#2021 survey across 10 countries

[suchananewsblog]

Eco-anxiety and India’s young

It was December 21, 2012, and 14-year-old Shaarvari Shreenath was satisfied that the world was ending. The date was considered the tip of a 5,126-year-long cycle within the Mayan calendar, and the media was rife with hypotheses of cataclysms that might quickly ensue. “I keep in mind hugging my buddies, and saying to them, ‘If I don’t see you tomorrow, that is how I really feel about you’,” says…

[thepeacepigeon]

The 4B Movement: How South Korean women are leaving the patriarchy behind 

(Getty Images)

In 2016, a 34-year-old man named Kim Sung-min waited inside a unisex restroom outside exit 10 of Gangnam Station, Seoul South Korea. Six different men came and exited through the restroom over the span of an hour, until a 23-year-old woman entered, and Kim proceeded to stab and kill her with a 12-inch-long sushi knife. In court, Kim stated, “I did it because women have always ignored me.” Kim’s actions and thoughts are not out of the ordinary amongst Korean men—violence against women is extremely common in South Korea. 

(BBC)

South Korea has a long record of female subjugation. Between 1953 and 2021, abortion was illegal in almost all circumstances, and current law allows a woman to get an abortion only if she has consent from a male relative or her boyfriend/husband/partner. A 2015 South Korean government survey revealed that almost 80% of women had been sexually harassed at work. A survey released by The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family found that 57.8 percent of women felt vulnerable to misogynistic violence. Digital crime and sexual harassment are extremely common— “molka”, up-skirt photos, and secret cameras hidden in restrooms are rampant, so much so that any cellphone purchased in South Korea has a mandatory chime when photos are taken. The World Economic Forum’s 2022 Global Gender Gap Index ranks South Korea at number 99 out of 146 countries for gender equality. Legislation actively works against women trying to report sexual assault. Men accused of stalking or harassment can “ask” their victims to drop charges, and in 2022 a man murdered his former colleague after she refused to drop charges against him for stalking her since 2019. South Korea has the highest gender pay gap of all the OECD countries—the top wealthiest 37 countries, globally, with women earning on average a third less than men. These alarming statistics have come years after the “Gangnam Station” murder, and South Korean women continue to be targeted for their gender.

(Jung Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images)

Despite Kim’s own testimony, government authorities explicitly denied the misogynistic motive, and the prosecution announced that the case was not being investigated as a hate crime. Kim was eventually sentenced to 30 years in prison. In response to the murder, women took to the streets outside Gangnam station and the surrounding areas in protest. The women, many of whom had never considered themselves feminists or activists, but the nature of the crime and the misogynistic motivation, as well as the court's refusal to acknowledge it, outranged them. The murder incited intense debates about misogyny within the country, and the gender inequities women faced both socially and economically. Five months after the murder, Cho Nam-Joo’s novel Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 was published. The book devastatingly details an everyday woman’s daily experiences of nonstop sexism, inequality, and misogyny in contemporary South Korea, and served as another enraging eye-opener that would develop into what would become known as the 4B Movement. 

The four B’s (or “Four No’s”) of the movement represent the four major components that women of the movement are rejecting; Bisekseu (sex), Bichulsan (child-bearing), Biyeonae, (dating) and Bihon (marriage). South Korean feminists define the 4B movement not as a fight against the patriarchy, but a complete step away from it— leaving it behind. In 2017, the Escape the Corset campaign swept across the country. The word “corset” is used by Korean feminists as a metaphor for the societal mechanisms that control and repress women, for example, the extreme and toxic beauty standards. Both 4B and Escape the Corset condemn and reject the influence that beauty holds within every aspect of South Korean life. Pioneers such as feminist author Cho Nam-Joo, and photographer Jeon Bo-ra, who photographed women who shaved their heads in rebellion. Social media has played a large role in the 4B movement, with bloggers and beauty influencers like Lina Bae speaking up against unattainable beauty standards and societal pressures, and Summer Lee who was inspired to cut her hair, throw away her hyperfeminine clothes, and post pictures of herself without makeup. 

(Jean Chung/Getty Images)

Despite increasing conversation on women’s rights, feminism is still considered a taboo, contentious, or even “dirty” word for many South Koreans. It is often associated with “man-hating” and perceived as overly aggressive. The country's current president Yoon Suk-yeol has promised to close down the South Korean Ministry of Gender Equility and Family, and any other organizations that fund or support women and victims of sexual violence, claiming they “treat men like potential sex criminals”. A January 2023 article in the South Korean newspaper The Sisa Times reported that 65% of women in the country do not want children, 42% do not want to get married, and over 80% of those cite domestic violence as their key reason. As a result, concerns regarding the rising average population age and declining birth rate in South Korea have increased greatly. The country's birth rate is less than one per woman as of 2021, and the country saw less than 200,000 marriages. In recent years, the South Korean government has commissioned a number of soap operas and reality TV shows to promote an idyllic view of romantic heterosexual love, and to encourage marriage and reproduction. 

(Yonhap)

The 4B movement and Escape the Corset campaign have had a tremendous impact on the way young South Korean women view the countries cultural grip on women’s appearances and lives. Between 2015-2016 and 2017-2018, Korean women spent over 5 billion Korean Won less on beauty products and cosmetic surgeries, instead investing their money in cars and choosing independence over objectification. The movement is calling for boycotts of any business that uses sexist advertising, and encouraging women to eat at women-owned restaurants, drink in women-owned bars, and shop at women-owned stores—women’s money goes into the pockets of other women. Women’s universities have also been on the rise in South Korea, with most cities housing one or several women-only institutions. Similarly, women’s only spaces have begun to expand, women’s parking spots closer to entrances and exits in parking garages, women’s only hotel floors and common rooms, and women’s only subway cars. These spaces allow feminism to spread and flourish, and give Korean women the ability to find community with other women without the interference of men. 

(Ian Baldessari/CityLab)

Since 2016, Exit 10 of Gangnam Station has become a symbolic site for South Korean feminism. The South Korean feminist movement developed out of particularly misogynist conditions within their country. The 4B movement represents a radical way that women have sought to create an online and offline world devoid of men—rather than engaging in arguments and altercations, they simply refuse to interact with men in every aspect of their lives. These actions have had a profound impact on the functionality of South Korean society and have opened an uncloseable door too the discussion of women’s rights. 

McCurry, Justin. “Calls for Stalking Law Overhaul in South Korea as Woman’s Murder Shocks Nation.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 23 Sept. 2022, www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/23/calls-for-stalking-law-overhaul-in-south-korea-as-womans-shocks-nation.

Teehan, Katie. “What Is the 4B Movement?” Service95, 16 Apr. 2024, www.service95.com/4b-movement-explainer/.

Izaakson , Jen, and Tae Kyung Kim. “The South Korean Women’s Movement: ‘We Are Not Flowers, We Are a Fire.’” Feminist Current, 16 June 2020, www.feministcurrent.com/2020/06/15/the-south-korean-womens-movement-we-are-not-flowers-we-are-a-fire/.

Lee, Min Joo. “Why so Many South Korean Women Are Refusing to Date, Marry or Have Kids.” Yahoo! News, Yahoo!, 15 May 2023, news.yahoo.com/why-many-south-korean-women-123250959.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHmBVorK4v6bdzwcJMRyRdXkKtzUlpQYWn5Ot-BPzs-YRNNZFW5JBwC65OTaPrRImn3F3G56r0gfNydadUzlQtPS61hOi6uggk_OkwZqqvLvS-YN4HbPrpwKvK9_7g0e9yqu9fiRRvOVJkGRv__L7AZGoYtfHVxjKLLPDi9DI2fu.

Park, Seohoi Stephanie. “Murder at Gangnam Station: A Year Later.” KOREA EXPOSÉ, 2 Mar. 2023, koreaexpose.com/murder-gangnam-station-year-later/.

Dockeray, Hannah. “Why Some South Korean Women Are Rejecting Beauty.” Sky News, 14 July 2021, news.sky.com/story/plastic-surgery-south-korea-faces-beauty-backlash-11871654.

[reasonsforhope]

How can I stay positive regarding the wildfires?

It can be really hard in the face of so much destruction. I don't know how much anyone can specifically stay positive in the face of disasters like this -

but I can give you some thoughts about how to let hope live alongside everything else you're feeling about this, and how to avoid spiraling and remember that this is not proof that we're doomed.

Possibly relevant note lol is that I've lived my whole life in California, so suffice to say figuring out how to move forward among the consequences and destruction of massive wildfires is something I'm definitely not new to.

I remember walking to my classroom in elementary school, about 20 years ago now, and it was literally snowing ash around me. This too shall pass.

