Latin Artists in Norway

A playlist with some Latin musicians, singers, bands and artists in general located in Norway

Norway Approves Sea-Bed Mining

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bh_-WHU0BM

The smartphones, laptops and other gadgets that we use on a daily basis are essentially made of some rare metals. These are being exploitatively mined in different parts of the world but the appetite for these resources remains insatiable. The world has now turned towards the resources available deep inside the sea bed in addition to the ones available on land.

In keeping up with this, a 280,000 sq km area, off the coast of Norway has been approved for the world’s first commercial mining exploration under the sea bed. Despite protests from activists and raised alarms from scientists, the project was green lit by the Norwegian Parliament.

There are many other nations as well that are eager to invest in this new age exploration. But why is deep sea mining trending and what harms can it cause to the marine ecosystem?

Deep-sea mining is the process of extracting ores from the seafloor – at depths greater than 200 metres. At these depths, one can explore critical minerals such as cobalt, manganese, zinc and other rare metals that are required to kickstart the new clean energy transition.

The world’s need for many of these metals, used for electric vehicle batteries, solar panels and wind turbines, will be twice what it is today in the year 2040 (IEA). Thus, several nations, including India, have their eyes set on deep-sea mining. As many as 31 exploration licences have already been issued by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), sponsored by a total of 14 nations.

Deep-sea mining operations could present serious risks to ocean ecosystems. Commercial-scale operations of deep seabed mining in 2024 may come at the expense of cetaceans like whales, dolphins and porpoises, a study has found.

The huge machines and vessels involved in the process may cause noise, air pollution and vibration, and result in fluid leaks and discharges from vessels and equipment. Together, these will further contaminate the marine environment.

Considering these risks, some companies are in support of the World Wildlife Fund's call to avoid minerals that have been mined from the planet's oceans. Many countries-including France, Germany and several Pacific Island nations- have officially called for a ban on deep sea mining until environmental safeguards are in place.

According to a report from the EJF (Environmental Justice Foundation), deep-sea mining is not needed for clean energy transition. It predicted that a combination of a circular economy, new technology and recycling could cut cumulative mineral demand by 58% between 2022 and 2050.

Norway’s government does not intend to immediately start drilling for critical minerals. Instead, companies will need to submit proposals for licences that will be voted on a case-by-case basis in the parliament. The Norway Institute of Marine Research (IMR) said that the government had made assumptions from a small area of research and applied it to the whole area planned for drilling. It estimates a further five to 10 years of research into impacts on species is needed.

Norway’s push to open up its seabed for mining comes as international negotiations continue on whether to permit commercial harvesting of the sea floor in mineral rich areas outside of countries’ national jurisdiction. There are huge environmental implications for digging up seafloor ecosystems as well as ethical ones.

As far as international waters are concerned, the ISA now has until 2025 to finalise regulations that could decide whether and how countries can mine the deep sea in international waters.

Down to Earth is Science and Environment fortnightly published by the Society for Environmental Communication, New Delhi. We publish news and analysis on issues that deal with sustainable development, which we scan through the eyes of science and environment.

Organized crime in Ecuador and the 10 lessons it leaves for neighboring Latin American states

Organized crime has already won this battle. The criminal operations against a television channel were only part of a planned message. The criminals knew they would be arrested, but they were not kamikazes. They would hand over the hostages and return to the jail, their command and control center. In 2015, and for the second year in a row, Ecuador was recognized as “the best place to live for foreigners”, according to InterNations' Expat Insider Survey, Connecting Global Minds. Factors such as high quality of life, security, work opportunities and facilities for internal mobility were considered, highlighting the friendliness of its people. In 2017, it maintained the lowest homicide rate in Latin America, along with Chile.

The criminal events that have recently been recorded in Ecuador, in which the capacity of territorial domination and challenge to the State by criminal groups has been demonstrated, are unfortunately not isolated or novel events in our region.

Just a year ago, in Culiacán, Mexico, we saw a criminal response of extraordinary military capacity. After the temporary detention of Ovidio Guzmán, son of “El Chapo” and leader of a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, hundreds of organized crime soldiers blocked all access to the city with armored cars and trucks, adapted to carry war weapons. with the ability to destroy planes and helicopters in the air. The result was around thirty people murdered, multiple kidnappings of soldiers and police, destruction of barracks, etc., which caused the capital of the State of Sinaloa to be taken hostage by organized crime.

