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WHO Fires Director In Asia Accused Of Racist Misconduct

Published

2 years ago

2023-03-08

Kiara Grace

ENGLAND — last year that dozens of staff employees accused him of racist, abusive, and unethical behavior that may have jeopardized the U.N. health agency’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization sacked its top officer in the Western Pacific.

In a message to staff members on Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that Dr. Takeshi Kasai’s appointment had been “terminated” due to “findings of wrongdoing” after an internal inquiry.

Tedros did not refer to Kasai by name, mentioning only his title as regional director in the Western Pacific. The removal of a regional director is unprecedented in WHO history.

This trip has been unprecedented and difficult for all of us, Tedros stated. He said the selection process for the Western Pacific’s new regional director would start the following month, with the election in October.

When asked about Kasai’s nomination for the position, the Japanese government chose not to respond. Although he demanded a lot of his staff, Kasai previously denied acting in a racist or aggressive manner, noting that his actions “should not result in people feeling mistreated.”

Kasai harassed personnel in Asia regularly, according to a summary of the internal WHO inquiry delivered at a meeting of the agency’s executive board this week in Geneva. This harassment included “aggressive communication, public humiliation, (and) making racial insults.”

More than 30 unnamed WHO employees had complained in writing about the director to senior WHO officials.

Top WHO directors reported Kasai’s “toxic atmosphere,” staff employees’ fear of reprisal if they spoke out against him, and a “loss of faith” in WHO to the organization’s highest governing body.

According to private documents obtained by the A.P., the officials also discovered Kasai had falsified at least one performance evaluation of a subordinate.

Kasai was fired due to an A.P. investigation reported to have been published in January 2022. The research showed that more than 30 unnamed WHO employees had complained in writing about the director to senior WHO officials and members of the organization’s executive board.

Kasai attributed the emergence of COVID-19 in some Pacific countries to his employees’ “lack of capacity owing to their inferior culture, race, and socioeconomic level,” according to documents and audio that showed him making racist statements to his workers.

Kasai allegedly unlawfully communicated secret COVID vaccination information with other WHO employees so that his native Japan might use targeted donations to gain political advantage. Dr. Kasai, a physician from Japan, began his career in the nation’s public health system before joining WHO, where he has worked for more than 15 years.

Days following the A.P. article, WHO director Tedros revealed that Kasai was the subject of an internal investigation. Tedros alerted colleagues in an August email that Kasai was “on leave” and another senior official was deployed to replace him temporarily.

the investigation discovered senior WHO management was told of multiple exploitation claims in 2019

The firing of such a senior employee contrasts sharply with WHO’s hesitation to sanction other offenders of abusive and occasionally unlawful behavior, including sexual abuse and exploitation during the Congo’s Ebola epidemic in 2018–2020.

An A.P. investigation discovered senior WHO management was told of multiple exploitation claims in 2019 but refused to act and even promoted one of the managers implicated. More than 80 outbreak responders working primarily under WHO’s guidance sexually abused or exploited vulnerable women.

Due to a flaw in how WHO defines victims, a recent internal U.N. assessment determined that the agency’s response to one example of alleged exploitation did not breach the standards, a conclusion that independent experts called “absurd.”

Despite Tedros’ assurance that the organization has “zero tolerance” for misconduct, no senior WHO personnel connected to the sexual assault in the Congo have been terminated.

Professor of international politics at the Queen Mary University of London Sophie Harman said, “What we need right now is consistency in how WHO enforces the laws against misuse. The WHO needs to demonstrate to the survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation in (Congo) that they are important.

According to an A.P. investigation from January, a WHO physician who sought Kasai’s position as regional director for the Western Pacific had previously been accused of sexual assault.

Internal records revealed senior WHO management was aware of prior allegations of sexual harassment against Fijian doctor Temo Waqanivalu, who was also charged with assaulting a woman at a conference in Berlin. Waqanivalu was getting ready to bid for the position of regional director with the backing of a few WHO coworkers and his home nation.

According to Javier Guzman of the Center for Global Development, a strong internal judicial mechanism at WHO still needs to be improved.

Making choices in important cases like the one involving Dr. Kasai, according to Guzman, is insufficient. “WHO and Dr. Tedros should improve to ensure the validity of the zero-tolerance policy.”

SOURCE – (AP)

Related Topics:who world health organization

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Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns

Published

2 days ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.

Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”

The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”

Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.

Lawless protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.

The Prime Minister dances.

This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.

Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf

— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024

“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”

“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.

On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”

Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.

Pro-Palestinian protests

Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.

Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.

Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.

On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.

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Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla

Published

2 days ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

The zookeeper's negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla

The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.

The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.

The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.

“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”

According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.

Calgary Zoo Questioned

It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.

An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.

Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.

“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.

The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.

“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.

“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.

While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”

Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.

The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.

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Canada’s Lotto Max Jackpot Climbs to $80M

Published

2 days ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.

Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.

The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.

According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.

While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.

Lotto Max History

Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.

The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.

Let’s have a look at the rules:

Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
Numbers cannot be repeated
Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
Each play buys 3 lines
Each play costs $5

Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)