The Passing of a Humble Leader

The world is mourning the loss of Pope Francis, and the Roman Catholic Church is preparing for his funeral, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of mourners. The event will be a significant one, with world leaders, including United States President Donald Trump, in attendance.

Lying in State

Pope Francis’s body has been lying in state at St Peter’s Basilica since Wednesday, allowing the faithful to pay their respects. This period of mourning has given people the opportunity to reflect on the life and legacy of the Pope, who was known for his humble and simple approach to his role.

A Modest Burial

Unlike his predecessors, Pope Francis requested a more modest burial. In 2024, he changed the longstanding burial rules that required three coffins, instead opting for a single coffin made of wood and lined with zinc. This change reflects his commitment to simplicity and humility, values that he embodied throughout his life.

A New Tradition

Pope Francis’s coffin will be transferred to the Basilica of St Mary Major, a church outside the Vatican’s walls, where he will be buried in a simple tomb in the ground. This will be the first time a pope has been buried outside the Vatican in over 100 years, and it marks a significant departure from tradition.

A Life of Humility

Pope Francis was known for his humble lifestyle, choosing to live in the Vatican guest house rather than the lavish Apostolic Palace. He also often traveled in modest vehicles, preferring to connect with ordinary people rather than seeking luxury and comfort. According to Massimo Faggioli, a professor of Theology and Religious Studies, "He always was more enthusiastic about going places where normal people lived, not the halls of power, the palaces and so on. That was very typical of him."

Financial Considerations

The Vatican has been tight-lipped about the cost of Pope Francis’s funeral, but it is likely to be significantly less than those of his predecessors. Historically, papal funerals have cost millions of dollars, but Pope Francis’s commitment to simplicity and humility is expected to be reflected in the arrangements. The Vatican is facing significant financial challenges, including a budget shortfall of $87 million last year, and the cost of the funeral will likely be a fraction of what it would have been in the past.

Crowds Gather in Rome

The city of Rome is already crowded due to Holy Week, and the funeral is expected to draw even more people. Hotels are fully booked, and tens of thousands have already paid their respects to the Pope. While it is unclear how many people will attend the funeral, it is likely to be a significant event, with people coming from all over the world to mourn the passing of a remarkable leader.

Conclusion

Pope Francis’s passing marks the end of an era, and his funeral will be a significant event that will be remembered for years to come. His commitment to humility and simplicity has inspired millions, and his legacy will continue to be felt long after he is gone. As the world says goodbye to this remarkable leader, it is clear that his impact will be lasting, and his memory will be cherished by people of all faiths and backgrounds.

Introduction to the Crisis

Farmers in Africa, who produce some of the world’s most prized coffee, are facing a significant challenge. They must comply with new European Union environmental rules that require them to document the origin of every shipment of beans. This new measure is designed to prevent deforestation driven by agricultural expansion and will come into force at the end of this year.

The New EU Rule

To comply with the new rule, farmers must provide geolocation data to show that their coffee was not grown on land where forests have recently been cut down. Any producers that cannot comply will lose access to the vast European market, which consumes more coffee than any country or bloc in the world. The new rule, formally known as the E.U. Deforestation Regulation, is a potentially powerful tool to promote sustainable agriculture and prevent forest destruction.

Impact on Small Farmers

However, this new rule also represents a "green squeeze" that imposes heavy burdens on millions of small farmers in developing countries that have contributed the least to climate change. These farmers are struggling to balance the needs of people and the needs of nature. Dejene Dadi, head of the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, said, "Of course, data is very important to us, but what we are just saying is we need support. It’s very challenging and costly, and we don’t have any help."

The Cost of Compliance

The cost of mapping one farm is about $4.50, and the cost of training is partly covered by a grant from the International Trade Center. However, this cost is still a significant burden for small farmers. Mr. Dadi said his group, the largest coffee growers’ cooperative in Ethiopia, with more than half a million members, probably could not prepare all its farms by the deadline without additional support.

The Importance of Forests

Intact forests are natural storehouses of planet-warming carbon, keeping it out of the atmosphere, where, as carbon dioxide, it speeds warming by trapping the sun’s heat. When forests are cleared, those areas switch to releasing greenhouse gases. It also harms the forest’s biodiversity, its variety of life, by disrupting habitat. Global leaders pledged in 2021 at a climate summit in Glasgow to end deforestation by 2030.

