Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at a Press Encounter on the UN80 Initiative
Credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe
UNITED NATIONS, Mar 12 2025 (IPS) – Our world is facing challenges on every front. Since the United Nations reflects that world in all its aspects, we feel it in all our work.
These are times of intense uncertainty and unpredictability.
And yet certain truths have [never] been more clear: The United Nations has never been more needed. Our values have never been more relevant. And the needs have never been greater.
At the same time, we know the more the UN does together to address big challenges around the world, the less the burden on individual countries to do it alone.
The United Nations stands out as the essential one-of-a-kind meeting ground to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights.
But resources are shrinking across the board – and they have been for a long time. For example, for at least the past seven years, the United Nations has faced a liquidity crisis because not all Member States pay in full, and many also do not pay on time.
From day one of my mandate, we embarked on an ambitious reform agenda to strengthen how we work and deliver.
To be more effective and cost-effective. To simplify procedures and decentralize decisions. To enhance transparency and accountability. To shift capacities to areas such as data and digital.
And, significantly, the Pact for the Future and UN 2.0 are exactly about updating the UN for the 21st century.
These efforts are not ends in themselves. They are about better serving people whose very lives depend on us.
They are about hardworking taxpayers around the world who underwrite everything we do. And they are about ensuring the right conditions for everyone serving under the UN flag as they undertake their critical work.
For all these reasons, it is essential that an organizational system as complex and crucial as the United Nations – subjects itself to rigorous and regular scrutiny to assess its fitness for purpose in carrying out its goals efficiently.
And this 80th anniversary year of the United Nations is a prime moment to expand all our efforts, recognizing the need for even greater urgency and ambition.
That is why I have informed yesterday UN Member States that I am officially launching what we call the UN80 Initiative.
I have appointed a dedicated internal Task Force led by Under-Secretary-General Guy Ryder – and composed of principals representing the entire UN system.
The objective will be to present to Member States proposals in three areas:
First, rapidly identifying efficiencies and improvements in the way we work.
Second, thoroughly reviewing the implementation of all mandates given to us by Member States, which have significantly increased in recent years.
Third, a strategic review of deeper, more structural changes and programme realignment in the UN System.
Under the leadership of the President of the General Assembly, I will consult closely and regularly with all Member States on the progress made, seeking guidance on the way forward and presenting concrete decisions for discussion and decision-making when appropriate.
My objective is to move as soon as possible in areas where I have the authority – and to urge Member States to consider the many decisions that rest with them.
This goes far beyond the technical. Budgets at the United Nations are not just numbers on a balance sheet – they are a matter of life and death for millions around the world.
We must ensure value for money while advancing shared values.
The need is great and the goal is clear: an even stronger and more effective United Nations that delivers for people and is tuned to the 21st century.
Prof Daniel D. Bradlow is Professor/Senior Research Fellow, Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria.
The G20 Johannesburg Summit will be the twentieth meeting of the Group of Twenty (G20), a meeting of heads of state and government scheduled to take place from 22 to 23 November 2025. It will be the first G20 summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa and on the African continent.
The most powerful state in the world, the US, seems intent on undermining the existing order that it created and on demonstrating its power over weaker nations. Other influential countries are turning inward.
These developments raise concerns about how well mechanisms for global cooperation, such as the G20, can continue to operate, particularly those that work on the basis of consensual decision making.
What’s the G20’s purpose?
The G20 is a forum in which the largest economies in the world meet regularly to discuss, and attempt to address, the most urgent international economic and political challenges. The group, which includes both rich and developing countries, accounts for about 67% of the world’s population, 85% of global GDP, and 75% of global trade.
The G20, in fact, is a misnomer. The actual number of G20 participants in any given year far exceeds the 19 states and 2 international entities (the European Union and the African Union) that are its permanent members.
Each year they are joined by a number of invited “guests”. While there are some countries, for example Spain and the Netherlands, that are considered “permanent” G20 guests, the full list of guests is determined by the chair of the G20 for that year.
This year, South Africa has invited 13 countries, including Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. They are joined by 24 invited international organisations such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the United Nations and eight African regional organisations, among others.
The G20 should be understood as a process rather than a set of discrete events. Its apex is the annual leaders’ summit at which the participating heads of state and government seek to agree on a communiqué setting out their agreements on key issues. These agreements are non-binding and each of the participating states usually will implement most but not all the agreed points.
