The Danger of Selective Dog Breeding

Selective breeding has produced many of the dog breeds we know and love today, but also poses a serious threat to their safety.

Great Danes are selectively bred in order to maintain their large size. Paul Brennan. CC0.

Out of the over 300 dog breeds alive today, many are the result of a process called selective breeding. Dating back almost 200 years, the practice has resulted in many of these breeds developing significant health problems as a result of their breeding. Breeders bred dogs to create or accentuate physical characteristics that were considered aesthetically pleasing to their customers, like the tiny physiques of toy and teacup poodles or the flat faces of French bulldogs.

 Selective breeding describes the specific selection of dogs to mate in order to produce a litter with specific traits. In theory, this will allow breeders to add, remove or change various characteristics of the offspring depending on what their clients are looking for. This, of course, takes place in contrast to natural breeding which is when the mating process between the dogs is left up to them.

 A newborn litter of purebred St Bernard puppies at a breeding center. Royvon. CC BY-NC 2.0.

The motivations behind selective breeding fall broadly into two categories, the first being the desire to breed purebred dogs. In order to have a litter of purebred puppies, breeders must ensure that both parents come from pure lineages of the breed in question. This type of breeding largely occurs when buyers are looking to show their dogs at competitions, although some may simply have a preference for purebreds.

 The second main cause of selective breeding has to do with the addition, removal or reinforcement of certain traits. By mating a dog that displays a certain dominant trait with one that doesn’t, breeders can introduce the trait into the lineage. Similarly, if breeders are trying to produce dogs that are specifically skilled in certain areas -- hunting, trainability or strength, for example -- they will likely choose to mate dogs that display these traits in order for the offspring to receive them as well. Conversely, by mating a dog with an undesirable trait with a dog that doesn’t, it will be much less likely for the offspring to display the trait. This last technique is often done when breeders are trying to remove traits for certain heritable diseases.

Teacup poodles are the product of selective breeding and are also at risk of a large variety of health problems because of their miniature size. Animal Corner. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

While there can be benefits to selective breeding like preventing the inheritance of certain disease-causing genetic traits, the process is still a very controversial one because of the many dangers associated with it. Most prominently among these are the many unethical breeders who treat their dogs very badly in order to maximize the production of offspring. Because selective breeding can be a very lucrative business, especially when producing purebred puppies that will go on to compete, it is extremely important to choose a breeder who prioritizes the health and safety of the dogs over their profit. It is also very important to find breeders who don’t engage in inbreeding (forcing dogs who are related to one another to mate), as this can cause a variety of health problems ranging from decreased immunity to genetic disorders.

Bulldogs are one of the many breeds of dog that have arisen from selective breeding. Stockvault. CC0.

Breeding dogs that are too genetically similar can also worsen pre-existing health conditions in the parent dogs. A very common example of this occurs in bulldogs which were selectively bred in order to accentuate their stout physiques. Their skulls were enlarged, snouts and legs shortened and underbite exaggerated, all to produce a dog that looked appealing to customers. The breeding is so extreme that almost 95% of bulldog births must be achieved by Cesarean section because the puppies’ heads are too large for the mother to give birth naturally. Their flattened faces tend to cause respiratory problems, while their excessive folds of skin can result in skin infections and eyelid problems. Their forcibly shortened limbs and tails often develop joint problems, and their eyesight may also be compromised due to the weight of the excessive skin around their faces.

All of these health issues can be directly traced back to the selective breeding that created the breed in the first place, and bulldogs are just one of many such examples. Until money stops flowing into the industry however, putting a complete end to selective breeding will prove extremely difficult.

TO GET INVOLVED

Many animal rights groups have long been advocating for the end of selective breeding given the potential risk to the dogs. Prominent among these are People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), a group which has long demonstrated against animal abuse and the wrongful breeding practices. The Dog Breeding Reform Group (DBRG) has published a number of welfare reports on the state of dog breeding in the UK. The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) also provides a number of resources to prospective pet owners about the dangers of selective breeding and better alternatives.

To discover more about PETA’s position, click here.

To read the DBRG’s welfare reports, click here.

To explore the UFAW’s resources, click here.

From Plants to Pleather: The Vegan Fashion Revolution

Nike’s newest plant-based products are the latest in a long line of collections to hit shelves.

Customers lining up outside of a Nike store in China. gunman47. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

As vegan activism rapidly increases in popularity around the world, consumers are pressuring more than just food manufacturers and restaurants to provide them with vegan options. These products are made entirely from plant-based or synthetic materials and don’t rely on animal products at all. This gives them much smaller carbon footprints, while also making them cheaper to produce because they aren’t associated with the exorbitant costs of leather and fur production. More recently, clothing and fashion brands have begun expanding their product lines to include vegan versions of their products in order to serve the growing popularity of veganism. In September of 2021, sportswear giant Nike also bought into the trend through a collaboration with popular musician Billie, which included vegan versions of their Air Jordan 1 and 15 sneakers that are normally made of leather and are therefore non-vegan.

The partnership was their second foray into intentionally plant-based products, and they’ve teamed up with Billie again this year to release an entirely new model of sneaker which is being described as being her “unique spin on the iconic Air Force 1” silhouette. Prior to this collaboration, Nike’s first release of vegan Air Force 1s were made with pineapple leather, but this new line is made using an entirely synthetic leather-like material which is produced from 80% recycled components. The collection also includes a line of matching tan-colored vegan apparel in Billie’s signature oversized style.

Singer Billie Eilish modeling apparel and sneakers from her latest vegan collaboration with Nike. Nike. CC BY-NC 2.0. 

Nike’s desire to include plant-based products in their already massive product line closely matches growing trends in favor of cruelty-free and environmentally sustainable goods. Consumers are becoming much more conscious about the harmful practices associated with harvesting high quality leather and fur, largely thanks to awareness campaigns by activist groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals(PETA). From a commercial standpoint, the vegan fashion market for women’s apparel was valued at just under $400 billion USD in 2019, a number which is set to increase significantly over the coming decade. This makes vegan product lines a great investment for fashion brands both established and upcoming.

Although their collaboration has received a lot of publicity, Nike definitely isn’t the first large brand to release a commercially successful plant-based product line. Fashion designer Stella McCartney’s eponymous luxury brand has proudly advertised their vegetarian products from the get go. This high-end collection, among others by Hermes, Balenciaga, and Chanel to name a few, have received a lot of support from celebrities who provide excellent publicity for the movement by wearing plant-based pieces on the red carpet. In fact, it was Billie Eilish that famously convinced haute couture brand Oscar de la Renta to stop using fur altogether in exchange for her wearing one of the fashion house’s dresses to the MET Gala in 2021.

Models backstage at the Stella McCartney fashion show during Paris Fashion Week. Kris Krüg. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

It may be hard to believe, but the widespread prevalence of vegan products is actually quite a new phenomenon. As recently as 2014, PETA made headlines for their protests outside international winter-wear producer Canada Goose’s first store in the UK. Activists gathered in London to peacefully demonstrate against the brand’s unethical treatment of geese and their extensive use of various animal furs in the production of their globally popular parkas. It wasn’t until mid 2021 that representatives of the company finally announced that they would stop using fur by the end of 2022.

As brands continue to research and innovate new ways to produce environmentally friendly and cruelty free products, it is ultimately up to consumers to continue pushing the market in a sustainable and plant-based direction. Buying from producers whose priorities align with these values is a great way to support the movement, and the list of brands who have done so ranges from high-fashion and couture brands to affordable, off-the-shelf sellers like TopShop and Zara. It’s clear that vegan products have made their mark and are here to stay, so now it’s simply a question of how long it will take for them to completely take over the market.

