How Ancient Ghanaian Culture Shapes Sea Turtle Conservation

April 25, 2023

Ghana’s ancient admiration for sea turtles has inspired a modern conservation movement to protect these ecologically vital animals.

Sea turtle swimming in the ocean. Belle Co. CC0.

Ghana is a vibrant country located in West Africa, bordered by Côte D’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Togo. It is known for its rich culture, stunning beaches, and diverse wildlife. As a traveler, you would likely find Ghana to be a lively country, full of colorful markets, bustling streets, and a unique mix of traditional and modern cultures. Perhaps most importantly, Ghana is known for the warmth and hospitality of its people, where you’ll be met with a welcoming and friendly nature.

Ghanaian people are also very spiritually attuned, whether it’s native African spirituality or more newly introduced Christianity. They are very fond of their cultural and religious traditions, one of which is long-standing is their long standing connection to sea turtles.

Sea turtles have been a part of Ghana’s culture and folklore for centuries, with oral literature depicting these animals as protectors, helpers or even guides. Moreover, the reptiles are integral to Ghana’s ecology, as they help to maintain coral reefs and seagrass, which in turn ensure continued biodiversity.

It wasn’t always this way, as with Urbanization came poverty, and with poverty came poachers. These poachers saw the Sea turtles not as protectors but as a source of profit. Now, having returned to their traditions, Ghanaians are more determined than ever to protect and conserve these animals in hopes to prevent their extinction.

All over Ghana, there are different recorded myths and stories that show the ancient connection between Ghana and sea turtles.

The Ga and Akan ethnic groups of central Ghana have a story about their ancestors and how they once were caught in a storm while fishing, in which their boat had sunk. It is said that as the men were struggling in the choppy waters, the sea turtles arrived and helped them get back to shore.

The Dange people of eastern Ghana have a story in which their ancestors were trying to retreat after Ashanti armies had them cornered against the Volta River. They recount how both the crocodiles and the sea turtles helped them safely cross the river, by having the crocodiles form a bridge, while sea turtles helped heal the injured and guided the elderly across. It is said that to this day, both animals are fully protected in this region of Ghana.

Sea turtles in Ghana have been protected by law since 1971. Even then, there are still poachers, so just that isn’t enough. The Ghana Turtle Research Project (GTRP) has been around for more than 10 years. The organization encourages community members to participate in sea turtle conservation and to embrace their culture and traditions. By doing so they were able to get more than fifty community members to form a volunteer network. They also helped to tag and identify where turtle species reside most often in order to make sure that fishermen avoid those areas and to ensure they are safe-guarded.

Additionally, the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) is an organization that was focused on protecting nesting sites in the fishing communities of central Ghana. In 2019, during the first turtle nesting season (of that year), they were successfully able to deter poachers from the Goma Fetteh region.

As more and more Ghanaian communities return to their traditional and spiritual beliefs, more people are caring about the sea turtles. It’s due to the oral traditions in Ghanaian culture that these conservation efforts were possible, as they make people care more about these creatures of the sea. They helped form an everlasting connection between the sea turtle and man.

Kadija is a student at Georgia State in Atlanta, Ga. She is a creative spirit who loves traveling and seeing new places. She also enjoys using her love for writing/storytelling to make an impact on the world. One day she hopes to make new connections and share stories as she travels to every continent.

9 Must-Read Works of Historical Protest Literature

April 12, 2023

The novels and essays that shaped our understanding of human rights.

Throughout US history, protest against injustice has driven citizens to develop a social consciousness about the realities of their country. Protest has become a tradition for an American people empowered by democracy. Protests against US systems and rules range from wide and broad dissent – usually targeting the government, people in power, unfair laws, and injustice – to narrow and timely dissent, targeting war, the cruelties of industrialization, homophobia, racism, and misogyny.

The many models of protest, political, artistic, literary, etc., all empower groups whose voices beg to be heard and whose voices can create structural change in society and in the reader. Of these, literary protest may be the most multidimensional in that authors can outline and explore structures of oppression, and the government and policies that uphold this structure, over hundreds of pages. Literary protest is variable, timely, and necessary; it puts the voice of the educated, intelligent, and thoughtful at the forefront of dissent.

Here are 9 must-read pieces of US protest literature:

1. “Resistance to Civil Government” or “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau (1849)

In Thoreau’s “Resistance to Civil Government,” the transcendentalist author explains his intentional and political refusal to pay taxes with a critique of the American government. The essay highlights his opposition to the American government’s invasion and occupation of Mexico during the Mexican-American War and the continuing injustice of slavery; in these conditions, Thoreau argues, injustice reigns in the American government, so citizens may choose to disobey laws that support these injustices. This abolitionist and anti-imperialist essay argues for the American right of revolution.

2. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave

Douglass’ Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave recounts his memories, thoughts, and experiences as a slave and, later, an escaped fugitive. This pre-Civil War autobiography accurately depicts Douglass’ experiences from his early years as a slave in Maryland to his status as de facto free man. The book is filled to the brim with abolitionist sentiment and a strong indictment of slavery. It is also Frederick Douglass’ best-selling fugitive slave narrative, having sold 5000 copies within four months of the first printing.

3. “An Indian’s Looking-Glass for the White Man”

Pequot William Apess, one of the most impactful Native American protest writers, embodies resistance in his essay, “An Indian’s Looking-Glass for the White Man.” Apess challenges the reigning notions of white superiority with his prose, the system of slavery promoted by whites, and the forceful imposition of European American culture and religion on native peoples whose civilizations are as significant as the white Americans’ own. This protest writer challenges the dominant systems by discussing such examples of white brutality against Native Americans as the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which granted white Americans permission to commit violence against the Indigenous and to remove them from their ancestral land.

Judith Sargent Murray’s many works can be found in the Selected Writings of Judith Sargent Murray. Amazon.

4. “On the Equality of the Sexes” by Judith Sargent Murray (1790)

Murray’s feminist essay, “On the Equality of the Sexes” precedes even Mary Wollstonecraft’s Vindication of the Rights of Women by a year, but unjustly is by far the lesser known of the two feminist pieces. Regardless, the pseudonymously published essay promotes the education of women using a multitude of feminist arguments. Murray discusses and refutes the stereotypes of women as gossipers and fashion-obsessed fools, highlights her hatred of the prevailing notion that women should be subservient to men and be denied education, and promotes the somewhat nationalist idea that both men and women should be educated to advance the country, a concept that would later be called Republican Motherhood.

5. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (1

Sinclair’s novel The Jungle protests the cruelties and the corruption of 20th century US industrialization. This expose of the Chicago meatpacking industry was part of a wave of similar exposes written by muckrakers – progressive American writers who exposed the harsh realities of industrialization – in the early 20th century. Although the novel tells the story of fictional Lithuanian immigrant Jurgis Rudkus’s experience of factory life, there is much truth to the narrative because Sinclair wrote the novel after spending much time undercover in various Chicago meatpacking plants. The description of falling wages, workplace injuries, food contamination, and disease significantly impacted the image of factory jobs at this time and forced the government to implement federal food safety laws.

6. Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches

Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches compiles some of Audre Lorde’s most influential works that confront racism, sexism, homophobia, and classicism into a single book. Lorde addresses a multitude of systems of oppression: in her most famous essay “The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House,” Lorde promotes the idea that the tools built by the system of oppression will never defeat that same system of oppression. In “Man Child: A Black Lesbian’s Feminist Response,” Lorde recounts her experience of raising both a son and a daughter while critiquing the toxic masculinity that society demands of her son. Echoing themes include critiques of black men’s treatment of black women and the idea that the oppressed shouldn’t teach their oppressors about the latter’s mistakes.

American journalist Frances FitzGerald’s Fire in the Lake.

7. Fire in the Lake by Frances

FitzGerald’s Fire in the Lake, a nonfiction history of Vietnam and the Vietnam War, boasts the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction, the Bancroft Prize, and the National Book Award for Contemporary Affairs. The multi-award-winning book was crafted by FitzGerald after years of travel and research into Vietnamese culture. In the book’s pages, FitzGerald analyzes the downfalls of American interventionism in Vietnam, America’s supposed promise to develop South Vietnam, and the many adverse effects – such as the displacement of villagers – of keeping American arms in Vietnam. Overall, the book highlights the ignorance of the US government and society through the lens of a cultural intellectual at a time when the Vietnam War was still ongoing.

8. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbe

Perhaps Steinbeck’s most famous fiction masterpiece, The Grapes of Wrath, narrates the story of migrant farm workers suffering from the Great Depression. In the narrative, the Joad family of farmers loses their livelihood in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl and must trek to find work elsewhere. The Nobel Prize-winning novel demonstrates the ways in which farm workers were exploited by organized businesses in the 1930s and generates sympathy for the plight of these individuals as they fight through economic hardship. In fact, Steinbeck, to gain a clearer picture of these hardships, visited migrant camps teeming with residents and saw firsthand the harsh living conditions of families similar to the fictional Joads.

9. The Thing Around Your Neck by Chi

This collection of short stories is revolutionary in its focus on mental health, anxiety, and grief, especially as they pertain to immigrant culture. Grief appears in the short story “American Embassy” when a woman tries to apply for asylum but cannot bear to describe her son’s murder for the sake of a visa. Anxiety and loneliness appear in the title story “The Thing Around Your Neck” as the narrator Akunna’s sexual assault makes her feel lonelier than ever after her move to America. In all of Adichie’s stories, the Nigerian author writes eloquently about her own intercultural journey through her fictional characters and narratives.

Su is a first year student at Columbia University majoring in creative writing. Her love for the power of words and her connection to her Turkish roots spills into her satire, flash fiction, and journalistic pieces among other genres. Su hopes to continue writing fearless journalism, untold stories, and prose inspired by her surroundings.

A Brighter Future Emerges 29 Years After Rwanda's Genocide

April 12, 2023

Rwanda's unwavering determination and spirit shine as a source of optimism for the rest of the world.

Rwanda Genocide Memorial. config manager.CC BY 2.0.

