20.12.2022
Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai Jailed In Lease Violation Case
Lai, who was arrested during a crackdown on the city's pro-democracy movement following widespread protests in 2019, was also fined 2 million Hong Kong dollars ($377,868). His media company, Next Digital, published the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. The publication was forced to close following the arrests of its top executives, editors and journalists last year. Lai's legal team earlier asked the United Nations to investigate his imprisonment and multiple criminal charges as “legal harassment” to punish him for speaking out. The tycoon was previously sentenced to 20 months in jail for his role in unauthorised assemblies. His national security trial, initially scheduled to begin on December 1 was postponed after Hong Kong leader John Lee asked China to effectively block him from hiring a British defence lawyer. If convicted, Lai faces up to life imprisonment. The enactment of the security law has led to the arrests of many prominent democracy activists in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. Freewheeling former British colony almost brought to heel by China's new national security law used to quell street protests, ban foreign lobbying and gut the legislature. Beijing is signaling that this is just the start, outlining more institutional changes to ensure complete control over the city’s governance and eject opponents. Free speech in Hong Kong is now apparently defined by judges at the behest of the police. Credit: Bloomberg Quicktake
Poverty deprives people of adequate education, health care and of life's most basic necessities- safe living conditions (including clean air and clean drinking water) and an adequate food supply. The developed (industrialized) countries today account for roughly 20 percent of the world's population but control about 80 percent of the world's wealth.
Poverty and pollution seem to operate in a vicious cycle that, so far, has been hard to break. Even in the developed nations, the gap between the rich and the poor is evident in their respective social and environmental conditions.
Poverty and pollution seem to operate in a vicious cycle that, so far, has been hard to break. Even in the developed nations, the gap between the rich and the poor is evident in their respective social and environmental conditions.