Tanaya Vohra

Tanaya is an undergraduate student pursuing a major in Public Health at the University of Chicago. She's lived in Asia, Europe and North America and wants to share her love of travel and exploring new cultures through her writing.

Cancer Alley: Fighting For Environmental Justice in Louisiana

Petrochemical plants have been polluting an area of Louisiana known as Cancer Alley for years, and now the residents there are taking action.

The petrochemical plants of Cancer Alley. GinesAlberto. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Along an 85 mile stretch of the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the landscape is dotted with petrochemical plants. They were built in the 1980s, when it was thought the plants would bring an economic boom to the region. Now, the residents of the region, known as Cancer Alley, believe that the preponderance of petrochemical plants have caused great harm to their communities.

Today, Cancer Alley contains 25% of the United State’s petrochemical plants. The concentration of petrochemical plants in the area has resulted in widespread pollution. The state of Louisiana produced 145.9 million pounds of toxic waste in 2018, with much of it coming from the petrochemical plants of Cancer Alley. The chemical chloroprene is especially prone to increasing the risk of cancer, as is benzene. Over the course of 2019, the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Refinery and Chemical Plants increased its release of benzene from 6.5 micrograms per cubic meter to 8.5 micrograms per cubic meter.

The widespread pollution of the region has led to health disparities among its residents. Emissions from a chloroprene manufacturing plant in St. John the Baptist Parish have caused the area around it to have a cancer risk 700 times above the national average. And while there may be a dispute about the true connection between the pollution and cancer rates—research has shown that of over 400 cancer clusters examined in the last 20 years, only one can be identified as a true cancer cluster—there is no dispute that the cancer disproportionately affects impoverished and Black communities.

Cancer Alley is 40% Black, compared to 12% nationally. Over 79 census tracts in Jefferson, St. John the Baptist, East Baton Rouge and Orleans Parishes report being 90% Black and extremely low household income. Those living low-income census tracts have a cancer risk of 12% more than those living in high-income tracts, and those living in predominantly Black areas have a 16% elevated risk of cancer compared to those in predominantly white areas. 

Petrochemical companies have traditionally taken advantage of the impoverished communities of the region, building their plants there without the regard for the local communities. They also employ surprisingly few residents of the local community, with a 1995 survey revealing that only 9% of the jobs at those plants were held by local residents. The communities surrounding those plants have now had enough. They are starting to organize to prevent further expansions of the petrochemical industry in the area and are holding the companies accountable for the amount of pollutants that they release.

In 2018, Louisiana’s Department of Environmental Quality granted Formosa, a Taiwanese petrochemical company, approval to build a new plant in St. James Parish. When Sharon Lavigne first heard of those plans, she immediately expressed her disapproval and turned her outrage into a grassroots community organization RISE St. James. That group opposes the new construction or expansion of petrochemical plants in Cancer Alley. 

Other efforts have also been made to oppose the petrochemical companies. In St. Gabriel, residents pushed to incorporate their town in the 1990s so the residents themselves could control building permits in the area, rather than county officials working an hour’s drive away. That effort was successful, and in 2015, the municipal government denied a Chinese company’s request to build an industrial complex. In 2017, the town also denied an expansion by hazardous waste incinerator Absorbent Solutions. 

However, unincorporated communities do not have the ability to push back against new plants, and the county and state government have a history of ignoring concerns of the local communities of Cancer Alley. In fact, UN experts have called the government policy regarding Cancer Alley to be a prime example of environmental racism. However, the outlook is changing, as the EPA is opening a civil rights investigation over pollution in Cancer Alley, examining whether the factors that cause the preponderance of petrochemical plants in the region violate the rights of African Americans. In a victory for RISE St. James, the Army Corps suspended the permit for the Formosa plant on October 4, 2020.

Bryan Fok

Bryan is currently a History and Global Affairs major at the University of Notre Dame. He aims to apply the notion of Integral Human Development as a framework for analyzing global issues. He enjoys hiking and visiting national parks.

Mosquito Borne Illness: Transmission, Treatment, Prevention

The World Mosquito Program has successfully prevented outbreaks of Dengue and Zika using a unique and effective method. 

Mosquito. Gerald Yuvallos. CC BY-ND 2.0. 

The World Mosquito Program (WMP) is an Australian-based nonprofit organization working to eradicate several diseases carried and spread by mosquitoes, specifically Dengue and Zika. About 50 million people per year contract Dengue, while there are roughly between 100,000 and 500,000 cases of Zika per year worldwide. Both Dengue and Zika are mosquito-born illnesses, but they have very different effects. Dengue has a wide range of symptoms, and in the worst cases, the disease can end in hospitalization and death. Dengue is primarily a problem in Asia, with 70% of global cases occurring in the continent, though cases have been reported in 129 countries total. There is a vaccine for Dengue, but regardless, Dengue is still a leading cause of death in certain places in Asia and South America. 

Zika, on the other hand, rarely causes death, but it is known for causing birth defects if caught by pregnant women. In addition to issues for fetuses, if caught by teens or adults, Zika can cause Guillain-Barré syndrome, in which the body’s immune system attacks its nervous system, leading to nerve damage of differing severity. There is no vaccine for Zika, and thus, the World Mosquito Program’s work is necessary in this area.   

The primary strategy for WMP is breeding mosquitoes that carry a specific bacteria—Wolbachia—which prevents the mosquitoes from spreading these diseases. Once WMP has bred the Wolbachia mosquitoes, they work with governments to determine a plan to disperse the mosquitoes. The goal is that eventually, the non-Wolbachia carrying mosquitoes will die out by natural evolutionary processes. This method has produced positive results multiple times. While it takes some time  to see results, the Wolbachia method has been praised for the fact that it uses a naturally occurring bacteria. Thus, it has a minimal impact on the ecosystem. Though there are treatments for Zika and Dengue, there are very few prevention methods other than the Dengue vaccine, which makes the Wolbachia method unique in its field. While Dengue and Zika are both serious and dire diseases, the most well-known mosquito-borne disease is malaria. Zika and Dengue are spread by the same type of mosquito, while malaria is transmitted by a different type, which is why the Wolbachia method cannot be used for malaria prevention.  

I had the opportunity to interview Christie Hubbard, the Director of Philanthropic Partnerships for WMP. She explained in a bit more detail how the Wolbachia method is carried out. Hubbard explained the function of the bacteria, and the surprising simplicity of the process, saying: “This bacteria, Wolbachia, renders the female unable to transmit disease… Because it naturally occurs we don’t have to modify it, and we literally breed mosquitoes.” These “Wolbachia mosquitoes” are then released (with governmental permission) into areas suffering from Dengue outbreaks, under the assumption that through natural reproduction eventually the disease carrying mosquitoes will die out. 

In terms of the tangible impact that WMP has had, Hubbard gave a few examples: “We did a gold standard trial in Indonesia… it resulted in a 77% reduction in Dengue and an 80% reduction in hospitalizations, which is really big… We’ve also seen success in Australia, which is where we’re founded and there’s a lot of Dengue. That’s where the program really first started and where we really… we never say eradicate, but we eliminated Dengue.” The near elimination of Dengue in two countries is an extreme feat, and WMP’s website also lists some other countries in which their method has seen success, such as Mexico and Sri Lanka. In both of these countries, there have not been any Dengue outbreaks in the areas where the Wolbachia mosquitoes were released in the years following their release.

Wolbachia method is launched by Brazil Ministry of Health. Ministério da Saúde. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

An obvious complication to WMP’s approach is that they are an Australian-based organization going into other countries. Hubbard addressed this, saying, “Our intervention is really geared towards governments and countries, so that’s who we work with and not so much private individuals. So yeah, we just go in, we release the mosquitoes, but it’s not as simple as that. It takes a long time, you’ve got to get the eggs to the country—we’ve got an insectary in every country—and of course there’s a big piece with community engagement, because you don’t just walk into another country and say, ‘hi, we’re bringing in more mosquitoes’... and working very closely with the ministries of health, and government officials.” WMP works in conjunction with the governments and the health officials of the countries which they work in, trying to eliminate any disruption or possible harm to the local communities. WMP’s website also publicly lists the percentage of the population of each place it works in that supports their intervention. 