Take a few deep breaths. I know it's cliche but it's also important

Zoom out in terms of perspective: Wildfires can make the sky look apocalyptic (like I said, I have lots of experience with this!), but they are regional, and they always end. These wildfires are awful but this specific wave of fires is happening in just one country in a huge, huge world. There's far more land that isn't burning

Canada is about to get substantial international aid in fighting the wildfires - there are already 200 additional firefighters headed over from the US and France, and Canada (Quebec specifically) is also already in talks with Costa Rica, Portugal, and Chile about additional firefighters/resources. Help is on the way and these numbers really will make a big difference, and as the disaster continues (unfortunately it is uh...pretty early in fire season), more help will be sent. People are doing what they can to help, because in the face of disaster, that's what we're wired to do

There are actually MUCH better fire management plans than just about anyone is using, esp in North America but that we COULD implement and increasingly WILL going forward. A lot of the wildfire situation these days is because of the West's incredibly wrongheaded derision toward traditional Indigenous land and ecosystem management practices, including cultural prescribed burns that keep massive wildfires from happening. California in particular is already partnering with several First Nations to revive prescribed burns, to significant success. As fires continue to be terrible, more and more places will get on board with this. We can and will implement practices that will truly change our situation

Cultural burns work because, ironically, the reason for the wildfires is that "is that we've been so good at putting out every fire possible that it has led to overly dense forests and a buildup of burnable material like branches and dry vegetation" that makes wildfires much worse in a number of ways. At lower intensity, however, as with cultural burns, forest fires can actually have huge environmental benefits

Finally, every time a natural disaster happens like this, as awful and destructive as they are, it serves as a wake-up call for thousands of people and adds both ever-mounting urgency and ever-mounting evidence to the importance of fighting climate change, which really does translate into action. For a lot of people, "saving the environment" feels super distant - but you know what feels super immediate? Saving their homes from burning down (or getting flooded or otherwise destroyed, etc. etc.) In 2021, the UN ran the world's largest climate survey, across 1.2 million people and 50 nations, and almost TWO-THIRDS SAID THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS A GLOBAL EMERGENCY THAT WE NEED TO WORK HARDER TO ADDRESS. Imagine that 10 years ago! That other third of people aside, this really is real and massive progress

Also, every time there's a big disaster like this, climate change deniers look more and more baldly ridiculous. Think about it: How often did you hear US Republicans bullshitting about climate change denial 10 years ago? And how often do you hear them doing it now? In fact, there's increasing evidence that Republicans really are shifting on climate change (mind you they're managing to do it in an obnoxiously somehow pro-fossil-fuel way, but it's still a major sea change). Some of them are literally calling for a clean energy transition, and Kevin McCarthy himself (guy in charge of the US House right now) created a task force for to a conservative climate change agenda that acknowledges climate change is real. There's now a conservative climate conference that does active lobbying and a House Conservative Climate Caucus, which somehow has SIXTY MEMBERS. Again, something that would've been unimaginable just six or seven years ago.

Every acre that the fires burn this year is an acre that's pretty guaranteed to not burn next year, for what that's worth. (And I do think it's worth mentioning, esp with such a high number of acres)

The battles are going to be hard, but I truly believe that even the ones we lose often bring us closer to winning the war.

Fires burn, but life always grows back.

[mariacallous]

It is a measure of the divisiveness and tolerance for violence in the United States that the possibility of civil war looms so large over the 2024 presidential election—no matter which candidate wins. It is even the subject of a hit dystopian thriller. Though an actual civil war resulting from the election’s outcome remains unlikely, a range of sufficiently alarming politically violent scenarios are nevertheless quite possible.

Former President Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records has sharpened frictions, with threats to the judiciary and his opponents immediately intensifying. “Time to start capping some leftys. This cannot be fixed by voting,” was one typical reaction tracked by Reuters on Gateway Pundit, a right-wing news site. Far-right media personality Stew Peters said on his Telegram channel that “our judicial system has been weaponized against the American people. We are left with NO option but to take matters into our own hands.”

Meanwhile, our assessments suggest that elements on the far left in this country are also escalating militant threats. A call to “Fuck the Fourth” recently appeared on an anarchist website, heralding a day of action on July 4 targeting the ports of Seattle, Oakland, Los Angeles, Boston, New York, New Jersey, and Baltimore. Additional summons to “Flood The Gates: Escalate” over the Gaza War both on college campuses and in communities across the nation this summer and fall are circulating on social media. At a pro-Palestine protest at the White House in June, one protester held up a decapitated likeness of President Joe Biden’s head, while crowds chanted “Revolution.”

These would-be violent extremists represent a microcosm of a U.S. political landscape that is increasingly willing to tolerate violence. A survey conducted last year found that 23 percent of Americans agreed with the statement that “because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country.” Another more recent poll similarly found that 28 percent of Republicans strongly agree or agree that “Americans may have to resort to violence in order to get the country back on track.” Meanwhile, 12 percent of Democrats agreed with the premise.

Among gun owners in the United States, these sentiments are even more prevalent. According to a survey conducted by the University of California, Davis, “About 42% of owners of assault-type rifles said political violence could be justified, rising to 44% of recent gun purchasers, and a staggering 56% of those who always or nearly always carry loaded guns in public

As the United States approaches its November election, the risks of violence will thus rise. This should not be surprising. Historically, violence is actually quite common in the United States, especially during election seasons. During the Reconstruction era, much of white supremacist violence directed against freed Black men and women was intended to intimidate would-be voters, ensuring that segregationist Democrats maintained their grip on power in the Deep South.

More recently, the 2022 midterms saw an assassination attempt target the speaker of the House of Representatives in an attack that seriously wounded her husband. The 2020 election, of course, sparked the Jan. 6, 2021, terrorist attack on the U.S. Capitol. In the 10 days leading up to the 2018 midterms, there were no fewer than four far-right terrorist attacks, most notably the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. The mail bombs that circulated that same week showed that threats to politicians have in fact been particularly frequent during the Trump era.

Despite that disquieting pattern, 2024 appears to provide even more fertile ground for militant responses to electoral developments. Trump’s court cases, coupled with the insistence from both parties that—in Trump’s words—“If we don’t win this election, I don’t think you’re going to have another election in this country,” have painted the election in existential terms.

As the United Nations Development Program concluded from its research into election violence around the world, “A common cause of election violence is that the stakes of winning and losing valued political posts are in many situations … incredibly high.”

Rendering the threat yet more severe is the range of possible locations and individuals that extremists may target, spanning the duration of election season. But how might violence differ at various stages of the campaign? Before the election, extremists may be more likely to target politicians on the campaign trail, seeking to intimidate them into changing their policies or deter them from running in the first place. Presidential candidate Nikki Haley had, for instance, requested Secret Service protection during her Republican Party primary challenge, while prominent Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher hinted that he was forced into retirement by threats against his family.

Based on experience, the election itself will likely feature armed intimidation at polling places and threats levied against election officials. A database analyzed by scholars Pete Simi, Gina Ligon, Seamus Hughes, and Natalie Standridge found that threats against public officials are likely to hit an all-time high in 2024. The data initially jumped in 2017, the year of Trump’s inauguration.

In the weeks after the forthcoming election, depending on the results, extremists will likely direct their animus toward representatives of the government—especially on one of the many ceremonial dates accompanying the transition of power—such the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, for instance. An exact repeat of that attack is probably less likely; law enforcement agencies will be far better prepared this time, and the groups that led the assault on the Capitol have been effectively dismantled by seditious conspiracy charges targeting their leadership.

Although white supremacist and anti-government extremists will be the likeliest to lash out, in line with trends over the past decade, violence from the far left cannot be discounted. Stabbing attacks have repeatedly targeted right-wing political leaders in Germany, for instance, and the harassment and violence targeting American Jews on U.S. college campuses have highlighted a more militant political left that has historically been quite open to violent action, including in the United States. This violent fringe has frequently deployed armed threats against politicians in particular—never more seriously than the lone gunman who targeted the Republican team practice for the congressional baseball game in 2017, or the far-left extremist from California who brought weapons to the home of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh to threaten him in 2022.

Salafi jihadi actors are also emboldened by recent successes in Afghanistan, Iran, and Moscow, and they may seek to take advantage of this particularly divided moment in the United States to elbow themselves back into the national consciousness. FBI Director Christopher Wray has suggested that his organization is growing increasingly concerned about the “potential for a coordinated attack here in the homeland, not unlike the ISIS-K attack we saw at the Russian concert hall back in March.” The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has similarly warned that “threat actors” will likely “converge on 2024 election season,” with foreign adversaries using influence operations to further divide the U.S. populace and create new sources of divisiveness and violence.

Is the violence likely to lead to civil war? Trump and many of his allies have repeatedly warned that another election loss—coupled with forthcoming trial verdicts—would trigger one or lead to revolution in the United States. A post on Truth Social shared by Trump, for instance, suggested that 2024 might resemble 1776, “except this time the fight is not against the British, it’s against communist Americans.” The threat doubled down on Trump’s previous warning that his defeat would spark a “bloodbath” in this country.

