May Roundup
Newsletter 009 -- Finland. Sweden. Occupation. Journalism. And, diversity of thought.
Hi everyone!
If you’ve been with us for a while, you know that we use the limited space in this newsletter to discuss the minutiae of compelling news stories — to show that there are many ways to consider world events. Oftentimes, at our team meetings, we will bring similar stories to the table, but because we each have different interests, distinct voices, and thought patterns, we pitch those stories from different vantage points. Normally we deliberate about which article to share and what angle to take before sending it to your inboxes. But, this month we’re giving you a peek at our “moment before” — the raw chaos of our pitch ideas before we make the final cut! We hope this helps you appreciate the benefits of collaboration and diversity of thought. Enjoy!
» Occupation is Always on Our Radar, We Just Have Different…Dopplers?
Creativity Under Occupation
“For his [Mahmoud Alhaj] project Fragile, he used empty medication packages to create a series of Gazan cityscapes. This choice of material highlights both the physical impacts of occupation (by mimicking the war-torn buildings of the city) and the lack of mental health care for Gazans, which forces them to turn to over-the-counter medication to deal with the stress of daily life.” (excerpt from the article)
— Alexis
Google and Amazon Face Shareholder Revolt Over Israeli Defense Work
Both Google and Amazon are working on a new cloud computing project for the Israeli government and military. This project, known as Project Nimbus, would protect Israel’s data and technology, making them immune to international boycotts and other pressures over their illegal occupation of Palestinian territories. This project guarantees that Google and Amazon will provide service to Israel regardless of its human rights violations. The relationship between tech companies and governments is creating a dangerous industrial complex (when businesses become entwined in social or political systems, or institutions and create a profit economy). Meaning, that Google and Amazon will profit from Israel’s violence against Palestinians, likely leading to further conflict and human rights violations. — Sarah
» Our Reactions to Finland & Sweden Couldn’t Be More Different
In a dramatic departure from their longstanding diplomatic strategy, Finland and Sweden have decided to join NATO. Diplomats say that their decision to join had to be done in lockstep with eachother and would fortify their diplomatic relationship. For me, the story here is the diplomatic synergy between Finland and Sweden – that their leaders acknowledge how their power and safety is contingent on them working together. — Alexis
Was this a covert move by the U.S. to stifle Russian power by influencing European nations that border Russia to join the NATO alliance? Sadly, with every move for the “greater good", we wonder what (if any) ulterior motives power players have. — Arezo
» Wasn’t Sure Where to Start When Considering Sri Lanka’s Crisis
Sri Lanka Default Hints at Trouble Ahead for Developing Nations
As I watch events unfold in Sri Lanka, I come back to ideas on mobility and islanding, presented by sociologist, Mimi Sheller. Islanding refers to the political act of making individuals in crisis appear isolated by their island geography in an attempt to “contain” the crisis – islanding is both a political construct and a tool. Sri Lankan opposition leader, Sajith Premadasa, sent out a dystopian S.O.S. on Twitter imploring the diaspora to send funds to people on the island. Taking to Twitter to amplify a crisis most of the world has not heard of, to seek help from those who’ve ostensibly “made it off the sinking ship” is a fleeting, and wrenching byproduct of islanding. An island offers limited mobility, but as Sheller explains, a constellation of mobility includes material and non-material elements that make mobility possible. Traditional mobility on the island itself has been nearly severed as long lines for gas have become commonplace. Due to lack of funds, an ocean liner, scheduled to bring more oil to the island, is sitting close to shore, awaiting the government's payment, one that may never come. Since most Sri Lankans have run out of traditional currency, Muneeza Naqvi reported for Bloomberg that gold has become the last resort for citizens looking to procure basic necessities or secure a way off the island. — Alexis
To Solve its Economic Crisis, Sri Lanka Must Demilitarize
This article recaps some of Sri Lanka’s contemporary history and paints a vivid picture of the country’s widespread militarization. In the past, the Sri Lankan government has refused to appeal to the IMF for help, but after the government failed to make its sovereign loan payment earlier this month, it’s considering its meager options. Some hope that if the IMF agrees to help the country, the external pressure will push the Sri Lankan government to make necessary structural reforms away from military control. — Alexis
» Our Ongoing Discussion on Journalism
Radio Haiti Finds a New Home with Trilingual Archive at Duke University
The Kreyól language was developed by enslaved Africans, who came from different linguistic traditions, to allow them to organize and communicate with each other. This article is about the history and cultural importance of Radio Haiti. The recorded archives have recently been donated to Duke University where descriptions for the 5,000 episodes can be found in English, French, and Kreyól. For centuries, cultures and traditions have been kept alive through the cultural stewardship of verbal storytelling and music. Audio modalities like radio help usher cultures, histories, and traditions, into each proceeding generation while accounting for the changing social contexts. These modalities become a place for the diaspora and multi-generational communities to gather around their shared culture. — Alexis
“Perhaps the fact that Shireen was American, will lead to a little more concern about the systematic brutality that the occupation is wielding all over the occupied territories.” (Quote from video) — Alexis
*Supplemental Material: Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Journalists*
Between 2001 - 2021, we lost over 1,206 journalists and media workers. So far, in 2022, we have lost 19 journalists and media workers in combat, by murder, and on dangerous assignments. The recent killing of American-Palestinian, Shireen Abu Akleh, has been met with calls by the U.N. and independent U.S. lawmakers for an international investigation into the incident. — Arezo
» What Else is Going on?
