Brazil’s Black Lives Matter Movement 

Brazil, the last South American country to abolish slavery in the late 1800s, struggles to uplift their nation’s Black lives. Through pay gaps, urban designs, government representation and policing, Brazil’s society threatens the Black community. 

A protester on the streets in Brazil. Michelle Guimarães.

Over the course of 300 years, approximately four million Africans were taken to Brazil as slaves. Today, Brazil’s racial demographics are  47.7 percent white, 43.1 percent multiracial and 7.6 percent Black. The average income for white Brazilians is almost double that of the average income for Black or multiracial Brazilians, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Also, 78.5 percent of people in Brazil who are receiving the lowest rate of income (equivalent to $5.50 U.S. dollars per day) are Black or multiracial people.

This May, Black Lives Matter protests filled the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Brasília after 28 people died during a police raid. Human rights activists said that the officers killed people who wanted to surrender and posed no threat. The raid took place in Rio de Janeiro, where heavily armed officers with helicopters and vehicles went into Jacarezinho, a poor neighborhood. Thousands of residents were subject to nine hours of terror.

Organizers said that 7,000 people took to the streets in Sao Paulo. Protesters painted the Brazilian flag with red paint and held up a school uniform stained with blood. In Rio de Janeiro, protestors chanted, “Don’t kill me, kill racism.”

As Brazilian author and activist Djamila Ribeiro said, “The Brazilian state didn't create any kind of public policy to integrate Black people in society," and that "although we didn't have a legal apartheid like the U.S. or South Africa, society is very segregated—institutionally and structurally."

In 2019, the police killed 6,357 people in Brazil, which is one of the highest rates of police killings in the world—and almost 80 percent of the victims were Black. 

During COVID-19, Black Brazilians were more likely than other racial groups to report COVID-19 symptoms, and more likely to die in the hospital. Experts attributed this disparity to high rates of informal employment among Black people, preventing them from the ability to work from home, and a higher prevalence of pre-existing conditions. Specifically, in 2019, Black Brazilians already accounted for the majority of unemployed workers (64.2%); therefore, they already lacked economic support even before the pandemic.

An artist’s photoshoot with Brazil flag covering their bodies. Eriscolors. 

Only a quarter of federal deputies in the lower chamber of Brazil’s Congress and a third of managerial roles in companies were Black people, according to the IBGE statistics from 2019.  

Brazil’s President, Jair Bolsonaro, said during his campaign in 2018 that descendants of people who were enslaved were “good for nothing, not even to procreate,” while using the slogan “my color is Brazil.”

Keisha-Khan Y. Perry, a professor at the University of Texas, conducted an ethnographic study looking at how Black women in Gamboa de Baixo—a city culturally and historically tied to Black Brazilians—are leading the community towards social activism against racist politics. Specifically, these racist policies include political urban revitalization programs that push out Black and poor people. Perry said that these policies are a political tactic continually utilized in Brazilian cities. 

However, recently in May, Milton Barbosa, one of the founders of the most notable Black civil rights organization in Brazil, Unified Black Movement, said, “There’s been an increase in awareness nationally… We still have to fight, but there have been important changes.” 

Kyla Denisevich

Kyla is an upcoming senior at Boston University, and is majoring in Journalism with a minor in Anthropology. She writes articles for the Daily Free Press at BU and a local paper in Malden, Massachusetts called Urban Media Arts. Pursuing journalism is her passion, and she aims to highlight stories from people of all walks of life to encourage productive, educated conversation. In the future, Kyla hopes to create well researched multimedia stories which emphasize under-recognized narratives.

Report Finds W.H.O. Workers Sexually Exploited Women During Ebola Mission

Women were sexually exploited and abused by aid workers in order to obtain or keep jobs during the Ebola Crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A young girl washes her hands at a checkpoint at the border between Uganda and the DRC. UK Department for International Development. CC BY 2.0

According to a report commissioned by the agency’s head, World Health Organization workers sexually abused women while in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to aid the Ebola outbreak from 2018 to 2020. The report found that 83 people participated in the abuse, and in 21 cases, those involved were confirmed to be WHO officials. The investigation started in September 2020 when The New Humanitarian and the Thomas Reuters Foundation published a report investigating abuse claims. The report found that 31 out of 50 women interviewed reported abuse and exploitation from men working for the WHO. In response, leadership in the World Health Organization ordered an independent commission to investigate. After working in Beni, one woman interviewed by the commission stated, “To get ahead in the job, you had to have sex … Everyone had sex in exchange for something. It was very common.” In addition, women reported that they were sexually harrassed and faced exploitation in order to keep their jobs, get paid or get a promotion. In some cases women were dismissed from their jobs when they refused to have sex with supervisors.

The commission established that the majority of the victims were already vulnerable because of precarious social and economic status, and women with more education and economic power were less vulnerable to abuse. The report found that there was a “systematic tendency to reject all reports of sexual exploitation and abuse unless they were made in writing”. While the WHO has training in place to prevent sexual abuse, the report found that training for employees did not happen until November 2019, months after the outbreak had been declared an emergency. Only 371 out of 2,800 workers attended the training. Additionally, men make up the vast majority of employees during the crisis, averaging 73.4% overall. The report cites that men held 77.49% of leadership positions and 91.52% of operations support and logistic positions.

The WHO was not the only organization accused of abuse, The New Humanitarian’s investigation found that there were allegations against workers at World Vision, Unicef and Alima, among others. Additionally, the investigation found that underreporting was prevalent in these cases, with one woman stating, “Why would you even ask if I reported it?” The New Humanitarian found that many women were unaware of how to report abuse or exploitation at all. Most aid agencies claimed they had received no reports of abuse, and the WHO stated they had received only a small number of complaints. ​​Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the WHO, apologized to victims and said it was his top priority to hold perpetrators accountable during a press conference after the report’s publication.

Dana Flynn

Dana is a recent graduate from Tufts University with a degree in English. While at Tufts she enjoyed working on a campus literary magazine and reading as much as possible. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she loves to explore and learn new things.

8 Animals Recently Declared Extinct

Anywhere from 24 to 150 animal species go extinct daily, with human activity as a primary cause. Here are eight animals that have recently gone extinct.

Many animal species have recently gone extinct at the hands of humans, which should be a wake up call about how our actions can harm wildlife and the environment. Learn about these eight recently extinct animals to see what you can do to help.

Poison Arrow Frog (Dendrobatidae). Jerry Kirkhart. CC BY 2.0.

1) Splendid Poison Frog

The IUCN added the splendid poison frog to the Red List of Endangered Species in 2004 and officially declared the species extinct in 2020, making it one of the most recently extinct species on the planet. These frogs are often referred to as poison arrow or poison dart frogs, and they are the brightest colored frogs in the world. Splendid poison frogs’ diets cause them to secrete toxins from their skin, and their bright colors warn predators of their toxicity. While the species lived in the humid lowlands and forests of western Panama, deforestation and habitat degradation severely harmed these areas and threatened the frogs. Human invasion such as with logging and construction in the area decreased the species’ population significantly.

Paddlefish, his mouth firmly shut. Shankar S. CC BY 2.0.

2) Chinese paddlefish

Like the baiji dolphin, the Chinese paddlefish (also known as the Chinese swordfish) was most commonly found in the Yangtze River and was one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. This ancient fish species has lived since the Lower Jurassic period and survived the mass extinction that killed off the dinosaurs and many reptiles. Yet, the biggest threat to their existence was human activities. In the 1970s and 80s, overfishing and construction severely decreased the species’ population size. By 1993, this disruption caused the fish to become functionally extinct, which meant that the species lacked the numbers to meaningfully reproduce. The species has not been spotted since 2003, and it was officially declared extinct in 2020.