The Role of the European Union

The European Union has allocated 86 million euros to support compliance efforts. However, some experts say that this is not enough. Jodie Keane, an economist at ODI Global, said, "We all want to prevent deforestation, but if you’re going to apply that standard to rural producers, you’re going to have to provide a lot of outreach, sensitization, you’re going to have to invest in learning how to do things differently so that they don’t just get dropped from the supply chain."

The Impact on Ethiopian Coffee Farmers

Ethiopian coffee farmers take pride in their high-quality beans, a result of exceptional heirloom varieties, high altitudes, and traditional farming practices. However, the new EU rule could reorder the Ethiopian coffee sector. Tsegaye Anebo, who heads the Sidama Coffee Union, said, "We need the E.U., but they also need us because they can’t find our coffee anywhere." Giving up on the EU market is not an option, as it offers premium prices for their coffee.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the new EU environmental rule is a significant challenge for African coffee farmers. While it is designed to prevent deforestation and promote sustainable agriculture, it imposes heavy burdens on small farmers. It is essential for the European Union and major coffee chains to provide more support to these farmers to help them comply with the new rule. The fate of the Ethiopian coffee sector and the livelihoods of millions of small farmers depend on it. The EU must balance its environmental goals with the needs of these farmers to ensure a sustainable and equitable coffee industry.

Introduction to Canadian Politics

The leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievre, has experienced a rollercoaster ride in recent months. For several happy months, polls confirmed that Poilievre was poised to become the country’s next prime minister with a significant plurality. Impatient voters had soured on Canada’s spent prime minister, Justin Trudeau, due to the ever-rising costs of living, from groceries to homes. Poilievre and his shadow cabinet exploited the prevailing zeitgeist and seemed destined to wrest power from an exhausted Liberal Party.

A Shift in Political Terrain

Then, Donald Trump returned to the White House, threatening to turn Canada into the fractured union’s 51st state. The political terrain and stakes shifted like a sudden, disorienting earthquake. Fretting Liberals capitalized on the opening by ditching Trudeau and electing a new leader, former banker Mark Carney, as a "serious" antidote to Trump. With election day on the horizon, Liberal fortunes have made a stunning volte-face. Once trailing far behind, the party has edged slightly ahead.

The Palestine Issue

However, for many concerned Canadians, the state-sponsored genocide devouring Palestine and Palestinians is the defining issue of these times. Those same concerned and motivated Canadians have made it plain that genocide is on the ballot, and Canada’s established political parties are obliged to take note, or they will suffer the inevitable and harsh consequences. Last week in Ottawa, scores of Canadians demonstrated their resolve to hold Canada’s political leaders to stiff account if they continue to deny that Israel is guilty of genocide and refuse to put tangible pressure on Tel Aviv to end the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

The Power of Arab and Muslim Voters

Arab and Muslim voters make up a sizeable part of the electorate in 90 ridings across Canada, and could tip the scales in more than 40 seats. As a career-long numbers man, Carney surely understands that dismissing or alienating that many Canadians, in that many ridings, only invites disappointment and possible peril. A recent public opinion poll commissioned by the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) offers Carney a template for how he can win over Canadians who intend to vote with Gaza and the West Bank top of their minds and souls.

A Call to Action

More than half of Canadians support a ban on weapons exports to Israel. Even more tellingly, almost 50 percent want that ban expanded into a full-blown, two-way embargo. These are not trivial findings. They represent a clear, growing consensus among Canadians who are tired of moral evasions from their leaders. Carney needs to do much more than endorse the loophole-laden arms embargo that Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced in March. If he is serious about justice, Carney has to support a two-way ban, stand with and by the ICC, and insist that Canada will not be a haven for alleged war criminals.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Canadian election has become a critical moment for the country’s political parties to take a stand on the issue of Palestine. With the power of Arab and Muslim voters, Carney and Poilievre must reconsider their stance on the issue. Carney still has time to do the right thing, at the right moment, for the right reasons. However, if he fails to take a strong stance against genocide and support the Palestinian people, he will likely pay a lasting and stinging price. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect any editorial stance.