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Category: United Arab Emirates

  • Persistent UAE´s efforts to maintain critics behind bars: a new mass trial

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has invested deeply into portraying itself as a progressive, tolerant and human rights-compliant state. This strategy, however, as in other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, clashes with a reality in which activists and dissidents are detained and tried for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association. The recent unfair trial of 84 people on charges related to the activists’ establishment of an independent advocacy group in 2010 -the Justice and Dignity Committee- is the latest example of that.

    The charges were brought against the defendants in December 2023 under the country’s abusive 2014 counterterrorism law and hearings started in March 2024. In a recent publication of Human Rights Watch, details of the trial and the treatment received by the defendants came to light. The conclusion is clear: due process violations and allegations of ill-treatment characterize the process.

    The due process concerns refer fundamentally to the fact that Emirati authorities have failed to provide lawyers with free access to case files and basic information about the trial. In this sense, it has been noted that the defendant´s lawyers could not obtain physical or electronic copies of the court documents. Instead, they were only able to view them on a screen in the presence and supervision of security officials and take handwritten notes about them. On top of that, the defendant´s family members have also given voice to a serious concern about the partiality of the presiding judge, who is said to be directing witness testimony by putting sentences in the mouth of the witness.

    Furthermore, because of the secrecy surrounding the trial, relatives of the defendants are recurrently denied entry to the courtroom and lawyers are prevented from sharing details of the case with them. Not only that, but basic information about the case, such as all the names of the defendants, is yet to be disclosed by Emirati authorities to the general public. What is known is that Ahmed Mansoor, Nasser bin Ghaith, and Khalaf al-Romaithi, prominent activists and dissidents already serving long prison sentences, are among those on trial. Also, it is accounted that at least 60 of the defendants were already convicted in July 2013 in the UAE94 trial on charges related to the exercise of freedom of expression, association, and assembly, a significant proportion of them arbitrarily held beyond the completion of their sentence. Additionally, one of the UAE94 detainees facing new charges now for “establishing and managing a clandestine terrorist organization (…) known as the ‘Justice and Dignity Committee”, was already convicted for his involvement with the Committee in the past. That indicating that the UAE authorities might be violating the principle of double jeopardy, which prohibits trying people twice for the same offense once they have received the final verdict.

    The abusive detention conditions suffered by the defendants represent another area of concern. According to Human Rights Watch, many of them have been kept in incommunicado solitary confinement for at least 10 months. In a similar vein, the judge was told, by one of the accused, that he was held in incommunicado detention for 2 years and that security personnel had assaulted him recurrently. Another defendant asserted that during a week-long solitary confinement, he was kept naked. On the other hand, except for short calls in December 2023 destined to inform family members of the new case against their relatives, defendants weren´t able to receive phone calls or family visits for a period ranging from 10 months to a year.

    Once the judicial process started, the appalling detention conditions included physical assaults, lack of access to medical care and prescribed medications, persistent loud music during periods of rest and sleep, and forced nudity.

    This new mass trial, which in the words of the deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch “seems nothing more that a shameless pretext to keep these men behind bars”,  constitutes another bump in the UAE´s road to improving its human rights disheartening record. The European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights urges the Emirati authorities to investigate the alleged abusive conditions and to put an end to the abuses suffered by human rights activists in the country.

    The post Persistent UAE´s efforts to maintain critics behind bars: a new mass trial appeared first on Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain.

    This post was originally published on Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain.

  • Oil Production in the GCC: Urgent Evaluation of Human Rights Concerns in the Region

    Seventy-six million metric tons of oil reserves are located in the Arab Gulf, constituting around 66% of the global reserves. Oil represents a prominent source of income in the Middle East, proven by the increased production during the last decades. From 1980, oil production passed from 11 million barrels per day to 18 million. The two biggest producers in the region are Saudi Arabia and UAE, respectively, making 39 and 14 percent of the total share. Various studies show that the industry causes significant methane emissions, contributing to global warming and other emissions that create significant health risks for citizens. Notably, on 28 November 2023, the BBC warned that toxic gas in the Middle East is putting millions at risk. In particular, the article showed how oil production was spreading gases over hundreds of kilometers in the region, possibly jeopardizing the health of the residents.

    Most GCC countries have appointed Commissions or National Councils to preserve the environment and control the health risks associated with oil production. The leading producer (Saudi Arabia) has also committed to contributing to the Paris Agreement through different measures. To mention some, installing 50 gigawatts of renewable and nuclear energy can reduce the country’s emissions during production.

    Nonetheless, these measures are still insufficient to mitigate the negative impacts of energy production in the GCC. In an article from December 2023, Human Rights Watch (HRW) highlighted that exposure to particulate matter (PM 2.5) in the UAE was eight times higher than what the World Health Organization (WHO) considers safe. Based on the estimates of the organization, approximately 1872 people have died in 2023 due to outdoor air pollution. The BBC also showed that the GCC countries, due to gas flaring (burning of waste gas during oil drilling), endanger the lives of millions in the region. In particular, pollutants from flaring include PM 2.5 and Ozone NO2, which, at high levels, have been linked to strokes, cancer, asthma, and heart diseases.

