12th Anniversary of the Protests of June of 2013

               Last month, June, happened one of the biggest protests in Brazil history,  this year this protest completed twelve years. The reason why this protest is so much studied with so many publications  and others are not, it was its character totally spontaneous, unexpected, democratic and non-partisan. It were like, if the Brazilian people realized that they deserved a better government for the amount of taxes they pay. They deserve their rights respected and justice when those rights are violated. They deserve a country that has good jobs, development, good infrastructure, good health and education. We all in Brazil watched on TV and internet, millions of protesters went to the streets to protest against corruption, injustice, any kind of violence, bad use of public money, etc. Hundreds of protesters wearing Guy Fawkes mask. Thousands of protesters with posters asking for more investment in education, political inclusion, and governmental transparency and accountability. In my opinion, it was one of the most important and meaningful moments of the Brazilian history and a powerful demonstration of solidarity, empathy, independence, and political commitment of its people. Those protests called by some as "June Revolution," and by others as "June Journeys" must be always remembered. And it is good also to remember what the protesters were asking for and what has changed or haven't changed, after so many years. If you want to read more about those protests, access the posts of this blog during the month of June, I have been doing summaries about these protests since 2017. I've also, since 2020 a YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@lucianofietto4773. Educative/cultural activism for a stronger democracy, a fairer justice, respect for human rights and governmental transparency.  This post is a summary of the article published at https://socialistproject.ca/2013/07/b851/

               The mass movements starting in June 2013 were the largest protests in Brazil in a generation, and they have shaken up the country's political system. Their explosive growth, size and extraordinary reach caught everyone by surprise.  On 6 June, the Free Fare Movement, (MPL)a NGO started a small demonstration demanding the reversal of a recent increase in public transport fares. The MPL returned in larger numbers in the following days, and the police responded with increasing brutality, beating up demonstrators and wounding several journalists. In two weeks, the demonstrations had exploded in size while also spreading across the country. They attracted over one million people in hundreds of cities, and movements were taking place almost every day. In mid-June, the mainstream media changed sides, and started supporting the movement, sponsoring the multiplication and de-radicalization of demands, towards a cacophony focusing on broad citizenship issues and especially, state inefficiency and corruption. From this moment on, the demonstrators became more middle-class in compositio. they include banners about a whole range of issues, among them better public services, spending onthe 2014 World Cup infrastructure, legalization of drugs, compulsory voting, abortion, privatizations, and especially corruption. In common with recent movements elsewhere, the Brazilian demonstrations were largely organized through social media. In late June, the presidency attempted to take the initiative from above with a call for political reform and initiatives to increase spending in public services and improved health provision. While large capital did well economically in the last decade, and even longer, the middle class did not. So-called 'good jobs' are relatively scarce, higher education is no longer a guarantee of 'good' income, and the young find it hard to do better economically than their parents did. The emerging poor want to consume more, larger masses of people want social inclusion, and both want better public services. The middle class would like to benefit from good public services, but they are opposed to paying higher taxes in order to have them. They claim that they pay too much already, that corruption spirits away a large chunk of the government's revenues. At the same time, the press and the middle class completely disregard the fact that nearly half of the federal budget is committed to servicing the domestic public debt, effectively a welfare programme for the rich, and that this dwarfs the cost of social spending and federal transfer programmes. The economic slowdown would necessarily create social and political tensions because of existing dissatisfactions and conflicting aspirations, and the shrinking ability of the state to address them. The space to manage these contradictions has shrunk further in recent months. Inflation, the current deficit and the fiscal deficit are rising, and the currency is falling because of the decline in commodity prices, poor exports, and capital outflows. This has led the Central Bank to raise interest rates and the state-owned enterprises to cut spending and public investment. Dilma's approval in the opinion polls has plummeted. The protest movements in Brazil express deep frustrations and even despair, because it has become impossible to channel discontent through the traditional forms of social representation, which are either tightly controlled by the elite or have been disempowered by reforms.  The need for organization and compromise within the movement and with outside institutions suggest that recomposing the working-class, and overcoming its material fragmentation requires collectivity in practice. The response of the federal government to the movements, after considerable hesitation, was precisely to seek left support, and propose a programme of political reforms and expansion of public service provision which could bring concrete gains. The government must align itself with the workers' organizations, inorder to push through democratic reforms including the break-up of the media monopolies, and improved education, health and public transport services. This was unquestionably the most important movement in Brazil in the last thirty years. The point now, is  to continue to fight to broaden the movement, and attract the middle class, and push for policy changes. If this can be achieved, it would shift the political balance in the country, and it could lead to concrete long-term gains to the workers in Brazil.