This week marks the 29th anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide, a 100-day period of violence in 1994 in which more than 800,000 people were killed. The repercussions of this tragedy continue to linger, leaving survivors and their family members with deep emotional traumas. Almost 30 years have passed since the devastating genocide in Rwanda, and the country has made some commendable progress in rebuilding its economy and mending its relationships with other nations, while also acknowledging its past mistakes and the sacrifices made during the massacre. The scars of the past may still be visible, but they no longer define Rwanda. Its developments shed light on the country’s journey toward healing and growth, with infrastructure, technology, and education driving its transformation.

The genesis of the Rwanda Genocide three decades ago can be attributed to years of systemic oppression that eventually culminated in one of the most devastating conflicts in modern history. Surprisingly, the two primary ethnic groups involved in this conflict, the Hutus and Tutsis, shared no religious or linguistic differences at the outset. A deep dive into their origins reveals that the Hutus migrated to the Great Lakes region of Central Africa between 500 and 1000 BC, while the Tutsis arrived four centuries later, migrating from the highlands of Ethiopia. The Hutus primarily worked as land cultivators, while the Tutsis were cattle herders, thus creating an economic divide that eventually led to a hierarchical system. In a strange colonial mythology, Tutsi cattle herders were labeled Hamites — a separate and exceptional group — who hailed from an ancient Christian tribe supposedly linked to people of old Palestine. This system placed the Tutsis, as a minority ethnic group, in a position of disproportionate power over the majority Hutus.

Colonial powers subscribed to this concept of racial hierarchy and origin stories, believing the Tutsi to be natural leaders and granting them preferential treatment. After taking Rwanda as a colonial possession in 1897, the German Empire built a power structure that firmly established a hierarchy that favored the Tutsis. They bestowed upon the Tutsis a superior status, owing to their taller stature and lighter skin, giving them greater influence over the Hutus. However, in the aftermath of Germany’s defeat in World War I, Belgium took over the reins of Rwanda’s governance, and, rather than attempting to bridge the cultural divide, exacerbated it. The Belgian administration continued to uphold the Tutsis’ superior status while disregarding the Hutus, creating a further chasm of inequality that only grew wider with time. The introduction of identification cards during the 1930s that explicitly listed one’s ethnicity, for example, further polarized the population, and the stage was set for the tragic events that culminated in the Rwanda Genocide.

In 1973, Rwanda witnessed an event that would forever alter the course of its history. General Juvenal Habyarimana, a Hutu tribe member, rose to power and established the National Revolutionary Movement for Development (NRMD) party to secure his authority. Meanwhile, in Uganda, a group of Rwandan exiles in Uganda who had tasted victory in Yoweri Museveni’s National Resistance Army during the Ugandan Civil War formed the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). This organization was largely dominated by Tutsi figures and posed a challenge to the incumbent regime. The Rwandan Civil War began, which pitted the Hutu-dominated NRMD government against the primarily Tutsi RPF, while social tensions began to simmer. It was midsummer in 1993 when Hutu extremists hatched their plan, creating a platform for propagating their racist ideology and spewing hatred against the Tutsi people. Thus, Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM) came into being, which soon became a tool to incite violence and hatred against the Tutsi, using propaganda and malicious rhetoric.

Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines broadcasted from this office during the Rwanda Genocide. kigaliwire.CC BY-NC 2.0.

April 6, 1994, was the beginning of a nightmare for Rwanda and Burundi. The presidential plane, which was carrying the heads of state of both countries, was hit by gunfire. The news of their deaths, broadcasted by the radical Hutu RTLM radio station, served as a call to arms, sparking a wave of violence against the Tutsi population. The initial attack was planned by a group of military leaders, politicians, and business owners, who were later joined by an increasing number of supporters. This resulted in a devastating genocide, with Tutsis flocking to ostensibly safe havens like churches and administrative centers only to find them transformed into places of horror. 75% of the Tutsi population was wiped out, including many children who were labeled “little rats” and killed alongside adults. The perpetrators killed people of all ages indiscriminately, committing rape and torture on a regular basis. With nowhere to call home, over 2 million people fled the country, including many Hutu ethnic group members, while a million more were internally displaced, leaving 75,000 children orphaned.

The aftermath was massive destruction, with infrastructure reduced to ruins and hundreds of thousands of citizens dead, dealt a crippling blow to progress and development. Rwanda, however, refused to give in to despair. The RPF won the Civil War and took power after four months of horror, ending the genocide. The nation embarked on a journey of healing and reconciliation by embracing a deliberate strategy of transitional justice and transformative programs, characterized by the visionary “Rwanda Vision 2020” campaign launched in 2000. Rwanda embraced a path of renewal through initiatives such as “I am Rwandan,” which encouraged deep reflection on the nation's painful history, acknowledgment of past atrocities, and promotion of healing and reconciliation among all its people. Another example is “Umuganda,” a day of community service in which people from all walks of life work together to improve their communities. Though challenges remained, these initiatives instilled a renewed sense of vigor and solidarity, bringing new life to the difficult task of rebuilding Rwanda.

The modern capital of Kigali is safe, clean, and orderly. Dylan Walters. CC BY 2.0.

Rwanda also undergoes significant changes in its economy. The government has introduced the “Girinka” program, which provides one cow per poor family to combat poverty, with the first female calf being passed on to another family. Poverty has decreased by 23.8 percent from 2000 to 2010, and Rwanda has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in Central Africa, with four years of eight percent GDP growth between 2011 and 2014. These developments are positive indicators for Rwanda’s future.

Despite the indelible mark of shame left by the horrific acts, Rwanda has sought reconciliation by embracing its rich heritage of traditional pre-colonial Rwandese customs and values, while also welcoming contributions from the international community. The genocide has prompted profound reflections on critical issues such as the efficacy of peace operations, the urgency of ending international crimes, and the delicate nature of maintaining civility. These pressing issues necessitate international attention and are still relevant today.

TO GET INVOLVED:

World Help: Over the last decade, World Help has worked to bring healing and restoration to Rwandan communities through initiatives like trauma counseling, children’s homes, child sponsorship, construction projects, clean-water wells, sustainable agriculture, vocational training, and more. To learn more and get involved, click here.

IBUKA: IBUKA is an umbrella organization supporting survivors in Rwanda. Representatives from institutions like IBUKA and the National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide are invited to speak at commemorations to provide expert histories and testimonies. To learn more and get involved, click here.

Hope is a Chinese international student at Wake Forest University in North Carolina studying sociology, statistics, and journalism. She dreams of traveling around the globe as a freelance reporter while touching on a wide range of social issues from education inequality to cultural diversity. Passionate about environmental issues and learning about other cultures, she is eager to explore the globe. In her free time, she enjoys cooking Asian cuisine, reading, and theater.

How Fast Food Adapts to Local Tastes Around the World

April 12, 2023

Exploring unique regional items from KFC, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and other fast food giants.

Fast Food Mull. Tim Reckmann. CC BY 2.0.

Fast food is a universal language that transcends borders and cultures. Whether you are craving a burger in Beijing or a pizza in Paris, you can always rely on fast food chains to provide a consistent, reliable experience. However, in the modern world, fast food chains are constantly adapting to local tastes and incorporating unique ingredients to create various flavor combinations. Here below is a flavor adventure that explores the wacky and wonderful world of region-exclusive fast food items.

1. Kentucky Fried Chicken

Kentucky Fried Chicken in Shanghai. Gwydion M. Williams.CC BY 2.0.

Kentucky Fried Chicken, or KFC for short, has come a long way since its humble beginnings in Corbin, Kentucky. Today, the iconic fast food chain can be found in almost every corner of the globe, serving up crispy fried chicken to hungry customers worldwide. But while the Colonel’s original recipe may be the same everywhere, KFC has become famous for its wildly creative region-exclusive items. For example, in the United Kingdom, KFC has introduced the “Scoff-ee Cup”, a creation that combines a biscuit cup with white chocolate to keep coffee hot and fingers crispy. Meanwhile, in Asia, KFC has rolled out some innovative treats, like the Brown Sugar Boba Tea Tart, a pastry filled with milk tea custard and boba jelly, inspired by the popular Taiwanese drink.

But KFC’s regional items are not just about sweet treats. In Korea, the chain offers Tender-Rice, a combo of crispy chicken tenders and seasoned rice. And in Malaysia, customers can try the Wasabi Rice Wrap, a fusion of Japanese and Vietnamese flavors that is designed for people on the go. According to Ling Mee Jiuan, Senior Vice President of KFC Malaysia, the Wasabi Rice Wrap was designed specifically with young, busy consumers in mind. The local team wanted to create something that was quick, convenient, and bursting with flavor for people who are always on the move.

2. McDonald’s

McDonald’s is the poster child for the rapid spread of Western fast food across the globe. The term “McDonaldization” was coined to describe what started as a Speedee Service System, which prioritized efficiency, predictability, calculability, and control by offering a limited menu of 15-cent hamburgers, fries, and shakes. However, McDonald’s has slowed its pace and started introducing region-exclusive items that cater to local taste buds. For instance, in 2001, McDonald’s added the McFalafel sandwich to its menu in Egypt. This sandwich features three pieces of falafel, a patty-shaped fritter of Arab origin that is deep-fried and served with garnishes like tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and pickles, all wrapped in a freshly baked tortilla wrap and topped with Tahini sauce.

But McDonald's is not just adding local twists to its burgers - the company also creates entirely new menu items for specific regions, you can find the Teriyaki Burger, which features a savory teriyaki sauce and is served on a rice bun instead of a traditional burger bun. In South Korea, McDonald's offers the Bulgogi Burger, which features marinated beef and a spicy sauce made from Korean chili paste.

McDonald’s has also tailored its famous bread to suit local palates. In China, for instance, McDonald’s introduced the distinctive Black and White Burgers. These “half burgers” were packaged in a small box and were possibly inspired by the yin-yang symbol. The black burger consisted of a beef patty with chopped onions, black pepper sauce, and a black bun topped with white sesame seeds. The white burger, in contrast, featured a chicken patty with sweet and spicy sauce and a white bun with black sesame seeds. While some of these attempts at innovation were mocked, they demonstrate a willingness to experiment and accommodate local tastes.

3. PizzaHut

Pizza Hut Pizza in Japan.Yoko Nekonomania.CC BY 2.0.