Punditry, however, is not prophecy. Despite the warnings from scholars, policy wonks, journalists, and others, civil war is in fact unlikely in this country. Geographic distinctions between would-be warring factions today run urban-rural rather than north-south, robbing any potential seditious movement of the geographical safe haven it would need to engage in nationwide conflict. But political rhetoric and the proliferation of threats is almost certain to lead to some level of violence.

Making the threat even more serious is that the Biden administration carries little-to-no legitimacy among most hardcore Trump supporters—who still persist in believing that the 2020 election was stolen. The vice grip that these conspiracy theories hold on many mainstream Republicans means that any response by the Biden administration will be regarded as illegitimate—whether that response is deploying additional law enforcement or even the National Guard to polling places or seeking to educate the public about the veracity and integrity of U.S. elections.

In other words, the United States finds itself in a security dilemma, where any defensive measures designed to safeguard the electoral process will in fact likely be interpreted as an offensive strike—that is, to ensure a repeat electoral fraud. As the aforementioned White House protests have demonstrated, Biden also has little legitimacy in the eyes of the far left, meaning that particular movement would not likely be sated by a Democratic election victory.

Countermeasures will need to focus on education and law enforcement preparation. In particular, the Biden administration should champion education tools that reassure the U.S. public about the resilience of its electoral system from hacking or cheating while also pioneering digital literacy measures that might help protect Americans from disinformation and conspiracy theories shared online, including through artificial intelligence.

In particularly high-risk areas, which might include swing states, the administration should also consider raising the law enforcement presence to deter violent actors from targeting such locations. Successfully stopping violence, however, will require a bipartisan commitment to accept election results and publicly praise the integrity of the election and its many officials—which seems completely unrealistic at this stage.

Americans are therefore left with a political landscape defined by existential rhetoric and violent threats, with very little that the government can do to effectively counter these charges. Accordingly, the threat may be less of another civil war than of the total breakdown of the democratic electoral process that has defined the country since its creation.

[evidence-based-activism]

This has been on my mind a lot lately, but I couldn't find anything about this. I saw a data that says young people regardless of gender feel more lonely especially after covid. But articles everywhere describe the phenomenon as male loneliness epidemic. Is it true that loneliness affect men more than women?

Yes, I've noticed this as well! (It's definitely frustrating!)

In short, no, women and men experience similar amounts of loneliness. (Therefore, it should simply be a "loneliness epidemic" not a "male loneliness epidemic".)

First:

A pre-covid meta-analysis [1] concluded that "across the lifespan mean levels of loneliness are similar for males and females". This is a robust finding because a meta-analysis synthesizes the results from many different studies; this one covered 39 years, 45 countries, and a wide range of other demographic factors from a total of 575 reports (751 effect sizes).

An interesting longitudinal study [2] used both indirect and direct measures of loneliness and (essentially) found no significant effect of sex. (But there were some interesting interaction effects between sex and age or sex and loneliness measure, if you want to look at the study!)

This literature review [3] states that "sex differences in loneliness are dependent on what type of loneliness is measured and how" and it's possible sex only "correlates with other factors that then impact loneliness directly". The first quote here is referring to similar sex-age/sex-measurement interactions found in [2].

During/after the COVID-19 pandemic however:

The earlier review [3] stated that "most studies found that women were lonelier or experienced higher increases in loneliness than men with both direct and indirect measures", but this may be a result of participant selection bias during the pandemic.

That being said, both a rapid review [4] and a systematic review and meta-analysis [5] found that women were either more or equally likely to report loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, the Pew Research Center has collected some relevant data:

Prior to the pandemic, 10% of both men and women in the USA reported feeling lonely all or most of the time [6].

And while this doesn't measure loneliness directly, 48% of women and 32% of men in the USA reported high levels of psychological distress at least once during the pandemic [7].

References below the cut:

Maes, M., Qualter, P., Vanhalst, J., Van Den Noortgate, W., & Goossens, L. (2019). Gender differences in loneliness across the lifespan: A meta–analysis. European Journal of Personality, 33(6), 642–654. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.2220

Von Soest, T., Luhmann, M., Hansen, T., & Gerstorf, D. (2020). Development of loneliness in midlife and old age: Its nature and correlates. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 118(2), 388–406. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000219

Barjaková, M., Garnero, A., & d’Hombres, B. (2023). Risk factors for loneliness: A literature review. Social Science & Medicine (1982), 334, 116163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116163

Pai, N., & Vella, S.-L. (2021). COVID-19 and loneliness: A rapid systematic review. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 55(12), 1144–1156. https://doi.org/10.1177/00048674211031489

Ernst, M., Niederer, D., Werner, A. M., Czaja, S. J., Mikton, C., Ong, A. D., Rosen, T., Brähler, E., & Beutel, M. E. (2022). Loneliness before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review with meta-analysis. American Psychologist, 77(5), 660–677. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001005

Bialik, K. (2018, December 3). Americans unhappy with family, social or financial life are more likely to say they feel lonely. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/12/03/americans-unhappy-with-family-social-or-financial-life-are-more-likely-to-say-they-feel-lonely/

Gramlich, J. (2023, March 2). Mental health and the pandemic: What U.S. surveys have found. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/03/02/mental-health-and-the-pandemic-what-u-s-surveys-have-found/

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Matt Thornton

Published: Apr 12, 2023

A poll conducted in 2020 by the Skeptic Research Center asked a nationally representative sample of Americans the following question:

 “If you had to guess, how many unarmed Black men were killed by police in 2019?”

The survey offered answer choices ranging from “about 10” to “more than 10,000.” Roughly 31 percent of survey respondents who identified as “very liberal” estimated that police had killed about 1,000 or more unarmed black men the previous year, with another 22 percent overall believing the number to be at least 10,000.

In summary, 53% of Americans who identified as “very liberal” believe police murder somewhere between 1000-10,000 unarmed black men a year.

What is the actual number? Twelve.

According to the Washington Post’s comprehensive database of police killings, police shot and killed 54 unarmed people in 2019, 26 were listed as white, 12 black, 11 Hispanic, and 5 “other.”

It’s also important to note that the majority of the twelve shot were actively trying to hurt or kill the officer. For example, in at least two of the twelve cases involving black men, the perpetrators were killed while trying to run over an officer with a car. In another, an individual took and used the officer’s taser on him. In another, a female officer was being physically beaten by a suspect when she fired. All those cases were classified as “unarmed.”

“Unarmed” never means “not deadly.” There is always a gun involved—the officer’s. In many encounters, the suspect is fighting to get ahold of it. In the Ferguson case, it was claimed that Michael Brown had his hands up when Officer Darren Wilson shot him, in cold blood, in the middle of the street. Upon investigation, the forensic evidence as well as a half-dozen black witnesses confirmed Officer Wilson’s account. Michael Brown tried to take Officer Wilson’s gun and was charging at him when shot. The “Hands up, don’t shoot!’ slogan was a lie.

When you set aside cases where the suspect was actively threatening an officer’s life with physical force, you are left with one or two cases a year. In 2019, officers involved in two shootings were found at fault and sentenced accordingly. 

What is the net result of so many people being so misinformed?

After the George Floyd incident in June 2020, in cities across the country, regressive anti-policing policies were rushed in. In Chicago, this meant the department was down 1000 officers. New restrictions on the police were put in place that inhibited proactive/community policing, and several thousand violent offenders were put back on the street thanks to far left District Attorneys and activist judges. The net result was a 25 year high in murder for the city and hundreds more dead bodies, many of them young kids.

In 2021, more than 12 American cities saw record breaking levels of murder. Without evidence, ideologically-driven reporters parrot back to each other that this increase must be related to lockdowns. A closer look shows clearly that the constant attacks on law enforcement, budget cuts, and a climate of hatred fueled by that same irresponsible media have effectively halted proactive policing. Whenever that happens, violence skyrockets and thousands more needlessly die. The blood that covers media personalities, policy makers, and activists who��ve pushed the “defund the police” narrative will never wash off.

Because homicides within the black community occur at more than four times the national average, the people who will suffer most from these changes won’t be the upper-middle-class urban elites who foolishly push them through or the politicians and media personalities who have their own armed security. It will be poor, black Americans who live in the kinds of areas where 3-year-old Mekhi James was murdered, along with 197 other Chicago youth since 2020. It’s no wonder that black Americans consistently poll higher than whites in wanting increased police presence. The citizens in those high crime neighborhoods know better than anyone that cutting police funding doesn’t solve our violence problem—it increases it.

The narrative that police officers are looking to kill black Americans is a pernicious lie. Understanding this is the first step in making our cities safer for everyone.

==

If you care about black lives - and you should - you should care about accurate information and statistics, and telling the truth. Not about grand ideological fantasies narratives that get many more black people killed.

