The Power of Gentle Touch: How Does Touch Affect Our Mental and Physical Health? | DW Documentary

Apr 2, 2022 • Touch shapes us as humans. Indeed, touch is fundamental to what makes us social beings. Touch influences how we perceive stress and pain, who we trust and who we fear. How does this work? And what happens to us in the absence of touch?

Gentle touch is vital for us humans. It creates the first contact with the world for newborns, giving us a sense of security and belonging. Touch influences our immune system, and on our feelings for our fellow human beings. Especially strong feelings, such as love or compassion, can be better conveyed through touch than through words, facial expressions or gestures.

Given how important touch is, it’s no surprise that humans have a highly specialized system devoted exclusively to perceiving gentle touch stimuli. Why does the touch of a stranger feel so different from that of someone we are emotionally close to? What is happening in our brain - and what role does the brain play in all this?

In an era of social distancing, touch research is becoming increasingly relevant. How does it affect us, and our relationships, when we are required to keep our distance? Researchers explore what role touch plays in our physical and emotional well-being, and what the consequences are when touch is missing.

Ungarn gespalten zwischen West und Ost - Das System Orbán | auslandsjournal

Mar 31, 2022 • Ministerpräsident Viktor Orbán kämpft um die Macht. In Ungarn ist alles auf ihn ausgerichtet: Presse, Wirtschaft und Rechtsstaat. Die Opposition hat es schwer, gegen diesen Machtapparat anzukommen. Doch der Widerstand wächst – im eigenen Land und in der EU. Unsere ZDF-Osteuropa-Korrespondentin Britta Hilpert und Korrespondent Wolf-Christian Ulrich berichten über die aktuelle Lage in Ungarn und darüber, wie das System Orbán das Leben der Menschen in Ungarn beeinflusst.

Ohne zu zögern nimmt Ungarn geflüchtete Ukrainer*innen auf. Das Land, welches eigentlich für eine harte Migrationspolitik bekannt ist, zeigt sich gastfreundlich und hilfsbereit. Die Nähe zu Russland, die Orbán vor dem Krieg pflegte, wird nun überlagert durch Nachbarschaftshilfe – zum eigenen Machterhalt.

Und doch sind die Beziehungen zu Russland für Ungarns Ministerpräsidenten wichtig. Orbán gehört deshalb zu den Bremsern bei EU-Sanktionen gegen Russland. Der Außenminister und Träger des russischen Freundschaftsordens schließt ungarische Hilfe für die Ukraine gar aus.

Um gegen Ministerpräsident Orbán anzukommen, hat sich die Opposition mittlerweile zusammengeschlossen. Vereint wollen sie für ein liberales Ungarn einstehen – ohne russischen Einfluss und Korruption. Denn es sind immer die gleichen wenigen Leute, die in Ungarn das große Geschäft machen.

Putin-Freund Orbán steht unter Druck. Wird sein System das überstehen?

Putin's Antithesis: How Does Zelenskyy's Political Communication Work? | DW News

Apr 3, 2022 • Volodymyr Zelenskyy has undergone an extraordinary transformation from an entertainer dancing in high heels to a wartime leader in green khaki t-shirts. Zelenskyy's regular selfie-style addresses have won him the eyes and ears, as well as the hearts, of many at home and abroad. He has also received standing ovations from politicians around the world. Many say that much of his remarkable success in leading his country against Russia’s invasion stems from what he says and how he says it. But how exactly does Zelenskyy communicate?

Is Germany Complicit in Putin's War in Ukraine? | DW News

Mar 31, 2022 • Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said Germany was "facing the consequences" of the new reality triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She stressed Europe's need to have the US as an ally and friend. Despite the major pivot to increase defense spending in line with NATO goals and strengthen its own military in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, she said Germany's first choice would always be dialogue. "We will never presume to go it alone. We will always remain closely integrated in the European Union, in NATO, in the United Nations," Lambrecht added. Lambrecht praised US President Joe Biden's leadership in the global political crisis triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, adding that Europe needs the US as a friend and ally.

Germany's Economy Minister Robert Habeck said on Friday that the country is planning to almost completely end Russian energy imports by the end of the year. Habeck, a member of the Green Party, said the plan meant that a considerable amount of progress would be made in a short space of time, as the West is rushing to wean itself off Russian energy amidst the invasion of Ukraine. Before the war began and the subsequent heavy sanctions targeting Russia, Germany received 50% of its coal, 55% of its gas, and 35% of its oil from Moscow.