Founded in 1958 by two Wichita University students, Pizza Hut has grown to become the world's largest pizza company, with over 11,000 restaurants in 90 countries. But Pizza Hut's success isn't just due to its massive size - the company’s commitment to innovation and customer service has set it apart from competitors.

However, some of Pizza Hut’s more unconventional offerings have raised eyebrows, and possibly even the ire of traditionalists. Weirder items, such as the “Double Sensation” in Singapore, may seem like two pizzas squished into one. The outer crust is stuffed with a melange of melted mozzarella, Parmesan, and cheddar cheeses that ooze out of holes in the crust, while the outer pie is topped with turkey ham, bell peppers, mushrooms, and salsa sauce. And for reasons beyond comprehension, a single cherry adorns the center of the pizza.

Meanwhile, Pizza Hut in China has added Peking duck as a meat topping to its menu, alongside specialized pizzas crafted with different veggies to complement the duck’s unique flavors. For many, duck is not a meat that adapts easily to other dishes. But for the daring foodies who are willing to try new things, Pizza Hut in China offers a delicious and adventurous take on traditional pizza.

4. Burger King

Burger King Halloween Whopper Black Bun. Mike Mozart. CC BY 2.0.

In 1953, Keith Kramer and his wife’s uncle Matthew Burns were struck with inspiration after visiting the original McDonald's in California. Their brainchild, Insta-Burger King, was born from their desire to create a unique restaurant experience. Equipped with a special grill machine, the Insta-Broiler, the duo set out to make their mark in the fast-food industry.

Now, with over 19,000 locations worldwide, Burger King is a force to be reckoned with in the fast-food world. While its competitors strive to innovate their international menus, Burger King takes a different approach—stuffing as much as humanly possible between two buns. Take, for example, the Bacon Lover, available in France and Switzerland, which boasts two flame-grilled beef patties, onions, tomatoes, cheese, bacon, and smoked sauce, all served between two bacon-studded buns.

But the Garlic Meat Beast in Japan takes the cake for the most outrageous offering. This monstrosity features a quarter-pound beef patty, teriyaki chicken breast, and garlic pork patty, all slathered in scallion miso sauce and topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, and bits of fried garlic. And if that’s not enough to satisfy the consumers, Burger King‘s Windows 7 Whopper hit Japanese locations for a limited time, featuring a whopping seven beef patties, plus all the usual fixings, for the price of $5.94, a nod to the release of Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system.

5. Taco Bell

Taco Bell Beefy Fritos Burrito. Willis Lam.CC BY-SA 2.0.

Taco Bell is the new kid on the block when it comes to multinational fast food chains, but it has made its presence known around the world with its Mexican-inspired menu. The company’s catchy slogans, from “Think Outside the Bun” to “Live Mas,” have resonated with customers in Asia, Europe, and beyond. But Taco Bell’s true innovation lies in what's inside the bun (or wrap). Take, for instance, the Kimchi Quesadilla, which can be found at Taco Bell locations in Korea. This fusion dish combines the traditional Korean dish of spicy fermented cabbage with spicy chicken and a blend of melted cheeses, creating a unique flavor that is all its own. Or consider the Chicken Tikka Masala Burrito in India, where grilled chicken, Mexican rice, onion, cilantro mix, and Tandoori Mayo Sauce are wrapped in a grilled flour tortilla, showcasing Taco Bell's willingness to experiment with unorthodox flavor combinations. Other region-exclusive menu items include the Shrimp and Avocado Burrito in Japan and the Chili Cheese Burrito in the United States.

6. Domino’s

Domino’s pizza in Japan with Lazagniano and Super Deluxe. Puamelia. CC BY-SA 2.0.

Domino’s, the pizza giant with over 17,644 restaurants around the world, has managed to achieve a global presence with its menu. However, their international menu seems to be an experimental playground that has no bounds. Japan’s Boba Tapioca Pizza is a clear demonstration of the chain’s willingness to embrace bizarre combinations that cater to local tastes. The pizza’s blend of black tapioca pearls and mozzarella cheese has gotten mixed reactions from customers. While it is true that some of Domino’s experiments are not well-received, the Lotta-Chocca Pizza in the United Kingdom has won the hearts of many, thanks to its unique fusion of pizza and milk chocolate. Domino's New Zealand has also managed to make an impact with its Apricot Chicken Deluxe, a delicious combo of chicken and apricot sauce.

From rice and curry to kimchi to Beijing duck, the amalgamation of western industrialization and local cuisine gives rise to region-exclusive fast food items that are uniquely flavorful, providing a glimpse into the cultural diversity that exists across the globe. The presence of such multicultural menus in fast food chains not only reflects the dynamism of global markets but also serves as a testimony to the importance of inclusivity and open-mindedness in our increasingly interconnected world.

9 Historical Women Adventurers Who Pushed Exploration in the Last 100 Years

April 12, 2023

Despite facing prejudice and skepticism, these intrepid women adventurers conquered the world’s toughest terrain.

The True Culprits of Poaching

April 4, 2023

The causes and consequences of the illegal wildlife trade.

Elephant Calf - Madikwe, South Africa, Vince O'Sullivan, CC BY-NC 2.0.

In 2019, a man and his four companions entered South Africa’s Kruger National Park, dead set on killing a rhino. They botched the job- the man was trampled by an elephant and killed. His four companions fled the scene. Later, the man’s body was found eaten by lions. For many, this was a story of nature’s revenge on an aggressor. Some even took to social media to celebrate his death, claiming that “It’s a shame all five didn’t die.”

But the digital peanut gallery likely did not know that this man was from South Africa’s Eastern Cape, the country’s poorest region where the average annual income per year is less than $3,700. And, they probably didn’t know that even if he and his companions had successfully killed the rhino, taken its horn, and bolted, they would have remained in poverty, having sold the horn for a tiny fraction of its value on the international market. From there, the horn would go through multiple stages of middlemen to hide its origin and be shipped to a foreign nation, likely Vietnam or China. There, poaching kingpins such as Vietnam’s Nguyen Mau Chien would receive the horn and sell it to consumers for a huge profit.

Unwrapped Rhino Horn, cropped, ukhomeoffice, CC BY 2.0

This story is not unique. The United Nations estimates the poaching market to be worth a minimum of $7 billion per annum. The poaching kingpins who lead these operations are akin to drug lords. With few moral qualms, they are making millions, exploiting those working lower on the food chain and putting the environment in danger, all while taking very few risks themselves.

Over the past few years, dozens of species have gone extinct largely due to poaching, with hundreds more being driven to the brink of extinction. They range from smaller, lesser known species to large, iconic megafauna such as the Western Black Rhinoceros, a subspecies that went extinct in 2011.

The impact of these extinctions goes far beyond the animals themselves. The world exists as a closely connected ecosystem. When one species becomes endangered, it affects every other species in that ecosystem. One clear example of this is the North American Gray Wolf. The wolf’s regional near-extinction caused a surge in the elk population in Yellow Stone, which nearly ate the aspen tree into extinction.

Poaching also is detrimental to countries, like South Africa, that heavily rely on animal-based tourism. When iconic animals become extinct and ecosystems are damaged, ecotourism becomes much less successful. Even worse, poaching is incredibly dangerous to those working in conservation. Each year, across Africa, 600 rangers' lives are lost in the line of duty.

Ranger and rhinos, Kruger National Park, South Africa, anoukpilon, CC BY-SA 2.0.

In addition, poaching poses a huge risk to the world at large. COVID-19, Ebola, and SARs all started in animals. In fact, 60% of all infectious diseases are thought to have begun in non-human animals. Whether through the murder of animals directly or the transfer and consumption of illegal animal products, poaching puts thousands of hands and bodies in contact with wildlife, and therefore at risk.

TO GET INVOLVED

The International Anti-Poaching Federation (IAPF), founded in 2009, aims to hire 2,000 women by 2030 to work in anti-poaching units in their local communities, as part of the all-female Akashinga Project. The IAPF has managed to reduce poaching by over 80% in the 8.5 million acres it manages, making them one of the most successful anti-poaching organizations in the world. If you want to help stop the poaching epidemic, you can donate to the IAPF here.

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Fund has been Operating in Kenya since 1977. Over the past 45 years, they have become one of the best Elephant rehabilitation organizations in the world, raising over 300 orphan elephants. Beyond this, the Fund has 23 anti-poaching teams working with the Kenya Wildlife Service, employing both Aerial and Canine Units. If you want to support them, you can donate here.

Jeremy is a Writing Seminars and International Studies major at Johns Hopkins University. He is an avid writer and the Co-Founder of Writers’ Warehouse, Johns Hopkins’ first creative writing group. He is an advocate for Indigenous rights, and studies how Indigenous philosophies can be used to help prevent climate change. Using his writing, he hopes to bring attention to underrepresented voices in today’s world.

9 Activist Movements You Might Not Know About

April 4, 2023

From Australia to Bolivia, social movements are paradigms of collective power and triumphs of the human spirit.

Sudanese Protesters Welcome 'Positive Steps' Taken By Ruling Military Council, demonstrators rally near the military headquarters in Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, April 15, 2019. Omer. Public Domain Mark 1.0

It's easy to brush off textbook knowledge as outdated, but academic theories of social movements can provide a powerful lens to understand the changes happening in the world. The 21st-century witnesses social movements erupting all over the world, led by activists fighting to bring about change. Sociologists categorize social movements as a form of collective behavior that emerges during the political, cultural, or economic upheaval. It is precisely this decentralization that gives activists immense power to effect change, leading the masses in protest against the upper crust. With that in mind, below is a list of nine groundbreaking social movements of the 21st century that you might have missed.

1. Equality Australia, Australia

Reason Party (Australia) supporters with placards at Yes Marriage Equality rally Sydney Town Hall 10 Sept 2017.Robert.CC BY-SA 4.0.

Despite progress in other western countries, Australia still faces criticism for a dearth of LGPTQ representation in politics. For example, in 2021, the Australian government under Scott Morrison almost passed a deceptively named religious discrimination bill that in reality had the potential to legalize discrimination based on sex, disability, and age under the disguise of religious freedom. This bill not only undermines the rights of the LGBTQ community but also perpetuates stereotypes and biases. The bill was shelved after religious lobby groups withdrew support and, due to Scott Morrison’s defeat to the Australian Labor Party in 2022, seems unlikely to be reintroduced.

