Sustainable Lifestyle Challenge by Sofonie Dala - Angola. Day 5

 Good evening ladies and gentlemen. It’s DAY 5!

We have gone through the FOOD domain and showed you incredible things.  Today we focus on buying fewer and better clothes, staying away from fast fashion that mass produce at the cost of environmental and human justice. 

Angola spends over USD 100 million on bale clothes

“Angola imports new clothing worth around USD 170 million and used clothing estimated at USD 65 million, resources that could be saved if the country's textile industries were fully operational”.

Angola has become the biggest consumer of second-hand clothes (burden) in Europe and America due to the lack of textile production in the country, according to the General Director of the Institute for Industrial Development, Adérito Van-Dúnem.

According to Adérito Van-Dúnem, in the beginning the burden came to meet the need for clothing of the most needy population, benefiting from customs exemptions and which, due to its informality, did not contribute to the creation of jobs or to the collection of tax revenue for the State. But today its object has been misused for commercial practice, with the import of second-hand clothing (burden) becoming a commercial activity and not for free distribution or donation.

Now it's time to think about the STUFF we buy: 

Do I really need this new item? Could I find what I need through friends, family or in my community? If not, can I find this item in second-hand shops? By reshaping our needs and wants, we can collectively make the difference in reaching Sustainable Development Goal 12, to ensure responsible consumption and production.

If you’re looking for inspiration on how to participate in the challenge, think of these facts: 

• Did you know that clothing production has doubled between 2010 and 2015? Care for your garments, opt for clothing designed for long life, and visit vintage shops. You may find unique pieces to spice up your style!

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• Did you know that, if the current trend continues, there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050? Refuse everyday products which cannot be reused and go for long-lasting solutions! 

YouTube expands Covid move to block all anti-vaccine content

The new policy will also see false claims about routine immunisations for diseases like measles, Hepatitis B and influenza removed from YouTube

YOUTUBE will block all anti-vaccine content, moving beyond its ban on false information about Covid-19 vaccines to include material that contains misinformation about other approved vaccines, the social media giant has announced.

YouTube said on Wednesday the expanded policy will apply to ‘currently administered vaccines that are approved and confirmed to be safe and effective by local health authorities and the WHO (World Health Organisation).’

The new policy will also see false claims about routine immunisations for diseases like measles, Hepatitis B and influenza removed from YouTube.

That would include cases where vloggers who post content on the platform have claimed that approved vaccines do not work, or wrongly linked them to chronic health effects.

The online video company is also banning channels associated with several prominent anti-vaccine activists including Robert F Kennedy Jr and Joseph Mercola, a YouTube spokesperson said.

A news email for Mercola’s website said in a statement: ‘We are united across the world, we will not live in fear, we will stand together and restore our freedoms.’

Kennedy, who is a member of the prominent US political family, said in a statement: ‘There is no instance in history when censorship and secrecy has advanced either democracy or public health.’

RT accused of violation

YouTube said it had removed more than 130,000 videos since last year for violating its Covid-19 vaccine policies.

On Tuesday, the video platform told German media that it had blocked the German-language channels of Russia’s state broadcaster RT for violating its Covid-19 misinformation guidelines.

YouTube said it had issued a warning to RT before shutting the two channels down, but the move prompted a threat from Moscow to block the video site.

It is not the only social media giant grappling with how to deal with the spread of Covid-19 conspiracy theories and medical misinformation in general.

Facebook this month launched a renewed effort to tackle violence and conspiracy groups, beginning by taking down a German network spreading Covid-19 misinformation.

YouTube said content that ‘falsely says that approved vaccines cause autism, cancer or infertility, or that substances in vaccines can track those who receive them’ will be taken down.

‘As with any significant update, it will take time for our systems to fully ramp up enforcement,’ YouTube added.

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Sarah Everard: PSNI working on violence against women strategy

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said it is working on its first violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy.

This follows the murder of Sarah Everard.

Ms Everard, 33, 33-year-old woman was abducted, raped and murdered by Met Police officer Wayne Couzens in London, in March.

PSNI Ch Supt Anthony McNally said the case had “firmly placed a spotlight on violence against women and girls”.

Former police ombudsman Baroness Nuala O’Loan said it was important the PSNI acted quickly.

She said that it was inevitable that women will feel unsafe after Miss Everard’s murder.

Ch Supt McNally said police were working with partners, including Women’s Aid and Victim Support, to develop the strategy.

“This is a priority for the police service,” he added.

He said the PSNI took offences committed by officers “incredibly seriously”.

• How a police officer covered up Sarah Everard’s murder?
• Met Police missed Couzens indecent exposure link

“It is entirely unacceptable for police officers, who are responsible for enforcing the law, to break the law themselves,” he said.

“Offences of dishonesty, sexual offences and violent crime are particularly serious and likely to terminate an officer’s career.

“We have a dedicated Police Standards Department who deal with these investigations, on a case by case basis.

“One of the over-riding purposes of our police misconduct regime is to protect the public. Abuse of any kind by police officers will not be tolerated and there are robust internal and criminal mechanisms to deal with any officer who is found to be a perpetrator.”

Image caption,Baroness O’Loan says it is “definitely time” for a strategy

Baroness O’Loan called on police in Northern Ireland to be more responsive to women who feel unsafe.

“There are a huge number of women murdered by their partners, murdered by people very close to them, and we know that,” she told BBC News NI.

“We know the level of domestic violence and the number of women who have to flee their home with small children and not much more.

“They [police] need to be responsive to the calls when they come in for help. Sometimes the PSNI can be really, really good at that but they really need a strategy for every case that comes in.”

