Sudan Separates Religion and State Following al-Bashir’s Ouster

The Northeast African nation of Sudan has made the decision to separate religion from the state, dissolving 30 years of governance by Islamic law. The country, which has been attempting to rebuild itself after long periods of colonial rule and political strife, came to this decision in an attempt to quell current tensions between religious and military groups. 

Sudan was formerly under colonial rule by the United Kingdom, though the British did not make their presence in Sudan a physical one. They maintained control by partnering with Egypt through a dual colonial government known as the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium (1899–1956). This agreement separated the Muslim-dominated north from the majority-Christian south. As colonial presence grew stronger in the region, so did division along ethnic, socioeconomic, religious and linguistic lines. 

Sudan was able to gain independence in 1956, but the country is still overwhelmed with tensions as its citizens and government continue to reconcile with issues caused by colonization. They eventually led to the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005) between the central government in Khartoum and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, causing an eventual 2 million deaths and the creation of an independent South Sudan. This conflict was amplified when Omar al-Bashir took office by way of a military coup in 1989 in the middle of this 22-year-long civil war. He ruled for 30 years and did so through the suppression of political opponents as well as violence against the Sudanese people. During his presidency, multiple arrest warrants were issued to al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court on charges including war crimes and crimes against humanity, such as his attacks on citizens in Darfur.

Map of Sudan. Muhammad Daffa Rambe. CC BY-SA 3.0.

Al-Bashir continued to hold his power until April 2019 when, after months of unrest, the Sudanese military toppled him. On Sept. 3, 2020, Sudan issued its declaration to sever ties between mosque and state, saying that, “For Sudan to become a democratic country where the rights of all citizens are enshrined, the constitution should be based on the principle of ‘separation of religion and state,’ in the absence of which the right to self-determination must be respected.”

Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Ola A .Alsheikh. CC BY-SA 4.0.

Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and Abdelaziz al-Hilu, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North rebel group, signed this document together. Additionally, the document emphasizes its effort toward unity with the statement, “Sudan is a multiracial, multiethnic, multireligious and multicultural society. Full recognition and accommodation of these diversities must be affirmed.” More than simply separating church and state, the declaration gives the country momentum in its push toward unification.   

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Renee Richardson

Renee is currently an English student at The University of Georgia. She lives in Ellijay, Georgia, a small mountain town in the middle of Appalachia. A passionate writer, she is inspired often by her hikes along the Appalachian trail and her efforts to fight for equality across all spectrums. She hopes to further her passion as a writer into a flourishing career that positively impacts others.

Zimbabwe’s Mining Ban: A Potential Empty Promise?

The government of Zimbabwe now bans mining in its national parks, but environmentalists argue that the prohibition is hardly adequate. 

An elephant at a watering hole in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park. BARMCD. CC BY-NC 2.0.

After mounting pressure from conservationists, Zimbabwe’s government has declared a mining ban in the country’s national parks. Reports have circulated that Chinese companies are scouting out coal mining sites in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest national reserve. The park stretches over nearly 6,000 square miles and is home to about 50,000 of Zimbabwe’s estimated 86,000 elephants. Extensive conservation projects are conducted in the region to preserve its plethora of wildlife species, but the call to protect the elephant population has drawn the most intense focus.

The government’s new ban is the result of a case brought to the country’s High Court by the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association. The group argues that mining would destabilize the park’s biodiversity while injuring the fragile ecotourism sector. This case was first brought to the High Court after officials of Afrochine Energy and Zimbabwe Zhongxin Coal Mining Group were arrested for conducting illegal mining projects only to be released with special permission by Zimbabwe’s President. Outrage immediately ensued, and conservationists rode the wave of anger to action. 

The immense pressure on the government to implement change follows months of anger by environmentalists claiming that Chinese mining companies have already caused catastrophic damage in other regions of Zimbabwe. Environmentalists explain that the companies dump toxic waste, clogging precious dams and resulting in substantial drops in local wildlife populations. Locals also resent the presence of Chinese mining companies due to diminishing livestock populations and disrupted irrigation routes. 