[maaarine]

Climate change: Rise in Google searches around ‘anxiety’ (Lucy Gilder, BBC, Nov 22 2023)

"Climate anxiety is anxiety specifically associated with awareness of climate change.

Eco-anxiety is a more general anxiety associated with awareness of threats to environmental health, including pollution and loss of biodiversity.

Google Trends does not simply measure the total volume of searches but looks at a sample of searches to identify trends around the world.

It uses a measure called "search interest", to look at the relative popularity of search queries over time.

Nordic countries had the biggest share of global search queries related to climate anxiety over the past five years.

In fact, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway accounted for more than 40% of search queries related to "climate anxiety". (…)

Google did not release data on the gender of people searching for queries related to "climate anxiety" but research has indicated that women are more predisposed to climate anxiety than men.

Findings from a 2023 study published in the academic journal Sustainability, for example, showed that female respondents around the world reported "greater levels of concern and negative emotions" about climate change.

Male respondents, on the other hand, were "more optimistic and expressed greater faith in government".

The study was based on an online survey of 10,000 people aged 16 to 25 across 10 countries carried out in 2021.

Analysis of more than 44,000 respondents from the European Social Survey in 2019 also concluded that women registered greater concern about climate change than men.

Professor Susan Clayton, who co-authored the Sustainability study, has some possible explanations for this.

She says that one reason women consistently report higher levels of concern is that they are more open to discussing emotions.

"Women are in general more willing, and may be able to acknowledge their own emotional response [to climate change].

So they seem to think about their emotions, and they are more willing to talk about them, compared to men in general," she says.

But she also says that some women may worry more about climate change because they are at greater risk than men of experiencing some of the real-life impacts.

"After an extreme weather event you frequently find increased levels of domestic violence, and when people are involuntarily displaced, due to climate change, that opens women to the threat of sexual violence or trafficking," she says.

"Also, women are often physiologically vulnerable to climate change.

So high temperatures and air pollution can have an impact during pregnancy and the ways pregnancy affects a woman's body may make it more difficult for her to escape extreme climate conditions."

There is some research which suggests women are more likely than men to die in climate change-related disasters."

[beardedmrbean]

A disorienting and blinding fog connected to a store's alarm is a relatively new security measure to stop would-be thieves as organized retail crime spirals out of control.

The technology, which was created by DensityUSA, is already in use in several countries in the European Union and Australia but is becoming more prevalent in the U.S., said Mike Egel, president of DensityUSA.

Stores lost an estimated $86.6 billion to retail theft in 2022, and projections indicate that amount may reach $115 billion in 2025, according to Capital One Shopping Research.

"I think the COVID-19 pandemic tore the social and economic fabric of America," Egel told Fox News Digital. "Pre-pandemic, crime was on the decline. But when the nation shut down and the economy stepped backwards, common sense went to an all-time low. And sadly, crime rose and continues to grow."

Businesses have been forced to hide products behind registers or lock them up in glass cases to protect their inventory.

That hasn't stopped orchestrated smash-and-grab robberies in which thieves execute intricate plots to grab as many items as possible and leave before witnesses get a good look or police respond.

DOLLAR TREE TAKING ‘VERY DEFENSIVE APPROACH’ TO SHOPLIFTING, CEO SAYS

Egel said there was one instance in the United Kingdom where a truck took out the entire front of a jewelry store, but the fog covered the 900-square-foot space in less than five seconds.

"Once it's activated, the DensityUSA system creates a dense fog with near-zero visibility conditions in just seconds," Egel said. "The fog is designed to be dense and disorientating to deter an intruder from following through with their intentions."

In the case of the U.K. jewelry store, the thieves came away empty-handed, he said: "Thieves can’t steal what they can’t see."

The company is based in St. Louis, but the European Union was the first to approve the fog machine as a crime deterrent.

After seeing its success, Egel said he and his business partner, Scott Bader, introduced their security measure to the United States, which is used in stores in a handful of states.

"After seeing the rise in crime across the United States and billions of dollars lost to intrusions, including burglaries, riots and looting, we partnered with our colleagues in the European Union to bring Density Global to the U.S. as DensityUSA," Egel said.

"The system can be used in all retail settings, from clothing stores and pharmacies to cannabis stores, from convenience stores to gun shops."

A 2022 report from the Retail Security Survey found $94.5 billion in losses in 2021 because of shrink – losses coming from causes other than sales – which includes shoplifting and damaged products.

That's up from $90.8 billion in 2020.

"The study found that, similar to the last five years, the average shrink rate in 2021 was 1.4%," according to the study.

Organized retail crime, which increased on average by 26.5% in 2021, is the driving force, the study says.

Retailers, on average, saw a 26.5% increase in organized retail crime (ORC).

"Eight in 10 retailers surveyed report that the violence and aggression associated with ORC incidents increased in the past year," the 2022 Retail Security Survey says.

"The current climate of active assailants and gun violence add to retailers' concerns about being able to keep employees and customers safe."

[violetsandshrikes]

How can you complain about living in NZ when some of us literally live in America lol

TW for mentions of mental health, suicide, sexual abuse, abuse, violence, family harm and other topics that may be very upseting for people.

As of 2021, Aotearoa NZ ranks at 35th out of 41 developed countries for child wellbeing outcomes (x).

One in six New Zealand women experience sexual violence from an intimate partner during their lifetime. Child sexual abuse rates: 1 in 5. Non-partner sexual assault: 1 in 14. (x)

Research suggests that one in three (33%) of New Zealand women have experienced physical or sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime. When psychological abuse is added (where economic harm sits), it increases to one in two (55%). One in eight men reported being victims of family violence. Gay, lesbian and bisexual adults experience intimate partner physical and sexual violence more than twice as often as other New Zealanders. (x)

One in three (29%) young people (15-19) reported being hit or harmed by a partner and up to 60% of high school students are recorded as having been in an emotionally or physically abusive relationship. (x)

As of 2017, New Zealand has the highest rate of teen suicide in the OECD. New Zealand has the 6th highest teen pregnancy rate in the OECD. New Zealand has the 7th highest rate of child homicide in the OECD. (x)

New Zealand’s youth suicide rate for adolescents aged 15-19 years was reported to be the highest of 41 OECD/EU countries. (x)

One in four New Zealand workers is flourishing. (x)

Bullying is quite common in workplaces across Aotearoa. Nearly two in ten respondents of the 2020 Workplace Barometer Survey said they had experienced bullying and nearly 40% had seen others being bullied. Another report from the same year revealed that 84% of surveyed workers had experienced cyber abuse, and 48% more than one form of it. 75.5% didn’t report the abuse to their organisation, believing it wouldn’t make a difference. (x)

A survey of Australian and New Zealand workplaces by Hays found that 56% of respondents felt their chance of being accepted for a job was lowered because of their sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, gender or disability, and 63% felt the same about their chances for career progression. (x)

As of June 2022, 1 in 9 (12.0 %) of New Zealand children lived in low-income households that had less than 50 percent of the median equivalised disposable household income before deducting housing costs. 1 in 7 (15.4%) children lived in low-income households that had an after-housing-costs income that was less than 50 percent of the baseline year’s median after-housing-costs equivalised disposable household income. 1 in 10 (10.3%) children lived in households experiencing material hardship. A household is experiencing material hardship if they are going without six or more of 17 items most people would regard as essential. (x)

As of June 2022, average annual household income from wages and salaries increased from $72,794 to $79,128 (8.7%), average annual household income (gross) increased from $111,168 to $117,126 (5.4%) average annual household equivalised disposable income (after tax and transfer payments) increased from $50,561 to $53,031 (4.9%. ) 32.2 percent of households perceived their income as ‘not enough’ or ‘only just enough’ (no change). (x)

And just to drive home what I'm saying above, $79,128 NZD (annual household income in wages/salaries) is $48,455 USD or $45,604.63 in the Euro.

As of June 2022, average weekly expenditure on total rent payments increased from $391.50 to $410.90 (up 5.0%). (x)

Research released June 2021 shows that 93 percent of Māori in Aotearoa experience racism every day, and even more - 96 percent - say racism is a problem for their whānau. (x)

Aotearoa New Zealand has had a very long struggle with high rates of domestic violence, suicide, poverty (particularly child poverty), mental health and addiction crisis on top of the cost of living - which is currently high everywhere but people tend to forget that we also have 1) a mildly shitty conversion rate when you look at places like the States and Britain and 2) the added costs of shipping and transport when you're on an island in the middle of nowhere. These are tiny snapshot of statistics that reflect the reality of life here.

While a lot of people seem to think that this country is a much better place than their own western nation, the reality is that Aotearoa NZ is also built on all the shitty ideals that dog everywhere else + there isn't even easing of financial strain to live here.

[tzeming-janice]

Public Health Campaigns & Communities

What is public health?

