#socioeconomic displacement

[opencommunion]

"Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah activity in the locations it bombs, without providing evidence, while conducting an indiscriminate bombing campaign that has seen a large number of civilians lose their homes, livelihoods and entire neighbourhoods.

Lebanese urban researchers labelled Israel’s actions as urbicide, or the deliberate wrecking or killing of a city.

'The extent of the damage is large and spread in ways that also destroy the socioeconomic life, the social infrastructure, the economic infrastructure, civilian facilities, markets, gardens, parks, whatever makes up the fabric of that city,' [Mona] Harb said."

[humanrightsupdates]

(Nairobi) – Kenyan authorities have not responded adequately to flash floods resulting from heavy rains, Human Rights Watch said today. The floods have left at least 170 people dead; displaced more than 200,000; destroyed property, infrastructure, and livelihoods across the country; and exacerbated socioeconomic vulnerabilities.

Kenya’s government has a human rights obligation to prevent foreseeable harm from climate change and extreme weather events and to protect people when a disaster strikes. Extreme weather events such as flooding are particularly threatening for marginalized and at-risk populations, including older people, people with disabilities, people in poverty, and rural populations.

“The unfolding devastation highlights the government’s obligation to prepare for and promptly respond to the foreseeable impacts of climate change and natural disasters,” said Nyagoah Tut Pur, Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Kenyan authorities should urgently ensure support to affected communities and protect populations facing high risk.”

Kenya and most of the East Africa region has been lashed by relentless and devastating downpours in recent weeks, as an El Niño weather pattern exacerbates the seasonal rainfall. Recent studies suggest that climate change could be a contributing factor. The government has acknowledged that the extreme weather events were predictable.

Over the last few days, social media videos and mainstream media reports indicate that the affected people were receiving little to no support from the government to reach safety and to access essential services such as shelter, health care, and food assistance. Media reported that police and rescue teams’ help lines were unresponsive in some locations. (Human Rights Watch )

[liminalweirdo]

#1 – Denial – Pretending a problem does not exist to provide artificial relief from anxiety. Examples:

“During COVID” or “During the pandemic” (past tense)

“The pandemic is over”

“Covid is mild”

“It’s gotten milder”

“Covid is now like a cold or the flu”

“Masks don’t work anyway”

“Covid is NOT airborne”

“Pandemic of the unvaccinated”

“Schools are safe”

“Children don’t transmit COVID”

“Covid is mild in young people”

“Summer flu”

“I’m sick but it’s not Covid”

Taking a rapid test only once

Using self-reported case estimates (25x underestimate) rather than wastewater-derived case estimation

Using hospitalization capacity estimates to enact public health precautions (lagging indicator)

Citing mortality estimates rather than excess mortality estimates. Citing excess mortality without adjusting for survivorship bias.

#2 – Projection – When someone takes what they are feeling and attempts to put it on someone else to artificially reduce their own anxiety. Examples:

“Stop living in fear.” (the attacker is living in fear)

“You can take your mask off.” (they are insecure about being unmasked themselves)

“When are you going to stop masking?”

“You can’t live in fear forever.”

#3 – Displacement – When someone takes their pandemic anxiety and redirects their discomfort toward someone or something else. Examples:

Angry, seemingly inexplicable outbursts by co-workers, strangers, or family

White affluent people caring less about the pandemic after learning that it disproportionately affects lower-socioeconomic status people of color

Scapegoating based on vaccination status, masking behavior, etc.

“Pandemic of the unvaccinated”

Vax and relax

“How many of them were vaccinated?” (troll comment on Covid deaths or long Covid)

Redirecting anxiety about mitigating a highly-contagious airborne virus by encouraging people to do simple ineffective mitigation like handwashing

“You do you” (complainers are the problem, not Covid)

Telling people to get vaccinated or take other precautions against the flu or RSV but not mentioning Covid

Parents artificially reducing their own anxiety by placing children in poorly mitigated environments

Clinicians artificially reducing their own anxiety by placing patients in poorly mitigated environments

Housework to distract from stress

Peer pressure not to mask

#4 – Compartmentalization – Holding two conflicting ideas or behaviors, such as caution and incaution, rather than dealing with the anxiety evoked by considering the incautious behaviors more deeply (hypocrisy)

Examples:

Hospitals and clinicians claim to value health/safety but then don’t require universal precautions

Public health officials claim to value evidence but then give non-evidence based advice (handwashing over masking), obscure or use low-value data over high-quality data (self-reported case counts over wastewater), etc.

Getting a flu vaccine but not a Covid vaccine

Interviewing long Covid experts who recommend masking in indoor public spaces but then going to Applebee’s

Masking in one potentially risky setting (grocery store) but not masking in another similar or more-risky setting (classroom)

Infectious disease conference where people are unmasked

Long Covid and other patient-advocacy meetings where only half the people mask

In-person only EDI events

Not testing because it’s just family

Mask breaks

#5 – Reaction formation – expressing artificial positive feelings when actually experiencing anxiety

Examples:

“It’s good I got my infection out of the way before the holidays”

“I had Covid but it was mild”

Anything quoted in Dr. Jonathan Howard’s book, “We Want Them Infected: How the Failed Quest for Herd Immunity Led Doctors to Embrace Anti-Vaccine Movement”

Herd immunity (infections help)

Hybrid immunity (infections help)

“It’s okay because I was recently vaccinated”

“Omicron is milder”

“Textbook virus”

“Building immunity”

#6 – Rationalization – Artificially reducing Covid anxiety through a weak justification. Examples:

“I didn’t mask but I used nasal spray”

“I don’t need to mask because I was recently vaccinated”

“It finally got me.”

“You’re going to get Covid again and again and again over your life.”

“It’s not Covid because I don’t have a sore throat.”

“It’s not Covid because I took a rapid test 3 days ago.”

“It’s not Covid because I’m vaccinated.”

“Airplanes have excellent ventilation.”

“I’ve had Covid three times. It’s mild.”

“Verily was cheaper.”

“Nobody else is masking.”

“Nobody else is testing.”

“My roommates don’t take any precautions, so there’s no point in me either.”

“I have a large family, so there’s no point in taking precautions.”