Environmental groups also argue that mining will perpetuate the drought and overcrowding problems that have already killed hundreds of elephants. Local residents deal with regular poaching disputes and rely heavily on income from ecotourism; so, many fear that failure to hold off Chinese mining companies could cause  economic damage and increased levels of conflict. Furthermore, many Zimbabweans believe that mining in Hwange is only one piece of the bigger picture. Gold and diamond mining sites pepper other parts of the nation, causing equal degrees of environmental destruction to the over 1,000 species of animals that roam the country.

Tusks removed from a poached elephant. Sokwanele. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

For now, it seems that the government of Zimbabwe has yielded to the demands of conservation groups, but environmentalists appear far from satisfied. The government says that it is canceling current mining titles, but conservationists are doubtful that this is enough. Shamiso Mtisi, deputy director of the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association, states that the group is demanding an interdict, which is a legally binding prohibition. Pressure on the government to act quickly increased significantly in the past week as 11 young elephants died due to an unknown bacterial infection. Investigations are now proceeding to determine the cause of the elephants’ deaths, and whether poisoning may be linked to nearby mining activity. 

Although the High Court’s verdict is already known, but whether or not Zimbabwe’s government will take the necessary steps to save the country’s natural and economic resources remains a mystery.

Ella Nguyen

is an undergraduate student at Vassar College pursuing a degree in Hispanic Studies. She wants to assist in the field of immigration law and hopes to utilize Spanish in her future projects. In her free time she enjoys cooking, writing poetry, and learning about cosmetics.

Tensions Soar Following Racially Motivated Murders of Three Guyanese Teenagers

Following a hotly contested election, the murders of three Guyanese teenagers have sparked renewed racial tensions in Guyana between the country’s two main ethnic groups, Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese. This comes as the world is having a broader conversation on racial justice, which was sparked by the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in May.

The bodies of Afro-Guyanese teenagers Isaiah and Joel Henry were found mutilated in coconut fields in the Mahaica-Berbice region on Sept. 6. Haresh Singh, an Indo-Guyanese teenager, was killed three days later while trying to pass through a protest that had started in response to the initial murders.

“I will work day and night to get to the bottom of what happened to those teens,” President Irfaan Ali said in a press release. “Safety and security in all of the communities remain a top priority. As you can see, there is more visibility on the ground, more resources on the ground … We cannot tolerate lawlessness and criminality. We have to fix what went wrong and move forward.”

Volda Lawrence, chairperson of the political party People’s National Congress Reform, released a statement condemning the racist murders and stating that racism cannot be combated with more racism.

“My brothers and sisters, our protest must not end until justice is served,” Lawrence said. “I am resolute in my stance to go the full mile with you, until we achieve our desired outcome, justice. But we must protest in a peaceful and civil manner, doing so with respect for human life, dignity and property. Our protest must be solution-oriented and not driven by chaos, violence and destruction. For those that have utilized violence or caused destruction, please refrain from such acts as we seek justice for those who were taken from us.”

In response to the three racially motivated murders, the Guyana Human Rights Association plans to submit a formal request for the United Nations to investigate the killings with forensic pathology.

“This call is not intended to cast doubt on the capacity or impartiality of local investigators, so much as a response to the deep distrust accompanying the political polarization of the society,” the organization said in a statement on Sept. 8. “These callous murders are not seen as isolated. Both sides are quick to see them as a continuation of earlier ethnic upheavals … Both sides feel accumulated bitterness towards a system that has accommodated such turmoil.”

The protests surrounding the murders parallel those around the world in support of racial equality. Hundreds of thousands of people globally have continued to protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement following the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery earlier this year. This has since inspired activists to broaden the movement, highlighting other instances of racial injustice in their own communities including police brutality against Indigenous Australians.

What differs in the case of Guyana is that while racism has been an issue in the country since its inception, tensions have increased following massive oil discoveries and the election of President Ali in March.