30th Anniversary of International I.D.E.A. - Part II

                    There isn't democracy without human rights and there isn't human rights without democracy. Democracy means respect for civil and political rights for all. And when any of those rights were violated for no reason, justice means reparations for the victims. Each time I was a candidate my amount of votes were very below the expectations, and another candidate broke the record of votes. It's historic fact that anybody can't disagree. I'd like to thank everybody that undestand the importance to defend human rights, democracy and justice. Because of you all the worldwide movement for justice, democracy and my political rights is becoming stronger than ever. For the last two decades my life has been a daily struggle for justice, democracy and human rights. I have a YouTube channel, here is the link. https://www.youtube.com/@lucianofietto4773/videos. Since the creation of this channel its visualization counter doesn't work, the same has been happening with the counter of this blog since its creation in 2010. This post is a summary of the speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Maria Malmer Stenergard at the celebration of International I.D.E.A.'s 30th anniversary on 12 June 2025, in Stockholm. https://www.government.se/speeches/2025/06/speech-by-minister-for-foreign-affairs-maria-malmer-stenergard-at-the-celebration-of-international-ideas-30th-anniversary/

                   Sweden has been a proud host country of International IDEA, and its largest donor of core support since IDEA's foundation. We are grateful for the partnership we have with the institute, and for the important work IDEA does for democracy around the world. In the mid-1990s, when IDEA was founded, there was a surge of new democracies around the globe. At the time, there was a widespread will and ambition to create a new, free and democratic world. Ever since, IDEA has played an important role to support and promote that ambition. In the past two decades, we have seen a global democratic decline and the rise of authoritarian leadership. According to the research institute Varieties of Democracy at Gothenburg University, more than 70% of the world's population now live in autocracies. But these numbers must not make us despair. Rather, they should be taken as a call for action, as we need to be more vigilant than ever in our cause to promote, protect and defend democracy. We must remember not to neglect our own democracies. In Sweden, we address democratic challenges daily and continuously review laws policies to strengthen our institutions, ensuring they are fit for the modern world. And beyond our borders our commiment to democracy remains firm. Support to democracy, human rights and the rule of law amounts to around 25% of all Swedish assistance. In light of recent developments in the world, we underline the importance for the E.U. to continue to defend and promote democracy. Democracy is not something that you have, it's something that you do, every day. Democracy is a summary of different verbs: vote, include, protect, respect, listen, engage, innovate. Let me list three ways how can further promote and defend our democracies. First, we need to demonstrate that democracy delivers for people. We know that democratic societies deliver better services and stronger economies than autocracies. It's also important to point out that democracy is not a western concept, and that democracy can take many different shapes and forms. In a world of information overload, we must be better at articulating and communicating the positive benefits of democray. International IDEA provides a platform for us to discuss how to do that more effectively. Second, the link between democracy and peace needs to be made clearer. Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine has again put the spotlight on the interconnectedness of security, democratic values and institutions. Ukraine's unwavering courage and resistance inspire us to stand up for our joint values and principles. Sweden will continue our support to Ukraine's fight for freedom, independence and democracy. Research show us that a more democratic world is a more peaceful world. Third, we need to provide democracy support where it's needed. In a time of budget cuts and rellocation of development aid, supporting actors and institutions that enable stronger democracies remain key. This includes supporting some of the fundamantal pillars of democracy, including free and fair elections. Independent electoral institutions such as the judicial system. A free and independent media climate. A vibrant and pluralistic civil society. Protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms. Recent developments have shown that we can't take our freedom and democracy for granted. The threat to democracy is present in all our countries. We need to fight for it every day, because freedom is not free. I hope that all of us, who share the common belief in the value of democracy for the world and its people, will do what it takes.

         

30th Anniversary of International I.D.E.A.

