University of Otago and Methane Mavericks Win Grand Prizes at Space for Planet Earth Challenge

  • : SpaceBase Limited
  • : 15/03/2024
  • Auckland, New Zealand — 16 March 2024

    The team “Methane Mavericks” from Newham, Australia, and the University of Otago team from Dunedin, New Zealand, have been awarded the Grand Prizes in the Space for Planet Earth Challenge, an innovative competition focused on leveraging space technologies to address environmental issues.

    Cristhian Delgado Fajardo and his team from the University of Otago clinched the top prize at the University level for their project “Satellite-based AI Emulators for Efficient Monitoring of Agricultural Methane Emissions in New Zealand.” Their ground-breaking work aims to enhance the monitoring and management of methane emissions from agricultural activities in New Zealand using satellite data and artificial intelligence.

    In the high school category, Olivia Hedge and Khoa Anh Do of Methane Mavericks from Newham, Australia, won the Grand Prize for their project “Using Sentinel Data to Identify and Prioritize Small-scale Emissions for MethaneSat.” Their innovative approach utilizes satellite data to detect and prioritize small-scale methane emissions, contributing to the development of more effective mitigation strategies.

    Six teams from New Zealand, Australia, and the Philippines competed in the Challenge finals, presenting their projects to a panel of esteemed judges from various space agencies, research institutions, and organizations. The winners were awarded cash prizes of $25,000 NZD and $8,000 NZD for the University and high school categories, respectively, along with valuable mentorship opportunities from SpaceBase.

    “We are truly impressed by the calibre of work presented by these young innovators,” said Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom, CEO of SpaceBase. “Their projects demonstrate the immense potential of space technologies in addressing pressing environmental challenges, and we are confident that their research will create a lasting impact in the region.”

    The Space for Planet Earth Challenge was organized by SpaceBase, a forward-thinking organization that leverages incentive prizes and space technologies to catalyse innovation and solve complex problems. The Challenge was made possible through the support of various sponsors and partners, including the Pacific Fund, K1W1, Orbica, AWS, US Embassy in New Zealand, Biome Trust, Rich Bodo through the Gift Trust, Australian Space Agency, New Zealand Space Agency, Auckland Space Institute, Callaghan Innovation, Outset Ventures, Auckland Unlimited, and Auckland Aerospace.

    For more information about the Challenge and the winning projects, please visit spacebase.co/challenges.

    About SpaceBase Limited:

    SpaceBase Limited is a New Zealand-based space education and consulting social enterprise with a mission to democratise access to space for everyone. SpaceBase is creating equal opportunities to leverage space technologies to solve problems on Earth by catalysing space ecosystems in developing and emerging countries, starting in New Zealand. Since its incorporation in 2017, the organization has collaborated with economic development agencies, local and national governments, and advocacy groups to deliver over 150 educational presentations and workshops, three Pacific and nationwide space and aerospace competitions, and has helped birth space communities and organizations locally and globally.

  • : Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom
  • : Co-Founder
  • : info@spacebase.co
  • : 64224021936
  • : https://spacebase.co
  • https://www.facebook.com/SpaceBaseNZ/

Six Teams from New Zealand, Australia, and the Philippines Advance to Finals of Space for Planet Earth Challenge

  • : SpaceBase Limited
  • : 06/03/2024
  • Auckland, New Zealand – 6 March 2024 – Teams from New Zealand, Australia, and the Philippines have secured their spots in the finals of the prestigious Space for Planet Earth Challenge. These finalists from both the University/Startup and High School categories will compete in an online pitch competition on March 15th, presenting their innovative solutions that leverage space data to address the critical issue of methane emissions and climate change.

    The grand prize winners from each category will receive substantial cash prizes of up to $25,000 NZD and mentorship opportunities from SpaceBase Limited.