Surgical masks (they are actual “procedure masks,” by the way)

Various pseudo-scientific treatments used by the left and right

Handwashing as the primary Covid public health recommendation

Droplet transmission as a thing

Public health guidance that begins with “data shows” (sic)

Risk maps that never turn deep red

5 expired rapid tests

“Masks recommended” instead of universal precautions

“Seasonal”

#7 – Intellectualization – using extensive cognitive arguments to artificially circumvent Covid anxiety Examples:

Unending threads to justify indoor dining

Data-rich public health dashboards that use low-quality metrics and/or don’t change public health recommendations as risk increases

The entire justification for “off-ramps”

Oster, Wen, Prasad

Schools denying air cleaners because it “could make children anxious”

Schools not rapid testing this surge because it “could make children anxious”

The mental gymnastics underlying the rationales for who can get vaccinated, how frequently, or with what brand

Service workers told not to mask because it could make clients uncomfortable

“What comorbidities did they have?”

“The vulnerable will fall by the wayside”

Musicians and others holding large indoor events

5-day isolation periods

Here's a link to the full book, a newer edition than what I own. The information on defense mechanisms begins on textbook page 100. Please let me know if there's a more accessible alt-text solution that you would prefer so I can do better next time."

- Mike Hoerger, PhD MSCR M

source

If you actually got to the end of this and don't remember what you're reading because the cognitive dissonance surrounding covid being "over" is so extreme, it's a list of the ways people downplay covid without any science-backed evidence. How many things on this list do you say, do, or believe?

[scribblestatic]

Inko and Izuku actually get paychecks from different scientists for allowing them to study him. They never go to Dr. Tsubasa though he insists on studying Izuku, but there was always something about him that made Izuku's feathers puff up defensively.

Though, he heard a comment from a doctor once that has stuck with him for a long time.

"His body and quirk are so displaced from humanity, at this point, it's a wonder if he's even human at all."

It didn't help that some kids would bully him and say he should be in the cage with the pet chickens.

He worries about his humanity big-time.

He avoids getting on public transport because of that, because people would always have their phones out and record him.

There was actually a case he was involved in where a lawyer tried to argue that Izuku should be able to fly from place to place because his quirk has so changed his body, most common human technology isn't actually built for him.

Unfortunately, the case lost and he was basically ruled into having to adjust to normal human life. Though, after several years and new evidence (like the handwashing problem, the trouble using basic amenities, etc.) the case was reopened instead as a disability case rather than a quirk case.

He cries when he wins the case. Just him nuzzling his head into his mom's stomach like he did as a lil baby, crying and fluffing his feathers out.

Schools had been discriminating against him for basic stuff, but since his quirk is now counted as a disability, they cannot do so without breaking both quirk and disability assistance laws. His case opened up a lot of funding for the Quirk Homomorphic Accessibility Organization in Japan. He basically became its poster child.

QHAO (pronounced as "kwao" in English) started initially in South Africa and spread in popularity among other countries. Japan and the US didn't really pick it up, but Japan started to after Izuku's case became a foundation for their spread in Japan. It's already started to lower crime rates because QHAO focuses on the accommodation of people with body morph quirks for socioeconomic, medical, and judicial equity.

("Kwao" means "to them" in Swahili, a South African language, so ye, I like how that just kinda fell into place there.)

(QHAO's motto: Kwao huenda haki. Kwao huenda amani. Sisi ni QHAO.)

("To them goes justice. To them goes peace. We are QHAO.")

But yeah, poster child. Izuku gets money to be on TV for the Japanese chapter of QHAO and to go to interviews.

Since his court case opened up a lot of good opportunities for the organization to help others, QHAO wants to promote more preventative measures to help lessen the poverty and discrimination that people with body morphs like his experience. Though honestly, Izuku's body morph is one of the most outlandish because his body only barely resembles a human one.

Even so, the QHAO executives and lawyers didn't even bat an eye at his appearance.

Izuku becomes very well-spoken because of his time being studied and his experiences with QHAO though. He does still mumble, but he doesn't stutter even when faced with antagonistic people.

[mercurialbadger]

When we are talking about charity, there must exist a level of certain precaution to not let your emotional turmoil result in subpar actions. If empathy is a natural response to seeing people in pain, then it makes sense to liken it to a kneejerk response, much different from a graceful strike of a soccer player.

Very often, personal face-to-face ingroup charity is used to displace the actual efforts at improving people's conditions, and if your organization lacks political oversight or a certain analytical capacity, you might have serving the community replaced with individual help which eventually accumulates every bias and/or ends up being co-opted by some cult.

I am seeing especially egregorious horrific examples of that on Twitter right now, so I will use them to illistrate a point that is otherwise too global and deep-rooted.

In order to understand how this approach does its harm, you need to understand cause and effect, past and future.

THE CAUSE

We are talking about a clique that talks about investing in trans community by helping homeless and/or unemployed trans women by "paying their bills" for some months before they "get up on their own legs". Thankfully, it's a US based clique, so a lot of sociological studies exist to demonstrate the current situation with trans rights.

Let's investigate the causes of queer people being unemployed and/or homeless. The obvious systemic cause is trans-/homophobia, which results in people losing their capabilities immediately after leaving their parents/coming out to them (see e.g. https://doi.org/gq37kh), or otherwise follows the patterns of stigmatization, exclusion and victimization. If we address more widespread political economy of this vulnerability in the USA, topics of mental health, such as PTSD burnout, substance abuse and sexual abuse - including significantly from within queer community - emerge as vulnerability categories (https://doi.org/ggsjt6). As for how inventive abuse from within "community" is, one might refer themselves to the concepts of "hot allostatic load" and "identity abuse" (https://doi.org/ggmdcd).

Failures of t4t ethos and "community short-circuit" also have been described as sources of chronic homelessness among queer youth (https://doi.org/mpx8).

One must be especially mindful of the fact that level of education is an important - if not the most important - predictive factor of queer homelessness, effects were described in depth by Rachel M. Schmitz in the dissertation work "ON THE STREET AND ON CAMPUS".