Verwandt.

How Putin’s Demand for Ruble Payments for Gas Will Play Out (w/ Richard Wolff)

Mar 30, 2022 • Germany buys 40% of its gas from Russia, via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. These contracts are in euros and dollars, yet Russia is now demanding payment in Roubles. Germany has declined and warned that there may be shortages and rationing of gas.

Ukrainischer Botschafter attackiert Steinmeier

Bundespräsident Frank-Walter Steinmeier | Bild: AP
„KEIN BEZUG ZUR UKRAINE“
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Der Top-Diplomat der Ukraine in Deutschland, Andrij Melnyk, wirft dem Bundespräsidenten eine zu große Nähe zu Russland vor. An der deutschen Abhängigkeit von russischer Energie habe Steinmeier eine Mitschuld.

Bundespräsident Frank-Walter Steinmeier hat nach Ansicht des ukrainischen Botschafters in Deutschland, Andrij Melnyk, eine höchst bedenkliche politische Nähe zu Russland. „Für Steinmeier war und bleibt das Verhältnis zu Russland etwas Fundamentales, ja Heiliges, egal was geschieht. Auch der Angriffskrieg spielt da keine große Rolle“, sagte Melnyk dem „Tagesspiegel“ vom Sonntag.

Deutschland habe weiter zu viele Eigeninteressen in Bezug auf Russland, etwa die Abhängigkeit von Gas, Öl und Kohle. Schuld daran sei auch Steinmeiers Agieren als Kanzleramtschef und später als Außenminister, sagte Melnyk der Zeitung. „Steinmeier hat seit Jahrzehnten ein Spinnennetz der Kontakte mit Russland geknüpft. Darin sind viele Leute verwickelt, die jetzt in der Ampel das Sagen haben“, sagte er und nannte namentlich den außenpolitischen Berater von Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (SPD), Jens Plötner, und den Staatssekretär im Auswärtigen Amt, Andreas Michaelis. Hinzu kämen viele wichtige Botschafter. „Das alles macht einen Unterschied“, sagte Melnyk. » | Quelle: dpa/AFP | Sonntag, 3. April 2022

Chris Hedges | Richard Wolff: The Future of the American Economy

Ukraine: Why the Cartoon Masyanya Was Banned in Russia

Read the blurb here.

Zelensky Spokesman Describes Heartbreaking Scenes in Ukraine

Read the article here.

Young People Struggling amid Inflation Are Entitled, Says CEO Worth about $400m

THE GUARDIAN: BlackRock’s Robert Kapito is right about the entitlement problem in the US: we have a very entitled generation of executives who seem to think sacrifice is just for poor people

Robert Kapito, the president of asset management behemoth BlackRock, earns about $20m a year and is worth in the region of $400m. You can buy a lot of fancy trinkets with that kind of money but, alas, it doesn’t seem to purchase much self-awareness. We are in the middle of a cost of living crisis, with low-income households disproportionately affected by the highest inflation in 40 years. People are struggling to heat their homes thanks to surging energy prices and worrying about feeding their families thanks to rocketing food prices. Kapito’s reaction to all this? To complain to a bunch of energy executives about how entitled young people are and how it’s about time they learned a thing or two about how tough life is.

“For the first time, this generation is going to go into a store and not be able to get what they want,” Kapito recently said at an energy conference in Texas in reference to inflation. “And we have a very entitled generation that has never had to sacrifice.” Young people too entitled, says CEO worth $400m » | Arwa Mahdawi | Saturday, April 2, 2022

What a disgusting comment! What a disgusting man! – Mark

Stunning Images inside Russian Grocery Store Show Dire Situation

Apr 2, 2022 • CNN's Matthew Chance reports on the economic situation inside Russia after Western nations imposed crippling economic sanctions in retaliation for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Dancing, Loving, Uniting…

Danser, aimer, unir… / Tanzen, Lieben, Vereinen…
Many thanks to Aisle Society for this tender, inspiring photo.

Orleans - Dance with Me

Views on YouTube: 1,205,234

Leonard Cohen : Dance Me to the End of Love | Official Video

Views on YouTube: 128,152,064

Dimitra’s Dishes: Koulourakia: Greek Easter Butter Cookies/ 2 Ways!

