Wednesday 10 December 2014

Sailing Stones, Death Valley, California

USA NEWS CORP




Sailing Stones will surprise you in Death Valley, California

10 December, 2014, CaliforniaUSA NEWS CORP



Sailing Stones, Death Valley, California 
These stones seem to be alive, mysteriously moving across the dry desert ground in Death Valley National Park’s Racetrack Playa. They leave tracks along the earth without the intervention of humans or animals, and the cause has never been confirmed. The stones move every two or three years and sometimes even turn over, leaving tracks that can measure hundreds of feet long. Strong sustained winds are thought to slowly push the stones across the thin layer of saturated clay on the surface, but no one has ever actually seen them move. During a storm when it rains the mud acts as an efficient lubricant allowing the wind to move these stones very slowly.



You can share this News URL on Facebook or your Social Media Site/ blog.


Submit your News in Comment box> Join us as Journalist > News Content purchase > Corrections > Copyright > Place a Classified Ad > Sell Your Home > Sell Your Business > Commercial Real Estate Ads > Advertise with us > Recruitment & Career Ads > Franchising > Advertise Locally > Contact us > plojindexing@gmail.com

This tree is slowly engulfing a stone statue. Angkor Wat, Cambodia

USA NEWS CORP




This tree is slowly engulfing a stone statue. Angkor Wat, Cambodia

10 December, 2014, CambodiaUSA NEWS CORP




We need to protect our culture. Around the globe due to reluctance and lack of wise planing, these creations are on the verge of extinction. Everything needs to be on digital media. You can devote and post such important things to us for preservation. Look around yourself before its too late to save the nature.



You can share this News URL on Facebook or your Social Media Site/ blog.


Submit your News in Comment box> Join us as Journalist > News Content purchase > Corrections > Copyright > Place a Classified Ad > Sell Your Home > Sell Your Business > Commercial Real Estate Ads > Advertise with us > Recruitment & Career Ads > Franchising > Advertise Locally > Contact us > plojindexing@gmail.com

UNESCO Conference calls for protected cultural zones to be established in Syria and Iraq

USA NEWS CORP




UNESCO Conference calls for protected cultural zones to be established in Syria and Iraq

10 December, 2014, SyriaUSA NEWS CORP

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova today called for the creation of “protected cultural zones” around heritage sites in Syria and Iraq. Opening an international conference on threats to cultural heritage and diversity in these countries at UNESCO Headquarters, she suggested a start could be made with the city of Aleppo, and especially the Omeyyad Mosque, a highly iconic site located in the World Heritage Syrian city of Aleppo. “It is not too late to take action,” she said. 

The Director-General denounced the persecution of minorities, the attacks on cultural heritage and the illicit trafficking in cultural properties as “part of a strategy of deliberate cultural cleansing of exceptional violence”. “The concept of cultural cleansing describes what is happening on the ground” agreed Mr Adama Dieng, Special advisor of the Secretary General on the prevention of Genocide. Irina Bokova added that “there can be no purely military solution to this crisis. To fight fanaticism, we also need to reinforce education, a defence against hatred, and protect heritage, which helps forge collective identity.” This was supported by both Staffan de Mistura, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria, and Nikolay Mladenov, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative to Iraq, who emphasized the need to integrate education and culture into emergency measures, along with humanitarian aid, to protect human rights and vulnerable civilian populations.
The call by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova to place cultural diversity at the heart of humanitarian and peace building efforts in Syria and Iraq was also strongly endorsed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. In his message to the Conference, the Secretary-General said “the protection of cultural heritage is a security imperative.”
Staffan de Mistura said he believed that the protection of cultural diversity and heritage might provide a basis for consensus. Mr de Mistura argued that protected cultural zones could be created through a “bottom up plan of action,” building on the fact that the people of Syria have had their fill of violence, bloodshed, and suffering.
Nikolay Mladenov stressed that the region’s heritage belongs to humanity as a whole. He denounced terrorists who resort to genocide, the enslavement of women, with blatant disregard for human lives and human rights as they seek to destroy the State of Iraq. He said that cultural diversity need to be preserved not only for peace building but also for the whole development and stability in the region.
The First Speaker of the Parliament of Iraq, H.E. Sheikh Humam Hamoudi, called on countries seeking to help his nation to safeguard the soul of Iraq; the heritage of its successive and diverse cultures that stands for the region’s tremendous contribution to humanity over more than 6,000 years. Sheikh Hamoudi urged the international community and neighbouring countries to help Iraq resist those who seek to impose one line of thought, one truth, above all others. He pledged the Iraqi government’s support for cultural diversity and pluralism, in all areas, including the media.
Emily Rafferty, President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (USA), was one of the representatives of some of the world’s most important museums who attended the conference, along with the Louvre, Berlin Pergamon Museum and the British Museum. She spoke of the need to join forces in fighting illicit trafficking in cultural properties from Iraq and Syria, citing the role institutions of knowledge and sharing had to play in opposing the forces of obscurantism and destruction.
Other concrete measures raised during the conference that brought together some 500 decision-makers, experts and representatives from both Iraq and Syria, and international curators, academics, and members of the public, included the need to implement the 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its additional protocols, as well as to end impunity against deliberate attacks of cultural heritage, which is recognized as a war crime under the Rome Statutes of the International Criminal Court. Participants expressed a strong support to the proposal of an international ban on the trading of antiquities from Syria, in line with the recommendation of the Sanctions Monitoring Team to the UN Security Council, also part of the Conference