While the effects identified the author ascribes to better socioeconomical standing of college students majorly, author both identified " experiences of homelessness" as "uniting people through a shared sense of struggle and conflict", and notably gives credit to educational endeavor of academia as vastly superior to "street experience", and studies in countries with accessible education still identify low education level with risks of anxiety and depression. (https://doi.org/mpx3) (https://doi.org/mpx4)

As Negura notes, "Ultimately, the three concepts—‘social support’, ‘social capital’ and ‘social bonds’ — are complementary. These terms are used here to understand the same reality of mutual help amongst people, from different social perspectives."

CONSEQUENCES

The most recognized effect of homelessness is anxiety and depression. Recent works identify that both of these health effects are significantly resolved through providing housing, however meta-analysis of the works being done is very complicated by poor methodology of studies: short follow-up, making it impossible to judge the homelessness outcomes, and high group heterogeneity. (https://doi.org/mpxx)

Among the outcomes of homelessness specifically in queer people, "utopian thinking" is seen, in accordance with England, 2022, "an inevitable part of community responses: to improve the present it, it is necessary to look beyond the present and to an alternative in which queerness does not only survive, but is valued, celebrated and encouraged".

To a materialist that would mean death of the community as a utopianism-free endeavor, but it is not, however, it should be noted that imperfect solutions to the crisis provide fertile soil to these cognitive failures.

Actual observations of the long-lasting effects of experienced homelessness are, indeed, lacking, but so far there's no data that homelessness and unemployment actually have significant lasting damage in the queer population, nonetheless remaining the risk factor in their duration.

One, however, important effect of escaping and avoiding homelessness is resiliency. As Cronley, 2017 notes, "Rather than understanding how youth are surviving in extremely adverse environments, research applies socially normative models of behavior to their actions such that conclusions of deviancy and marginalization are inevitable" and "youth rely on informal social networks to survive on the street and that spirituality, mental health, and creativity are associated with improved coping". Once again we are drawn to connections to education systems within this approach.

And therefore we must remember establishment of education systems during historical cases.

PAST

Expansion of educational processes has long been demonstrated to be a driver of establishing new or maintaining old hegemony.

One might remember Huguenots, who existed both in France and in Netherlands. Often, for example in Van der Lem's "Eighty Years War", Erasmus of Rotherdam is remembered to be as a reason for catholics' loss in the region - humanism, moderateness and church reforms were indeed the ideas of his. It's not easy for me to believe, considering how Netherlands were absolute leaders in amount of exterminated heretics during the 1520-1540, therefore you cannot imagine the humanism and spirit of mercantile freedom helping very much.

But comparing the historical evidence between French Huguenot fighting and Netherlands' Huguenot fighting, one stark difference is seen immediately without even examining the evidence - it's the material amount of Evidence piled up.

Netherlands of XVI century was ultimately a literature-centric country: rational argument, presented with necessary charisma and efficiency, put into the easy epistolary style allowing for open discussion - all that erased the differences between catholics and protestants.

And using this positional leveling, protestants spent 10-20 years before, well, protesting with continuous work of printing press, while catholics of Netherlands continued, thinking themselves safe, sat complacent, only satisfying the demands of the already intellectual public.

Indeed, you can not let a worldly peasant work with biology, err, theology, lest they will be mistaken and fall into the tenets of sin themselves. A good example of this "Don't give the North Korean kids iGEM distribution" was dutch translation of La Bouclier de la Foy by Nicole Grenier, which the translator prefaced with an easy explanation that you should never actually argue with heretics, the priestly class knows best.

In France, enjoying the closeness of Rome, literacy was synonymous with military industry, err, Raytheon, wait, wrong, Catholic Church.

Of course it was literacy ultimately sympathetic to the plight of the layman, and easily putting itself into their shoes - «Les disputes de Guillot le porcher et de la Bergère de S. Denis en France contre Jehan Calvin prédicant de Genesve» is exactly about the lower classes destroying Kalvin himself with facts and logic.

And, like this, simply by virtue of being able to work with higher reasoning in lower genres, you can win the Hegemony.

The ultimate victory of feminism in 1917 also answers a lot about where did soviet feminists come from - from the intermediate spaces where people of higher class can interact as equals with people of lower class, without financial or institutional power relationship between them. An example is, of course Pavlov teaching women's courses and creating a whole host of women physiologists, actual hymnasia and schools, such as in Sonya Yanovskaya case.

Masonic secret societies, where jews could freely talk to christians and nobles mingles with commoner bourgeois were this driver in bourgeois revolutions, universities drove February and October revolution, and even in the USA the connectedness to high-socioeconomic status, what is called "bridging social capital" remains a primary predictor of success of people from oppressed groups. (https://doi.org/gqmpxx)

FUTURE

As such, I cannot see a way for personal charity - bonding social capital, excising queer people from support networks and from solidarity with marginalized, destructive to both people outside of it and to attempts to build a queer community — to be excused in modern conditions.

Build new platforms to, instead of elevating select voices, sing together.

[theygotlost]

the. watch. episode. four.

the watch are ambushed by goblins in drag, aka "drag goblins", which are apparently "the worst kind".

jocasta wiggs, the female assassin from the opening scene of night watch, is a pertinent character and a cunty old woman. theyre literally just scavenging the discworld series for names to use for their original characters. she was in love with some woman named perpetua. in their youth jocasta and perpetua had a mystical talking sword called gawain, or wayne for short (voiced by matt berry from wwdits) whose voice you can only hear if you are "a lover". their lesbian love was so strong than all the other characters can hear wayne's voice by proxy.

vimes explains his boots theory of socioeconomic unfairness to sybil and she callously mocks him for it. later she chugs an entire bottle of bearhuggers in front of him to.... idk emasculate him or something

buggy swires (the gnome) is a tall elderly human man in a nursing home.

death asks carrot to go out for a drink with him and then gets shy.

a fight in the nursing home causes a "displacement spell" to activate, lowering a disco ball from the ceiling and forcing vimes and carcer, as well as sybil and girlboss wonse, to engage in an involuntary homoerotic ballroom dance to "wake me up before you go-go". this was so genuinely so bad that it was good. im kind of obsessed.