Get Involved

In terms of getting involved with WMP, there are few volunteer opportunities outside of the places where they are currently working. However, their website does have a page listing the places where they have or are currently working. Another, more accessible way to get involved that doesn’t require money is by simply raising awareness for WMP, and for the issue of mosquito-borne illness in general. Following and promoting their instagram, or even just educating yourself further on the issue through reading articles and sharing them with the people you know is a way to get involved, as this issue is not a high profile one.

Calliana Leff

Calliana is currently an undergraduate student at Boston University majoring in English and minoring in psychology. She is passionate about sustainability and traveling in an ethical and respectful way. She hopes to continue her writing career and see more of the world after she graduates. 

Restoring the Amazon Rainforest

Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest has hurt it immensely but reforestation efforts are working to restore its former glory.

Amazon Rainforest. Neil Palmer. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Deforestation is the process of destroying the tree cover in a forest, so technically it started when humans first started cutting down trees for fires and to build homes. However, the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s caused a massive jump in deforestation, with 177 million square miles of trees having been destroyed just by 1850. Though the issue has persisted, it is only in the last 70 years that people have realized it is a major environmental problem. Even today, around 25 million hectares of forest are being destroyed every year. The agricultural industry is the leading cause of deforestation as people destroy forest land for commercial farming, especially for livestock feeding, soy and palm oil. Other industries such as the textile industry, food industry, chemical and construction industries also benefit from the deforestation. Also, one method of deforestation is slashing and burning the trees, which harms the soil and makes it harder for plants to grow in the future. This affects not just the forest, but the farmers who take over the land because they are unable to grow crops for many years and need to keep cutting down more trees. 

One forest in particular that has continuously suffered from deforestation is the Amazon rainforest, the largest rainforest in the world. It spans across Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela, which covers around 40% of South America. The ecosystem of Amazon forest is incredibly diverse, with more species of plants and animals than any other terrestrial ecosystem in the entire world. With industrialization and the continuous deforestation, large sections of the rainforest have vanished.

However, many forest restoration efforts have happened in an attempt to save it. Forest restoration is a process to improve the health of a forest, though nothing will fully restore it to its original glory because of destroyed soil and invasive species of both plants and animals. The process aims to heal the destruction caused by deforestation as much as it can, but it isn’t as simple as people replanting the trees. The soil has to be improved, the wildlife must be protected and anyone who uses the land needs to use it sustainably. 

Vine in the Amazon Rainforest. Ben Sutherland. CC BY 2.0

In terms of the Amazon specifically, many efforts are starting to be made as people recognize the increasingly negative impact they have been causing on the rainforest. For example, in Colombia, a business in bioeconomy is gaining popularity. Forest schools such as the Amazonía Emprende - Escuela Bosque teach local communities to have sustainable business practices, and restore thousands of hectares of land within the next few years. Nature tourism is another method that people are using. It is a way for Indiginous communities to show and teach others about the rainforest, and raising awareness like this also helps improve the living conditions of the people. Another way Colombia is making efforts to preserve the rainforest is simply just growing food more sustainably. There are companies that grow plants in an eco-friendly way, and help families who make a living doing this. 

There are also programs such as the Amazon Sustainable Landscape Program (ASL), which aims to improve the overall management of landscape and ecosystem of the rainforest. The ASL combines efforts from many organizations, such as the World Bank, World Wildlife Fund, International Fund for Agricultural Development and more. With the ASL, these groups have a way to collaborate in a massive effort to restore the rainforest. Big organizations and communities working together is needed for large scale efforts like this to be truly effective in restorating the Amazon.

To Get Involved

There are many organizations trying to help rainforests. The Rainforest Action Network RAN) has a Protect an Acre program, similar to buy-an-acre programs that allow for people to buy an acre of forest land so it won’t be destroyed. The Amazonía Emprende school mentioned earlier educates people about sustainable business practices. The ASL wants to better the management of the Amazon.

To discover more about the Amazonía Emprende school, click here.

To discover more about the ASL and its goals, click here.

To discover more about the RAN and how to donate to them, click here.

Katherine Lim

Katherine is an undergraduate student at Vassar College studying English literature and Italian. She loves both reading and writing, and she hopes to pursue both in the future. With a passion for travel and nature, she wants to experience more of the world and everything it has to offer.

The Decriminalization of Illicit Drugs in British Columbia

Canada has announced their plans to decriminalize small amounts of illicit drugs in British Columbia by January of 2023. They are hopeful this will lower high rates of overdoses.

Graffiti about drug decriminalization. Ted’s Photos. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

In British Columbia, Canada, where thousands of overdose deaths occur each year, officials have decided to try decriminalizing small amounts of illicit drugs. The illicit drugs in question include heroin, cocaine, opioids, methamphetamine and more. Residents of British Columbia 18 years or older will be allowed to possess a maximum of 2.5 grams of these drugs without penalty, a policy that will take effect in January of 2023. This policy comes from an exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act that makes these drugs illicit, which was granted to British Columbia for a three-year trial run.

Officials hope that by decriminalizing small amounts of these drugs, dependent users will feel less afraid of prosecution and stigmatization if they do decide to seek drug-related help. Further, by tackling rates of drug deaths as a public health issue, BC Government News says “the Province will create new pathways to support those seeking treatment.”

Since the height of the pandemic in 2020, British Columbia has struggled with high rates of illicit drug abuse and overdose deaths. In 2020, drug-related death rates rose into the two-thousands, a problem that since 2016 had been declared a public health crisis. Most of these deaths occur when drug users hide their addiction from friends and family, fearing the reaction or stigmatization that will come from their loved ones learning of their addiction.

By decriminalizing these drugs, Canada hopes to reverse this effect; Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, wrote in a tweet: “Stigma and fear of criminalization cause some people to hide their drug use, use alone, or use in ways that increase the risk of harm. This is why the Government of Canada treats substance use as a health issue, not a criminal one.”

Street use in Vancouver. Ted’s Photos. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

The exemption to be instituted in 2023 has found support from family and friends of deceased drug users and was even supported by the police associations and chief coroner. Though some call for even further decriminalization – a policy that would expand the 2.5 gram limit to larger amounts – health officials in Canada believe 2.5 grams is a good trial starting point. Harm reduction is their main goal; British Columbia’s Provincial Health Official Dr. Bonnie Henry stated, “This is not one single thing that will reverse this crisis but it will make a difference.”

In requesting an exemption from the Controlled Drug and Substances Act, British Columbia also stated that drug-related felonies and arrests disproportionately affect already marginalized communities. In decriminalizing small amounts of drugs, the authorities will reduce  punitive actions and may help to decrease the stigmas around drug use that cause people to hide their addictions. 

Turning Point of Tampa has also stated that experts on drug incarceration have stated that imprisonment does not deter drug use, and problems such as substance abuse, mental health issues and fear of open drug use worsen when sentenced to prison time. Peer clinical adviser Guy Felicella told the New York Times, “Arresting me and incarcerating me for all those years for using drugs never stopped me once from using drugs — even when I went to prison. It didn’t do anything except create stigma and discrimination, shame,” which is the exact thing Canada is trying to end through decriminalization.

Hoping to reduce the stigma surrounding drug use that leads to deaths due to fear of judgment and sequentially more dangerous usage, Canada is waiting to see how this exemption in 2023 will reduce rates of drug-related deaths, and whether further decriminalization is needed. 

