July Roundup
Newsletter 011 -- the state of the global economy. women's issues around the world. global leadership seems like it's 'living on a prayer' right now.
Hello, hello!
I hope you’re all soaking up the last little bits of summer!
To wrap up Pride month, I have a few moments I wanted to share from celebrations that took place around the world:
“Just like the name says, I want to be transparent,” Jungle says. “I have no shame about myself, and I don’t want anyone to feel like they have to hide who they are. Also, trans people often self-parent, or we support each other like parents. I wanted us to feel like we take care of each other.” — Vogue’s interview with Korean model, activist, and Transparent party producer, Jungle.
and…
» On Women
Georgia man traveled to Chicago and fatally shot ex-wife at Streeterville condo, then killed himself as cops arrived: police
I was saddened by the news of Sania Khan, a Pakistani-American living in Chicago, who was a victim of an honor killing. Yes, this is still happening - even in Arab and South Asian communities living abroad. The call for equality by Muslim women is getting louder but, often, the Arab and South Asian women demanding their equality are accused of rejecting traditional values and importing western ideology into their native culture. “In the Islamic world, an important historical trend has structured categories of the West and the East, modernism, and Islam, and feminism and cultural authenticity as necessarily exclusive, forcing Muslim women to choose between claims to a cultural self and a feminist self”, wrote Fereshte Ahmadi in her article for The Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion. In order for Muslim women to make strides in the fight for their rights globally, the internet will play a key role in information sharing, networking among transnational NGOs and activists, and building safety networks. — Arezo
Spain is at the Forefront of Expanding Women’s Rights
“The planet cannot continue to sustain neoliberal capitalism, where there is profound and growing contradictions between how we organize the economy, and how we sustain life itself.” - Irene Montero
In this interview, Irene Montero, a member of the Spanish Parliament, and Unidas Podemos (a democratic socialist political party within the country), illustrates how Spain is making care-work a state-backed right for all Spanish citizens. The role of caretaker for children and family members is placed disproportionately on the shoulders of women. These thoughtful initiatives seek to honor the value of this work as an essential function of healthy societies by looking at how remuneration can be paid to caregivers and support them while caring for others. Montero argues that by neglecting to consider how care-work affects women in the country, the government has organized a society in which women are forced out of the Spanish economy when they take on necessary care work. — Alexis
» On the Economy
A Goldman Legend, Crypto Star, and Top Banker Warn of Next Big Risk
Looming fears of a recession, the day-to-day realities of inflation, and the most dramatic decline of the Euro in two decades have people on high alert all over the world. The guests brought on to share their thoughts on the current state of the American economy for this article raise thoughtful points which helped clear up small (but significant) misunderstandings I had about how we got here. It also offered guidance in what direction to head next in my pursuit to understand the current economy. Labor shortage and immigration are raised in the article, so id like to add a bonus article about the job market in the Middle East and North Africa, for additional global context. — Alexis
It shouldn’t surprise us that in a time of global inflation, people, not corporations, are the most vulnerable. — Alexis
The IMF’s Chief Economist encourages the global community to work together in areas like climate, debt distress, food preparedness, and the like in order to mitigate extreme damage to the global economy. — Alexis
» On Global Leadership
After Ousting Leader, Sri Lanka Still Staggered by One-Two Economic Punch
Long-time government corruption, a poor pandemic response, and fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine have all plagued Sri Lanka and accelerated frustration among citizens in recent months. Now that they have succeeded in ousting their President, the Sri Lankan people are tasked with building a more representative leadership body that will work toward a sustainable and just future. This, as in other cases we have seen, proves the people capable of bringing themselves to justice and creating necessary change in their country. Unfortunately, we have yet to see a successful revolution’s end — one that leads to the installation of a people-supported government that will carry them into a people-first, liberated future. We suspect that as long as capitalism is the economic system, exploitation, and oppression of the way of the land, people all over the world will be backed into a corner, and protests like this will continue to occur. What are the next steps for these people-led movements as they work to build new, just, and representative governments? We hope to find out in Sri Lanka. — Sarah
