Black models boycott Melbourne fashion week citing racism

Model Jeff Kisubi smilesInstagram/@jeffsterkiss

In an effort to highlight the alleged mistreatment they claim they endure in Australia’s fashion industry, more than a dozen black models are abstaining from Melbourne Fashion Week( MFW ).

The models claimed that they were underpaid in comparison to light models, had seen staff use racist slurs in front of them, and had hairdressers make disparaging remarks about their hair.

According to a City of Melbourne spokesperson, the event takes great pride in being among the most welcoming places for people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, LGBTIQ individuals, and people with disabilities.

” We were not informed of any worries Melbourne Fashion Week had to do with diversity or competition. Any form of discrimination is certainly acceptable, the statement continued.

Jeffrey Kissubi, a 29-year-old model, claimed to the BBC that MFW was simply” one of the fashion systems within the market” that he and his coworkers were boycotting.

He expressed his hope that avoiding Melbourne’s major event would highlight broader problems facing Australia in the fashion industry and enhance the working conditions for discriminated-against-people of color.

” I worked with someone on collection, and they used a racial slur while I was there, thinking it was all right. I’m not sure if the black folks who were subjected to that racial slur understood that such language was inappropriate.

We came forth and broke this tale not because we wanted to; rather, we had to do it because it couldn’t continue to happen.

According to Mr. Kissubi, a group of models shared their shared experiences with prejudice at another event, sparking the idea for the ban.

I had the impression that whenever one of us has come forth to discuss our experience in the past, it has always been ignored. However, it has more of an effect when a group of us speak up.

There was” nothing worse than having a false sense of picture at the head of an industry that does joy itself on personality and social acceptance ,” according to South Sudanese type Nyaluak Leth, who was raised in Brisbane.

She said,” I think it’s time for the business to look inward, accept responsibility, and take the initiative to be what they say they are.

At one of Australia’s biggest style events, Ms. Leth recalled being asked to lace her hair by another dark model before walking the runway.

One of the black models approached me at Sydney Fashion Week in 2019 and asked me to braid her hair. I replied,” But darling, there are so many empty seats in the hair section ,” but I could tell that she was genuinely hesitant to ask for assistance because she didn’t trust anyone to do it.

The 26-year-old just relocated to the UK because she believes South Sudanese types are valued more there.

Working in fashion as a black woman in Australia was” a form of self-destruct ,” according to another model, Awar Malek, who wrote to the Sydney Morning Herald.

You could not get away with how the fashion industry treats dark designs in London, New York, or Paris, but they don’t seem to worry or want to change.

When questioned about the MFW protest, she responded,” I have no desire to continue participating in this week because it is definitely the most traumatizing, dehumanising, underpaying, and ultimately, mentally draining.”

All models, with the exception of some higher account models- including those from various backgrounds, were paid the same rate, according to a City of Melbourne spokeswoman.

The normal price is comparable to or higher than activities in the fashion industry, they claimed.

According to Mr. Kissubi, the Australian fashion industry needs more people of color who can contribute their knowledge to ensure that events are more diverse.

” I’ve worked in Europe, and to be honest, it has a higher level of cultural awareness and is more thickly populated, which increases exposure to many more things.

” People in Australia will use the fact that they live in a bubble and are not exposed to those things as an reason.”

Why do” black, Indigenous, and people of color in[ Australia ] still have to deal with these things ,” he continued. while residing in” a liberal nation.”

According to Mr. Kissubi, the boycott’s response has so far been good and has sparked significant discussions.

Ms. Leth, however, continues to doubt that the problems will be heard.

They may claim that models are being paid the same and have representation, but darling, offer us the receipts.” Until we see it, we won’t really know what modify is.”

Continue Reading

UN official accuses Israel of genocide, ethnic cleansing

Italian lawyer Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, charged Israel with” genocide” and” ethnic cleansing” in Gaza while only passingly criticizing the widespread atrocities committed by Hamas. The comments were made by her last week at the Washington National Press Club.