Sumatran rhino. David Ellis. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

3) Sumatran Rhino

Sumatran rhinos—also known as Asian Two-Horned Rhinos—are the smallest and most endangered rhino species in the world. They generally live for between 35 and 40 years, and their habitat is the  dense tropical forests mainly on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Due to poaching, the species’ numbers have decreased more than 70% over the last 20 years. The Sumatran rhino was officially declared extinct in mainland Malaysia in 2015 and in Malaysian Borneo in 2019. The last Sumatran rhino died in 2019.

Lonesome George. A.Davey. CC BY 2.0.

4) Pinta giant tortoise

In 2012, “Lonesome George,” the world-famous tortoise, passed away at the estimated age of 100 years. George was the last remaining land tortoise from Pinta Island, a northern island in the Galapagos, and lived at the Charles Darwin Research Station since he was found in 1971. Most of his species went extinct because they were used as an onboard food source for 19th-century whalers, as well as due to habitat destruction. The Galapagos National Park searched for a mate for George for over three decades to try to save the Pinta subspecies, but they could not find one. When George passed away in 2012, the Pinta subspecies passed with him.

Black rhino. Corrie Barklimore. CC BY 2.0.

5) Western black rhino

The western black rhino, which was the most uncommon of the black rhino subspecies, went extinct in 2011. In the past, the species had a large range across central and western Africa, but it was not able to survive in the 20th century. Hunting for sport quickly decreased rhino populations, and industrial agriculture cleared rhino habitats to make fields and settlements. In addition, between 1960 and 1995, 98% of black rhinos were killed by poachers. By 1980, the western black rhino’s range had shrunk to only two countries: Cameroon and Chad. The species’ population had fallen to about 10 rhinos by 1997. Due to this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature added the species to the critically endangered species list in 2008, and declared them extinct in 2011.

Baiji, Lipotes vexillifer. CC BY-SA 4.0

6) Baiji

Commonly referred to as the Yangtze River dolphin, Baiji is the first dolphin species to become extinct because of human activity. The Yangtze River was the Baiji’s home for 20 million years, and it only took humans 50 years to completely wipe them out. The Baiji’s ability to communicate, navigate, avoid danger and find food became very challenging as the river became noisier and noisier due to humans. In 2006, researchers embarked on a six-week journey on the river for over 2,000 miles to search for the Baiji, but they were not able to detect any existing dolphins. They were declared extinct in 2007.

7) Cryptic treehunter

There have been no records of the cryptic treehunter since 2007, mainly due to extensive habitat loss in its region, Brazil. Cryptic treehunters were usually found in grasslands, woodlands and humid forests. Logging and conversion of forest to sugarcane plantations and pastureland was a major reason for the species’ decline. Some scientists believe that the species has not completely vanished due to their incredible hiding abilities, but since one has not been seen since 2007, it is unlikely.

Bouquetin—the French name for Pyrenean ibex. Jean-Raphaël Guillaumin. CC BY-SA 2.0.

8) Pyrenean ibex

Once a large population which roamed across France and Spain, the Pyrenean ibex is one of two subspecies of the Spanish ibex that was declared extinct in 2000. The last Pyrenean ibex died in January of 2000 when a falling tree killed her. After she died, scientists took skin cells from her ear and preserved them in liquid nitrogen. In 2003, her DNA was cloned into a new ibex, becoming the first species to be “unextinct.” However, the clone died minutes after it was created due to lung issues. Scientists suspect that the species went extinct due to poaching, disease and competition for food.

Isabelle Durso

Isabelle is an undergraduate student at Boston University currently on campus in Boston. She is double majoring in Journalism and Film & Television, and she is interested in being a travel writer and writing human-interest stories around the world. Isabelle loves to explore and experience new cultures, and she hopes to share other people's stories through her writing. In the future, she intends to keep writing journalistic articles as well as creative screenplays.

U.S. House Passes Bill Repealing Prevention of Abortion Abroad

A new U.S. State Department spending bill includes provisions that expand global abortion rights. The bill passed in the House on July 28 and requires Senate approval by Sept. 30. 

On July 28, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Department of State, foreign operations and related programs budget bill for the 2022 fiscal year. If the bill passes in the Senate and becomes law, it will have major implications for the global health industry. 

The bill is the first of its type since 1973 to exclude language from the Helms Amendment, which blocks U.S. foreign aid money from funding health services abroad related to abortions. 

The Helms Amendment’s language specifically prevents U.S. funds from paying for abortions as a method of family planning—yet foreign aid organizations have interpreted the amendment much more restrictively, to ban funding for abortions in other cases, such as rape, incest and life-threatening pregnancies. USAID has used the amendment to enforce a ban on the purchase of equipment and drugs to aid in post-abortion care. 

Around 73 million abortions occur annually worldwide, even in countries where access to abortions is restricted. In fact, data shows that abortion rates are often higher in countries where abortion is restricted than in those where abortion is legal. Abortion restrictions, which the Helms Amendment helps to maintain, do not mean that pregnant people are not getting abortions—they just mean that access to safe abortions is severely limited. 

The World Health Organization defines an unsafe abortion as one carried out by a person lacking the necessary skills or in an environment that does not meet minimal medical standards. Out of the 73 million annual abortions, nearly 35 million are estimated to occur in unsafe conditions. Unsafe abortions account for 8% of maternal mortality worldwide; each year about 47,000 women die from unsafe abortions. 

Unsafe abortions occur overwhelmingly in developing countries, where U.S. funding could be crucial to removing obstacles for safe abortions.  

The recent bill also permanently repealed the 1984 Global Gag Rule, which prevented foreign non-governmental organizations that were receiving U.S. funding from providing assistance on anything related to abortions, including information, referrals, or services. The Global Gag Rule banned such foreign organizations from providing abortion-related assistance even if they used their own, non-U.S. funds. 

A 2019 study found that the Global Gag Rule effectively prevented NGOs from providing functional reproductive health services. The rule caused NGOs to reduce sexual and reproductive health and pregnancy counseling and stop providing information on legal abortion services. The Global Gag Rule also prevents NGOs from involvement in pro-abortion advocacy. 

The U.S. is the largest funder and implementer of global health worldwide, but for nearly 50 years, the Helms Amendment and the Global Gag Rule have meant that a large portion of the healthcare sector misses out on this funding. Rather than preventing abortions, this legislation has served as further obstacles for people seeking safe abortions. Therefore, their exclusion from the most recent U.S. foreign spending budget bill is monumental. 

In addition to the provisions regarding the Helms Amendment and Global Gag Rule, the bill allocated $760 million for family planning and reproductive health services, an $185 million increase from last year’s bill. 

The spending bill passed in the House by a slim majority of 217 to 212. To become law, the bill must pass the Senate in the same form. The final 2022 fiscal year budget needs to be approved by Sept. 30. 

If the bill passes the Senate without mention of the Helms Amendment and with the inclusion of the Global Gag Rule repeal, it will become a landmark piece of legislation for sexual and reproductive health rights around the world. 

To Get Involved: 

For more information about global reproductive health policy and how you can support initiatives to make safe abortions accessible, visit the Guttmacher Institute here or PAI here. 

Rachel Lynch

Rachel is a student at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY currently taking a semester off. She plans to study Writing and Child Development. Rachel loves to travel and is inspired by the places she’s been and everywhere she wants to go. She hopes to educate people on social justice issues and the history and culture of travel destinations through her writing.

Wildfires Burn Through Turkey as Climate Crisis Worsens 

Hundreds of wildfires have blazed across Turkey as the Mediterranean experiences extreme heat this summer. At least eight people have died in the fires and thousands have fled as firefighters and residents struggle to extinguish the fires.

Mountains in the smoke of fires in Turkey, on the Turkish coast in Marmaris, 2021. Photo by Vitolda Klein on Unsplash

Wildfires have been spreading across Turkey since July 28, terrorizing residents, hospitalizing dozens, and killing at least eight people and more than 2,000 farm animals. Around 200 wildfires have burned through more than 40 Turkish provinces, destroying more than 500 square miles of forest, in addition to villages, homes and farmland. Thousands have been forced to leave their shelter and livestock behind just to make it out alive. 