To Get Involved:

The Canadian Drug Policy Coalition (CDPC) is an advocacy organization that is fighting against the harm caused by drug prohibition laws. Campaigning with a platform centered on decriminalization, the Coalition strives to reduce the high rates of drug overdose deaths in Canada. To learn more about the CDPC’s mission and to support their work, click here.

Ava Mamary

Ava is an undergraduate student at the University of Illinois, double majoring in English and Communications. At school, she Web Writes about music for a student-run radio station. She is also an avid backpacker, which is where her passion for travel and the outdoors comes from. She is very passionate about social justice issues, specifically those involving women’s rights, and is excited to write content about social action across the globe. 

LGBTQ+ Life and Culture in Iceland

Iceland has a reputation for being one of the safest and most accepting countries for the LGBTQ+ community, travelers as well as Icelandic residents.

Pride flags in Reykjavík. Symbioticadesign. CC BY-NC 2.0.

While Iceland is an unusually safe and accepting place today, it has had a rocky history with LGBTQ+ rights just like everywhere else. Because Iceland is so geologically isolated from the rest of the world, Icelandic people rarely even married people from other countries prior to World War II. During World War II, Icelandic women began coupling up with and marrying non-Icelandic soldiers who were stationed in the country, and even these heterosexual relationships were met with disdain. This attachment to “traditional marriage” bled over into the public perception of LGBT+ relationships, meaning that homophobia was also rampant at that time. Even thirty years later, the first famous Icelander to come out as gay in the 1970s, Hörður Torfason, was driven out of Iceland by the extreme homophobia he faced.

However, the tide turned relatively quickly in Iceland between the 1970s and the 1990s, but not without great struggle. In 1978, the Icelandic National Queer Organization was formed, which played a major role in promoting gay rights in Iceland. In 1996, Iceland became the fourth European country to officially recognize same-sex unions. By 2004, 87% of Icelanders supported gay marriage (which was officially legalized in 2010) while in 2004, only 42% of Americans did.

Today, Iceland is a popular travel destination for LGBTQ+ travelers wishing to go somewhere that they can feel comfortable and safe. In fact, Iceland has several popular travel guides and agencies that specifically serve LGBTQ+ travelers: Gay Ice and Pink Iceland. While these websites acknowledge that like anywhere, queer people can still be targetted in Iceland, it is apparently rare, and most hotels, nightlife, gyms and other public places are known to be accommodating of same-sex relationships as well as transgender and nonbinary identities, providing gender-neutral facilities and acknolwedging and respecting preferred pronouns. 

Reykjavík Pride 2009. Filip J. Cauz. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. 

A large number of businesses and homes in Iceland have pride flags outside their windows, and Iceland hosts several LGBTQ+ events throughout the year that attract hundreds of thousands of tourists. In fact, travelers for the Reykjavík Pride Festival, which occurs in August, account for nearly a quarter of the people in Iceland that month. Reykjavík Pride is regarded as one of the major events of the year in Iceland for everyone, not only people who identify under the queer umbrella. How widespread and anticipated Reykjavík Pride is each year reflects how far Iceland has come in terms of acceptance and safety for LGBTQ+ people. Reykjavík also has a festival in February, called the Reykjavík Rainbow Festival. This is another highly anticipated and attended LGBTQ+ festival in Iceland. Additionally, there are smaller celebrations throughout the year all over the country. 

Iceland is known for being very open about same-sex relationships, with queer couples openly showing affection in public generally without fear. There are also LGBTQ+ historical landmarks in Iceland: Gay Ice recommends the LGBT History Walk, which is a walking tour through Reykjavík’s most important LGBTQ+ destinations, along with information about historical events in Iceland throughout the LGBTQ+ rights movement. 

Iceland is an excellent destination at any time of year for anyone, but especially travelers in the LGBTQ+ community. However, August and February are two of the most interesting and inspiring times to visit, so that one can catch the famous pride festivals.

Calliana Leff

Calliana is currently an undergraduate student at Boston University majoring in English and minoring in psychology. She is passionate about sustainability and traveling in an ethical and respectful way. She hopes to continue her writing career and see more of the world after she graduates. 

Ethical Travel: Is it Possible in a World Beset by Climate Inequality?

The tourism industry supports many countries’ economies, but this financial gain can also have environmental consequences. Traveling ethically is possible but requires research and dedication on both sides to ensure the health of unique cultures and wildlife. 

A single-use plastic water bottle found in the Gili Islands of Indonesia. Brian Yurasits. Unsplash (Public Domain).

2020 is on track to become the hottest year on record. With wildfires scorching the American West Coast and threats of drought plaguing India, it is clear that the effects of climate change can no longer be ignored. Subsequently, many are asking: can sustainability and tourism coexist? 

In a 2017 study published by the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, researchers Xavier Font and Ann Hindley highlight the “travel entitlement that is enshrined” in Western culture. The study also found that people felt their “sustainable behavior at home” absolved them of their holiday emissions.

Between 2009 and 2018, the tourism industry’s carbon emissions jumped from 3.9 to 4.5 billion metric tons. Vulnerable destinations like Iceland and the Maldives are further strained by a constant influx of tourists and their expected needs. While minimizing environmental extraction would aid the planet’s livelihood, Font and Hindley’s study also suggests the importance of reexamining human motivations and behavior.

In “Hosts and Guests: The Anthropology of Tourism,” Dennison Nash defines imperialism as an expansion of a society’s influence abroad whether through political or economic means. Tourism can ultimately be viewed as a modern form of imperialism meant to bring leisure to one population at the cost of another’s resources and people.

The outbreak of COVID-19 revealed how many countries are reliant on the tourism industry. In Mexico alone, tourism provides 11 million jobs to people directly and indirectly. Despite the ease at which COVID-19 can spread, many in Mexico are ready to return to work. As quoted in The Washington Post, Rodrigo Esponda, head of the Los Cabos Tourism Board, said, “It’s life or death for us … it’s tourism or nothing.”

Consequently, some are taking the pandemic lockdown as an opportunity to overcome these dependencies. Sociology professor Mimi Sheller at Drexel University released a 2020 study on the intersections of pandemic recovery, climate resilience and ethical tourism in the Caribbean. Instead of waiting for timeshare holders and cruise companies, Sheller writes on the necessity of returning to original practices that might make the Caribbean more resilient to climate disaster. Caribbean activists themselves are setting up vertical gardens, hydroponics systems and other sustainable methods to overcome “extractive and colonial legacies” that have prevented the islands from achieving true economic independence.

Countries like Bhutan set their own measures, thus returning some agency into their hands. The country exacts its own “tourist fee” which caps the number of tourists, consequently mitigating environmental and social disruption. On Sept. 9, Thailand took advantage of pandemic conditions to reevaluate its animal welfare policy, namely the treatment of its elephants and monkeys.

Ultimately, the path to sustainable tourism is possible and relies on the efforts of both host nations and guests alike. Before heading out, travelers can minimize their impacts by researching cultural norms beforehand, supporting family-owned hostels instead of corporate ones, refusing plastic and keeping consumption—from souvenirs to food—local.

Rhiannon Koh

Rhiannon earned her B.A. in Urban Studies & Planning from UC San Diego. Her honors thesis was a speculative fiction piece exploring the aspects of surveillance technology, climate change, and the future of urbanized humanity. She is committed to expanding the stories we tell.

The Influx of ‘Pisupo’: Food Colonialism in the South Pacific

Globalization has created an influx of unhealthy canned food in the South Pacific region, leading to a dependency on it and increasing health issues associated with an unhealthy diet. 

The influx of canned food in the South Pacific has led to a variety of problems. Salvation Army USA West. CC BY 2.0.

