Tuesday, December 24

Author: Steve Berlin

Steve Berlin is an experienced journalist and communications pro. As a journalist he’s covered everything from high school sports to the U.S. Supreme Court. As an editor, he’s strict and corrects everyone around him. As he’s told his wife, “It must stink living with an editor.” He also taught high school social studies. Steve has a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and a Master’s in Education from Temple University, and an Associate’s of Applied Science in Emergency Management from Montgomery College (MD).
U.S. Industry Association Cheers Congress For Advancing Semiconductor Legislation
19Nov By Steve BerlinNo Comments
Global Trade, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Industry Association Cheers Congress For Advancing Semiconductor Legislation

China May Have Head Start on Chip Making Due to Trade War November 19, 2021--This week, the U.S. Congress advanced legislation that would boost the U.S.-production of semiconductors. It comes amid concern that while Western industry feels the pinch of the global semiconductor shortage, the Chinese government may be better positioned than others to ramp up production. Last year, the Trump Administration blocked semiconductor sales by American companies and the companies with which they do business to China in the name of national security. Photo by Jonas Svidras on Unsplash China's Government Produces Chips Washington, D.C.-based data analysis firm Sayari Graph reports the Chinese government owns 13 percent of that nation’s semiconductor firms. There are more ...
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As The Economy Goes Greener, The Job Market Is Evolving Rapidly
19Aug By Steve BerlinNo Comments
Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Types of News: Analysis

As The Economy Goes Greener, The Job Market Is Evolving Rapidly

Solar jobs are growing. Photo: Science in HD, Unsplash Policymakers Deal With Both Climate Change And Economic Losses In Fossil-Fuel Communities August 19, 2021--As the long-term fight against global climate change intensifies, workers and communities reliant on the fossil fuel industry are increasingly feeling the pinch of potential job losses and revenue. That presents a challenge for policymakers in the public and private sectors. As they move toward a greener economy, they also need to think in terms of mitigating losses in traditional energy sectors. "It's important to be doing it now because the transition is beginning to accelerate," said Phil Jordan, vice president at BW Research Partnership. "We have to figure this out in the next three to five years at the latest." ...
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Biden, Automakers, UAW Unite to Promote Electric Vehicles
7Aug By Steve BerlinNo Comments
Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Domestic Politics, Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Global Economics, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos, United States

Biden, Automakers, UAW Unite to Promote Electric Vehicles

President Biden held an event with U.S. and Dutch automakers August 5, 2021 at the White House. Executive Order Establishes New Rule-Making on Emissions Standards And Sets Goal 50 Percent Electric Vehicles by 2030 August 7, 2021--President Joe Biden signaled a new push for U.S. battery manufacturers and lower greenhouse gas emissions with an Executive Order calling for half of all new cars and trucks made in America to be electric by 2030. In addition to setting that goal, the president called for federal investment in building a national network of a half-million electric vehicle charging stations, customer incentives that will result in more manufacturing and union jobs, financing and retooling the domestic manufacturing supply chain, and developing more clean technologies. Fund...
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U.S. & Indian Diplomats Strengthen Partnership, Discuss Regional Security And Afghanistan
31Jul By Steve BerlinNo Comments
Democracy, Diplomacy, Geopolitics, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Analysis

U.S. & Indian Diplomats Strengthen Partnership, Discuss Regional Security And Afghanistan

Press conference in New Delhi on July 28, 2021. The Top Diplomats Also Discuss The State Of Democracy In The World July 31, 2021—Afghanistan’s future and the withdrawal of U.S. troops were at the fore of discussions between Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi this week. During a brief press conference on Wednesday, the two called for a peaceful solution to governance problems in Afghanistan. This came even as the Taliban continued to make military advances since the U.S. withdrawal. Ultimately, however, the Afghan people must work out the solutions that work best for them, they said. The country is under increasing stress as the Taliban takes control of territory and wreaks havoc. Both countries have i...
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In Rebuff to Brussels, Budapest Plans Referendum On ‘Sexual Propaganda’ Law
27Jul By Steve BerlinNo Comments
Domestic Politics, Europe, EU, Eurozone, Types of News: Brief

In Rebuff to Brussels, Budapest Plans Referendum On ‘Sexual Propaganda’ Law

July 27, 2021—Hungarian President Viktor Orbán doubled down on his country’s law barring any mention of LGBTQ issues in education and the media. Instead of acquiescing to the European Union Parliament’s recent condemnation of the domestic law, Orbán is planning a national referendum on the issue. The vote is to take place by late 2021 or early 2022. The video is available in French by the AFP. Orbán said the law protects children from “sexual propaganda” and that any EU sanctions were unjust. Earlier this month, the EU Parliament voted overwhelmingly to suspend European funds to Hungary because of the new law. EU leaders said the law “constitutes a clear breach of the EU’s values, principles and law.” Rebuke of EU 'Abuse' Orbán said the proposed five-question referendum is mean...
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UK’s Johnson Sees Chance for Green Investments; Will He Seize It?
22Jul By Steve BerlinNo Comments
Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Brief

UK’s Johnson Sees Chance for Green Investments; Will He Seize It?

