communities

Truth commission in Cyprus is crucial to reconciliation

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Truth commission in Cyprus is crucial to reconciliation

Achilleas Demetriades, a human rights lawyer and former presidential candidate in Cyprus, proposed converting the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) into a truth commission during a meeting in the UK parliament. His proposal aims to enable the CMP to investigate the circumstances and cause of death of missing persons, beyond its current function of locating and disinterring missing individuals. Demetriades suggests amending the CMP’s terms of reference to allow investigations into how 1,510 Greek Cypriots and 492 Turkish Cypriots disappeared. He argues for statutory immunity from prosecution for those providing information to the commission, noting that current guarantees might not suffice for the broader scope of a truth commission. Transitional justice processes like truth commissions, exemplified by South Africa’s Truth Commission established in 1995, are highlighted as effective in overcoming conflict and promoting reconciliation. The article also mentions the UN secretary-general’s personal envoy to Cyprus, Maria Holguin, and the potential for establishing a truth commission in Cyprus, with support from the UN high commissioner for human rights, Michelle Bachelet, emphasizing the importance of truth for reconciliation and preventing the repetition of conflicts.

Tragic tale of Cyprus turtle

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Tragic tale of Cyprus turtle

The beaches of north Cyprus have the second worst microplastic pollution in the world. The majority of turtles born in Cyprus are female due to the sex of a turtle being determined by the warmth of its nest, with warmer beaches resulting in fewer males being hatched. Climate change has increased sea temperatures, exacerbating this issue, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean where seas are warming 20% more quickly than the global average. Conservation efforts include shading or relocating nests and incubating eggs in controlled conditions to balance the sex ratio. Microplastics raise the temperature of the sand, negatively affecting turtle hatchlings, and larger plastics pose ingestion and entanglement risks to sea creatures. Research suggests that roughly one in 10,000 turtles survive to maturity. Jessica Mills, an executive at Intrepid Travel and author, has written a children’s book to raise awareness about marine pollution and the importance of protecting sea turtles. The book, “Wendy Wanderlust Wakes Up in Cape Greco,” has sold internationally and part of its proceeds go towards turtle conservation efforts in Cyprus.

Water carbon tax to be around one cent per 1,000 litres

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Water carbon tax to be around one cent per 1,000 litres

A carbon tax of one cent per cubic meter on water is to be implemented as part of green taxes, announced by the Nicosia Water board in conjunction with World Water Day. This tax is aimed at reflecting the environmental cost of water use and its scarcity. The Cyprus Recovery and Resilience Plan, introduced three years prior, included provisions for this tax but did not specify an amount. The plan highlights the need for reforms due to the energy-intensive and polluting nature of desalination plants, which Cyprus relies on for its drinking water supply. These plants contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and are powered by fossil fuels. The government is urged to require desalination plant operators to reduce reliance on conventional energy and switch to renewable sources. The announcement also touched on the importance of transboundary water cooperation for peace and sustainable development, noting that only 24 of the 153 countries with shared waters have comprehensive cooperative agreements. It mentioned the potential for a bi-communal agreement in Cyprus to provide drinking water across the ceasefire line as a confidence-building measure. Additionally, concerns about drought following a mild winter in 2023-2024 were raised, with actions being taken to increase water storage capacity. Current reservoir levels are at 69% capacity, with inflow this season at approximately 20 million cubic meters, compared to 48 million cubic meters in the winter of 2022-2023 and 154 million cubic meters the previous winter.

Sewerage board merger welcomed

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Sewerage board merger welcomed

Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou announced the merger of the Dali and Pera Chorio-Nisou sewerage boards with the main one in Nicosia, effective from July 1. This merger is part of local government reform and is expected to benefit the new municipality of South Nicosia-Dali, which includes Dali, Pera Chorio, Nisou, Alambra, Lympia, and Potamia. The merger aims to improve the quality of service for residents by implementing the European Directive for the treatment of urban wastewater, ensuring necessary sewerage network extensions to meet environmental and public health objectives.

Uniting cultures through dance

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Uniting cultures through dance

Music, song, and dance are significant in uniting people across different cultures. In Cyprus and China, local initiatives are actively preserving traditional dance as part of modern life. Yanggyi, a 25-year-old kindergarten teacher and passionate Tibetan dancer from Chengdu, China, formed a dance group in 2021 to promote Guozhuang, a traditional Tibetan dance. The group has become popular, amassing 420,000 social media followers. Guozhuang dance, characterized by its circle formation and symbolic movements, is a community and social cohesion symbol. In Cyprus, the Ayioi Omologites Cultural Centre, active since 1999, focuses on teaching and preserving traditional Cypriot dancing among all age groups. Research conducted in the 1980s by Alecos Iacovides documented specific characteristics of Cyprus traditional dancing. Both initiatives highlight the importance of respecting and preserving cultural traditions to foster a sense of belonging and community. Mirror of Culture is a joint initiative by the Cyprus Mail and the Chinese embassy, aiming to promote cultural understanding and preservation between Cypriot and Chinese cultures.

Youth and climate advocacy: opportunities and action!

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Youth and climate advocacy: opportunities and action!

Climate change significantly impacts the world’s youth, affecting their health, education, and economic opportunities. A 2018 poll by the Cyprus Institute of Statisticians revealed that 63.2% of young people aged 18 to 35 intend to abstain from general elections in Cyprus, indicating a lack of interest in participating in decision-making. Challenges for youth involvement in climate activism include lack of time, social and political suppression, lack of supportive structures, and lack of representation. However, opportunities exist through grassroots movements, social media campaigns, and collective action. The EU promotes youth participation in climate initiatives. Friends of the Earth Cyprus aims to involve youth in climate activism through European-funded projects like GreenViDialogue and Embrace the World project.

Akamas road works moving forward

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Akamas road works moving forward

The Akamas National Forest Park road projects will restart in April, as announced by Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou. The projects aim to prioritize environmental preservation. This decision was made during a cabinet meeting. The government plans to balance development with environmental conservation in the park, ensuring minimal environmental impact and visitor safety while adhering to legal requirements. A project team will be established for environmental and technical monitoring, and a steering committee will be appointed for decision-making. Consultations with NGOs and local communities will be part of the process.

New buses for Kormakitis, Karpasia

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New buses for Kormakitis, Karpasia

The Council of Ministers approved the purchase of two new buses to serve the transportation needs of the communities in Rizokarpaso, Kormakitis, and Karpasia. This decision was made in response to a request highlighting the urgent need for new buses in these areas. The buses, with seating capacities of 30 for Kormakitis and Karpasia and 50 for Rizokarpaso, are expected to be operational within the next 18-20 months. They aim to facilitate access to hospitals and meet other transportation needs of internally displaced persons. The acquisition was prompted by the unsustainable maintenance and repair costs of the existing fleet.