    Alarmingly, UAE national oil company Adnoc, run by Sultan al-Jaber, committed 20 years ago to end gas flaring; nonetheless, satellite assessment shows that it occurs daily. Other states, like Iraq and Kuwait, analyzed in the BBC study, declined to comment. On the other hand, oil companies like Saudi Aramco and Shell said they are working to reduce the practice.

    The urgency in mitigating the negative impact of oil production in the Middle East has been vividly stressed. The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, David R. Boyd, recently commented: ‘’ Big oil companies and states in the Middle East are violating the human rights of millions of people by failing to tackle air pollution from fossil fuels.’’. ADHRB also expresses concerns over the health of millions of residents in the region. Acknowledging that respiratory diseases are the leading cause of death in the area, our organization considers that new positive steps should be taken. In particular, ADHRB points out the pronouncements of the Human Rights Committee in view of the case Portillo Caceres v. Paraguay, affirming that states must protect individual degradation under Article 6 of the ICCPR (Right to Life). With these aspects in mind, we stress the need for accountability for human rights violations, which, in this instance, are challenging due to political considerations and the dependency of the West on Middle East oil.

    The post Oil Production in the GCC: Urgent Evaluation of Human Rights Concerns in the Region appeared first on Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain.

    This post was originally published on Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain.

  • The Pros and Cons of Joining the Big League of Arms Exporters

    South Korea’s rapid rise as a defence manufacturer is resulting in increasingly tougher challenges to its export policy. Although China might be Asia’s top defence exporter, it is actually South Korea, a nation of 51.8 million citizens that lives under constant threat from its northern neighbour, which is dominating sales of Asian military equipment to […]

    The post The Pros and Cons of Joining the Big League of Arms Exporters appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • CMS: More Inputs, Quicker Solutions

    At the heart of any significant warship is the combat management system. Integration with other CMS is one of the directions that today’s developers are following. Serving as the combat brain of a warship, a Combat Management System (CMS) is able to provide an analysis of any emerging threats and thereby deliver options to a […]

    The post CMS: More Inputs, Quicker Solutions appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • Accelerating Ocean Heat Breaks All-Time Records

    North Atlantic Ocean temperature is on a red-hot streak.

    New research finds ocean temperatures… “have now smashed previous heat records for at least seven years in a row.” (Lijing Cheng, et al, “New Record Ocean Temperatures and Related Climate Indicators in 2023”, Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, January 2024.)

    Certainly, it’s nothing to mess around with as oceans absorb 90% of planetary heat. Maybe that’s too much too quickly to withstand. Or is it a big burp or could it be something much worse?

    Ocean heat represented on a chart displays a nearly vertical solid move up for over the past year. This is Michael Mann’s famous “hockey stick” applied to ocean temperature! Climate science does not have a record of such a powerful jolt upwards for ocean warming. Maybe something big or even bigger than big is underway.

    A recent NYT headline tells the story: “Scientists Are Freaking Out About Ocean Temperatures”, New York Times, February 27, 2023, by suggesting it could be indicative of developments beyond all expectations by mainstream science. January 2024 was the 8th year in a row when global temperatures “blew past previous records.” The North Atlantic has hit record-breaking temperatures and holding them there for a solid year now. According to scientists: “It’s just astonishing. Like, it doesn’t seem real.” (NYT)

    But it is real!

    And it should shake up and rattle the cage of every person on the planet because their leaders, who are supposed to address problems like this, are asleep at the switch, sound asleep!

    It’s not only the North Atlantic that is acting up in a mean-spirited manner. Down south, according to Matthew England, professor at University of New South Wales: “The sea ice around the Antarctic is just not growing… The temperature’s just going off the charts. It’s like an omen of the future.” (Ibid.)

    Global warming appears to be infectiously indiscriminate north/south throughout the globe. These are strange times that demand a lot of attention by nation/states of the world that are sitting ducks for surprisingly rapid sea water rise and a host of other troubling ecosystem crash landings.

    Impact of Ocean Heat Acceleration

    According to NASA, Global Climate Change – Vital Signs of the Planet: Accelerating ocean warming: (1) increases sea level rise due to thermal expansion (2) accelerates melting of major ice sheets, already starting to cascade everywhere on the planet, directly increases sea levels (3) intensifies hurricanes (4) degrades overall ocean health with loss of biodiversity.

    For example, the Blob event in the Pacific Ocean laid the foundation for what to expect from ocean heat. According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):

    An unprecedented marine heat wave known as ‘the Blob’ dominated the northeastern Pacific from 2013 to 2016, and upended ecosystems across a huge swath of the Pacific Ocean. This led to an ecological cascade, causing fishery collapses and fishery disaster determinations.

    — “The Ongoing Marine Heat Waves in U.S. Waters, Explained”, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, July 24, 2023.