[familyabolisher]

we went to a gallery today which pays a significant amount of lipservice to the socioeconomic legacy of colonialism/dispossession/displacement in the UK and was exhibiting (among others) a palestinian artist's work then like five minutes later i found a different exhibit which was sourced from yad vashem and i Screamed

[words-after-midnight]

[FRANKENSTEIN x BREAKING BAD]

SUPERNOVA

What if you held the key to the Earth's salvation... and its potential destruction?

An eccentric Montreal chemistry professor is rumored to have isolated a dangerous theoretical compound with powerful implications for the energy sector. Despite her many warnings, her new PhD students, seeing strong potential for a solution to the advanced climate crisis threatening life on Earth within a few decades at most, decide to investigate the claims. By doing so, they ignite the spark to an unstoppable chain reaction of passion and pride, power and corruption, and unintended consequences they never could have anticipated.

Themes:

Climate crisis

Governance and corruption

Ethical dilemma

Scientific responsibility

Socioeconomic inequalities

Obsession

Power

Current stage in production: Outlining/zero-drafting

WIP links:

Supernova tag

Inspiration/reblogs

Inspo playlist

Content warnings: I do not have a full list of CWs yet because the story is not drafted, but depictions of various effects of the climate crisis (eg. natural disasters, exacerbated inequalities, displacement) are included, death/grief are addressed at points, and there's some violence, including institutional violence.

[66664]

Title: The Essentiality of Environmental Rights: Safeguarding Our Planet and Our Future In the light of rising ecological calamities and the unavoidable depletion of our planet's resources, the call for environmental rights has never been more urgent. Environmental rights cover the essential privileges and obligations that maintain the integrity of our natural world, ensuring its preservation for present and future generations. In this blog, we'll look at the functions, benefits, and serious implications of ignoring environmental rights. Functions of Environmental Rights:

Legal Protection: Environmental rights establish a legal framework for protecting ecosystems, wildlife, and natural resources. They empower individuals and communities to hold governments and companies accountable for environmental damage.

Public Participation: These rights allow residents to engage in environmental decision-making processes, ensuring that their voices are heard on issues that directly affect their communities. This participation encourages transparency, accountability, and democratic governance.

Access to Information: Environmental rights provide access to information on environmental policy, initiatives, and potential hazards. This transparency encourages educated decision-making and gives communities the ability to advocate for environmentally sustainable practices.

Environmental justice seeks to overcome differences in environmental protection and pollutant exposure. They want to make sure that everyone, regardless of color, ethnicity, or socioeconomic level, has equal access to a clean, healthy environment. Benefits of Environmental Rights for People: 1. Environmental rights protect human health by limiting exposure to pollutants and toxins. Clean air, water, and soil promote physical and mental well-being by reducing the number of respiratory diseases, waterborne illnesses, and other health risks. 2. Economic Prosperity: Long-term economic growth requires a healthy environment. Environmental rights encourage the conservation of natural resources, the preservation of biodiversity, and the development of eco-friendly companies that generate jobs and support economic growth. 3. Cultural Preservation: Indigenous and underprivileged populations frequently have strong cultural ties to their land and environment. Environmental rights contribute to the preservation of traditional knowledge, cultural legacy, and sacred sites, hence promoting diversity and resilience. 4. Climate resistance: Environmental rights play an important role in reducing climate change and raising awareness of its effects. These rights help to create a more resilient and sustainable future for everyone by encouraging clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and climate adaptation strategies. Damage Caused by Neglecting Environmental Rights: 1. Ecological Degradation: Failure to protect environmental rights causes widespread ecological degradation, such as deforestation, habitat loss, species extinction, and ecosystem collapse. This degradation disturbs nature's delicate balance, harming biodiversity and risking the planet's ability to support life. 2. Public Health Concerns: Environmental neglect causes air and water pollution, chemical contamination, and the spread of infectious diseases. These environmental health concerns disproportionately affect those with limited resources, compounding health inequities and endangering human welfare. 3. Resource Scarcity: Ignoring environmental rights depletes scarce resources like clean water, agricultural land, and fossil fuels, resulting in scarcity, competitiveness, and conflict. Resource depletion worsens poverty, food shortages, and social unrest, endangering global peace and security. 4. Climate Catastrophes: Disregard for environmental rights promotes climate change, resulting in harsh weather, rising sea levels, and ecological disruptions. These climatic calamities have a severe impact on vulnerable areas, displacing people, worsening poverty, and increasing humanitarian crises. At last, environmental rights are essential for safeguarding the health, well-being, and prosperity of current and future generations. By defending these rights, we can conserve our planet's ecosystems, promote social fairness, and lessen the terrible effects of environmental destruction. For the benefit of our world and all its inhabitants, governments, corporations, and individuals must continue to honor their duties to respect, defend, and fulfill environmental rights.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil at a Crossroads: The Environment or Oil and Gas

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration brought high hopes of reversing devastating environmental destruction. Will a new fossil fuel boom undermine promises for change?

With record-setting fires in the Amazon dominating headlines in recent years, the global environmental imaginary of Brazil often brings up scenes of deforestation, threats of tremendous biodiversity loss, and violent displacement driven by the cattle, forestry, and agribusiness industries. Now, on the heels of a wave of oil industry privatizations, pressure has mounted around the question of oil extraction in the Amazon. While deforestation often tops the national and international agenda, less present is the question of air pollution from the country’s oil, gas, and coal industries.

Care for the environment, however, seems to be part of Brazil’s social fabric, or what brings a lot of people together. In January 2023, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva returned to power on a platform of socioeconomic change and environmental protection. His appointments of Marina Silva to head the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and Sônia Guajajara to lead the new Ministry of Indigenous Peoples were especially promising.

But a strong governmental commitment to environmental issues has been lacking. Lula has faced strong criticism for his lack of firm opposition to congressional moves that diluted the powers of both ministries, stripping them of tools to protect water resources, prevent land grabbing, and slow deforestation.

