Congratulations! We are celebrating the successful completion of LGBTQ campaign - Angola, by Sofonie Dala

 Our campaign ''Pride - Embrancing diversity-LGBTQ in Angola'' came to an end!

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the latest webisode of our show!

This analysis focused on whether people around Angola think that homosexuality should be accepted by society or not. The full question wording was, “Angola has decriminalized homosexuality. What's your opinion? 

Today we have a very special guest, she/he belongs to the LGBTQ community in Angola.

My name is Euclides Manuel, I belong to the LGBTQ community.

Can you tell us what your daily life has been like? How do people view you in society?

Thank God my days has been more or less, some people accept me and others don't. But I try to appease so there are no quarrels.

In this way, I ask that people respect me, that people have more love and more empathy for the LGBTQ community.

We are also human and we are people just like you and our right is also the same as yours.

So have more love and more passion for us.

It's all we want.

Thanks!

We interviewed several people of different genders and ages, and carefully analyzed each one's point of view. Very few people say that society should accept homosexuality; specifically 98% of them categorically do not accept homosexuality, other 2% who support the inclusion of the LGBTQ community in society are people who apparently are not rigorous practitioners of religion.

For example, this woman who preferred to speak anonymously was very satisfied with the decision of the Angolan government, for having decriminalized homosexuality in our society.

Hi!

What did Angola do?

Angola has decriminalized homosexuality. What is your point of view?

Well, for me this is even better, it's good.

So, do you agree with the government's decision?

Yeah, if they decided like that, who are we to say no?

This research was enough to realize that there are no significant differences between the opinion of men and women in the capital of Angola. However, of the 6 people interviewed (except the LGBTQ representative), there was a significant difference, women were more likely to approve of homosexuality than men. 

We spoke with 6 ordinary citizens 3 female and 3 male, the study shows the largest divide, with 90% of 2 females saying homosexuality should be accepted by society against 10% of a female who does not accept homosexuality. In the case of boys, 100% of them categorically do not accept homosexuality and they are based on very strict biblical principles.

Religion, both as it relates to the relative importance in people’s lives and actual religious affiliation, also plays a large role in perceptions of the acceptability of homosexuality in many societies across the globe.

In our case study, those who say religion is “somewhat,” “not too” or “not at all” important in their lives are more likely to say that homosexuality should be accepted than those who say religion is “very” important.

Despite major changes in laws and norms surrounding the issue of same-sex marriage and the rights of LGBT people around the world, public opinion on the acceptance of homosexuality in society remains sharply divided by country, region and economic development.

Our campaign came to an end, collecting very important interviews. The end of the program is not the end of the movement, thanks to all who believes and supports our initiative.

Harassment includes but is not limited to offensive verbal or written comments related to gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, social class, economic status, veteran status, sexual images, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.

Summary: Be respectful. Harassment and abuse are never tolerated.

The SDGs have a guiding principle that “no one will be left behind” and a commitment to prioritizing the poorest and most marginalized. The African Union’s Agenda 2063 has similar commitments to including and prioritizing the poorest and most marginalized in development efforts. There is wide-spread evidence that sexual and gender minorities are often among the most socially, politically and economically marginalized populations and thus require specific consideration and targeted inclusion to realize the vision of the SDGs. 

Please click the links below to watch all the webisodes.

1. kickoff event - Embracing diversity. LGBTQ in Angola. day 1 

2. Embracing diversity. LGBTQ in Angola. day 2

3. Embracing diversity. LGBTQ in Angola. day 3

4. Embracing diversity. LGBTQ in Angola. day 4

We stand for inclusivity. We believe that everyone has the right to a safe and welcoming environment in our society.

We have zero-tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of  race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

Stay tuned!

Death toll climbs in anti-UN protests in DR Congo

 The authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo say at least 15 people have been killed in demonstrations against United Nations peacekeepers in the east of the country.

Police said seven protesters and three UN peacekeepers died in the city of Butembo in North Kivu province.

Earlier the government said at least five people were killed in the provincial capital Goma – some 200km (125 miles) further south.

The demonstrators are demanding the departure of the peacekeeping force (Monusco), which they say has failed to restore peace in the region, amid a resurgence of the M23 rebel movement.

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Europe Agrees Compromise Gas Curbs As Russia Squeezes Supply

 European Union countries approved a weakened emergency plan to curb their gas demand on Tuesday, after striking compromise deals to limit the cuts for some countries, as they brace for further Russian reductions in supply.