July 22, 2021 -One-time climate change skeptic UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson now sees an opportunity where he once saw only a grim warning. That opportunity is the chance to attract private investment in a green economy. "We're confident that green technology and green investments are the roots to not just cutting emissions but to long-term job creation and economic growth," Johnson said during a recent meeting with a parliamentary liaison committee. Johnson said he sees "huge" investments happening in wind energy and enormous potential for investments along the British coast. Johnson rolled out a plan that includes a blueprint for private sector investments late last year. The plan targets a 78 percent reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2035 when compared to 1990 levels an...
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Foreign Diplomats Discuss Path To Sustainable Development
16Jul By Steve BerlinNo Comments
Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, International Development, Types of News: Brief, UN Security Council

Foreign Diplomats Discuss Path To Sustainable Development

July 16, 2021—International diplomats cast a particular eye this week on the needs of the world’s poorest countries. As they met under the leadership of the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), representatives looked at ways the poorest countries are trying to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. The high-level delegation meetings come amid warnings by the OECD and others that developing countries are at a high risk for rising discontent and protests as many economies struggle to recover from the global pandemic. Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 Representatives to the meetings this week met both in person and virually. They worked on a draft agenda for sustainable development goals for 2030. The draft agenda for SDGs is a significant document for the United Nations. It...
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U.S. and Russia Optimistic About Joint Climate Action
15Jul By Steve BerlinNo Comments
Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Diplomacy, Types of News: Brief

U.S. and Russia Optimistic About Joint Climate Action

July 15, 2021—Top officials from the old Cold War’s top superpowers said they see an issue on which they can work together: climate change. Courtesy Needpix.com The optimistic outlook came during U.S. climate envoy John Kerry's four-day visit to Moscow to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other government officials. The countries they represent produce the second and fourth greatest amounts of carbon dioxide emissions, respectively. China is number one and India is third.* Kerry said, “we believe that there is space for us to cooperate on this," as reported by Radio Free Europe. Lavrov agreed that such discussions are a positive move forward. The detente on climate change is a bright spot during a time of heightened tensions between th...
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Assassination The Latest In String Of Haitian Hardships
13Jul By Steve BerlinNo Comments
Domestic Politics, Types of News: Analysis

Assassination The Latest In String Of Haitian Hardships

July 13, 2021—With Haiti’s political and economic future in flux following the assassination of President Jovanel Moïse last week, the GER offers a brief primer on who he was. Jovanel Moïse Age: 53 years Party: Haitian Tèt Kale Party, a center-right party Family: Married with three children Career: Politician and Banana Exporter Jovanel Moïse, center, from May 2021 Moïse, whom even critics have said wanted to end monopolies that favored the country’s elites, also reputedly looked to make money off of government contracts for his banana company (NY Times, July 7). He presented himself as a reformer and battler of corruption who wanted to change the constitution to better serve the people. The country scheduled three elections this year, including a constitutional ref...
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G20 Finance Ministers Back Carbon Taxes To Fight Climate Change
12Jul By Steve BerlinNo Comments
Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Diplomacy, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, Types of News: Brief

G20 Finance Ministers Back Carbon Taxes To Fight Climate Change

July 12, 2021—G20 finance ministers last week agreed carbon pricing could be an effective tool to help fight global climate change. During their meetings at the G20 High Level Tax Symposium on Tax Policy and Climate Change in Venice, Italy, the ministers also reaffirmed a 2050 target for net zero emissions of greenhouse gases, using carbon taxes as a way to get there. Photo by veeterzy on Unsplash Tools At Their Disposal While the ministers did not approve a carbon tax proposal, they acknowledged that different countries had many tools at their disposal to reduce emissions, but international cooperation is ultimately critical. Carbon Pricing, Explained Carbon pricing is a fee or tax on companies to cover the external costs of greenhouse gas emissions, such as...
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