To compensate for the lack of legal protection for the sexual minority population, Equality Australia, an organization dedicated to improving the lives and circumstances of the LGBTQ community in Australia, has launched multiple initiatives. It tackles the pressing issues that gay, trans and queer Australians face, from being able to freely express their identity to receiving adequate healthcare and support.

2. “Great March of Return” Protests, Palestine

Child survivors of Israeli massacres gather on the Gaza beach to finish an incomplete match.Catron.CC BY-NC 2.0.

In the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian exclave on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, 70% of the population are refugees suffering from the blockade by the Israeli military occupation. Essential needs like electricity, sanitation, and healthcare are a luxury for these refugees, who live constantly under the shadow of military clashes between Hamas and Israel.

The Great March of Return demonstrations (GMR), which began on March 30, 2018, brought a glimmer of hope to the Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip. The GMR was a call to end the Israeli blockade and the right of return for Palestinian refugees through non-violent protest at the Gaza border.

But while most refugees marched peacefully, Israeli forces have taken a brutal toll, killing at least 210 Palestinians and injuring over 18,000 since 2018, according to Gaza health officials. The aftermath of these marches has left many with life-long physical and psychological scars from generation to generation. A staggering 80% of all children treated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East were injured by gunshot wounds. In contrast to the aggressive response from Israel, the largely nonviolent Great March of Return “restored credence to the concept of peaceful struggle”, according to Palestinian journalist and peace activist Ahmed Abu Artema.

3. EndSARS, Nigeria

Protesters at the endSARS protest in Lagos, Nigeria 92. CC BY-SA 4.0.

Nigeria's history of police brutality and unjust criminal investigations reached a boiling point in 2020 when the world was shocked by a viral video of two men being dragged out of a hotel and shot by members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Despite being established in 1992 to arrest and prosecute those involved in violent crimes, SARS quickly became known for its human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, torture, extortion, and murder.

As the hashtag “EndSARS” quickly spread across social media, fueled by the support of high-profile celebrities like footballer Marcus Rashford and actor John Boyega, the movement transitioned from an online trend to a physical reality. Peaceful protests erupted in cities across Nigeria, from capital Abuja to metropolis Lagos, and in major centers like Ibadan and Osun, as the people took to the streets to demand an end to the police brutality and human rights violations. Though the Nigerian authorities made empty promises to disband SARS, the movement continues to fight for justice and accountability to this day.

4. India's Farmer Protest, India

Protests outside Odisha Bhawan New Delhi. Brick. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

In September 2020, as the pandemic and economic woes plagued the country, the Indian government passed three farm acts that many farmers regard as a breakdown of the existing, stable relationship with agricultural small businessmen.

The farmers were furious and took to the streets, shutting down railways, taking over highways, and protesting en masse in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh to demand change. On Nov 26, 2020, millions struck in Delhi, calling for a change in labor laws, but were met with violence and teargas. The protests coincided with the Covid outbreak, leading some to view the government's social distancing requirement as a conspiracy to shut down its critics.

After ten rounds of talks, the government agreed to grant farmers’ unions a rare concession in January 2021, with the Prime Minister allowing the repeal of the controversial reform due to public pressure. The Indian farmer protest highlighted the deep frustration with the government's handling of the agriculture sector, which 60% of rural households depend on for their livelihoods.

5. Subway Fare Protests, Chile

Students take part in violent Protests in Santiago de Chile. C64-92. CC BY 2.0.

In Chile, a tiny $0.0 was all it took to ignite social upheaval in 2019. What started as a protest over a 30 peso, equivalent to $0.04, exposed the massive wealth inequality in the country, where the per capita income of the bottom quintile is $140 a month.

During the height of the protests, high school students started to overrun the turnstiles, using the hashtag “Mass Evasion” on social media to encourage others to join the cause. The young protesters soon joined in mass demonstrations by many other Chileans who are frustrated with rising living costs, low wages, and an inadequate education system.

The protests and counterforce led to the death of at least 18 civilians, the burndown of 21 metro stations, and the destruction of several trains, buses, and buildings, including 200 supermarkets. Eventually Chile’s militarized national police managed to suppress the October riots, but the protests and their aftermath shed light on the ongoing fight against wealth inequality in Chile.

6. Velvet Revolution, Armenia

Velvet Revolution in Armenia. Armineaghayan.CC BY-SA 4.0.

The Velvet Revolution, otherwise known as the “Reject Serzh” civic initiative, is the archetype of a social movement that succeeded in overthrowing an entire regime without a single bullet fired. In 2018, the protest called for the removal of former President Serzh Sargsyan from his third consecutive term. Sargsyan took office as president in 2008, following a violent suppression of anti-government protests in which at least 10 people were killed. A youth movement was established soon after, contributing to the formation of current Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party.

This peaceful protest was politically motivated, with support from human rights advocates, journalists, and information organizations. The demonstration started on March 18, 2018 when Pashinyan began his protest walk in Gyumri. It reached the peak when over 250,000 protesters gathered in Republic Square for the largest demonstration in Armenia's post-Soviet independence period. The movement was able to unite all Armenians regardless of political views and sparked hope for a lasting democratic government.

7. “Slipper uprising”, Belarus

Protests in Minsk, Belarus. Shnipelson. CC0 1.0.

The “Slipper Uprising” broke out in Belarus in 2021, as protesters used the simple yet powerful symbol of a slipper to push for change. The series of protests followed a controversial presidential election that declared Alexander Lukashenko, the incumbent Belarusian President, as the winner.

The call, “stop the cockroach” came from popular blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky's video, in which an elderly woman compared Lukashenko to the main character of the children’s poem “The Mighty Cockroach.” This nickname, combined with opposition supporters’ demand for Lukashenko's resignation, fueled mass protests in the streets.

Demonstrators showed their defiance against Lukashenko’s rule by waving slippers high in the air. Over 360 people were taken into custody for protesting in just one weekend, but the fire of dissent continued to burn. The “Slipper uprising” proved that even the simplest of symbols can be a catalyst for change.

8. Wildfire protest, Bolivia

March in favor of Evo Morales. Santiago Sito.CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

The heat is on in Bolivia as hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets to voice their outrage over President Evo Morales’ government's response to the wildfires that ravaged the country’s forests in October 2019.

Many of the protesters were residents of Santa Cruz, Bolivia's largest city and home to vast areas of the biodiverse Chiquitano dry forests. Protesters called for a “punishment vote” against Morales in the upcoming presidential election. The rallies have drawn massive crowds, with an estimated 350,000 people marching through Santa Cruz in late October, according to reporting from Reuters. The growing public anger and frustration highlight the urgent need for action to address environmental justice and protect the country's precious forests.

9. “Million-man March”, Sudan

Demonstrators hold placards against the Khartoum regime, April 28, 2013. Sari Omer. Public Domain Mark 1.0.

Sudan’s "Marches of the Millions" was a massive demonstration held in the capital city of Khartoum on June 30, 2019. The nationwide protests were orchestrated by the Sudanese Professional Association (SPA), an influential activist coalition. The protesters had six demands, including a swift transfer of power to a civilian government and aid to the victims of government-initiated attacks.

The nationwide protest also exposed the danger of police crackdown, as national security agencies used violent tactics, such as teargas, to confront the marching citizens. Despite the violence, the protest movement continued, leading to the agreement between the military and its opposition in August 2019. The agreement marked the first step towards a democratic transition for Sudan.

From trending hashtags and posts that amplify the voice of activism on social media, to throngs of individuals marching in the streets and rallying for a shared goal, social movements embody the spirit of resistance against oppression and tyranny. It is through the eruptive energy of collective action that humans can truly exhibit their strength and determination in the face of injustice.

The Concept of Time in Different Cultures

April 4, 2023

How where you live and the language you speak affects your view of time.

Self portrait - Ticking away, MattysFlicks, CC BY 2.0.

Over the summer I would get up at about 7:00 am every morning. By 8:30, I’d have eaten breakfast, showered, gotten dressed, and left for work. When work ended, I’d make sure to always have a plan for what to do after, whether that was hang out with friends, work out, or write something. I’d usually be done with that by around 8, at which time I’d heat something up for dinner, usually a meal I prepared in bulk on the weekend. Afterwards, I’d watch shows until I fell asleep. The next day, I would get up, and repeat.

Like most other English speaking Americans, I view time as linear, heading from a defined beginning to a final end. Every moment is something that I can spend, save, or waste. And, I believe that if I waste too many of these moments, it could have a disastrous impact on my future.

However, this is just one of many ways to view time. Depending on where you live, what you believe, and what language you speak, you may view time in a completely different way.

Monochronic Time and Polychronic Time

Business Calendar & Schedule, photosteve101, CC BY 2.0.

Monochronic Time is divided into small segments, allowing it to be managed and scheduled easily. It is treated as a resource, just like any other. Being used by countries such as the United States, Japan, and Germany, monochronic time is essentially the time model of industrialization. People in monochronic societies tend to be on time to meetings; similar to the schedule I described above, every moment has a distinct purpose. Wasted time can cause great stress, and going off-schedule can mean that all necessary tasks may not get completed. This causes countries with monochronic time to typically have a faster pace of living. Even times of rest are often scheduled, regulating them to certain days or hours.

Four seasons in Japan, vitroid, CC BY 2.0

Polychronic time is much more fluid, where many things can be done at once. Rather than emphasizing the efficient use of each and every moment, people in polychronic societies tend to focus more on their relationships and traditions. Instead of organizing time through rigid schedules, for people in these cultures the seasons, religious calendars, and community life serve as the main signs of the passage of time. India, Mexico, and many other countries in Latin America are Polychronic.

I am currently studying abroad in Ecuador, a largely polychronic country, where I have had to adapt to the different view of times. Unlike the United States, deadlines are rarely strict. I’ve frequently been told lunch is at 1, and then ended up not eating until 2:30. In addition, planning is often more last second. I have lived with two host families, and we often have weekend plans. In each case, I have rarely known said plans until I’m on the way to my destination. While this was stressful for me at first, I have come to appreciate it, as my host families have seemed to have a much easier time living in the present because of it.