    If fishery collapses occurred way back in 2013-16, then what of today’s more overheated ocean? The Blob was unlike anything the West Coast had experienced: From the Gulf of Alaska-to-Baja, California (Mexico) sea surface temperature hit levels 7°F above average.

    “Fishery collapses” as experienced a decade ago, on top of depleted fish stocks, like we have now, is a formula for disaster for marine life and human life. Globally, overexploited fish stocks; i.e., catching fish faster than they reproduce, has “more than doubled since 1980.” Ergo, most current levels of wild fish catch are unsustainable. (“Fish and Overfishing”, Our World in Data)

    “In 2015 a record outbreak of toxic algae shut down West Coast Dungeness crab fisheries worth millions of dollars. Then came seabird die-offs, record numbers of whales entangled in fishing lines, crashing salmon returns, and starving California sea lion pups washing up on beaches, just for starters. “You had a number of things occurring that by themselves were just astounding,” according to Nate Mantua, an atmospheric scientist at NOAA Fisheries’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center. “When you put it all together you could hardly believe it.” (“Looking Back at The Blob: Record Warming Drives Unprecedented Ocean Change”, NOAA Fisheries, September 26, 2019.)

    According to Arctic News: The year 2024 looks to be worse than the year 2023… sea surface temperatures that were extremely high in 2023 will be followed by a steep rise in 2024, in fact, crossing 21°C (70°F) as early as January 2024. Toxic algae welcomes the heat; it is sustained and enhanced by warmer waters.

    According to Copernicus, which is the Earth Observation Programme of the European Union:

    • The average global sea surface temperature (SST) for January over 60°S–60°N reached 20.97°C, a record for January, 0.26°C warmer than the previous warmest January, in 2016, and second highest value for any month in the ERA5 dataset, within 0.01°C of the record from August 2023 (20.98°C).
    • Since 31 January, the daily SST for 60°S–60°N has reached new absolute records, surpassing the previous highest values from 23rd and 24th of August 2023.

    The planet is turning hotter prior to, during, and in the aftermath of COP28 (UN Climate Conference of the Parties) held in oil-rich Dubai, November/December 2023 and hosted by Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber as COP28 President as well as serving as Group CEO of ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) since 2016.

    COPs have been held for nearly 30 consecutive years to address the issue of climate change and global warming and what to do about it. Yet they have miserably failed to impact fossil fuel emissions (up every year and accelerating). COP28 was a ‘tilted game’ in favor of continuation of fossil fuel emissions and according to Martin Siegert, polar scientist and deputy vice-chancellor at University of Exeter:

    The science is perfectly clear. COP28, by not making a clear declaration to stop fossil fuel burning is a tragedy for the planet and our future. The world is heating faster and more powerfully than the COP response to deal with it.

    — “A Tragedy for the Planet’: Scientists Decry COP28 Outcome”, Common Dreams, December 14, 2023.

    “A tragedy for the planet and our future” as emphasized by Dr. Siegert, is a travesty that should not be allowed to stand. Throughout the history of COP meetings, never has the oil and gas industry taken the lead position in meetings of 60-80,000 attendees supposedly devoted to fixing global warming. Nothing more needs to be said about the charade known as COP28. It’s only too obvious. Well, maybe more needs to be said: The people of the world have never been so easily bamboozled, hoodwinked by an international body that’s supposed to protect the sanctity of the planet. COP28 didn’t.

    Where’s the pushback?

    Regardless, the oceans are in a state of rebellion, which could flood the oil and gas business out of business, as an act of nature protecting herself. Worldwide petroleum refineries are constructed along coastal areas and rivers to take advantage of water resources and easy transportation. As the spigots of fossil fuel CO2 emissions remain wide-open, assuredly, enhanced global warming will flood them out of business.

    The post Accelerating Ocean Heat Breaks All-Time Records first appeared on Dissident Voice.

    This post was originally published on Dissident Voice.

  • Pacific nations and civil society raise concerns at WTO conference

    By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist

    The 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is being held in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

    Adam Wolfenden, who is there on behalf of Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG), says the concerns of small Pacific nations centre on the subsidy provided by larger nations to fishing companies.

    He said Fiji, in particular, was seeking a strong outcome on fisheries subsidies’ negotiations.

    Wolfenden said the reason they were so concerned around fisheries subsidies was because of “the revenue and the importance of fisheries to the Pacific both at a governmental level, but also for the livelihoods of Pacific Islanders is enormous”.

    He said this then raised concerns about how countries deal with overfishing and overcapacity, but did not prevent the small island nations from “developing their own domestic fleets to fish their resources and create a development pathway built on fisheries”.

    Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister, Manoa Kamikamica, who is at the meeting, said: “Fiji will ask from its partners for stronger disciplines on subsidies contributing to overfishing and overcapacity in the negotiations that has caused the global depletion of fish stocks.”

    “For us, this is more than a matter of national interest — it is a matter of national survival,” he said.

