The Doughboy Foundation update

 

August 2022 John Schmitt in his World War I uniform is the "face" of the Doughboy Foundation's Daily Taps, with his photo frequently use in promotional roles. When he is not playing Taps at the National World War I Memorial in Washington, DC, John is a trumpet player and assistant live sound engineer for the Air National Guard Band of the Northeast. Daily Taps at the National World War I Memorial John Schmitt: “Sounding Taps is Meaningful to Me First and Foremost Because it is Important to Veterans and their Families” This month, National WWI Memorial Daily Taps bugler John Schmitt shares the story of his life-long commitment to honor Veterans and their families by sounding Taps. He is also known by his peers as one of the greatest trumpet players of his generation. Says John, "I'm from Northeast Ohio originally. I moved to Baltimore to live with my wife about twenty years ago. I don't recall the first time I sounded Taps, but I think it was in high school at a Memorial Day event. A few years later I sounded Taps at my grandpa's funeral." Click here to read more, and find out why John thinks that "Sounding Taps is a unique experience." U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" will finish summer strong with Aug. & Sept. Rush Hour Concerts at The National World War I Memorial in Washington, DC The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" will end the summer with a flourish with Thursday Evening Rush Hour Concerts at the National World War I Memorial in Washington, DC weekly in August and September starting Aug. 11. The concerts are part of the band's 100th anniversary year. Here are the remaining dates dates and times (weather permitting) for the 2022 summer series: Thursday, August 11, 6:30 pm, Army Band Trombone Ensemble Thursday, August 18, 6:30 pm, Army Band ensemble Thursday, August 25, 6:30 pm, Army Band ensemble Thursday, September 1, 6:30 pm, Army Band ensemble Thursday, September 8, 6:30 pm, Concert Band Thursday, September 15, 6:30 pm, Concert Band Thursday, September 22, 6:30 pm, Army Band ensemble Thursday, September 29, 6:30 pm, Army Band ensemble The Band starts to set up at the Memorial after the completion of Daily Taps at 5:00 pm, and the concerts start promptly at 6:30 pm. There is plenty of seating at the Memorial with good views of the band. In case of inclement weather on a concert day, check the Band's web site or social media to determine the status of the event.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT update

Ευρωπαϊκό
Κοινοβούλιο


Briefing - Inflation explained: What lies behind and what is ahead? - 02-08-2022

01/08/2022


Understanding inflation dynamics requires an understanding of the underlying concept and how it is measured. Inflation is defined as a process of continuously rising prices and falling purchasing power. In other words, a general and broad-based increase in the price of goods and services over an extended period. The main objective of central banks is to keep prices stable, to preserve the integrity and purchasing power of people's money. The most common inflation indicator measures the average change in the price of a basket of consumer goods and services over time. The closest approximation of what people intuitively understand by the term inflation is the change in their cost of living. The Harmonised Indicator for Consumer Prices (HICP), against which the European Central Bank (ECB) assesses the achievement of its price stability objective, is based on this concept. Strong inflation momentum for a broad set of goods and services in the consumer basket led to a record high inflation rate in June 2022, standing at 9.6 % in the EU and 8.6 % in the euro area, driven mainly by energy and food prices, which rose by 42 % and 8.9 % respectively. Inflation is expected to remain significantly above the euro area inflation target of 2 % for some time, due to continued geopolitical uncertainty and persistent supply bottlenecks. In its monetary policy meeting on 21 July, the ECB raised interest rates for the first time in over a decade by 0.5 percentage points and unveiled a new Transmission Protection Instrument. The latter would help the ECB to counter unwarranted, disorderly market dynamics and to make secondary market purchases of securities under certain conditions, thus preventing financial fragmentation within the currency bloc. At its meeting, the ECB also suspended forward guidance on the size of future rate rises in the interest of more flexibility. In conclusion, the latest ECB decision reflects increased efforts to bring inflation back to the 2 % target through a

Λεπτομερής ανάλυση - The way forward for better regulation in the EU – better focus, synergies, data and technology - 04-08-2022

03/08/2022


his in-depth analysis, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the JURI Committee, looks at the use of data for the purpose of regulatory assessment/evaluation. The author finds that data is needed to support evidence-based regulation, that information technologies, and in particular AI, can enable a more extensive and beneficial use of data, and that the use of data in ex-post evaluations can improve the regulatory process. The in-depth analysis offers policy recommendations.