Apr 4, 2020 • Once you try these Greek butter cookies, known as koulourakia, you will make them all year long. These cookies are flavored with vanilla, citrus (optional), and even chocolate. The dough is made with basic pantry staples and then twisted into all sorts of beautiful shapes. Get the coffee ready and call the kids into the kitchen for some fun baking time!

Get the recipe here.

«Frankreich ist Brigitte Bardot und Topless-Sonnenbaden – nicht Schleier und Burkini»

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Die Wiederwahl des französischen Präsidenten Macron scheint wahrscheinlich. Aber fast jeder dritte Franzose will seine Stimme einem Kandidaten der extremen Rechten geben. Warum?

Sie fühlen sich fremd in der eigenen Heimat. Sie erkennen ihr Land nicht mehr. Sie sehen es im Niedergang begriffen. «Frankreich muss Frankreich bleiben.» Dieser Satz fällt mehr als einmal an diesem Sonntagmorgen auf dem charmanten Markt in der Rue Cler im wohlhabenden 7. Arrondissement von Paris. Er kommt von Anhängern des Präsidentschaftskandidaten Éric Zemmour. Inmitten von Obst und Gemüse, bunten Schnittblumen und einer grossen Auswahl an Käse verteilen sie Passanten dessen Wahlprogramm.

«Frankreich ist Brigitte Bardot und Topless-Sonnenbaden – nicht Schleier und Burkini», sagt eine 50-jährige Wahlhelferin im Deux-Pièces. Sie wolle weiterhin ihren Hintern zeigen und Schmuck tragen dürfen. Sie lacht ob ihrer Aussage, schiebt aber nach, sie meine das ernst. Die junge Kollegin neben ihr, mit auffälliger Fendi-Sonnenbrille, nickt: «Stellen Sie sich vor, in einigen Quartieren gibt es Cafés, in denen Frauen der Zutritt verwehrt bleibt.» In diesen Stadtteilen gebe es fast nur Muslime, fügt eine andere Wahlhelferin an, viele seien ja nett, aber: «Es ist nicht unsere Kultur.» » | Nicole Anliker und Nina Belz (Text) und Karin Hofer (Bilder) | Samstag, 2. April 2022

Ces oligarques russes qui font trembler les journalistes et les écrivains britanniques

La journaliste britannique, Catherine Belton (à gauche), a été attaquée en diffamation par plusieurs oligarques russes dont Roman Abramovitch (à droite), propriétaire du club de football Chelsea, après la publication de son livre Putin’s People. TT News Agency via AFP / ADAM IHSE / AFP / JUSTIN TALLIS
LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Le premier ministre Boris Johnson souhaite en finir avec les lois du pays sur la diffamation qui entravent depuis des années la liberté d’enquête sur ces proches de Poutine.

Un beau matin de printemps, Catherine Bolton, ancienne correspondante du Financial Times à Moscou, découvrait dans sa boîte aux lettres londonienne un courrier de l’oligarque russe Roman Abramovitch. Le milliardaire propriétaire de Chelsea portait plainte contre la journaliste pour diffamation, après la publication de son livre Putin’s People. Son enquête, qui met en lumière les personnalités qui gravitent autour des cercles de pouvoir de Vladimir Poutine, affirmait qu’il avait acheté le club de football en 2003 sur ordres du président russe. Défendu par Nigel Tait, associé du cabinet britannique Carter-Ruck, l’oligarque lui réclamait plusieurs millions de livres de dommages et intérêts.

«À coups de lettres, de coups de fil menaçants et de procès, les oligarques russes, aidés par de grands cabinets d’avocats anglais, empêchent depuis des années la publication de nombreux articles sur eux dans les journaux. Ces entraves à la liberté d’expression doivent cesser», témoignait Catherine Bolton la semaine passée, devant la commission parlementaire des affaires étrangères. Jusqu’à ce que la guerre en Ukraine bouleverse le climat politique, la population anglaise méconnaissait l’histoire des oligarques russes implantés dans les quartiers chics de la capitale, comme Knightsbridge et Belgravia. En grande partie parce que mener des enquêtes sur ces personnalités représente un risque financier de taille. Les rares rédactions qui s’y sont essayées, comme le Financial Times, The Guardian ou The Economist, ont été condamnées par les tribunaux à payer des millions de livres en diffamation. » | Par Claudia Cohen | vendredi 1 avril 2022

Réservé aux abonnés

Le pape François condamne « l’agressivité puérile et destructrice » de Vladimir Poutine, sans le nommer

LE MONDE : En visite à Malte samedi, le pontife argentin a déclaré que l’hypothèse de son déplacement à Kiev est « sur la table ».

