека. Ініцыятыва палягчае сувязь паміж мастакамі, якія пацярпелі ад канфліктаў, і забяспечвае ім платформу, каб выказаць сваё супрацьдзеянне вайне і ўзаемадзейнічаць са сваімі прымаючымі супольнасцямі. Наватары «Мастацтва міру» змешваюць тэхналогіі, самавыяўленне, каб ажывіць антываенныя паведамленні  Створаны дзякуючы супрацоўніцтву мастакоў, якія жадаюць застацца ананімнымі з-за занепакоенасці бяспекай блізкіх людзей унутры Расіі, перадавы праект, вядомы як «Дарожныя знакі», выкарыстоўвае дапоўненую рэальнасць для катапультацыі вулічнага мастацтва ў будучыню: карыстальнікі ў Расіі і суседніх краінах, якія загружаюць мабільную праграму «AR Hunter», могуць накіраваць сваю камеру смартфона на дарожны знак і ўбачыць, як яна трансфармуецца ў аніміраваны твор мастацтва, які прапагандуе мір. Праект «Дарожныя знакі», паведамленне якіх гаворыць непасрэдна з патэнцыяльнымі ўдзельнікамі ўзброенага канфлікту, будуць інтэграваны ў прыкладанне «Паляўнічы за ДР» [http://arhunter.org/], створанае Анастасіяй Владычкінай, лідэрам вядомай мастацкай групы Yav [https://taplink.cc/yav_zone], да канца жніўня. Працягваючы знаёміцца з ужываннем найноўшых тэхналогій у мастацтве, лаўрэат прэміі і рэзідэнт «Мастацтва свету» Аліса Ёфэ [http://alisayoffe.com/] правяла майстар-клас па пратэстным мастацтве ў свеце віртуальнай рэальнасці «Xanax Tbilisi». Падчас сесіі Ёфэ віртуальная «правяла» удзельнікаў па вуліцах Тбілісі, каб паглядзець пратэстнае мастацтва, накладзенае на элементы гарадскога пейзажу. Падкрэсліваючы сумесны характар праекта, Ёфэ запрасіла усіх, хто жадае ўнесці свой уклад у антываенныя графіці, атрымаць доступ да свету «Xanax Tbilisi» праз платформу «VRChat [https://hello.vrchat.com/]». На фоне вайны ўзнікае востры пранікнёны рух  Шчырая песня, якая нарадзілася з калектыўных разважанняў 10 расійскіх эмігрантаў, калі паўстала пытанне: «Што б вы сказалі таму, хто змагаецца ў вайне супраць Украіны?» і пад назвай «Расійскаму салдату», дасягае кульмінацыі ў пераследным сцвярджэнні: «Я хачу [каб вы] жылі… і іншыя будуць жыць таксама». Дадзеныя, якія паведамляюцца [https://en.zona.media/article/2023/07/10/stats] у «Медыязоне», падкрэсліваюць сур ‘ёзную рызыку, якая ўзнікае ў тых, хто адпраўляецца Расіяй на бой: хоць дадзеныя пра ваенныя ахвяры засакрэчаныя, і тых, хто адважваецца паведамляць пра колькасць загінулых салдат, пераследуюць за распаўсюджванне «фэйкавых навін» пра войска, вядома, што па стане на канец мая 2023 года загінулі не менш за 47 000 расійскіх мужчын ва ўзросце да 50 гадоў. «Медыязона» і «Медуза» падлічылі [https://en.zona.media/article/2023/07/10/stats], што 78,000 расійскіх салдат, магчыма, былі параненыя або зніклі без вестак у бою, у выніку чаго агульныя страты склалі 125 000 чалавек. Гэтая лічба знаходзіцца ў рэзкім кантрасце з агульнадаступнай інфармацыяй з Расіі. Як паведамляе «Медыязона» [https://en.zona.media/article/2023/07/10/stats], апошні раз, калі Міністэрства абароны раскрывала дадзеныя пра пацярпелых, быў у верасні 2022 года. Тады Сяргей Шойгу абвясціў, што ў агульнай складанасці 5937 салдат былі забітыя ў бою. Наватарскія наратывы для міру  Семра Фогель, першапачатковы рэзідэнт «Мастацтва міру» і архітэктар майстэрні «Вершы гучнейшыя за бомбы», сабрала ў ліпені пяць антываенных паэтаў у Тбілісі [https://reforumspaces.io/] для сумеснага вопыту стварэння мастацтва з упорам на песню. Вось яе ўласныя словы: «Я думаю, што мастацтва — гэта спосаб прыцягнуць увагу да гэтай праблемы. Калі больш людзей збіраюцца выкарыстоўваць сваё мастацтва для гэтай мэты і папрасіць сваіх сяброў пра гэта, у нас будзе больш шанцаў на мір. Гэта будзе лепш… для тых, хто ўжо пацярпеў ад вайны, і для тых, хто абараняецца ад далейшага і далейшага зла, якое прыносіць гэтая вайна». Фогель плануе абапірацца на сваю першапачатковую канцэпцыю, каб маштабаваць яе, каб больш людзей адчувалі сябе гатовымі да вытворчасці пратэстнага мастацтва, як у супрацоўніцтве, так і індывідуальна. Разважаючы пра пяць паэтаў, якія ўдзельнічалі ў яе флагманскай майстэрні, Фогель сказала: «Я вельмі ганаруся сваёй працай. Я ганаруся сваёй працай, таму што мне ўдалося натхніць іх. Гэта самая крутая рэч».
Удзельнічайце  Для ўдзелу ў руху «Мастацтва міру» асобным асобам і суполкам прапануецца:
    • Падзяліцца сваімі антываеннымі творамі ў сацыяльных сетках з дапамогай хэштэгаў #ArtofPeace, #ИскусствоМира, #IWantYouToLive і #ХочуЧтобыЖил.
    • Унясіце свой уклад у віртуальную галерэю [https://campaignsforhumanity.com/art-of-peace], якую праводзіць Campaigns for Humanity («Кампаніі за чалавечнасць»).
    • Арганізуйце яе уласныя сумесныя творчыя сустрэчы. Рэзідэнты-мастакі распрацавалі кіраўніцтва для выкарыстання членамі грамадскасці, якое змяшчаецца ніжэй.
Кіраўніцтва па правядзенні сустрэчы «Мастацтва міру» 1st Збярыце групу людзей і любыя матэрыялы для мастацтва, якія вам падабаюцца або да якіх вы маеце доступ. Старыя часопісы, клей і папера — усё, што вам трэба, каб стварыць калаж! 2nd Разам паглядзіце на твор мастацтва, напрыклад, адзін з тых, якія ўваходзяць у віртуальную галерэю [https://campaignsforhumanity.com/art-of-peace/]. Затым абмяркуйце, як гэта прымушае вас адчуваць сябе, што вам падабаецца ў гэтым; магчыма, тое, што вам не зразумела ці не спадабалася ў гэтым. 3rd Правядзіце некаторы час у групе, ствараючы ўласнае мастацтва або паэзію, натхнёную дыскусіяй і мастацкім творам. Для дапамогі вы можаце выкарыстоўваць назву «Я хачу, каб ты жыў» або «мастацтва міру». 4th Падзяліцца сваёй працай у сацыяльных сетках з дапамогай хэштэгаў #ArtofPeace, #ИскусствоМира, #IWantYoutoLive і #ХочуЧтобыЖил. Каб быць у курсе апошніх навін «Мастацтва міру», сачыце за Campaigns for Humanity («Кампаніі за чалавечнасць») ў Twitter, Facebookі Instagram. SOURCE: EuropaWire
Democracy, Government, Issues, Politics, Society

Data reveals grim reality of conflict: Report by Mediazona exposes substantial Russian military casualties, highlighting stark contrast with official figures

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TBILISI, Georgia, 15-Aug-2023 — /EPR GOVERNMENT NEWS/ — This summer, four anti-war Russian emigrants came together through their involvement in the first-ever “Art of Peace” artist residency, backed by Campaigns for Humanity, the human rights-focused philanthropic arm of digital marketing agency Renaissance3. The initiative facilitates connection among artists affected by conflict and provides them with a platform to express their opposition to war and engage with their host communities.