The legacy of colonialism has a lasting impact on the island of the South Pacific. Many of those islands have been colonized by Western powers, and some of them are still under the control of foreign countries. Due to this, Western influences are still pervasive throughout the region. 

One lasting legacy of Western imperialism in the South Pacific is the introduction of canned and processed food. The first canned food to be brought to the region was pea soup, and therefore, Samoan and a few other languages of the region, the word for canned food in general is “pisupo.” Today, the predominant type of canned food in the region is corned beef.

The prevalence of canned food in the South Pacific has changed the diets of the people living there and has caused a dependence on them. The new diets of the South Pacific Islanders are not necessarily an improvement from their traditional diets. However, as canned and processed foods are generally unhealthy and lacking in nutrients. That has resulted in an increase of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Between 1990 and 2010, the total disability-adjusted life years lost to obesity also quadrupled in the region.

The traditional diets of South Pacific Islanders provide the nutrients needed for a healthy life. whl.travel. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

In order to provide these new foods, livestock such as cattle and pigs have been introduced to the islands, causing ecological damage. The island ecosystems are fragile, and large-scale ranching can easily destroy them. The dependence on canned food introduced by the West has resulted in not only harm to health, but also harm to the environment.

The proliferation of packaged and processed food has affected other parts of society as well, not just the typical diets. In marriage and birthday ceremonies in traditional South Pacific cultures, people often exchange gifts. While in the past, common gifts included fine mats and decorated barkcloths, but today, canned corned beef is one of the more popular gifts at those events. The introduction of canned foods has even changed traditional practices and contributed to the prevalent unhealthy diets of the South Pacific Islanders.

“Pisupo Lua Afe (Corned Beef 2000)” is a piece of art by Michael Tuffery that critiques the food dependency of the South Pacific. Sheep’R’Us. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

The neocolonial nature of these developments has its critics. One of them, Michael Tuffery, offers a unique interpretation through his artwork, with one of the most notable being “Pisupo Lua Afe,” a sculpture of a bull made from canned corned beef. He says that his art addresses the impact that the “exploitation of the Pacific’s natural resources has wrought on the traditional Pacific lifestyle.” His choice of subject matter and the material show his thoughts on the influx of canned food in the South Pacific. Bulls were a common presence at the aforementioned ceremonies, and the fact that the bull is covered in canned corned beef represents the fact that more traditional practices. Tuffery laments the changes that globalization has brought to his traditional Samoan culture, which has led to a “decline of indigenous cooking skills.”

With so much waste being created in the making of “Pisupo Lua Afe,” Tuffery calls into question whether the physical and cultural costs of food dependence are worth it. Could the South Pacific do better without the influx of canned food? Tuffery argues that it could. But even if the South Pacific Islanders decide to shun the prevalence of canned food, hurdles remain to improve the health of both the land and people of the region.

Bryan Fok

Bryan is currently a History and Global Affairs major at the University of Notre Dame. He aims to apply the notion of Integral Human Development as a framework for analyzing global issues. He enjoys hiking and visiting national parks.

Holding Corporations Responsible For Abusive Practices

The supply chain of a company represents every step along the way of production, meaning that abuses can happen thousands of miles from a company’s base and never be caught or noticed.

Garment factory in Vietnam. United Nations Industrial Development Organization. CC BY-ND 2.0.

A corporation’s supply chain is the structure of sources, suppliers, and producers of a corporation’s products . Because there are so many steps between an idea and the sale of the actual product, it’s easy for companies to engage in unethical work conditions—whether that be environmental or in terms of human rights—and often these abuses go unaccounted for. Recently, there’s been a push to track and regulate companies’ supply chains to reduce the number of environmental and human rights abuses throughout supply chains.

The most prominent issue in most companies’ supply chains is some form of forced labor. This can present in a very straightforward way: full on modern slavery, with workers working entirely against their will(s). However, this can also manifest in less obvious but also horrifying ways such as unfair and unlivable wages, unsafe working conditions and the impossibility for workers to quit if and/or when they want to. The reason that all of these abuses are called “supply chain issues” is because whichever company that makes the final product must be held responsible for human rights abuses at any point in its production, even if it seems far removed from the final product. 

In addition to overworking and underpaying workers overseas, there have been many reports of sexual violence and even murder within garment factories. In 2021, a garment worker in India named Jayasre Kathiravel was murdered by her boss after months of sexual harassment at his hands. Prior to her death, she reported to friends and family that she felt extremely unsafe and did not feel it was possible to leave her job. There have also been fires in garment factories due to unsafe and crowded working conditions, such as the fire in 2012 in Bangladesh which tragically killed at least 112 people. Despite efforts following the fire to improve safety in these factories, garment workers in Bangladesh continue to report feeling unsafe today. There are several organizations that are striving to hold companies accountable for egregious abuses such as these, because even if the company is based halfway across the world, if the root of the problem is not regulated, change is unlikely.

Women in Bangladesh protest for workers’ rights. USAID U.S. Agency For International Development. CC BY-NC 2.0. 

Another issue, in addition to human rights abuses, is the environmental impact of large corporations. The fast fashion industry alone is responsible for 10% of pollution. Much of this pollution occurs in ways that the consumer doesn’t see. By producing so much clothing so rapidly, and then having to transport all of that clothing all around the world on a daily basis, massive amounts of resources are used, and a massive amount of CO2 is released into theatmosphere. Many of the same laws and organizations that are tackling the regulation of working conditions for large corporations are also pushing for environmental regulations. 

One organization that is working hand in hand with lawmakers in the U.S. to improve supply chain issues is the New Standard Institute. The New Standard Institute primarily focuses on the fashion industry, which is widely known for being one of the worst industries in terms of egregious human rights abuses as well as environmental damage. The New Standard Institute is working to push for The Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act (The Fashion Act), a law which has been proposed in the state of New York  but would have repercussions throughout the entire world. The Fashion Act would regulate clothing and footwear brands with over $100 million revenues, forcing them to map the majority of their supply chain. The brands would then have to figure out which area of their supply chain produces the worst environmental and social effects (in terms of pay equality and greenhouse gas emissions specifically) and provide an enactable agenda for how to improve in those areas. If the brand in question has not made the progress that they promised within 12 to 18 months they would be subject to fines of up to 2% of their annual income. The companies would also have to make their environmental and human rights statistics readily available on the internet. While this law has only been proposed in New York, most supply chain abuses for major companies occur outside of the United States, and since New York provides such a major market, it will be in these corporations’ best interests to comply with the The Fashion Act if it is passed.

 Forever 21 in Times Square. Krogers2013. CC BY-ND 2.0.

California passed a similar law in 2010 which focused on slavery in the garment industry, and other European countries as well as Australia have fair trade laws. So, the Fashion Act would not be the first law of its kind if passed, but given the revenue brought in from New York, it would likely have a significant impact globally.


TO GET INVOLVED

There are several things that an individual can do to support supply chain regulation and a decrease in human rights abuse and pollution. As a consumer, one can be mindful of the brands that they support, and research a brand’s track record when it comes to workers’ rights and the environment. Unfortunately, most affordable brands are able to stay so affordable due to poor wages or completely unpaid labor. However, if limiting where you buy from is not an option, you can also research to see which affordable brands have plans in place to decrease their negative impact within the next few years. Additionally, there are several organizations pushing for regulation to support, such as the New Standard Institute (mentioned above), and the Ethical Training Initiative, which hosts training on how to be an ethical consumer, and supports workers in their unionization efforts and more. Additionally, you can contact your representative and tell them you support The Fashion Act, and ask what they have done to support regulation in their area. And finally, the simplest way to help with this problem is just to buy less.

Calliana Leff

Calliana is currently an undergraduate student at Boston University majoring in English and minoring in psychology. She is passionate about sustainability and traveling in an ethical and respectful way. She hopes to continue her writing career and see more of the world after she graduates. 