Europe faces an increased gas squeeze from Wednesday, when Russian’s Gazprom (GAZP.MM) has said it would cut flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany to a fifth of capacity.

With a dozen EU countries already facing reduced Russian supplies, Brussels is urging member states to save gas and store it for winter for fear Russia will completely cut off flows in retaliation for Western sanctions over its war with Ukraine.

Energy ministers approved a proposal for all EU countries to voluntarily cut gas use by 15% from August to March.

Read Full Story …. Reuters >>> :   

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Why Uganda’s leader was bullish on Russian FM’s visit

 As he stood on stage alongside Russia’s foreign minister, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni said his country would continue to do business with Russia, despite pressure from Western allies to take a stance against Moscow over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Sat under a white tent in the gardens of State House, Sergei Lavrov and President Museveni emphasised their long history of mutual support. Both reflected on the part the USSR had played during the independence struggle in Africa. Moscow established its embassy in Uganda on 13 October 1962 – just four days after the country had won its independence.

Mr Lavrov is currently on a charm offensive tour of Africa, visiting Egypt, Congo-Brazzaville, Uganda and Ethiopia.

The event was carefully stage-managed, with journalists required to submit their questions in advance.

Very few journalists were allowed in to the press conference Image caption: Very few journalists were allowed in to the press conference

But President Museveni was bullish: in reply to one Russian journalist about whether he had felt any pressure not to accommodate Mr Lavrov or have photos taken with him, he said people would be “stupid” if they were to ask him not to have his picture with whoever he wishes.

I also got a similar picture from a Ugandan official who spoke to me at the event. He said Uganda’s leaders and those of countries like Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Zambia – the so-called frontline states in the fight against apartheid – could never turn against Moscow because of the part the USSR had played in their fight for liberation.

Mr Museveni reminded journalists that during the Cold War he was often asked whether Uganda was pro-West or pro-East, but he always answered: “We were pro-ourselves.”

In an interview for BBC Africa Daily, Foreign Minister Jeje Odongo was more conciliatory though, saying that Uganda was soon to assume the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement forum of 120 developing countries originally set up to stop their members becoming pawns in Cold War power games.

As such the East African nation had a responsibility to ensure that all members of the international community were engaged in dialogue, he said.

Gen Odango has now been invited to visit Moscow in October in a bid to further consolidate the relationship between the two nations.

It will mark 60 years since Moscow first recognised Uganda as an independent state.

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US Tops List Of Most Known Monkeypox Cases

 More than 3,800 monkeypox cases have been reported in the US, the most of any country around the globe, government health data shows.

The rising number of cases has reportedly prompted the Biden administration to mull declaring a national health emergency.

The virus has already been classified as a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO).

To date, more than 18,000 cases have been reported in 75 countries.

According to data published online by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of 25 July, there were 3,846 confirmed or suspected monkeypox cases in the US.

The figure – which comes amid expanded testing in addition to the growing outbreak of the virus – is now ahead of that of Spain, where 3,105 cases have so far been reported.

The two other countries with the highest number of infections, Germany and the UK, have reported 2,352 and 2,208 cases, respectively.

With cases in the US rising, the Washington Post on 25 July reported that the Biden administration was considering declaring a public health emergency.

The measure would allow the government to use federal funds to combat the outbreak, raise public awareness and better collect relevant health data.

Additionally, the administration is reportedly preparing to name a coordinator to oversee the government’s response to monkeypox from the White House.

On July 21, 50 Democratic lawmakers sent an open letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to declare a public health emergency and send millions of vaccine doses to the US from manufacturing facilities overseas.

While officials have said that gay and bisexual men – as well as healthcare workers – have so far been most at risk, fears are mounting that the virus could spread to other segments of the population.

On 22 July, the US confirmed the first cases of monkeypox in children.

The US response to the virus has so far been plagued by vaccine shortages and a slow start to testing, leading some to compare the situation to the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020.

In Washington DC, for example, officials have warned that a “rapid increase in cases”, coupled with a “very limited” supply of vaccines, means that authorities must prioritise high-risk residents.

The city currently has the highest per capita total of infections, with 172 cases reported in the district.

Most monkeypox cases are mild, with initial symptoms including high fever, swollen lymph nodes and a blistery, chickenpox-like rash or lesions.

So far, no deaths from the virus have been reported in the US.