Le pape François s’exprime lors de sa visite à Malte, le 2 avril 2022. ANDREW MEDICHINI / AP
En route pour Rome, vers l’an 60, l’apôtre Paul avait fait naufrage près de la côte maltaise et avait été recueilli par les autochtones, qui l’avaient bien accueilli et qu’il n’avait pas manqué d’évangéliser. Samedi 2 avril, le pape François, successeur de Pierre, est arrivé à Malte pour une visite de deux jours dans un archipel où la pratique catholique, bien qu’encore très répandue, est comme ailleurs en Europe en recul, un mouvement accentué par la pandémie de Covid-19. La foule qui se massait le long du trajet, à partir de l’aéroport, puis devant le palais présidentiel, témoignait cependant que l’empreinte catholique demeure très forte.

L’annonce de l’Evangile, placée par le pontife argentin au cœur de la nouvelle Constitution du Vatican, promulguée le 19 mars, devait initialement être l’un des thèmes majeurs de ce voyage méditerranéen. La guerre en Ukraine lui a un peu volé la vedette. Le chef de l’Eglise catholique a consacré au conflit près de la moitié du long discours qu’il a prononcé à son arrivée, comme à chaque déplacement à l’étranger, devant les responsables politiques du pays, samedi matin.

Depuis l’invasion de l’Ukraine, le 24 février, François a multiplié les objurgations à faire cesser « cette cruauté sauvage », « cette violente agression contre l’Ukraine », « cette guerre répugnante ». Mais il s’était, jusqu’à présent, refusé à incriminer nommément la Russie ou Vladimir Poutine, conformément, fait-on valoir à Rome, à la tradition diplomatique du Saint-Siège, soucieux de ne pas être enrôlé par les parties en conflit et de maintenir une capacité de parler avec tous. « Le pape n’est ni un journaliste ni un politique. Il est le pape et il agit en pape », a twitté l’un de ses proches, Antonio Spadaro, directeur de la revue jésuite La Civilta Cattolica. » | Par Cécile Chambraud (La Valette (Malte), envoyée spéciale) | samedi 2 avril 2022

Article réservé aux abonnés

Why Do Trump and Putin Get Along So Well? | Michael McFaul | TEDxStanford | 2017

Jun 2, 2017 • During his tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Russia under President Obama, Stanford Political Science Professor Michael McFaul lived with death threats against him and his family. Since returning to the U.S., McFaul has been banned from returning to Russia, but at home he is one of the most sought-after observers of what he calls the Trump-Putin “Bromance.” His take on Russia today is both insightful and troubling. But as he says, “Diplomacy is not a popularity contest.”

Michael McFaul is Professor of Political Science, Director and Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, and the Peter and Helen Bing Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. Dr. McFaul served for five years in the Obama administration, first as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council at the White House (2009-2012), and then as U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation (2012-2014). He has authored several books, including Advancing Democracy Abroad: Why We Should, How We Can and, with Kathryn Stoner, Transition.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.

Konversionstherapie: der Versuch, queere Identität auszulöschen

Jan 24, 2022 • Einen Teil der eigenen Identität ablegen, wegbeten, auslöschen? Genau darauf zielen queerfeindliche Konversionsverfahren ab. In Österreich wurde das Verbot dieser Praxis an Minderjährigen erst im Juni 2021 beschlossen.

heute 19:00 Uhr vom 01.04.2022

Apr 1, 2022 • Durch den Ukraine-Krieg werden nicht nur das Tanken und Heizen teurer, sondern auch Lebensmittel. Der Handelsverband rechnet mit einer Preissteigerung im zweistelligen Prozent-Bereich. Diese und weitere Nachrichten des Tages in den ZDFheute Nachrichten um 19 Uhr.