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine: the EU imposes restrictive measures on Viktor and Oleksandr Yanukovych

 

Press material Thursday 4 August 2022   ● Council of the EU   04/08/2022 20:01 | Press release | Russia’s aggression against Ukraine: the EU imposes restrictive measures on Viktor and Oleksandr Yanukovych   The Council today decided to impose restrictive measures on two additional individuals in response to the ongoing unjustified and unprovoked Russian military aggression against Ukraine. The Council added the pro-Russian former President of Ukraine Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych and his son Oleksandr Viktorovych Yanukovych to the list of persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in the Annex to Decision 2014/145/CFSP for their role in undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine and the state’s stability and security, as well as - in the case of Oleksandr Viktorovych Yanukovych – for conducting transactions with the separatist groups in the Donbas region of Ukraine. The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the EU. The EU firmly stands with Ukraine The EU will continue to provide strong support for Ukraine’s overall economic, military, social and financial resilience, including humanitarian aid. The EU resolutely condemns Russia’s indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, and urges Russia to immediately and unconditionally withdraw all its troops and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. International humanitarian law, including on the treatment of prisoners of war, must be respected. Ukrainians, notably children, who have been forcibly removed to Russia must be immediately allowed to return safely. Russia, Belarus and all those responsible for war crimes and the other most serious crimes will be held to account for their actions, in accordance with international law.

Σύλλογος Ελληνικής Ιερακοθηρίας: Ενημέρωση για έκνομες ενέργειες της οργάνωσης «Δράση για την Άγρια Ζωή»

https://dasarxeio.com/2022/08/04/115674/#respond

by dasarxeio on 04/08/2022 • ( 0 )

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Δελτίο Τύπου του Συλλόγου Ελληνικής Ιερακοθηρίας (Σ.Ε.Ι.)

Ενημέρωση του Σ.Ε.Ι. για έκνομες ενέργειες της οργάνωσης «Δράση για την Άγρια Ζωή», με κατάφορη αψήφηση των Αρμοδίων Αρχών, με αφορμή απειλούμενο Χρυσαετό υψηλής επιστημονικής σημασίας.

Αθήνα, 4 Αυγούστου 2022

‘Ενα θλιβερό και απαράδεκτο φαινόμενο έζησε σήμερα η Αντιπροσωπεία του Σ.Ε.Ι. που παρευρέθηκε έξω από την εγκατάσταση της Μ.Κ.Ο. «Δράση για την Άγρια Ζωή» στο Καλοχώρι Θεσσαλονίκης.

Κλιμάκιο του Δασαρχείου Θεσσαλονίκης έφτασε στη εν λόγω εγκατάσταση ώστε να εφαρμόσει την απόφαση του ΥΠΕΝ και να παραλάβει έναν χειρουργημένο νεοσσό Χρυσαετού, ώστε να παραληφθεί από τον Σύλλογο μας για εκγύμναση μέχρι να καθοριστεί η περαιτέρω τύχη του.