YouTube video

embedded information

During an Arab Center event on October 18, 2023 at the National Press Club in Washington, Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza, speaks to Capitol Intelligence / CI MENA about her statement on Israeli genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza.

The fact that Hamas killed more than 1,300 residents and kidnapped about 203 Israelis on a single day was the deadliest for Jews since the Holocaust appeared to be ignored by Albanese.

Albanese said Israel’s continued retaliation for the October 7 slaughter is legally been defined as murder, citing legal scholars and appearing to agree with them.

” A number of reputable academics have now issued a warning about the possibility of murder. Murderous claims have been made throughout the year, and she said to the market at the Press Club,” I took notice of that because I was really alarmed by the increased levels of linguistic violence, dehumanizing violence because we have seen it somewhere and we all know what it means.

Albanese denied being accused of murder when questioned by a reporter, but she did repeat that Israel practices ethnic purging by driving Palestinians from their houses and ancient land.

She even asserted during her statement that Israel’s reaction to the ISIS-like attack on civilians is out of proportion.

Otherwise, Albanese claimed that Israel’s Operation Iron Swords response to Hamas violated” all foreign norms.”

YouTube video

embedded information

On October 18, 2023, Francesca Albanese of the UN made divisive remarks at the National Press Club in Washington.

She also criticized European countries for putting down pro-Palestinian demonstrations despite the fact that the majority of established democracies officially recognize the Hamas as a criminal business.

While speaking at the National Press Club, Albanese also stated that she supported the show by Israeli Voice for Peace, a leftist organization founded by Noam Chomsky that ended up occupying the Cannon House Office Building in Washington improperly.

The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction ( BDS ) movement against Israeli / Palestine investment is supported by Jewish Voice for Peace. Its most well-known champion is Roger Waters, a former member of Pink Floyd.

She added that the 2.3 million people who live in the region, which is almost the size of Washington, DC, considered Israel’s decision to impose a total blockade of the Gaza Strip to be the equivalent of” intentional starvation” and that it constitutes” a crime against humanity.”

Surprisingly, she also asserted that 18-year-old Israeli military soldiers are raised not to view Palestinians as people and that Israel’s” brutal” reaction to Hamas runs in the family.

The dehumanization of Palestinians in Jewish culture and textbooks has been studied by a great author. And she contends that when an Israeli 18-year-old wears a dress and travels to the West Bank and the Gaza frontier, this crucial factor facilitates the disconnect. Not always does he or she view kids. She claimed that because they were raised believing that Palestinians were the opponent, they wanted to kill and destroy them all.

” I do believe we need to acknowledge that is connected to the Jewish and Jewish people who have endured decades of persecution. There is a concern that nearly runs in the family, and this does not explain what is going on in Gaza. She asserted that those who are not physically present in the situation must be able to offer advice, remain grounded in knowledge, and receive fair treatment.

In fact, the difficult nature of the job makes Israeli military soldiers detest being assigned to frontier duty in Gaza and the West Bank. In the wealthy defense products, optimistic Israelis compete for jobs where they are unlikely to interact directly with Palestinians or Jewish inhabitants.

Despite the fact that there haven’t been any new national elections since 2005, American diplomats and Palestinians themselves criticized Albanese for failing to distinguish between the circumstances in Gaza and the West Bank, which is governed by an elected government.

” Gaza is a judicial dictatorship ruled by Hamas since 2007″ An Israeli-Arab corporate attorney in Tel Aviv who wanted to remain anonymous out of concern for retaliation from extremists said,” They have complete control and allow no objection.”

calling for Albanese to be removed

The southern Italian lawyer’s discrimination against Israel, according to the Israeli government, makes her inadequate to carry out her duties to describe genuine and alleged human right in the West Bank and Gaza.

Albanese’s statements are wholly undesirable on all levels, according to Jacques Pitteloud, the ambassador of Switzerland to the United States, and nothing” justifies this kind of violent attack” and” one may throw the atrocities of Hamas and action by Israel on the same level.”