The discovery of oil off the coast of Guyana has set the country on course to expand its economy by 50% by the end of 2020, which would give it the fastest-growing economy in the world in a time when a global recession looms due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The presidential race, which was between then-incumbent David Granger, who was backed by Afro-Guyanese supporters, and Ali, who is now South America’s first Muslim head of state and was backed by Indo-Guyanese supporters, centered around racializing the oil discoveries by both candidates claiming that their supporters would lose out on profits if the other candidate was elected.

Deodat Persaud, a member of Guyana’s Ethnic Relations Committee, told The New York Times that “racism is connected to political power in Guyana.”

In the week that has followed since the initial murders, President Ali has visited with the families of all three slain teenagers and has ordered the government to begin enforcing the Racial Hostility Act and the Cybercrime Act in an effort to crack down on virtual hate speech.

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Jacob Sutherland

Jacob is a recent graduate from the University of California San Diego where he majored in Political Science and minored in Spanish Language Studies. He previously served as the News Editor for The UCSD Guardian, and hopes to shed light on social justice issues in his work.

Indigenous Creators Raise their Voices on TikTok

On TikTok, the social media app with over 800 million users worldwide, Indigenous creators have found a platform. Amplifying Indigenous narratives that are often unheard, creators share culture, history and daily life with their followers. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Indigenous creators have also utilized the app to illustrate how the virus disproportionately affects Native Americans. As a platform, TikTok offers users small clips of content, lending accessibility to information often unavailable in mainstream media. 

James Jones (@notoriouscree)

James Jones, a member of Canada’s Cree Nation, is a creator, dancer and Indigenous performer who uses TikTok as a platform for awareness and advocacy. His videos show users the basics of hoop dancing and the intricacies of tribal regalia used for ceremonial purposes. Jones told Vogue: “We dance for those who can’t dance, and we dance to heal. I always hope to educate and bring awareness in a good way.”

Theland Kicknosway (@the_land)

Theland Kicknosway is a 17-year-old Cree creator who uses his platform to connect with other Indigenous teens and spread awareness of Indigenous culture. In his series on braids, he teaches users about the sanctity of hair in Indigenous culture. Kicknosway educates viewers on the grim treatment of Indigenous people in both the present and the past while empowering Indigenous men to wear their braids proudly.

Lila Bible (@oouuusheslila)

Lila Bible is a Native American teen working to bring awareness to the ongoing plight of missing Indigenous women across North America. Indigenous women are subjected to violent crimes at a rate as high as 10 times the average across many parts of the United States. In her videos, Bible emphasizes the need to advocate for these missing women, using her personal narrative as a touchstone. 

jojo jackson (@jojojaxn)

Jojo Jackson is another creator who works to dismantle preconceived notions of Native American communities. He went viral in April 2020 with a video illustrating the harsh impact that the coronavirus has had on the Navajo Nation. Jackson told The Guardian that he “just wanted to spread awareness, to give people basic, raw information because I thought the news was sugarcoating it. I wanted to show what it’s like [on the reservation], the number of COVID-19 cases and the basic resources the Navajo Nation just doesn’t have.” 

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Sarah Leidich

Sarah is currently an English and Film major at Barnard College of Columbia University. Sarah is inspired by global art in every form, and hopes to explore the intersection of activism, art, and storytelling through her writing.

Sleeper Trains in Europe: A Laidback Alternative to Flight Hopping

In a post-coronavirus world, one may expect a sudden boom in flights, trips and vacations. While modern jet-setting is appreciated for its conveniences, sometimes travelers prefer a relaxing journey instead. Living in an age when technology is king and flights are abundant, sleeper trains provide an opportunity to slow the pace of packed itineraries and immerse riders into a unique experience. They can almost be compared to cruises, as the trains function as both transportation and a place to rest. In Europe, sleeper trains have grown in popularity as the pace of life accelerates. There are several sleeper trains, and Norway’s Dovre Railway, Russia’s Trans-Siberian Railway and the Thello between Paris and Venice, Italy, are worth focusing on. 