Past, Future and Present Oriented Societies

Go Fisherman go - Gokarna India 2011, rundenreisen.org, CC BY 2.0

Past Oriented Countries, like the UK or India, have incredibly long and storied histories. Instead of living for the present alone, past oriented societies see themselves as only the newest iteration of an incredibly old tradition. This causes them to view time in a more casual manner, as the waste of an hour or a day is inconsequential when compared with thousands of years of history.

In addition, many eastern past oriented countries adhere to what is called cyclic time. This is the idea, that like the seasons, time repeats itself, and events are bound to happen again. This means that, whenever considering a major decision, it is critical to evaluate the events of the past.

Getting cab times square, new york, andre stoeriko, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Future oriented countries, like the United States, are young and hungry. Without thousands of years of culture to fall back on, citizens of the United States tend to look forward. In future oriented countries, every moment matters, as only by maximizing these moments can a person truly succeed.

Juma River, Amazonas, Brazil, Alexey Yakovlev, CC BY-SA 2.0

Present Oriented Societies are rare, but they do exist. The Indigenous Piraha tribe of the Amazon Rainforest has no past tense in their language. They have no origin story or particular religious beliefs, no reverence for their ancestors, and tell no stories. For them, things just are. What has happened in the past is not relevant.

Language and Time

Anglophones usually think about time as something that has length. Phrases such as “a long day” or “a never-ending year” are common. In Swedish, time is viewed in this same way.

In Spanish, days are described as “full,” instead of long. Rather than as a line, time is visualized as a container waiting to be filled.

This is most interesting when it comes to bilingual speakers, as it has been proven that they have the ability to, in switching languages, change how they view time. If someone bilingual is spoken to in English, they will view time as a line, and if they are spoken to in Spanish, they will visualize it as a container, giving them a foot in both worlds.

The Disappearing Snows of Mt. Kilimanjaro

March 31, 2023

As the mountain's snow melts, its ecosystem faces escalating pressures from tourism, climate change, and deforestation.

Mt Kilimanjaro. Tambako the Jagua. CC BY-ND 2.0.

If you have perused Ernest Hemingway’s “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” you'd be moved by the writer's introspection and memories, and no doubt recall its breathtaking descriptions of Mount Kilimanjaro’s wintery peaks. Nestled in Southeastern Africa, where temperatures often soar to scorching heights, a mountain graced with a frozen crest appears as a natural wonder. Nevertheless, before many have had the opportunity to appreciate its miraculous summit, the pristine snow has begun to melt at an alarming speed.

Rising above the plains of Africa, Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Its snow-capped peak is created through a combination of freezing temperatures and precipitation at high altitudes, where the mercury can drop to a frigid 15.98 F, calculated according to the linear relationship between altitude and temperature. Long-term averages indicate that, in the middle of February, snowfall occurs three days per week on Mount Kilimanjaro.

The captivating ice-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro renders it a highly coveted destination for tourists visiting Tanzania, with many foreigners and locals flocking to the site each year. As far back as the 1860s, Europeans had launched their quest to summit Kilimanjaro. In 2006, Kilimanjaro National Park Authorities (KINAPA) registered 40,701 climbers on the mountain, with the Machame trail reigning supreme, welcoming 15,879 adventurers. Today, numerous guiding companies, including the African Zoom and Abercrombie & Kent, offer luxury expeditions and comprehensive travel guides for those seeking to conquer the “roof of Africa.”

While Hemingway’s story may have brought Kilimanjaro to the attention of the world, the mountain has long been revered by locals who have given it names like “Mountain of Greatness” in Swahili and “That which defeats the caravan” in Chagga. The Maasai, who have a deep appreciation for Kilimanjaro, affectionately refer to it as the “Mountain of Water” due to its crucial function as the primary source of water for the surrounding area.

Regrettably, as mentioned above, generations to come might be deprived of the privilege of admiring the captivating natural beauty of Mount Kilimanjaro. Several complicated factors contribute to the rapid disappearance of its ice cap. Scientists have established a link between global climate change and variations in greenhouse gasses, along with transformations in land cover. The consequences of climate change loom over developing nations, and Tanzania is no exception. Additionally, glaciers located in tropical regions are more vulnerable to the impact of climate change, and they can only be sustained at exceptionally high altitudes, where the weather is colder than regional averages.

A recent study by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in late 2022 suggests that 1/3 World Heritage glacier sites will disappear by 2050 due to global warming, including Mount Kilimanjaro. Even if global greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, the melting is unlikely to be reversed.

The danger to Kilimanjaro’s ecosystem has not only inspired a widespread climate advocacy campaign but also sparked controversy. In 2002 a group of scientists led by Ohio State’s Lonnie Thompson published a paper predicting that Kilimanjaro would be devoid of ice by 2020. This claim was picked up in 2006 by former Vice President Al Gore in his documentary film “An Inconvenient Truth,” designed to raise awareness about global warming, emphasizing the melting glacier as a potent symbol of the impending environmental catastrophe. A decade later, the World Mountain Forum in Uganda saw the release of a report by the United Nations, revealing that the warming of the Earth’s temperature, caused by climate change, has led to a marked increase in the occurrence of wildfires on Mount Kilimanjaro, which has resulted in a hastened loss of forest cover. The report stressed the gravity of the situation and called upon Tanzania to protect Mount Kilimanjaro’s water catchment area, including reforestation, early warning systems, and climate adaptation strategies.

It’s obvious by now that Thompson et al. and Gore overestimated the future decline of Kilimanjaro’s glaciers. This has led websites such as Climate Realism and The Climate Record, as well as anti-regulation groups, to attempt to use Kilimanjaro’s lingering snow and ice to discredit climate science and Al Gore’s environmentalist stance. H. Sterling Burnett, a senior fellow, and head of environmental programs at the National Center for Policy Analysis criticized the Kilimanjaro snow melting prediction, stating that it is just one of many scare stories that scientists have had to revise or abandon in the face of significant counter-evidence. Although these specific predictions were false, the result of extrapolating past data far into the future, overgeneralization of a complex system, and neglecting the impact of yearly fluctuations in precipitation, this does not mean that Kilimanjaro or the planet at large are safe from the effects of climate change.

Although perhaps relieved by the presence of snow on Kilimanjaro’s ice cap in 2023, residents of nearby settlements confront other severe environmental problems such as dried streams during the sowing season and deforestation, problematic for a country that is heavily reliant on wood products. Additionally, even if the melting of the snow cap is not affected as much as predicted by Thompson and Gore, the vegetation communities’ altitudinal zonation will inevitably change in the medium-to-long term as the climate warms.

Ultimately, it is crucial to prioritize safeguarding the closely-knit ecosystem that surrounds Kilimanjaro’s snow-covered peak by taking necessary steps to bolster its resistance to the escalating pressures from tourism, climate change, and deforestation.

To Get Involved:

If you are looking to explore Kilimanjaro, there are various sustainable approaches to consider. Visit the site of Responsible Travel to learn more.

Mount Kilimanjaro is managed by Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro National Park, which strives to protect wildlife and provide eco-friendly tourism services around the mountain’s local community. Visit the site of Mount Kilimanjaro National Park to learn more.

The African Blackwood Conservation Project (ABCP) focuses on replanting the tree species Dalbergia melanoxylon, also known as grenadilla, African blackwood, or mpingo, in eastern Africa, including the Kilimanjaro area. The ABCP has played a significant role in Mount Kilimanjaro reforestation efforts. Visit the ABCP website to learn more.

US Lags Behind Other Nations in Recycling

March 30, 2023

Germany, Austria and South Korea recycle 20% more trash than the US. Can they lead the US to a new era of recycling?

Landfill in Danbury, Connecticut, United Nations Photo, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

The United States recycles 32.1% of its trash, meaning the other 67.9% of U.S. waste ends up in landfills, is incinerated, or gets lost somewhere else in the environment. Moreover, only 5 to 6 % of plastic ends up being recycled, while 85% of plastic American plastic goes to the landfills, and another 10% is incinerated. These numbers are especially concerning given that plastic is the one of the most difficult types of waste to biodegrade.

Nationally, there are few to no laws in the U.S. that mandate recycling. There have been efforts to change that. On March 5, 2021, Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Alan Lowenthal reintroduced the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act, a bill that would ban single use plastic bags and discourage the use of plastic utensils and straws. In addition, it would increase post consumer recycling minimums to 25% by 2025 and 80% by 2040. However, like many similar bills in the United States, it has not been passed.

While the federal government lags behind, certain states have been considerably more active in promoting recycling. Since 2022, New York has passed two important laws; one demanding that the carpet industry becomes more responsible for its waste and the other allowing consumers to fix their own electronics. California has banned certain types of produce bags, and Michigan has committed to overhauling its recycling system, striving for a 45% recycling rate, albeit without a clear deadline as to when this needs to be achieved.

With that said, even with state efforts, the US still remains far behind the world’s leaders in recycling; Germany, Austria, and South Korea. They recycle 56.1%, 53.8%, and 53.7% of their waste, respectively, each of which is over 20% more than the current US figure and around 10% more than Michigan's new recycling goal. This largely is due to enhanced recycling laws, as well as cultures and practices in those countries that incentivize and engage their populations to be environmentally conscious.

Germany

German Recycling Bins, 3268zauber, CC BY-SA 3.0

The first pillar of Germany’s recycling success is its Deposit Refund System (DRS). In Germany, when consumers purchase a bottle that can be recycled, they must pay a deposit between 0.08 and 0.25 euros. Single use plastic bottles and more environmentally harmful products tend to have a higher deposit. Once the items are returned to a retail store, the consumer will be reimbursed for their deposit. This system has proven to be incredibly successful, reaching a 98.4% return rate. In 2024, Germany plans to expand their DRS to include all milk and dairy product containers.

Germany also has a mandatory recycling system. Each household has four different recycling bins: yellow bins for lightweight packaging, green or blue bins for waste and cardboard, black or gray bins for residual and household waste, and brown bins for compostable kitchen and garden waste. If the waste is not sorted correctly, workers at the recycling plant will go through the waste and sort it manually, and the household that failed to sort the waste will be fined.

Austria

Plastic Bags Package, zeevveez, CC BY 2.0.