A negotiation not officially recognized and with hints of submission on the part of the federal government shamefully freed “Chapito” and the criminal paramilitary forces little by little handed over the city, but not before celebrating for a long time in its streets, shooting, drinking, shouting. and threatening.

These actions demonstrate the inability of the State to confront criminality that controls territories and puts the safety of people and the stability of institutions at risk.

The president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, has declared the existence of an internal armed conflict in Ecuador and has ordered the Armed Forces to carry out military operations to neutralize criminal groups. In the coming days we will see what the correlation of forces will be between the State and crime. However, what is clear is that the civilian population will be caught in the middle of this conflict, vulnerable and intimidated.

Organized crime has already won this battle. The criminal operations against a television channel were only part of a planned message. The criminals knew they would be arrested, but they were not kamikazes. They would hand over the hostages and return to the jail, their command and control center. The only thing that mattered was sending a message to the country and other criminals.

The same happens with the murdered prison police officers, whose images were spread on social networks. They are part of the crime communication strategy. It is likely, unfortunately, that these hostages will not be released and we will soon see more horrible, bloody and merciless messages, this time directed at police and soldiers. As Machiavelli wrote, “he who controls people's fear becomes the master of their souls.”

The wave of violence shaking Ecuador was precipitated by the government's attempt to transfer leaders of the country's main criminal organizations to a maximum security prison with a special regime. At least two of them, belonging to the Los Choneros and Los Lobos gangs, escaped with the apparent support of members of the prison forces. In that logic, it is likely that this maximum security prison will also be controlled by criminal structures in a short time. As Pablo Escobar said: “For silver or for lead.”

In a previous column, I wrote that a few years ago I had the opportunity to interview an experienced Ecuadorian police officer about the emerging criminal waves in the Port of Guayaquil, a topic that we began to investigate with great interest. His response was: “The best way to know how to deal with crime is to clearly understand what kind of crime we are dealing with.” In Ecuador, these initial events escalated to become the worst wave of irrational violence that has shaken the country and is still ongoing. The homicide rate in the country will close the year 2023 as the highest in its history.

However, I believe that at the time of the beginning of its peak of violence, Ecuador had more clarity than our country regarding the organizations it faced. These local gangs are advancing to become more powerful and transnational structures. With these actions, his brand begins to be traded on the organized crime market. Therefore, attention is required to the various Ecuadorian drug criminal groups such as Las Águilas, ÁguilasKiller, Ak47, Caballeros Oscuros, ChoneKiller, Choneros, Covicheros, Cuartel de las Feas, Cubanos, Fatales, Gánster, Kater Piler, Lagartos, Latin Kings, Lobos , Los p.27, Los Tiburones, Mafia 18, Mafia Trébol, Patrones, R7, Tiguerones, all of which were yesterday classified as terrorist organizations.

By the way, the situation in Ecuador can provide at least 10 lessons to which the rest of the neighboring Latin American states should pay attention.

Lesson 1: Let us not forget our prisons. Let's invest now, not only in infrastructure, but also in the human resources of the Gendarmerie. Let's work on your internal control mechanisms and professionalize your officials.

Lesson 2: Let's understand what we are facing. Organized crime is a complex threat that requires a comprehensive response.

Lesson 3: Let's not further politicize an issue that belongs to the State. Let's join the effort. It is not about winning or losing elections, nor about blaming others. Let us demand competent authorities.

Lesson 4: Be careful with extreme measures, if we do not understand their effects or are not willing to accept their consequences.

Lesson 5: Every successful model is replicated. Beware of imitative effects.

Lesson 6: Our authorities must truly believe what they say. It is necessary that your actions reflect your words.

Lesson 7. Beware of corruption and the surrender of territory due to the lack of presence of the State.

Lesson 8. Be careful with our ports. They are a gateway for organized crime.

Lesson 9. Full support, training and protection of our police officers is required. They are the ones who face this reality daily (the police on our streets, not circumstantial political or institutional figures). The most drastic sanctions must be imposed for corruption or abuse.

Lesson 10. Do not turn crime into symbols, do not grow your brand: contrary to what we believe, your rise in status is an incentive for the entry of new members.

Fountain:

By: Pablo Zeballos. Expert in organized crime, international consultant on security matters.

(The counter).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spjVPbyCD40