Brazil’s oil production increased in 2022 to 3 million barrels per day, mostly from its deep-water offshore pre-salt oil fields. The energy minister recently announced a projected goal of producing 5.4 million barrels per day by 2029, which would elevate Brazil to being the fourth largest oil producer in the world and lock the country into a carbon-intensive energy model. Giant corporations like Total, Equinor, and Petronas are already reaping the profits. On December 13, the day after the COP28 climate summit ended, the Brazilian National Petroleum Agency (ANP) auctioned drilling rights to 602 exploration areas, several in buffer zones of protected areas in the Amazon that would impact Indigenous and quilombola territories. The state oil company Petrobras—despite being discredited in a sweeping corruption scandal that played out between about 2014 and 2018—is now suddenly positioned to become a major corporate player regionally and globally.

Environmental protection often takes a back seat to the alleged economic benefits of extracting oil, gas, and coal, and national and international news reports rarely mention pressing environmental issues tied to these resources’ climate-heating and public health impacts. As Brazil’s fossil fuel industry eyes expansion, closer scrutiny of the consequences of air pollution from oil, gas, and coal, especially on communities living near oil and gas facilities, is urgently needed.

Continue reading.

[stevensaus]

Whether AI Can Write A Story Is The Wrong Question.

There is a qualitative difference in the output between a writer who knows story structure and a writer who understands how story structure works. I am certain that current AI technology can do the former. I am very skeptical of the latter. But that really isn't the right question -- or questions -- to ask. The first relevant question is: "Will people pay more for the difference?" The second relevant question is: "Who will profit?" The first question is one we've faced before. This is the same question that we've wrestled with the displacement of craftsmanship by mechanization, industrialization, and mass production. Compare a chest of drawers that is made from actual wood with one which was made from particleboard. The first has hand-wrought dovetailed joins where they are simply staple-gunned in the latter. The first has been hand-polished, the second is essentially covered in varnished contact paper with a wood grain print. And the first is horrendously expensive and difficult to come by, compared to the second. I know the "The Sam Vimes "Boots" theory of socioeconomic unfairness;" wait for it. Mechanization and automation are great at repetitive tasks. There's no arguing that, say, modern farming methods (for all of its flaws, which are many) dramatically reduced worldwide famine rates after the transformation of agriculture in the 1960's. But there, too, there is a qualitative difference. "Not dying of famine" is hugely different from "well-nourished," or "sustainably nourished," or "healthily nourished," or any of a host of other criteria. There is a market for hand-made things (and hand-grown or hand-prepared food), because of the qualitative difference I mentioned before... although it is a pricey one. Theoretically, this would be taken care of by the free market, right? People won't choose lower-quality goods (or entertainment) if there is a better alternative. There is, after all, a reason why "dollar store" is used as a pejorative adjective. That brings us to the second question. All this automation -- including computers and software -- represents an increase in productivity. So why are we still working as hard -- or as much -- as people ten, twenty, forty, sixty and more years ago? The answer is pretty simple. The benefits of productivity increases were not -- and are not -- accessible to the population at large. Those benefits have been hoarded by executives and shareholders. For example, how a certain box store has reduced its workforce expenses by nearly eliminating everything except for self-checkout lanes and utilizing brutal employee sick policies. While customers are complaining. Perhaps you'd think that greater efficiency and lower costs would allow the company to lower its prices. Except that box store is also beating quarterly expectations for revenue and earnings, despite current inflation and lower sales. It's not just that box store, though. According to the Economic Policy Institute, workers haven't gained anything from the growth in productivity pretty much for my entire lifetime. That's the disconnect. In a functional free-market society, this would all balance out, at least in theory. {1} The benefits of that increased productivity would be passed on to the rest of society in one way or another. Instead, those benefits are being hoarded by an investor class {2}, which means that the hand-made goods -- the quality goods -- are even further out of reach for everyone else. And now we are seeing it be applied to story and art as well. Like it or not, art and entertainment cost. They cost money, which a lot of us are feeling pretty tightly right now (while the aforementioned investor class is doing just fine). But there's a second cost: The cost in free time. Currently just one streaming service would have to run constantly for four years to view it all. Oh, yes, a huge chunk of it -- and many other streaming services -- consist of formulaic and poor-quality offerings. {3} This applies to other forms of entertainment as well, where available quantity is the primary selling point (eBooks, audiobooks, artwork, you name it). But if that's what you are able to afford financially, and you're strapped for time because despite all this technological improvement you're still working forty hours a week plus commuting time, well, you get what you can. This is what happened with the last writer's strike and the rise of reality television. Reality television was (and is) comparatively inexpensive to make, and, because of how distribution of media works, brought in equivalent ratings -- and therefore, equivalent advertising dollars. Now, reality TV has become as much of a staple as the self-checkout station... and in the same way, only the investor class is better off for it. For corporations and investors, it is -- practically by definition -- only the profit margin that matters. The particulars about what is created and how literally Do Not Matter. {4} Given all this, it is no accident that the current writer's strike is deeply concerned about AI. It isn't difficult to imagine these same investors -- the ones who control enough resources to get books in bookstores, to get films distributed to theaters and to major streaming services, to get a series greenlit -- will be far more interested in turning out formulaic hack plots. You can already see a similar effect in brick-and-mortar chain bookstores, particularly in the sci-fi and fantasy sections, where it's become increasingly difficult to find anything but the "safest" titles, usually with "now a major motion picture" or "now a streaming series" splashed across the cover. There is a simple answer to these issues: to distribute the benefits of our society's increased productivity through mechanization, automation, algorithms, machine learning, and AI to society at large both in terms of financial and time resources. Where our tools augment our abilities individually and as a species, for the betterment of both the individual and society at large. Instead, we have a society where it is not enough to make a profit -- you must maximize that profit. Instead, we have a world where half of the wealth is held by 1.1% of the population, and 55% of all humans hold only 1.3% of global wealth. Regardless of the outcome of the writer's strike, or outrage over publishers using AI art for book covers, the voracious drive of the investor class to increase profits will almost certainly lead to a race to the bottom that favors the "cheapest" methods to create art and music and publishing and media as our ability -- both financially and in terms of time -- is squeezed tighter and tighter. At least, that's how I'm afraid it will go as long as all the rest of us are bullied into submission. Good luck. {1} A free-market society also allows for the free movement of labor, which... well, look at the discussion we're having about the US-Mexico border, and you can see that is not what's happening there. {2} Yes, I know. At least I'm not calling them the "bourgeoisie," although that's mostly because I need spellcheck to get that word right. {3} Look, I'm not knocking your taste here. I've enjoyed some reality television and other forms of "light entertainment" -- like Taskmaster and Dimension 20 -- myself. At the same time, that isn't all I want to have available. {4} Fun related fact: Subway, the largest fast-food chain in the US, was founded by a physicist who had never seen a "sub" sandwich and a family friend. Check out The Food That Built America episode! Featured Image by 0fjd125gk87 from Pixabay Read the full article

