Criminal Rainbow Swatches, Greenhouse Gas Vacuums, Anti-WMD Demonstration at Naval Base
August 12, 2023
In today’s Activism Booster:
1. Wearing a Rainbow Swatch in Malaysia Lands 3 Years Prison
2. US Allocates $1.2B for Scheme to Vacuum Greenhouses Gasses from the Sky
3. 10 Cited at WMD Demonstration in Bangor, Washington
Wearing a Rainbow Swatch in Malaysia Lands 3 Years Prison
In a recent move, the Malaysian government has now deemed wearing a rainbow-themed Swatch watch a criminal offense, claiming it promotes “LGBTQ related” themes deemed “harmful to morality.” The decision mandates a jail term of up to three years, and a potential fine of 20,000 ringgit ($4,375) for anyone who wears, sells, imports, or distributes these Swiss-made products.
A predominantly Muslim country, Malaysia’s legal system has long criminalized homosexuality, allowing for fines and incarceration of up to 20 years. But this latest move signals a new zenith in the country’s tightening conservative stance.
Thursday’s statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs elucidates that these “Swatch products have been banned as they are detrimental, or possibly detrimental, to morality, the public interest, and national interest.” The statement further clarified that this decision falls under the ambit of the Printing Presses and Publications Act.
This decision comes on the heels of a country-wide crackdown in May when Malaysian authorities stormed Swatch outlets, seizing 172 watches from the brand’s 2023 Pride Collection. The justification? Their hues echoed the colors of the rainbow, which “bore LGBTQ connotations.”
This crackdown drew international attention, leading Swatch CEO, Nick Hayek Jr., to release a poignant statement, championing the brand’s universal message of love and peace. He provocatively questioned, “We wonder how the Malaysian government will confiscate the many beautiful natural rainbows that show up in the skies above Malaysia.”
Amidst this controversy, rights groups highlight an exacerbating atmosphere of intolerance towards the LGBTQ community in Malaysia. They emphasize the state’s hand in promoting such sentiments. Phil Robertson, the Deputy Asia Director of Human Rights Watch, lamented the exploitation of the LGBTQ community as a “political punching bag,” noting the absurdity of potential incarceration over a wristwatch.
Dhia Rezki Rohaizad, vice president of JEJAKA, a gay rights advocacy group, has voiced concerns over the regressive trajectory of gay rights in Malaysia. He cited previous incidents, such as the ban imposed on the British band The 1975 after its lead, Matty Healy, publicly criticized Malaysia’s anti-LGBTQ laws and engaged in an onstage same-sex kiss. This act drew ire from many quarters, including Malaysian gay rights groups who feared it would provide ammunition to the country’s conservative factions.
Dhia Rezki Rohaizad poignantly noted the contradictory trends, where “symbols of pride and acts of solidarity with the LGBTQ community are met with harsh and disproportionate government responses.” He stated, “It’s a disturbing paradox. As more individuals and groups come forward in support of the LGBTQ community, the state’s pushback grows increasingly aggressive.”
Read more here: https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/malaysia-swatch-ban-rainbow-lgbt-watch-intl-hnk/index.html
US Allocates $1.2B for Scheme to Vacuum Greenhouses Gasses from the Sky
US Allocates $1.2B for Scheme to Vacuum Greenhouses Gasses from the Sky
The Biden administration has announced a $1.2 billion investment to develop the nation’s first two large-scale plants aimed at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a technology known as direct air capture. Jennifer Granholm, the energy secretary, confirmed that the two pilot projects would be constructed by Occidental Petroleum in Kleberg County, Texas, and by research organization Battelle in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. While the initiative comes under the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law allocating $3.5 billion for four such plants, the move has attracted skepticism. Former Vice President Al Gore criticized the technology, arguing it provides an excuse for continuous fossil fuel consumption. Despite concerns, the Energy Department states that the two plants will annually eliminate over two million metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, equating to removing half a million gasoline cars off the roads.
Proponents of the direct air capture technology see it as a crucial tool in the battle against the effects of climate change, especially given current levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Michael Gerrard, an environmental law expert from Columbia University, stresses that to meet climate targets, a dual approach is necessary: phasing out fossil fuels and massive carbon dioxide removal. The federal government, recognizing the potential of these projects, offers tax credits for each ton of captured and stored carbon pollution.
However, there are concerns about the viability of these projects. Previous ventures into carbon capture technologies, like the FutureGen initiative backed by the administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama, saw significant investments but ultimately failed to demonstrate commercial-scale viability. Kelly Cummins, from the Energy Department’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, emphasized that lessons from past projects would guide the current initiatives, with a stringent phased approval process in place to ensure feasibility at each step.
Read more here https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/11/climate/carbon-dioxide-direct-capture.html
10 Cited at WMD Demonstration in Bangor, Washington
On August 7, ten activists campaigning for the abolition of nuclear weapons were escorted off a roadway by the State Patrol for blocking the entrance to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, the location with the world’s largest collection of deployed nuclear weapons. This act of civil disobedience was orchestrated by the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action and saw approximately 50 participants, ranging from ages 16 to 80, holding a demonstration at the entrance of the Trident submarine base. The protestors remembered the victims of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 and the post-WWII detonations in the Marshall Islands by displaying banners urging the abolishment of nuclear weapons. Some activists, including Sue Ablao and Carolee Flaten, remained on the road and were subsequently detained by the Washington State Patrol, given citations, and later released. The protest marked the end of a three-day event titled “Save the Planet-Abolish Nuclear Weapons,” backed by organizations like Ground Zero of Poulsbo and Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility.
The recent demonstration at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor underscores the growing momentum and continued dedication of activists against nuclear weaponry. The resilience of participants, some of whom were of advanced age, highlights the depth of passion and commitment in this cause. The three-day event commemorated the 78th anniversary of the first use of nuclear weapons in 1945, while also cautioning against potential future calamities.
Read more here https://www.kitsapdailynews.com/news/10-cited-at-nuclear-demonstration-at-bangor/