    “Additionally, Fiji will highlight the importance of special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries, including small island states, to ensure that trade policies take into account the specific challenges and vulnerabilities faced by these nations.”

    Solomon Islands Foreign and Trade Minister, Jeremiah Manele, said the deliberations continued to undermine the responsible growth in his country’s fisheries sector “and further, the preservation of our fishing arrangements and differential licensing arrangements”.

    “The current text maintains the status quo, leaning favourably towards the major subsidisers, with a mere focus on notifications and sustainability.”

    MC13 is also focusing on reform of the WTO and Samoa’s Trade Negotiations Minister, Leota Laki Lamositele, said last year that “we reaffirmed that special and differential treatment for developing and Least Developed Country Members is an integral part of the WTO and its agreements”.

    “As such, Samoa concurs with others in supporting the work of the WTO and that MC13 should ensure inclusive, transparent, and rules-based outcomes, to accommodate the diversity of WTO Membership in implementing current.”

    ‘A lot of uncertainty’
    Civil society organisations have found themselves being shut out at this WTO meeting.

    Wolfenden said there was a lot of concern about how non-government organisations were being treated in Abu Dhabi.

    He said a lot of the activities that the groups would normally have been able to do — even just providing leaflets to journalists or directly engaging in advocacy — was being restricted.

    “There’s a lot of uncertainty and a lack of clarity around what the security situation is with, you know, colleagues being detained for sending information to journalists for taking photos.

    “We have sent a letter to the WTO director-general, I know this has been raised by a number of governments, including New Zealand, and the concerns around the way civil society is being treated.

    “Yet there’s still no clarity and if anything, it feels like the way that we have been dealt with by local security is escalating.”

    He added there was a lot of concern for participants and their safety within the conference venue.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Scrutinizing the State of “Freedom of the Press’’ Across GCC States

    Historically, Gulf Cooperation Countries have used a strategy of repression by imposing state control of the media or through broad laws and strict censorship. Often, the governments justify this control by referring to social values like cohesiveness and harmony in society. However, this strategy poses journalists in the Gulf at extreme risk. They are harassed, and, on some occasions, they are imprisoned without a possibility of judicial review. Overall, the scores of GCC countries regarding the freedom of the press are low. The highest-scoring country is Kuwait, ranking 108 out of 180, and the worst is Saudi Arabia, ranking 172 out of 180.

    Bahrain revised its Media Law in 2002, promising more liberties for journalists. However, the legislation contains relevant limits for journalists with 17 existing categories of offences. For three of them, journalists may be imprisoned for up to three years, while the others can result in high fines. Article 19 of the Media Law allows the Ministry of Information to retain publications that are deemed not to be appropriate. The current situation of the media remains problematic; the government owns all the outlets after the 2017 Media Law suspended all private news outlets. Reporters, Sans Frontiers (RSF), have reported the presence of at least 15 journalists in prison.

    Moving to Kuwait, the state has revised the freedom of the press with the 2006 Press and Publications law. Even if Kuwait scores highest in journalists’ freedom of expression, the law contains 12 sections prohibiting certain publications. Notably, it is the only country in the Arab Gulf with a process similar to a judicial review. The Ministry of Interior must explain the refusal of publication within 90 days. More recently, the Kuwaiti government has become stricter in repressing journalists’ freedom of expression. A famous case has been the sentence against Abdullah al-Saleh in 2017 for insulting the allied country.

    Going to Saudi Arabia, the country scores the lowest in freedom of the press and is one of the most repressive landscapes in the world. Critical journalism does not exist, and the government considers the media a tool to promote their campaigns. The government regulates media with the 2003 Press and Publication Act. The law is extensively broad and provides restrictions for public order, harming the economy or any act considered to put the stability of the state at stake. Currently, Saudi Arabia has only ten newspapers strictly monitored by the royal family. In addition, radio and television are also controlled by the Ministry of Culture, which tries to restrict the freedom of the media. From the reports, it appears that every year, at least 37 journalists are imprisoned, with the most famous case being the murder of Jamal Khashoggi while residing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

    The United Arab Emirates also took control of the press by emitting restrictive laws and applying a block of information available on the internet. The law regulating the media emitted in 1980 is highly restrictive, allowing its interpretation to lead to a violation easily. To mention some of the punishments, for the less grave forms, there are fines of 5000 euros and imprisonment of up to 2 years for the most severe forms. The UAE’s tight regulation causes self-censorship and risk of imprisonment. Notably, two journalists are in jail sentenced for the infamous UAE 94 case.

    According to Reporters Without Borders, Qatar ranks 104 out of 179 countries. The press is considered not free, and UAE self-censorship is likely common. Qatar’s Media Law regulates the freedom of the press, prohibiting putting the nation’s economy at stake or criticizing the emir. Particularly concerning appears the repression against the coverage of the struggles faced by migrant workers. In 2016, Qatar detained three journalists while confiscating their footage for dealing with this topic.