    The Challenge finalists include:

    High School Level

    • Methane Mavericks – Kyneton High School & Maryborough Education Centre, Newham, Australia
    • Cashmere Space Club – Cashmere High School, Christchurch, New Zealand
    • Usbong Me – University of the Philippines High School, Iloilo, Philippines

    University/Startup Level

    • University of Otago – Dunedin, New Zealand
    • Project AIM: Rizal Technological, Caraga State, and Adamson Universities – Metro Manila and Butuan Cities, Philippines
    • Interstellar Exploration Institute and Macquarie University – Sydney, Australia

    The finalists participated in a three-month online research incubator organized by SpaceBase, where they received comprehensive training on the problem areas, relevant technologies, and the innovation process. After completing the rigorous incubator program on 25 February, the teams submitted their final challenge applications, which were evaluated by a panel of industry and academic experts from the United States, Australia, the Philippines, New Caledonia, and New Zealand.

    “I am very impressed with the calibre this year. Every team has been impressive in one way or another,” said Nicholas Metherall, Challenge judge and Space Challenge Grand Prize Winner 2021-22.

    “The Challenge showcases the remarkable talent and dedication of young minds in tackling Earth’s climate challenges. Their innovative solutions and enthusiasm are vital for a sustainable future, highlighting youth’s crucial role in addressing global environmental issue,” said Prof. Rafael Kargren upon judging the challenge.

    The Challenge Final Pitch and Awards Ceremony will be held online on 15 March from 5:30-7:30 pm NZT. The event will feature welcome addresses from distinguished guests, including the Hon. Judith Collins, New Zealand Minister of Space; Peter Vedder, Senior Director at MethaneSat; Anne Rouault, Science Attaché at the French Embassy in New Zealand; and Host Amy Armstrong from the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and Edmund Hillary Fellow. Representatives from the Australian and New Zealand Space Agencies will present the coveted prizes.

    For more information about the Challenge and the Finalists, please visit spacebase.co/challenges. RSVP for the event at spacebase.co/events.

    The Space for Planet Earth Challenge is made possible through partnerships and sponsorships facilitated by SpaceBase Limited. Sponsors include the Pacific Fund, K1W1, Orbica, AWS, U.S. Embassy in New Zealand, Biome Trust, Rich Bodo through the Gift Trust, Australian Space Agency, New Zealand Space Agency, Auckland Space Institute, Callaghan Innovation, Outset Ventures, Auckland Unlimited, and Auckland Aerospace.

    About SpaceBase Limited:

    SpaceBase Limited is a New Zealand-based space education and consulting social enterprise with a mission to democratize access to space for everyone. SpaceBase is creating equal opportunities to leverage space technologies to solve problems on Earth by catalysing space ecosystems in developing and emerging countries, starting in New Zealand. Since its incorporation in 2017, the organization has collaborated with economic development agencies, local and national governments, and advocacy groups to deliver over 150 educational presentations and workshops, three Pacific and nationwide space and aerospace competitions, and has helped birth space communities and organizations locally and globally.

  • Space for Planet Earth Challenge
  • : https://youtu.be/jJv_Swy9Kdg
  • : Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom
  • : Co-Founder
  • : emeline@spacebase.co
  • : 0224021936
  • : htttps://spacebase.co
  • https://www.facebook.com/SpaceBaseNZ/+https://www.linkedin.com/company/13643678/

Alimetry Secures CPT III Reimbursement Code for the Gastric Alimetry Test and Announces Positive Clinical Study Results

  • : Alimetry Ltd
  • : 12/02/2024
  • Alimetry CPT III Press Release 12th Feb 2024 (1)
  • : Hanie Yee
  • : Chief Commercial Officer, Alimetry
  • : Hanie@alimetry.com
  • : 64021651226
  • : https://www.alimetry.com
  • US Phone Number: +1 (657) 267 1082 | https://nz.linkedin.com/company/alimetry-ltd | @alimetry_ltd

PODCAST – When All the World’s Failings End in Gaza

  • : Multimedia Investments Ltd
  • : 23/10/2023
  • PODCAST: In this the tenth episode of A View from Afar for 2023 political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan and journalist/analyst Selwyn Manning examine the current Israel-Palestine Atrocities.

    As we prepared for this podcast, representatives of Arab states have presented a united front at the United Nations, criticising the UN Security Council of doing nothing to protect civilians from Israeli bombing and missile attacks on Gazan civilians and locations.

    Since then, the UN Security Council has considered two resolutions, the latter calling for a pause in hostilities to allow a humanitarian effort to enter Gaza to assist civilians.

    The United States vetoed that Security Council resolution.