The Efforts to Rid Italy of Organized Crime

Images of the Mafia are ingrained in the public imagination of Italy. However, steps have been taken to eliminate it, making the country safer than in prior generations.

A protest banner erected after the murder of Peppino Impastato that says, “The mafia kills; so does silence.” ragnagne. CC BY-SA 2.0.

The proliferation of movies and television shows on the subject have caused some Americans to associate Italy with the Mafia. While it is true that organized crime is still causing headaches to law enforcement today, organized crime in the country is much more than just the Mafia, which is confined to Sicily. Other criminal organizations exist, such as the ‘Ndrangheta in Calabria and the Sacra Corona Unita in Apulia. The Camorra, which is based in the region of Campania and the city of Naples, is notable for using illicit methods to gain control of building contracts and garbage disposal, allowing them to control a large portion of Neapolitan society. Their negligence has also resulted in a lack of garbage collection services, causing large piles of trash on the streets to the ire of many residents of Naples. 

Each of these organizations operate somewhat differently, but they are all powerful players in the international drug trade. However, great strides have been made to eliminate their threat.

Some of the criminal organizations have their roots in the 18th century, when southern Italy was under Spanish rule. They prospered in the 19th and early 20th century, bribing politicians to ignore their activities. Sporadic but well-intentioned efforts emerged in the late 20th century to curb their influence. In the 1970s, Peppino Impastato emerged as a lone voice in questioning the tight grip the Sicilian Mafia held on his hometown of Cinisi, mocking them in his radio show, but it resulted in his murder in 1978. The Maxi Trials, the largest trial to occur in history, lasting from 1986 to 1992, resulted in the conviction and sentencing of 338 Mafia members. However, the aftermath of the trial showed that there was still a long way to go; the two judges leading the trial, Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, were killed shortly after its conclusion.

An Addiopizzo branded T-shirt,  encouraging critical consumption by only supporting businesses that do not pay extortion money to the Sicilian Mafia. Addiopizzo Travel. CC BY-NC 2.0.

Today, interventions with widespread community support have been more successful in limiting the reach of organized crime. A more recent push includes more grassroots efforts, such as Addiopizzo, which is the movement for businesses to refuse to pay extortion money, called “pizzo,” to the Mafia. Businesses had traditionally paid the Mafia money to be left alone, but in 2004, a group of young university graduates started the campaign to end the practice. Soon, the entire Palermitan community was in solidarity with them, causing untold misery to the Mafia bosses still operating by cutting their main source of income. Relying on the slogan, “An entire population that pays the pizzo is a population without dignity,” Addiopizzo has galvanized Sicilian society to push back against paying the Mafia.

Now based in several organizations in both Palermo and Catania, two major cities in Sicily, Addiopizzo is encouraging ordinary people to only buy from places that do not pay the pizzo. Stores that refuse to pay the protection money are labeled with a sign that says, “Pago chi non paga [I pay those who do not pay].” The organization Addiopizzo Travel also provides visitors to Sicily with sustainable accommodations and encourages them to frequent those businesses. 

Negligence by the Camorra, the criminal organization of Naples, has caused trash to pile on the streets. chrisjohnbeckett. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

The government is also taking action against organized crime. With the public getting tired of the control over garbage disposal by the Camorra in Campania, the governments of some cities are taking action. In the city of Castellammare, near Naples, the government is cutting off all contracts with the Camorra, while insisting it “will not stop the city” by doing so. The city prefect is going even further by declaring that “unwelcome people are not even candidates” for mayor.

To fully eliminate the threat of organized crime in Italy, however, their effects must be addressed. The organization Libera. Associazioni, nomi e numeri contro le mafie works to invest in education to spread knowledge of the extent of the networks of organized crime. It also repurposes property confiscated from criminal organizations for social uses by the community, helping to mitigate the effects of organized crime. The combination of grassroots, governmental and nonprofit movements ensure all aspects of organized crime are being eliminated.

Bryan Fok

Bryan is currently a History and Global Affairs major at the University of Notre Dame. He aims to apply the notion of Integral Human Development as a framework for analyzing global issues. He enjoys hiking and visiting national parks.

Why Explosive Population Growth Is Unsustainable

The world is experiencing massive population growth, most of it in the Global South. If nothing is done to slow the rate, repercussions will be felt in politics, the economy and the environment.

A crowded street in Nairobi, Kenya, which has one of the highest population growth rates in the world. rogiro. CC BY-NC 2.0.

The world’s population is growing at an alarming rate. In 1950, the world’s population was estimated to be around 2.6 billion. In 2022, it is almost 7.9 billion. While it is true that the world theoretically has enough resources to support the entire current global population with room to spare, the rate of population increase is a cause for concern. Most of the world’s resources are concentrated in the countries of North America and Europe, but most of the world’s population growth is located in the Global South, which can negatively affect the development of those countries.

When agricultural societies start to industrialize, the death rate usually drops due to advances in medical care. The birth rate stays high for a while until social changes encourage more women to join the workforce and have fewer children. Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa are stuck in a demographic transition trap.

Current world population growth rate by country. Digital Dreams. CC BY 2.0.

As countries in the Global South start to industrialize, their death rates are falling, but their birth rates are not dropping to match the death rate, resulting in explosive population growth. This demographic trap occurs when “falling living standards reinforce the prevailing high fertility, which in turn reinforces the decline in living standards.” When developing countries do not make the necessary social changes to accompany industrialization, the birth rate stays high even as the economy transitions away from agriculture. These countries are slow to change their view on the ideal family size in light of emerging industrialization, and many are still engaged in labor intensive industries which reinforce the need for many children to provide free labor.

This explosive population growth has detrimental effects on both the developing country’s economy and environment. It leads to political instability, as the deluge of people overwhelm governments, causing states to fail. Governments likely cannot provide enough resources to the ever-growing population, trapping people in a cycle of poverty. Many families are impoverished due to using their resources for taking care of many children, perpetuating a cycle of poverty. 

The inability for a government to provide for its population results in a failed state. Of the 20 top failing states defined by the Failed States Index, 15 of them are growing between 2 and 4 percent a year. In 14 of those states, 40% or more of the population are under the age of 15. Large families are the norm in failing states, with women having an average of six children.

Not only does excessive population growth lead to failed states and economic problems, but it also leads to environmental problems as well. As the Global South develops, more and more people there are becoming consumers of energy and resources, contributing to climate change. In Madagascar, population growth has “triggered massive deforestation and massive species extinction.” The current rate of population growth is unsustainable in the long run economically, politically and environmentally.

However, previous efforts to decrease the birth rate in the Global South has led to the dehumanization of many women. According to Columbia professor Dr. Matthew Connelly, Americans developed programs to “motivate medical workers to insert IUDs [intrauterine devices] in more women” in South Korea and Taiwan, causing “untold misery” as there were not enough clinics to deal with the possible side effects of those procedures. Puerto Rico became a “proving ground for both the birth control pill and state-supported sterilization” due to American policy despite pushback from religious authorities. These efforts deprive women of their agency to plan their own families.

Interventions to limit population growth must ensure that families, and specifically women, have agency over their bodies. Comprehensive sexual education is an option to enable people to understand the reasons behind the different methods to decrease birth rates. Families must be able to make an informed choice on their family size, and such sexual education is a popular idea to achieve that in a humane and dignified manner.

Bryan Fok

Bryan is currently a History and Global Affairs major at the University of Notre Dame. He aims to apply the notion of Integral Human Development as a framework for analyzing global issues. He enjoys hiking and visiting national parks.

World Central Kitchen: Relief Through Food

World Central Kitchen is a relief program that sends food and cooks to areas affected by disaster, that recently had a base in Ukraine hit by a Russian missile. Read to learn more about World Central Kitchen and how to support its efforts. 