    Finally, Oman also ranks at the bottom of the press freedom ranking. The government is the owner of the two major daily newspapers. Censorship is common both in printed and online documents. Since 2016, the state has employed even stricter regulations by trying to crack down on some agencies. The reports show that at least three outlets have been closed and more than three journalists put into prison.

    To conclude, there are similar trends between different GCC countries regarding regulating the freedom of the press. In particular, the laws heavily restrict journalists’ ability to express themselves freely. Eventually, this causes widespread auto censorship, fearing imprisonment or prosecution. This trend appears concerning and, unfortunately, in line with the rule of law of these countries. The GCC countries must amend their media laws, and simultaneously,  pressure from the international community is needed to request that the rights of journalists be safeguarded.

    The post Scrutinizing the State of “Freedom of the Press’’ Across GCC States appeared first on Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain.

    This post was originally published on Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain.

  • EDGE Awarded Largest Ever Order for Unmanned Helicopters in Deal to Supply 200 Aircraft to the UAE Ministry of Defence

    EDGE, one of the world’s leading advanced technology and defence groups, has signed a landmark contract to supply 200 HT-100 and HT-750 unmanned helicopters to the UAE Ministry of Defence, as part of a milestone deal which is the largest ever order for unmanned helicopter systems, to enhance their VTOL capabilities. The unmanned VTOL systems […]

    The post EDGE Awarded Largest Ever Order for Unmanned Helicopters in Deal to Supply 200 Aircraft to the UAE Ministry of Defence appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • Macron defends Indo-Pacific stance – now ‘consolidated’ in Oceania

    By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific French Pacific desk correspondent

    French President Emmanuel Macron has defended his Indo-Pacific vision during the traditional New Year’s good wishes ceremony to the French Armed Forces in Paris.

    Macron said tensions in the Indo-Pacific zone were a matter for concern because France was an integral part of the Indo-Pacific — both in the Indian and the Pacific oceans.

    He recalled the French version of the Indo-Pacific had been masterminded in 2018 and had since been developed in partnership with such key allies as India, Australia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates.

    “But we have also consolidated it and, may I say entrenched it, in our own (overseas) territories,” he said, citing New Caledonia as an example of French army presence to defend France’s sovereignty and “the capacity for our air force to deploy (from mainland France) to Oceania within 48 hours”.

    He also praised the recent South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting held in Nouméa last month when “France was the inviting power”.

    He said Paris was able to strike “strategic partnerships” with neighbouring armed forces.

    “The year 2024 will see us maintain without fail the protection of our overseas territories,” he told the troops.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • The Growing Role of Arab Women in Defense

    The role of women in the defense industry is changing across the Middle East, but particularly in Saudi Arabia, as successful programs, such as the World Defense Show’s International Women in Defense forum, have shown. The defense sector remains a male dominated industry across the globe. It was reported last year that women represented just […]

    The post The Growing Role of Arab Women in Defense appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • ADNEC Group Announce EDGE Group as Strategic Partner for UMEX and SimTEX 2024

    Local and regional technology leader to support the Middle East’s leading event dedicated to unmanned systems. ADNEC Group have announced EDGE Group as a strategic partner for the sixth edition of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition (UMEX) and Simulation and Training Exhibition (SimTEX) 2024, and its accompanying conference, which will be held under the patronage of […]

    The post ADNEC Group Announce EDGE Group as Strategic Partner for UMEX and SimTEX 2024 appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • The Failure of COP28

    The UAE, host to the latest UN climate conference, showcases the vices that need to be vanquished if we’re going to have anything approaching a green society.

    This post was originally published on Dissent MagazineDissent Magazine.

  • Filling the MPA Ga

    The submarine club is growing in size; so cue the entry of a new maritime patrol platform. At the height of the Cold War, most of the world’s leading airborne anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exponents operated big turboprop-powered Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPAs). Most of these were developed from trans-continental turboprop airliners – the P-3 Orion from […]

    The post Filling the MPA Ga appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • Ahmed Mansoor: A Symbol of Struggle for Human Rights in the UAE Ahead of COP28

    Ahmed Mansoor, a prominent human rights defender in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has faced relentless persecution due to his unwavering advocacy for human rights. His case stands as a distressing emblem of the struggles faced by activists in the UAE, shedding light on the challenges of championing fundamental rights in the region.

    Mansoor’s arrest in March 2017, rooted in his social media activities, underscored the UAE’s intolerance towards dissenting voices. His imprisonment for speaking out against human rights abuses echoes the plight of many silenced activists in the country. Despite his award-winning efforts and recognition in the field of human rights, he became a symbol of the crackdown on freedom of expression in the UAE.

    Organizations like Front Line Defenders and Amnesty International have been vocal in condemning Mansoor’s unjust imprisonment and advocating for his release. They have highlighted the lack of fair trial standards and the suppression of legitimate human rights work as critical issues underlying his detention.

    Notably, with the UAE set to host the 28th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), attention has turned to Mansoor’s continued arbitrary detention. His prolonged imprisonment, now over six years, presents a stark contrast to the UAE’s purported commitment to international events like COP28.