Undercover Investigation Exposes Current Face of Gay Conversion Therapy | 60 Minutes Australia

Sep 15, 2019 • These days in Australia, and other western countries, isn’t it a given that we make our own choices about our sexuality? Not only that, but whatever those decisions, isn’t it guaranteed that they will be respected and supported? Surprisingly the answer is often no. Some fundamentalist churches still actively preach that homosexuality is a sin, and they think a bizarre mix of prayer and threat is the way to fix it. As Sarah Abo reports in a special 60 MINUTES investigation, a form of gay conversion therapy continues to be practised on mainly young Australians who have been deemed “broken” by church ministers and counsellors. But shamefully, far from doing God’s work, these people are causing lifelong damage.

How Conversion Therapy Affects Your Mental Health

Oct 10, 2017 • There’s a lot of controversy around its use and legality — particularly with minors — but what effects does it have on a person’s well-being?

Conversion Therapy Survivor Describes Treatment as 'Torture' | CBC News

Jul 13, 2019 • The federal government is looking at ways to reform the Criminal Code in order to 'combat conversion therapy.'

Former Ambassador to Russia: Putin ‘Very Upset’ about Ukraine War Failures

Apr 2, 2022 • Amb. Michael McFaul tells MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart that he thinks it’s “highly unlikely” that Vladimir Putin would want to expand this war in response to potentially the first Ukrainian attack on Russian soil, adding the U.S. should keep sending weapons to Ukraine despite fears Putin might escalate the war: “The only way there will be peace in Ukraine is if there is a military stalemate.”

Truth to Power: Cost of Living Crisis: Brexit Identified as a Major Factor

Apr 2, 2022 • Every serious independent economist argued that massively raising barriers with your main trade partner is an extraordinary act of self-harm. And now, 6 years too late, the extreme right-wing Brexit backing Express newspaper last week carried the headline “Brexit blamed as UK exports drop 14% – Britain 'missing out' on global trade”. Eventhough the article went on to trumpet the world-beating amount of trade deals the UK has struck, it concluded by reporting the Office of Budget Responsibility statement that Brexit has meant a 14% drop in exports, and also reported economist Gabriella Dickens’ comment that UK export growth would remain sluggish “as UK exporters continued “to be slowly cut out of global supply chains, due to the extra administrative burden for EU firms of sourcing goods from Britain”. As every single day seems to bring a new reminder of how stupid an idea Brexit was, is there now a widespread acceptance that every one of those economists was right, and that Brexit is a contributing factor to the current cost of living crisis?

Michael Lambert: Cost of Living Crisis as Government Wastes £Billions

Apr 2, 2022 • Whilst the biggest cost of living crisis approaches, the government wastes billions through incompetence and mismanagement.

The Bounce Back Loan scheme was designed to help businesses survive the pandemic. It involved lending out $47 billion without any checks and with the government guaranteeing all loans. Already £4.9 billion has been written off due to fraud.

The buying of PPE at the start of the pandemic was a disaster, with friends of Tory politicians with no experience of buying PPE being given priority. The NHS calculates that the cost of some PPE being unsuitable, some being unusable and some out of date, as well as much that was sold at twice the normal price, has cost them as much as £20 billion. £7 million per week is being spent on storage and much of the stock is being incinerated.

The test & trace for which £37 billion was budgeted appears to have been as good as useless and this has been confirmed by the Public Accounts Committee.

Two New Secret Abramovich SuperYachts Discovered! | SY News

Antigua confirms Roman Abramovich owns 2 yachts moored on island Caribbean nation launched investigation after FT revealed boats’ ties to sanctions-hit Russian oligarch

Antigua’s minister of foreign affairs Paul Chet Greene said the island’s government had requested information on whether the owner of the BVI company, Wenham Overseas Limited, is on Britain’s sanctions list, in light of “persistent allegations by the Financial Times that the vessels could be owned by Mr Roman Abramovich”. The letter then confirmed that the British High Commission had provided Antiguan authorities with a letter “from the Financial Investigation Agency of the British Virgin Islands which states the beneficial owner of Wenham Overseas Ltd is Roman Abramovich”.

heute journal 31 березня 2022

Apr 1, 2022 • Новини дня з українськими субтитрами. Актуальний огляд від редакції ZDF з ґрунтовним аналізом найважливіших подій у Німеччині та світі.