Να σημειωθεί ότι ο νεαρός Χρυσαετός αφαιρέθηκε τον Ιούνιο, με την σύμφωνη γνώμη του ΥΠΕΝ, από την φωλιά του στην περιοχή του Πολυδενδρίου-Μαυροράχης, Ν. Θεσσαλονίκης, στα πλαίσια διδακτορικής διατριβής για την οικολογία του Χρυσαετού, που εκπονείται από το Πανεπιστήμιο Ιωαννίνων. Ο νεοσσός έπασχε από δυσμορφία, με έκφυση δύο έκτοπων άκρων, φαίνομενο που πρώτη φορά καταγράφεται παγκοσμίως! Η Μονάδα Διαχείρισης Βόλβης-Κορώνειας μετέφερε το πτηνό στη «Δράση για την Άγρια Ζωή». Κατόπιν το πτηνό μεταφέρθηκε στο Τμήμα Εξωτικών και Αγρίων Ζώων της Κτηνιατρικής Σχολής για ειδικές εξετάσεις και χειρουργική αφαίρεση των εκτόπων άκρων. Μετέπειτα επέστρεψε για νοσηλεία και προσωρινή φιλοξενεία στην «Δράση για την Άγρια Ζωή».

Λόγω της σημαντικότητας και πολυπλοκότητας του περιστατικού συστάθηκε από το ΥΠΕΝ ειδική ερευνητική ομάδα, υπό τον συντονισμό της Κτηνιατρικής Α.Π.Θ. και με συμμετοχή εκπροσώπου του Παν/μιου Ιωαννίνων και επιστημόνων του Σ.Ε.Ι. που απαγόρευε οποιαδήποτε κτηνιατρική πράξη χωρίς άδεια της ερευνητικής επιτροπής. Ακόμα και σε περίπτωση θανάτου είχε προβλεφθεί το πτώμα να μεταφερθεί στην Κτηνιαρική Κλινική του Α.Π.Θ. Οι εξειδικευμένοι επιστήμονες γνωμοδότησαν ότι μετά την νοσηλεία του, το πτηνό θα πρέπει να εκγυμναστεί από τον Σύλλογο μας, μέχρι να αποσαφηνιστεί η αιτία και η κληρονομικότητα της δυσμορφίας.

Το ΥΠΕΝ ενέκρινε με απόφαση (01.08) την παραπάνω διαδικασία με μηνιαία γραπτή αναφορά της κλινικής και ερευνητικής πορείας του. Στις 03.08 η «Δράση για την Άγρια Ζωή» απέστειλε στο ΥΠΕΝ επιστολή διαμαρτυρίας. Ένα από τα σημεία της επιστολής ήταν ότι η «Δράση» είναι αντίθετη ιδεολογικά με την ιερακοθηρία ενώ η αντι-πρόταση τους ήταν να παραμείνει εφ’ όρου ζωής σε ένα κλουβί ! Το περιεχόμενο της επιστολής κρίθηκε αβάσιμο επιστημονικά από το ΥΠΕΝ και έτσι την ίδια μέρα το Δασαρχείο Θεσσαλονίκης ενημέρωσε εκπροσώπους της «Δράσης» να παρεβρεθούν στις 04.08 στην εγκατάσταση ώστε να παραδώσουν στο Δασαρχείο τον Χρυσαετό. Με πρωτόκολλο παράδοσης-παραλαβής του Δασαρχείου, η Αντιπροσωπεία του Σ.Ε.Ι. θα τον παραλάμβανε για εκγύμναση.

Η εκπρόσωπος της Δράσης αρνήθηκε να παραδώσει στον δασικό εκπρόσωπο τον Χρυσαετό, επικαλούμενη ότι το πουλί πέθανε κατά τη διάρκεια της νύχτας, νεκροτομήθηκε και αποτεφρώθηκε!!!! Σε ερώτηση του Δασικού Υπαλλήλου να προσκομίσει τεκμήρια νεκροψίας, δείγματα, φωτογραφίες, παραπεμπτικά αποτέφρωσης αρνήθηκε εκ νέου. Αυτό ανακοίνωσε θρασύτατα και τηλεφωνικά στην Δασάρχη Θεσσαλονίκης και στο αρμόδιο Τμήμα του ΥΠΕΝ!