               A little more than four months ago, precisely on 28th February, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance ( International IDEA) completed 30 years. This organization works to improve democracy worldwide. We all have to fight for a better and more inclusive democracy, because our dignity, our human rights, our justice system depend on our freedom to choose and make our politicians accountable. For the last two decades my life has been a daily struggle for justice, democracy and human rights.   I have a YouTube channel, here is the link. https://www.youtube.com/@lucianofietto4773/videos. Since the creation of this channel its visualization counter doesn't work, the same has been happening with the counter of this blog since its creation in 2010. If you want to know more about this very important Institute you can access its webpage,      https://www.idea.int/     This post is a summary of three articles. The first was published at https://www.idea.int/30years-supporting-democracy. The second was published at https://www.idea.int/news/celebration-stockholm-marks-international-ideas-30th-anniversary. The third was published at https://www.idea.int/news/statement-occasion-30th-anniversary-international-idea

                For 30 years, International Idea has been a leader in providing comparative data and publications, developing capacity to enable democratic reforms, and convening with partners to champion democratic values across the globe. The pursuit of democracy requires unwavering dedication and the collective effort of individuals who believe in the power of their voices. Each initiative we advocate for is a step in our path towards contributing to better and stronger democracies. Together, we can build resilient democratic institutions, foster inclusive participation, and nurture the aspirations of communities everywhere. This anniversary is a testament to our ongoing commitment and a call to action for all who share our vision. "Supporting democratic development around the world is an urgent task. Therefore, I look forward to celebrating International Idea's 30 years of important work with a reception at the Parliament." Said Andreas Norlén, Speaker of the Swedish Parliament. Join us by engaging in our events, exploring our researches, and becoming part of the democratic dialogue. Together, we can continue to make a difference and ensure that the promise of democracy reaches every corner of the world.                                                                                                                                                                                                    On 9-12 June 2025, International Idea's 30th anniversary jubilee brought Member States of the Institute's Council, electoral agencies and partner organizations to celebrate three decades of democracy support and to chart a path forward. Senior officials and leading democracy voices from over 40 countries came together to mark the occasion, which coincided with the Stockholm Conference on Electoral Integrity, an initiative fostering global cooperation on electoral integrity and policy dialogue between electoral management bodies. The 30th anniversary celebration was a week of discussions, strengthened partnerships and commitments from a diverse set of partners to continued work to support, advance and protect democracy worldwide. International IDEA's Council of Member States, consisting of 35 Member States and 2 Observers, met for an extraordinary meeting in honour of the 30th anniversary. In 2025, Switzerland has been at the helm of the Institute's Council, highlighting the links between democracy, inclusion and prosperity as part of its presidency. The meeting concluded on a note with the Council releasing a 30th Anniversary Statement, calling for continued and elevated efforts to protect and strengthen democracy and reiterating its strong and steadfast support to International IDEA, its mandate and its principles expresed in its Statutes.                                                                                         At a time of rapid shifts, the International IDEA calls for continued efforts to protect and strengthen democracy and for coordinate action in support of democratic principles, institutions, values and resilience. Stronger democracies demonstrably lead to a safer and more prosperous world. Strengthening democratic institutions is conducive to promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all, and building effective and accountable institutions. IDEA reaffirms its belief in democracy as essential to realize the aspirations for freedom, equality, dignity, development, justice, peace and security enshrined in the U.D.H.R. Compared to other forms of government, democracies are better equipped to tackle these issues through free and pluralistic discourse, inclusive policies, and built-in-mechanisms for self-correction. In this context, IDEA acknowledge the growing need for international cooperation to protect and improve democracy, and to support effective and collective democratic responses to global challenges. Over the past three decades, International IDEA has become a global intergovernmental leader on democracy research and assistance. The institute has expanded from 14 founding Member States in 1995 to today's 35 Member States. International IDEA has improved electoral institutions, supported constitution-building processes, promoted political rights, and addressed the challenges to democracy posed by digitalization. As we celebrate the 30th anniversary, we reaffirms our commitment to the mission to protect and advance democracy worldwide.