“Art of Peace” innovators blend technology, self-expression to bring anti-war messages to life

Created through a collaboration of artists wishing to remain anonymous due to concerns for the safety of loved ones inside Russia, the cutting-edge project known as “Road Signs” uses augmented reality to catapult street art into the future: Users in Russia and neighboring countries who download the mobile app “AR Hunter” can point their smartphone camera at a road sign and see it transform into an animated artwork promoting peace.

“Road Signs,” whose message speaks directly to those potentially involved in armed conflict, will be integrated into the “AR Hunter” [http://arhunter.org/] app created by Anastasia Vladychkina, leader of the well-known art group Yav [https://taplink.cc/yav_zone], by the end of August.

Continuing the embrace of the latest applications of technology in art, prizewinning artist and “Art of Peace” resident Alisa Yoffe [http://alisayoffe.com/] led a masterclass on protest art in the virtual-reality world of “Xanax Tbilisi.” During the session, Yoffe virtually “walked” participants through the streets of Tbilisi to view protest art superimposed on elements of the cityscape. Emphasizing the collaborative nature of the project, Yoffe has invited all who wish to contribute their own anti-war graffiti to access the world of “Xanax Tbilisi” through the platform “VRChat [https://hello.vrchat.com/].”

Against the backdrop of war, a poignant artistic movement emerges

A heartfelt song born from the collective contemplation of 10 Russian emigrants when posed with the question, “What would you say to someone fighting in the war against Ukraine?” and titled “To the Russian Soldier,” culminates in the haunting refrain, “I want [you] to live… others will live too.”

Data reported [https://en.zona.media/article/2023/07/10/stats] in Mediazona underscore the grave risk born by those sent by Russia to fight: While military casualty data are classified, with those daring to report on the number of fallen soldiers prosecuted for spreading “fake news” about the army, as of late May 2023, at least 47,000 Russian men under the age of 50 had died in the war. Mediazona and Meduza estimated [https://en.zona.media/article/2023/07/10/stats] that 78,000 Russian soldiers may have been wounded or missing in action, bringing overall losses to 125,000. This figure stands in stark contrast with publicly disclosed information from Russia; as reported in Mediazona [https://en.zona.media/article/2023/07/10/stats], the last time the Ministry of Defence disclosed any casualty figures was in September 2022, when Sergei Shoygu announced that a total of 5,937 soldiers were killed in action.

Pioneering narratives for peace

Semra Fogel, an inaugural “Art of Peace” resident and architect of the “Verses are Louder than Bombs” workshop, gathered five anti-war poets at Reforum Space Tbilisi [https://reforumspaces.io/] this July for a collaborative art-making experience centered around song. In her own words, “I think art is a way to draw attention to this problem. If more people are going to use their art for this purpose and ask their friends to, we stand a better chance at peace. It’ll be better… for those who have already suffered from the war and for those defending themselves against further and further evil that this war brings.”

Fogel plans to build on her initial concept, with the goal of scaling it so more people feel prepared to produce protest art, whether collaboratively or individually. Reflecting on the five poets who participated in her flagship workshop, Fogel said, “I’m very proud of their work. I’m proud of my work because I managed to inspire them. It’s the coolest thing.”

Get involved

To participate in the Art of Peace movement, individuals and communities are encouraged to:

  • Share their anti-war artwork on social media using the hashtags #ArtofPeace, #ИскусствоМира, #IWantYouToLive, & #ХочуЧтобыЖил.
  • Contribute to the virtual gallery [https://campaignsforhumanity.com/art-of-peace] hosted by Campaigns for Humanity.
  • Host their own collaborative art-making meetups. The resident artists crafted a guide for members of the public to use, included below.

Guide to Hosting an Art of Peace Art-Making Meetup

  1. Gather a group of people and any art supplies you like or have access to. Old magazines, glue, and paper are all you need to create a collage!
  2. Together, look at a piece of art, such as one of those included in the virtual gallery [https://campaignsforhumanity.com/art-of-peace/]. Then discuss how it makes you feel, what you like about it; maybe what you didn’t understand or didn’t like about it.
  3. Spend some time as a group making art or poetry of your own, inspired by the discussion and the artwork. You might use the title “I want you to live” or “art of peace” to help guide you.
  4. Share your work on social media using the hashtag #ArtofPeace, #ИскусствоМира, #IWantYoutoLive, & #ХочуЧтобыЖил.

To stay up to date on the latest Art of Peace news, follow Campaigns for Humanity on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Defense, Democracy, Government, Issues, Politics, Social, Society

DISCOVER THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF ART: RUSSIAN ACTIVISTS IN EXILE SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE THROUGH IMMERSIVE ART EXPERIENCES

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TBILISI, Georgia, 7-Jul-2023 — /EPR GOVERNMENT NEWS/ — This summer, a group of Russian activists, currently living in exile, are banding together to cultivate artistic resistance to the war among the Russian diaspora. The activists, all of whom are working artists collectively specializing in a variety of mediums, initially connected through their participation in the inaugural “Art of Peace” artist residency sponsored by Campaigns for Humanity, the human rights-focused philanthropic arm of digital marketing agency Renaissance3. The initiative is designed to bring together artists affected by conflict and provide them with a platform to express their opposition to war and engage with their host communities.

“It [Art of Peace] provides an opportunity to collaborate with other talented artists, poets, and writers, united by a common goal: confronting war and violence through art.” – Anastasia Vladyckina, Art of Peace resident

Reflecting on the residency, one participant, who asked to be identified only by the letter “R” due to concern for the safety of her family still living in Russia, stated, “War cannot stop us from creating art. Here we meet, speak out, exchange, and create.”

Driven by their belief in the transformative power of expression, the “Art of Peace” residents are sharing their expertise with the broader diaspora community through immersive art experiences open to the public–including those who may not yet consider themselves artists. During these experiences, participants are guided to cultivate a sense of community amongst themselves as they create works centering around the themes of peace and pleas of “I want you to live,” an appeal directed at those in Russia they fear they could lose to this unjust war.

One of the experiences produced by the residents, titled “Verses Are Louder than Bombs,” is being organized by musician Semra Fogel and takes place at Reforum Space Tbilisi on 8, 15, and 16 July. Prospective participants must submit an application containing an original anti-war poem, which they will transform into a soundtrack over the course of three sessions led by Fogel, who received professional training in workshop facilitation as part of the “Art of Peace” residency.

“I want to inspire people opposed to the war to create art and feel the courage to share it with those who became victims of propaganda,” said Fogel. “I believe that art can be a powerful tool to promote peace and understanding between people of different backgrounds and political opinions.”

Those selected by Fogel to participate will have the opportunity to contribute the song they create during the sessions to an anti-war album that will ultimately be released to the public. Participants pay a fee of 30 GEL, with all proceeds sent to Helping To Leave, a volunteer-driven initiative that provides assistance to Ukrainians affected by the war. Participation is free for Ukrainian citizens.

Additional “Art of Peace” resident-led experiences, including a collaborative street art project conducted in augmented reality and a masterclass in protest art held in virtual reality, will be announced soon.

“Art is also capable of restoring the spiritual strength of people suffering from war and destruction. It can help them perceive the world and themselves in it anew, seeking paths to inner reconciliation and emotional peace. In this sense, art serves as a means of healing and self-expression, which can help people cope with traumas and fears.” – Anastasia Vladyckina, Art of Peace Resident

As “Art of Peace” moves beyond the residency phase and expands its reach to the general public, the founding class of artists expressed enthusiasm about the project’s potential. “While war–using weapons–deprives us of the opportunity for dialogue, art remains a means of interaction on the path to peace,” wrote resident Alisa Yoffe, who is known for her large-scale anti-war art installations. “I am an artist from Russia, and I find it extremely important to speak out against war.”

To participate in the Art of Peace movement, individuals and communities are encouraged to:

  • Share their anti-war artwork on social media using the hashtags #ArtofPeace, #ИскусствоМира, and #IWantYouToLive.
  • Contribute to the virtual gallery hosted by Campaigns for Humanity.
  • Host their own collaborative art-making meetups. The resident artists crafted a guide for members of the public to use, outlined below.