Norway’s Dovre Mountains in the winter. Ggranvik. CC BY-NC 2.0.

The Dovre Railway, Norway

The Dovre Railway, stretching from Oslo to Trondheim in Norway, is one of the only sleeper trains in the country. The rail network in Norway was challenging to build due to the country’s stiff mountain peaks and various tunnels, but it is perfectly suited for those who want to experience this mountainous country without physically traversing the terrain. 

A train in Oslo, Norway. Don Ramey Logan. CC BY-SA 3.0.

The Dovre Line specifically winds through the Dovre Mountains, creating stunning views as it travels along the country’s national parks. Nature is close, and musk oxen may even come up to the train when it is stopped.

Musk ox in Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park. Fakepeterpan. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

In total, the trip takes about seven hours with several stops, but the stunning scenery makes the trip well worth it. 

View from inside a Trans-Siberian Railway train. Wazari. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

The Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia

Another journey known for its mountain views is Russia’s Trans-Siberian Railway, but the length of the trip is what makes it one of the most famous railways in the world. There are three routes along the railway, and the longest of the three, between Moscow and Vladivostok, covers 5,772 miles and takes seven days to travel. Along the journey, one gets to witness not only the snow-covered Siberian landscape and the Ural Mountains but also cities such as Irkutsk, known as the “Paris of Siberia” for its neoclassical architecture and finely detailed structures.

The Irkutsk Train Station in Russia. Luxury Train Club. CC BY-SA 2.0.

While many opt to stay in hotels along the way, the Golden Eagle train offers travelers amenities such as double beds, a wardrobe, a TV and DVD player, storage space and heated tiles in the shower room. Riding along the Trans-Siberian Railway in this manner confirms why the journey is so famous. 

Thello train in the countryside. Bahn.photos. CC BY-ND 2.0.

The Thello, France and Italy

The Thello, which runs from Paris to Venice, Italy, provides an entirely different atmosphere than the previous trips. Connecting two of Europe’s most famous cities, the Thello train stands as the only overnight route from France to Italy. Riding this train allows one to embrace the French countryside before the route bends through the snowy Swiss Alps and dives back into the Italian countryside.

Thello arriving in Milan, Italy. Bahn.photos. CC BY-ND 2.0.

In addition to romantic views, it is also a comfortable trip according to travelers, with plenty of room to sleep and incredible dining options. Being the only train of its kind to travel from France to Italy, it is not a surprise that this train is frequently taken by both Europeans and international travelers. 

While sleeper trains are not the most common way to travel, what they provide is an incomparable opportunity to slow down and enjoy the ride.

Renee Richardson

is currently an English student at The University of Georgia. She lives in Ellijay, Georgia, a small mountain town in the middle of Appalachia. A passionate writer, she is inspired often by her hikes along the Appalachian trail and her efforts to fight for equality across all spectrums. She hopes to further her passion as a writer into a flourishing career that positively impacts others.

Algeria’s Relationship with the Media Grows Tense Amid Political Woes

On Aug. 10, Algerian officials sentenced journalist Khaled Drareni to three years in prison for reporting on the 2019 Hirak protests. Calling for the removal of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the Hirak pro-democracy protests were some of the largest anti-government demonstrations since the Algerian civil war in the 1990s. While the protests were successful in removing Bouteflika from power, Algerian activists are unsatisfied with the corruption that still drives the Algerian government. Drareni’s sentencing has amplified the divide between independent publications and state-run media, drawing attention to the censorship that Algerian journalists face.

Hirak protests in Algiers. Becker. CC BY 2.0.

From 1991 to 2002, Algeria was engaged in a civil war between the government and Islamist political groups. Throughout this unrest, journalists in Algeria explored the many human rights abuses present in the country. As the war began to resolve in 1999, Abdelaziz Bouteflika was elected president of Algeria. With his 2005 Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation, he offered amnesty to groups that committed violence between 1992 and 2006. While this charter protected many Algerians from prosecution, Bouteflika also used it to restrict the press from investigating human rights violations. 