You can share this News URL on Facebook or your Social Media Site/ blog.


Submit your News in Comment box> Join us as Journalist > News Content purchase > Corrections > Copyright > Place a Classified Ad > Sell Your Home > Sell Your Business > Commercial Real Estate Ads > Advertise with us > Recruitment & Career Ads > Franchising > Advertise Locally > Contact us > plojindexing@gmail.com

Global status report on violence prevention 2014


USA NEWS CORP




Global status report on violence prevention 2014

10 December, 2014, GENEVA, USA NEWS CORP


The "Global status report on violence prevention 2014" reveals that 475 000 people were murdered in 2012, and homicide is the third leading cause of death globally for males aged 15–44 years, highlighting the urgent need for more decisive action to prevent violence.
Despite indications that homicide rates decreased by 16% globally between 2000 and 2012, violence remains widespread. Non-fatal acts of violence take a particular toll on women and children. One in four children has been physically abused; one in five girls has been sexually abused; and one in three women has been a victim of physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence at some point in her lifetime.

Key findings

Jointly published today by WHO, the United Nations Development Programme, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the report indicates that:
  • only one third of the 133 countries surveyed are implementing large-scale initiatives to prevent violence, such as bullying prevention programmes, visits by nurses to families at risk, and support to those who care for older people;
  • just over half the countries are fully enforcing a set of 12 laws generally acknowledged to prevent violence, although 80% of countries have enacted them;
  • only half of all countries have services in place to protect and support victims of violence.
The consequences of violence on physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health often last a lifetime. Violence also contributes to leading causes of death such as cancer, heart disease and HIV/AIDS, because victims are at an increased risk of adopting behaviours such as smoking, alcohol and drug misuse, and unsafe sex.
“The consequences of violence on families and communities are profound, and can result in lifelong ill health for those affected,” states Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. “Yet we know what works to prevent violence in our homes, schools and workplaces and on our streets and playgrounds. We should take inspiration from governments which have demonstrated success in reducing violence by taking the steps needed. They have shown us that indeed violence is preventable.”
The "Global status report on violence prevention 2014" is the first report of its kind to assess national efforts to address interpersonal violence, namely child maltreatment, youth violence, intimate partner and sexual violence, and elder abuse. Individual country profiles reflect the extent to which key violence prevention programmes and laws and selected services for victims of violence are being implemented.
The report assessed the scale of implementation of 18 “best buy” violence prevention programmes. It shows, for example, that:
  • one half of countries are implementing school-based programmes to teach children and adolescents “life-skills” such as non-violent conflict resolution;
  • one half of countries are promoting efforts to change gender norms supportive of violence against women;
  • one third of countries are putting in place programmes to improve parenting in families at risk of violence;
  • less than one quarter of countries are developing public information campaigns to prevent elder abuse.
"High levels of family and community violence cripple both people’s ability to sustain their individual livelihoods, as well as a nation’s options for political, social, and economic development”, said Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme. "This report takes stock of the measures countries are taking to prevent and respond to interpersonal violence, but the report also reveals gaps in global violence prevention which must be filled, such as the quality and reach of prevention programmes, the access to services for victims, particularly for women and girls who are disproportionately affected by violence, and the enforcement of existing laws."
The report also reviewed 12 laws which are relevant for violence prevention. It shows, for example, that:
  • 98% of countries have laws against rape;
  • 87% of countries have laws against domestic violence;
  • 84% of countries have laws against carrying weapons in schools;
  • 40% of countries have laws against abuse in institutions for older people.