150th Birthday of Thomas Mann

           A little more than one week ago, precisely on 6th of June, the German writer Thoma Mann would complete 150 year-old. Ten years ago I had already done a tribute to him, as you can read on this link https://thepeopleteacher.blogspot.com/2015/06/140th-birthday-of-thomas-mann.html. He was a very active activist for democracy in times of totalitarian regimes in Europe. In fact, he dedicated all his time and cultural production to fight the evils of the dictatorships.  This post is a summary of two articles. The first was published at https://au.news.yahoo.com/magic-mountain-sweeping-critique-totalitarian-190839041.html?guccounter=1guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANez9UOORvejsHfhGjyhMPDVNGF3xMjY6Cu1LLr8SpLUAaXnaQ0q8BKS0fXibodoQNCArpIQ4KILCTVNvriwSbFf0txczeyACTbnUC0pzu9xvp-yLeBFuqCihP12NsJIiz-BA8KdPW2lQJxFJbFl2_-Qp5N9FSHWOTkVpnE_oOwt. The second was published at https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/255/oa_monograph/chapter/3010023

                      Last November, Nobel Prize winner Thomas Mann's Magical Mountain completed 100. One of the 20th century's towering literary achievements, it is a sweeping critique of the dangerous totalitarian political forces that shaped, and almost destroyed, Europe in Mann's lifetime. The novel also reflects Mann's own dramatic public and political evolution. Initially politically reserved, he became an ardent patriot at the outbreak of World War I, only to become disillusioned by the rise of political extremism in postwar Germany. This shift set Mann on a collision course with the Nazis and ultimately led to him fleeing Germany in 1933. There are worrying parallels bewteen 1924, when Mann's magnum opus was published, and 2024, when we're seeing a worldwide resurgence of these same impulses. There is the rise of the far-right in France, Austria and Germany. And then, American president-elect Trump's apparent admiration for authoritarian mode of governance. These forces loom ominously over our own era, threatening the democratic ideals Mann ultimately embraced. On August, 2014, German troops flooded into neutral Belgium, bringing the Britain into the war and shattering the cultural ideals and intellectual suppositions of pre-war Europe. Mann became an intransigent and inflammatory defender of the German cause, writing articles and giving speeches that made him a favorite on the volkish nationalist right. However, everything had changed by 1922. Appalled by the waves of extremist political violence coursing through Germany, Mann was forced to reappraise his beliefs. That year, in an unprecedented move, he wrote and delivered his speech, "On the German Republic. In it, he publicly embraced the principles of its Weimar Republic, distancing himself from the types of authoritarian nationalism. This development, left an indelible mark on "The Magic Mountain".  The book had been transformed from a satirical novel into a sweeping Bildungsroman, focused on moral education and psychological development. It was also an allegory of European civilisation teetering on the abyss, a "world festival of death", as Mann puts it in the novel's final sentence. Specifically, the phrase is a reference to World War I. A century after the novel first appeared, its nuanced discussions of ideological conflict, the danger of extremism and the fragility of civilisation remain, depressingly, as pertinent as ever.                                                                                                                                                                                    After he took up permanent residency in the U.S. in September of 1938, Mann, acquired a new role in the eyes of his audience. For hundreds of thousands of readers who purchased his books, flocked to his lectures, or followed his endeavors by means of the frequently breathless news coverage, Mann became an embodiment of German culture as well as a personal antagonist to the Nazi regime. Through his words and actions, he seemed to personify a cultural tradition now in danger of being irreversibly corrupted or even eradicated by fascism. Writers have served as a thorn in the side of the powerful almost since the beginning of recorded history. He became famous in America not because of his criticism of Hitler nor even because he found powerful words to attack governmental injustice, as his 19th century predecessors Heinrich Heine and Emile Zola had done. His fame instead rested on the quietly dignified aura of culture and tradition with which he surrounded himself and that seemed to emanate from every page that he wrote. The story of Mann's life seems tailor-made to support such an impression. The son of a merchant and senator from the north German town of Lubeck, he had learned from an early age what it means to assume a representative function. It was precisely this studiously cultivated air of dignity that made him a potent actor in an age of totalitarian domination. These two factors that characterize Mann's case, the battle of cultural autonomy against totalitarian dependence and the struggle between international and national sources of literary  esteem, continue to have a clear relevance into the present day. Mann in exile had been extremely active and well understood his importance in fostering international solidarity. Mann spelled out a worldview when he asserted, "The task of affirming that there remains alive a tradition of German culture outside of the sphere of dictatorship doe not belong to us. It is the task of the world to proclaim this, of that world which can't forget the sympathy and gratitude with which it time and again welcomed the questing and creative spirit." By casting Mann into exile and banning his books, the Nazis could advance the claim that German culture and tradition were entirely on their side. This process of systematic exclusion bring us to the effect that translation had on Mann's self-understanding during 1930s and 1940s. During the period from 1938 to 1945, Mann's importance as an interpreter of the current situation in Europe easily outpaced his role as the author of prestigious fiction. Over the course of these years, it was issued 5 new volumes of speeches and essays to balance 5 works of fiction. The essays and speeches sold better. The lecture transcript "The Coming Victory of Democracy," for instance, sold more copies than "Joseph in Egypt, the most acclaimed work that Mann published during his American exile.