Ξεπερνά την φαντασία κάθε νοήμονος έννομου πολίτη ότι μία Μ.Κ.Ο. αψήφησε όλη την ιεραρχία του ΥΠΕΝ, δύο πανεπιστήμια και προέβη σε παράνομη καύση παραβαίνοντας κρατικά κτηνιατρικά πρωτόκολλα, εμπαίζοντας τους εκπροσώπους μάς! Και αυτό μόνο και μόνο επειδή διαφωνεί ιδεολογικά με μία νόμιμη διεθνώς δραστηριότητα, την ιερακοθηρία!!

Ο Σ.Ε.Ι. δεν θα ανεχτεί πλέον άλλη λασπολογία από τους «υποτιθέμενους προστάτες της Άγριας Ζωής» που δρούν ασύδοτα ώς «κράτος εν κράτει», που καταγγέλλουν την ιερακοθηρία στο Συμβούλιο της Επικρατείας αλλά στερούνται της στοιχειώδους γνώσης για την διαχείριση σπάνιων ειδών και αρπακτικών πτηνών, της επαγγελματικής κατάρτισης και βασικών αρχών συνεργασίας και διαλόγου.

Καλούμε όλες τις εμπλεκόμενες αρμόδιες αρχές να επιλυθούν και να κινηθούν παραδειγματικά κατά τέτοιων απολυταρχικών συμπεριφορών χωρίς ίχνος επιείκειας!

Καλούμε επίσης ΟΛΕΣ τις περιβαλλοντικές Μ.Κ.Ο. που συνεργάζονται με την «Δράση για την Άγρια Ζωή», εμπιστευόμενες τους άγρια ζώα και πτηνά, να πάψουν την συνεργασία και να δουν την αλήθεια κατάματα και να καταδικάσουν απερίφραστα την χρήση των αγριών ζώων ως πολιτικό μοχλό πίεσης, ως «αιχμαλώτους πολέμου» της στρεβλής ιδεολογίας τους, την αδιαλλάξια συνεργασίας με τις αρμόδιες αρχές και εγκεκριμένες Μ.Κ.Ο., όπως ο Σ.Ε.Ι., αμαυρώνοντας εθνικά και διεθνώς 40 χρόνια περίθαλψης αγρίων ζώων! Ο εξτρεμισμός δεν βοηθάει κανέναν και κυρίως τα άγρια ζώα!

Ο Σ.Ε.Ι. θα κινηθεί νομικά ως μάρτυρας του περιστατικού και μηνύοντας την εν λόγω οργάνωση για παράνομη θανάτωση ενός σπάνιου αρπακτικού μοναδικής γενετικής αξίας!

https://dasarxeio.com/2022/08/04/115674/#respond

NATO update

 

5 August 2022 Update NATO Secretary General on Utøya: we must stand for our values, support Ukraine NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addressed the Workers’ Youth League (Arbeidernes ungdomsfylking, AUF) on the Norwegian island of Utøya on 4 August 2022, underscoring the importance of continued support for Ukraine. READ MORE Germany, Hungary, Italy take up NATO’s Baltic Air Policing German, Hungarian and Italian fighter aircraft took up air patrols over the Baltic region as part of NATO's Air Policing mission from 1 August 2022. READ MORE NATO ships train with US Navy Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group Standing NATO Maritime Group Two and the US Navy's Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group augmented by Italian Navy frigate ITS Alpino conducted joint maritime and air defence exercises on 24 July while operating in the Mediterranean Sea. (Story courtesy of Allied Maritime Command) READ MORE Strategic Foresight Regional Perspectives Report on the Indo-Pacific In line with NATO’s effort to comprehend the future strategic and military environment, the Regional Perspectives Report on the Indo-Pacific presents findings from the initial research on the Indo-Pacific region by NATO nations, NATO entities, academia, think-tanks and a group of subject matter experts from around the world. (Story courtesy of Allied Command Transformation) READ MORE NSPA delivers sixth and seventh aircraft to the Multinational MRTT Unit On 27 and 29 July 2022, the sixth and seventh A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft of the Multinational MRTT Fleet were delivered to the Unit, at its Main Operating Base in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. (Story courtesy of NATO Support and Procurement Agency) READ MORE What's in the kit of a French CBRN defence specialist? What’s in the kit of a French CBRN defence specialist? Brigadier Herton from the 2nd Dragoon Regiment, French Army, shows us what he carries in the kit bag to detect chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear contamination in the field. WATCH VIDEO THIS WEEK IN PICTURES