Guide to Hosting an Art of Peace Art-Making Meetup

  1. Gather a group of people and any art supplies you like or have access to. Old magazines, glue, and paper are all you need to create a collage!
  2. Together, look at a piece of art, such as one of those included in the virtual gallery. Then discuss how it makes you feel, what you like about it; maybe what you didn’t understand or didn’t like about it.
  3. Spend some time as a group making art or poetry of your own, inspired by the discussion and the artwork. You might use the title “I want you to live” or “art of peace” to help guide you.
  4. Share your work on social media using the hashtags #ArtofPeace, #ИскусствоМира, and #IWantYoutoLive

To stay up to date on the latest Art of Peace news, including announcements of forthcoming workshops, follow Campaigns for Humanity on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Democracy, Government, Issues, Politics, Society

Организаторы проекта «Карта мира» убеждены, что влияние антивоенной русской диаспоры на исход войны против Украины значительно

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ВИЛЬНЮС, 7-Jun-2023 — /EPR GOVERNMENT NEWS/ — По данным газеты The Moscow Times, до 1 миллиона человек покинули Россию после начала полномасштабного вторжения в Украину. Антивоенная российская диаспора состоит из представителей самых разных слоев обществ, но всех этих людей объединяют простые и понятные вещи — решительное осуждение вторжения в Украину и недвусмысленная поддержка суверенитета Украины, а также стремление к справедливости.

Лана Пылаева, координатор “Free Russia Netherlands”, рассказала независимому изданию Not My War: “Для меня самое важное — это то, что мы создали в Нидерландах как сообщество россиян, выступающих войне. Для достижения этого мы организовали целый комплекс мероприятий после начала полномасштабной войны.”

Сбор гуманитарной помощи для украинцев, боты для помощи тем, кто в России пытается избежать призыва, пикеты и марши, протестный стрит-артом, запуск международного проекта по возвращению украденных украинских детей (SaveChildrenFromPutinism.org) — все эти возможности выступить против от агрессии российского государства так же многообразны, как и люди, возглавляющие их, а темп активности действительно впечатляет.

Координации и катализации таких процессов помогают как раз такие централизованные платформы, как интерактивна «Карта мира», которую активисты используют для синхронизации своих действий и взаимной поддержки. Изначально запущенная после начала полномасштабного вторжения для связи русскоязычных антивоенных активистов по всему миру, “Map of Peace”, усиленная недавним присуждением премии Campaigns for Humanity, объявляет о новой цели — представить на своей карте каждую русскую антивоенную инициативу. Уже сейчас на карте отмечены 144 сообществ, и их число постоянно растет. Организаторы уверены, что удобство обновленной платформы усилит возможности многочисленных эмигрантских сообществ, выступающих за мир.

Война в Украине затягивается — она идет уже 16-й месяц. И все сильнее ощущается необходимости слаженных и эффективных действий в этом «марафоне». И этому все больше убедительных доказательств. Например, активистки движения «Феминистское антивоенное сопротивление» (ФАС), представленного на «Карте мира»”, регулярно используют подрывные техники борьбы с кремлевской пропаганды, направленные непосредственно на россиян. Среди них — создание «анти-уроков», которые родители могут использовать для противодействия эффектам военной пропаганды, навязываемой российским школьникам, и использование фотошопа для создания фотографий танков, покрытых кровью и с антивоенными лозунгами, которые затем выкладываются на Google Maps.

Сможет ли подобная изобретательность россиян в эмиграции действительно повлиять на исход войны? Последние сообщения предполагают, что так. По данным «Медиазоны», число российских военнослужащих, уклоняющихся от службы, резко возросло, превысив показатели 2022 года всего за первые четыре месяца 2023 года. Как контрактные военнослужащие, так и призывники уклоняются от службы, отказываясь выполнять приказы о переброске на Украину или дезертируя с передовой.

Как заявили активисты российского антивоенного сообщества в годовщину начала полномасштабного вторжения в феврале: «Мы должны продолжать сопротивляться режиму вместе, поддерживать все формы протеста, менять взгляды сторонников войны, помогать тем, кто столкнулся с проблемами из-за войны, и проявлять солидарность всеми доступными и безопасными для нас способами. Не бойтесь говорить правду! Мы призываем россиян отказаться от участия и помогать другим не принимать участие в преступной войне и геноциде украинского народа».

Присоединитесь к нашей миссии за мир и справедливость для Украины. Посетите www.mapofpeace.org сегодня, чтобы убедиться, что ваша инициатива представлена.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Education, Government, Projects, Society

The Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al Rabiah, met with EU ambassadors in Saudi Arabia

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, 3-Jun-2023 — /EPR GOVERNMENT NEWS/ — The Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al Rabiah, met with ambassadors from the European Union countries in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday in Riyadh at the Marriott hotel, within the framework of the new “Bridges” initiative, to introduce the latest services provided to Muslim pilgrims, including the Nusuk online platform.

This meeting comes to kick-start the “Bridges” initiative, implemented by the Ministry with the aim of strengthening relations and communication with countries around the world, as well as introducing the efforts exerted by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to serve European pilgrims, whether those already residing in the Kingdom or arriving to perform Hajj.

The meeting clarified the facilitations introduced to arrivals’ procedures which allows for performing Hajj rituals within a safe atmosphere, arising from the quality of services provided, which consequently supports enriching the spiritual journey of the pilgrims in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

The meeting also included an introductory presentation of the Nusuk online platform, which provides a package of digital services to 67 countries from Europe, the Americas, and Australia, in seven international languages.

The platform also contributes to preserving the rights of the guests through direct monitoring of service providers under the Ministry’s electronic supervision of the platform.

Al Rabiah stressed to his diplomatic guests that the development of the infrastructure of the holy sites and the Two Holy Mosques is in full swing, highlighting that the ongoing operations are among the largest in the world, which ensures that pilgrims will receive the highest levels of service, whether at the holy site or through the automation of booking procedures on the Nusuk platform.

The meeting included an introductory tour comprising six films, 26 educational video clips, 13 awareness posts, in addition to 39 educational designs, all of which to raise the awareness regarding the appropriate behaviors that should be followed at the holy sites and the Two Holy Mosques, as well as preventive health behaviors, displayed in three languages, including English, French and Arabic.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Democracy, Government, Online, Politics, Social, Society

The anti-war Russian diaspora, united by opposition to the invasion of Ukraine, has emerged as a powerful force for justice and Ukrainian sovereignty

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VILNIUS, 31-May-2023 — /EPR GOVERNMENT NEWS/ — According to reporting in the Moscow Times, up to 1 million people have fled Russia in the wake of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Hailing from a diversity of backgrounds but united by an impassioned opposition to the invasion and unequivocal support for Ukrainian sovereignty, the anti-war Russian diaspora has established itself as a massive force driven by tireless emigres committed to justice.

Lana Pylaeva, the coordinator of Free Russia Netherlands, told independent media outlet Not My War, “To me, the greatest achievement is that we have established ourselves in the Netherlands as a community of war–opposing Russians. To achieve this, we have organized a whole complex of activities since the full-scale war.”

From collecting humanitarian aid for Ukrainians and running bots to help those in Russia avoid conscription; to in-person pickets, marches, and blanketing the streets with protest art; to launching a multinational project demanding the return of Ukraine’s stolen children, dubbed SaveChildrenFromPutinism.org; the opportunities to reject Russian state aggression are as multifaceted as the people spearheading them, and the rate of activity is enough to make the head spin.

Driving the opposition effort’s momentum are centralized hubs–such as the online platform Map of Peace–activists use to coordinate their activities and support one another. Originally launched just after the full-scale invasion as a means of connecting Russian-speaking anti-war activists across the globe, Map of Peace, bolstered by a recent Campaigns for Humanity award, is announcing a new goal of hosting every Russian anti-war initiative on its map. With 144 communities already on the map and growing by the dozens in recent months, project organizers are confident the updated platform’s one-stop-shop convenience will amplify the impact of the legions of expatriates agitating for peace.