Folgen des Ukraine-Krieges: Kommt ein Energieimport-Embargo? | maybrit illner vom 31.03.22

Apr 1, 2022 • Mehr Waffen und einen Energieboykott – das erwartet die Ukraine von Deutschland. Mehr geht nicht, heißt es in Berlin. Kann Deutschland nicht mehr tun? Oder nur unter so großen Opfern, wie man sie den Bürger*innen nicht zumuten will? …

Gerard Depardieu: Kremlin Responds to Actor's Putin Criticism

GETTY IMAGES
BBC: The Kremlin has hit back after French actor Gerard Depardieu accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "crazy, unacceptable excesses" in Ukraine.

Depardieu said the Russian people were not responsible for their president's behaviour. Mr Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the actor probably did not completely understand the situation in Ukraine and offered to explain it.

Depardieu left France for tax reasons and took Russian citizenship in 2013.

He received his Russian passport from President Putin in person in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

At the time, the actor and the president shook hands and hugged each other, with Depardieu describing Russia as "a great democracy".

In 2015, Ukraine banned him from entering the country for five years after he supported Russia's annexation of Crimea. » | Friday, April 1, 2022

Hongrie: Viktor Orban prêt pour quatre ans de plus

Plus ancien chef de gouvernement en exercice de l’Union européenne, Viktor Orban (ici, le 12 février à Budapest) brigue, dimanche, un quatrième mandat consécutif. BERNADETT SZABO/REUTERS
LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Le premier ministre hongrois sans discontinuer depuis 2010 est donné favori, dimanche, des législatives.

Budapest
À en croire les sondages, il n’y aurait plus aucun suspense. Viktor Orban, à la tête de son parti ultraconservateur, le Fidesz, est donné vainqueur par l’intégralité des enquêtes d’opinion. Certaines anticipent même une très large victoire du premier ministre, qui brigue un quatrième mandat consécutif depuis son retour au pouvoir en 2010. «Je n’arrive pas à me souvenir d’un moment où les étoiles ont été si bien alignées à 19 jours des élections», s’est amusé Viktor Orban, illustrant toute la confiance qui habite ses troupes.

Pourtant, ces élections législatives avaient été annoncées comme inédites. Pour la première fois en douze ans, les six principaux partis de l’opposition, incluant les socialistes, les écologistes, les sociaux-démocrates, les libéraux ainsi que l’ancien parti d’extrême droite recentré idéologiquement, se sont unis au sein d’une seule et même coalition. Après les défaites aussi sèches qu’humiliantes de 2014 et 2018, où le Fidesz s’était systématiquement imposé avec une majorité des deux tiers au Parlement, ils avaient accepté d’enterrer la hache de guerre dans le seul but de déloger Viktor Orban du pouvoir. » | Par Thomas Laffitte | vendredi 1 avril 2022

Strained Relations at EU-China Summit: Europe Urges China Not to Side with Russia | DW News

Apr 1, 2022 • Top diplomats from the EU are meeting via videoconference Friday with China's leaders to discuss urgent matters including the war in Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the afternoon session with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and the EU's foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell. He called on the EU and China "to prevent spillovers of the crisis." Earlier they spoke with Li Keqiang, premier of China's state council. Li told his European counterparts China "opposes division of blocs and taking sides," a Chinese diplomat told German press agency DPA. State broadcaster CCTV said Li added China is pushing for peace in "its own way." Von der Leyen said after, "We made very clear China should not interfere with our sanctions."

Micky Maus wird zum LGBTQ-Aktivisten

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Ein neues Gesetz in Florida verbietet den Unterricht über Geschlechtsidentitäten bis zur dritten Klasse. Disney hat deshalb die Spenden an die Republikaner eingestellt und will die Vorschrift bekämpfen. Im Internet entlädt sich ein konservativer Shitstorm.

Das symbiotische Verhältnis zwischen den Micky-Maus-Erfindern und der Republikanischen Partei in Florida steht vor eine Zerreissprobe. | Alisha Jucevic / Bloomberg
Die Beziehung zwischen der in Florida dominierenden Republikanischen Partei und der Walt Disney Company gestaltete sich bisher weitgehend harmonisch. Schliesslich ist der Unterhaltungsriese mit seinen Vergnügungsparks einer der grössten Arbeitgeber im Sunshine State und ein Touristenmagnet. Während die Politik den Konzern mit Steuerentlastungen und anderen Privilegien unterstützte, revanchierte sich die Traumfabrik mit grosszügigen Parteispenden. Gemäss dem «Orlando Sentinel» soll Disney seit Jahresbeginn 2021 mindestens 2,2 Millionen Dollar an politische Kandidaten und Komitees in Florida überwiesen haben. Rund 80 Prozent dieser Gelder seien an die Republikaner und konservative Kreise gegangen.