[luxuriant-starlight]

It boggles my fucking mind when people insinuate that slavery was ever not a choice or that slavery was something that wasn’t controversial prior to the Civil War. The controversy over slavery was so extreme at the time of the founding fathers that this country almost came to not exist at all because of conflicts regarding how it ought to have been handled in the Constitution and whether it should’ve been mentioned in the declaration (which is part of why it’s life, liberty, and “the pursuit of happiness” instead of life, liberty, and “property” like what John Locke had originally said). 

The reason for the great compromise, for the 3/5ths compromise, for a lot of the tensions that resulted in the creation of the first party system all had to do with slavery. Abolitionists and abolitionist groups have existed in this country for centuries- and since long before even the Revolution. All slavery was was a way to expand colonization and get out of paying people even the lowest and most minimum of minimum wages, and it came with the added bonus of brutality, a race-based socioeconomic caste system, the involuntary displacement of millions of people from their homes,  and societal ramifications that we are still dealing with. It was always a choice, and always a very deliberate one. 

The failure of so many people to get that right is the reason why I go out of my way to ensure that all of my history students understand that that is the truth- even though the government of my state of Florida ardently opposes me for that.

[zamiramendoza111]

Week 8: Climate Justice & Youth Leaders

This week, we're switching gears to understand the topic of climate action and the importance of expanding the opportunities for youth everywhere to step into leadership / activism.

In the fall 2024 edition of the Nonprofit Leadership Quarterly, this magazine shares an article titled "Changemakers, Disruptors, and Protectors of Our Earth: Young Women and Girls of the Global Majority Leading Climate Justice" written by Yasmina Benslimane.

Benslimane's article emphasizes the experiences of women and girls across the global south- who particularly face unique challenges due to intersecting oppressions: including those associated with gender, age, location and socioeconomic status.

Intersectionality is crucial to understand how many different forms of inequality interact to make some communities more marginalized than others. The term was first coined in 1989 by Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw, an American civil rights advocate and a scholar of critical race theory. (Taylor, 2019)

As further defined by the global nonprofit Womenkind Worldwide, the term intersectionality is the concept that all oppressions are deeply linked. It encompasses the interconnected nature of social identities and the range of human experiences: including all those related to race, class, gender- which create systems of discrimination or disadvantage that then become overlapping and interdependent.

Intersectionality Venn Diagram from Womenkind Worldwide (2019)

Climate challenges and its effects are very layered and complicated. In this nonprofit quarterly article, we see that the global majority of women and girls face multifaceted and significant challenges related to climate. These climate challenges are amplified by existing gender inequalities- and the impact of these challenges are heightened for marginalized groups: such as "women and girls who are Indigenous, Afro-descendent, LGBTQIA+ community, differently abled, and/or on the move." (Benslimane, 2024)

Climate disasters are disproportionately affecting women and girls: given the stark disparities in decision-making power, information, mobility and access to resources. According to the United Nations Development Programme, women and children are 14 times more likely to die during a climate-related disaster in comparison to men. Furthermore, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights shares that displacement from climate disasters increasingly puts women and girls at risk of experiencing sexual and gender-based violence.

In addition to these above risks: climate emergencies often become a disruptor to education. Around the world, when families face climate related challenges, girls education is often the first to be sacrificed. Girls are frequently taken out of their schools to care for their siblings and/or to help with locating food and water resources- which results in the continuous disruption to education and future opportunities.

Disruptions to education has its long term consequences, and often compromises girls future socioeconomic opportunities: increasing their susceptibility to a variety of situations to cope with resulting economic hardships- including child marriage, early pregnancy, etc.

Commonly observed within the regions of Africa and South Asia, climate disasters such as floods and droughts increase the rates of poverty and food insecurity, which prompts many families to enact survival strategies- such as marrying their daughters at a young age. For instance, in Bangladesh: ongoing climate disasters have led to a 39 percent increase in child marriages, as families struggle to cope with the economic fallouts of climate-related disasters and events.

According to various reports cited in the article, it is estimated that less than 1 percent of global climate finance goes towards projects with a focus on the environment and gender equality. Funding for youth-led climate action is overall insufficient, despite the essential part that young people play in driving innovative climate solutions. Without dedicated financial resources and institutional support for youth to participate in climate action, this space presents significant barriers for youth to fully participate and create impactful changes.

This is why access to education becomes pivotal in the ongoing fight towards a sustainable future for all. As Benslimane shares with us, "Education has been a cornerstone for many young climate activists."

Fiscal investments towards gender-inclusive education and policies becomes essential to empowering our youth to step into leadership. In addition to the importance of funding resources and education- the mentorship of young people also becomes central: as mentorship opportunities offer a source of guidance and support for the young climate activists navigating the complexities of climate action today.

The inclusion and acknowledgement of global climate change issues in curriculum pushes for environmental education that speaks to our overlapping realities. We must amplify the voices of youth today and center their perspectives- because their personal experiences have the power to educate and motivate people everywhere to become active agents of change in their own communities and environments.

Oh yeah! One more thing- in politically unstable regions, systemic issues magnify the challenges faced particularly by women activists. The safety of many women activists is a significant concern globally, especially for the women activists operating in hostile environments: where their efforts are often attacked, blocked and/or criminalized. Activists endure threats to their physical and psychological safety- and even their own livelihood, contributing to adverse health effects. Especially for those who are on the frontlines of war & climate crisis.

The call to action in the fight towards climate justice should actively include historically marginalized voices, such as the perspectives of youth activists everywhere whom are stepping into leadership. Youth activists should be supported through investment in their education, have access to ongoing mentorship / training opportunities and also included as key stakeholders in climate justice policy and discussion.