    Amnesty International has emphasized the irony of the UAE aiming to be an influential voice at COP28 while stifling the voice of a renowned human rights activist. Mansoor’s case underscores the urgent need for global attention and pressure on the Emirati authorities to respect fundamental rights, particularly freedom of expression and association.

    The ongoing arbitrary detention of Ahmed Mansoor and several other activists highlights the persistent struggle for basic human rights in the UAE. Addressing his case isn’t merely about advocating for one individual’s freedom; it symbolizes the fight for justice, freedom, and the right to express dissenting opinions without fear of reprisal.

    Efforts to secure Ahmed Mansoor’s release resonate beyond his case alone. They represent a collective call for upholding human rights, not just in the UAE but worldwide. The spotlight on Mansoor’s plight during COP28 emphasizes the imperative for the international community to advocate for justice, pressing the UAE to respect human rights and release Mansoor and other arbitrarily detained activists.

    The post Ahmed Mansoor: A Symbol of Struggle for Human Rights in the UAE Ahead of COP28 appeared first on Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain.

    This post was originally published on Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain.

  • Hypocrisy Sours COP28

    Hypocrisy runs rampant at COP28 even before the doors swung open to 70,000 delegates on Thursday, November 30th. This is the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties (“COP”) held at Expo City, Dubai. It’s the big annual event for scientists to meet to decide on the fate of anthropogenic climate change, assuming that’s even possible.

    This year’s big climate summit is headed by Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (“ADNOC”) of the United Arab Emirates. Leaked documents show Emirati officials using their leadership position at the climate summit to “lobby for oil and gas deals around the world.” That’s disgusting and an international scandal of the highest order. Although, November 29th Ahmed Al-Jaber vociferously denied the allegations, according to Bloomberg News.

    Nevertheless, the Centre for Climate Reporting as of November 27th reported COP28 President Secretly Used Climate Summit Role to Push Oil Trade with Foreign Government Official: “Leaked documents reveal COP28 president and UAE national oil company boss Sultan Al Jaber’s plans to discuss boosting fossil fuel business in bilateral meetings about the climate summit.”

    Also, according to a BBC report, November 28th: “Al Jaber… has held scores of meetings with senior government officials, royalty, and business leaders from around the world in recent months. The COP28 team has quietly planned to use this access as an opportunity to increase exports of ADNOC’s oil and gas.”

    Leaked briefings show Al-Jaber planned to use his new-found international leadership role as president of COP28 to raise commercial interests with almost 30 countries. A whistleblower came forward on condition of anonymity, confirming follow up discussions with at least one commercial party.

    Professor Michael Jacobs of Sheffield University, commenting to the BBC: “As a COP president you should not represent any national or commercial interest, it is your job to lead the world… The UAE at the moment is the custodian of a United Nations process aimed at reducing global emissions. And yet, in the very same meetings where it’s apparently trying to pursue that goal, it’s actually trying to do side deals that will increase global emissions.”

    Internal emails and meeting records obtained by the Centre for Climate Reporting raise serious questions about the COP28 leadership team’s independence from the national oil company ADNOC. Moreover, whistleblowers claim COP28 staff were in regular contact with the national oil company over talking points for ADNOC targeting specific country oil deals.

    The New York Times further reported Using Climate Talks to Sell Fossil Fuels, November 28th: UAE officials used their position of influence at the climate conference behind the scenes to influence Brazil’s environment minister to help with a local petrochemical deal by ADNOC. And Emirati officials, using their position at COP28, influenced Chinese counterparts about working on a joint international LNG opportunity. The article goes on to say that diplomats and climate experts from around the world have expressed shock at the leaked documents.

    According to Christiana Figueres, former UN diplomat: “The U.A.E. has been caught red-handed.”

    Early supporters of Al-Jaber for president of COP28 claim he was well positioned to convince oil producers of the world to tackle climate change. According to the IEA, the world’s oil and gas industry accounts for only one percent of all global investment in clean energy. Supporters claimed Al-Jaber would substantially increase that number.

    However, COP28 has now turned into a scandalous deception undermining hope for mutual trust amongst members, as well as deflating hopes for significant progress, even before the summit began.

    All of which begs the provocative question of how in the world did the UAE become host to a climate change conference in the first instance? And even more perplexing yet, how did Al-Jaber become president of COP28? Is COP a Cabal of Producers or a Conference of the Parties for climate change purposes?

    “They went too far in naming the C.E.O. of one of the largest — and by many measures one of the dirtiest — oil companies on the planet as the president of the U.N. Conference on Climate this year,’ former vice president Al Gore.” (Source: Fossil Fuels and Frustration at COP28, The New York Times, November 30, 2023)

    The hypocrisy runs even deeper than Al-Jaber and the UAE. Although, it’s nearly impossible to match the alleged duplicity, chicanery of Al-Jaber/UAE using the UN Climate Conference as an easily manipulated stooge to promote their own oil and gas deals.