The communiqué is the outcome of a two track process: a finance track, consisting of representatives of the finance ministries and central banks in the participating counties, and a “sherpa” track that deals with more political issues. In total these two tracks will involve over 100 meetings of technical level.
Most of the work in each track is done by working groups. The finance track has seven working groups dealing with issues ranging from the global economy and international financial governance to financial inclusion and the financing of infrastructure. The sherpa track has 15 working groups dealing with issues ranging from development and agriculture to health, the digital economy, and education.
The agenda for the working group meetings is based on issues notes prepared by the G20 presidency. The issues notes will discuss both unfinished business from prior years and any new issues that the president adds to the G20 agenda.
The working group chairs report on the outcomes of these meetings to the ministerial meetings in their track. These reports will first be discussed in meetings of the deputies to the ministers. The deputies will seek to narrow areas of disagreement and sharpen the issues for discussion so that when they are presented at the ministerial meeting the chances of reaching agreement are maximised.
The agreements reached at each of these ministerial meetings, assuming all participants agree, will be expressed in a carefully negotiated and drafted communiqué. If the participants cannot agree, the minister chairing the meeting will provide a chair’s summary of the meeting.
These documents will then inform the communiqué that will be released at the end of the G20 summit. This final communiqué represents the formal joint decision of the participating heads of state and government.
The G20 process is supplemented by the work of 13 engagement groups representing, for example, business, labour, youth, think tanks, women and civil society in the G20 countries. These groups look for ways to influence the outcomes of the G20 process.
What is the G20 troika and how does it operate?
The G20 does not have a permanent secretariat. Instead, the G20 president is responsible for organising and chairing the more than 100 meetings that take place during the year. The G20 has decided that this burden should be supported by a “troika”, consisting of the past, present and future presidents of the G20. This year the troika consists of Brazil, the past chair; South Africa, the current chair; and the US, the future chair.
The role of the troika varies depending on the identity of the current chair and how assertive it wishes to be in driving the G20 process. It will also be influenced by how active the other two members of the troika wish to be.
The troika helps ensure some continuity from one G20 year to another. This is important because there is a significant carryover of issues on the G20 agenda from one year to the next. The troika therefore creates the potential for the G20 president to focus on the issues of most interest to it over a three-year period rather than just for one year.
The G20 was first brought together during the Asian financial crisis in the 1990s. At that time, it was limited to a forum in which ministers of finance and central bank governors could meet to discuss the most important international economic and financial issues, such as the Asian financial crisis.
The G20 was elevated to the level of heads of state and government at the time of the 2008 global financial crisis.
The G20 tends to work well as a cooperative forum when the world is confronting an economic crisis. Thus, the G20 was a critical forum in which countries could discuss and agree on coordinating actions to deal with the global financial crisis in 2008-9.
It has performed less well when confronted with other types of crises. For example, it was found wanting in dealing with the COVID pandemic.
It has also proven to be less effective, although not necessarily totally ineffective, when there is no crisis. So, for example, the G20 has been useful in helping address relatively technical issues such as developing international standards on particular financial regulatory issues or improving the functioning of multilateral development banks.
On other more political issues, for example climate, food security, and funding the UN’s sustainable development goals, it has been less effective.
There’s one less obvious, but nevertheless important, benefit. The G20 offers officials from participating countries the chance to interact with their counterparts from other G20 countries. As a result, they come to know and understand each other better, which helps foster cooperation between states on issues of common interest.
It also ensures that when appropriate, these officials know whom to contact in other countries and this may help mitigate the risk of misunderstanding and conflict.
These crisis management and other benefits would be lost if the G20 were to stop functioning. And there is currently no alternative to the G20 in the sense of a forum where the leading states in the world, which may differ on many important issues, can meet on a relatively informal basis to discuss issues of mutual interest.
Importantly, the withdrawal of one G20 state, even the most powerful, should not prevent the remaining participants from using the G20 to promote international cooperation on key global challenges.
In this way it can help manage the risk of conflict in a complex global environment.
With a severe rainfall and snow deficit, some residents of Kashmir, an area known for its snow-capped mountains, lush valleys, and pristine lakes, are looking to the heavens for answers as little assistance seems to be coming from the authorities as their livelihoods dry up.