When we center intergenerational equity- we're sending the message to youth that their insights, concerns and experiences are valid and crucial for long-term planning. In the end, youth will inherit the future that is shaped by those decisions that we all collectively make today.

--

References

• Benslimane, Yasmina. "Changemakers, disruptors, and protectors of our earth: young women and girls of the global majority leading climate justice." Nonprofit Quarterly Magazine, (Fall 2024).

• Taylor, Bridie. "Intersectionality 101: What is it and why is it important?". Womankind Worldwide. (November 24th, 2019). https://www.womankind.org.uk/intersectionality-101-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-important/

[arabinsightscare]

Maternal and Child Health in the Arab region

Progress and Ongoing Challenges

During the past few years, the Arab region has gained substantial progress in maternal and child health through its developmental improvements in health infrastructure, policies, and international cooperation. Yet, the challenges remain, including those resulting from sharp socioeconomic inequalities, political instability, and reduced health access to a certain extent for urgent intervention for healthy outcomes in maternal and child health.

Advances in Indicators

There have been observations on improvements of changes in maternal mortality rates and under-five child mortality in the Arab countries. Since the past decades of excellence over the last two decades, particularly after the GCC countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) demonstrated aggressive improvements in reducing maternal mortality rates through better prenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and accessibility to essential obstetric emergency care services. For instance, the UAE has some of the lowest rates of maternal and child mortality in the region. This is attributed to very robust health infrastructure and effective government investment in good quality maternal care services.

Immunization programs also expanded across the region with a reduction in vaccine-preventable diseases among children. Countries like Morocco and Egypt have implemented national programs meant to increase vaccination coverage; hence an important factor in reducing child mortality.

Current Challenges in Conflict-affected Areas

Others are still experiencing great challenges even though some are succeeding in maternal and child health since other countries are still harbouring constant conflict and humanitarian conditions. These include Yemen, Syria, and parts of Iraq cited, where destroyed health facilities and generalized malnutrition among pregnant women and children are notably persistent issues.

The case in Yemen, by all means, is critical because that country ranks among the ones with the highest worldwide rates of maternal and child mortality. Pregnant women and babies are prone to morbidity because medical care access is unsatisfactory and have been devastated by exacerbating violence. More than 80% of the women in Yemen have no access to vital maternal healthcare services. Even the sectors of maternity and child healthcare are not left out in the crisis engulfing Syria. Mass displacement and congested camps with no infrastructure call into question the nature of care pregnant women will receive with regards to their pregnancy or post-delivery care. In this condition, risk for complication in childbirth or pregnancy stands heavily increased.

Socioeconomic Inequities

Apart from conflict, the socioeconomic inequalities have pretty well been instrumental in determining the outcome of maternal and child health in the Arab region. Countries that have documented increased rates of poverty levels, such as Sudan and Mauritania, have not received any significant funds in terms of maternal health services. Skilled births are still at a very low level in these countries, and in most cases, access to a skilled birth attendant is very low, especially for the more distant rural areas.

Such health inequalities exist more in countries like Egypt. In such nations, the number of rural mothers who are not exposed to skilled births as well as emergency care is minimal compared to that of city mothers. This therefore gives a very high rate of maternal mortality in the rural areas.

Eradicating Malnutrition

Another long-standing problem related to maternal and child health is malnutrition. Among the countries affected by conflict, Yemen, Sudan, and Somalia record the greatest incidence rate of acute malnutrition that is applied in poor health outcomes. Poor health outcomes among the mothers are also exposed to further complications during pregnancy and at delivery, which puts their children at greater risk of low birth weight, stunting, and disease during childhood.

Read More: https://arabinsightscare.com/maternal-and-child-health-in-the-arab-region/

[sefaradweb]

Un poco sobre los judíos en América Latina

🇲🇽 El artículo "Postwar Latin American Jewry: An Agenda for the Study of the Last Five Decades" de Haim Avni aborda la evolución de la comunidad judía en América Latina desde el final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial hasta principios del siglo XXI, destacando el crecimiento y la consolidación de las comunidades postguerra, junto con los desafíos subsiguientes, como el antisemitismo y las transformaciones socioeconómicas. El análisis de Gilbert W. Merkx en "Jewish Studies as a Subject of Latin American Studies" se centra en la relevancia académica de las comunidades judías en la región, subrayando la necesidad de investigaciones más sistemáticas que examinen fenómenos como la asimilación y la migración desde la conferencia de 1972. En cuanto a Argentina, el libro "Cinco Siglos de Historia" de Alberto Klein narra el desarrollo de la comunidad judía desde la década de 1860, destacando su integración en la sociedad argentina a través de instituciones como la Jewish Colonization Association y su influencia en diversos campos. Luis Roniger, en su ensayo "Globalización, transnacionalización y las comunidades judías: el impacto del chavismo en Venezuela," explora cómo el ascenso del chavismo bajo Hugo Chávez ha intensificado el antisemitismo en Venezuela, creando un ambiente hostil para la comunidad judía. Lowell Gudmundson, en "Costa Rican Jewry: An Economic and Political Outline," detalla la historia de los judíos en Costa Rica desde la inmigración polaca, resaltando su integración profesional y su relación con Israel. La Dra. Yael Siman, en su artículo sobre "Tránsito y Llegada de Refugiados Judíos y Sobrevivientes del Holocausto a México, 1939-1960," examina la experiencia de los refugiados judíos en México y cómo su desplazamiento afectó su integración y construcción de identidad. Finalmente, el concepto de jubanidad, desarrollado por Ruth Behar, se explora en la literatura cubano-judía a través del ensayo “Jubanidad and the Literary Transmission of Cuban Crypto-Judaism" por Leonard Stein. Se exploran obras como la novela "Days of Awe" de Achy Obejas y las cartas de "Cartas de Cuba" de Behar, que destacan la lucha por preservar una identidad judía oculta en Cuba y reflejan la experiencia de diáspora a través de narrativas personales y literarias.

