VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

French climate activists want candidates running in next month's presidential elections to pay more attention to the planet. (Photo: AFP/Alain Jocard) - 

Tens of thousands of people protested across France on Saturday (Mar 12) to call for more attention to the climate crisis in the runup to presidential polls next month.

"Look up", read one message in giant orange letters demonstrators held up in Paris, urging politicians to make protecting the planet a priority.

The sign was a nod to Netflix hit Don't Look Up, in which astronomers who discover a comet will wipe out the earth try in vain to get politicians to take the threat seriously.

"When are we going to talk about it?" read another sign.

The climate crisis took up only 1.5 per cent of talking points in media coverage of the election campaign from Feb 28 to Mar 6, a recent survey by climate justice non-governmental organisations has found.

Organisers said 80,000 protesters took part across the country, including 32,000 people in Paris. The interior ministry however said just around 40,000 demonstrated, of whom 11,000 in the capital.

In the northern city of Lille, Lydie Lampin Bernand described the climate crisis as "worse than critical".

"I'm only 34 years old, and even I've seen the planet slapped in the face with a shovel," she said.

"We have to protect the land we'll leave to our children," she added, but politicians had not so far shown they were up to tackling the challenge//CNA

A demonstrator holds a British flag during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at Parliament Square in London, Britain, Mar 6, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Henry Nicholls) - 

Britain will pay people to open their homes to Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion as the government moves to deflect anger over its response to the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.

The new scheme called "Homes for Ukraine" will let refugees from the war come to Britain even if they do not have family ties, the government said on Sunday (Mar 13).

Britain will pay people £350 pounds (US$456) a month if they can offer refugees a spare room or property for a minimum period of six months.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has sought to portray Britain as helping lead the global response to the Russian invasion - which Moscow calls a "special operation" - but his government has faced criticism over delays in accepting refugees.

Lawmakers from all the main political parties have attacked the government's insistence that Ukrainians seek visas and biometric tests before arriving in Britain, saying this prioritised bureaucracy over the welfare of those fleeing war.

Under the new scheme, members of the public, charities, businesses and community groups should be able to offer accommodation via a web page by the end of next week, the government said.

"The UK stands behind Ukraine in their darkest hour and the British public understand the need to get as many people to safety as quickly as we can," Michael Gove, the minister for housing, said in a statement.

"I urge people across the country to join the national effort and offer support to our Ukrainian friends. Together we can give a safe home to those who so desperately need it."

Anyone offering a room or home will have to show that the accommodation meets standards and they may have to undergo criminal record checks.

The number of refugees fleeing Ukraine could rise to more than 4 million, double the current estimates of about 2 million, the UN's Refugee Agency said last week//CNA

FILE PHOTO: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves Downing Street in London, Britain March 9, 2022. REUTERS/Hannah McKay - 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will host leaders from countries along Russia's northwestern flank next week to discuss ways they can respond to President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, including finding new ways to isolate Russia's economy.

The leaders from countries in the Joint Expeditionary Force, a British-led grouping made up of Denmark, Estonia, Finland and Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden will meet for talks in London on Tuesday.

The leaders are expected to agree to more military exercises in the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea and will discuss the war in Ukraine and energy security, Johnson's office said.

"European security has been shaken by the attack of Russia on Ukraine, and alongside our partners, we will take action to ensure we emerge stronger and more united than before," Johnson said in a statement.

"Ensuring we are resilient to Putin's threats needs to go beyond our military footing - together alongside our North and Baltic Sea partners we must ensure we are insulated from Russia's interference and impact on our energy supplies, economy and values."

Britain has imposed sanctions on hundreds of Russian individuals and entities, promised to phase out Russian oil imports and banned Russian companies from raising debt and equity in its financial centre//CNA

Deputy Minister of Environment and Forestry, Alue Dohong, participated in a coastal clean-up activity in Teluknaga sub-district, Tangerang district, Banten province, on Saturday (March 12, 2022). (ANTARA/Azmi Samsul Maarif/uyu) - 

Deputy Minister of Environment and Forestry Alue Dohong said a solid marine debris handling and reduction activity held as part of a series of events for commemorating Forester Service Day must become a regular program.

He joined a coastal clean-up activity at Teluknaga Sub-district, Tangerang District, Banten Province, to commemorate the day.

The activity was conducted simultaneously at other six locations across Indonesia.

The deputy minister said that the national solid marine debris reduction movement must be carried out in collaboration with local governments, the private sector, and the community.

The Indonesian Government has taken various strategic steps to reduce marine debris by 30 percent and handle 70 percent of it by 2025, he added.

"We have been monitoring the amounts of marine debris in Indonesia since 2017. In 2021, it was found that 40 percent of waste found at beaches was plastic waste. Hence, the matter must be immediately addressed by all parties," he urged.

The national coastal-clean up activity is a part of the government’s concrete strategies for responding to the new challenge of maintaining marine ecosystems amid acute plastic and microplastic waste pollution, he said.

"The marine debris handling movement is also being carried out globally since the matter has become a global problem," he added.

Dohong informed that plastic waste is the most common waste found in the waters. The weight of plastic waste found in waters reaches around 1,432 gram/square meter (gr/m2) — or 44 percent of the total waste — and totaling 162.17 pieces/square meter (pcs/m2).

Meanwhile, glass and ceramic waste is the next highest in terms of volume, weighing up to 498.98 gr/m2 -- or 15 percent of the total waste — and totaling 55.78 pcs/m2.

"Plastic bags and fast-food containers were the most commonly found trash in 2021," the deputy minister added//ANT