Experts warn that a decline in precipitation in Kashmir will severely impact the region’s water resources. This could reduce river flows, which are essential for irrigation, hydropower, and drinking water supply downstream. Credit: Umar Manzoor Shah/IPS
SRINAGAR, India, Mar 4 2025 (IPS) – The picturesque Kashmir Valley is battling nature’s fury. This time of year, its majestic mountains would typically be capped with thick snow, and its emerald streams would gush with fresh waters. However, none of these scenes are visible this year.
In the first 50 days of 2025, Kashmir witnessed a rainfall deficit of 83 percent. Data from the government’s meteorological department, accessed by Inter Press Service (IPS News), reveals that from January 1 to February 19, 2025, Kashmir recorded only 29.8 mm of rainfall against the normal precipitation of 175.8 mm—just 17 percent of the usual amount.
The mountainous region of Kargil in Ladakh recorded zero precipitation in 2025, marking a shocking 100 percent deficit compared to the normal rainfall of 18.5 mm.
Kathua, a frontier district bordering Pakistan, witnessed a deficit of 98 percent, with only 3.6 mm of rainfall recorded against the normal of 152.4 mm.
Srinagar, the region’s capital, recorded an 85 percent rainfall deficit in the same period.
Streams and Rivers are Drying up
The Jhelum River, considered the lifeline of Kashmir for water supplies, continues to witness receding water levels. Its level has dropped to -1.01 feet, below the Reduced Level (RL) of zero on the gauge. Credit: Umar Manzoor Shah/IPS
Then and now: Achabal, a 16th-century Mughal garden. Composite: IPS
Rainfall deficit. Credit: Umar Manzoor Shah/IPS
Achabal, a 16th-century Mughal garden, is known for its gushing water stream that flows through its center, providing scenic beauty to the park nestled among majestic Chinar trees. This stream is a vital water source for about 20 adjoining hamlets. For the first time in centuries, the stream has dried up. The fountains are now rusty iron relics from the Middle Ages, and the park presents a frightening sight for residents. Terrified locals have gathered near the stream—some reciting verses from the Quran, others cursing themselves for what they believe are sins that caused the centuries-old stream to dry up.
Renowned earth scientist Professor Shakeel Romshoo told IPS that climate change is the reason for the ongoing crisis.
“The mountains from which the springs emerge and flow down to the habitations are hollow. Snow is the primary source of water for them. Over the past six years, Kashmir has seen little to no snowfall, and what we are witnessing today is the outcome of that snowlessness,” Romshoo explains.
He added that the Kashmir Valley has experienced a significant decline in snowfall, particularly during the peak winter season, leading to the current alarming situation.
“Snowfall is a major source of water for Kashmir’s population. With the pervasive lack of snow, rivers, tributaries, and streams are drying up. These conditions could severely impact the tourism sector, horticulture, and food security systems in Kashmir, with far-reaching economic implications,” Romshoo says.
The Jhelum River, considered the lifeline of Kashmir for water supplies, continues to witness receding water levels. Its level has dropped to -1.01 feet, below the Reduced Level (RL) of zero on the gauge.
A top government official responsible for supplying potable water to Kashmir’s inhabitants told IPS that the persistent rainfall deficit has affected the recharging of water reservoirs across the valley. He stated that the department is in a situation where it cannot guarantee sufficient drinking water for the people of Kashmir in the coming months.
Gulmarg, a northern ski resort known for its world-famous slopes and enchanting snow-covered hills during winter, was dry and barren, with no traces of snow—a first-time scenario for locals. A small amount of snow has since fallen, but far below the usual expectations. Credit: Umar Manzoor Shah/IPS
Skiers in Gulmarg, Kashmir, in 2023. Credit: Firdous Parray/Unsplash.
Barren Slopes of Gulmarg
Gulmarg, a northern ski resort known for its world-famous slopes and enchanting snow-covered hills during winter, is currently dry and barren, with few traces of snow—a first-time scenario for locals. A small amount of snow fell at the beginning of February—a little to late, some say, as the popular resort area has already lost thousands of visitors and this has had a knock-on effect on the local businesses.
Abdul Rahim Bhat, 73, a local who owns a tea kiosk at the resort, told IPS that such a sight—where brown grass dominates the landscape with no snow in sight—was unimaginable in the past.
“I have spent my entire life here. I have always seen white snow everywhere during winters. Now, even the tourists have stopped coming, impacting my business and livelihood,” Bhat says.