As the war drags into its 16th month, there’s a renewed sense of urgency among anti-war advocates, fueled by evidence suggesting that their efforts are working. For example, activists with Feminist Anti-War Resistance (FAR), a movement hosted on Map of Peace, frequently engage in creative propaganda subversion techniques designed to appeal directly to those in Russia, such as creating “anti-lessons” parents can use to counter the effects of the militarization indoctrination imposed on Russian schoolchildren, and turning a favored Russian propaganda tool–tanks–on its head by posting to Google Maps photoshopped images of tanks covered in blood and featuring anti-war slogans.

Excerpt from Feminist Anti-War Resistance Facebook Post About Its “Anti-Lesson”: “Before May 9, propaganda ‘patriotic classes’ are held for many Russian schoolchildren and students, justifying the attack on Ukraine with the narrative of the Second World War. We studied the materials of ‘Conversations about the important things’ to May 9 and information on how educational institutions will celebrate this day. Based on what we’ve read, we have prepared an outline and materials for the Anti-Lesson for May 9th to initiate a conversation about anti-militarism and the causes of war.

Can exiled Russians’ ingenuity influence the outcome of the war? Recent reporting suggests so. According to Mediazona, Russian AWOL figures are soaring, surpassing the 2022 full‑year tally within the first four months of 2023. Both contract soldiers and conscripts are going AWOL, either by directly refusing orders to deploy to Ukraine or deserting from the front lines.

As stated by the Congress of Antiwar Initiatives on the one-year anniversary of the full-scale invasion, “We must keep resisting the regime together, support all forms of protest, change the minds of supporters of the war, help those who are in trouble because of the war and show solidarity by all means available and safe for us, let’s not be afraid to speak the truth! We urge Russians to refuse to participate in and help others to not take part in the criminal war and genocide of the Ukrainian people.” Join our mission for peace and justice for Ukraine. Visit www.mapofpeace.org today to ensure your initiative is represented.

Civil Servant, Democracy, Government, Issues, Politics, Society

Renaissance3’s “Campaigns for Humanity” seeks nominations of organizations, projects, or individuals working to achieve peace for Ukraine

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KYIV, Ukraine, 24-Feb-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Award-winning digital marketing agency Renaissance3 is seeking nominations of exceptional initiatives that have the objective of achieving peace for Ukraine. Each project selected will receive €10,000 in funding, as well as technical and strategic support from the agency’s team of digital communications experts.

Since its 2022 launch of Campaigns for Humanity, a people-focused initiative to empower change makers promoting human rights, digital democracy, and more humane economies around the world, Renaissance3 has been steadfast in its belief that with additional support and awareness of their efforts, the legions of Russians and Ukrainians committed to defending Ukrainian sovereignty can achieve their aims.

“I think the only way I can personally help Ukraine right now is by not fighting there,” Igor, a 26-year-old IT professional from St Petersburg as he fled his home for Russia, told The Guardian. Tatayana, a doctor from Irkutsk, added as she left for Azerbaijan following reports that Russia was calling up health professionals to the front, “I believe the sooner this horrible war stops, the fewer people will die.”

As highlighted in Renaissance3’s “24 for 24” campaign, so named in reference to the 24 change makers featured on each of the 24 days leading up to the one-year anniversary of the full-scale invasion, Russians who have fled the war have been using their experience and resources to support the Ukrainian people in extraordinary ways. The campaign, which was designed to illustrate how our shared humanity can allow us to overcome the forces that seek to divide us, offers a glimpse into the vast world of Russians and Ukrainians working alongside one another for freedom and human dignity.

Renaissance3 is an award-winning digital marketing agency staffed by a team of strategists, creatives, and social media experts with diverse experience across six continents and united by a shared mission to not just market, but build movements. Renaissance3 is committed to giving back by investing a portion of its annual gross profits in initiatives that move one or more of its guiding values of human rights, digital democracy, and building more humane economies forward. Learn more at Renaissance3.com.

Renaissance3’s call for nominations follows.

Funding Opportunity: Campaigns for Humanity

When we recognize our shared humanity, we are not strangers; we are simply friends who haven’t met yet.

Why: At Renaissance3, we believe hope is both the antidote to despair and a powerful motivator. At Renaissance3, we believe hope is both the antidote to despair and a powerful motivator. Since the beginning of Russia’s war against Ukraine, more than twice as many Russians have fled their country as have been drafted into the army. Vladimir Putin knows that Russians who become aware of the truth will not want to kill Ukrainians, which is why he is working so feverishly to churn out propaganda and restrict the flow of accurate information inside Russia.

When Putin launched his war of aggression, the world rallied behind Ukraine: Corporations pulled out of Russia, refusing to fund Putin’s war machine; strangers welcomed those fleeing the violence into their communities and even their homes; and citizens across the globe deployed their unique talents in support of the Ukrainian people. Renaissance3 was no exception: As an agency dedicated to empowering change agents to defend human rights, fight for digital democracy, and create more humane economies, we jumped at the opportunity to make a difference by doing what we do best.

What we do: In March 2022, we launched Campaigns for Humanity as a people-focused initiative to connect and elevate a global alliance of creatives, activists, and advertisers working toward peace in Ukraine. Since then, we’ve partnered with Ukrainian creatives to counter Russian propaganda using the power of GIFs; strengthen global solidarity by calling on the world’s people to #StayWithUkraine even as the war dragged into the spring; and spotlight the many heroes born of this tragedy through our latest project, 24 for 24. Renaissance3 was recognized as one of the KYIV International Advertising Festival’s Positive Change Winners for our work for Ukraine in 2022. And while the awards we’ve received for our work feel great, we won’t set aside our keyboards until there’s peace for Ukraine.

As marketers, we understand that attention is finite and prone to waning. That’s why, as we mark one year since the invasion began, we’re committed to leveraging our skills and resources to breathe new life into the ongoing campaign for peace.

We know:

Russians are being bombarded with propaganda denying the humanity of Ukrainians.
Information breeds resistance to injustice.
Ordinary Russians have extraordinary power to influence the outcome of this war.

How you can help: We’re seeking nominations of organizations, projects, or individuals working to achieve peace for Ukraine that could use additional funding and marketing support to magnify the impact of their efforts. Selected nominees will receive the following:

€10,000 in funding to directly support their work to help end the war in Ukraine
Technical and strategic support from our team of digital media experts to amplify the impact of the funded work

Whom to nominate: Selected nominees will be able to articulate how their work can bring peace to Ukraine and how €10,000 in new funding will meaningfully propel that work forward. Self-nominations are permitted. Nominees should be engaged in work that seeks to educate Russians and Ukrainians about ways they can help stop the war by raising awareness, encouraging action, and promoting the principle of shared humanity among all people. The work should align with one or more of the following objectives:

Save Lives:
Humans fight wars; humans can also choose to not fight wars.
Let Russians who have been conscripted into the army or could be in the future know they have options to resist fighting in this unjust war. (Ex: I Want To Live Hotline).

Share Truth:
Counter Russian propaganda by communicating accurate information about the war to personal contacts. Ukrainians and Russians alike can leverage close relationships with family and friends to provide resources that can help them overcome Russian state influence. (Ex: Papa Believe Outreach Initiative).

Build Community:
Foster relationship-building and cultural exchange between Russians and Ukrainians who have fled their countries as a result of the war and have a shared desire for peace.

Submit your nomination: Please fill out the form at campaignsforhumanity.com/call-for-submissions to submit your nomination. Renaissance3 will review nominations on a rolling basis and contact both the nominator and nominee if they are being considered for an award.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Civil Servant, Democracy, Government, Issues, Politics, Society

New Campaign Highlights Extraordinary Efforts of Peace Activists in Ukraine

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24 for 24

KYIV, Ukraine, 24-Feb-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Prior to February 24, 2022, the people and organizations spotlighted in digital marketing agency Renaisssance3’s latest initiative were content to be parents and children; musicians and poets; businesses and workers. The company’s newest campaign, titled “24 for 24” in reference to the 24 change makers profiled–one for each of the 24 days leading up to the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine–was conceived as a series to illustrate the power our collective humanity has to overcome the forces that seek to divide us.