In the wake of his assassination, this episode is an interesting summary of US/Japan and Indo-Pacific relations, during and after former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s career. — Alexis
How China Wants to Replace the US Order
China’s president Xi Jinping wrote a manifesto of sorts – his ideas for new world order – called the Global Security Initiative (GSI). In it, he lays out the principles for international affairs and diplomacy he believes would make the world safer, and is, he says, rules for engagement that work towards the ultimate global good. The established norm in global governance is a Rules-based global order carried out by the West, which China believes is geared toward US hegemony. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, posited that “China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it…” Washington’s concern is legitimate. But the same anxiety the West has about China’s ability to protect human rights, abide by true multilateralism on the global stage, openly share critical information, and deal in good faith with other nations, are things the US has not proven capable of itself. This isn’t a battle for control between good and evil, as much as Washington would like to frame it that way. More accurately, this is a battle for control between two self-interested powers. One just happens to have the cache and strong-arm of the Global North behind it. — Alexis
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigns as head of his Conservative Party
Most politicians resign over political differences, flatlining popularity among their constituents, and/or their lack of capacity for popular decision-making. After appointing Chris Pincher as Deputy Chief Whip in February, voters became wary of Johnson’s judgment (because of allegations of Pincher’s sexual misconduct brought by Alex Story). Even his Cabinet members advised him to resign. And, although Johnson lead the U.K. in one of the most successful mass vaccination campaigns during COVID-19, he bent Covid guidelines for himself and others in his orbit. When people caught wind of his selectively lackadaisical Covid measures, roughly 50 Cabinet members resigned. In his resignation speech, he directly called out his closed cabinet allies and relayed that he still believes he can make a difference in the country. But what he didn’t say, and what we all wanted to hear, was ‘sorry’. Instead, he punctuated his concession speech by saying, “Them’s the breaks…” Cheerio, Boris. — Arezo
Mexico arrests Caro Quintero, drug lord convicted in death of DEA agent
Mexico’s most notorious drug kingpin and cartel co-founder, Caro Quintero, has been captured. This is a major milestone in the drug war that has been going on since the 1970s. Some of you may remember the Netflix series, Narcos Mexico, which chronicled the homicide of DEA agent Camarena, who was allegedly killed by Quintero and the Mexican drug cartel. If you were a fan, you may also remember that the show was canceled due to threats from the Mexican Cartel. Quintero has been a source of tension in U.S./Mexico relations for over 37 years. He was one of the primary suppliers of heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and most recently, fentanyl. Let’s do a quick explainer on where fentanyl comes from: Fentanyl’s ingredients are sent from China to Mexico where they are manufactured and mixed with heroin. It is then sold as heroin, either in its raw form, or pressed into counterfeit prescription pills. It’s then transferred to the U.S. in high volume loads. Now that all three leaders of the Guadalajara and Sinaloa Cartel have been arrested, Mexico's President, López-Obrador, is hoping this will reduce the violence in the country, even if fentanyl is still being produced and trafficked. — Arezo
» On War
A roundtable discussion on American war culture and the way we (should/n’t) remember the wars we perpetuate. “Memory wars” in American society are being fought over the way we reconcile anger over the never-ending wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the legacy of our veterans. — Alexis
A look at how governments shape narratives in real time, and how easily these narratives influence the way we remember events. — Alexis
» Updates
Europeans shocked by ‘heat apocalypse’ as temperature records fall
The heat waves happening all over the world due to global warming are truly unnerving to me. It’s not just that abnormal soaring temperatures lead to miserable, sweaty days - they lead to rising death tolls and wildfires. They lead to increased use of air conditioning, which emits greenhouse gasses and requires an absorbent amount of energy to function. It feels like we are stuck in a vicious cycle – record temperatures, higher AC usage, global warming, leading to even MORE heat! I came across an interesting Tik Tok account recently, in which a Ph.D. candidate discusses his thesis research on heat waves and how humans can adapt to extreme heat. It turns out that humans are extremely adaptable! This user, @Eric_the_Green made some really convincing points. And, it made me wonder, why don’t we learn from the human body and create more sustainable solutions? Go check him out and send us your thoughts at 823newsletter@gmail.com we’re interested in keeping this conversation going! — Sarah
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In Solidarity,
The 823 Team