NATO HQ, Blvd Leopold III 1110 Brussels, Belgium

APEC Region’s Growth to Slow Amid Uncertainties and Crises

Issued by the APEC Policy Support Unit

Singapore, 5 August 2022

Economic growth in the APEC region is expected to slow this year amid soaring inflation, a protracted war in Ukraine and heightened uncertainties, on top of the continuing impact of the pandemic and virus mutations that are draining resources, according to a new report by the APEC Policy Support Unit.

The APEC Policy Support Unit is now downgrading its gross domestic product (GDP) growth projection for the region to 2.5 percent in 2022, which is lower than its earlier projection of 3.2 percent. The growth forecast for next year has also been downgraded, from 3.4 percent to 2.6 percent. 

“The expected economic moderation in APEC is in line with lower projections for the global economy. Earlier this week we saw the International Monetary Fund revise downward its global GDP forecast for 2022 to 3.2 percent from 3.6 percent,” said Rhea C. Hernando, a senior researcher with the Policy Support Unit. “The sharp downgrades in economic growth for China and the US together with an expected contraction in Russia weighed on the APEC region’s prospects.” 

Global food and energy prices increased by 23 percent and 60 percent respectively in June compared to a year ago, contributing to a surge in inflation across the APEC region of 5.4 percent for the period of January to June this year. This is the highest inflation rate the region has seen since 2008 when it hit 6.6 percent at the height of the global financial crisis.

“Not only is inflation high, but it’s becoming broad-based, which particularly harms poor households and small businesses,” she added. “We expect that global inflation will remain elevated for the rest of this year and then taper in 2023 as aggressive monetary tightening takes effect. Inflation could return to pre-pandemic levels by 2024.”

There is, however, a risk of inflation maintaining its momentum and remaining high for a longer period. According to the APEC Policy Support Unit’s analysis, the prolonged war in Ukraine could cause another round of supply shocks and price increases, on top of an already tight labor market.

Member economies are urged to ramp up crisis management efforts to soften the blow of inflation, uncertainties and virus mutations, especially for the most vulnerable. Measures that boost vaccination uptake remains vital to guard against a resurgence in infections.

Bringing down inflation needs to be the immediate focus for governments to help keep the cost of living relatively stable and reduce the risk of poverty. Monetary authorities need to be ready to use available tools at their disposal to bring down inflation and communicate policy changes clearly to anchor inflation expectations, said the recent report.

“Higher interest rates will dampen economic activity and stifle economic growth,” Hernando added. “We see the need for member economies to direct their fiscal policy towards improving revenue generation efforts, such as efficient tax collection and prudent government spending to ensure enough space to help the vulnerable.”

More coordinated and consistent cooperation is needed to improve the region’s economic resiliency in the medium to long term, explained Dr Denis Hew, Director of the APEC Policy Support Unit. 

“Focusing on sustainability and inclusivity could future-proof the region,” he said. “This means strengthening the region’s connectivity, protecting the environment and mitigating the harmful effects of climate change, addressing the digital divide with updated rules as well as upgraded digital infrastructure and skills and increasing women’s participation in the economy.”

“While APEC has already taken some great initial steps to fortify the region’s resiliency, different member economies have varying economic conditions and development priorities. Now the key is to cooperate and translate these commitments into actions and actions into tangible benefits,” he concluded.

To read the full policy brief, Future-Proofing APEC Amid Challenges and Uncertainties, visit this page.

For further details, please contact:

Masyitha Baziad +65 9751 2146 at mb@apec.org
Michael Chapnick +65 9647 4847 at mc@apec.org