Public health, as a multidisciplinary field, is dedicated to enhancing the health and overall well-being of communities (Lee, 2023). It strives to create safe environments for people to live, learn, work, and enjoy their lives. Many people mistakenly believe that public health is the same as healthcare. However, it is important to distinguish between the two, as public health focuses on entire populations with the objective of preventing illnesses and injuries, while the healthcare industry concentrates on treating individual patients who are already sick (APHA, 2023).

For example, public health is responsible for the following:

"Public health is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private communities, and individuals." — Winslow, 1920

The 10 Essential Public Health Services

The 10 Essential Public Health Services (EPHS), first created in 1994 by a federal working group, serves as the description of the activities that public health systems should undertake in all communities. EPHS is organised around the three core functions of public health: assessment, policy development and assurance. Health departments and community partners collaborators across the nation structure their work around the EPHS model, while educational institutions and public health programs also incorporate it into their teachings  (CDC, 2023).

In 2020, a revised version of the 10 EPHS was unveiled during a virtual launch event. The revised EPHS centres around equity and promotes policies that enable optimal health for all and seek to remove systemic and structural barriers such as poverty, racism, gender discrimination and others, that have resulted in health inequities (CDC, 2023).

“The revised 10 EPHS not only centres equity but acknowledges the importance of community voice and the different roles public health plays.” — Jessica Fisher, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Public Health National Center for Innovations (PHNCI).

COVID-19 and Public Health

COVID-19, caused by an infection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, was initially detected in December 2019 in Wuhan, a city in China's Hubei province. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a substantial threat to nations across the world, and it is regarded as the biggest public health crisis the world has confronted in over a century (Miyah, 2022). In late 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in which countries with vulnerable healthcare facilities may be at an excessive hazard (Tabari, 2020).

In response to this crisis, many countries have enacted travel restrictions, including flight suspensions and measures to limit incoming travellers. Others have introduced social distancing and quarantine policies as well as encouraging the reduction of social interactions, postponing events, locking down schools, and isolating suspected cases. Furthermore, some regions have utilized telemedicine for remote consultations and monitoring during the outbreak (Tabari, 2020).

MySejahtera is a mobile app developed by the Malaysian government to support various aspects of public health throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This app enables citizens to conduct self-health assessments, track their health status, and communicate information with the Ministry of Health (MOH), so that necessary actions could be implemented.

Here are its primary functions:

Explore https://www.maaedicare.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/MySejahtera_compressed.pdf for detailed function and process of using MySejahtera.

Mental Health Problem Attribute to Social Media

Last but not least, mental health is a crucial aspect of public health, and the well-being of individuals, particularly those in the 16-24 age group, is a matter of significant concern. A survey conducted in Malaysia in May 2022 revealed that a considerable portion of young respondents in this age range reported experiencing heightened levels of stress and anxiety over the past year (Statista Research Department, 2023). Furthermore, this research suggests that social media plays a substantial role in contributing to this mental health problem.

Source: Statista Research Department, 2023

Multiple studies have demonstrated a strong connection between heavy use of social media and the risk for mental health issues (Robinson, 2023). Social media platforms can be hotspots for the dissemination of hurtful rumours, lies and online harassment. About 10 percent of teens report being bullied on social media and many other users are subjected to offensive comments (Robinson, 2023). Additionally, fear of missing out (FOMO) can compel someone to pick up their phone every few minutes to check for updates, or compulsively respond to every alert. When individuals prioritize online interactions over in-person relationships, they become more vulnerable to mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression.

These findings highlight the importance of recognizing the influence of social media on mental health, especially among young adults. In summary, striking a balance between the advantages of digital connectivity and the preservation of mental well-being is crucial to ensure that social media serves as a positive and constructive tool in the lives of young individuals.

References:

American Public Health Association. (n.d.). What is public health. https://www.apha.org/what-is-public-health

CDC. (2021). Public health system and the 10 essential public health services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/publichealthservices/essentialhealthservices.html

C.-E. A. Winslow, The Untilled Fields of Public Health.Science51,23-33(1920).DOI:10.1126/science.51.1306.23

Lee, D., Chen, K., & Kruger, J. S. (2023, January 1). Chapter 93 - Public health (A. E. M. Eltorai, J. A. Bakal, P. C. Newell, & A. J. Osband, Eds.). ScienceDirect; Academic Press. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780323903004000616

‌Malaysia: stress levels by age group 2022. (2023, August 25). Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1322323/malaysia-share-of-people-feeling-more-stressed-or-anxious-by-gender/#:~:text=According%20to%20a%20survey%20on

Miyah, Y., Benjelloun, M., Lairini, S., & Lahrichi, A. (2022). COVID-19 Impact on Public Health, Environment, Human Psychology, Global Socioeconomy, and Education. TheScientificWorldJournal, 2022, 5578284. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5578284

Robinson, L., & Smith, M. (2020, September). Social Media and Mental Health - HelpGuide.org. Https://Www.helpguide.org. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm#:~:text=Since%20it

Tabari, P., Amini, M., Moghadami, M., & Moosavi, M. (2020). International Public Health Responses to COVID-19 Outbreak: A Rapid Review. Iranian journal of medical sciences, 45(3), 157–169. https://doi.org/10.30476/ijms.2020.85810.1537

World Health Organization (WHO). (2022, June 17). Mental Health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response

‌

[marketresreasrch]

Molluscs Market Trends and Forecast From USD 58.42 Billion in 2021 to USD 93.14 Billion by 2030

Molluscs Market Overview

The global Molluscs Market Size was valued at USD 58.42 Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach from USD XX Billion billion in 2022 to USD 93.14 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.32% during the forecast period.

Request for a sample of this research report : https://straitsresearch.com/report/molluscs-market/request-sample 

Molluscs Market Report Scope and Research Methodology

The Molluscs Market is thoroughly examined using primary and secondary sources of information. Direct information collection from surveys, interviews, and focus groups with important stakeholders—such as manufacturers, end users, and industry professionals—is known as primary research. This methodology facilitates the acquisition of significant insights into consumer behavior, market trends, and particular industry difficulties. Assessing the existing state of the market, identifying new trends, and getting firsthand information from people who work directly in the sector all depend on primary research. The use of several data triangulation techniques guarantees accurate market size estimates and forecasts.

The Molluscs Market's research strategy blends qualitative and quantitative methods. The market size and growth estimates are among the important findings of the report's thorough examination of the sector. The market is thoroughly examined at the national, regional, and international levels, providing a detailed understanding of the dynamics of the industry.

Buy Complete Report Now : https://straitsresearch.com/buy-now/molluscs-market 

Molluscs Market Regional Insights

Regional analysis is conducted to assess the status of the Molluscs Market in countries belonging to North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of several factors such as market size, growth rate, and import-export activities, across different regions. The Molluscs Market is segmented broadly into these regions, allowing for a detailed understanding of the market landscape and dynamics in each geographical area.

Molluscs Market Segmentation

By Species

Crassostrea

Ruditapes

Philippinarum

Scallops

Others

By Form

Frozen

Canned

By Distribution Channel

Hypermarkets and Supermarkets

Convenience Store

Online

Others

Molluscs Market Key Players

Maruha Nichiro Corporation

Nireus Aquaculture S.A.

Cermaq ASA

Eastern Fish Company

Cooke Aquaculture Inc.

Tassal Group Ltd.

Blue Ridge Aquaculture

Selonda Aquaculture S.A.

Ulka Seafoods Pvt. Ltd.

Avla Nettos Exports

Browse Complete Summary and Table of Content : https://straitsresearch.com/report/molluscs-market/toc  

Key questions answered in the Molluscs Market are:

What are the upcoming industry applications and trends for the Molluscs Market?

What segments are covered in the Molluscs Market?

Who are the leading companies and what are their portfolios in Molluscs Market? 

What segments are covered in the Molluscs Market?

Who are the key players in the Molluscs Market?

Contact US : 

sales@straitsresearch.com 

Get Related Reports : 

https://topnewsblog.info/aseptic-packaging-market-trends-and-growth-projected-cagr-of-10-1-from-2022-to-2030/

[formaianhassignment]

Week 10: Digital Citizenship and Conflict: Social Media Governance

The rise of social media has brought empowerment, but it has also amplified significant challenges, particularly in the realm of online harassment. This pervasive issue has created a gendered digital divide, disproportionately affecting women, transgender individuals, and other marginalized communities. As someone who frequently engages in online spaces, I see daily how this harassment plays out—whether through subtle exclusion or direct threats.

Online harassment takes many forms, from verbal abuse to coordinated campaigns that target individuals based on gender, race, or other personal attributes. Marwick and Caplan (2018) discuss how harassment can become a coordinated effort, with groups like the “manosphere” using tactics such as doxing, shaming, and cyberbullying to silence feminists and women online (Marwick & Caplan 2018). This “networked harassment” is particularly troubling because it normalizes misogyny and discourages women from fully participating in digital spaces, undermining the ideals of digital citizenship.