The fires started in Manavgat in the Antalya province, and the majority have broken out along the coasts of the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. Antalya and Mulga, among other beach districts, have been hit the hardest, with a total of 21 wildfires and 14 wildfires respectively, more than double the number of wildfires in other districts. While popular tourist destination Antalya is accustomed to averaging near the mid-30s Celsius over the summer, the district has experienced highs of more than 40 degrees Celsius this summer. Cizre, a southeastern Turkish town, broke the country’s 60-year-old temperature and set the new record at 49.1 degrees Celsius on July 20. Experts believe the wildfires in Turkey and the Mediterranean may have been caused by extreme heat that hailed from North Africa. High winds—around 31 mph—have also facilitated these fires by making them difficult to extinguish and easier to spread. 

Turkey is not alone in this, as southern European nations including Greece, Spain, Italy and Lebanon have also been affected by blazing wildfires and soaring temperatures over the past few weeks. However, Turkey has experienced the bulk of the destruction and the worst wildfires in the nation in decades. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been criticized for failing to fight the inferno and for the nation’s lack of firefighting planes. Meanwhile, government officials have attempted to offset the blame from Erdogan by accusing political opponents and saboteurs of igniting the fires to get international intervention and undermine the current government. Some help has come in the form of  international assistance from the Middle East, Europe and some of Turkey’s neighbors, such as Azerbaijan and Iran, , but many residents were still left to fight the fires in their backyards alone.

Politics and conspiracies aside, Turkey’s recent wildfires are representative of a larger trend of worsening climate change and an increase in extreme weather events around the world. While the majority of wildfires can be attributed to human activities such as lighting campfires and throwing lit cigarettes on the ground, severe heat and drought make forests drier and more prone to catching on fire. Additionally, the average wildfire season has increased by three and a half months due to winter snowpacks melting about a month earlier than they did in the past. Scientists are comfortable linking these environmental circumstances—and Turkey’s recent extreme weather conditions in particular—to climate change, which is accelerating “dangerously close” to irreversible change. 

As one of six countries that has not ratified the Paris Climate Agreement, Turkey’s commitment to climate policies is weaker in comparison to that of other nations. Without the necessary fire-combatting equipment, including a usable fleet of water-dropping planes, Turkey is struggling to overcome this natural disaster. Despite the government and its supporters’ claims that Turkey can fight this alone, many residents continue to ask for increased international assistance. 

Get Involved

While Russia, Ukraine and other nations send tangible assistance to Turkey, there are ways for individuals to help as well. The World Wide Fund for Nature works to reduce human impact on the environment and preserve wildlife around the world, and is constantly looking for donors to monetarily contribute to the fight against climate change.

More specifically, Turkish Philanthropy Funds has set up a Wildlife Relief Fund to supply Turkey with the equipment necessary to rebuild and recover affected communities. Individual GoFundMe pages are also circulating across social media to facilitate Turkey's relief efforts.

To not only help Turkey but to help push forward the climate agenda in general, individuals can contribute by regulating and lowering their carbon footprint and voting for officials who will prioritize the environment. 

Mia Khatib

Mia is a rising senior at Boston University majoring in journalism and minoring in international relations. As a Palestinian-American, Mia is passionate about amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and is interested in investigative and data-driven journalism. She hopes to start out as a breaking news reporter and one day earn a position as editor of a major publication.

Deforestation in Myanmar Amid Political Unrest

While deforestation has been a major issue in Myanmar for decades, recent data shows a surge in deforestation that could be linked  to the nation’s recent coup and ongoing internal conflict. 

Environment and Food Security in Myanmar. United Nations Development Programme. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

On February 1, a coup took place in Myanmar. The Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s military, overthrew many democratically elected members of the National League for Democracy , the ruling party in Myanmar following the November 2020 general elections. After  the coup, the Tatmadaw enforced a year-long state of emergency, transferring power from the elected democratic authorities to the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Min Aung Hlaing. The military assumed control of the nation and invalidated the November vote on the premise that the elections were fraudulent; however, many question the legitimacy of this premise. Some believe that this reasoning was a cover for the Tatmadaw to step in because many members of its party lost in the election. 

Interestingly, the coup took place the day before the Parliament of Myanmar swore in the newly elected members from the November 2020 election, preventing the election. Unsurprisingly, residents did not welcome the control of the Tatmadaw with open arms—many protested the coup and experienced grave, and sometimes deadly, consequences. Citizens who spoke out against the Tatmadaw authorities were punished, as freedom of speech and the press are not guaranteed by law in Myanmar. Since the conflict began, over 900 civilians have been killed by military or police forces and at least 5,000 people have been arrested, charged or sentenced. Additionally, three prominent members of the NLD have died while under police custody in March.

 While this political situation in Myanmar is new, its environmental situation is not. When the nation achieved its independence from the British in 1948, Myanmar, previously known as Burma, had a landscape that was  70 percent forest. In 2014, there was around 48 percent forest cover, as the nation lost around 19 percent of its forests between 1990 and 2010. Although Myanmar’s deforestation rate is less than some of its neighbors, including Indonesia and Vietnam, deforestation is still a major concern in the region. Deforestation in Myanmar is often attributed to three major factors: unsustainable and illegal logging, unresolved land disputes and agricultural development. Despite deforestation, Myanmar has the largest tropical forest in mainland Southeast Asia that is home to more than 80 endemic species. Despite the size of Myanmar’s forests, only around six percent of its land is protected by law while the rest is susceptible to deforestation. 

 Myanmar’s Tanintharyi region exemplifies the consequences deforestation can have on Myanmar’s wildlife. Satellite data from the University of Maryland shows that deforestation is increasing in the nation, especially in the Mergui and Kawthoung districts of the Tanintharyi. According to UMD, Mergui and Kawthoung lost around 15 percent of their tree cover between 2001 and 2019, and recent data from UMD’s Global Analysis and Discovery lab suggest that this number may be higher in 2020 and beyond. 

Gurney’s pittas, small birds with a stubby tail, live in the area between Mergui and Kawthoung in the Tanintharyi. These birds were thought to be extinct until they were rediscovered in the 80s. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Gurney’s pitta is a critically endangered species with only between 1,000 and 2,500 remaining in 2019, a drastic decline from the 10,300 to 17,000 that were alive 15 years earlier. Habitat loss is the reason behind this decline. 

 Gurney pitta. darwin_initiative. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Beyond threatening extinction for wildlife that has been around for decades, deforestation in Myanmar is also threatening the advancement of science in studying biodiversity. New species have recently been discovered in the Tanintharyi region. In 2015 and 2016, researchers discovered two species of geckos, genus Cyrtodactylus, that are known for their bent toes. In 2019, another group of researchers discovered an Asian rock gecko known as Cnemaspis tanintharyi. Some scientists are worried that continued deforestation in the Tanintharyi region could mean the extinction of undiscovered and recently discovered species, in addition to well-known species.

 Myanmar’s political climate has implications for its environmental situation. With Myanmar’s 70-year-long and ongoing internal conflict as well as the recent coup, displaced individuals have turned to its forests for support. Many have taken up farming in the Tanintharyi to make a living and others have sought refuge in surrounding forests—both of which have contributed to increased deforestation in the Tanintharyi region and the decline of unique, local species.

In addition to the environmental consequences of displacement, experts speculate that the coup has opened the nation to increased illegal deforestation as international oversight and trade partnerships deteriorate. With other nations increasing sanctions against Myanmar and refusing to cooperate with the country because of the coup, Myanmar is more susceptible to illegal deforestation and the selling of illegally obtained wood to foreign partners who neglect to question its legitimacy. Satellite data by Planet Labs, Google Earth and Global Forest Watch show that large patches of forest have been removed between January and April of this year. Despite this incriminating data, there is no clear evidence that directly links the recent deforestation to illegal activities conducted by the Tatmadaw.