What Are the Rights of Victims of Human Rights Violations?

                  Never in the world history a human rights defender was so harmed and bullied, but now all the world is demanding justice. Join us in this worlwide movement for justice, democracy, human rights and my  political rights. This worldwide movement has became so huge, intense and prevalent in the last five years that nobody can deny its existence. We can't let the cowardice and abuse of power prevail.  I have a YouTube channel, here is the link.   https://www.youtube.com/@lucianofietto4773/videos. Since the creation of this channel its visualization counter doesn't work, the same has been happening with the counter of this blog since its creation in 2010. This post is a summary of the article with the title above. It was published at https://seoul.ohchr.org/sites/default/f/2022/04_What%20are%20victims%20rights_formatting_FIN_ENG.pdf

                  From the beginning of the U.N. human rights system instruments have recognized that victims of human rights violations have a right to remedy and redress. Altough earlier human rights concepts focused on the need to punish perpetrators of violations, over time, the focus has shifted to the rights of victims and the obligations of State to victims. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) requires States to ensure that any person whose rights are violated has an effective remedy, even if the violations was committed by person acting in their official capacity. In addition, States must ensure that any person claiming such a remedy can have his or her claim determined by a competent court or other competent authority, and the authorities must enforce any remedies that are granted. Since the ICCPR was adopted in 1966, other more focused human rights treaties have also specifically referred to the rights of victims. In 2005, the General Assembly of the U.N. adopted the "Basic Principle and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law." States are encouraged to consider the Basic Principles as guidelines for domestic laws and policies. Since their adoption, the Basic Principle have become the main international framework for victims' rights. The rights of victims overlap to some degree with the fundamental principles of transitional justice. The relationship between the two is that transitional justice serves to ensure that the rights of victims are respected, protected, and fulfilled, among other aims. Under the Basic Principles, victims can be individual or collective. They may have suffered "physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss or substantial impairment of their fundamental rights". In addition to direct victims, their family members and dependents can also be victims, as well as persons who tried to intervene to help the victim. The Basic Principles set out that all victims of violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law have the right to: 1) Equal and effective access to justice.   2) Adequate, effective and prompt reparations for harm suffered.   3) Access to relevant information concerning violations and reparation mechanisms.  Victims have the right to effective judicial remedies by competent courts without any form of discrimination. States should disseminate relevant information about available remedies, take measures to protect victims and make it easier for them to participate safely in these process, and provide relevant assistance, among other things. Victims are entitled to "adequate, effective and prompt reparations" for violations of their rights. Reparation can be individual or collective. If the State is responsible for the violations, the State should be responsible for reparation. The Basic Principles set out the actions States should take to help ensure reparation, and establish the main forms of reparation: restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition. Compensation should be paid where the violation of rights can be assessed economically. Economic damages apply for physical or mental harm, lost opportunities, such as education and social benefits, lost wages or potential future wages, moral damages, and the costs of dealing with the violation, such as lawyers, doctors, and other services. Rehabilitation means medical and psychological care, and legal and social services. Satisfaction can take many forms, including: a) measures to end ongoing violations, b) verification of facts and disclosure of the truth, c) searching for missing persons or their remains and appropriate treatment of their remains, d) an official declaration or judicial decision restoring the dignity, reputation and rights of victims, e) public apologies including acknowledge the facts and accepting responsibility, f) judicial and administrative sanctions against those who are responsible, g) tributes to victims, h) accurate information about the violations in education materials. Guarantees of non-repetition means that the State must take steps to ensure that violations stop and do not happen again. For example, the State could work to ensure effective civilian control over the military, strengthen its judiciary, change policies to protect lawyers, journalists and human rights defenders, and reform laws that allow violations to happen, among other actions.