Pitteloud also pointed out that Switzerland is where the Geneva Conventions, a pact that served as the cornerstone of international humanitarian law and established the rules of battle, were created and preserved.

Pitteloud’s remarks are significant not only for Swiss independence but also as the host nation for the High Commission of Human Rights of the United Nations, the Geneva-based organization that writes Albanese the paycheck.

The UN does not” comment on the job of independent experts such as Ms Albanese ,” according to Farhan Aziz Haq, assistant official for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. It appears that the UN is cutting ties with Albanese people.

Albanese’s planned speech to the National Press Club in Canberra as part of a fundraiser hosted by the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network( APAN ), with tickets selling for between A$ 60 and A$ 120( US$ 38 -$ 76 ) per pop, has sparked protest in the Jewish community of Australia.

The Arab Center, a Washington think-thank on Middle East issues, hosted Albanese’s dinner statement on October 18 for free. Among the attendees was staff member of Democratic senator Shri Thanedar.

Continue Reading

Big banks linked to products with pangolin and leopard parts

A stock image of a leopard.shabby pictures

According to a statement, major international banks are investing in businesses that make traditional Chinese medicines with tiger and animal components.

Both species are considered to be in danger.

Nine products that the Environmental Investigation Authority ( EIA ) claims contain leopard or pangolin are being invested in by 62 banks and financial institutions.

The businesses in question have been contacted by the BBC for opinion.

Global investment firms like The Goldman Sachs, UBS, Deutsche Bank, and BlackRock, as well as UK financial services behemoths like HSBC, Prudential, Legal & amp, General, are among the companies.

Lions and animals are in danger, so it is likely that they will go extinct in the near future. In an effort to ensure that their success in the wild is not in danger, both are also listed on the Mentions( Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ) treaty, which forbids foreign corporate industry in them and their parts.

The three medical firms that are highlighted in the EIA review are Jilin Aodong Pharmaceutical Group, Tianjin Pharmaceutical party, and Tong Ren Tang Group.

Although not all of the businesses listed in the EIA review make investments in all three, they all make at least one.

Leopard bone is used as a tiger bone substitute in traditional Chinese medicine( TCM ). Tiger tooth is thought to help eliminate breeze, strengthen bones and limbs, and relieve pain. Pangolin weights are rumored to improve nursing, blood circulation, and chronic pain relief. Medical evidence does not support these assertions.

Following the report’s release, EIA Legal & amp, Policy Specialist Avinash Basker urged the Chinese government to” fulfill CITES recommendations and forbid the use of leopard, pangolin, tiger, and rhino body parts from all sources for all commercial purposes in its domestic markets.”

” The international community’s CITES tips to protect these types are disregarded when highly threatened animals like leopards, pangolin, elephant, and tigers are used in conventional medicine products.” This is apply on a truly professional scale, which can only bring these species ever-closer to extinction while instantly sending contradictory messages to consumers, increasing demand for their parts and derivatives, and tarnishing TCM’s reputation around the world, he claimed.

A stock image of a pangolin.

shabby pictures

He continued,” It’s especially disheartening to see so many significant banks and financial institutions actually supporting this harmful using, especially given how many have vowed to do otherwise.” ” They need to withdraw from TCM producers using threatened species as soon as possible if their environmental credentials are to have any trust.”

The lion or anteater derivatives were not being sourced, according to the EIA, which claimed it was unable to do so.

” No a direct investment and does not have direct exposure to these organizations ,” according to HSBC in an interview. It also states that HSBC Global Asset Management Canada responded to the EIA statement by saying that its” opportunities in the TCM businesses were limited to passive or” sensor” money rather than actively managed funds.” This implies that funds are immediately invested in stocks based on a linked indicator that they track, such as the FTSE 100.

According to Deutsche Bank, the report is focused on property managers and was directed to DWS, an property management firm that was formerly a part of DB but is now on its own.

According to a statement from DWS, it has” different ESG-related ] environmental, social, and governance” policies that offer instructions on how to incorporate the information from the environment into our investment processes, engagement, or proxy voting activities, where we combine our voting rights for active and passive funds.