Mia Khatib 

Mia is a rising senior at Boston University majoring in journalism and minoring in international relations. As a Palestinian-American, Mia is passionate about amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and is interested in investigative and data-driven journalism. She hopes to start out as a breaking news reporter and one day earn a position as editor of a major publication.

Water Protests Erupt in the Middle East

Droughts have caused agricultural collapse and water shortages across several Middle Eastern countries, with recent protests erupting, calling for governments to take action.

Lut Desert, Iran. Ninara. CC BY 2.0.

The recent  protests in Iran over water scarcity were a part of unrest and rebellion across the entire Middle East after droughts caused agricultural collapse and water shortages in several countries.

The protests began in the oil-rich southwestern province of Khuzestan after accusations that the Iranian government is diverting water to drill for oil. At least eight protestors were killed in different cities.

Climate change is partly responsible for the protests, due to droughts and sandstorms but years of government inefficiency have also largely contributed to the problem. Many development projects put forth in Khuzestan over the years have caused environmental damage and water shortages, including the construction of hydroelectric dams, water transfers to neighboring provinces and irrigation schemes that have only fed agriculture.

According to Khuzestan lawmaker Mojtaba Youssefi, more than 700 villages in the province do not have drinking water and many farmers’ livestock have died of thirst.

Authorities in the area have reacted to the water protests with violence and have cut internet access.

Drought is one of the most significant drivers of conflict not just in Iran, but also everywhere in the Middle East. For example, agricultural collapse and droughts caused many rural Syrian families to migrate to cities and fight for resources and jobs.

The northern Syrian countryside in high summer. Charles Roffey. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Droughts have been a historical constant in the Middle East, but water shortages are becoming even more intense and are present for greater lengths of time due to longer dry seasons and higher temperatures which are driven by global warming.

Yet, politicians and government corruption are also to blame for the droughts. Water shortages only continue to point toward unrest and rebellion, prolonging the social and political trouble that climate change has already caused. Also, the ineffectiveness of water dams in Iraq have caused acute and chronic water shortages there as well.

To make up for these water shortages, farmers and governments are pumping huge amounts of groundwater, which risks turning fertile land into deserts. In 2015, NASA satellites mapped water losses in the region since 2002 and found that parts of Iran and Iraq had lost from 6 to 10 inches of groundwater due to human activity.

As the conflict progresses in Iran, there are risks of violence between neighboring states competing over water resources.

GET INVOLVED

The Borgen Project is a nonprofit that addresses global poverty and hunger and works towards ending them. With their project on the water crisis in the Middle East, they offer internships and volunteering opportunities as well as accept donations. 

Water for People is another organization which brings water, sanitation and hygiene services to those in need. People can get involved with this nonprofit by fundraising, partnering with the company and volunteering.

Isabelle Durso

Isabelle is an undergraduate student at Boston University currently on campus in Boston. She is double majoring in Journalism and Film & Television, and she is interested in being a travel writer and writing human-interest stories around the world. Isabelle loves to explore and experience new cultures, and she hopes to share other people's stories through her writing. In the future, she intends to keep writing journalistic articles as well as creative screenplays.

Climate Change is Shrinking Italy’s Lake Como

Many major landmarks are now visibly facing the consequences of climate change. Because there is no water from rainfall, ice, or melted snow, water levels in Lake Como are now lower than ever recorded before.

Lake Como, Italy. Harshil Shah. CC BY-ND 2.0.

Lake Como is an extremely popular destination for travelers due to its natural beauty and stunning landscape. However, climate change is threatening its future and hurting the local economy.

The water level in Lake Como is unprecedentedly low due to lack of rainfall and melted ice or snow. There is even a gap of more than three feet between the old waterline and where the water currently sits.

Lake Como has an area of  56 square miles, which means that this low water level is due to the loss of 4.6 billion gallons of water. According to local geologists, the rapidly-shrinking Fellaria glacier is the largest contributing factor to the decreased water levels.

Climate change has greatly affected the glacier, as  not much of it remains. Since the late 1800s, the Fellaria glacier has lost two-thirds of its total mass, which translates into an average of more than 20 feet per year.

The lake’s lack of water is enough to cause dangerous erosion and even rockslides. When water recedes, the base of the mountain starts to collapse because the water along the shore can no longer help the rocks stay in place.

Varenna, Lake Como, Italy. Harshil Shah. CC BY-ND 2.0.

Yet another detrimental effect of climate change is that the lack of water in the lake has begun to kill off fish. Many locals rely on fishing for their livelihoods, and they say that the fish level is already 50 percent less than it was 10 years ago.

As one of Europe’s deepest lakes at 1,345 feet deep, Lake Como is not in danger of drying up anytime soon. However, losing its most consistent water source—the Fellaria glacier—will place new pressure  on those who rely on the lake. This will have widespread effects, from affecting hydropower reservoirs located upstream to irrigated farms located downstream.Roads and walls that border the lake are also at risk of fracturing or collapsing due to low water levels.

GET INVOLVED

Nonprofits like the Environmental Defense Fund are dedicated to solving environmental challenges from many different angles with the help of scientists and experts. They offer opportunities to make donations, take action, sign petitions and even ways for companies to get involved. Anything helps. 

Another nonprofit is Conservation International, which works to protect the land and sea in over 70 countries. They combine fieldwork with innovations in science, policy and finance to secure the benefits that nature provides us with. Conservation International encourages people to donate, fundraise, or become a member.

Isabelle Durso

Isabelle is an undergraduate student at Boston University currently on campus in Boston. She is double majoring in Journalism and Film & Television, and she is interested in being a travel writer and writing human-interest stories around the world. Isabelle loves to explore and experience new cultures, and she hopes to share other people's stories through her writing. In the future, she intends to keep writing journalistic articles as well as creative screenplays.

Yemen Experiences World's Worst Humanitarian Crisis

Yemen’s ongoing civil war has left 24 million in need of assistance and more than 100,000 dead since the conflict began in late 2014. Today, Yemen is considered the world’s worst humanitarian crisis and is on the brink of being labeled by the United Nations as the world’s worst famine in 100 years. 

A hungry Yemeni child eats a food bag. USAID_IMAGES. CC BY-NC 2.0.

Hunger, malnutrition, famine, displacement and mental health issues are among some of the devastating consequences imposed upon Yemeni civilians by the country’s civil war. Although the conflict between Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi’s government and the Houthi, or Ansar Allah, armed movement broke out in late 2014, Yemen was already one of the most vulnerable countries in the Middle East.

Following the Arab Spring in late 2011, previous Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh was forced to turn over his power to his deputy, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. Since then, the country has been enthralled in a civil war which has left millions of civilians hungry homeless, or dead. Houthi forces took over Sana’a, the capital of Yemen, in late 2014, instigating the war. By early 2015, Houthi officials declared mobilization to overthrow Hadi’s regime and, only a day later, fighting broke out in Lahij Governorate. Lahij Governorate quickly succumbed to Houthi rule and President Hadi fled the nation. 

With the help of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia created a coalition of mostly Sunni Arab states to combat Houthi forces and the rise of Iranian influence in the Middle East in 2015. Today, much of the conflict in Yemen is a proxy conflict for the power struggle between Iran and Saudi Arabia in the region. 

The Arab coalition conducted countless air campaigns to drive out Houthi forces from Yemen and facilitate the return of Hadi’s government, despite the trail of destruction these air strikes leave behind. Funerals, weddings, homes, mosques, schools and hospitals have all fallen victim to these bombs. In response to an attack on Saudi Arabia’s eastern oil fields—which disrupted nearly five percent of the world’s global oil supply—Saudi Arabia spearheaded a bombing campaign. According to the Yemen Data Project, the conflict and air strikes since 2015 left around 17,000 Yemeni civilians dead or injured, as of March of 2019. 

According to the United Nations, Yemen remains the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. With over 100,000 people killed and 85,000 children dead from famine, the UN warned that millions of Yemenis could face starvation in what could be “the world’s worst famine in 100 years.” Currently, 16.2 million Yemenis are food insecure while famine continues to rise; child malnutrition there is one of the highest in the world, with two million children in need of acute malnutrition assistance; and at least one child dies of malnutrition or diarrhea every 10 minutes in Yemen. 