    A recent UN Environment Programme in collaboration with academic institutions studied plans for the 20 largest fossil fuel producing countries that account for 84% of global carbon emissions: “The findings paint a grim picture: Governments’ plans show they intend to produce, in total, 110% more fossil fuels in 2030 than are compatible with the 1.5°C limit set out in the Paris Agreement, and 69% more than is consistent with 2°C of warming.” (Source: The Production Gap)

    Expected Oil & Gas Commitments at COP28

    According to the World Resources Institute: “It’s essential that this UN climate summit not become a platform for pledges by the oil and gas industry that fail to tackle the core issue at stake. At COP28, the UAE is expected to announce a commitment from at least 20 major oil and gas companies to reduce methane leakage and reach net-zero emissions by 2050 – but only for their own operations, not for the fuel they sell. By not addressing the so-called “Scope 3” emissions of the fuel produced from their oil and gas extraction and then sold, the oil and gas industry is sidestepping the emissions that account for up to 95% of its contribution to the climate crisis.”

     Meantime, alarming data about forthcoming global warming and ecosystem degradation across the globe is far beyond the mindset and scope of intellect of host country UAE to handle a major UN Climate Change Conference. It simply does not fit. It’s embarrassing!

    The focus of COP28 should be on relevant science: Earth’s energy imbalance or “sunlight in” versus “sunlight out” is currently running at a frightful rate @ 1.36 W/m2  as of the 2020s decade. This is beyond troubling. It’s double the 2005-2015 rate @ 0.71 W/m2 (James Hansen,”Global Warming is Accelerating. Why? Will We Fly Blind?” September 14, 2023). W/m2 is watts per square meter. Accordingly, there’s more energy coming in (absorbed sunlight) than energy going out (heat radiated to space) doubling within only one decade, which is beyond belief, assuring very challenging bad news down the line. This is an enormously dangerous climate event that’s already in process with potentially devastating earmarks.

    It’s not surprising that Dr. James Hansen, Earth Institute, Columbia University expects an early arrival of the dreaded 2.0°C above pre-industrial by the late 2030s, far ahead of IPCC expectations, which will crush many life support ecosystems; meanwhile, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) fossil fuel producers plan on cranking up production to record levels. Thus, both global warming and oil production can join hands simultaneously setting new records.

    All the above adds up to disturbing levels of an indescribable insanity; furthermore, more insanity is expected as climate analysts expect an avalanche of greenwashing at COP28, already identified by the World Resources Institute in the preceding fourth paragraph.

    Speaking of which, Al-Jaber informed Bloomberg News, November 29th, “all of his meetings have been focused on how the world can collectively keep global temperature rise below 1.5C from pre-industrial levels.” Al-Jaber also previously said that emissions must be cut by 43% by 2030 because that’s what the science says must be done. Yet, ADNOC, his oil company, has plans to increase oil production by 600,000 barrels per day by 2030, spending $150B for more oil production.

    Go figure!

    The post Hypocrisy Sours COP28 first appeared on Dissident Voice.

    This post was originally published on Dissident Voice.

  • EDGE Strengthens its Global Investment and Industrial Roadmap

    The Strategic Development Fund will expand and accelerate EDGE’s diverse investment and technology portfolio. The strategic move is in line with EDGE’s ambitious growth plan. EDGE Group PJSC (EDGE), one of the world’s leading advanced technology and defence groups, today announced that it has assumed full ownership of the Strategic Development Fund (SDF), an investment […]

    The post EDGE Strengthens its Global Investment and Industrial Roadmap appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • EDGE Strengthens its Global Investment and Industrial Roadmap

    The Strategic Development Fund will expand and accelerate EDGE’s diverse investment and technology portfolio. The strategic move is in line with EDGE’s ambitious growth plan. EDGE Group PJSC (EDGE), one of the world’s leading advanced technology and defence groups, today announced that it has assumed full ownership of the Strategic Development Fund (SDF), an investment […]

    The post EDGE Strengthens its Global Investment and Industrial Roadmap appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • New Revelations “Call Into Question the Integrity of COP28,” Says Journalist

    As the largest-ever United Nations climate summit kicks off Thursday in Dubai, we look at how the COP28 president, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, who is also CEO of the United Arab Emirates state oil company, has used climate summit meetings to lobby countries for oil and gas deals. The Centre for Climate Reporting obtained documents from meeting briefings that include Abu Dhabi National Oil Company…

    Source

    This post was originally published on Latest – Truthout.

  • COP28 Must Address the US Military as World’s Largest Institutional Emitter

    The annual meeting of United Nations member countries to discuss climate change will begin on Nov. 30 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Known as the Conference of the Parties (COP), this is the 28th year that the most polluting countries will manage to snake through negotiations, avoiding climate responsibility and pushing calls for justice down the field. The conference will last two weeks.

    Source

    This post was originally published on Latest – Truthout.