The winter games at Gulmarg, which attract skiers from around the world, had to be postponed due to the lack of snow.
“The required amount of snowfall for competitive games is not there, which is why we have postponed the event. Unless there is fresh snowfall, it is not possible to conduct the games,” Rauf Tramboo, President of the Winter Games Association of Jammu and Kashmir (WGAJK), said in a statement last week. The Olympic committee this week announced that the Gulmarg leg of the Khelo India Winter Games would be held from March 9 to 12 after snowfall.
As per the government estimates, the revenue realized from the Gulmarg Gondola, celebrated as Asia’s highest and longest cable car project, was USD 1.35 million until December 2024. The ski resort welcomed more than 148,357 visitors. The postponement of winter games and the lack of tourists had come as a major economic blow for the locals of the area whose livelihood is dependent on both.
Sharing his predicament is Peer Irfan, a local restaurant owner who says tourists have almost stopped arriving. “They [tourists] would come for snow and not for exploring the barren lands. Here, you can see there is no rush, not many tourists. We fear that if the situation continues to remain the same, we may lose our livelihood,” Irfan says.
He adds that the government has not paid any serious attention to the ongoing climate crisis in Kashmir and that those affected due to it have not been provided any monetary compensation.
“We earlier had demanded to be insured so that we could safeguard our livelihoods. However, the government hasn’t paid the least attention to our demands,” Irfan says.
The tourism industry in Kashmir generates around USD 912 million, contributing to nearly 7 percent of the state’s GDP. Sectors like handicrafts, transport and hospitality are directly dependent on it.
Dilshada Bano, a 37-year-old carpet weaver from north Kashmir’s Kupwara, says that if climate change continues to wreak havoc as it is now, the major impact will be on Kashmir’s local populace.
“Tourists buy our products and if they aren’t visiting, who is here to provide us with a livelihood? This year, the sales have dipped due to snowlessness as a smaller number of tourists have visited Kashmir. Slowly and subtly, it is showing the impact on us,” Bano told IPS.
Nisar Ahmad, a fisherman, says the drastic reduction in the lake’s water levels has left the fishing community struggling, as they grapple with the loss of their primary means of sustenance.Credit: Umar Manzoor Shah/IPS
‘We are not doing enough’
Omar Abdullah, the head of the Kashmir government, stated that Kashmir is facing a severe threat from climate change, particularly in the form of a water crisis. He stressed the need for greater awareness and action. “We are not doing enough to educate our people about the dangers of climate change. A lot of that responsibility lies with us as political leaders,” Abdullah says.
Abdullah, however, did not mention whether the current situation could be declared a state of disaster for Kashmir.
Naeem Akhtar, a senior political leader and former minister, told IPS that drastic climate change is wreaking havoc on Kashmir, with alarming trends such as continuous drought, lack of snow during peak winter months, and the drying up of water bodies and springs that have been vital for centuries. He described the situation as deeply alarming and disturbing.
Akhtar says the government must prioritize addressing the pervasive effects of climate change. He urged the government to consult experts and closely monitor the situation.
“Short- and long-term action plans must be devised, including climate adaptation and mitigation measures, alongside the creation of a loss and damage fund to tackle the severe impacts of climate change. There should be no quick-fix solutions to this apocalyptic situation. A well-considered government response is the need of the hour,” Akhtar says. He warned that if the situation is not handled with caution, the region faces the looming threat of severe drinking water scarcity and a lack of irrigation facilities for agriculture and horticulture.
This year, the government has issued a general advisory to the farming community, advising them to delay sowing crops due to bad weather and water scarcity. Credit: Umar Manzoor Shah/IPS
Farmers Plunged Into Anxiety
Abdul Salam Mir, a saffron farmer from Pampore in South Kashmir, told IPS that the dry weather and shifting weather patterns have put farmers in a difficult situation.
“We have little hope this time. Farming in Kashmir is entirely dependent on water. The acute water shortage is turning crops into dry, dead twigs. We cannot blame the government for this crisis. The climate has turned cruel,” Mir says.
Farmers make up 80 percent of the state’s population, and agriculture and horticulture are the backbone of the state’s economy. The unique climate in the foothills of the Himalayas allows for the cultivation of exotic fruits and vegetables not typically found in India.
However, this year, the government has issued a general advisory to the farming community, advising them to delay sowing crops due to bad weather and water scarcity. A senior official from the agriculture department confirmed that the advisory was issued to prevent further hardships for farmers and to draft a well-planned mechanism to tackle the pervasive crisis.