Displacement is another major consequence of the war in Yemen. With more than five million people estimated to have been forced to flee their homes, four million Yemenis remain displaced today. These displaced families live in camps of makeshift shelters, forcing them to continue moving around and making them vulnerable to severe weather conditions, air strikes and other dangers. In addition to the overwhelming number of displaced and homeless Yemenis, the nation is also home to around 300,000 refugees mostly from the Horn of Africa.

The devastating impacts of Yemen’s ongoing war does not stop at the physical realm—consequences of the violence have affected the mental health of Yemeni youth. According to Columbia Global Centers’ PGIF Project, a 25-year-old living in Yemen today “has already lived through 15 major conflicts and wars,” making depression, PTSD and other mental health disorders common in Yemen’s youth. Considering the lack of infrastructure and medical facilities already in Yemen, mental health concerns are pushed to the backburner. With roughly one psychiatrist per 500,000 people, only three mental health hospitals exist in Yemen. The lack of mental health services and resources has forced individuals who battle with mental health issues to turn to alternate methods of help, such as Quranic healing, while professional help is reserved for more extreme disorders, such as psychosis. 

PTSD is one of the most common products of war, and this is evident with  Yemeni children. Growing up with bombs dropping all around them, PTSD in Yemeni civilians and children is often triggered by loud noises and the sounds of planes whooshing overhead. Behavioral changes such as bedwetting, isolating oneself and emotional detachment are common consequences of PTSD in children. 

Beyond death by air strike or on-the-ground fighting, many Yemenis have lost their lives to hunger and diseases because of restrictions on humanitarian assistance, imports and access to essential services. Because of this, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres refers to Yemen’s crisis as “man-made.” Many third party nations, organizations and institutions have requested the warring countries involved to improve civilian protection, but have experienced little success. Now, many activists have taken to social media to garner support and aid for Yemen’s children, as well as raise awareness of Yemen’s situation—for being the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, Yemen is often underrepresented in the media.

GET INVOLVED

Despite the restrictions on humanitarian aid in Yemen, there are still ways to help. Save the Children is one of the largest organizations operating in Yemen and is currently aiding children suffering from malnutrition, supporting health facilities in hard-to-reach areas and leading educational programs. 

The international organization, World Food Programme, aims to provide 13 million people with food assistance across Yemen. To accomplish this goal and ensure their efforts are uninterrupted in 2021, the WFP is seeking to raise $1.9 billion. 

The Danish Refugee Council offers partnership opportunities to private companies, where partners will have the opportunity to help solve the global displacement crisis. The DNC is a trusted partner of the United Nations, is rated the world’s third best non-governmental organization, and is a Core Humanitarian Standards certified organization.

Mia Khatib

Mia is a rising senior at Boston University majoring in journalism and minoring in international relations. As a Palestinian-American, Mia is passionate about amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and is interested in investigative and data-driven journalism. She hopes to start out as a breaking news reporter and one day earn a position as editor of a major publication.

Meet the Activist and Intersectional Storyteller Developing Data-Driven Humanitarian Tools

Melissa Jun Rowley is a journalist, entrepreneur and activist focused on the intersection of storytelling, technology and social justice.

As the founder and CEO of Humanise, Inc., Melissa Jun Rowley is developing TheToolbox.org, a data-driven humanitarian initiative created by acclaimed musician Peter Gabriel. CATALYST had the chance to catch up with Melissa to learn more about Humanise in Detroit and Melissa’s path to social entrepreneurship.

How did your experience with TheToolbox.org inspire you to develop Humanise, Inc.?

TheToolbox.org is an online destination, founded by Peter Gabriel, that connects people to apps that can help them improve their lives and become everyday activists. I first became involved as an editorial consultant, and was developing stories while curating tools that promote social impact.

For example, there’s an app you can scan over a product’s barcode to see if human trafficking was involved in the product chain. While apps like these are interesting and useful, they’re under-utilized given their lack of commercial and entertainment value. 

We came to the conclusion that the site itself is a valuable database of tools, but in order to have an impact, we need to go into the field and get people on the ground using the tools, and providing feedback about how they can be improved. That’s where Humanise comes in: It was created to function as the parent company of TheToolbox.org. The tools we curate are now one of three pillars. We’ve evolved into an organization that promotes human rights through technology, storytelling, AND collaboration with local communities.

Can you describe some of the projects that Humanise has initiated since its founding?

We decided to take Humanise to Detroit, primarily because there’s a lot of data-driven development unfolding in the city. Also, I grew up an hour outside of the D and am in love with the entrepreneurial community there. They’re so spirited. They’re the genuine article. 

While money is being directed to development in certain districts, such as downtown, the neighborhoods on the outskirts are tragically deprived of funding and resources. Forty percent of the people in Detroit don’t have Internet access, and 40 percent can’t pay their water bills. It’s a first world city crawling with third world problems! 

In the year 2015, there are no excuses for letting people in our own backyard suffer like this. We need to meet them where they are, not where we think they should be, and we need to collectively solve the problems from the ground up — not the top down. 

So we started thinking of ways we can work with technology providers to foster digital inclusion. We’ve been working closely with community activists in the Detroit neighborhood of Morningside to understand the neighborhood’s needs and aspirations. We’ve connected them with a smart city advisory to see if the area is eligible for some pretty revolutionary technology. Some of the Detroiters we know are going to use TheToolbox.org as their own citizen journalism platform, where they can publish stories about their neighborhood and discuss the tools they find the most empowering. 

If we’re able to provide connectivity for this neighborhood, we may be able to do the same thing in some of Detroit’s other hardest hits zones. 

Before developing Humanise, Inc., you spent much of your career as a journalist. How did working in journalism influence your interest in social entrepreneurship? 

Being a journalist is the way I became an entrepreneur, really. I worked in TV when I was younger, producing business news updates for CNN and then covering entertainment in Hollywood. The red carpet was my second home.  But eventually, I started to feel like I was losing my soul. I became a journalist because I wanted to help connect people through storytelling — not perpetuate the dumbing down of the country, which is what I felt like I was doing half the time, particularly when I was asked to start quoting TMZ in stories. I knew that was the end. 

I left Los Angeles, and I started focusing on nonprofits and social responsibility movements. I quickly discovered that I couldn’t make any money that way. Two years later, I began developing content for companies that have a social mission. This was when I started to view myself as more of an entrepreneur. But I’m always going to be a journalist at heart, always looking for the truth and humanity in every story. 

Do you have any advice for future journalists or entrepreneurs? 

These days, if you’re going to be a journalist, you have to be an entrepreneur. By that I mean, you need to think like an entrepreneur. You need to be constantly thinking of different strategies, who you can connect with, and how you can build your brand and business. It was this mindset that led me to TheToolbox.org and Peter Gabriel. 

A second piece of advice is that the best way to develop an idea is to collaborate and find some common core or level of connectivity in the heart of why you’re doing what you’re doing. It’s only through that kind of commitment that you can build a business that has meaning. It’s not easy. But the people you meet along the way will change your life and expand your heart and mind in ways you’ve never dreamed of. I can promise you that. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT HUMANISE, INC. HERE.

Sarah Sutphin

Sarah is an undergraduate at Yale University and a content editor for CATALYST. As a traveler who has visited 30 countries (and counting!), she feels passionate about international development through sustainable mechanisms. Sarah has taken an interest in the intersection between public health and theater, and hopes to create a program that utilizes these disciplines for community empowerment. She is a fluent Spanish speaker with plans to take residence in Latin American after graduation. 

Cubans Protest Government’s Response to Economic Crisis 

Political turmoil, severe economic struggles and lack of freedom have pushed Cubans to take a stand against their government. 

People walking the streets of Havana, Cuba. Tiago Claro. Unsplash. 