In her “Diary of Lviv,” Vlada Ralko writes, “The shock of war undermines ordinary perception of reality.” But “If we are united, we will be able to defeat evil,” insists Valentyna Polovnyka of Bickerstaff, a Ukrainian creative agency featured in the campaign.

Among the stories documented in “24 for 24” are those of a German father and daughter who, determined to assist the thousands of Ukrainians fleeing the bombs, journeyed 1,000 km from their home in Frankfurt to meet refugees flowing through the Polish border; an account of thousands of creatives who banded together to fight information warfare with the stated aim of preventing World War III; and Russian independent media, many in exile, who risk their security and livelihoods to provide accurate information to those who need it most.

Renaissance3–which launched Campaigns for Humanity in March 2022 as a global alliance of creatives, activists, and advertisers working toward peace in Ukraine–is an award-winning digital marketing agency that invests a portion of its profits in initiatives aligned with its guiding values of human rights, digital democracy, and more humane economies. For its work with Campaigns for Humanity, the company was named a Positive Change Winner at the 2022 KYIV International Advertising Festival.

As part of its renewed commitment to support peace in Ukraine as the war enters its second year, Renaissance3 is also announcing €10,000 funding awards, as well as technical and strategic support from its team of digital communications experts, available for nongovernmental organizations or individuals working on projects to defend Ukrainian sovereignty. To submit a nomination, visit campaignsforhumanity.com/call-for-submissions.

Follow the 24 for 24 campaign at https://campaignsforhumanity.com/24-for-24/.

To learn more about Renaissance3, please visit Renaissance3.com.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Democracy, Government, Politics

Dragana Trifkovic, head of the Center for Geostrategic Studies, comments on the possible consequences of the incident in Poland

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BELGRADE, 8-Dec-2022 — /EPR GOVERNMENT NEWS/ — In the past months, we could hear various forecasts and warnings regarding the current conflict between the West and Russia, which concern a high level of misunderstanding on many issues, but mostly on the issue of Ukraine. The Ukraine conflict itself is seen by the West and Russia from diametrically opposite positions. For the West, Russia is an aggressive party that attacked the sovereign state of Ukraine. On the other hand, for Russia, Ukraine is a country under the control of the Western power centers, which are committing genocide against the Russian population. According to Russian officials, the reasons for launching a special military operation (as they call the intervention) are threats to the national security of the Russian Federation and the need to protect the Russian population, which has been under attack since 2014. So far, the collective West has not wanted to accept Moscow’s arguments, which has led to today’s situation of the highest level of political conflict between the West and Russia after the Second World War, without direct confrontation. Nevertheless, Russia believes that it is still waging war with the West, taking into account the fact that the West is arming and training the Ukrainian army, and also, according to Moscow, is encouraging aggressive behavior of Kyiv towards the Russians.

At the time of the existence of extremely destructive nuclear weapons, the very thought of a direct confrontation between the West and Russia causes fear. However, it seems that certain political structures wish for such a scenario, which is extremely unreasonable. It is clear that the president of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, believes that Ukraine’s entry into NATO would strategically change positions in the conflict. However, it is precisely the expansion of NATO towards the Russian borders, which caused a counter-reaction from Russia.

The recent case with 2 missiles falling on Polish territory – which is a member of NATO, showed the quick reaction of Poland, as well as the EU. Quite predictably, Ukrainian President Zelensky, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kuleba, and his deputy Meljnyk immediately blamed Russia without looking at the evidence, announcing that the Russian forces targeted the territory of Poland. Polish media reported on November 15 that two rockets fell not far from the border with Ukraine in the village of Przewodow and hit a tractor, killing two people. On that day, the Russian army launched over a hundred rockets into the territory of Ukraine.

The reaction of the Latvian Minister of Defense Artris Pabriks soon followed, who declared “My condolences to our Polish brothers in arms. The criminal Russian regime fired missiles that target not only Ukrainian civilians but also landed on NATO territory in Poland. Latvia fully stands with Polish friends and condemns this crime”. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Croatia made a similar statement.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation denied that Russian missiles hit Polish territory. It should be noted that all this happened before Polish military experts went to the field to investigate the case. What does that actually say? It has become common for certain political circles to blame Russia in advance, without any evidence. Premature reactions that are not based on facts in a situation where there is an armed conflict are more than risky and could have led to the full-scale World War Three breaking out. If such reactions are not based on evidence, then they are possibly based on emotions or Russophobia.

Only sixteen minutes after military experts went to the field, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland issued a statement stating that the missiles that fell on Polish territory near the border with Ukraine were of Russian production.

Nevertheless, the American president’s statement after the emergency meeting of the G7 leaders with NATO representatives in Bali a few hours later had the effect of extinguishing the fire. Joe Biden stated that preliminary data indicated that the missiles were most likely fired not by Russia and that it was necessary to wait for the results of the investigation. After that, Polish President Andrzej Duda announced that those were most likely the Ukrainian weapons landing on Polish territory. All of this speaks in favor of the theory that the Ukrainian leadership is striving to draw NATO into conflict with Russia, or at least individual NATO member-states, such as Poland, Latvia, or Croatia, which have compromised themselves with baseless accusations against Russia.

The main question here would be “is there still a perspective for Ukraine to join NATO”?
Vladimir Zelensky said just a few days ago: “De facto, we have already made our way into NATO, De facto, we have proven compatibility with alliance standards. De facto. Today, Ukraine is applying to make it de jure. … under a procedure consistent with our significance for the protection of our entire community, under an accelerated procedure.”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg later declared that Ukraine has the right to join NATO. However, this would mean that Ukraine would bring a war conflict as a dowry to the Alliance:
Stoltenberg said the decision on Ukraine’s possible membership was up to NATO’s 30 member states, but he reiterated that in the meantime, the alliance would continue to support Ukraine because “inaction is a greater risk” to European security“.

There is no question that Ukraine would benefit from NATO’s defining credo, which, as mentioned in Article 5, says that “an armed attack” against any member is considered an attack against them all. But, as an alliance predicated on the doctrine of mutual defense, it would be highly unlikely to admit a country ensnared in war.

These words do not sound too encouraging for Zelenskyi’s NATO ambitions, and in my opinion, they signal the end of Ukraine’s NATO perspective.

In addition, we should add media reports that the stockpiles of weapons in Western countries, including the USA, have reached a critically low level due to deliveries to Kyiv, as well as statements by US military officials that there are no great prospects for an imminent military victory for Ukraine, proposing negotiations as a way to resolve the conflict. If nothing else, Ukraine might learn from the lesson with Poland that displaying Russophobia can backfire. Moreover, some officials have already claimed that the false statements and calls for escalation make Zelevnsky lose credibility. According to the Financial Times, A NATO official in response told the paper: “This is getting ridiculous. The Ukrainians are destroying [our] confidence in them. Nobody is blaming Ukraine and they are openly lying. This is more destructive than the missile.”

References:
https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/09/30/russia-ukraine-nato-membership-zelensky/
https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-formal-application-join-nato/
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/3737015-zelensky-calls-russian-missiles-hitting-poland-really-significant-escalation/
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_17120.htm
https://www.npr.org/2022/11/16/1137085278/polands-president-says-the-missile-strike-appears-to-be-from-ukraine
https://www.ft.com/content/d417ea8f-62ee-4bb8-966b-a85a98fc6b3a

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Election, Federal Government, Government, Governor, Issues, Politics

Is Europe’s interest in the 2014 Vrbetice Explosions driven by the Biden-Putin meeting?

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Sacramento, California, USA, 2021-Jun-16 — /EPR GOVERNMENT NEWS/ — Louis Marinelli, an American political activist, and California governor candidate, released a short film exploring the issue of Vrbetice explosions in the light of the first Biden – Putin meeting.

The film was made in collaboration with Adam Kokesh, a libertarian activist who ran for USA presidency in 2020, and was aimed to present a perspective that is not widespread in the media today and discuss an alternative vision of the explosions in the Czech Republic, sanctions against Russia and the current state of international relations prior to Putin – Biden meeting.