    Al Jazeera has detailed that Israel forces have targeted and bombed civilian facilities include Hospitals, schools, residential areas resulting in the deaths of thousands of people, civilians, – around one-third of the deaths are children.

    It remains contested by all sides in this conflict as to who, or what, is responsible for the deadly attack on Gaza Hospital, resulting in the deaths of over 471 people.

    Additional to this, Israel has sealed the borders of Gaza while it prevents food, water and medical supplies from reaching civilians – in breach of international law requirements and laws of conflict.

    Israel ordered Gazan civilians, who wish to get to safety, to get out of North Gaza and move toward the south, to the border with Egypt. But as people fled south toward what appeared to be safety, Israel bombed the southern Gaza region killing more civilians and sealing off that corridor for others who sought refuge.

    As a consequence of the bombing, Egypt responded by sealing the Gaza-Egypt border.

    Humanitarian aid now sits on trucks, waiting, on the Egypt side of the border, while United Nations officials implore Israel and Egypt to allow medical supplies, food and water to get through to those who are injured and dying.

    The Israel Defence Force strikes followed a surprise-attack on Israeli citizens by soldiers operating under the Hamas banner.

    Civilians were slaughtered and others taken hostage, only to be used as bargaining chips and leverage against their enemies.

    Even Palestinian advocacy groups like the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa suggested that breaches of international humanitarian Law, crimes against civilians, have been committed by those Hamas-aligned fighters. But they are clear, as others are too, that crimes against humanity, war crimes, have been committed by Israel, without consequence, as we all give witness to its response which is disproportionate, brutal, and disregarding of the thousands of Palestinian lives that have already been taken.

    That’s the current situation. It is likely to get much worse.

    In this episode, our questions will include:

    What are the world’s leaders doing to stop the carnage?

    Are the world’s nations being drawn into what will be an ever-expanding war?

    Are we witnessing the beginning of a war where on one side authoritarian-led states like Russia, Iran, the wider Arab states, and possibly China stand unified against the United States, Britain, Germany, and other so-called liberal democratic allies representing the old world order?

    Is what we are witnessing, what happens when a global rules-based order, multilateralism and institutions like the United Nations no longer have influence to prevent war, or restore peace and stability, or assert principles of international justice and enforce the rights of victims to see recourse to the law?

    Why has this slaughter become an opportunity for the US and Russia to square-off against each other at the UN Security Council – a body that was once designed to advocate and achieve peace, but has now become a geopolitically divided entity of stalemate and mediocrity?

    Eventually, will humanitarianism prevail? Will the world recognise that all people, the elderly, women, children, people of all ethnicities and religions, that they all bleed and die irrespective of their state of origin, when leaders of all sides, while sitting back in their bunkers, unleash weapons designed to kill as many people as is possible?

    In this episode, Paul and Selwyn examine this most grave situation from a geopolitical vantage point. It may appear as dispassionate, and as so even disturbing, but we will take this approach in an attempt to aide an understanding of why this is happening in Gaza and why it is happening now.

    INTERACTION WHILE LIVE:

    Paul and Selwyn encourage their live audience to interact while they are live with questions and comments.

    To interact during the live recording of this podcast, go to:  Youtube.com/c/EveningReport/

    You can also subscribe to A View from Afar Podcast on:

  • Screen-Shot-2022-12-15-at-2.10.40-PM-copy
  • : https://www.youtube.com/live/NRuObMSC4ns?si=H_b-OpXpYFLY4-HA
  • : https://eveningreport.nz/podcast-download/1084174/podcast-when-all-the-worlds-failings-end-in-gaza.m4a
  • : Selwyn Manning
  • : Managing Director and Founder
  • : selwyn@milnz.co.nz
  • : 6421611958
  • : https://milnz.co.nz
  • https://youtube.com/c/EveningReport/

PODCAST: How and Why Democracy is Backsliding Around the World – Buchanan and Manning

  • : Multimedia Investments Ltd
  • A View from Afar – In this the seventh episode of A View from Afar podcast for 2023 political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan and Selwyn Manning examine the strengths and weaknesses of democracy around the world.

    In particular Paul and Selwyn consider how and why democracy in many countries around the world is on the slide.