World Central Kitchen location in Charlottesville, Va. Rick Stillings. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

José Andrés founded World Central Kitchen in 2010 when Haiti was hit by an earthquake. The philosophy behind World Central Kitchen is that it isn’t simply food needed after a disaster, but chefs who are willing and able to cook food in the style that the people in the affected area are accustomed to, as a source of not only nourishment but also comfort. Ever since, World Central Kitchen has responded to disasters both environmental and humanitarian. 

While World Central Kitchen works to support any area in crisis, it has a specific Climate Disaster Fund. The fund is committed to spending $1 billion over the next ten years to combat climate change and assist those affected by extreme weather. It focuses on three areas: food provision for victims of climate disasters, investment in the communities most impacted by climate change and climate policy change. In terms of investing directly into communities, World Central Kitchen has a program called the Food Producer Network, which works directly with and financially supports independent farmers, fisherman and other food providers within these communities. The Food Producer Network provides grants and loans, as well as sending volunteers to work for these small businesses (if volunteers are desired). The Food Producer Network specifically operates in the Bahamas, Guatemala, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

World Central Kitchen/World Food Programme Volunteers in Beira, Mozambique. DFID - UK Department for International Development. CC BY 2.0.

World Central Kitchen recently received a lot of publicity because its base in Kharkiv, Ukraine was destroyed by a Russian missile on April 15. This is the first time that World Central Kitchen has set up a kitchen in an active war zone, and the kitchen was not the only place hit; residences and businesses in Kharkiv were hit as well, as the missile directly hit the building across the street from the kitchen. Despite several staff members being hospitalized as a result of the missile, World Central Kitchen intends to set up another location elsewhere in Ukraine. 

World Central Kitchen accepts monetary donations and trains volunteers in or adjacent to the places that they are currently serving. As of May 17, they are looking for volunteers in Poland, Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, The Bahamas and Guatemala. Some other food relief programs currently working to provide food (or money, through food) for the disaster in Ukraine are Cook For Ukraine, founded by Eastern European chefs working in conjunction with UNICEF, and Bakers Against Racism’s “Bake For Ukraine” campaign, which is an international bake sale program that has raised over $2.5 million for several global causes.

Calliana Leff

Calliana is currently an undergraduate student at Boston University majoring in English and minoring in psychology. She is passionate about sustainability and traveling in an ethical and respectful way. She hopes to continue her writing career and see more of the world after she graduates. 

Dying By Fire: Wynn Bruce’s Environmental Protest

This past Earth Day, climate activist Wynn Bruce lit himself on fire on the steps of the Supreme Court, dying the following day. Set on demonstrating the importance of global warming, Bruce chose the world’s most radical form of protest to emphasize his commitment to martyrdom.

Steps of the Supreme Court. Dbking. CC BY 2.0.

On April 22, 2022, Wynn Bruce, a climate activist from Colorado, made a fateful and radical decision: he would go to the front of the Supreme Court and, using self-immolation, become a martyr for the fight for global-warming-related policy change. Fed up with the lack of commitment to the issue of climate change, Bruce seemed to feel this was the only way he could get United States policy makers to listen—by lighting himself on fire and dying for his cause.

Self-immolation is the most radical and rarest form of nonviolent protest. It is said by ABC to have “the ability to harness both the morality of nonviolent action with the visceral nature of violent action.” By Merriam-Webster's definition, it is the “deliberate and willing sacrifice of oneself often by fire.” Typically, protestors who choose this form of action will use flammable substances such as petrol and lighter fluid to make sure flames catch and spread across the body. The goal of this form of protest is not to live to see its impact, it's to sacrifice oneself as a martyr for a cause in order to stress the dire importance of certain issues.

Used now for decades to protest a variety of social issues, self-immolation has continued its way into the practices of the modern day protest. Wynn Bruce is just one example; a civil rights lawyer named David Buckle burned himself to death in 2018, also protesting climate change. Wynn Bruce, alongside being a son, climate activist and citizen of the world, was a Buddhist, which is the religion credited by many to have started the practice of self-immolation.

Self-immolation has been used across the globe and did not necessarily start as a form of active protest. Buddhists are commonly credited not only with self-immolation’s creation but also with the practice’s infamy. ABC explains that many Buddhists believed that the ability to renounce the body and “transcend[ing] it’s limitations” was when “perfection is reached.” In Buddhism, to transcend is to reach enlightenment—a state of compassion and one that also ends the cycle of rebirth—so often, self-immolation was done as a religious act and not as a form of protest. 

Buddhists used self-immolation first as a form of religious ceremony, but then turned to its more aggressive usages during the Vietnam War. Thich Quang Duc, known as The Burning Monk, used self immolation to protest a massacre that was allowed by the Vietnamese government. The president of Vietnam at the time had laws in place that restricted religious practices of faiths other than Catholicism, which eventually led to the. In response to this outrage, Thich Quang Duc made an ultimate sacrifice; gathering nearly 350 monks and nuns, Thich Quang Duc sat cross legged in the lotus position as a peer poured petrol over his body and lit a flame. Thich Quang Duc remained perfectly still as his body caught fire. This was an act of protest heard around the world, and the imagery from the day was quickly iconized in canonical protest media.

Thich Quang Duc being covered in petrol. Manhhai. CC BY 2.0.

Because self-immolation has the power to so strongly influence those who hear of it, it is not surprising how fast the news of Thich Quang Duc’s sacrifice reached all areas of the globe. Published in magazines such as TIME and the Associated Press, the image circulated the globe and continues to be brought up in tribute articles and memorial pieces by publications.

The act of self-immolation hurts no one except the martyr involved. It attracts all the right media attention, and it emphasizes the threat of pressing social issues in such an extreme way that the world is forced to listen. Wynn Bruce seemed to know this, and his peers claimed to understand his motivations. Dr. Kritee Kanko, a Buddhist priest took to Twitter to write, “This act is not suicide. This is a deeply fearless act of compassion to bring attention to climate crisis.”

A statue of The Burning Monk. MK Photography. CC BY-NC-ND-2.0.

To Get Involved

MCE Cares is an organization designed to help people learn about how to become a climate activist. To learn more about the ways in which you can support the fight for policy change and climate activism, click here.

Ava Mamary

Ava is an undergraduate student at the University of Illinois, double majoring in English and Communications. At school, she Web Writes about music for a student-run radio station. She is also an avid backpacker, which is where her passion for travel and the outdoors comes from. She is very passionate about social justice issues, specifically those involving women’s rights, and is excited to write content about social action across the globe.

How Much Water Does A Pair of Jeans Cost?

Has the commercial giant finally found the key to environmentally sustainable denim production? Or is this just another temporary measure to keep their customers happy?

H&M outlet store in Germany. Marco Verch. CC-BY 2.0.

Over the past few years, the fashion industry has come under major public scrutiny for its general lack of concern for the environment. Every single step of the clothing manufacturing process—growing cotton, dyeing fabric, washing clothes—uses inordinate amounts of water while also producing between 4 and 10% of global carbon emissions every year. Fast fashion giant H&M produced almost 3 billion garments and earned just under $22.5 billion in revenue in 2020, making it the second largest clothing retailer in the world. The company also consumed about 85 liters of water per kilogram of dyed fabric they produced, totaling around 225 billion liters of water for that year alone.

Despite having been the target of widespread concern over the negative environmental consequences of fast fashion practices, the Swedish retailer claims to be working towards a more sustainable future. H&M publicly announced its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 56% by 2030, but many are doubtful it will be successful. Some of its current strategies include cutting ties with suppliers who still use coal boilers, enforcing carbon pricing systems within the company and establishing a green investment team to support environmental projects.