There are no positively managed DWS money invested in any of these three manufacturers nationally, according to the statement.

According to Legal & amp, General Investment Management” manages many funds against various index providers to meet a wide range of client demands.”

According to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service( IPBES ), which covers the exploitation of wild species,” LGIM is aware that one of the key drivers of nature-loss” is” natural resource use and” exploitation ,” the company said.

In order to address these IPBES owners, we are creating a” nature model” that integrates and discloses high-quality, consistent, location-specific data that relates to business behavior in relation to these important nature-related issues.

BlackRock opted not to say anything.

For reply, the BBC has contacted UBS, Tong Ren Tang, Tianjin Pharmaceutical Group, and Jilin Aodong Pharma Group.

Continue Reading

Dear men, here are 9 ways you can support your wife or girlfriend diagnosed with breast cancer

Would rejoice in accomplishments and objectives. Positive energy, desire, and motivation are provided by this. Success, the solution, and being cancer-free are more of a trip than an end in themselves. Consider joyous moments and savor them, Ng said. & nbsp,

9. DO MAKE A LONG-TERM PLAN.

Stay involved in the journey and provide assistance, whether it be personal or useful, even after the initial treatment stage. & nbsp,

Guys, please don’t undervalue the importance of your achievements. Be aware that the results are significantly influenced by your aid.

According to Ng,” studies support the idea that the breast cancer knowledge must be regarded as” shared.” Whether cancer survivors and their partners recognize it as a” family disease” that must be fought together determines how much psychological distress they both experience.

For every person, a husband’s assistance might not appear to be the same. Snehal Rajendra Ponde, 40, who is receiving treatment for breast cancer and co-wrote the book Exercise Ask Me How I’m Doing, described her father Daksh Pratap Singh as” my biggest champion, my biggest competition as well.”

He constantly tells me,” You’re not doing enough.” Please stop moping around in self-pity right then. After knowing me for so many centuries, he knows exactly how to drive me.

In fact, your personalized TLC may encourage your spouse to persevere if you are familiar with her love language. Guys, you do matter in the fight against breast cancers. & nbsp,

Continue Reading

CNA Correspondent Podcast: The dark side of Japan’s entertainment industry

Young men and boys who were trying to break into Japan’s entertainment industry were sexually abused by well-known Chinese skills director Johnny Kitagawa for years.

Michiyo Ishida of CNA speaks to Steve Lai about the judgment his company, which produced the well-known child bands SMAP and Arashi, is going through now that the worst-kept solution in the nation is suddenly away. & nbsp,

Continue Reading

Sutin eyes cheaper Chinese ship

Navy to discuss thread trade with China

Sutin eyes cheaper Chinese ship
Sutin Klungsang, the defense secretary

Sutin Klungsang, the defense minister, announced that he would give the military the go-ahead to start talks with China to lower the cost of frigates in light of the government’s decision to buy them rather than submarines.

He noted that it is unclear whether China is prepared to participate in such discussions and that a military delegation is anticipated to visit China next week to keep speaks before an agreement between the two edges expires next quarter.

Mr. Sutin assured the state that it would not risk the nation and may work to negotiate the best offer when he met with the military on Tuesday evening to gather information for the planned dialogue.

The defense minister claims that rather than amending the agreement, the talks are a problem between the navy and the Chinese company because they involve revising their original agreement.

It was discovered last week that the submarine may become fitted with a German-made engine as Thailand had requested, leading to the government’s decision to purchase an engine made in China to remove one the army had ordered in 2017.

The frigate’s estimated price of 17 billion baht, or many billion more than the underwater the army has ordered, has caused controversy. Critics wonder why Thailand must spend more when China is unable to uphold its legal commitments.

Mr. Sutin emphasized that China was unable to equip the underwater with the German-made website and that the initial price tag of 17 billion ringgit is based on the cost of an European frigate.

He responded that the ship design was one of two ideas the navy had prepared in case the submarine project was unable to move forward when asked if it was happy with the change.