World Press Freedom Day - 2025

                     For about two decades I have had this activism for better political education, for more democracy and development, for more respect for human rights and better justice. The freedom of speech and a press free and independent are two pillars of democracy and justice and we all must defend them. We can't tolerate censorship of any kind. But if there is systematic bullying on TV against vulnerable human rights defenders, justice must be demanded.  I have a YouTube channel, here is the link.   https://www.youtube.com/@lucianofietto4773/videos. Since the creation of this channel its visualization counter doesn't work, the same has been happening with the counter of this blog since its creation in 2010.   This post is a summary of two articles. The first was published at https://www.un.org/en/observances/press-freedom-day. The second was published at https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2025/772836/EPRS_ATA(2025)772836_EN.pdf

     The rapid growth and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing journalism, the media, and press freedom in big ways. While the principle of free, independent and pluralistic media remain crucial, AI's impact on information gathering, processing and dissemination is profound, presenting both innovative opportunities and serious challenges. AI can help support freedom of expression by making information easier to access, allowing more people to communicate across the world, and changing how information flows globally. At the same time, AI brings new risks. It can be used to spread false or misleading information, increase online hate speech, and support new types of censorship. Some actors use AI for mass surveillance of journalists and citizens, creating a chilling effect on freedom of expression. Big tech platforms use AI to filter and control what is seen, making them poweful gatekeepers of information. There are growing worries that AI may make global media too similar and push out smaller media outlets. AI can also help media organizations by automating tasks, making them more efficient. Generative AI tools reuse take away income from independent media and give it to tech platforms and AI companies. AI is playing a bigger role in elections, helping with fact-checking and fighting disinformation. It also gives tools to journalists and voters to support informed participation in democracy. But AI also creates risks. It can be used to make fake content, like deepfakes, which can damage trust in democratic systems. Addressing these challenges requires collaboration among goverments, media and civil society. The U.N. Global Digital Compact, says it's important to deal with problems caused by technology while still protecting people's privacy and freedom of expression. World Press Freedom Day 2025 focuses on how AI affects press freedom, the free flow of information, media independence,and the global goal of access to information and protecting freedoms. May 3rd acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics.                                                                                                                                                                              Digital technologies have now taken the world by storm. Newspaper sales continue to plummet, while the number of internet and social media users continue to rise. Internet intermediaries are now the gatekeepers of freedom of expression and information, influencing critically the way we receive. Governments around the world are resorting to internet shutdowns and other measures to silence online speech. Against this backdrop, 3 May remind us that freedom to seek, disseminate and receive information from different perspective on issues of public interest is a public good and vital to building healthy and pluralistic civic space in which democratic institutions and a healthy political debate can flourish. Without free and pluralistic media acting as public watchdog, citizens can't access the information they need to make sound political choice, and accountability is severely impaired. The media also offer citizens analysis of ongoing events, serve as a public forum in which different voices can be heard and interact with, and help citizens to understand an increasingly complex world. 3 May is also a day to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in pursuit of a story, to defend media from attacks on their independence, and to assess the state of media freedom worldwide. The European Commission monitors risks to media freedom in the E.U. Member States in its annual rule of law report. Additionally, since 2014, the Media Pluralism Monitor project, has been publishing reports assessing weaknesses in the E.U. Member States media systems that could hinder media pluralism. The 2024 editions of these reports confirm a negative shift regarding the journalistic profession, owing to an increase in the number of online and offline threats to journalists combined with abusive legal threats. The European Parliament has been an outspoken advocate for freedom of information and the protection of journalists both within and outside the E.U.