Although an insurance scheme for the farmers, namely the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), was introduced in Kashmir as of Kharif 2016-17, its actual implementation has been inconsistent.
As per the farmers, the crop insurance schemes, particularly for fruit crops, have not been effectively executed over the years. This has left them vulnerable to losses from unpredictable weather.
“Last year, because of heavy rains, fruit growers in our area incurred heavy losses. When we approached the government for mitigation of the damage, the response was dismal. The assessment teams are yet to finalize the reports, leaving aside providing us with any financial assistance,” says Noor Mohammad Khan, an orchardist from South Kashmir’s Shopian.
Once a lifeline for nearly 10,000 fishing families in North Kashmir, the renowned Wular Lake is now fighting for its survival, with half of its expanse dried up due to prolonged dry weather in the Valley.
During winter, local fishermen from villages like Kehne Usa, Zurimanz, Ashtangoo, Lankrishipora, Laharwalpora, and Kulhama traditionally harvest fish from the lake, a vital source of income for the community.
“The lake now resembles a small stream. We have to push our boats to the center of Wular before we can even use our oars, as there’s so little water left. Fishing and harvesting chestnuts have been our only source of income for generations. Since my childhood, I’ve seen people rely on the lake for their livelihoods. Now, many in our community are forced to look for other work to survive,” says Nisar Ahmad, a fisherman from Kehneusa village.
The drastic reduction in the lake’s water levels has left the fishing community struggling as they grapple with the loss of their primary means of sustenance.
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Doomsday Scenario?
Dr. Muhammad Muslim, an environmentalist and assistant professor in the Environmental Sciences department at Kashmir University, warned that a winter without precipitation in Kashmir would be catastrophic.
He says it’s a “doomsday scenario.”
“A decline in precipitation will severely impact the region’s water resources. Such an event could reduce river flows, which are essential for irrigation, hydropower, and drinking water supply downstream.
“Reduced snow accumulation during winter would lead to lower water availability in warmer months, potentially disrupting fragile ecosystems and agriculture in the region,” he says.
Echoing these concerns, Dr. Amjad M. Hussaini, an agricultural scientist, highlighted the grim future if snowfall and rainfall continue to decline.
“Winter precipitation is crucial for the healthy development of plants and their vegetative growth. Without it, this process will be severely disrupted,” he says. “The long-term consequences are alarming. Glaciers are receding, carbon emissions are rising, and deforestation is rampant. Unless we implement a robust afforestation plan as a top priority for at least the next decade, the situation will only worsen. Without immediate action, we are heading in a deeply negative direction.”
Scientists are sounding the alarm with renewed urgency, warning that the Earth is nearing a critical tipping point. Evidence suggests that global warming is on track to reach or exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius—the threshold established by the Paris Agreement.
A recent study published in Nature Climate Change reveals that record-breaking temperatures in 2024 could signal the start of a sustained period near or above this limit.
While natural phenomena like El Niño can cause temporary temperature spikes, the primary driver of this crisis remains human activity: our continued dependence on fossil fuels, widespread deforestation, and industrial practices that escalate greenhouse gas emissions.
These activities have driven CO2 levels to unprecedented highs, even as global climate conferences, such as COP29, reaffirm pledges to curb them.
The consequences of crossing the 1.5°C threshold are already evident. Heatwaves, floods, and wildfires are becoming more frequent, intense, and devastating.
Note: This feature is published with the support of Open Society Foundations.
We’ll have the First Quarter Moon in 3 days on Thursday the 6th of March of 2025 at 8:32 am
On this day in Women’s History….
On March 3, 1913,
The National Woman Suffrage Parade took place on March 3, 1913 in Washington, DC. It was a civil rights demonstration that demanded the right to vote for women. The parade was extravagant and drew over 5,000 women from across the country
Walk into an unassuming church near the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Havana Street, just east of the Denver/Aurora line on any given Sunday. Depending on what time you arrive, you might hear singing in Nepalese, or preaching in Burmese.
The Village Exchange Center, formerly St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, is home to four congregations that meet there on Sundays for the past decade in the heart of Aurora’s immigrant and refugee community.
Small communities of Nepalese, African-American, Congolese, and Kachin worshippers gather throughout the day – two in the morning, two in the afternoon – most of them just a few dozen strong.