Following the enactment of this charter, independent publications were allowed a modicum of freedom as they operated independently of the state. However, the divide between independent publications and the Algerian state-run media only grew as Bouteflika consolidated his power.

An Algerian soldier barricades a street. Magha Rebia. CC BY 2.0.

In recent years, as pro-democracy movements gain traction in Algeria, independent publications have generally been the only media covering the protests. With tensions between Algerian citizens and the government mounting over the past decade, independent publications have been increasingly villainized by the state. Using state-owned companies as leverage, the Algerian government has stripped most independent publications of their primary source of income—advertisements. 

Within the past year, multiple independent media outlets critical of the regime have been blocked, including Maghreb Emergent and Radio M. Reporters Without Borders, an international organization that works to protect freedom of the press globally, now ranks Algeria 146th out of 180 countries in the 2020 World Press Freedom Index, which evaluates the degree of freedom awarded to journalists. Algeria’s ranking in this index has dropped drastically in the past five years -- in 2015, Algeria was ranked 27 places higher. 

The imprisonment of Khaled Drareni only amplifies the harsh restrictions being gradually imposed on the Algerian media. In April 2020, Algeria passed a law criminalizing “fake news” to maintain “public order and state security.” This law increases the repression of journalists in an already corrupt state. With privately-owned media facing severe blockades, social media has become a driving force in disseminating information to young people across the country. Social media platforms have become a pivotal tool for activists, allowing them to coordinate nonviolent protests and spread news that is not aired on radio or television. This movement has encouraged reporters at state-backed media companies to resign and actively fight for marginalized voices to be heard. Algeria remains in a state of flux as reporters stripped of their formal platforms are actively working toward freedom of the press through alternative means of communication.

Sarah Leidich

is currently an English and Film major at Barnard College of Columbia University. Sarah is inspired by global art in every form, and hopes to explore the intersection of activism, art, and storytelling through her writing.

Following the Blast in Beirut, How Ready is Lebanon for Visitors?

The Aug. 4 blast in Beirut’s port devastated the city but also affected the entire country. Shock waves reverberated throughout the region, being felt as far away as Cyprus and Jordan. The cause was obscene negligence in the storage of ammonium nitrate, a component of many explosives, and the effect is 300,000 people left homeless, up to 220 dead, and parts of the city center in ruins. The scene harkens back to Lebanon’s tumultuous history of war and civil strife and effectively takes Beirut off the map in terms of international tourism.

This is all the more saddening given Lebanon’s storied history, vibrant culture and natural beauty. Lebanon has earned an unfortunate reputation as an unsafe travel destination due to its fraught political history and geographical proximity to war-torn nations such as Syria. Though a history of war still lives in the nation’s collective memory, most people view it as a piece of the past. Before the blast, Lebanon reported a record number of visitors, with just under 2 million travelers passing through in 2018 alone.

A cursory glance at the country reveals why. Though small, Lebanon’s landscape is astonishingly diverse. Its coastline holds balmy beaches and resorts, many started in the 1950s during the country’s first tourism boom. Farther inland, the Lebanon Mountains offer slopes for skiers of every skill level for a fraction of the cost compared to the Swiss Alps.

Hasroun, a village in northern Lebanon. Paul Saad. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Natural beauty is not the only wonder found in Lebanon. The Temple of Bacchus, one of the best preserved Roman ruins in the world, displays the full glory of Lebanon’s past, demonstrating the variety of influences it enjoyed due to its historical role as a Mediterranean trade hub. Arts events like the Cedars International Festival have drawn artists from around the world, including Shakira and Andrea Bocelli, with massive crowds in tow. Beirut’s nightlife alone was enough to draw thousands to its late-night parties with strobe lights, pulsing music and freely flowing liquor.

A concert in Byblos. Hisham Assaad. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

No longer. The blast damaged 2,000 venues in Beirut, many of them deciding not to rebuild. Months prior to the blast, the COVID-19 pandemic decimated the service industry, and a prolonged economic crisis which has endangered the lower and middle classes strained the balance sheets of nightclub owners. The explosion further compounds their plight. 

