Former Jamaican Prime Minister PJ Patterson has urged global leaders at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, to prioritize climate justice as they address the pressing challenges faced by the world’s poorest nations. Patterson’s appeal comes in the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact on Jamaica, which has left hundreds homeless, destroyed critical infrastructure, and severely affected key industries like tourism and agriculture. The Category 5 hurricane, which struck Jamaica’s southwestern coast on October 28, has been linked to 45 deaths and caused an estimated $8.8 billion in damages, equivalent to 41% of Jamaica’s GDP. The World Bank has labeled Melissa as the costliest hurricane in the country’s history.
分类： world
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Life for enslaved Africans in Tobago
From the 17th to the 19th century, Tobago became a battleground for European powers vying for control, with enslaved Africans thrust into the heart of this turmoil. The Courlanders, Dutch, French, and British imported Africans to meet their labor demands, not only for agricultural production but also for military purposes. These enslaved individuals were instrumental in building forts, clearing land, and even fighting in wars that were not their own. Their lives were shaped by the relentless competition among European settlers, who relied on slave labor to establish and defend their settlements. Between 1656 and 1807, thousands of Africans were forcibly brought to Tobago, with the British alone transporting 51 shiploads. Despite their significant contributions, the history of these Africans was often erased with the departure of their European captors. The island’s forts, such as Fort Jacobson and Fort King George, stand as enduring reminders of their forced labor. Enslaved Africans were also tasked with clearing paths, carrying supplies, and supporting their owners in battles, often becoming the first casualties. The lack of records for African casualties underscores the dehumanization they endured. Beyond warfare, they were subjected to harsh plantation labor, producing sugar, cotton, and dyes under oppressive conditions. Despite their exploitation, some Africans were trained as gunner assistants and even formed part of the Tobago Black Corps, a militia unit. Their multifaceted roles highlight the brutal realities of colonialism and the resilience of those who endured it.
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Lutchmedial: FAA warning on flights over Venezuela airspace, a pre-caution
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a precautionary advisory to US airlines regarding potential risks when flying over Venezuela, citing a ‘worsening security situation and heightened military activity.’ The notice, released on November 21, requires airlines to provide 72 hours’ advance notice of planned flights but does not impose a complete ban on overflights. Ramesh Lutchmedial, former director general of civil aviation and a Newsday columnist, emphasized that this measure is a standard precaution in conflict-prone areas and does not signal imminent military action. He highlighted that the FAA’s advanced aerial navigation and intelligence systems enable it to assess such risks effectively. Lutchmedial also noted that US airlines are permitted to transit Venezuelan airspace under the International Air Transit Agreement (IATA), which includes over 170 signatory nations, including the US, Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago (TT). He cited examples of no-fly zones in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Syria, where hostilities have led to similar restrictions. Lutchmedial stressed that the advisory is a routine safety measure, allowing the FAA to evaluate flight paths and advise airlines accordingly. Should the situation escalate, designated no-fly zones could be established. The FAA’s notice comes amid ongoing US-Venezuela tensions in the southern Caribbean, marked by recent US military strikes targeting suspected narco-traffickers and the deployment of naval assets, including the USS Gerald R Ford strike group. Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has supported the US anti-narcotics efforts but assured that TT would not serve as a launchpad for any attack on Venezuela.
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Israel kills at least 28 Palestinians in wave of Gaza ‘ceasefire’ attacks
In a significant escalation of violence, at least 28 Palestinians have been killed in a series of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera. This marks one of the most severe breaches of the US-brokered ceasefire that took effect last month. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reported that 77 others were wounded in the bombardment, with the toll expected to rise. The strikes targeted key areas, including southern Gaza’s al-Mawasi region, a junction in eastern Gaza City’s Shujayea district, and a building in the Zeitoun neighborhood, where an entire family was among the victims. Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud described the attacks as intensifying panic across Gaza, where daily horrors persist despite the ceasefire. Israel justified the strikes as a response to alleged fire on its troops in Khan Younis, a claim Hamas dismissed as a pretext for further violence. The Palestinian group accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to resume a ‘genocide’ against Palestinians. Meanwhile, tensions flared in Lebanon following Israeli bombings of a Palestinian refugee camp, killing over a dozen people. The violence coincides with the UN Security Council’s recent resolution endorsing a US-backed peace plan for Gaza, which Hamas and other Palestinian factions have rejected, calling it a threat to Palestinian self-determination. Critics argue that Israel’s repeated violations of the ceasefire—totaling at least 393 incidents since October 10—undermine international efforts for peace. Khaled Elgindy of the Quincy Institute warned that without US enforcement, the ceasefire risks becoming a facade for continued war.