‘Every woman needs to know they are safe’

Baroness O’Loan said the Couzens case showed it was important to deal with less serious offending in order to prevent serious offending like murder.

She said women should feel safe walking the streets.

“Inevitably some bad things are going to happen – there’s violence out there – but if you at least knew that the police had a strategy, that they knew the areas in which there were possible attacks, that they were responding quickly, that you knew you would get a response if you called,” he said.

“Often women, walking alone in a dark area, won’t think they should call 999, but if she’s afraid, she should.”

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Ramaphosa to speak to Britain over Covid-19 travel restrictions

He says South Africa is not vengeful over the blacklisting

SOUTH AFRICAN President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday said he was due to speak to Prime Minister Boris Johnson after the UK imposed severe travel restrictions for travellers arriving from South Africa.

The UK has placed South Africa on its coronavirus ‘red list’, forcing travellers into a pricey hotel quarantine on arrival.

On the issue of the UK putting us on a red list, I think this is the most unfortunate situation that we have been subjected to,’ Ramaphosa told a news conference.

‘I’m due to speak to Prime Minister Boris Johnson,’ he said.

He however said South Africa was not vengeful over the blacklisting, which has dealt a crippling blow to tourism, a key sector that directly accounts for three percent of the nation’s economy.

‘We don’t have the need to retaliate… because the UK is an important trading partner to South Africa, one of the very important ones.

‘We should rather engage, and through our engagement, we hope we will find a solution,’ he said, insisting that the decision to impose the travel restrictions was scientifically rather than politically driven.

Before the pandemic, more than 400,000 visitors a year flocked to South Africa from the former colonial power, more than any country outside of the continent.

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Twitter ‘looks forward’ to Nigeria ban ending

The social media platform Twitter, which is currently banned in Nigeria, says it looks forward to being reinstated there following “productive” discussions with its government.

Their statement follows Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s announcement that the months-long ban on Twitter will be lifted, but only after certain conditions are met.

An unnamed Twitter spokesperson said on Friday:

Quote Message: We continue to engage with the Nigerian government and we are committed to charting a path forward to the restoration of Twitter for everyone in Nigeria.

We continue to engage with the Nigerian government and we are committed to charting a path forward to the restoration of Twitter for everyone in Nigeria.

Quote Message: Discussions with the Nigerian government have been respectful and productive – we look forward to seeing the service restored very soon.”

Discussions with the Nigerian government have been respectful and productive – we look forward to seeing the service restored very soon.”

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No vaccine drop-in clinics at Scotland’s largest health boards

No vaccine drop-in clinics are being offered by two of Scotland’s largest health boards.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which covers a population of almost 1.2 million, and NHS Lanarkshire, which looks after 655,000, have nowhere for people to walk in and get a Covid jab.

NHSGGC, which employs 38,000 staff, says on its website that no drop-ins are currently scheduled.

NHS Lanarkshire’s site says no clinics will be offered after 1 October.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced at her coronavirus update on 14 September that the Covid vaccine would be made available to 12-15-year-olds at drop-in clinics from Monday 20 September.

From 27 September, formal invite letters would be sent out to that age group.

Teenagers in those health board areas have been able to access drop-in clinics for less than two weeks.

Image caption,The NHSGGC website says no drop-in clinics are currently scheduled

It comes on the day the Scottish government’s vaccine passport scheme goes live.

From Friday, people now need proof they have had two doses of vaccine in order to enter nightclubs and many other large events.

The scheme was seen as a way to encourage the uptake of the vaccine in younger people.

• Record numbers now eligible for winter flu jabs
• What do we know about Scotland’s vaccine passport?
• Public ‘not ready’ for vaccine passport scheme

An NHS Lanarkshire spokeswoman said the focus was now on Covid booster vaccinations and the flu jab and that the volume of people attending appointments for those meant that an appointment system was the best way to manage large numbers of people.

She said: “Friday 1 October will be last day for drop-in vaccination clinics for the time being.

“As we start to deliver the Covid booster and flu vaccinations the number of people attending our clinics is significantly increasing, therefore we do not have the capacity to also offer drop-in spaces.

“If your appointment is not suitable, we would encourage you to reschedule it. Details on how to do this will be on our appointment letter.”

Image caption,NHS Lanarkshire will stop offering drop-in vaccines after Friday

A spokesman for NHSGGC told BBC Scotland that the health board was currently giving first, second and booster doses of the Covid vaccines plus the flu jab programme to members of the public and health and social care staff.

He said that limiting the service to appointments meant they could manage the footfall and manage staffing levels at its vaccination centres better.

‘Extraordinary and dangerous’

He added that the situation would be kept under review.

Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie called the halting of drop-in clinics “extraordinary and dangerous”.

She said: “That two of Scotland’s largest health boards are unable to offer drop-in vaccinations is simply unacceptable.

“Thousands of Scots remain unvaccinated – if we are ever to get this virus under control we must act now and we need to be opening up opportunities for vaccination, not closing down clinics.

“It is down to this SNP government to stop going at a snail’s pace and take action to ensure that health boards continue to provide vaccination clinics, particularly as the NHS is already in crisis before we even get to the pressure created by winter.”

The BBC has contacted Scotland’s other health boards. NHS Grampian is still offering drop-in appointments. NHS Borders is offering them in most areas, but not in Dumfries and Galloway.

NHS Tayside drop-in clinics are ongoing. And NHS Lothian said it had a range of large venues and community centres that have drop-in facilities and tit had a vaccination bus too.

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