Similarly, online harassment is so normalized within certain communities that victims often feel it’s just part of the online experience​ (Haslop, O’Rourke & Southern 2021). This normalization contributes to a gendered digital divide, where women and gender-nonconforming individuals are disproportionately affected and may limit their digital engagement due to fears of harassment.

Young women are especially vulnerable to online harassment, as highlighted in Plan International’s Free to Be Online report (2020), which surveyed over 14,000 girls across 31 countries. The report found that more than half of these girls experienced online harassment, which often led to self-censorship and fear for their physical safety​(Plan International 2023). Personally, I’ve seen younger family members retreat from sharing their passions—whether art, writing, or simply personal thoughts—due to negative comments. This self-censorship restricts their ability to fully engage with online communities, limiting their digital citizenship.

In addition to self-censorship, online harassment can lead to broader psychological effects. Research shows that victims often experience anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, further deterring them from digital participation (Megarry 2014). This exclusionary effect highlights the need for supportive measures that encourage young women to re-engage with digital spaces safely.

Addressing this digital divide requires both legal reforms and cultural shifts. Many countries, including Germany and Australia, have enacted laws to combat online harassment by requiring platforms to remove harmful content promptly. However, legal solutions alone are insufficient. Social media companies should actively engage in advocacy, educate users about reporting mechanisms, and implement better content moderation strategies to protect users​(Vitis & Gilmour 2016).

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives are also essential. Brands and social media platforms must recognize their role in creating safer online spaces. For example, brands that work with influencers should provide them with support resources to handle online abuse and publicly stand against harassment to show solidarity with affected individuals (Crowther & Rayman-Bacchus 2004). I’ve seen brands do this well by publicly supporting influencers who are targets of harassment, sending a message of solidarity and showing that they value a respectful community. This public support can go a long way in promoting a healthier digital environment.

The issue of online harassment is a pressing concern that limits digital citizenship for many marginalized groups, particularly women and gender-diverse individuals. Creating a safer digital space requires a multifaceted approach, combining legal frameworks, platform accountability, and community support. By addressing these challenges, we can move closer to a more inclusive and empowering digital environment where everyone feels free to participate.

REFERENCES: Crowther, D & Rayman-Bacchus, L 2004, Perspectives on Corporate Social Responsibility, Gower Publishing Company, Limited.

Haslop, C, O’Rourke, F & Southern, R 2021, “#NoSnowflakes: The toleration of harassment and an emergent gender-related digital divide, in a UK student online culture,” Convergence the International Journal of Research Into New Media Technologies, vol. 27, no. 5, pp. 1418–1438, viewed <https://doi.org/10.1177/1354856521989270>.

Marwick, AE & Caplan, R 2018, “Drinking male tears: language, the manosphere, and networked harassment,” Feminist Media Studies, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 543–559, viewed <https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2018.1450568>.

Megarry, J 2014, “Online incivility or sexual harassment? Conceptualising women’s experiences in the digital age,” Women S Studies International Forum, vol. 47, pp. 46–55, viewed <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2014.07.012>.

“State of the World’s Girls 2020: Free to Be Online? - Plan International” 2023, Plan International, viewed <https://plan-international.org/publications/free-to-be-online/>.

Vitis, L & Gilmour, F 2016, “Dick pics on blast: A woman’s resistance to online sexual harassment using humour, art and Instagram,” Crime Media Culture an International Journal, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 335–355, viewed <https://doi.org/10.1177/1741659016652445>.

[tallmantall]

James Donaldson on Mental Health - Suicidal ideation is terrifying and isolating: Survivor is 'living proof' recovery is possible

James Donaldson on Mental Health - Suicidal ideation is terrifying and isolating: Survivor is 'living proof' recovery is possible by Angela Roberts, The Baltimore Sun Credit: CC0 Public Domain Mary Lawal was 8 years old the first time she tried to take her own life. Time has blurred the details for Lawal, now a 22-year-old psychology student at Prince George's Community College. She doesn't remember the circumstances that led up to her attempt—Did she have a fight with her parents? An argument with her siblings?—or how, as a child, she even knew suicide was possible. She has only a vague memory of feeling lonely and unlovable. "I don't think I had a full understanding of what I was doing," she said. In the last two decades, overall suicide rates in the U.S. have risen by more than a third. They are also up for children ages 8 to 12—especially among young girls. Nearly 1 in 10 Maryland high school students reported having attempted suicide at least once in the year leading up to fall of 2022, according to results from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey. But there are reasons to be hopeful. For two years, in Maryland and across the country, the 988 suicide and crisis hotline has made it easier to ask for help. And earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, introduced legislation that would create a federal grant program to support evidence-based models for stabilizing people with serious thoughts of suicide. Raskin lost his son to suicide in December 2020. While suicidal ideation—thinking about or formulating plans for suicide— can be terrifying and isolating, research shows it is also treatable through psychotherapy, medication, family and social support, and other treatments. Nine out of 10 people who attempt to take their own lives do not die during that acute period of crisis, and do not go on to die of suicide in the future. Research shows that most people who make one attempt do not try to end their own lives again. But Lawal did try again. After her first attempt as a child, she tried to take her own life four more times, most recently in 2021. Lawal survived. And today, after several years of intensive treatment, hospital stays, medication and therapy, she considers herself to be in recovery from suicidal ideation and self-harm. She's now an outspoken mental health advocate who shares her story with thousands of people on her Instagram, as well as with lawmakers, mental health workers and educators as a volunteer and youth adviser for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. She wants to bring people in crisis the message she so desperately needed when she was younger—that there is hope of getting better. "I'm living proof that recovery is possible," Lawal said. "Mental illness does not have to be a death sentence." Lawal remembers struggling with her mental health from the time she was little. She spent her childhood moving between Bowie and Nigeria, where her dad grew up and ran a business. She switched schools four or five times while growing up, sometimes in the middle of the school year. Ezekiel Adegbola met Lawal while they were both in high school in Nigeria. He remembers her as someone who quickly adapted to the "Nigerian way of life" and was very bright and funny. They quickly became friends, Adegbola said, and stayed close even after Mary returned to Maryland. But inside, Lawal felt like she didn't belong anywhere—like nobody truly understood her. At 13, she began to self-harm. She knew she needed help, but she didn't know how to put what she was feeling into words. Mental health wasn't something her teachers or classmates talked about at school. "I felt as though I was just in this cycle of doom," she said. When it comes to preventing suicide—and most other public health crises—it's key to implement upstream interventions, said Holly Wilcox, a professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. That means tackling the first seeds of the problem before it becomes a crisis, and teaching people about how to recognize those seeds and what to do when they spot them. Suicide may seem like too big and scary of a topic to broach with children, but there are age-appropriate—and effective—ways of doing so, Wilcox said. She and other researchers are currently testing out programs in Maryland schools, where kids are given tools for approaching sensitive situations and conversations with their friends, and taught when to involve a responsible adult. "One thing we've been noticing is that students, even as young as middle school, really like having the space and time to talk about mental health," said Wilcox, who has spent her career advancing public health approaches to suicide prevention. "By allowing them to talk about it, our hope is that it addresses mental health stigma," Wilcox said. "They can learn practical skills and learn about different mental health conditions. That should help them when they or someone else in their lives are facing any type of mental health problem or crisis; they'll have something to draw from to be able to work toward a solution." #James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy Link for 40 Habits Signupbit.ly/40HabitsofMentalHealth If you'd like to follow and receive my daily blog in to your inbox, just click on it with Follow It. Here's the link https://follow.it/james-donaldson-s-standing-above-the-crowd-s-blog-a-view-from-above-on-things-that-make-the-world-go-round?action=followPub Without a similar program in her school, Lawal turned to YouTube and social media to learn about mental health. Hearing others share experiences similar to her own was helpful, but she still wasn't sure how to get better. While living in Nigeria, she considered walking to a nearby pharmacy to ask for help. "I wanted to ask the pharmacist," she recalled, "Do you guys have something for depression or suicidal ideation? Something to help?" When she got up the nerve to tell her parents how much she was hurting, they didn't understand. They were a family of faith—Why couldn't she trust that God would take care of her? Lawal's father, Wasiu Lawal, said he initially attributed his daughter's mental health struggles to her youth. But things got worse, not better, as she got older, he said. Eventually, even though he didn't understand therapy—mental health was never something people talked about when he was growing up in Nigeria—he knew his daughter needed serious intervention. "I was willing to do anything that would help her," Lawal said. Toward the end of Lawal's high school years, her mental health got even worse. In her lowest moments, she would scream and cry to her mother, asking her why she had brought her into the world. But when Lawal was 19, after years of suicide attempts and terrifying intrusive thoughts regularly sending her to the hospital, a doctor suggested a partial hospitalization program to her family. For several weeks, Lawal spent hours each day participating in group and individual therapy. A few months later, she did the program again. This time, even though it was virtual, Lawal felt more prepared to be open with others in the program—to share her experiences and add her input during group therapy. After several years of treatment and learning about mental health, it felt like everything clicked, Lawal said. She left the program with a deeper understanding of herself that became even deeper as she explored her relationship with her faith. She came to believe that everything she had gone through had a purpose—to help her understand others who were struggling and help them feel less alone. "God, he had me then. He has me now," she said. "In my darkest moments, in my darkest times, where I felt lonely, I felt like I had no one, he was still there with me and the reason why I'm still alive today." Rolly Orebote, a preacher and spiritual mentor based in London, remembers meeting Lawal through Instagram about four years ago. She could tell how much the young girl was struggling, she said, but over the past few years, she has been amazed at the person she has become. "When I first met Sister Mary, she was a totally different person. Someone that was not understood, someone that didn't have confidence in herself," Orebote said. "I can't really say how impressed and how proud of her that I am, because she's grown so much in such a short space of time." Now, Lawal is well-practiced at sharing her story. In 2023, she addressed lawmakers in the Maryland General Assembly to ask them to fully fund the 988 hotline. She's also helped facilitate support groups for NAMI and regularly volunteers to speak with journalists about mental health issues. As a psychology student at Prince George's Community College, she's not quite sure yet whether she wants to continue her studies and become a therapist or stay in advocacy. Whatever Lawal decides to do, her father said, she is going to help many people. She's taught him a lot about mental health, he said. Now, when he meets a parent whose child is struggling with their mental health, he knows how to talk to them about it—and helps them figure out how to support their child. Read the full article