Three major policies contribute to Austria’s high recycling rate. First, like Germany, Austria has a rigorous recycling sorting system. Second is the country’s blanket landfill ban. This policy instructs that any item with a total organic carbon emission rate of more than 5% is banned from going into landfills, meaning that the most harmful products have to be recycled. Finally, in 2020, Austria prohibited the use of plastic bags, completely removing one of the longest lasting products in landfills, with a decomposition time of 200-500 years.

South Korea

South Korea’s “pay-as-you-throw” recycling system requires consumers to buy specialized food waste bags, costing about 20 cents. The profits from the food waste bags goes straight back into the recycling market, greatly minimizing the cost of recycling to the government. When these bags are full, consumers leave the bag in a special bin. These bags are then picked up and composted, leading South Koreans to recycle almost 100% of their food waste.

In 2022 Keppel, a Singapore-based company, spent about 600 million dollars to buy EMK Co, South Korea’s biggest waste management and recycling company. Keppel expects the value of their investment in EMK to almost double in five years. South Korea has created a system in which private companies are able to make a profit buying and selling waste, greatly increasing the percentage of their waste being recycled.

It's important to recognize that while all these systems are successful in their own countries, the cultural, political, and economic environment in the US is very different from that of Germany, Austria or South Korea. Additionally, the US has a population about four times the size of Germany, the biggest of the three countries, meaning any recycling measures are much more difficult to implement. Yet, with the US lagging so far behind the world leaders in recycling, it would be foolish to not at least consider the solutions that have worked so well for these other countries.

GET INVOLVED

Keep America Beautiful was founded in 1953. Since then, they have created many different recycling programs, including recently a Cigarette Litter Prevention Program. Within a ten year period, they earned their communities over a billion dollars in economic value, have planted millions of plants, flowers, and bulbs, cleaned over 500 kilometers of roads, and collected over 750 million pounds of litter. You can donate to Keep America here.

Ample Harvest Inc. was founded in 2009 by Gary Oppenheimer as a way to reduce food waste by having gardeners donate their surplus food. Beyond this, they have created an Emergency Food Assistance Program to help food insecure families. Currently, they are working with over 62 million gardeners, spread over all 50 states, allowing them to generate billions of pounds of food they donate to over 8,000 different charities. This has given 4,200 different communities a sustainable food supply free of charge and, in 2020 alone, saved 1.6 million pounds of produce from being discarded. You can donate money to Ample Harvest Inc. here and give your excess food produce to your local food pantry here.

The Container Recycling Institute functions much like a Think Tank, researching recycling so they can provide recycling options and insights to local communities and governments. With a perfect 100% score for Finance and Accountability on Charity Navigator, The Container Recycling Institute, since its founding in 1991, has grown into an incredibly trustworthy Institution. As a leading recycling resource, they helped expand the Connecticut recycling Bottle Bill, the largest expansion of this kind in 10 years. In California, they helped raise the annual consumer recycling budget to over 100 million dollars. You can donate to The Container Recycling Institute here and become a member here.

Travel to NYC, Not for Times Square, but for the Parks

March 28, 2023

Check out the many green areas in NYC where culture and nature abound.

Japan’s Population Crisis Hits a Record Low

March 28, 2023

Japanese birth rates are falling exponentially, and it could have major effects on the country’s economy.

Harajuku District in Japan. @paulkrichards. Instagram

Many around the world consider Japan a futuristic country, a view drawn from its creative technology and its unique culture. A popular destination for tourists all around the world, this East Asian country makes up 1.6% of the world’s population with its approximately 125 million residents.

However, this number is set to rapidly decline as Japan teeters on the precipice of a population crisis. Its Prime Minister has issued a dire warning, saying that the country is “on the brink of not being able to maintain social functions” due to the falling birth rate. Japan has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, which means that most will grow old and require care from others, but the workforce is shrinking as aren’t enough young people to fill the gaps in Japan’s stagnating economy.

Why is this? To use simple terms, Japanese people are having fewer babies. Women are postponing their marriages and rejecting traditional paths to focus on their professional lives, and the percentage of women who work in Japan is now higher than ever. However, there are also fewer opportunities for young people, especially men, in the country’s economy. Since men are still widely viewed as the breadwinners of the family, a lack of good jobs would also mean the men would avoid having children — and settling down — knowing they can’t afford it. With Japan’s high cost of living, it adds more reason for couples to steer clear of having a family.

The problem has only gotten worse since the Covid pandemic. In 2021, the birth rates in Japan declined to around 805,000 — a figure that was not expected until 2028. With much of the population choosing to focus on their careers instead, this number will only continue to fall.

In the early stages of the pandemic, there were jokes circulating that the lockdowns would cause another baby boom. However, the opposite came true. Japan experienced a reduction in birth rates, as well as other countries such as Taiwan and China — to an estimated 1.07 children per woman.

Japan’s population pyramid in October 2021. Kaj Tallungs. CC BY-SA 4.0

There are more and more elderly people in the country and not enough working-age adults to support them. The economy is at risk. But Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida promises to combat the low birth rate.

With Japan “standing on the verge of whether we can continue to function as a society,” Kishida urges the national government to focus on policies regarding children and ramp up child-related programs, saying it “cannot wait and cannot be postponed.” He wants the government to double its spending on child-related programs and in April, he will launch a new Children and Families government agency to help in the endeavor.

This agency will unify policies across multiple government ministries to better deal with issues that concern children, such as declining birth rates, child poverty, and sex crimes. Kishida has plans to double the budget if necessary, without elaborating.

In the mid 1990s, the Japanese government launched a series of programs addressing their country’s low fertility, hoping to provide parenting assistance through increasing provision of childcare services and advocating for a better work-life balance. And in the 2010s, fertility policies were incorporated into Japan’s macroeconomic policy, national land planning, and regional and local planning.

Despite all these efforts, however, Japan’s goal to boost population remains unsuccessful. By forming the new agency, Kishida hopes these problems will be taken more seriously.

One thing remains clear, though — Japan is facing a population crisis. And if birth rates keep falling, the country’s economy will struggle under its effects.

The Forgotten Chinese History of Vladivostok

March 23, 2023

A brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Chinese community in the 1930s had a lasting impact on the Russian Far East.

31st Infantry on a practice march near Vladivostok, Siberia about Dec. 1, 1918. Lane Genealogy. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

The coastal city of Vladivostok, in the easternmost reaches of Russia, harbors a secret past with Chinese laborers who helped construct its famous naval base before being discarded. Once brimming with the bustle of Chinese workers, today’s Vladivostok features a mere handful of Chinese-owned establishments despite being fairly close to the Chinese border, in contrast to other Russian cities far to the west, such as Moscow, that have sizable Chinese communities. Across a vast expanse of nearly 250,000 square miles in northern China's Heilongjiang province, this forgotten chapter of history remains shrouded in controversy, while the city’s development and the contribution of Chinese laborers are waiting to be uncovered.

But while Vladivostok’s history may be veiled in mystery, the roots of Chinese presence in the region extend back centuries. The Treaty of Peking, signed in 1860 and one of a series of Russo-Chinese boundary settlements, officially transferred ownership of what is now Vladivostok from China to Russia after the former’s disastrous defeat to England and France in the Second Opium War. The treaty saw Russia gain control over all territory north and east of the Amur River, with the Chinese Qing Dynasty retaining sovereignty over the area to the south and West. Russia had not been involved in the conflict, but acted opportunistically to force the Qing government to hand over 133,000 square miles of territory. However, before the establishment of Vladivostok, the region was sporadically inhabited by Chinese fishermen, hunters, fugitives, and collectors of ginseng and wild sea cucumbers, tube-like animals distantly related to starfish that are far less appetizing than the land variety. The place was known as the “Sea Cucumber Cliffs” in Chinese due to the abundance of the creatures in that region. Under Russian control Vladivostok would get its current name and become a vital naval base, connected to European Russia by the Trans-Siberian Railway and Chinese cities thanks to the Chinese Eastern Railway. The city remains the hub of Primorsky Krai, a region in Russia’s Far East with a complex history shaped by geopolitical machinations

Territories that have become part of Russia under the: Aigun Treaty and the Beijing Treaty of 1860, Library of Congress Geography and Map Division, CIA. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

The treaty gave Russia de jure control over Vladivostok, but Chinese migrants continued to move into the region en masse. Chinese laborers continued to move to the area, working on a variety of projects, from building the Trans-Siberian Railway to developing ports in Vladivostok and engaging in agriculture, forestry, and mining in smaller towns and rural areas. By 1910, there were nearly 100,000 Chinese living in the region, while Russian newspapers commented on the prevalence of Chinese merchants selling paper flowers and other inexpensive products at every train station from Vladivostok to St Petersburg on the Baltic Sea.

Morphine use in the Millionka. State Archive of Primorsk Region (Gosudarstvennyi arkhiv Primorskogo kraia) in Vladivostok. Obtained by Austin Jersild.

Things changed after the 1917 Revolution. Throughout the 1920s, the new Soviet authorities in the Vladivostok region implemented increasingly aggressive policies towards ethnic minorities, including Koreans, Germans, Estonians, and Chinese. Driven by xenophobia, these policies were designed to eliminate foreign influence in the region. By 1938, the situation had escalated to the point where the Politburo, the highest governing authority in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, had authorized a massive campaign of terror against various non-Russian nationalities, including Chinese settlers. In total, an estimated 800,000 individuals of all ethnicities were arrested, deported, or executed as part of this brutal ethnic cleansing campaign.

While the exact number of Chinese victims is unknown, the legacy of this brutal purge has had a lasting impact on the Chinese community in Vladivostok and beyond. By 1936, the Soviet Union began deporting Chinese expatriates in groups, causing panic among local Chinese and eventually leading the Chinese Embassy to intervene. However, the purges in the Soviet Union intensified, leading to the mass relocation and deportation of “unreliable elements” from the border areas, including minority ethnic groups living in the Soviet Union. In December 1937, Soviet repression was directed against the Chinese in the Far East, leading to the arrests of Chinese in various parts of the region, including the largest concentration of arrests made in Vladivostok and the surrounding areas. Soviet authorities issued a secret order to arrest all Chinese individuals who committed provocative acts or had terrorist intentions, allegations which were themselves of dubious veracity. The first mass arrest of 853 Chinese individuals, known as the “Chinese Operation”, occurred in Primorsky Oblast on December 29 and 30, 1937. In February 1938, more than 200 Chinese individuals were arrested in Vladivostok, Ussuriysk, and Spassk, and they were tortured to make them confess to the crime of espionage.

