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Goal to Triple Global Renewable Energy By 2030 Within Reach: Report (Maria)
The author writes, “A goal to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and cut fossil fuel use is within reach, the International Energy Agency said in a report on Tuesday, but will require a huge push to unlock bottlenecks such as permitting and grid connections. The report comes as leaders from government and business come together at New York Climate week to try to drive forward action against climate change.”
Israel Deliberately Blocked Humanitarian Aid to Gaza, Two Government Bodies Concluded. Antony Blinken Rejected Them (Gerry)
From ProPublica: “The U.S. government’s two foremost authorities on humanitarian assistance concluded this spring that Israel had deliberately blocked deliveries of food and medicine into Gaza. The U.S. Agency for International Development delivered its assessment to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the State Department’s refugees bureau made its stance known to top diplomats in late April. Their conclusion was explosive because U.S. law requires the government to cut off weapons shipments to countries that prevent the delivery of U.S.-backed humanitarian aid. Israel has been largely dependent on American bombs and other weapons in Gaza since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks. But Blinken and the administration of President Joe Biden did not accept either finding.”
Haitian Nonprofit Files Criminal Charges Against Trump and Vance Over Springfield (Sean)
The author writes, “An out-of-state Haitian nonprofit is bringing criminal charges against former president Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, stemming from comments about Springfield. In Ohio, the public can file criminal charges on their own like a prosecutor would. Cleveland’s Chandra Law Firm announced its client, the Haitian Bridge Alliance based in California, had brought seven offenses against the Republican nominees for president and vice president. … Chandra Law Firm directly cited a quote from Vance he made during an appearance on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’ where he readdressed issues he took with around 12,000 to 15,000 Haitian immigrants who legally moved to Springfield under temporary protected status.”
No TV or Screens for Toddlers, Sweden Tells Parents (DonkeyHotey)
The author writes, “Toddlers should not be allowed to watch screens at all, Sweden told parents [earlier this month]. Children under the age of two should be kept away from digital media and television completely, the country’s Public Health Agency said. Kids between the ages of two and five should be limited to a maximum of one hour of screen time a day, it said in new recommendations, while those aged six to 12 should spend no more than an hour or two a day in front of a screen.”
This Stunning Remote Island Is Energy Independent. I Got a Firsthand Look (Dana)
From CNET: “Mowing through waves flecked with moon jellies, the MV Loch Nevis ferry scatters flocks of shearwaters with its prow. It might be the middle of summer, but we must blast through sheet rain and sea mist before we see the Isle of Eigg appear on the horizon like a sombrero with a comically oversized brim. … The rest of the island, mostly untouched by its shadow, provides a home to just over 100 permanent residents who take pride in their sustainable lifestyles. That includes making renewable energy a centerpiece of their community. Many of us may have the best of intentions for weaning ourselves off fossil fuels as we contemplate the effects of climate change. But the residents of Eigg are way, way ahead.”
Waiting for the Miracle of Church-to-Housing Development (Reader Jim)
The author writes, “The idea that excess property owned by religious institutions can be easily converted into a windfall of housing has been an article of faith for the pro-housing ‘Yes In My Backyard’ movement for years. It’s a tempting formulation: US cities are simultaneously facing a severe lack of affordable homes and a marked oversupply of churches, temples, meeting houses, mosques and synagogues, thanks to Americans’ dwindling participation in religious services. A YIMBY variant known as YIGBY — that’s ‘Yes In God’s Backyard’ — was coined by San Diego housing activists in 2019. The broader mission: Bring faith organizations directly to the front lines of the US housing crisis.”
The Nazi of Oak Park (Laura)
From Chicago Magazine: “It was a stunning revelation: A respected high school custodian had been a concentration camp guard. This excerpt of a new book examines how the disclosure of a dark secret in the early ’80s divided a suburb.”