In 2014, a series of explosions destroyed an arms depot in the Czech Republic, causing two deaths. At the time, Czech authorities blamed the explosions on human error. But now, in the months leading up to the Biden-Putin meeting set for Geneva, the explosions have resurfaced as a topic of international concern – except now NATO allies and EU members are blaming Russia – and placing sanctions on Russia as a result, even though they lack any direct evidence of Russian involvement.

Louis Marinelli unravels the story and presents an alternative theory – is Europe’s renewed interest in the 2014 explosions in Vrbetice really just a pretext to place sanctions on Russia and tarnish Russia’s reputation before Putin’s meeting with Biden? Or maybe the explosions are simply the result of a rivalry between two arms dealers – Emelian Gebrev, and Boyko Borissov, who, until recently, was also the Prime Minister of Bulgaria?

Additional information:

Louis J. Marinelli (born March 28, 1986) is an American political activist of the California independence movement organized under the Yes California Independence Campaign, an umbrella organization representing the coalition of parties and organizations supporting the proposed California independence referendum. Marinelli is the former president of Yes California and the former interim chairman of the California National Party, under which he also ran for California State Assembly in California’s 80th State Assembly district representing south San Diego, National City, Chula Vista, San Ysidro, and the surrounding communities.

Adam Charles Kokesh (born February 1, 1982) is an American libertarian political activist, radio host, and author. Kokesh was a U.S. 2020 Libertarian presidential candidate running on the single-issue platform of an “orderly dissolution of the federal government.”

Kokesh is a former U.S. Marine Corps sergeant, serving in the Iraq War in 2004. Upon his return from Iraq, he became an anti-war activist and an advocate for Iraq Veterans Against the War.

Media contact:

Louis J. Marinelli
Email: contact@louismarinelli.com

Via EPR Network
More Government press releases

Civil Servant, Democracy, Election, Government, Issues, Online, Politics, Society

Bring Back Civility initiative hopes to promote civility In the United States

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JUNEAU, Alaska, 2020-Oct-13 — /EPR GOVERNMENT NEWS/ — What started out as a way to get his daily 10,000 steps, a local man hopes in the long run will change the course of dialog in America.

For 12 years during the cruise season, Robert Steinke has been coming to the Port in Juneau to greet cruise customers and welcome them aboard humpback whale watching excursions. With the pandemic in full swing, he still feels drawn to the Port and would visit frequently – focusing on his daily 10,000 step goal rather than greeting customers. These walks allowed for releasing some built up pandemic energy and passing the time listening to a little talk radio or podcasts.

It was during one of these daily walks while listening to various podcast’s that Robert was struck with an idea. “Sometimes on these call-in shows, things can get a bit heated,” stated Steinke, “then, one of the callers said ‘Why can’t we just bring back civility?’ I couldn’t get that thought out of my mind, I went to bed that night thinking about the idea of civility and how important that concept is to a democracy.” From that day at the Port, Steinke was inspired to help spread the idea of bringing back civility.

After chatting with his wife and doing some research, Steinke decided the best way to change the tone was for individuals to publicly share the concept of civility – almost brand themselves with the idea of ‘be civil’. So, Steinke launched the website BringBackCivility.com where individuals can brand themselves with the ideal of being civil to each other.

“We don’t have to agree on everything, or even anything, to be civil to each other. Being civil is really a choice,” stated Steinke. “This is just a simple way to remind ourselves and others to be kind and be civil to each other.” Since the launch of the website, the most popular items have been face masks and hats. Both come in a variety of colors and designs to suit everyone. “I like the face masks, they make a few different statements when you wear one,” stated Steinke.

The site will be up at least until the end of the year. Most gear will be shipped in 3-7 days and can be shipped worldwide. The company is also taking bulk orders from shops that are interested in carrying the line.

Via EPR Network
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Defense, Government, Government Agency, Online, Society

SecurLine secure communications app by Privus formally certified by Portugal’s Gabinete Nacional de Segurança

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ZUG, Switzerland, 28-May-2020 — /EPR GOVERNMENT NEWS/ — Privus, the Swiss-based cyber-security firm, announced today that SecurLine, its flagship secure communications application, has been formally certified by Portugal’s Gabinete Nacional de Segurança (National Security Office) to protect classified communications.

Deploying a zero-knowledge architecture and employing open-source based, end-to-end encryption, SecurLine is designed to ensure the highest levels of verifiable security, privacy and quality of communications between users for its messaging, voice and video services.

Portugal’s GNS certification is particularly significant and its timing auspicious given the current perspectives for the global cyber-security market, which is expected to grow to US$250 billion in 2023. Driven by mounting concerns over privacy and security resulting from systemic increases in digital surveillance and the extent and the costs of cybercrime, this already strong sector growth is expected to be enhanced by the Covid-19 crisis, which has triggered a general adoption of remote collaboration
and communication tools, and widened the privacy debate to include the possible use of intrusive tracking technology to fight the pandemic.

For Henrique Corrêa da Silva, Privus’s Founder and CEO, “Privacy is not only about well implemented and verifiable encryption – it is about trust. We established Privus in 2016 to develop intuitive solutions that ensure absolute privacy and security for the most demanding clientele; those in the public or private sector that may be targeted by systemic digital surveillance and sophisticated cyber-attacks. As we do not believe in blind trust, we will continue to operate as an independent firm, true to our motto: “Trust but Verify”. This certification demonstrates the strength of our achievements over the last four years and the significance of Privus and SecurLine, which I regard as vital defensive tools in the hostile digital reality that encroaches more and more upon our daily lives.”

Luís Lavradio, Founder and CFO stated, “The certification form Portugal’s GNS highlights our focus on the fundamental characteristic for success in this market: trust. It has been an extremely rigorous process that clearly boosts our ability to grow the business, particularly in post-Covid-19 scenario.”

Artur Goulão, CTO, added, “The certification of SecurLine, which a growing number of experts consider to be possibly the only true alternative to platforms such as WhatsApp and Signal, affirms the high levels of security and anti-surveillance engineering capabilities available at Privus.”

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Court System, Federal Government, Government, Issues, Law, Politics

Matvil Corp. Continues Its Fight Against Illegal Actions of the Legal System of Moldova

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A case of intellectual rights dispute sheds light on the corrupt legal system of Moldova

TORONTO, Canada, 2020-May-15 — /EPR GOVERNMENT NEWS/ — As one of the leading online ethnic TV providers, operating in North America, Matvil Corp. discovered, there is no reliable system in place that protects legal broadcasters from dishonest competition. In their attempts to enter the US and Canadian markets, Internet pirates commit fraud and manipulate data in order to influence the corrupt legal system of Eastern European countries and try to destabilize operations of successful companies, cause financial damage and hurt their reputation.

The case Radio Star Ltd. against Matvil Corp. is a vivid proof of such practices.

On June 8, 2018, Radio Star Ltd. filed a lawsuit against Matvil Corp. in the court of Chisinau, Moldova, stating that the latter illegally broadcasted a number of Russian and Ukrainian channels on the territory of Moldova.

It should be noted right away that in support of its demands, Radio Star (Moldova), knowingly and deliberately used various methods to circumvent technical protection measures undertaken by Matvil Corp., and subsequently presented them as evidence. Using ExpressVPN program, accomplices or employees of Radio Star (Moldova), (which in this case is a media “pirate”), physically located in the Republic of Moldova, created user accounts and, using American IP addresses, with location in New Jersey, USA, registered on the Matvil Corp website, thereby creating the illusion of receiving services offered by the company.

It should be clarified that ExpressVPN program is a virtual tunnel that virtually changes the physical location of a computer or other electronic device, assigning this device a virtual IP address, indicating a virtual location anywhere in the world (at the choice of the user of this program), while physically, the electronic device is located in its territorial space.

Matvil Corp is a respectable media provider that provides online TV broadcasting services in Canada and the United States. Subscription access to the service for users from the countries of former USSR and Russia is strictly prohibited and unavailable.

However, malicious desire for illegal enrichment pushes such adversaries as Radio Star (Moldova) to resort to illegal actions, falsification, fraud and the commission of crimes using IT technologies.