    They examine the causes of democratic backsliding and also test why the erosion of high democratic ideas have, in many cases, popular support.

    First, Paul gives us a context and defines democratic backsliding.

    He identifies the countries that are decisively eroding their own democracies of principles that were once embraced by both power elites and citizenry.

    The Questions:

    • Why are we seeing more democratic backsliding in recent times?

    • Is it just a political phenomenon or does it extend beyond the political sphere?

    • Where has democratic backsliding been most evident?

    • What do Chile, Guatemala, Israel and Thailand have in common?

    INTERACTION WHILE LIVE:

    Paul and Selwyn encourage their live audience to interact while they are live with questions and comments. To interact during live recordings of A View from Afar podcasts, go to YouTube Remember to subscribe to the channel and be notified of future episodes.

    For the on-demand audience, you can also keep the conversation going by clicking on one of the social media channels below:

    • YouTube
    • Facebook.com/selwyn.manning
    • Twitter.com/Selwyn_Manning

    Participants in this podcast can be contacted via email below:

    • Dr Paul G. Buchanan: email Paul@36th-Parallel.com
    • Selwyn Manning: email Selwyn@milnz.nz

    You can follow A View from Afar via our affiliate syndicators including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music and where all good podcasts are found.

    RECOGNITION:

    The MIL Network’s podcast A View from Afar was Nominated as a Top Defence Security Podcast by Threat.Technology – a London-based cyber security news publication.

    Threat.Technology placed A View from Afar at 9th in its 20 Best Defence Security Podcasts of 2021 category.

    ENDS

  • A View from Afar presenters
  • : https://www.youtube.com/c/EveningReport
  • : https://eveningreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/AVFA_S04_E07_Final.m4a
  • : Selwyn Manning
  • : Managing Director and Founder
  • : selwyn@milnz.nz
  • : 6421611958
  • : https://eveningreport.nz
  • https://www.youtube.com/c/EveningReport | https://facebook.com/selwyn.manning | https://twitter.com/Selwyn_Manning | https://www.linkedin.com/in/selwyn-manning-68514746/

New Zealand collaborators reveal innovative gut health product

  • : Zestt Wellness
  • : 23/01/2023
  • A Dunedin company, Zestt Wellness, have launched a new gut health product to help counter the damage caused to our digestive system from processed foods and additives.  One of the co-founders of Zestt, Dr Anna Campbell, says that damage to our gut health can be associated with the onset of chronic disease.

    Campbell, along with fellow founder, Darcy Schack, were driven to create a science-based gut health product that used New Zealand grown ingredients and innovation.

    These ingredients include yacon, which according to Campbell is “a superfood due to its amazing prebiotic properties.  Yacon provides a form of sugar that our body can’t digest but our gut bacteria can, this helps the growth of good bacteria and inhibits the growth of bad.  Clinical trials have shown that yacon can also reduce appetite and help with weight management”.  The Zestt team have partnered with Kerikeri organic yacon producer, Marcus van Boxel, and are excited about the availability and quality of yacon in New Zealand.

    Knowing the benefits of yacon and finding a local producer were only part of the equation.  Through a collaboration with Blenheim based company, Taylor Pass Honey and a Nelson based food scientist, Grant MacDonald, the team have found a way to turn the yacon syrup into a dried product – something that others have not been able to do.   A clever bit of local innovation has meant that they have been able to create the new ‘Thrive’ lozenge that has the correct pH and consistency and that also includes other New Zealand ingredients that are good for gut health, such as gold kiwifruit and probiotics from another Dunedin based company, BLIS Technologies.

    Creating a quality product from quality ingredients has its challenges.  According to Schack “the trick is to combine these ingredients, without losing bioactivity, so a lot of attention to detail and testing needs to happen along the way to insure none of the goodness is lost”.

    The inspiration for Zestt Wellness’ products arises from Schack’s personal health battles with Sarcoidosis, a little-known autoimmune disease, which affected his lung, heart and brain functions.  Zestt Wellness was established in 2019 and they released their first product EXhale, a lung health and immunity formulation, that year.

    Campbell is excited about the new product “launching a product that is based on quality ingredients, quality collaborations, innovation and a bit of Kiwi magic is something that we are proud of; best of all, we know this will make a difference to the health and well-being of some New Zealanders.”