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Hunger and war: The oldest crime the world still permits
A recent UN report has unveiled a grim reality: the world’s most powerful nations have grown indifferent to human suffering, prioritizing military expenditures over addressing global hunger. The World Food Programme estimates that ending hunger by 2030 would require just $93 billion annually—less than 1% of the $21.9 trillion spent on militaries over the past decade. Yet, hunger continues to escalate, with 318 million people projected to face crisis-level hunger by 2026, double the figure from 2019. While wealthy nations enjoy food security, regions like Gaza, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Haiti bear the brunt of conflict-driven famine. In Gaza, despite ceasefire talks, children starve amidst Israeli blockades and bombardment. Sudan and Congo face catastrophic food shortages due to violence and displacement, while Haiti’s hunger crisis is exacerbated by gang dominance and political instability. Latin America and the Caribbean offer a glimmer of hope, with hunger declining for the second consecutive year in 2023, thanks to economic recovery and social programs. However, climate change poses a growing threat, with extreme weather events exacerbating food insecurity. The war in Ukraine has underscored the interconnectedness of global food systems, as stalled grain exports triggered price spikes and social unrest worldwide. UN agencies like the World Food Programme and the UN Human Rights Office work tirelessly to address these crises, but chronic underfunding and political inaction hinder their efforts. The UN Security Council’s failure to treat hunger as a geopolitical threat highlights the lack of political will to allocate resources effectively. Ending hunger is not just a moral imperative but a prerequisite for global peace and security. As UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed warned, “there can be neither peace where people are starving, nor security where hunger drives conflict.” This stark reminder demands urgent action from the international community.
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Israel arrests dozens of Palestinians after raids in the West Bank
In a series of coordinated operations across the West Bank, Israeli forces have arrested 55 individuals in Beit Ummar, located in the southern Hebron Governorate, alongside nine arrests in Nablus and one in Tulkarm. Concurrently, a military checkpoint was established in the village of Al-Mughayyir, where soldiers conducted extensive vehicle searches, leading to significant traffic disruptions. These actions come amid a surge in violent incidents involving Jewish settlers targeting Palestinian communities, exacerbating existing tensions in the region. Palestinian sources report that extremist settlers carried out 766 attacks against Palestinians in October alone. The situation further intensified yesterday when Israeli forces killed two young men in Kafr Aqab, a town north of occupied East Jerusalem. According to the NGO Defense for Children Palestine, over fifty Palestinian children have lost their lives due to Israeli fire since the start of the year, highlighting the escalating humanitarian crisis in the territory.
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Demonstration in Bologna against Israeli crimes in Gaza
The historic Piazza Maggiore in Bologna, the capital of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, became the epicenter of a fervent protest in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Demonstrators, armed with Palestinian flags and impassioned slogans, marched through the city streets, as reported by Il Fatto Quotidiano. The protest, fueled by outrage over the ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza—which have reportedly claimed over 67,000 Palestinian lives—quickly escalated into violent confrontations with law enforcement. Police deployed water cannons and charged at the protesters, who retaliated by hurling firecrackers, stones, and bottles. The streets between Via Lame, Via Marconi, Ugo Bassi, and Piazza Malpighi transformed into chaotic battlegrounds, with makeshift barricades intensifying the conflict. The clashes left eight police officers injured and 15 demonstrators under investigation. Meanwhile, the city center remained tense late into the night, with a heavy police presence working to restore order and prevent further escalation. The protest coincided with a scheduled Euroleague basketball game at the Paladozza sports center, where authorities had stationed a significant police force to block demonstrators from reaching the venue.