Chinese in Vladivostok, Collection of the Primorsky Krai Museum, Russia

Still recovering from the Soviet horrors inflicted on their ancestors, many Chinese today hold on to the hope that Vladivostok will one day be returned to China and become Haishenwai once again. Chinese visitors to the city have expressed similar sentiments, with some believing that the land was unjustly taken from China. This view has been amplified by a social media campaign against Russia following a tweet by the Russian embassy in India in 2020, which touted the founding of Vladivostok. Chinese internet users criticized what they saw as Russia's glorification of its unlawful annexation, expressing discomfort and resentment.

Regardless of its tumultuous history of Chinese immigration and labor, Vladivostok’s intricate Chinese legacy remains a poignant reminder of the city’s multicultural past. The arrests and deportations of Chinese and other diaspora nationalities have transformed the city and the region as a whole, leaving scars that have taken decades to heal and for some remain open. However, today there is a growing interest in recovering the multi-ethnic heritage evident in the city’s history even as fears about the geopolitics of Chinese immigration to the Russian Far East continue. As the city moves towards the future, it must grapple with its past and find ways to honor the contributions of Chinese laborers and victims of Soviet repression while addressing the complicated political and social tensions that continue to shape the region.

Skellig Michael: Monks, Star Wars, and More

March 22, 2023

The island where fantasy meets reality.

Skellig Michael, Stinglehammer, CC BY-SA 4.0

Between the 6th and 8th century, about a dozen monks devoted to St. Fionán sailed 8 miles away from the Irish coast through unpredictable and often violent weather to reach their new home, the jutting rock of Skellig Michael. Once there, they scaled the steep mountain all the way to the top, building beehive-shaped huts out of stone to live in. Once on that lonely isle they centered their lives around God, praying seven times a day. Without cattle or other sources of food they survived off of fish, seabirds, and the vegetables they could grow in their monastery gardens. Generations of determined monks lived there for over 600 years, surviving multiple viking raids, before climate change forced them to leave.They built their homes so well that even today, over 1,400 years later, their original stone huts still stand on the island.

Skellig Michael Beehive Cells, Arian Zwegers, CC BY 2.0

In the far away world of Star Wars, Skellig Michael, renamed to Ahch-To, is where the monastic Jedi Order was born. It is there that the ancient Jedi texts are located. Longtime protagonist Luke Skywalker spent many years searching for the birthplace of the Jedi, eventually realizing it was Ahch-To. It became the natural place to seek exile once his Jedi Temple was destroyed. At least, until he was found by next-generation hero Ray at the end of Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens.

Mystical Skellig Michael, Beyourbest2, CC BY-SA 4.0

Today, Skellig Michael, or “Ahch-To” as it's affectionately known by Star Wars fans, is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and likely the most stunning film location in one of the highest grossing movies in U.S. box office history.

When he was first sent a picture of Skellig Michael JJ Abrams, the creator of the three newest Star Wars films, immediately emailed back “this is the best,” He quickly decided to film there, despite incredible difficulties. Due to the island’s unstable weather conditions only the most iconic shots were done on Skellig Michael itself, with the rest being filmed in different locations throughout Ireland. In addition, Abrams used more than the island’s physical structures. He based the adorable birdlike Porgs on the island in the Star Wars movies on the real life puffins that scamper all over Skellig Michael in real life.

Star Wars Filming Location, Myrtle26, CC BY-SA 2.0

It's important to note that while shooting Star Wars on Skellig Michael gave the island a lot of publicity, it came at the cost of damage to the local ecosystem. Little Skellig, the sister island of Skellig Michael, is home to the second largest gannet colony in the world, and any helicopter used to fly in equipment risks knocking gannets out of the air. Skellig Michael itself is the home of rare seabirds. The first time the Star Wars crew shot on Skellig Michael was in July 2014, in the middle of seabird breeding season. By the time filming was done four of the sixteen conditions set to protect the island had been breached.

Puffins on Skellig Michael, Stinglehammer, CC BY-SA 4.0

Today, Skellig Michael can be visited between the Months of May and September. It is not, however, easy to reach. Only 180 people are permitted to visit Skellig Michael each day. Beyond that, about two days per week trips to Skellig Michael are canceled due to poor weather; due to scarcity, canceled voyages are almost impossible to reschedule.

Despite all of this, those persistent and lucky few who are able to venture to Skellig Michael are rewarded with the opportunity to see the spot where history and nature met Star Wars.

Bangladesh: Ground Zero for Climate Change

March 16, 2023

Where the worst affected are among the least culpable.

Bangladesh Ground Zero, SuSanA Secretariat, CC BY 2.0

Despite being home to only 4.21% of the world’s population, the United States is responsible for a full 14% of all carbon emissions. Bangladesh, a densely populated country surrounded on three sides by India, has released a mere 0.21% of the world’s carbon emission, despite making up a substantial 2.14% of the Earth’spopulation. This means that on average, a person in the US releases about 33.67 times the carbon emissions of a person in Bangladesh.

Yet, it is Bangladesh that is facing among the most dire consequences of global warming. Often called “Ground Zero” for climate change, Bangladesh was ranked number 7 in the latest Global Climate Risk Index, and has a higher population than every country ranked above it. With nearly 75% of Bangladesh below sea level, the South Asian country will be drastically impacted as sea levels rise. Consequently, by 2050, the World Bank predicts that Bangladesh will have almost 20 million climate refugees.

Cyclone Aila Climate Change, Mayeenul Islam, CC BY-SA 3.0

These aren’t just empty statistics. A historically large flash flood in May 2022 displaced more than 4.3 million Bangladeshis . For context, the entire population of Los Angeles is 3.84 million people. Moreover, climate change does not just cause huge events like these. Every day, about 2,000 people move from the countryside to Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka. About 70% of those who move say this is due to either natural disasters or climate change.

For those who move to Dhaka life continues to be difficult. Many migrants end up among the 4 million people already confined to Dhaka’s 5,000 poorest neighborhoods, where they will likely suffer from an extreme water shortage. In 1963, when Dhaka had a population of less than a million, the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewage Authority (DWASA) needed to supply only 130 million liters of water a day. Now, with its exploding population of about 23 million, the DWASA must provide 2,590 million liters every day, and dig hundreds of meters deeper to reach groundwater. A similar water shortage is ongoing in Bangladesh’s second biggest city, Chittagong.

Korail, Dhaka / BD, 2014, william veerbeek, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Bangladesh does not have the resources to survive this crisis on its own. The World Bank estimates that Bangladesh needs about $5.7 billion per year to fund climate adaptation programs by 2050. Today, the country is spending about one billion dollars annually, approximately six to seven percent of its GDP, on climate adaptation. Of that money, only 25% is from international development partners. In 2009, at the 15th UN conference of parties, the world’s developed nations committed to spend 100 billion USD per year on climate action in developing countries by 2020. In 2019 however, only $20 billion of global climate finance funds went to climate adaptation.

TO GET INVOLVED

The Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) is the largest Non-Governmental Organization in the World. They work in 11 countries in the global south to counter climate change, eliminate extreme poverty, and support locally led climate adaptation. According to the Executive Director of the BRAC, the largest Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in the world, it would cost them only $350 to provide safe drinking water to a Bangladeshi household for 20 years, $8,000 dollars to build a climate resilient house, and $126,000 to create a climate adaptation clinic that can support 3,500 farmers. If you would like to support BRAC, you can donate to them here.

The Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) works to balance humans and nature, mitigating the harmful effects of climate change. Recently, they have focused on supporting citizens on the sundarban coast by supporting nature based solutions such as mangrove based livelihoods and integrated farming. You can support BEDS here.

In 1992, Friends of the Earth International founded the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers association (BELA). Beginning as a local young advocacy group, BELA uses the law to protect the environment, and the people that live within it. While there is no way to donate to BELA specifically, you can support Friends of the Earth International as a whole here.

Yakutia: One of the Coldest Places on Earth

March 16, 2023

This Russian region experiences temperatures as low as -70F and its residents live drastically differently than people who live in warmer climes.

A village in Yakutia during the winter. @simoncroberts. Instagram.

It is seven AM. The sun hasn’t risen yet, but you’ve already gathered enough wood to heat your house for 9 months straight, in anticipation of the severe climate outside. You head to the back shed to grab the ice you harvested last November and put it in a giant tub of water to melt, ensuring that your family has something to drink when the water pipes will freeze. Now it’s time to make breakfast and wake your child up for school — because even though winter has finally arrived it’s warmer than -65 degrees Fahrenheit, which means it is safe to go outside.

This is how residents of the northern reaches of the Sakha Republic, common name Yakutia, live during the long winter months. Yakutia is located in Russia and is home to some of the coldest continuously inhabited places in the world. In villages like Oymyakon, located in the far north, the sun doesn’t rise until approximately 9am and sets at 2:15pm, meaning students have to walk to and from school in darkness.

Ten minutes in the cold, fresh air is enough to cause fatigue, stinging pain in any of the exposed parts of your face, and long-lasting aches in the fingers and toes. This is why many houses in the region are made of wood and built to withstand the extreme temperatures by filling every gap with oakum, a sealant made from plant fibers and tar, or even just the abundant snow, although the cold still finds its way through at times.

The Yakut people have learned to be productive in these conditions. Most men in the Republic’s far north have traditional jobs like cattle ranching, hunting, or making crafts, living lives that hardly resemble those of urban Russians. Knife-making plays an important role in the Yakut culture, with the blades known around the world for their strength and beauty.

Summer in a Yakutian village. @Kiun B. YouTube.

When summer comes around, Yakutia becomes a completely different place. While winter temperatures can plunge down to -70 degrees Fahrenheit, in the dog days of summer the weather can get to around 86 to 95 degrees, particularly at the end of July. Summers may be short-lived — only lasting 2.5 months — but it is also the busiest time of the year for Yakut people.

It is crucial to harvest berries before the frost sets in if one wants to eat fruit during the winter., A failure to harvest the hay needed to feed the cattle in time can lead families to lose their valuable livestock.