[warningsine]

Protests against sexual violence are taking place across India to demand more protection for women in the world’s most populous nation.

The demonstrations are helping to raise much-needed awareness about an epidemic of rape. But to tackle the pervasive culture of misogyny in a society that’s still fiercely patriarchal, reform needs to start with the top echelons of institutions, such as the courts and police force.

It won’t be easy to address norms that have been in place for centuries. While education and better policies can help, more women need to be elected and appointed to top jobs, both in politics and the corporate world (scores for women’s representation in ministerial positions (6.9%) and in parliament (17.2%) remain relatively low, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report for 2024). Instituting change from within these largely male bastions of power will help to improve India’s reputation internationally, at a time when foreign investors are looking closely at the economic powerhouse.

The brutal act that prompted the marches was the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor on Aug. 9 at a government hospital in Kolkata. It was reminiscent of the 2012 gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student on a New Delhi bus.

Back then, massive demonstrations occurred across the nation and a commission was set up to reconsider laws on sexual crimes. The government passed tougher laws on rape, including the death penalty for repeat offenders. The legislation also provided for jail terms for police officers who fail to record an initial complaint lodged by an assaulted woman.

The policy changes, though small steps, were an improvement and recognize that lawmakers have to act to deal with these vicious crimes.

But it didn’t stop violence against women. In fact, it’s getting worse.

A total of 445,256 cases of crime against women were registered during 2022. Among them, around 32,000 were rapes, up from approximately 28,000 in 2020. In 2011, a woman was raped every 20 minutes, according to government data. That rose to about every 16 minutes by 2021.

India is not the only country with a strong patriarchal culture that favors men. However, it is one where it seems that those in power have been turning a blind eye to violence against women for far too long. It has become so normalized that a report from the National Crime Records Bureau has categories including murder with rape/gang rape, dowry deaths, abetment to suicide of women, acid attack and cruelty by husband or his relatives.

Despite economic advances, the picture for women isn’t improving. India ranked 129 out of 146 countries on the Global Gender Gap Index 2024. Nine-in-10 Indians agree with the notion that a wife must always obey her husband, including nearly two-thirds who completely agree with this sentiment, according to a 2022 survey by the Pew Research Center on how men and women perceive gender roles.

It all starts at home, which is another issue. Families tend to place a higher value on sons rather than daughters, because of a perception that they can help to financially support parents in old age — although many working women do this too. Then there’s the matter of dowries for brides. Despite being outlawed since 1961, they are still prevalent, even among the educated middle class.

Passing new laws won’t address these issues, because of inherent flaws within the system. "Law enforcement personnel are misogynistic and overburdened — they neither have the will nor the capacity to help women,” Poulami Roychowdhury, associate professor of sociology at Brown University, told me. "Policymakers need to implement police reforms and add judges to the benches, and make public spaces like hospitals, schools and other institutions where women are at risk, safer.”

India’s judicial system is notoriously backlogged and cases can take years to go through the courts. For many women, this adds to the stigma of reporting a rape or sexual assault, because of the long delay they face to get any form of justice. The largely male police force also needs to change — women make up just under 11%, far behind the U.K., where female officers constitute a third of overall law enforcement. In 2022, the India Justice Report, which surveys the state of law enforcement, said it would take 24 years to reach the police’s target of 33% female representation.

Given a society that has long adhered to deeply ingrained views on the roles of men and women, it is not surprising that men are disproportionately represented in government and corporate positions of power. That makes it an uphill battle and a missed opportunity to acknowledge the value that women contribute to business. India could increase gross domestic product by $770 billion by 2025 if it gets more women to work and boost equality, McKinsey Global Institute estimated. The female contribution to GDP is 18%, one of the lowest in the world, reflecting the fact that women make up only 25% of the labor force.

People power has brought attention to the plight of women in India. But that is no longer enough. For meaningful change, policymakers need to reform the institutions that can directly improve the lives of half the population. Women in the world’s largest democracy deserve that.

[curtisrolson]

Meeting Senior Citizens’ Housing Needs

The population of senior citizens is increasing drastically. According to a report by the Administration on Aging, about one in six Americans are above the age of 65. The report further noted that these figures are expected to increase by 2040, with over 80 million American citizens above the age of 65.

Similarly, a 2021 survey on Home and Community Preferences conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) noted that most people above the age of 50 intend to stay in their communities and homes for as long as they can. This means that there is a growing need to create more housing specifically catered towards senior citizens. This is important because there is a link between housing quality and an individual's quality of life.

The type of housing seniors are able to access often determines their social, mental, and health outcomes. For instance, affordable housing that is proximal to social services and community will mean seniors have more peace of mind, are mentally stimulated, and are less likely to suffer from depression, ultimately resulting in a good quality of life for them.

One of the major factors that should be considered when providing housing for senior citizens is the accessibility and safety of such housing. This is particularly important because as they grow in age, many senior citizens experience gradual deterioration in physical strength, and they begin to experience mobility issues. Most housing in cities across the United States is not particularly easily accessible to most senior citizens. This means that there is a need to modify existing homes and build new homes in a way that is easily navigable for senior citizens. For instance, building constructors can include ramps, stair lifts, and grab bars in buildings to make them more accessible.

In a bid to ensure that senior citizens have accessible and safe housing, in 2023, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded about $15 million worth of grants to provide low-barrier, low-cost, high-impact home modifications. This Older Adults Home Modification Program funded by the HUD intends to distribute funds to approximately 13 non-profits across the country so they can offer home modification families to over 1,900 senior households.

Further, most senior citizens are retired and dependent on fixed incomes. They can no longer work multiple jobs to afford expensive housing, so it is important to ensure that housing meant for senior citizens is affordable. Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies has noted that about 10 million households headed by people above the age of 65 are cost-burdened. They further noted that senior citizens of color are more affected and are more likely not to afford housing as they age.

By boosting financing for low-income housing programs and extending the locations of these properties, policymakers could increase the availability of affordable housing options for senior citizens. For instance, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program finances housing to make it more accessible. Also, senior citizens should have property tax relief and easier access to financial support programs that assist with housing, medical expenses, and food.

[newstfionline]

Monday, July 15, 2024

FBI says it has not determined a motive for assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump (AP) On the heels of an attempt to kill him, former President Donald Trump called Sunday for unity and resilience as shocked leaders across the political divide recoiled from the shooting that left him wounded but “fine.” The FBI identified the shooter, who was fatally shot by Secret Service agents, as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, and said he attacked from an elevated position 140 yards from the rally venue at a farm show in Butler. The FBI said Sunday that it had not yet determined a motive, but the agency believed that Crooks acted alone and that he was not previously on the bureau’s radar. Not long before shots rang out, rallygoers noticed a man climbing to the roof of a nearby building and warned local police, according to two law enforcement officials. One local police officer climbed to the roof and encountered Crooks, who pointed his rifle at the officer. The officer retreated down the ladder, and Crooks quickly took a shot toward Trump, and that’s when Secret Service snipers shot him, said the officials. The officials also told AP that bomb-making materials were found inside Crooks’ vehicle, and bomb-making materials were found at his home. Officials described the devices as “rudimentary.”