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Russia Cuts Gas Flows Further As Europe Issues Savings Plea

 Russia delivered less gas to Europe on Wednesday in a further escalation of an energy stand-off between Moscow and the European Union that will make it harder, and costlier, for the bloc to fill up storage ahead of the winter heating season.

The cut in supplies, flagged by Gazprom (GAZP.MM) earlier this week, has reduced the capacity of Nord Stream 1 pipeline – the major delivery route to Europe for Russian gas – to a mere fifth of its total capacity.

A day earlier, EU countries approved a weakened emergency plan to curb gas demand after striking compromise deals to limit cuts for some countries, hoping lower consumption will ease the impact in case Moscow stops supplies altogether.

While Moscow has blamed various technical issues for the supply cuts, Brussels has accused Russia of using energy as a weapon to blackmail the bloc and retaliate for Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine.

On Wednesday, physical flows via Nord Stream 1 tumbled to 14.4 million kilowatt hours per hour (kWh/h) between 0700 and 0800 GMT from around 28 million kWh/h a day earlier, less than a week after the pipeline restarted following a scheduled 10-day maintenance period.

Klaus Mueller, head of Germany’s network regulator, said the country could still avoid a gas shortage that would prompt its rationing.

Germany, Europe’s top economy and its largest importer of Russian gas, has been particularly hit by supply cuts since mid-June, with its gas importer Uniper (UN01.DE) requiring a 15 billion euro ($15.21 billion) state bailout as a result.

Uniper and Italy’s Eni (ENI.MI) both said they received less gas from Gazprom than in recent days.

Mueller issued another plea to households and industry to save gas and avoid rationing.

“The crucial thing is to save gas,” Mueller said. “I would like to hear less complaints but reports (from industries saying) we as a sector are contributing to this,” he told broadcaster Deutschlandfunk.

German industry groups, however, warned companies may have no choice but cut production to achieve bigger savings, pointing to slow approval for switching from natural gas to other, more polluting fuels.

Germany is currently at Phase 2 of a three-stage emergency gas plan, with the final “emergency” phase to be launched once rationing can no longer be avoided.

“If you asked me whether it (a gas shortage) is imminent, then I would say that if flows remain at 20% and if we can still add to storage facilities in the coming days and weeks, then we do not yet have a physical gas shortage, which would be the prerequisite for Phase 3,” Mueller said.

Source: Reuters

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At Least 5 Killed, Dozens Wounded In East Congo Anti-U.N. Protest

 At least five people were killed and about 50 wounded in anti-United Nations protests in Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern city of Goma on Tuesday, a government spokesman said.

A Reuters reporter saw U.N. peacekeepers shoot two demonstrators dead.

The violence took place on the second day of protests against the peacekeeping mission MONUSCO for failing to protect civilians in a region marred by decades of militia violence.

“At least 5 dead, around 50 wounded (in Goma),” government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said in a tweet,

without saying who was responsible.

Hundreds of demonstrators attacked and looted a MONUSCO warehouse in Goma on Monday demanding that the mission leave the country and the protests flared again on Tuesday. read more

The Reuters reporter at the scene said peacekeepers fired tear gas and live bullets at a largely peaceful crowd, killing two and wounding at least two others.

Army and police officers deployed to the scene did not open fire. A soldier and a policeman in a bulletproof vest were also hit by bullets, he added.

A MONUSCO spokesman was not available for comment.

The mission has been gradually withdrawing for years.

Resurgent clashes between local troops and the M23 rebel group in east Congo have displaced thousands. Attacks by militants linked to Islamic State have also continued despite a year-long state of emergency and joint operations against them by the Congolese and Ugandan armies.

MONUSCO – the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo – took over an earlier peacekeeping operation in 2010.

It had over 12,000 troops and 1,600 police deployed in Congo as of November 2021.

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Ukraine Grain Export Coordination Centre Opens In Istanbul

 Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar on Wednesday unveiled a centre in Istanbul to oversee the export of Ukrainian grains after a landmark U.N. deal last week, with the first shipment expected to depart from Black Sea ports within days.

Russia and Ukraine signed the deal, brokered by Ankara and the United Nations, on Friday to reopen grain and fertilizer exports that have been blocked by war to ease an international food crisis. read more

The joint coordination centre (JCC) in Istanbul will oversee departures from three Ukrainian ports in which ships must circumvent mines, and will conduct inspections of incoming ships for weapons.

Read Full Story …. Reuters >>> :   

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