Promotional material for H&M’s Less Water denim capsule collection. H&M. CC-BY-ND 2.0.

H&M’s most recent project is its new “Less Water” capsule collection, which claims to have a focus on cutting water usage in the production process. The line includes various denim garments that are supposedly the product of new dyeing and printing technologies that reduce both the amount of water used and the amount of chemicals released. The company has already reached its previous goal of having 15% recycled water reused in the production of new clothing by 2020. This was largely the result of targeted rainwater harvesting and wastewater recycling initiatives in Bangladesh and India, where the company’s largest treatment and manufacturing plants are located.

While these are all steps in the right direction, they are decidedly small ones. The majority of H&M’s garments are still made using materials that are not harvested in an eco-friendly manner. Most importantly, it continues to operate using the fast fashion business model of providing trendy clothes for cheap, most often at the expense of the quality of the clothing, the environment and the labor conditions of the workers. Despite scoring 68% on the Fashion Transparency Index in 2021 (an annual report that reviews and ranks retailers based on their social and environmental policies) the company has failed to release any information about whether or not they are on track for their 2030 goals.

PicknWeight vintage kilo store. Lordship100. CC-BY 2.0.

The Less Water collection follows in a long line of recent attempts by various brands to improve their public image by becoming more socially responsible. Whether or not they will continue in the long run is yet to be seen, but if you are really looking to be more environmentally conscious, try your local thrift or vintage store instead. Not only can the items be equally as affordable as fast fashion brands like H&M, but giving clothes a second life saves them from the landfill, which is a much more immediate way to make a positive difference.

Tanaya Vohra

Tanaya is an undergraduate student pursuing a major in Public Health at the University of Chicago. She's lived in Asia, Europe and North America and wants to share her love of travel and exploring new cultures through her writing.

World Cup Controversy: Should Qatar Be Hosting FIFA 2022?

Ahead of the FIFA World Cup this November, Qatar has been the center of much controversy surrounding workers rights and the environmental impacts of their new stadiums.

The official ‘Adidas Telstar Mechta’ ball during the handover ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup host mantle. Alneth. CC BY 2.0.

From high temperatures to Qatar's rather questionable human rights record, there has been a public outcry over FIFA’s refusal to remove the upcoming tournament from the Gulf state, despite issuing numerous vague statements that they were considering the change. There has been extensive controversy about why the second-biggest sporting event in the world after the Olympics should be held in a location which has outwardly expressed homophobic attitudes and in seven air-conditioned stadiums built by exploited migrant workers.

The criticism has all been exacerbated by the huge lack of viewer engagement the last time Qatar hosted such a major sporting event; stadiums during the 2019 World Athletics Championship were largely empty despite garnering a live viewership of 705,000 just two years prior. The economically unsustainability of the event—especially given that issues surrounding the rampant poverty and financial inequality in Qatar could have benefitted enormously from extra government funding and investment—have significantly lowered expectations for the upcoming World Cup.

A migrant worker cuts through a metal rod at a construction site for one of the football stadiums. ILO. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

The kafala labor system is a contractual form of labor sponsorship used in Qatar through which migrant workers are connected with a kafeel (sponsor) who manages their immigration status. Because the kafeel has ultimate authority over their workers, many of whom traveled from across Southeast Asia specifically for the construction of the stadiums, they face exploitation in the form of dangerous working conditions and insufficient wages. Increased international attention has pressured the Qatari government into passing various reforms to the system, but such changes to policy rarely come into effect in a timely manner.

Another major point of controversy has centered around the negative environmental impacts of constructing indoor, air-conditioned stadiums in the middle of the desert. On November 26, Qatar unveiled Stadium 974 to eager fans, a venue named for the number of recycled shipping containers used to construct the stadium. Despite FIFA’s extensive praise of this project, they have been accused of using it as a greenwashing exercise to divert attention away from the fact that Qatar’s climate necessitates the other seven stadiums to be artificially cooled. This will increase the country’s carbon footprint, which is already amongst the highest in the world due to its largely oil-based economy. Many critics have compared this to the backlash China received for using so much artificial snow when hosting the Winter Olympics in 2022. Environmental experts strongly believed that such environmentally harmful measures could have been avoided if the host nation chosen simply had a more suitable climate for the event, an argument they have extended to the upcoming World Cup as well.

Renovation of the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha. jbdodane. CC BY-NC 2.0.

While this is definitely not the first time a World Cup has been placed under such public scrutiny, previous controversies did not receive as much publicity as those in Qatar have. It begs the question of whether this is just because social consciousness is increasing in general or whether it has to do with the event being held in the Middle East—a longtime target of Western media. Either way, there is still a lot for FIFA and the Qatari government to address ahead of kickoff in November.

Tanaya Vohra

Tanaya is an undergraduate student pursuing a major in Public Health at the University of Chicago. She's lived in Asia, Europe and North America and wants to share her love of travel and exploring new cultures through her writing.

The Top 3 Countries For Women in Government

For most of history, men have made up all global governments. However, today, a select few lead the world with more than half of their parliamentary seats being occupied by women.

UN Women’s Event. UN Women Gallery. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

While governments around the world are still generally male-dominated, and men continue to hold most positions of high power, women have made significant strides. Rwanda and Cuba are the only countries in the world with more than 50% of their government being occupied by women today, while Bolivia maintained a female majority from 2014-2019.There are other countries whose highest roles are filled by women. For example, Jacinda Ardern is the prime minister of New Zealand, Sanna Marin is the youngest prime minister ever elected in Finland, Mia Mottley is the first woman elected as prime minister in Barbados, and Katrín Jakobsdóttir is the prime minister of Iceland. However, Rwanda, Cuba and Bolivia are the only three countries led by women in terms of legislative percentages. .

Rwanda

Dr. Usta Kayitesi, Former Deputy CEO of Rwandan Governance Board. Paul Kagame. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

In 2003, Rwanda set a rule that at least 30% of government seats had to be filled by women. That very year, the elections resulted in nearly a 50/50 gender split in Rwanda’s parliament. Ten years later, the Rwandan parliament became 64% female. In 2022, Rwandan parliament is still 61% women.With that being said, women in the Rwandan government say that they still face sexism, despite holding the majority. District Vice Mayor Claudette Mukamana says women’s abilities are still questioned; Executive Secretary for the Rubavu District Berthilde Muruta says their motives for being in government are questioned.

Cuba

Cuban flag in Havana. Samuel Negredo. CC BY 2.0.

In 2018, Cuba followed Rwanda as the second country to elect a female majority parliament. Since 2018, 53% of Cuba’s parliament has been made up of women. Unlike Rwanda, Cuba does not have a quota in place for women in government. Despite the majority-woman parliament, there have been criticisms of Cuba’s treatment of elected women, just like Rwanda, including that the higher up one goes in the government, the less women there are. Essentially, while in terms of pure statistics women dominate Cuba’s government, men continue to occupy the roles with the most political power.

Bolivia

Former Bolivian President of Senate Adriana Salvatierra, third from the left, (insert which one she is in parentheses) at UN Women’s Event. UN Women Gallery. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. 

In 2020, Bolivia’s proportion of women in parliament equaled  46% and has stayed at that figure since. But from 2014 to 2019, Bolivia was one of the only countries with a majority woman government, at 53%. Like Rwanda, Bolivia has gender quotas, but these quotas are enacted a bit differently in Bolivia versus Rwanda. Bolivia has a quota for the number of female candidates put forward in any given election cycle, as opposed to the number actually elected. For the Lower House, Bolivia requires at least half of the candidates to be women.

Calliana Leff

Calliana is currently an undergraduate student at Boston University majoring in English and minoring in psychology. She is passionate about sustainability and traveling in an ethical and respectful way. She hopes to continue her writing career and see more of the world after she graduates.