Moreover, as it became known already in the framework of the trial, Radio Star (Moldova) does not have exclusive rights at all to broadcast Russian and Ukrainian television channels in the territory of the Republic of Moldova. Radio Star (Moldova) is just an agent for the distribution and conclusion of contracts with the end consumer and with a limited duration of contractual agreements.

In addition, Matvil Corp did not receive any claims from the copyright holders, and Radio Star (Moldova) did not provide any evidence that authority was granted by the copyright holders to protect their interests.

Despite all of the above, on January 18, 2019, Chisinau Court of First Instance, Judge Oksana Parfeni, ruled in favor of Radio Star, accepting all their fabricated evidence as reliable, but denied Matvil Corp representatives the right to hear IT experts / specialists and also denied the right to hear those persons who allegedly gained access to the service.

If the court were objective and impartial, then these adversaries would be asked only one question: “For what reason and why did they use ExpressVPN program, used American IP addresses, with location in New Jersey, USA, and did not try to log in on Matvil Corp website under valid Moldovan IP addresses? ”

On February 2, 2019 lawyer Matvil Corp appealed the decision of the first instance, however, even here Matvil Corp had to face partiality.

On April 5, 2019, that is, after 2 months, Chisinau Appeal Chamber issued a Decision, which decided to return the appeal because it was filed by an unauthorized person. The reason for this decision was a banal and completely illegal motive: the power of attorney issued to the company’s lawyer was allegedly not legalized in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova.

It should be noted that this Decision was not sent to Matvil Corp lawyers until May 15, 2019 (apparently it was concealed in order to have the appeal dates expire). Only after applying with an official statement and demanding to indicate at what stage the filed appeal was, the court deigned to issue this Decision.

On the same day, May 15, 2019, the lawyer filed a protest against the Decision dated April 5, 2019, where it was decided to return the appeal, and on June 6, 2019, the Higher Trial Chamber of the Republic of Moldova ruled that the power of attorney was legal, and therefore obliged the Appeals Chamber to consider on its own merits the appeal about the decision of the first instance of the Court.

Thus, the first ray of hope for the objectivity and honesty of the Moldovan Judicial System appeared.

November 14, 2019 – The Appeal Court acknowledged the fact that Radio Star (Moldova) does not have any exclusive rights to broadcast TV programs and does not have the authority to protect the interest of copyright holders and, as a result, reversed the decision of the first instance and dismissed adversaries’ lawsuit.

It seemed as though that justice has triumphed!!!

However, the miracles of the legal / judicial system of Moldova continued.

Just by accident and thanks to the vigilance of the lawyers, it became known that Radio Star submitted cassation appeal to the Supreme Court of Justice on January 14, 2020.

This information appeared on the court’s website, but until today, neither Matvil Corp nor the company’s lawyer have received a copy of this complaint and have not been officially informed of its existence.

Moreover, on March 18, 2020 this complaint has already passed the admissibility procedure, and the review itself is scheduled for May 20, 2020 and, what is noteworthy, without the participation of the parties!

This series of non-compliance with the requirements of the Law by the system itself, which was created to protect it, shows that it serves the interests of a certain group of people.

Using the Moldovan judicial system, unscrupulous competitors try to destabilize the business and cause serious financial and reputational damage to American and Canadian companies that do not conduct and did not intend on conducting business in Moldova.

Via EPR Network
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Government, Issues, Projects, Publications, Society

Geneva Global Initiative calls on Governments and multilateral institutions to develop more integrated and concrete preparedness strategies for whole-society responses

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GENEVA, 6-May-2019 — /EPR GOVERNMENT NEWS/ — The UN IPBES’ 2019 Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services is another one in a long line of warnings about the state of our planet. It should be clear that we face multiple interacting environmental stresses, and these are intensifying. Profound environmental, economic and political changes will likely define the next decade and beyond.

“Now is the time to bring attention to how we handle the risk of a large-scale systemic failure if all mitigation efforts fall flat and sustainable goals are not met in time”, said David Korowicz, GGI’s Director for Risk and Response.

The GGI is hosting an on-the-record teleconference to further discuss this, open to journalists and parties focused on these issues on Wednesday, May 8, at 4:00 pm Central European Time. The call is open to the public, but RSVP is required at Rachel@morrisseypr.com.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Election, Events & Programs, Government, Politics, Society

Sallux presents its 2nd publication in the Confederal Europe project

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BRUSSELS, 28-Mar-2019 — /EPR GOVERNMENT NEWS/ — As the EU is approaching the next European Parliament elections there is more need than ever for a constructive middle ground between ‘more Brussels’ and ‘no Brussels’. The ‘Confederal Europe’ project aims to provide a positive case for confederal reform. It is possible to be pro-EU without allocating more competences to the EU institutions. Sallux presents its second publication in the ‘Confederal Europe project’ that emphasizes the relations between the peoples and nations of Europe and is pointing a way forward based on the Judeo-Christian roots of the EU in the spirit of the EU founding fathers.

A free copy of the new publication: Confederal Europe: A Political and Societal Vision for Stakeholder Nations (ISBN: 978-94-92697-15-8) will be distributed in the room! (value: € 10,00 postal costs excluded)

See tab PROGRAM

10:00                        Opening

10:00 – 11:00           Launch of the publication with the authors

11:00 – 12:30           ECPM MEP & Expert panel on reforming the EU.

For those who have no EP accreditation we urge you to sign in before 3 April 2019………

We look forward to meet you at the Launch of this publication.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Executive Power, Foreign Policy, Government, Government Agency, Immigration, Issues, Law, Policy, Politics, Prime Minister, Society

88.000 SCHENGEN VISAS AND AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF MEDICAL VISAS HAVE BEEN ILLEGALLY SOLD WITHOUT PROPER CHECKS IN A COUNTRY WHERE ISIS-TERRORISTS ARE ACTIVE

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BRUSSELS, Jun-25-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — There is evidence that points to the possibility that up to 88.000 Schengen visas and an unknown number of medical visas have been illegally sold without proper checks in a country where ISIS-terrorists are active.

Meet Mr. IVAN GRECH MINTOFF who recently presented evidence to the Maltese courts of a far-reaching scandal involving political appointees in the Maltese Prime Minister’s office sold Schengen and medical visas to Libyans illicitly.

Mr. Grech Mintoff’s testimony continues the work of recent murder of the anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta. The scandal points to high-level political direct involvement in visa trade and human trafficking, that could undermine public trust in the Schengen visa system and potentially threaten European security arrangements.

Also present will be a number of MEPs that demand an investigation.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Defense, Democracy, Diplomacy, Events & Programs, Foreign Policy, Government, Policy, Politics, Society

High-level conference on democracy in Syria in the European Parliament, Brussels

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AMERSFOORT, The Netherlands, Apr-02-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — WIth this high level conference, we would like to present to Europe and European decision makers, politicians and media the Official Delegation of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria (DFNS) The Delegation is headed by the Co-President of the Federation, Mr. Sanahrib Barsom.

The DFNS was founded on the principles of gender equality, ethnic and religious tolerance, sustainable ecology, and self-defence. Currently, the region is home to over 4.5 million residents, but this number consistently increases due to the ongoing arrival of (an estimated 250.000) refugees from newly liberated territory. The territory it comprises is about 30% of Syria which means about the size of Belgium. This governing body of the de facto “autonomous region” is not widely known. the military branch which is under controll of the DFNS is more known : Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) which are the main ground forces for the Coalition against ISIS/Daesh, which obviously is more than the Kurdish alone.

This high-level conference presents international speakers on this very important topic and will also have important representatives of the DFNS, form Syria itself. The first session will describe the structure of the Federation and how to “kill the mentality” of ISIS/Daesh and create the possibility for “European” refugees to return safely to the Federation area. The second session will discuss the issues of security, reconstruction and reconciliation in Northern Syria. The rest of the (closed / invitations only) conference on the 10th and 11th of April will consist of round table meetings.