    Ends

    424 words

    About Zestt Wellness

    in 2022, Zestt launched their product range in the USA and were named finalists in the Asia Pacific Nutra Ingredients Start Up Company award and winners of the New Zealand China Business Club Innovator award.  As a company, they tap into the rich New Zealand science and innovation ecosystem and partner with premium growers throughout the country to develop products with strong science behind them.

    To contact Zestt Wellness:

    Anna Campbell 027 4861418; anna@zesttwellness.com

    Darcy Schack 027 599 2255; darcy@zesttwellness.com

    www.zesttwellness.com

  • : Dr Anna Campbell
  • : CoFounder
  • : anna@zesttwellness.com
  • : 0274861418
  • : https://www.zesttwellness.com
  • https://www.facebook.com/Zesttwellness | https://www.linkedin.com/company/zesttwellness/

Media Giants Call on Biden to Drop Charges Against Assange

  • : Aotearoa 4 Assange
  • : 29/11/2022
  • Five of the world’s leading news outlets have sent an open letter to US President Joe Biden asking him to drop the charges against Australian Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

    The letter states the charges against him set a ‘dangerous precedent’, relating to receiving and publishing classified material that revealed war crimes, torture, and environmental crimes. Assange is currently in a maximum security prison in London, and hundreds of doctors warn he could ‘die in jail in the coming months’.

    The New York Times used a photo of the Human Chain around British Parliament on October 8th, that New Zealander Matt Ó Branáin inspired. Ó Branáin welcomed the statement from the top Media brass saying ‘Joe Biden cannot run from this any longer. It would be a huge mistake to allow this disastrous prosecution to fall under his legacy. Free Speech is integral to the US identity and international respect.’

    Ó Branáin renewed calls for Jacinda Ardern to intervene diplomatically with Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak, saying ‘the case imperils not only Global Press Freedom, but New Zealand journalists working or travelling abroad, the integrity and safety of our troops, and the broader New Zealand public’s right to know. Staying silent on this is complicity, and will not age well, especially if he dies in prison. The public awareness of the significance of this case is growing every day.’

    The letter signed by five major media outlets states:

    ‘This indictment sets a dangerous precedent . . . Holding governments accountable is part of the core mission of a free press in a democracy. Obtaining and disclosing sensitive information when necessary in the public interest is a core part of the daily work of journalists. If that work is criminalised, our public discourse and our democracies are made significantly weaker. . . It is time for the U.S. government to end its prosecution of Julian Assange for publishing secrets.’

    Publishing is not a crime.

    The editors and publishers of:

    The New York Times
    The Guardian
    Le Monde
    DER SPIEGEL
    El Pais’

  • matt-chain
  • : Matt Ó Branáin
  • : National Co-ordinator of Aotearoa 4 Assange
  • : matt.o.branain@A4A.nz
  • : 4915231631792
  • : https://www.a4a.nz/
  • https://www.facebook.com/groups/a4assange | https://twitter.com/A4Assange | https://www.instagram.com/aotearoa4assange/ | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Lgvm4ob5_kUS6NIaEXwvg

Lemon.io revealed the list of digital nomads’ safest and healthiest destinations: Australia, Germany, Hungary, New Zealand, Norway, and Portugal take

  • : Lemon.io
  • :
  • Lemon.io, a talent marketplace connecting venture-backed startups with vetted software developers, rolled out the list of the safest and healthiest countries for digital nomads

     Lemon.io analyzed data from two leading indices for health and safety — the Global Health Security (GHS) Index and Global Peace Index (GPI) — to determine the healthiest and safest countries with visa opportunities for digital nomads. Among the leading countries in the GHS Index, which measures every country’s preparedness to deal with public health emergencies like epidemics, are Australia, Germany, New Zealand, France, Spain, and others. As for the most peaceful countries in the world, the countries that topped the list include Iceland, New Zealand, Portugal, Czechia, and Hungary.