Thousands of Cubans marched the streets of Havana on Sunday, July 11 in protest against the poor economic conditions and governmental response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other hardships, many demonstrators have faced long-term hunger and medicine shortages due to the Cuban government's lack of action to address the struggles of its people. These protests have led to the damaging of police equipment, the detainment of a journalist and the death of a civilian. 

Besides having a mere 15 percent vaccination rate, due to shortages, pharmacies and hospitals lack even the most basic medicines such as penicillin and aspirin. According to Cuban healthcare authorities, on Sunday there were almost 7,000 new reported COVID-19 cases, with a total of nearly 240,000 COVID-19 patients across the country. Many Cubans have also reported having to wait hours in line to purchase food, if they even have access to food to begin with. 

These cruel living conditions have pushed many Cubans to a breaking point—in fact, these protests mark the first large-scale acts of defiance that Cuba has seen since the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s. The main difference since then is the easy accessibility of the internet, which has been used to spread the word about the protests and inspire a larger turnout. In an attempt to silence protesters on social media, internet access across Cuba was cut off for roughly 30 minutes amidst protests on July 11, with shutdowns intermittently continuing. This makes the stories from activists who were arrested or beaten by police difficult to corroborate due to lack of evidence. 

Despite suppression efforts, protesters have managed to maintain a far reach, with Cuban communities such as Little Havana in Miami gathering in solidarity with Cubans. The Cuban protest movement has also garnered international support on social media with the hashtag #SOSCuba, and many celebrities have gotten involved to raise awareness about the protests. 

In response to the unrest, the Cuban government has directed the blame toward the American trade embargo, which they believe is responsible for the nationwide shortages. While some activists agree with this point, others have argued that the issue goes far beyond the American embargo, and that it is more due to governmental financial mismanagement and a lack of tourism revenue. 

Zara Irshad

Zara is a third year Communication student at the University of California, San Diego. Her passion for journalism comes from her love of storytelling and desire to learn about others. In addition to writing at CATALYST, she is an Opinion Writer for the UCSD Guardian, which allows her to incorporate various perspectives into her work.

International Human Rights Court Rules in Favor of Trans Rights

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that the government of Honduras was responsible for the 2009 murder of a transgender woman. Today, Honduras is one of the largest contributors to anti-trans violence in Latin America. 

Transgender pride flags. Ted Eytan. CC BY-SA 2.0 

On June 26, the Costa Rica-based Inter-American Court of Human Rights delivered a landmark ruling in a transgender rights case. The court held that the government of Honduras was responsible for the 2009 murder of trans woman and trans rights activist Vicky Hernández, stating that the government had violated Hernández’s rights to life and fair trial. 

Hernández was 26 years old when she was killed by a single gunshot to the head. No one was ever charged for the crime. 

The Court’s ruling stated that Honduran authorities did not sufficiently investigate Hernández’s death. Her murder was dismissed quickly as a “crime of passion,” and police failed to interview anyone from the scene or examine the bullet casing. It is unclear whether a postmortem examination was performed. 

Lawyers acting on behalf of Cattrachas, the LGBTQ+ rights organization that brought forward the case, argued that this incomplete investigation was a result of Hernández’s gender identity. Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights reports that during the investigation, authorities continuously identified Hernández as male and referred to her on documents and records by her birth name, which she did not use. In 2009, shortly before Hernández’s killing, Human Rights Watch published a report which found that police in Honduras routinely failed to investigate reports filed by trans people. The report also detailed the harassment and beatings that trans people had endured at the hands of the police. 

Hernández’s murder occurred on June 28, 2009, the first night of a military coup against then-President Manuel Zelaya. Zelaya was taken into custody, and the military imposed a 48-hour curfew, leaving the streets closed to everyone but military and police forces. Hernández was a sex worker, and was still on the street after curfew arrived, along with two other trans women. The three women saw a police car approaching and scattered, fearing violence. The next morning, Hernández’s body was found in the street. 

Due to the circumstances surrounding her death, lawyers for Hernández’s case posited that she was the victim of an extrajudicial killing, meaning that state agents were responsible for her death. Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights points to the execution-style way in which Hernández was shot and the fact that the streets were closed to everyone but police and military forces, as well as the lack of effort put into the criminal investigation. 

In its ruling, the Court found evidence that state agents had participated in Hernández’s death. 

Hernández’s murder was the first in a wave of anti-trans violence that followed the 2009 coup. Cattrachas documented 20 deaths of LGBTQ+ people in the 15 years before the coup, and 31 deaths in the eight months directly afterward. 15 of these 31 people were trans women, like Hernández.

Today, Latin America is still a deadly area for LGBTQ+ people. Research released in 2019 showed that four LGBTQ+ people are murdered every day in Latin America and the Caribbean, with Honduras, Columbia and Mexico accounting for nearly 90 percent of these deaths. In 2020, Human Rights Watch published a follow-up to their 2009 report, which found that LGBTQ+ Hondurans still face rampant discrimination and violence from police and other authorities, as well as from non-state actors. 

Twelve years after Hernández’s murder, Honduras is finally being held accountable for its anti-LGBTQ+ violence and being made to implement reforms. Activists hope that the ruling will encourage other Latin American countries to address their own issues with violence against the LGBTQ+ community. 

The Court’s ruling included orders for the Honduran government to pay reparations to Hernández’s family, restart its investigation into her murder and publicly acknowledge its own role in the event, train security forces on cases involving LGBTQ+ violence, and keep a better record of cases motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment. The Court also ordered the Honduran government to allow people to change their gender identity in documents and public records, which is a major step forward. The next step is ensuring that Honduras’ new LGBTQ+ legislation is actually enforced. 

Rachel Lynch

Rachel is a student at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY currently taking a semester off. She plans to study Writing and Child Development. Rachel loves to travel and is inspired by the places she’s been and everywhere she wants to go. She hopes to educate people on social justice issues and the history and culture of travel destinations through her writing.

Future of Afghan Women in Limbo after U.S. Troops Leave

After U.S. troops recently left the largest American base in Afghanistan, Bagram Air Base, the future of Afghanistan remains unknown. In particular, the lives of Afghan women are now at stake due to the gender inequality that still exists in the country.

Midwifery students in Afghanistan. United Nations Photo. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Due to the Taliban’s strict rules restricting women’s rights, gender inequality remains a threatening reality in Afghanistan. Countries retreating from Afghanistan—the U.S. included—are leaving behind a dark future for Afghan women and girls, who face serious crises of health, education and violence. The U.S. left Bagram Air Base, its largest base in Afghanistan, on July 1.

Afghanistan has a history of violence within the country after foreign forces have retreated their troops. For example, when the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan in 1988, the U.S. looked away, and Afghanistan erupted in a factional war that killed thousands. During this conflict, Afghan women were raped by fighting forces.

Photos of Afghan women cowering under the whips of Taliban members haunt history, and they were the cause of feminist sympathies that emerged across the U.S. Those activists hoped that American involvement in the area would bring relief to a tortured country.

Since the Taliban were ousted in 2001, Afghan women have not wasted one minute in fighting for their rights.  Today, many women serve in important governmental roles, like as parliament members and ambassadors. Many women are also musicians, artists, entrepreneurs, or inventors. In fact, during the pandemic, the Afghan girls robotics team created low-cost ventilators to treat COVID-19 patients.

Women on the job in Afghanistan. United Nations Photo. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

In more good news, infant mortality has decreased and life expectancy has increased. Foreign involvement has had a big hand in accomplishing this. However, now that international troops are withdrawing, aid has been shrinking and pledges to help Afghanistan are less frequent.

Along with the U.S., several other embassies have also withdrawn their troops from Afghanistan, including Australia.

In an interview with Human Rights Watch, Afghan women said that they now face obstacles in accessing care due to costs, insecurity, and scarcity of providers. Furthermore, as countries withdraw from Afghanistan, the unknown future of the country could mean further violence that would produce even more problems for women and families.