Am Montag jedoch unterzeichnete der republikanische Gouverneur Ron DeSantis ein neues Gesetz, welches das symbiotische Verhältnis zwischen den Micky-Maus-Erfindern und der konservativen Mehrheitspartei in Florida vor eine Zerreissprobe stellt. Offiziell heisst die neue Regelung «Gesetz für elterliche Rechte in der Bildung». Ihre Gegner sprechen jedoch vom «Sag nicht schwul»-Gesetz, weil es den Unterricht über sexuelle Orientierungen und Geschlechtsidentitäten vom Kindergarten bis mindestens zur dritten Klasse verbietet. Hält sich eine Schulbehörde oder ein Lehrer nicht an diese Vorschrift, können Eltern gegen sie klagen. » | Christian Weisflog, Washington | Freitag, 1. April 2022

Disney's opposition to gender identity law angers DeSantis: Florida’s tetchy Republican governor Ron DeSantis is threatening retaliation against the state’s largest private employer Disney after it pledged to work to overturn the state’s controversial new “don’t say gay” law banning gender identity discussions in schools. »

Dimitra’s Dishes : Orange & Almond Olive Oil Paximadia: Vegan Biscotti

Mar 5, 2020 • Paximadia is the Greek word for the double-baked cookies we all know and love, Biscotti. This is a vegan recipe that creates the most aromatic cookies that are perfect for dunking in your coffee!

Get the recipe here.

'The Last Straw': Former Oligarch on Renouncing Russian Citizenship

Apr 1, 2022 • CNN's Hadas Gold speaks to Leonid Nevzlin, a former oligarch who moved to Israel nearly 20 years ago, on his decision to publicly renounce his Russian citizenship.

Democracy Now! US News & World Headlines – April 1, 2022

Amerikanische Reisepässe mit „X“ als Geschlecht möglich

DRITTES GESCHLECHT
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Vom 11. April an können Amerikaner sich im Reisepass als drittgeschlechtlich eintragen lassen. Damit sei ein Meilenstein erreicht, sagt Außenminister Blinken.

In den Vereinigten Staaten können Bürger von diesem Monat an auf dem Antrag für einen neuen Reisepass die Angabe „X“ für ein drittes Geschlecht auswählen. Damit habe man einen weiteren Meilenstein dabei erreicht, „allen Bürgern unabhängig von ihrer Geschlechtsidentität besser zu dienen“, teilte Außenminister Antony Blinken am Donnerstag mit. » | Quelle: DPA_Basis | Donnertag, 31. März 2022

The Dark History of Gay Conversion Therapy

Conversion Therapy: Ban to Go-ahead but Not Cover Trans People

BBC: The government insists it will ban so-called conversion therapy for gay or bisexual people in England and Wales - but not for transgender people.

It comes hours after it had said it would drop the ban entirely.

The announcement that it would explore "non-legislative measures" to prevent the practice prompted a furious response from LGBT groups and many MPs.

According to NHS England, conversion therapy tries to change someone's sexual orientation or gender identity.

A senior government source has told the BBC the ban will feature in the next Queen's Speech.

Just hours earlier, a government spokesperson had said the ban would be dropped and they would instead review ways to stop conversion therapy practices through existing law and "other non-legislative measures".

But news that ministers are now only planning to ban conversion therapy for cisgender people - those whose gender identity is in-line with their biological sex - has been met with criticism from some MPs and charities.

The Rainbow Project, said any ban that didn't include transgender people was "not a real ban". Labour MP Nadia Whittome said it was "still not good enough", before adding: "LGB comes with the T, and the Tories are not on our side". » | Sophie Gallagher & Josh Parry, BBC News | Friday, April1, 2022

Related.

What are LGBTQ+ conversion practices and why is there a push to ban them?: Boris Johnson performed two U-turns on Thursday about Tory pledge to ban LGBT conversion practices »

As a lesbian woman, I was subjected to conversion practices. We must protect trans people against this abuse: Trans people are nearly twice as likely as lesbian and gay people to undergo interventions that range from prayers to forced rape »

Boris Johnson Ditches Conversion Therapy Ban in Shameful U-turn

Boris Johnson attends a memorial service for the Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey on 29 March 2022 in London, England. (Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty)
PINK NEWS: Boris Johnson has ditched his long-promised conversion therapy ban.