     Combining the two statistics, Lemon.io discovered the six countries that should be on any digital nomad’s definitive work destination list, both in terms of health and safety. These are:

    1. Australia
    2. Germany
    3. Hungary
    4. New Zealand
    5. Norway
    6. Portugal

    There are also visa-pending states that are likely to be added to the main list as soon as the digital nomad visa issuing starts. These are Italy, Latvia, and Indonesia.

      “Currently, there are nearly 40 countries that issue special visas for digital nomads. While many still measure their appeal based on traditional criteria such as cost of living, visa requirements, or infrastructure development, the past years have shown what truly matters: health and security. Having helped 800 remote developers around the world find employment, we at Lemon.io know firsthand how important it is to be comfortable working in different countries and under new circumstances,” — said Aleksandr Volodarsky, CEO of Lemon.io.   

    To help all the wanderlusts decide on their next destination, Lemon.io has prepared an informational starter pack for each destination option, which includes information on average monthly rent, estimated cost of living, eligibility, visa duration, visa cost, and the required monthly income to live comfortably in their desired location.

    See Lemon.io’s full analysis of the top countries in terms of safety and health here.



    ABOUT LEMON.IO

    Lemon.io is a talent marketplace of vetted software developers created with the big goal of connecting global venture-backed startups with world-class talent from emerging countries. The company is now on the way to providing jobs to a thousand engineers by the end of 2022.

  • : Hanna Zasukha
  • : Middle Content Outreach Specialist
  • : hzasukha@lemon.io
  • : 5012640636
  • : https://lemon.io

Alimetry announces US FDA Clearance for Gastric Alimetry – A Breakthrough Non-Invasive Wearable Device for Gut Diagnostics

  • : Alimetry Ltd
  • : 15/06/2022
  • Auckland, New Zealand – Alimetry, a medical device and digital healthcare company, today announced it has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for Gastric Alimetry, a pioneering non-invasive medical device for aiding the diagnosis gastric disorders. Alimetry also announced today the launch of Alimetry Inc., a subsidiary based in Minneapolis, MN, that will market and distribute Gastric Alimetry in the United States.

    “Gastric Alimetry is an industry-first and genuine breakthrough in gut diagnostics.” said CEO Greg O’Grady, a Professor of Surgery and co-founder of Alimetry. “Alimetry’s unique technology harnesses the power of stretchable electronics, wearables, digital health, and cloud-based analytics to deliver a completely non- invasive solution. We are thrilled to announce FDA’s clearance of Gastric Alimetry, making this new test available to millions of Americans suffering from chronic gastric symptoms”.

    The Gastric Alimetry test is performed in a clinical setting. Recordings are taken before and after a meal, while patients simultaneously log their symptoms into the Gastric Alimetry App. The system performs a high-resolution recording of digestive patterns from the skin surface and delivers clinical reports via the cloud to inform the diagnosis of gastric diseases and support personalized therapy.

    The system is indicated for common stomach disorders including nausea and vomiting, gastroparesis, and functional dyspepsia, affecting over 8% of the world’s population, and costing billions of dollars in healthcare expenses.1,2 The test is also currently available in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

    “Diagnosing gastric symptoms has been a deeply challenging clinical problem.” Dr. O’Grady said. “Existing tests are frequently unreliable and inconclusive, and patients may undergo months or even years of testing – often costly, invasive, or involving radiation – only to end in confusion and trial-and-error care. Gastric Alimetry is a game-changing tool that will bring improved clarity to field, enabling enhanced clinical outcomes, and safer, more accessible, and less-invasive care.”

    Gastric Alimetry is the result of a decade of world-leading science and innovation by an interdisciplinary team of clinicians, engineers, designers and scientists.
    “FDA clearance of Gastric Alimetry cements Alimetry’s path to leadership in gastrointestinal wearables and non-invasive diagnostics.” Dr. O’Grady said. “Alimetry has an outstanding pipeline of innovation and this is the first plank in a series of innovative new features and products that stand to transform care in disorders of gastrointestinal function”.

    Gastric Alimetry will be available commercially from July 2022.

    For more information on Gastric Alimetry visit www.alimetry.com

    About Alimetry

    Alimetry was spun-out of the University of Auckland in 2019 from a centre of excellence in digestive diseases. The company was founded by Professor Gregory O’Grady, a gastrointestinal surgeon, and Dr. Armen Gharibans, on the background of a decade of award-winning science.