On average 80% of countries have enacted each of these 12 laws relevant for violence prevention. However, only just over half of countries report that these laws are fully enforced.
Laws protecting citizens against violent crime send a clear message to society about what is acceptable,” said Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. “With this Global status report on violence prevention 2014, we have a useful tool for identifying the gaps in legislation and enforcement in countries, which can help to indicate what further action, is needed to ensure reductions in violent crime.”
Providing care and support to victims of violence is important for reducing psychological trauma, helping victims heal, and preventing further involvement in violence. Despite strong evidence linking experiences of violence to mental health problems, under half of countries have mental health services to address victim needs, with only 15% of countries in Africa offering such services. Over two thirds of countries make available child protection services and medico-legal services for victims of sexual violence.
The "Global status report on violence prevention 2014" calls for a scaling up of violence prevention programmes in all countries; stronger legislation and enforcement of laws relevant for violence prevention; strengthened justice and security institutions to uphold the rule of law; and enhanced services for victims of violence. It also advocates for better and more effective use of data to inform violence prevention programming and to measure progress. The report is intended for use by governments to help identify gaps and encourage and guide actions and by nongovernmental organizations and experts to assist governments in their efforts.


You can share this News URL on Facebook or your Social Media Site/ blog.


Submit your News in Comment box> Join us as Journalist > News Content purchase > Corrections > Copyright > Place a Classified Ad > Sell Your Home > Sell Your Business > Commercial Real Estate Ads > Advertise with us > Recruitment & Career Ads > Franchising > Advertise Locally > Contact us > plojindexing@gmail.com

China openes 100-bed Ebola treatment center in Liberia


USA NEWS CORP




China openes 100-bed Ebola treatment center in Liberia

10 December, 2014, ChinaUSA NEWS CORP


From the night of December 5th to the noon of December 6th local time, the medical team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army at the treatment center had received a total of 3 suspected Ebola cases. This signals that the Ebola treatment center built and independently operated by China has officially begun to receive and treat Ebola suspected cases.  President Xi Jinping announced China's fourth round of assistance to West African countries in their fight against the Ebola epidemic on October 24, including the building of a treatment center for Liberia. Within just one month, the Chinese side has finished the planning, designing and constructing of the treatment center. A team of 163 medical workers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China was swiftly formed and sent to Liberia on November 15. On November 25, the Ebola treatment center built by China for Liberia was put into service in Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia.  Although a large majority of materials, equipment and other supplies have to be delivered from China, it takes us only one month to build the 100-bed modern hospital treating infectious diseases. It gives full expression to China's speed, standard and spirit, and the traditional friendship between China and Africa running through the past 50 years when we have been sharing weal and woe. More importantly, it is a vivid practice of the policy toward Africa put forward by President Xi Jinping featuring sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith. Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf attended the opening ceremony of the treatment center on November 25. She expressed her sincere gratitude to China for its selfless assistance, calling the treatment center a mark of amity between Liberia and China.  The international community is still fighting against the Ebola epidemic. The Chinese side is ready to work together with the international community and contribute its due share in helping relevant African countries and their people combat the epidemic.


USA NEWS CORP

 

You can share this News URL on Facebook or your Social Media Site/ blog.


Submit your News in Comment box> Join us as Journalist > News Content purchase > Corrections > Copyright > Place a Classified Ad > Sell Your Home > Sell Your Business > Commercial Real Estate Ads > Advertise with us > Recruitment & Career Ads > Franchising > Advertise Locally > Contact us > plojindexing@gmail.com