Economic Outlook - A Critical Juncture Amid Policy Shifts

                         This book is divided in 3 chapters. The first is an overall analysis of the current economy of the world and the last part of this first chapter, a report about the impact of AI on energy demand. The second chapter is dedicated to the global economic implications of population aging. And the third chapter is a report about an analysis of the migration and refugees policies. Like I've shared on Facebook before, many articles and reports showing the benefits to the place that welcome refugees and migrants. And like I've said many times as a global human rights defender, to seek asylum is a human right enshrined in the U.D.H.R. (Universal Declaration of Human Rights). For about two decades I have had this activism for better political education, for more democracy and development, for more respect for human rights and better justice,  I have a YouTube channel, here is the link.   https://www.youtube.com/@lucianofietto4773/videos. Since the creation of this channel its visualization counter doesn't work, the same has been happening with the counter of this blog since its creation in 2010. Never a human rights defender was so much harmed in so many ways and for so long time. This post is a summary of the book with the title above, published in April 2025   at https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/Issues/2025/04/22/world-economic-outlook-april-2025

                         This April 2025 World Economic Outlook was put together under exceptional circumstances. The U.S. announced multiple waves of tariffs on major trading partners and critical sectors. The global economy is now characterized by a high degree of economic and financial integration. For this reason, we expect that the sharp increase in both tariffs and uncertainty will lead to a significant slowdown in global growth in the near term. These effects are magnified in the presence of modern complex global supply chains. Anticipating such disruptions we have revised down our projection for global trade growth by 1.5% this year, with a slight recovery for 2026. The global economy is a critical juncture. Signs of stabilization were emerging through much of 2024, after a prolonged and challenging period of multidecade highs, followed a gradual bumpy decline towards central bank targets. Labor markets normalized, with unemployment and vacancy rates returning to prepandemic levels. Growth hovered around 3% and global output came close to potential. However, major policy shifts are resetting the global trade system giving rise to uncertainty that is once again testing the resilience of the global economy. Migration and refugee policies have become a critical part of public policy in the context of an anemic growth outlook and growing demographic pressures. In addition to documenting rising legal migration and refugee flows and barriers, the report finds the following: 1) Beyond the better handling of large unexpected displacement shocks, international cooperation can help distribute the short-term costs of hosting refugees more evenly across countries, while alleviating the burden on individual economies. Such initiatives stand to benefit developing economies, which tend to lack fiscal space and absorptive capacity. 2) Improving integration of migrants and refugees to maximize gain for destination economies. A big share of refugees are more often absorbed into the informal economy. strengthening incentives to take up formal work can help these economies reap the benefits of these inflows. Migrants and refugees can generate economic gain that outweigh fiscal costs and even ease fiscal pressures if they are well integrated into the labor force. Refugees frequently struggle to join he labor force or find employment opportunities that fully utilize their skills. The benefits from their contributions are larger, notably in the long term.                                                   Below the GDP growth in 2024, from the highest growth to the smallest growth.  The first column is for countries in the American continent, and the other is for some countries in the rest of the world. As previously forecasted, Guyana had the highest GDP growth of the world last year. The same had happened in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Congratulations to our neighboring country.

GDP growth 2024 in PanAmerican countries                           Rest of the World

Guyana        43.6%                                                                      Ethiopia     8.1%          

Venezuela        5.3%                                                                      India        6.5%

Costa Rica         4.3%                                                               Philippines        5.7%

Paraguay         4.0%                                                                      China      5.0%                                  

Guatemala            3.7%                                                                Indonesia       5.0%

Honduras          3.6%                                                                      Spain        3.2%

Nicaragua         3.6%                                                                   Turkiye      3.2%                                      

Brazil              3.4%                                                                     Poland        2.9%

Peru              3.3%                                                                     Norway        2.1%

Uruguay          3.1%                                                                    Portugal     1.9%

Panama           2.9%                                                                    Ireland       1.2%

U.S.A.           2.8%                                                                         France     1.1%

Chile            2.6%                                                                            U.K.       1.1%

Colombia          1.7%                                                                    Italy       0.7% 

Canada           1.5%                                                                         Japan      0.1%

Mexico            1.5%                                                                       Germany      -0.2%

Bolivia             1.3%                                                                

Argentina            -1.7%                                                           

Ecuador            -2.0%