GET INVOLVED

To help the fight for women’s rights in Afghanistan, consider working, interning, or volunteering with Women for Afghan Women WAW. WAW was founded to advocate for women then living under the brutal rule of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Now, it is the largest organization for Afghan women and girls globally and the largest women’s organization in Afghanistan. Afghan Women’s Educational Center also focuses on Afghan women’s rights—they are a non-profit women-led national organization that reduces vulnerability among marginalized communities with a special focus on women and children. They offer various jobs and projects to get involved with.

Isabelle Durso

Isabelle is an undergraduate student at Boston University currently on campus in Boston. She is double majoring in Journalism and Film & Television, and she is interested in being a travel writer and writing human-interest stories around the world. Isabelle loves to explore and experience new cultures, and she hopes to share other people's stories through her writing. In the future, she intends to keep writing journalistic articles as well as creative screenplays.

Study Predicts African Great Apes Will Lose 94% of Their Territory 

A new study about  the effects of climate change, land use and human population growth on African great apes found that they may lose up to 94% of their habitat by 2050. 

A mountain gorilla in Uganda. Rod Waddington. CC BY-SA 2.0 

Great apes are humanity’s closest relatives. They are also a highly endangered group of animals, and experts believe that this status will likely worsen in the coming years. A new study published in the journal Diversity and Distributions predicts that the combined pressures of climate change, human land use and human population growth will lead to immense territory losses for African great apes in the next 30 years. 

There are four types of great apes: gorillas, bonobos, orangutans, and chimpanzees. Africa is home to a number of species of great apes, including Cross River and Eastern and Western gorillas, as well as bonobos and chimpanzees. The situation for these species is already critical. All are listed as either endangered or critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List of Threatened Species, a comprehensive list detailing the conservation status of animals around the world. And, as wild areas are destroyed for timber, minerals and food; the human population expands; and climate change alters the land where great apes can comfortably live, experts warn that African great apes could lose a devastating portion of their range by 2050. 

The study was conducted by nearly 60 scientists from different research institutions, universities and conservation organizations. The scientists used data about African great ape populations from the IUCN database and then modelled the future effects of climate change, land use and human population growth. Using this data, the scientists analysed a best case scenario, where action is taken to protect the environment , and a worst case scenario where nothing is done. There is little difference in the two outcomes. Both result in massive range loss for African great apes, with 85% range loss by 2050 in the “best case” scenario and 94% by 2050 in the “worst case”. 

Half of this lost range will be territory inside national parks and other protected areas, the study predicts. Although these areas are safe from human land use, they will still be affected by climate change, which will make the habitat unsuitable for great apes. Most great ape species prefer to live in lowland habitats, but climate change will make them hotter and drier. In areas where there is no higher lands, apes will be left with nowhere to live. In areas where there are uplands, however, experts suggest that great apes will attempt to migrate upward, following the climate and vegetation they prefer. 

Yet, even apes that have the ability to migrate as their range decreases may not have enough time to do so. Apes reproduce slowly, have a low population density and require a very specific diet. All of these factors mean that apes are generally not efficient migrators compared to other species; to fully acclimate to a new habitat would take great ape species longer than the 30 years the study predicts they have left. 

The authors of the study urge that their findings be used to guide conservation efforts for African great apes in order to prevent irreversible population losses. Their findings suggest that the range loss can be mitigated through specific conservation efforts that focus on new and existing protected areas, as well as connecting habitats that are predicted to still be suitable for great apes in the future.

Rachel Lynch

Rachel is a student at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY currently taking a semester off. She plans to study Writing and Child Development. Rachel loves to travel and is inspired by the places she’s been and everywhere she wants to go. She hopes to educate people on social justice issues and the history and culture of travel destinations through her writing.

Global Warming Blankets Turkey’s Waters in “Sea Snot”

Turkey’s Sea of Marmara is covered in a thick blanket of mucus that is suffocating marine life. Global warming is likely the reason. 

Turkey’s Sea of Marmara is covered in a thick layer of a beige, viscous substance known as “sea snot” that is clogging fishing nets, killing corals and disrupting the breeding grounds of fish. 

Sea snot—officially known as marine mucilage—comes from phytoplankton, with high levels occurring as a result of prolonged warm temperatures, calm weather and abundant nutrients in the water. An abundance of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus lead to a boom in the phytoplankton population. In normal amounts, phytoplankton are an important part of the ocean’s ecosystem; they are microscopic organisms that exude oxygen. During a population boom, however, phytoplankton can become harmful; under conditions of stress they expel mucus that can accumulate on the surface, creating sea snot that can grow to cover many square miles of ocean. 

Typically, sea snot on its own is not harmful. In fact, research shows that some deep-sea organisms depend on sea snot to stay alive. It only becomes dangerous when sea snot of large amounts begins to host E. coli and other bacteria and viruses, or forms a layer that covers the surface of the ocean, as in Turkey. 

When the sea snot is thick enough to cover the water’s surface, it can act as a blanket, suffocating the marine life below. Immobile organisms like corals are especially vulnerable to damage from sea snot because it can wrap around them, cutting off their ability to breathe or feed. Blankets of sea snot such as the one in Turkey can set off a cyclical chain of events wherein the sea snot suffocates sea creatures, leading to mass die-offs. This in turn leads to mass decomposition, a process that sucks even more oxygen out of the already depleted water, making it more inhospitable for marine life. 

Sea snot is not a new phenomenon; it has been periodically blooming in the Mediterranean Sea since the 18th century. However,  the frequency and extent of sea snot occurrences along Turkey’s coast since 2007 are unusual, and scientists suggest that global warming may be to blame. Phytoplankton thrive in warmer waters. The average seawater temperature in the Sea of Marmara has increased by 2-3 degrees C since preindustrial times. While that may not seem like a lot, the warmer waters are enough to make a major difference in the phytoplankton populations of the sea, which is already rife with nutrients from wastewater. The higher temperatures make the sea even more hospitable to phytoplankton, which leads to disruptive sea snot events like the one Turkey is currently experiencing. 

While the sea snot problem has recently gotten international attention, it has been negatively impacting Turkey’s fishing industry since December, when the bloom began. Fishers have been unable to cast their nets without them getting caught in the sticky mucus, and many of the creatures they do manage to catch are dead, their gills clogged with sea snot. 

Dr Neslihan Özdelice, a marine biologist at Istanbul University, urged for a  focus on preventing overfishing and limiting waste water discharges into the sea, two factors that scientists have identified as contributing to the sea snot phenomenon. Ultimately, the layer of sea snot that is currently covering the Sea of Marmara, disrupting fishing and threatening biodiversity, is a symptom of a problem that needs to be addressed globally. Major sea snot blooms are an easily visible example of climate change. Global cooperation is necessary to address the root of the problem by working towards mitigating climate change and global warming. 

Rachel Lynch

Rachel is a student at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY currently taking a semester off. She plans to study Writing and Child Development. Rachel loves to travel and is inspired by the places she’s been and everywhere she wants to go. She hopes to educate people on social justice issues and the history and culture of travel destinations through her writing.

Sexual Assault Prevention: How to Help Yourself and Others

Sexual assault prevention campaigns have been circulating on social media, giving tools to  women and men around the world to remove themselves from threatening situations and ward off sexual predators. 

Sexual assault is a major issue across the world. From childhood bedrooms and college parties to first dates and marital beds, both women and men alike experience unwanted sexual attention and violence. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 3 women experience physical or sexual violence from a partner or non-partner in their lifetime. Similarly, at least 1 in 6 men have experienced sexual abuse or assault. 

In the past, survivors and allies frequently shied away from speaking about sexual assault; however, in recent years, the topic that was considered taboo is beginning to be  spoken about more frequently and openly. Today, workplaces require sexual assault education courses, educational institutions encourage victims to utilize the resources available to them, and social media keeps the conversation alive with its various sexual assault resources, prevention and discussion accounts. People are now more aware of the severity of sexual assault and the long lasting psychological implications it can have on victims, as well as how to report a sexual attack, cope with an unwanted sexual experience or escape situations in which sexual abuse feels imminent. 