But with hard work comes a refreshing reward. During the summer, Yakutia turns from a snowy kingdom into a lush meadow full of dense forests. ManyYakuts take advantage of the balmy heat, and head straight to the nearest lake for a swim.

Yakutia is often called the land of rivers and lakes. There are over 700,000 rivers and 800,000 lakes that are rich with aquatic life, which is the perfect opportunity for Yakut people to stock up on food for the winter months.

Although Yakutia is by no means a popular tourist destination, the region is gaining more attention on YouTube and has fascinated viewers around the world. With increased visibility facilitated by modern communications technology , it will be no surprise if curious minds begin to pay attention to Yakutia.

Underground Schools for Women and Girls in Afghanistan

March 14, 2023

The Taliban reconquest of Afghanistan brought an education ban for women and girls, but secret schools have emerged.

A burqa-clad woman in Kabul in September 2021, Milad Hamadi for the Tasnim News Agency. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The life of every Afghan citizen changed on August 15, 2021, when Taliban forces seized the capital city of Kabul and, for the first time in decades, were able to impose the group’s severe intolerance on the whole nation. Those most affected have been young girls and women, who are limited in going about their daily lives and barred from many activities that they previously were able to enjoy freely. As the Taliban continue to ban women from schools and universities, a new generation of young Afghan girls are left wondering what their future will look like. Recently underground school operations have opened up, taking place both virtually and in person, allowing many Afghan girls the ability to continue their education despite the repression, keeping hope alive in a society that faces deep political and societal challenges.

According to the Taliban’s Minister for Higher Education, Neda Mohammad Nadeem, women are not allowed to go to school because they weren’t following the rules of how “proper ladies” should act in a public setting, including not adhering to the Emirate’s strict dress code. However, this issue transcends the regime’s hijab policy. The Taliban use religion to justify their strict policies, arguing that it goes against Islamic principles to have girls and women go to school, even stating that the sciences as a whole are no place for them. The Taliban is able to impose its own interpretation of Sharia Law, the traditional Islamic legal code, which is known for including strict guidelines for how girls and women should live. Many professional Muslim scholars have rebutted the Taliban, asserting there is no justification for banning women from having an education, including that “gender-based denial of education has no religious justification.”

An Afghan girl in Oruzgan Province, John Scott Rafoss. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Despite these obstacles, women and young girls across Afghanistan are fighting for their rights not only to obtain a just education, but to be recognized as important parts of society and claim back their dignity and honor. In an effort to help girls achieve their dreams and achieve literacy, underground schools have started taking shape across the nation, even holding virtual classes. In order to keep an entire generation of young girls thriving, parents are finding alternative means, going as far as risking their lives to create a hidden education system that will serve as primary education and even providing university level courses for older students. One of the pioneer women behind this movement, Sodaba Nazhand, told The Associated Press that “when the Taliban wanted to take away the rights of education and the rights of work from women, I wanted to stand against their decision by teaching these girls.”

While girls and women are able to pursue knowledge and obtain skills through these underground schools, there is much fear among family members and the students themselves, who know the consequences of getting caught disobeying the Taliban. Several of these schools are held virtually for safety and easier access, although not everyone has access to electronics or wifi. Taliban rule has led to widespread poverty across Afghanistan, leaving families and individuals unable to support themselves economically, making internet access unattainable for many. Some schools have even begun to be held in person, as houses become secret classrooms. Nafeesa is a young girl that attends an underground school in her small, rural village in the Eastern part of the country. When asked by reporters how she is able to get away with attending a secret school, she said that “Boys have nothing to do in the kitchen, so I keep my books there. If my brother comes to know about this, he will beat me." Despite the fear that she feels in going against rigidly enforced new social norms, Nafeesa and many others continue to defy the status quo to make a better future for themselves, using education as a portal to freedom.

TO GET INVOLVED

Women For Women International - Women For Women has created an Afghanistan program to help women in the nation discover their power and ways they can pursue a brighter future ahead. For more info, click here.

Malala Fund - Malala Yousafzai has created an Afghanistan fund that provides on-the-ground support to help young girls access education. To learn how you can donate, click here.

Having obtained a MA in International Policy, Kimberly seeks to bridge the gap between global development and government legislation. Growing up between the United States and Spain, she believes that travel is the best way to discover yourself and understand the world. Her goal is to promote a deeper awareness of the effects of climate change in society and politics.

15 African Travel Influencers To Follow

March 14, 2023

These influencers and creators share a love of two things–travel and the African continent.

Racism in the Fantasy Genre

March 14, 2023

How real stereotypes get pulled into fictional worlds.

Universal Studios - Diagon Alley - Gringotts Money Exchange - Goblin, jared422_80, CC BY 2.0

Gino Boccasile (1901-52) Jewish Bolshevik defending America New York Statue of Liberty, Gino Boccasile, CC BY-SA 4.0

On the left is a goblin from Harry Potter. Like all Harry Potter Goblins, he is known primarily for three things; his big nose, his slightly crummy personality, and his job at Gringotts, the underground bank that controls all of the money in the Wizarding world. On the right is an early 20th century anti-semitic piece of propaganda. Rather than acknowledge the disturbing similarities between their goblins and anti-semitic tropes, the Harry Potter team has decided to double down. On February 10, 2023, the video game Harry Potter Legacy was released, at one point attaining over 1.2 million simultaneous viewers on the Twitch video streaming platform, the most by any single player game ever. The focus of the game is a goblin rebellion taking place in the 1890s.

Orc, Wesnoth community artists of all Wesnoth Portraits, CC BY 3.0

For a genre known for its creativity, fantasy novels and games have a concerning trend of modeling their characters after racial stereotypes. In J.R.R Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings the intrinsically evil race of orcs were formed by the first Dark Lord Morgath. Tolkein described these Orcs as “squat, broad, flat-nosed, sallow-skinned, with wide mouths and slant eyes… degraded and repulsive versions of the (to Europeans) least lovely Mongol-types.” Elves, in comparison, were the first race created by the supreme god, are immune to illness, and, in the right conditions, functionally immortal. Tolkein’s novels and the early 2–’s film trilogy depict the elves as very pale, tall, and skinny, the classic European beauty standard. J.R.R. Tolkein is considered the grandfather of the fantasy genre. Hundreds of later creatives would go on to include his racial concepts in their books and games.

Half-Orc Barbarian, mephiston_l, CC BY-NC 2.0

Worldwide approximately 13.7 million people play Dungeons and Dragons, the world’s most popular role playing fantasy game. In this game racial differences are categorized and used to full effect. Half-Orcs, a clearly nonwhite mix between a human and an Orc, used to have a -2 debuff to intelligence, and currently are still frequently treated with mistrust by fellow players. Tieflings, infernal humanoid beings, canonically live in the very poor parts of human cities, where their backstories often must start.

However, it is not just racial stereotypes that are problematic, it also is the idea of race in fantasy as a whole. In Dungeons and Dragons, who your character is, what they are interested in, and what they are good at is largely dependent on your race. If a player so desires they can break these stereotypes, and, for example, create a half-orc Wizard, a class that relies mainly on intelligence. Although, even in these cases, characters usually fall into the “exception rule,” where they just manage to individually transcend the “flaws” of the rest of their race.

Toronto: book stacks at Toronto Reference Library, The City of Toronto, CC BY 2.0.

One of the best ways for things to change is to introduce new voices. Yet, between 1950 and 2018, 95% of fiction books written in the United States were by white authors. Since 2018 it hasn’t improved much. Recently, the publishing giant Penguin Random House found that 75% of the American authors it publishes are still white. This same racial disparity exists in fantasy role playing games as well.

Eugene Marshall is one of these new voices. In his new Zine, he proposes replacing the mechanic of “race” in Dungeons and Dragons with “Ancestry and culture." Ancestry would determine who your character’s parents are and what physical traits they passed on, such as height and the ability to see in the dark. Culture would determine the society you were raised in, and the traditions that society upheld. While it's not perfect, resources and authors like this provide a concrete step in the right direction.

Ghana’s ancient admiration for sea turtles has inspired a modern conservation movement to protect these ecologically vital animals.

The novels and essays that shaped our understanding of human rights.

1. “Resistance to Civil Government” or “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau (1849)

2. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave

3. “An Indian’s Looking-Glass for the White Man”

4. “On the Equality of the Sexes” by Judith Sargent Murray (1790)

5. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (1

6. Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches

7. Fire in the Lake by Frances

8. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbe

9. The Thing Around Your Neck by Chi

Rwanda's unwavering determination and spirit shine as a source of optimism for the rest of the world.

TO GET INVOLVED:

Exploring unique regional items from KFC, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and other fast food giants.

1. Kentucky Fried Chicken

2. McDonald’s

3. PizzaHut

4. Burger King

5. Taco Bell

6. Domino’s

The causes and consequences of the illegal wildlife trade.

TO GET INVOLVED

From Australia to Bolivia, social movements are paradigms of collective power and triumphs of the human spirit.

1. Equality Australia, Australia

2. “Great March of Return” Protests, Palestine

3. EndSARS, Nigeria

4. India's Farmer Protest, India

5. Subway Fare Protests, Chile

6. Velvet Revolution, Armenia

7. “Slipper uprising”, Belarus

8. Wildfire protest, Bolivia

9. “Million-man March”, Sudan

How where you live and the language you speak affects your view of time.

Monochronic Time and Polychronic Time

Past, Future and Present Oriented Societies

Language and Time

As the mountain's snow melts, its ecosystem faces escalating pressures from tourism, climate change, and deforestation.

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Germany, Austria and South Korea recycle 20% more trash than the US. Can they lead the US to a new era of recycling?

Germany

Austria

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Japanese birth rates are falling exponentially, and it could have major effects on the country’s economy.

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A brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Chinese community in the 1930s had a lasting impact on the Russian Far East.

The island where fantasy meets reality.

Where the worst affected are among the least culpable.

TO GET INVOLVED

This Russian region experiences temperatures as low as -70F and its residents live drastically differently than people who live in warmer climes.

The Taliban reconquest of Afghanistan brought an education ban for women and girls, but secret schools have emerged.

TO GET INVOLVED

How real stereotypes get pulled into fictional worlds.