He claimed that when the navy was asked to weigh its options, it came prepared with the two ideas: purchasing a frigate and an offshore patrol ship( OPV ). He continued,” The ship was chosen by the authorities.”

When asked if a refund may be requested, he replied that before considering other options, the government had first negotiate the submarine-to-frenchate swap.

He added that there were additional factors to asking for a refund that might influence collaboration in various areas.

The best course of action, according to Move Forward Party list member MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, would be to need a refund of the 7 billion ringgit paid for the underwater structure as well as an apology from China for failing to uphold the agreement.

The ship or OPV was a great option, according to Mr. Wiroj, chairman of the House committee on military matters, but the government may need to take into account the cost, upkeep, spare parts, and other factors.

To keep the public informed, he claimed that the House commission invited the army to respond to inquiries about the underwater purchasing job tomorrow.

On Tuesday, previous election director Somchai Srisutthiyakorn posted information about the navy’s spending on the underwater procurement program on his Facebook account.

He claimed that the army spent 8.7 billion ringgit on 11 products related to this purchasing scheme, excluding a payment to China of more than 7 billion.

A underwater command and control system, a missile and me storage facility, navigation charts, and geological data for submarine navigation were among the expenditures.

Continue Reading

Winter fetes to be held nationwide

According to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, the government intends to make the yearly winter event Thailand Winter Festivals, moving it from the nation’s capital to the entire country.

After speaking with Tourism and Sport Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, and Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt about planning the” Colourful Bangkok Winter Festival” at the end of this year, he posted the announcement on his Facebook account.

Additionally, he stated that at least 11 sweet power-related activities have been planned by the government, with more details expected in the coming month.

The TAT and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ) will collaborate to plan five” big events” for the Colorful Bangkok Festival, which aims to celebrate winter in the nation’s capital from October to December.

Ms. Thapanee claims that the TAT, BMA, and Culture Ministry are working together to co-organize Colorful Bangkok in order to capitalize on this gentle authority and expand the event internationally.

The events, which will be held during the high season, are anticipated to encourage tourism as a form of artistic commerce.

According to Ms. Thapanee, Colorful Bangkok includes five significant activities: the 2023 Loi Krathong Festival, Vijit Chao Phraya 20, Amazing Thailand Passport Privileges, Amazing Thai Marathon Bangkok 20, and Amazing Bangkok Countdown 2024.

Through the state’s artistic hospitality, she continued, those events hope to showcase the employment and identity of the community.

The New Year Countdown on Rattanakosin Island, events, art, and performances, as part of City Hall’s mission to promote the money as a creative and social capital, will all serve to highlight this task.

According to Mr. Chadchart, City Hall has collaborated with a number of industries to make Colorful Bangkok successful.

Continue Reading

Commentary: Bangkok mall shooting highlights growing threat of modified guns

” GHOST Cannons” IN 3D – PRINTED

A three-dimensional object is created using a 3D printing and digital design document as part of the engineering process known as” 3D printing.” While 3D printers has several architectural uses, malicious actors have also used it to create weapons.

The technology has become more affordable and simple to use since the earliest 3D-printed piece was produced in 2013.

Australia, North America, and Europe have seen the greatest growth in the use and production of 3D-printed firearms. Legal and terrorist organizations, especially right-wing cells, have made an effort to produce, usage, and trade 3D-printed firearms.

Right-wing extremist Stephan Balliet attacked a Hebrew synagogue in Halle, Germany, in 2019 while brandishing an assault weapon with 3D-printed parts. Since then, a number of far-right sites in the UK, Finland, Iceland, Spain, and Australia have made an effort to employ 3D-printed weapons.

While producing destructive 3D-printed weapons requires a lot of skill and work, it provides operating security for criminals and terrorists. It minimizes contact with the outside earth and lowers the likelihood of government surveillance by enabling offenders to build weapon in the health of their homes.

The weapon are unregulated and therefore challenging to identify, giving rise to the term” touch guns.”

Continue Reading