And though sometimes only five or 10 people show up for service, those who do animate many church-like moments. Universally recognized words like “Amen,” and “Hallelujah!” are heard throughout the day. Likewise the swaying-while-singing moves, and a little call-and-response. There’s the blissed-out, closed-eyed faces, the restless, playful children – moments that cross the language barrier and feature the same sacred moments of reverence found in worship anywhere.
And it’s especially needed now, according to Pastor Marcel Narucki, co-founder and director of Multi-Faith Services at the Village Exchange Center. He was pastor of the former church until eight years ago, and is still involved, meeting with pastors of the congregations, from whom he charges a nominal monthly fee.
“The worship time together is very powerful for building their community and cohesion and connection in many ways . . . because as refugee churches, they’re facing so much more to culturally survive,” he said.
Kevin J. Beaty/DenveriteAurora’s Village Exchange Center. Feb. 9, 2025.
Living Worship Nepali Church
The first one to unlock the doors on Sundays is Pastor Habil Rasaily, who leads Living Worship Nepali Church starting at about 9 a.m. Although clearly a foreigner based on his accented English, the pastor was enthusiastic to welcome two new faces that looked very different from the usual attendees – who are generally not very tall, with Asian features and straight, dark hair.
To welcome two visitors, one Black and 5’10,” the other MENASA and at least 6’3”, both with curly hair, he translated introductions. The response of the congregation – through waves, smiles, hands on hearts, and eye contact across the language barrier – said: You are welcome among us.
Eli Imadali for Colorado PublicA congregation member reads the Bible during a Nepalese Christian church service at the Village Exchange Center in Aurora, Colo., on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025.
Eli Imadali for Colorado PublicCongregation members sing and worship as youth pastor James Rasaily, center with guitar, leads them in song during a Nepalese Christian church service at the Village Exchange Center in Aurora, Colo., on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025.
The pastor had clearly taken on some of the Western flavor in his fashions; he wore a corduroy suit, a purple V-neck sweater and cowboy boots. His session was rich with singing and preaching, with plenty of English words mixed in.
Of the 30 or so who came out, some were dressed in salwar kameez, others were holding up their hands to show how moved they were by the music and the words. One woman showed up with a white man.
At one point, two men on stage stopped singing and began blowing into musical instruments which are called shofars in some cultures, long twisty horns of rams. Like bugles, they don’t give the opportunity for the person playing it to select notes; instead, playing them added to the overall ambient sound and got a few people on their feet, singing along to music that reminded them, undoubtedly, of home.
Blow the Trumpet Ministries
A few hours later, Pastor Kevin Rawlins got his sermon going under the banner of Blow the Trumpet Ministries, held in the same room – sparsely decorated with a bit of stained glass behind the stage, where a drum set was set up that could be used by each group.
The sanctuary, with mainly blank walls, also had dozens of chairs in the front, as well as collapsible stadium seating in the back of the room.
The extra seats weren’t needed for the gathering, which that day topped off at 10 people. Among them were his wife/co-pastor, daughter and niece, all there for the Village Exchange Center’s only English-speaking service.
Eli Imadali for Colorado PublicKevin and Lynne Rawlins of Blow the Trumpet Ministries pose for a portrait after their church service at the Village Exchange Center in Aurora, Colo., on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025.
That morning, Lynne Rawlins preached a sermon about spiritual understanding, connecting her message to the recent plane crash that resulted in dozens of bodies being found in the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.
“The Bible written 2,000 years ago is talking about today … and planes fall out the sky – it’s enough to make you go. . .” she said, making a surprised face. “But when you have faith in God it transcends everything else because you go, you know what? I have eternal life with Christ … so even if I come to this end, I know I will be with God.”
Kevin Rawlins said that when not ministering at the center, Blow The Trumpet ministers to people with special needs and learning disabilities, sometimes taking the word to drug infested communities without judgment.
The on-site session that day wrapped up in the early afternoon, then, like the other congregations, the group left the building, which locked up automatically.
And a few hours later, the space transformed again – without any real physical changes – into another church and its worshippers.
Colorado Kachin Baptist Church
At about 3 pm, Pastor James Naw Bawk unlocked the doors and about a half-dozen people walked in, most of them in jeans and sneakers, one with his hair two-toned, black in the back and golden-orange up front.