🇺🇸 The article "Postwar Latin American Jewry: An Agenda for the Study of the Last Five Decades" by Haim Avni addresses the evolution of the Jewish community in Latin America from the end of World War II to the early 21st century, highlighting the growth and consolidation of postwar communities along with the subsequent challenges such as antisemitism and socioeconomic transformations. Gilbert W. Merkx's analysis in "Jewish Studies as a Subject of Latin American Studies" focuses on the academic relevance of Jewish communities in the region, emphasizing the need for more systematic research examining phenomena like assimilation and migration since the 1972 conference. Regarding Argentina, Alberto Klein's book "Cinco Siglos de Historia" chronicles the development of the Jewish community since the 1860s, highlighting their integration into Argentine society through institutions like the Jewish Colonization Association and their influence in various fields. Luis Roniger, in his essay "Globalization, Transnationalization, and Jewish Communities: The Impact of Chavismo in Venezuela," explores how the rise of Chavismo under Hugo Chávez has intensified antisemitism in Venezuela, creating a hostile environment for the Jewish community. Lowell Gudmundson, in "Costa Rican Jewry: An Economic and Political Outline," details the history of Jews in Costa Rica since Polish immigration, highlighting their professional integration and relationship with Israel. Dr. Yael Siman, in her article on "Transit and Arrival of Jewish Refugees and Holocaust Survivors in Mexico, 1939-1960," examines the experience of Jewish refugees in Mexico and how their displacement affected their integration and identity formation. Finally, the concept of jubanidad, developed by Ruth Behar, is explored in Cuban-Jewish literature through the essay "Jubanidad and the Literary Transmission of Cuban Crypto-Judaism" by Leonard Stein. Works such as the novel "Days of Awe" by Achy Obejas and the letters in "Cartas de Cuba" by Behar are examined, highlighting the struggle to preserve a hidden Jewish identity in Cuba and reflecting the diaspora experience through personal and literary narratives.

[avocodedigital]

AI Adoption in America - Economic Impact

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The Rise of AI Adoption in America

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has transcended from science fiction into an integral part of our daily lives. From voice-activated assistants in homes to advanced analytics in businesses, AI's footprint is undeniably expanding. In the United States, this shift is not only changing how individuals interact with technology but also transforming the economic landscape.

Understanding AI Adoption Rates

The widespread integration of AI in America is a testament to its potential to improve efficiency and innovation. Recent studies reveal that Americans are embracing AI at **fairly high rates**, signaling a significant shift in consumer and business practices. Key areas of AI adoption include:

**Personal Devices**: Smart speakers and mobile phones with AI capabilities are being adopted by millions of Americans, providing ease and convenience.

**Business Operations**: Companies across various industries are integrating AI into their workflow to enhance productivity, optimize supply chains, and personalize customer experiences.

**Healthcare**: AI is revolutionizing healthcare by enabling predictive analytics for disease prevention and streamlining hospital operations.

With these advances, Americans are not only becoming more comfortable with AI technologies but also more reliant on them in their everyday activities.

The Economic Impact of AI

The widespread adoption of AI has profound implications for the U.S. economy. Here are some of the notable economic impacts: 1. Boost in Productivity

AI systems can automate repetitive tasks, allowing employees to focus on more complex and strategic work.

This shift can lead to higher productivity levels and increased output, benefiting businesses and driving economic growth.

2. Job Transformation and Creation

While some fear that AI could displace jobs, it's important to note that technology often creates new job opportunities. The rise of AI has led to the emergence of new roles such as data scientists, AI specialists, and AI ethicists.

Reskilling and upskilling workers for AI-related roles can mitigate job displacement, creating a more skilled workforce.

3. Innovation and Competitiveness

AI encourages innovation through enhanced research and development processes. Companies can harness data-driven insights to create new products and services.

The United States remains a leader in AI development, ensuring its competitive edge in the global market.

4. Increased Economic Efficiency

AI can streamline operations across various sectors such as logistics, finance, and agriculture, leading to cost savings and improved service delivery.

This efficiency is particularly critical in sectors facing labor shortages or high demand, allowing them to maintain service levels.

Challenges and Considerations

While AI brings numerous benefits, its adoption poses certain challenges that must be addressed to maximize its potential. 1. Ethical Concerns

AI systems utilize large amounts of personal data, raising concerns about privacy and data security.

Bias in AI algorithms can result in unfair treatment or discrimination, necessitating frameworks for ethical AI deployment.

2. Workforce Transition

The integration of AI requires a transition in workforce skills, necessitating education and training programs to prepare workers for AI-centric roles.

Encouraging collaboration between tech companies, educational institutions, and policymakers can facilitate this transition.

3. Regulatory Environment

A comprehensive regulatory framework is essential to ensure responsible AI use and protect consumer interests.

Regulations should strike a balance between encouraging innovation and addressing ethical and security concerns.

4. Socioeconomic Inequality

There's a risk of AI exacerbating existing inequalities, as access to AI technology and AI-driven opportunities may not be uniform across different social groups.

Efforts must be made to ensure equitable access to education and technology, enabling all communities to benefit from AI advancements.

Looking Forward: AI and the Future of the American Economy

As AI continues to evolve, its integration into the American economy will only deepen. To capitalize on AI's potential, stakeholders must prioritize: 1. Collaboration and Innovation

Public-private partnerships can foster innovation and accelerate AI adoption across different sectors.

Encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration will enable more comprehensive and effective AI solutions.

2. Education and Skill Development

Investing in STEM education and continuous learning platforms can prepare the workforce for future AI roles.

Promoting lifelong learning and reskilling programs is critical to help workers adapt to evolving technological landscapes.

3. Ethical Frameworks and Regulations

Developing robust ethical guidelines and regulatory frameworks will ensure AI is used responsibly and benefits all citizens.

Ongoing engagement with stakeholders, including the public, can foster trust in AI technologies.

The thriving AI ecosystem has the potential to propel the American economy into a future of unprecedented growth and innovation. However, realizing this potential requires a collective effort to address challenges and ensure that AI's benefits are shared broadly across society. As Americans continue to embrace AI, the focus must remain on fostering an environment of responsible, inclusive, and forward-thinking AI adoption. Want more? Join the newsletter: https://avocode.digital/newsletter/