  • Leak Shows UAE Planned to Use COP28 Climate Talks to Strike Fossil Fuel Deals

    The United Arab Emirates, the host of this year’s UN climate conference COP28, has covertly conspired to use the global gathering as a place to strike fossil fuel deals with other countries and lobby for oil and gas, a damning investigation finds. According to reporting by the Centre for Climate Reporting (CCR) and BBC, Sultan al-Jaber — who is both the president of COP28 and CEO of the UAE’s…

    Source

    This post was originally published on Latest – Truthout.

  • Leak Shows UAE Planned to Use COP28 Climate Talks to Strike Fossil Fuel Deals

    The United Arab Emirates, the host of this year’s UN climate conference COP28, has covertly conspired to use the global gathering as a place to strike fossil fuel deals with other countries and lobby for oil and gas, a damning investigation finds. According to reporting by the Centre for Climate Reporting (CCR) and BBC, Sultan al-Jaber — who is both the president of COP28 and CEO of the UAE’s…

    Source

    This post was originally published on Latest – Truthout.

  • Vaulting Ambition

    Airframers in the Asia Pacific region are transitioning away from building under license to developing their own platforms. The Asia Pacific region is the home to several airframers who cut their teeth in their early years with license manufacture of military platforms. Over the past three decades, there has been dramatic progress in the growth […]

    The post Vaulting Ambition appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • Revealed: how top PR firm uses ‘trust barometer’ to promote world’s autocrats

    Edelman, world’s largest public relations company, paid millions by Saudi Arabia, UAE and other repressive regimes

    Public trust in some of the world’s most repressive governments is soaring, according to Edelman, the world’s largest public relations firm, whose flagship “trust barometer” has created its reputation as an authority on global trust. For years, Edelman has reported that citizens of authoritarian countries, including Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and China, tend to trust their governments more than people living in democracies do.

    But Edelman has been less forthcoming about the fact that some of these same authoritarian governments have also been its clients. Edelman’s work for one such client – the government of the UAE – will be front and center when world leaders convene in Dubai later this month for the UN’s Cop28 climate summit.

    Continue reading…

    This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.

  • Su-57 Wins by Surprise Attacks and Maneuverability – Test Pilot

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    The post Su-57 Wins by Surprise Attacks and Maneuverability – Test Pilot appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • Su-57 Wins by Surprise Attacks and Maneuverability – Test Pilot

    Sukhoi Design Bureau test pilot Rafael Suleymanov has delivered an account of his experience of piloting the 5th generation Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet, highlighting its supreme agility and maneuverability.   “Su-57 is the crown of creation of our aircraft manufacturers and the rest of the industry that provides this aircraft with its components. Piloting and […]

    The post Su-57 Wins by Surprise Attacks and Maneuverability – Test Pilot appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • AMR’s podcast 5: Edge Group Announces Anavia and Flaris Acquisitions at Dubai Airshow 2023

    Ahmed Al Khoori, senior vice president, Strategy & Excellence, EDGE Group talks to Asian Military Review Editor-in-Chief ahead of exciting announcements at the Dubai Airshow. Listen here: Available listening platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6N9Ra9nUZaJxjeuN0neTJ9 Google Podcast: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8xZjEwMWVmOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw== Anchor: https://anchor.fm/armada To download as .mp3 click on the blue button down here: by Andrew Drwiega

    The post AMR’s podcast 5: Edge Group Announces Anavia and Flaris Acquisitions at Dubai Airshow 2023 appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • EOS wins continued RWS business in Southeast Asia

    Canberra-based firm Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has secured a contract worth A$28 million to supply spares of its R600 remote weapon system (RWS) to an undisclosed military customer in Southeast Asia, the company announced on 13 November. “EOS is proud of this achievement, which not only strengthens its presence in the South East Asian defence […]

    The post EOS wins continued RWS business in Southeast Asia appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • Dubai Airshow 2023: Rohde & Schwarz continues to ensure air safety and security

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    The post Dubai Airshow 2023: Rohde & Schwarz continues to ensure air safety and security appeared first on Asian Military Review.

  • EDGE Unveils the Region’s First Multi-Domain Test Range

    The X RANGE is an international, multi-domain testing and evaluation facility for defence, aerospace and commercial products, training ground for law enforcement and defence organisations. X RANGE will feature a broad range of state-of-the-art equipment and instrumentation to offer end-to-end testing services across air, land, sea and electronic warfare (EW). EDGE, one of the world’s […]

    The post EDGE Unveils the Region’s First Multi-Domain Test Range appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • EDGE Group Launches Several Advanced Defence Solutions on First Day of Dubai Airshow 2023

    EDGE, one of the world’s leading advanced technology and defence groups, has marked the start of its participation at Dubai Airshow 2023 by announcing the launch of 11 new disruptive aerospace systems and solutions adding to its impressive portfolio of over 159 systems and solutions covering multiple domains. EDGE will showcase its air domain capabilities […]

    The post EDGE Group Launches Several Advanced Defence Solutions on First Day of Dubai Airshow 2023 appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.