They were there to hear the pastor lead Colorado Kachin Baptist Church for a handful of mainly young people, some refugees, who come from Kachin, the northernmost state in the country of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma; which shares a border with China and has a population of about 55 million.
As the voices and energy took up the room, the common experiences of church could again be felt despite the language barrier. Initially, the pastor, dressed in mainly western clothes with a hat traditional to Myanmar, was officiating. Then, using tablets and other technology, another man then took the lead, ministering to people who, wrapped up in the spiritual moment they were having, seemed not to notice that the space itself was both large and impersonal, given the small size of the group.
Kevin J. Beaty/DenveritePastor James Bawk preaches during the Colorado Kachin Baptist Church’s weekly meeting in Aurora’s Village Exchange Center. Feb. 9, 2025.
A lack of aesthetic attention in multi-faith spaces is common, according to an article, “Global Phenomenon of Multifaith Worship Spaces,” in the online magazine of the Center for Architecture. It was based on the fieldwork of a student pursuing a master’s in architecture, who received a grant in 2018 to do a deep dive into the architecture of multi-faith spaces, funded in part by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
Among the findings: “Although what exactly imparts a sense of spirituality in a space is subjective to each individual, it is nonetheless clear when no effort has been made by the designer or administrator to nurture an aesthetic of contemplation and solemnity. Sadly, this aesthetic neglect is the case in most multifaith worship spaces. Since many of these sites are created with limited funding by non-designers, aesthetics are often the last thing to be considered. Even well-funded spaces are often left intentionally bland to maintain denominational neutrality.”
Several congregations personalized the space by bringing their own banners to drape over the lectern. They took them down when they left, which kept the space from taking on any particular religion’s style of decor. This is not unusual, according to the article, which states: “In the majority of multifaith worship spaces, there is no designer involved; they are furnished by a facility administrator, usually as an afterthought.”
Kevin J. Beaty/DenveriteNeng (left to right), Ja and Du Howa sing as the Colorado Kachin Baptist Church begins its weekly meeting in Aurora’s Village Exchange Center. Feb. 9, 2025.
Kevin J. Beaty/DenveriteThe Colorado Kachin Baptist Church begins its weekly meeting with music, in Aurora’s Village Exchange Center. Feb. 9, 2025.
The article describes multi-faith worship spaces as a global phenomenon that began to crop up in the 1950s, noting their existence in New York, Boston, London, Manchester, Zurich and Berlin.
The article points out two main types: the Multifaith Chamber, which, like the Village Exchange Center, consists of “a central gathering space shared by different faith groups;” it is described as more common, more adaptable and less expensive. The other style is the Multifaith Complex, which “allocates separate prayer rooms for each faith so they need not share spaces with other groups,” according to the report.
The sharing of spaces seemed not to be a problem at the Village Exchange Center, because the schedule allowed ample time before one service ended and the next began – usually about a half hour during which the building was unoccupied very briefly.
8th CEPAC Pentecostal Church of Colorado
The day capped off at about 5 pm, when the final group filled up the parking lot across the street and filed inside. Senior Pastor Enock Mahangaiko Hawazi heads 8th CEPAC Pentecostal Church of Colorado, which he said was modeled to be similar to the one he pastored in the Democratic Republic of Congo before coming to the US. It lasted from about 5:30 until 8 pm, the longest of the sessions, and had the largest congregation.
That’s because usually, it’s attended both by relocated DRC nationals, as well as Malawian students from DU, who usually arrive by shuttle and have their own choir, he said.
Kevin J. Beaty/DenveritePastor Enock Hawazi Mangaiko preaches during 8th CEPAC Pentecostal Church of Colorado’s weekly church service, modeled after a congregation he led in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Aurora’s Village Exchange Center. Feb. 9, 2025.
This congregation had about a dozen small children, some better than others at sitting still. Once or twice, as the gathering got underway, a newborn baby could be heard clucking and cooing, being held on the lap of its mother, one of the pastor’s daughters, three of whom attended the service.
While some women had traditional clothing often worn in the DRC – printed fabric dresses with matching headraps – one woman had a red and white outfit on. She was the only woman drummer of the day, sitting on stage behind a drum set while children and adults sang in unison. That day the sermon was about love and acts of service.
Kevin J. Beaty/DenveritePastor Enock Hawazi Mangaiko kicks off the 8th CEPAC Pentecostal Church of Colorado’s weekly service in Aurora’s Village Exchange Center. Feb. 9, 2025.