In recent years, many sexual assault prevention campaigns have been created, often utilizing social media to share these life-saving tactics. One campaign that gained global traction online is “Ask For Angela,” which was launched in Lincolnshire, England by Hayley Child in 2016. The campaign is named in memory of Angela Crompton, a woman who was abused and killed by her husband in 2012 when an argument about redecorating spiraled out of control. Ask For Angela was created to help people escape uncomfortable and potentially threatening situations. By asking a bartender, waiter or employee of an establishment, “is Angela working tonight?” the employee will be alerted that the patron is uncomfortable and would like to be safely and discreetly escorted home. However, Ask For Angela is only effective if the establishment is aware of the phrase and has trained its staff to respond appropriately. 

Not only did this campaign gain a lot of traction, but it even encouraged another code word system based on Ask For Angela. The spin-off exists in the United States where, rather than asking if Angela is working, a customer will ask for an “angel shot” when they feel unsafe. Additional setting-appropriate phrases exist to secretly and specifically identify what type of help the person needs. If the person wants the shot “neat,” they want to be escorted to their car; if they want the shot “on the rocks,” they want the establishment to call a taxi for them; and if they want the shot “with a lime,” they are requesting police assistance. 

While #AskforAngela recently resurfaced on social media, it is just one of many sexual assault prevention tactics that exist. TikTok is more than an app to share Gen Z’s trendy short dances, comedy skits and shopping hauls—many people have posted videos that mimic real-time phone calls as a way to ward off threatening Uber drivers or escorts when played aloud. According to Uber’s safety report, out of 1.3 billion trips in 2018, over 3,000 sexual assaults and nine murders occured. These TikTok videos typically include a fictitious friend subtly stating that they have your live location, are tracking your ride and are awaiting your arrival, alerting the driver that whatever potential predatory plans they had in mind will not go uncaught. These videos are especially helpful and reassuring because they can be used at times when friends and family members cannot be reached. 

Beyond campaigns like these, there are many social media accounts dedicated to sexual assault awareness and discussion. While there is no evidence to suggest that these social media campaigns are effective in deterring sexual violence, at the very least, these initiatives reassure men and women that they are not powerless in those situations. It is important that these posts continue to circulate on social media and inform people how to help others in danger, as well as how to get help when necessary. 

TO GET INVOLVED 

While it may seem hard to combat sexual assault as an ally, there are many ways to get involved. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network—an American non-profit that aims to raise awareness about sexual assault and provide resources and support for sexual assault survivors—is always looking for volunteers to help with it’s 24/7 live chat and hotline, as well as to lead fundraising efforts for research and support programs. 

Similarly to RAINN, NO MORE works toward ending sexual violence by spreading awareness, selling products, accepting donations and spearheading various sexual assault prevenetion campaigns. To support NO MORE in their efforts to prevent sexual violence, take the pledge, buy their products and wear their merchandise to show allyship and raise awareness of their organization and cause. 

Ending Rape on Campus is an organization that works to prevent sexual assault by providing educational resources in school environments. Help EROC by signing up for its “Action Alerts,” and stay informed about what petitions to sign, events to attend and protests to support.

Mia Khatib 

Mia is a rising senior at Boston University majoring in journalism and minoring in international relations. As a Palestinian-American, Mia is passionate about amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and is interested in investigative and data-driven journalism. She hopes to start out as a breaking news reporter and one day earn a position as editor of a major publication.

Sri Lankan Journalists Revive the #MeToo Movement

Female journalists in Sri Lanka have united under the #MeToo movement to foster change within the newsroom.

An overhead view of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Jalitha Hewage. Unsplash. 

The Sri Lankan government has called for an investigation of several media outlets following allegations of sexual harassment from female journalists. This resurgence of the #MeToo movement was sparked on June 18 when Sri Lankan journalist Sarah Kellapatha spoke up on Twitter about her experience with a male colleague who threatened to rape her during her time at a publication from 2010-2017. 

Encouraged by Kellapatha’s story, several other female journalists began to speak out about their own experiences with sexual harassment in the workplace. For example, Sahla Ilham spoke out about being sexually abused by an editor who pressured her family to remain silent. Another who shared their experience was Jordana Narin, who was harassed by a senior colleague until he was forced to resign by the chief editor. 

The Sri Lankan government appears to be taking these allegations seriously, as the Minister of Mass Media, Keheliya Rambukwella, asked the Government Information Department to further investigate the claims to help ensure that female journalists feel safe at work. 

Currently, the only type of law that Sri Lanka has to address sexual harassment is a criminal law, which would result in imprisonment of up to five years, or a mere fine, for those found guilty. However, according to human rights lawyer Ermiza Tegal, the problem is that the criminal law is rarely used and victims are often undermined and invalidated. 

This recent movement shares its roots with the global #MeToo campaign which started back in 2017 following numerous sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein. The movement fostered awareness of sexual abuse, as well as a safe space for victims to speak about their experiences. Similarly, the journalists who have come forward in Sri Lanka have shared their own experiences, many of them from different news publications, in hopes of fostering change and reform within newsrooms. 

Zara Irshad

Zara is a third year Communication student at the University of California, San Diego. Her passion for journalism comes from her love of storytelling and desire to learn about others. In addition to writing at CATALYST, she is an Opinion Writer for the UCSD Guardian, which allows her to incorporate various perspectives into her work.

Greenland’s Hot Springs Affecting Glacier Melting

The heat from the Earth’s crust that leads to the creation of hot springs, such as those on the island of Uunartoq in Greenland, may be contributing to sea level rise.

Glacier in Greenland. Ville Miettinen. CC BY-NC 2.0.

Over 1,000 years ago, Southern Greenland’s crystal-clear hot springs were discovered by the Norsemen, who were members of the Scandinavian seafaring warriors—also known as Vikings— who raided and colonized areas of Europe from the 9th to 11th centuries.

Hot springs are pools of naturally heated water that have the same temperature all year and are warmer than the average temperature of the location.

In Greenland, natural hot springs are very common, but the island of Uunartoq is the only place where the hot springs are warm enough to bathe in. There are three naturally-heated springs that run together into a small pool between the land of Alluitsup Paa and Nanortalik. In this pool, people can lie in the water and enjoy the mountains and icebergs around the spring.

The water in the hot spring is heated by deep layers in the Earth’s crust rubbing against each other, as opposed to being created by volcanic activity like the hot springs in Iceland. Uunartoq’s hot springs are a perfectly warm 98 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37 to 38 degrees Celsius).

Uunartoq’s hot springs also act as the only heated outdoor spa in Greenland. People can visit the springs all year round and in any weather because the water temperature is always suitable to soak in. Natural hot springs are also high in minerals, including calcium, magnesium, silica and lithium, which help to soothe muscles and promote healing.

Greenland fjord. Tearbringer. CC BY-NC 2.0.

However, the heat from the friction of Earth’s crust is possibly contributing to Greenland’s glacier retreat. Greenland’s melting glaciers are a large reason why global sea levels are rising in response to climate change.

According to researchers, a significant amount of geothermal activity is bubbling in Greenland beneath the Earth’s surface. The heat radiating from within Earth’s interior—which warms the hot springs—is melting the glaciers above, making it easier for them to slide into the sea and contribute to rising sea levels.

In addition, the Earth’s interior heat flowing outward (in scientific terms, geothermal heat flux) is causing deep-sea temperatures in the fjords to rise significantly, which also results in melting glaciers. It is important to understand the processes by which polar ice is melting in order to predict how soon, and how much, sea levels will rise in the future.

Isabelle Durso

Isabelle is an undergraduate student at Boston University currently on campus in Boston. She is double majoring in Journalism and Film & Television, and she is interested in being a travel writer and writing human-interest stories around the world. Isabelle loves to explore and experience new cultures, and she hopes to share other people's stories through her writing. In the future, she intends to keep writing journalistic articles as well as creative screenplays.