American attitudes toward political violence (NYT) Robert Pape, a political scientist at the University of Chicago who has studied American attitudes toward political violence since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob, conducted a nationwide poll on the topic last month. It found that 10 percent of those surveyed said that the “use of force is justified to prevent Donald Trump from becoming president.” A third of those who gave that answer also said they owned a gun. Seven percent of those surveyed said they “support force to restore Trump to the presidency.” Half of them said they owned guns. The shooting at Mr. Trump’s rally “is a consequence of such significant support for political violence in our country,” Mr. Pape wrote in an email. “Indeed, significant lone wolf attacks motivated by political violence have been growing for years in the United States, against members of Congress from both parties as well as federal officials and national leaders.”

Angry Birds Take on Drones at New York City Beach (NYT) One is a distinctive shorebird, slightly smaller than an average sea gull, with a bright orange bill that pries open clams, oysters and other shellfish. The other is a remote-controlled gadget with rotating blades. In the skies above Rockaway Beach in Queens, bird and drone are not, it seems, coexisting in harmony. Just as New Yorkers flock to the beach to escape the sweltering summer heat, American Oystercatchers have taken to attacking a fleet of drones deployed by city officials to scan for sharks and swimmers in distress. The aerial conflict between animal and machine is raising concerns about the safety of the shorebirds, as they aggressively pursue the buzzing drones in defense of their nests, city officials and bird experts said.

In Brazil, Early Wildfires Break Records—and Raise Alarm (NYT) Brazil is still weeks away from its traditional fire season, but hundreds of blazes, fanned by searing temperatures, are already laying waste to the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetlands, and to parts of the Amazon rainforest. Scientists say the burning of such vast swaths of land may represent a new normal under rising global temperatures and uneven rain. There were more wildfires in Brazil’s share of the Pantanal, an enormous trove of biodiversity stretching across three countries, between January and June of this year than during the same period in any other year, according to the National Institute for Space Research, which has been tracking fires in Brazil since 1998. The highest number of fires in at least two decades was also recorded in the Amazon and in the Cerrado savanna, a patchwork of shrubs, grasslands and gnarled trees encompassing 1.2 million square miles in Brazil’s central and northeastern regions. Extreme weather has caused fires recklessly ignited by people to quickly spread out of control, one scientist said, “creating the ideal conditions for any spark to become a wildfire.”

Shifts in the international drug trade have devastated poor Colombians whose livelihood is tied to cocaine (NYT) For decades, one industry has sustained the small, remote Colombian village of Caño Cabra: cocaine. Those who live in this community in the central part of the country rise early nearly every morning to pick coca leaf, scraping brittle branches, sometimes until their hands bleed. Later, they mix the leaves with gasoline and other chemicals to make chalky white bricks of coca paste. But two years ago, the villagers said, something alarming happened: The drug traffickers who buy the coca paste and turn it into cocaine stopped showing up. Suddenly, people who were already poor had no income. Food became scarce. An exodus to other parts of Colombia in search of jobs followed. The town of 200 people shrunk to 40. The same pattern was repeated again and again in communities across the country where coca is the only source of income. Colombia, the global nexus of the cocaine industry, where Pablo Escobar became the world’s best known criminal, and which still produces more of the drug than any other nation, is facing tectonic shifts as a result of domestic and global forces that are reshaping the drug industry. The surge in global coca production has led to too much supply.

Germany is forcing some asylum seekers to work, when they just want real jobs (Washington Post) After a decade of backlash over a historic influx of asylum seekers, mostly from the Middle East, some localities in Germany are experimenting with low-paid, mandatory work programs for immigrants. Proponents maintain that these programs are engines of integration, while critics slam them as slave labor. The debate comes against the backdrop of an aging Germany whose economy is in desperate need of workers, and an immigrant community that is in desperate need of jobs but faces restrictions during the asylum process. Deep in the eastern state of Thuringia, the district of Saale-Orla-Kries has implemented one of these pilot projects for dozens of Syrian immigrants. Hanan Baghdadhi, 48, and Anas Alharerei, 26, work three days a week at the town’s sports association for about $0.86 an hour. (Germany’s standard minimum wage is about $12.85 an hour.) Their meager pay supplements a monthly allowance of nearly $500 from the state. Anyone eligible for the work program who refuses to participate is docked about $200 from that allowance. It can take migrants years to get real jobs, even though Germany needs 400,000 new workers annually to sustain its current rate of economic growth.

Treason and espionage cases are rising in Russia since the war in Ukraine began (AP) Treason cases have been rare in Russia in the last 30 years, with a handful annually. But since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, they have skyrocketed, along with espionage prosecutions, ensnaring citizens and foreigners alike, regardless of their politics. The more recent victims range from Kremlin critics and independent journalists to veteran scientists working with countries that Moscow considers friendly. The accused are often held in strict isolation in Moscow’s notorious Lefortovo Prison, tried behind closed doors, and almost always convicted, with long prison sentences. In 2022, Putin urged the security services to “harshly suppress the actions of foreign intelligence services, promptly identify traitors, spies and saboteurs.” The First Department, a rights group that specializes in such prosecutions and takes its name from a division of the security service, counted over 100 known treason cases in 2023, lawyer Evgeny Smirnov told The Associated Press. He added there probably were another 100 that nobody knows about.

Ukraine Is Targeting Crimea, a Critical Base for Russia’s Invasion (NYT) In a clear night sky above the shores of Odesa, the faint glow from missiles streaks over the Black Sea. For much of the war, it was one-way traffic, with Russia using the occupied Crimean Peninsula first as a launchpad for its full-scale invasion and then as a staging ground for routine aerial bombardments. Ukraine, now armed with American-made precision missiles, is for the first time capable of reaching every corner of Crimea—and the missiles are increasingly flying in both directions. While it is unlikely to have much effect on the front line, Ukraine’s campaign with the long-range version of the Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMS, appears meant to force the Kremlin to make difficult choices about where to deploy some of its most valuable air defenses to protect critical military infrastructure.

Sizzling heat wave in parts of southern and central Europe prompts alerts (AP) Weather alerts, forest fires, melting pavement in cities: A sizzling heat wave has sent temperatures in parts of central and southern Europe soaring toward 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in some places. From Italy to Romania, authorities warned people to be cautious, drive carefully if going on holiday, drink plenty of water and avoid going out during the hottest hours of the day. Italian authorities declared a red weather alert in seven cities on Thursday, mostly in the central parts of the country but also the capital Rome and Trieste in the northeast. Rome’s municipal authorities issued a digital app to help people locate public drinking fountains as temperatures reached 38 C (100 F) on Thursday. The heat conditions are aggravated by humidity and could affect healthy people as well as those with health conditions, Italian authorities warned.

Booming Turkish TV drama industry captures hearts and minds worldwide (AP) Under the sweltering Turkish sun, tourists wander through sets that recreate Ottoman and Byzantine-era castles, take selfies with actors in traditional Ottoman costumes and watch horseback stunt performances. Among them is Riia Toivanen, 22, a devoted fan of Turkish television drama who traveled to Istanbul from Finland with her mother to delve into the realm of her beloved shows. Some 8,000 miles (12,800 kilometers) across the globe in Villa Carlos Paz in Argentina, 66-year-old retired teacher Raquel Greco watches an episode of a Turkish romantic comedy, surrounded by memorabilia from her once-in-a-lifetime trip to Istanbul where she visited landmarks she knew from years of watching Turkish shows. The global popularity of Turkish TV dramas—or dizi in Turkish—has thrust Turkey into the position of a leading exporter of television, greatly bolstering the nation’s international image and drawing millions of viewers and tourists worldwide to its historical and cultural sites which are backdrops to many of the shows.

How Hamas Is Fighting in Gaza: Tunnels, Traps and Ambushes (NYT) They hide under residential neighborhoods, storing their weapons in miles of tunnels and in houses, mosques, sofas—even a child’s bedroom—blurring the boundary between civilians and combatants. They emerge from hiding in plainclothes, sometimes wearing sandals or tracksuits before firing on Israeli troops, attaching mines to their vehicles, or firing rockets from launchers in civilian areas. They rig abandoned homes with explosives and tripwires, sometimes luring Israeli soldiers to enter the booby-trapped buildings by scattering signs of a Hamas presence. Through eight months of fighting in Gaza, Hamas’s military wing—the Qassam Brigades—has fought as a decentralized and largely hidden force. From below ground, Hamas’s ghost army has appeared only fleetingly, emerging suddenly from a warren of tunnels—often armed with rocket-propelled grenades—to pick off soldiers and then returning swiftly to their subterranean fortress. Sometimes, they have hid among the few civilians who decided to remain in their neighborhoods despite Israeli orders to evacuate, or accompanied civilians as they returned to areas that the Israelis had captured and then abandoned.