Ailing Lebanon Votes for Parliament, but Big Shift Unlikely
This month Lebanon held its parliamentary election, bringing Lebanese citizens from around the globe to the polls hoping to effect change after a number of difficult years. France presided over Lebanon until transferring power to the Lebanese people in 1944, giving Lebanon its independence. Before handing over power, France distributed the seats of government, creating a sectarian power-sharing structure as a way to maintain peace in the country. They favored Christian leadership and gave the group disproportionate power and higher seats of government. France mandated that the Lebanese president must always be a Maronite Christian, the Prime minister, a Sunni Muslim, and the Speaker of Chamber Deputies, a Shia Muslim (today this position is mostly held by Hezbollah members). When the Lebanese civil war broke out in the 1970s, tensions heightened between the converging groups in Lebanese leadership, leading to discrimination, killings, and the blocking of peace-making efforts. Today, corruption is rampant in the Lebanese government and is a rot that has led to the deterioration of leadership, leaving the country in a poor position to mitigate the recent economic crisis, the Pandemic, and the oversight of everyday goings-on that resulted in a devastating explosion at the country’s port. — Arezo
At the World Economic Forum, city mayors, urban planners, NGO directors and architects from around the world gathered to discuss and incubate ideas about transforming mobility and the wider context of city-life resilience after lockdown. – Alexis
Women in Rural Bangladesh Bear Rising Cost of Climate Crisis
The Global North is responsible for 92% of excess global carbon emissions, yet countries like Bangladesh are paying the price. Bangladeshi families that are already struggling to survive, are using most of their money to protect themselves from flooding. Since women are the ones managing the household while their spouses are away working, that burden falls on them. This means they’re spending a larger amount of their income preparing for the impacts of climate change. Women in the Global South disproportionately bear the brunt of our global crisis. This is compounded by the fact that female labor largely goes unrecognized, which means women don’t receive the resources they need from their government to keep their families safe. — Sarah
» Updates
A Devil’s Deal
Rwanda is the most densely populated African nation and has already taken in refugees from its neighboring countries. The deal between Britain and Rwanda that would send asylum seekers to the African country, would cost British taxpayers between 20,000 - 30,000 Pounds. And, experts say that the deal is unlikely to financially benefit the lives of average Rwandan citizens. Human rights groups condemn the plan as it 1) violates the principle of non-refoulment under international human rights law and 2) because Rwanda’s history of human rights violations is brutal. But deals such as these are not new. Denmark and Rwanda have a similar agreement in place, but it has yet to be implemented. And, between 2014 - 2017, through a formal agreement, Israel sent Eritrean and Sudanese migrants to Rwanda. Britain had proposed similar plans to send asylum seekers to Ghana and Kenya, but both countries rejected these plans. The Global North has attempted to offshore asylum seekers from the Global South many times. Not only is refoulment illegal according to international law, but its implementation is a dog whistle for racism and unethical leadership. — Alexis
Hassan Mohamud: The Second Coming of Somalia’s New President
As you read in our previous newsletter, President Mohamud has his work cut out for him as Somalia is in the midst of an ongoing civil war and the worst drought in 40 years. — Sarah
‘The Great Resignation’ is Spurring People to Move - and Changing America
Americans are quitting their jobs at astronomical rates, as the Pandemic compelled them to demand more. This could have long-lasting impacts on many cities and the landscape of work. As Gen Z enters the workforce, they’re prioritizing a remote work environment that fits their lifestyle, and DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) values that align with their own. In the U.S., changes are rarely made for the good of the people, unless it yields profit for the company. Companies may be forced to amp up their benefits in order to attract competitive candidates and keep productivity on track. — Sarah
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In Solidarity,
The 823 Team