Information & registration

Date: 10 April 2018 9:30 – 12:45

Location: European Parliament, Rue Wiertz 60, 1047 Bruxelles, Belgium; Room PHS1A002

Registration: For Journalists / media with press registration/accreditation free access. Other press / media staff can send an email to info@sallux.eu

This event is hosted by MEP Branislav Skripek (Slovakia ECR / president ECPM).

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Democracy, Government, Politics, Presidency

Cherie DeVille to run for US President in 2020

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Los Angeles, CA, Sep-7-2017 — /EuropaWire/ — Sporting a doctorate on her resume, a well-spoken, opinionated candidate has emerged in the 2020 run for president. With Donald Trump having opened the door to public figures attaining the highest office, DeVille has announced her intention to run for President. She’s enlisted Coolio to serve as Vice-President due to his rise from poverty to a gangster’s paradise, and having toured every state in this land, and dozens of countries throughout the world speaking to people along the way – together they know how to fix America.

DeVille announces her presidential bid during a 7+ minute press conference which introduces her team as she recounts her views for change. Coolio is introduced as the presidential hopeful’s running mate and is a strong proponent for universal healthcare, hoping to roll out CoolioCare to the masses.
Chere DeVille speaks eloquently on the broken promises of the current administration and goes so far as to touch on the travel ban, healthcare as well as the disastrous situation that Trump has left the world in with the United State’s withdrawal from the Paris Accord.

International models @Khloe and @MissKennedyS bring the millennial vote along with substantial experience from travelling the world and speaking to the people. Summers, is also a third year med student who has very real concepts on how to improve the healthcare system and will work closely with the Vice President on CoolioCare. Canadian born Khloe Terae hopes to cozy up with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in her role as head of Foreign Relations.

Former WWE legend Virgil is the man behind the woman. The former bodyguard for the Million Dollar Man will reprise his role on a much grander scale. Virgil has been pegged with being the personal bodyguard for the Presidential hopeful, along with being head of security. Having broken breadsticks at Olive Garden with Donald Trump, Virgil has keen insight in the current administration, and can help transition when Cherie DeVille captures the White House.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Democracy, Embassy, Federal Government, Foreign Policy, Government, Healthcare, Issues, Law, Politics, Society

New York’s Health Agency (NYSDOH) Cited in Iraq War’s Blowback

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New York, NY, 2016-Dec-31 — /EPR GOVERNMENT NEWS/ — As the Iraq War’s official end on December 18, 2011 marks its fifth anniversary, many questions remain on its fallouts. New York’s French-American community is one of them, as it remembers its blacklisting when France opted out of attacking Iraq.

Choosing diplomatic pressure rather than “shock and awe” ignited fury for many in New York. The call for anti-French boycotts resonated in tabloids as pictures of New Yorkers spilling wines in gutters vied with accusations of an ally’s betrayal and cowardice. Information can be found by googling “New York’s French boycotts and Iraq,” and “Freedom fries.”

How effective were the boycotts? “Very much so, even devastating,” says French consulate’s official physician and mental health coordinator at the time, Gérard Sunnen, MD, “the French-American community of New York was stunned by their virulence. Why, many wondered, did they materialize only in New York, in striking contrast to the rest of the country?”

“Targeted were all manner of French-American businesses, from Air France to bakeries, as rosters of marked companies circulated widely. Earliest felled were restaurants, whose sales plummeted by as much as half. Like dominoes, they closed their doors, dismissing their workers. Called by many the “consulate’s darkest hour,” it went on for weeks, interminable months, and still resonates today.”

“As layoffs mounted,” Dr. Sunnen added, “so did their mental health consequences, from all manner of stress reactions to self-destructive depressions. And workers suddenly out of work could not find employment because no one would take them. The consulate’s social services department work load soared to levels never attained before.”

Faced with this onslaught, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) was repeatedly contacted to lend the community its medical and mental health assistance. In addition, New York state and city top officials were insistently asked to add their voice to call off the boycotts. All appeals remained unanswered and, for reasons of non-assistance and abandonment of responsibility, this matter was eventually reported and filed in New York and Federal courts.

Dr. Sunnen, who also cites his experience as a Vietnam-era U.S. veteran, concludes, “history needs constant reckoning, otherwise it can remain a fable. These events are now brought to light so that long-term allies can better understand the meaning of their relationship.”

References:

Gérard Sunnen, MD: www.triroc.com/sunnen
Supreme Court, State of New York, No. 102194/2012
U.S. District Court, Southern District of NY 12 Civ. 3417
U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit 13-465cv
U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) 1:13-cv-1242
New York State Division of Human Rights (NYSDHR) No. 10181422
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) No. DCA96MA070

Contact-Details: Gerard Sunnen, MD

 

Via EPR Network
More Government press releases

Democracy, Foreign Policy, Government, Issues, Policy, Politics, Society

Est d’Ucraina: Compagnia europea Flame SA paga a gli guerriglieri

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KIEV, 08-Nov-2016 — /EPR GOVERNMENT NEWS/ — “Giornalisti contro la corruzzione e illegittimità” – un gruppo di giornalisti-investigatori Ucraini – ha comunicato dei documenti compromettenti che si sono trovati a loro disposizione e confermano la collaborazione della compagnia europea Flame SA con La Repubblica Popolare di Donetsk (RPD) – organizzazione a riconoscimento limitato che ha preso la territoria al Est d’Ucraina sotto suo controllo.

Il documento sopracennato è un contratto a consegna di 72 000 tonnellate di carbone tra Flame SA e la miniera “Jdanivska” che si trova nel territorio non controllato al Est d’Ucraina. Questo territorio, anche come tutte le imprese localizzate, sono conrollati dai ribelli filorussi della stessa RPD. Intanto, tali relazioni commerciali devono essere regolati proprio dalla legislazione Ucraina: l’impresa, anche stando al territorio non controllato, deve pagare le tasse al bilancio statale, poiché è registrata al territorio d’Ucraina e si trova li stesso.
Però, dopo l’inizio di azioni militari nel 2014, molte compagnie della regione hanno dichiarato della nuova registrazione, iniziando a pagare le tasse al bilancio della autodichiarata RPD.

Praticamente, questo è il diritto finanziameno degli guerriglieri. In mezzo a tali “sponsor” – la sopracennata miniera “Jdanivska” che a sua volta riceveva i soldi dalla europea Flame SA.

A quale base la Flame SA acquistava il carbone proprio in questa miniera e perché non ha trovato una fonte alternativa per le consegne di questa materia prima – resta l’incognita. I rappresentanti della compagnia non hanno risposto ne a una domanda dei giornalisti ucraini.

Tra le altre cose, il sito web della Flame SA è inaccessibile, per questo non risulta possibile avere dei commeti ufficiali della compagnia su quest’affare.

Il Servizio di Sicurezza d’Ucraina (SSU) si è già interessato del fatto del presente contratto – per adesso solo nella parte di rinvio a giudizio penale del direttore della miniera “Jdanivska”, il signore Ruslan Dubovskiy. È accusato di esecuzione delle operazioni illegali d’esportazione con Flame SA e una serie di altre compagnie allo scopo di “fininziamento del terrorismo” (clausola 258-5, parte 1 del Codice Criminale d’Ucraina). Al presente, l’indagine del SSU su quest’affare continua.

Ma non è l’unico “buco” della compagnia Flame SA. Secondo i dati dei giornalisti ucraini, la compagnia in violazione delle sanzioni internazionali ha dei rapporti commerciali con un’altra miniera – “Zarechnaya”, che si trova nella Federazione Russa. Questa miniera è l’attivo della compagnia “Uralvagonzavod” che a sua volta sta nella lista delle compagnie sottomesse alle sanzioni degli Stati Uniti e Unione Europea.

Flame SA e le sue filiali F-Chem SA e Brando International sono situati allo stesso indirizzo in Svizzera. L’attività principale della compagnia è la ricerca e consegna del carbone energetico, coke di petrolio e coke mettallurgico. Flame SA esercita commercio in tutto il mondo, il suo capitale impiegabile è 1 milione di franchi svizzeri. E non è una sorpresa, considerando i volumi degli acquisti e il profitto ricevuto.

Fonte: EuropaWire