Kevin J. Beaty/DenveriteKids sing onstage during the 8th CEPAC Pentecostal Church of Colorado’s service at Aurora’s Village Exchange Center. Feb. 9, 2025.
Pastor Narucki, who meets with leaders of the congregations quarterly, said he usually doesn’t attend their services so they can have the space and privacy to worship.
He created the opportunity for the four congregations to meet at the Village Exchange Center a decade ago, while pastoring St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. Noticing that the church’s membership was dwindling, he came up with a way to maximize usage of the space: he opened it up for use by the congregations.
After two years, the Lutheran church stopped meeting due to low attendance, but the four small communities of worshippers continued to show up and worship at different times throughout each Sunday.
Pastor Narucki changed the tax status of the church to become the non-profit Village Exchange Center, the subject of a local student’s thesis, which is also home to other community-oriented services such as a farm and a food bank, in the heart of a part of Aurora where many immigrants and refugees live.
He mentioned that with the new Trump administration – which called for a raid of some apartment complexes in Aurora in early February – and its aversion to immigrants, the churches ministering to immigrants and refugees are more necessary now than ever. “We don’t know how things are ultimately going to play out, but we’re all kind of being alert and concerned,” he said.
“The safe expression of being together, that is a source of identity for communities, and of resiliency,” he said. “And I think that’s especially needed and critical for this period we are in.”
COP16 President Susana Muhamad. Parties to the UN Biodiversity adopted decisions to implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework. Credit: IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin/Mike Muzurakis.
BLOOMINGTON, U.S.A & ROME, Feb 28 2025 (IPS) – The second round of the UN Biodiversity Conference, COP16, concluded in the early hours of Friday, February 28 in Rome, with an agreement to raise the funds needed to protect biodiversity.
COP16 was suspended in Cali, Colombia, in 2024 without any major financial support decision to support biodiversity conservation. But in the second round of the conference in Rome, Italy, governments agreed on a financial strategy to address the action targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), which was adopted in 2022 with the aim of closing the biodiversity finance gap.
In a final document, all parties to the biodiversity convention agreed to mobilize resources to close the global biodiversity finance gap and achieve the target of mobilizing at least 200 billion dollars a year by 2030, including international flows of USD 20 billion per year by 2025. Which will be rising to USD 30 billion by 2030.
In the closing press briefing in the early hours of Friday, COP16 President Susana Muhamad said the Rome conference came to a successful end. “It was a remarkable achievement of being able to approve all the decisions, especially the most contentious, difficult decisions.” She said, “And not in a way that made the parties feel that they were compromising their main objectives.”
The agreement includes the commitment to establish permanent arrangements for the financial mechanism in accordance with Articles 21 and 39 of the Convention while working on improving existing financial instruments. It also includes a roadmap of the activities and decision-making milestones until 2030.
COP16 president Muhamad also said that the agreement between governments in Rome will help bring the agendas of biodiversity and climate change together. In November, Belem in the Amazon rainforest region of Brazil will be hosting the UN climate conference, COP30.
“The importance of these resolutions that have been approved in Cali and also here of the cooperation between the different conventions,” she said.
The biodiversity COP also adopted a Strategy for Resource Mobilization to mobilize the funds needed for implementation of the KMGBF. Which includes public finance from national and subnational governments, private and philanthropic resources, multilateral development banks, blended finance, and other approaches.
The Cali Fund
The Rome gathering of parties also agreed to establish a dedicated fund for fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Research (DSI), known as the Cali Fund.
The fund was launched on 26 February 2025—at least 50 percent of its resources will be allocated to indigenous peoples and local communities, recognizing their role as custodians of biodiversity. Large companies and other major entities benefiting commercially from the use of DSI are expected to contribute a portion of their profits or revenues in sectors and subsectors highly dependent on the use of DSI.
Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, plant and animal breeding, agricultural biotechnology, industrial biotechnology, laboratory equipment associated with the sequencing and use of digital sequence information on genetic resources, and information, scientific and technical services related to digital sequence information on genetic resources, including artificial intelligence. Academic, public databases, public research institutions and companies operating in the concerned sectors but not relying on DSI are exempt from contributions to the Cali Fund.
The fund is part of a multilateral mechanism on the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources adopted at COP15 in December 2022 alongside the KMGBF.