    References

    1. Sperber AD, Bangdiwala SI, Drossman DA, Ghoshal UC, Simren M, Tack J, Whitehead WE, Dumitrascu DL, Fang X, Fukudo S, Kellow J. Worldwide prevalence and burden of functional gastrointestinal disorders, results of Rome Foundation global study. Gastroenterology. 2021 Jan 1;160(1):99-114.
    2. Lacy BE, Weiser KT, Kennedy AT, Crowell MD, Talley NJ. Functional dyspepsia: the economic impact to patients. Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics. 2013 Jul;38(2):170-7.
  • Alimetry_System_Grey
  • : Hanie Yee
  • : Chief Operating Officer Alimetry Ltd
  • : hanie@alimetry.com
  • : 6421651226
  • : https://alimetry.com
  • https://nz.linkedin.com/company/alimetry-ltd | @alimetry_ltd

‘Kia kaha’: PM Ardern Requested to Join PM Albanese in His Calls to Bring Julian Assange Home

  • : Aotearoa 4 Assange
  • :
  • A group of lawyers, politicians, journalists and activists known as Aotearoa 4 Assange have written to PM Jacinda Ardern asking her to ‘stand strong’ with new Aussie PM Anthony Albanese, to ‘secure the freedom’ of Australian journalist Julian Assange. According to the letter Assange’s life is in peril and so are the ‘foundations of global democracy’.

    A4A spokesperson Matt Ó Branáin says ‘the election of Albanese is a seismic shift’ for the campaign to free Assange, who is currently imprisoned in the UK and fighting extradition to the US. Unlike his predecessor Scott Morrison, Albanese is a member of the Bring Julian Assange Home Parliamentary Group consisting of at least 30 MPs. Albanese has reportedly said ‘enough is enough…I can’t see what’s served by keeping [Assange] incarcerated’.

    Green MP and Human Rights lawyer Golriz Ghahraman tweeted ‘the threat to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s freedom is a threat to press freedom around the world.’

    Assange has been detained in ‘solitary confinement’ for the last 3 years in the UK and a UN Special Rapporteur has said he is being ‘psychologically tortured.’ A letter from hundreds of doctors says he is likely to die soon if not freed.

    The US charges ‘criminalise publishing leaked evidence of US state crimes’. International Human Rights groups, including Amnesty International and the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights have said the case is a threat to global press freedom.

    The letter argues that there is ‘no chance of justice’ if he is extradited to the US as Assange’s ‘legally privileged consultations with his lawyers were spied on’ and the Espionage Act ‘prohibits any public interest defence’.

    Ó Branáin says ‘no one can credibly say justice has been seen in the UK extradition trial’. Amnesty International said the UK extradition trial was a ‘circus’. IBAHRI said ‘with this extradition trial, we are witnessing the serious undermining of due processes and the rule of law.’ Applications to monitor the trial from Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders were declined. A4A’s letter says ‘this is a political case, and political intervention is required’.

    UN Special Rapproteur on Torture Nils Melzer says if Assange is extradited to the US he would be detained in ‘conditions that amount to torture’. Ghahraman states that although the UK Magistrate Court has now ordered extradition to be signed ‘the Home Sec must decline’. ‘The UK has an obligation to avoid extradition to a place where he faces ill treatment and torture’. A4A called on Ardern to ‘make representations’ to Ms Patel not to sign the extradition order.

    Rt. Hon Helen Clark said ‘you do wonder when the hatchet can be buried with Assange, and not buried in his head by the way?. . . ‘The real issue really is the activities they were exposing, not their actions of exposure.’

    Ó Branáin says ‘Australia and New Zealand should call on our allies the US and UK, to end this perilous persecution of a South Pacific journalist, and bring Julian home.’

  • Matt-O-Branain---A4A
  • : Matt Ó Branáin
  • : National Co-ordinator of Aotearoa 4 Assange
  • : matt.o.branain@a4a.nz
  • : 64204382863
  • : https://www.a4a.nz/
  • https://www.facebook.com/groups/a4assange | https://twitter.com/A4Assange | https://www.instagram.com/aotearoa4assange/ | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Lgvm4ob5_kUS6NIaEXwvg