ITV News reported that an official briefing document confirms Johnson “has agreed we should not move forward with legislation to ban LGBT conversion therapy”.

This is despite a ban on the practice being announced in the Queen’s Speech last year, and the government running a major consultation on the issue.

A government spokesperson confirmed: “Having explored this sensitive issue in great depth the government has decided to proceed by reviewing how existing law can be deployed more effectively to prevent this in the quickest way possible, and explore the use of other non-legislative measures.”

Theresa May first promised to outlaw the practice in 2018.

The leaked document suggests the U-turn will be announced in May’s Queen’s Speech, and that the Ukraine war could be used as justification. . » | Reiss Smith | Thursday, March 31, 2022

This is indeed shameful! It shows us clearly that the man is duplicitous, unprincipled and weak. – Mark

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Mar 31, 2022 • Over a month after Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has come to understand that "there can be no military solution here," exiled Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky told DW. Khodorkovsky, a prominent critic of the Russian leader, previously spent a decade in prison in Russia on charges widely regarded as revenge for challenging Putin's rule. Russian troops began their invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Putin announced that the operation aimed at "demilitarizing" and "de-nazifying" the former Soviet state and protecting Russian speakers in the country. But with Russia failing to quickly occupy the country due to strong Ukrainian resistance and its troops getting bogged down, Moscow recently announced a change in its war aims, saying that it will focus on the "liberation" of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. "Putin is stuck when it comes to the military operation," Khodorkovsky said, adding, "Putin has two options now: Either he escalates things, which could mean either introducing mobilization or using tactical nuclear weapons, or he can stabilize the situation and begin peace talks in earnest." In the interview with DW, Khodorkovsky also stressed the importance of a unified Western position. "The West's position needs to be clear, meaning comprehensive support for Ukraine if the war continues and in case Putin uses tactical nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction," he underlined. "That sort of clear position from the West will, let's say, help Putin make the right decision."

Boris Johnson Ditches Plans for Ban on LGBT Conversion Practices

THE GUARDIAN: Leaked document forces government to announce change in approach despite repeated promises

A protester holds up a sign during a Reclaim Pride protest last year. Photograph: Vuk Valcic/Sopa Images/Rex/Shutterstock
Boris Johnson has ditched plans for a legal ban on conversion practices despite repeated promises for such a move, Downing Street has confirmed.

The government announced the change of policy after it emerged in a leaked document obtained by ITV News.

A government spokesperson said: “Having explored this sensitive issue in great depth the government has decided to proceed by reviewing how existing law can be deployed more effectively to prevent this in the quickest way possible, and explore the use of other non-legislative measures.”

Conversion practices attempt to change or suppress a person’s sexuality or gender identity and Johnson and his predecessor Theresa May promised to make it illegal.

The move to drop plans for a legal ban was condemned by the Liberal Democrats. The party’s equalities spokesperson, the MP Wera Hobhouse, said: “This is not just yet another U-turn from the Tories, but giving the green light to a form of torture in the UK. This is an utter betrayal of the LGBT+ community. » | Heather Stewart and Harriet Sherwood | Thursday, March 31, 2022

This is proof that BoJo is not only a clown; but he is a contemptible clown! Conversion therapy is not only very dangerous; it is also ineffective and unenlightened. BoJo, you are a disgrace to your party; moreover, you are unworthy of the leadership position you hold. You have ditched the ban on conversion therapy; now it is time—high time—for the country to ditch you! – © Mark

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Aufgeklärte Menschen in der modernen Welt nennen es normal, Liebe füreinander auszudrücken; Wladimir Putin und sein Freund, der Patriarch der russisch-orthodoxen Kirche, nennen es Dekadenz!

Enlightened people in the modern world call expressing love for each other normal; Vladimir Putin and his friend, the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, call it decadence! / Les personnes éclairées dans le monde moderne appellent l'expression de l'amour l'une pour l'autre normale ; Vladimir Poutine et son ami, le patriarche de l'Église orthodoxe russe, appellent cela la décadence !
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