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Who is paying attention to COP30? Fossil fuel on fire!
The 30th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP 30) concluded on Friday, November 21, 2025, in Belém, Brazil, after two weeks of intense negotiations. The event brought together global leaders, youth representatives, academics, and activists to address the escalating crisis of climate change. Despite three decades of discussions, the world continues to grapple with the devastating impacts of a warming planet, including intensified hurricanes and environmental degradation. Two primary strategies—mitigation and adaptation—remain central to the climate response. Mitigation focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while adaptation involves implementing policies to cope with climate impacts. However, progress on both fronts has been limited, particularly in curbing emissions. At COP 30, 83 nations, including many Caribbean island states, called for an end to fossil fuel use. This demand, however, faced resistance from countries with strong fossil fuel economies, such as Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. The draft agreement, titled ‘Global Mutirão: Uniting humanity in a global mobilisation against climate change,’ notably omitted any reference to transitioning away from fossil fuels, a key outcome of COP 28. As negotiations extended into overtime, tensions flared over the inclusion of fossil fuel language in the final text. Small island nations, while advocating for stronger climate action, appeared willing to compromise for increased financial support to adapt to climate impacts. The final outcome of COP 30 remains uncertain, but the urgency of the climate crisis underscores the need for decisive global action.
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Gita Nicholas Focuses on Just Transition At CoP 30, Brazil
At the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, Antigua and Barbuda is taking a leading role in advocating for a Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP) that addresses the unique challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Represented by Gita Nicholas, Technical Officer at the Department of Environment, the nation is emphasizing the need to place people at the center of climate action while ensuring equitable access to finance, technology, and resources. The JTWP serves as a collaborative framework for countries to develop low-emission, climate-resilient pathways that protect workers, frontline communities, and vulnerable populations. For Antigua and Barbuda, this initiative is critical to mitigating the severe impacts of climate change, including rising temperatures, intensifying storms, and economic vulnerabilities tied to fossil fuel dependence. Nicholas highlights the importance of integrating traditional knowledge into adaptation strategies and securing institutional support to accelerate a fair and effective transition. At COP30, the nation is pushing for the operationalization of the JTWP through clear mechanisms that foster capacity-building, resource access, and global equity. These efforts aim to deliver tangible outcomes such as enhanced community resilience, clean energy access, and a more sustainable future for SIDS on the frontlines of climate change.
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Barbados Implementation Modalities (BIM) are mobilised
The Barbados Implementation Modalities (BIM) have been officially finalized and operationalized during the 7th Meeting of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) in Manila, Philippines. This milestone marks a significant step in addressing the financial and operational challenges posed by climate-induced loss and damage. The BIM, initially launched at the FRLD’s Fifth Board Meeting in Barbados earlier this year, establishes the foundational framework for financing, operations, and disbursement processes in the fund’s first phase.
Senator Elizabeth Thompson, Barbados’ Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for Climate Change, Small Island Developing States, and Law of the Sea, praised the board members for their unwavering commitment to the cause. She emphasized the collective effort that brought the BIM to fruition, stating, “Today is your day, and I thank you.”
Ambassador Thompson highlighted the profound impact of climate-induced loss and damage on vulnerable regions, where lives, livelihoods, and economies are pushed to the brink of disaster. She underscored the urgency of scaling up the fund to match the severity of damage caused by extreme weather events, citing the “apocalyptic” devastation of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica as a stark example.
While celebrating this milestone, Thompson reminded attendees of the ongoing struggles faced by frontline countries battling climate change. She called for sustained efforts to transform and improve lives, emphasizing that the suffering of these nations is not of their own making. The operationalization of the BIM represents a critical step toward addressing these challenges and fostering global resilience.