Equally bleak are the prospects for recovery. Rebuilding the city is estimated to cost $15 billion, a quarter of Lebanon’s GDP in 2019, and talks with the International Monetary Fund for a $10 billion bailout have led nowhere. The prime minister, along with most of his cabinet, resigned shortly after the explosion, leaving Lebanon in both physical and economic ruin with no leadership. The Lebanese dollar has lost 80% of its value while inflation has reached 112%. This has left thousands of people struggling or unable to buy food. The situation, by any metric, is abysmal. 

Lebanon’s tourism prospects are about as dire as those for its economy. Clearly, it is unwise to travel in the midst of a global pandemic to a country whose hospitals are already full. While tourism would pump much-needed dollars into the economy, it would be difficult to find food and lodging in a country not far removed from famine. Before travelers begin to think of visiting Lebanon, the country must rebuild. Only time will tell how long that process will take.

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Michael McCarthy

Michael is an undergraduate student at Haverford College, dodging the pandemic by taking a gap year. He writes in a variety of genres, and his time in high school debate renders political writing an inevitable fascination. Writing at CATALYST and the Bi-Co News, a student-run newspaper, provides an outlet for this passion. In the future, he intends to keep writing in mediums both informative and creative.

VIDEO: Indonesia's Mentawai Tribe

To give Joshua Cowan’s film even deeper meaning, it’s important to understand context. Mentawai is an archipelago found off the west coast of Sumatra (Indonesia) consisting of approximately 70 islands and islets. The history of the people is often debated, but as early as 1954, under Indonesia’s goal of national unity and cultural adaptation, the National Government began introducing civilization programs designed to integrate the tribal groups into the social and cultural mainstream of the country. This, for native Mentawai, meant the eradication of Arat Sabulungan — the animist belief system that links the supernatural powers of ancestral spirits to the ecology of the rainforest — ; the forced surrender, burning and destruction of possessions used to facilitate cultural or ritual behavior; and their Sikerei (shamans) being disrobed, beaten, and forced into slave labor and imprisonment.

Under Pancasila — the official, foundational philosophical theory of Indonesia — the Indonesian state should be based on the Five Principles: Indonesian nationalism; Internationalism, or Humanism; Consent, or Democracy; Social prosperity; and Belief in One God. Based on the Indonesian notion ‘belief in one God’, there are officially only five religions recognized: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Which, for the Mentawai Islands, resulted in an immediate influx of missionaries and an increase in violence and pressure on the people to adopt change. In the end many chose Christianity due to its flexible views on the possession and consumption of pigs, which play an integral role in Mentawai history and culture.

By the late 1980’s loggers had devastated the forests of Sipora, North and South Pagai. In 1980, WWF (World Wildlife Fund) published a report entitled ‘Saving Siberut’ which, along with the support of other organizations – primarily UNESCO and Survival International – and other additional international interest, helped persuade the Indonesian government to cancel logging concessions and declare the forests of Siberut a biosphere reserve. With this, the people in the Mentawai found that they were once again free to practice their native cultural activities – at least in areas away from the villages.

However, by this point, and as it remains today, the number of Indigenous people still actively practicing the cultural customs, rituals and ceremonies of Arat Sabulungan had already been limited to a very small population of clans primarily located around the Sarereiket and Sakuddei regions in the south of Siberut Island.

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Raeann Mason

Raeann is an avid traveler, digital storyteller and guide writer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Comm & Media Studies from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication. Passionate about a/effective journalism and cultural exchange, she is an advocate of international solidarity and people's liberation. As the founder of ROAM + WRITE and EIC of Monarch Magazine, Raeann hopes to reshape the culture of travel and hospitality to be ethically sound and sustainable.

East Asia Braces Itself as the 2020 Typhoon Season Begins

Southeast Asia is known for its tropical climate and distinct rainy, or monsoon, season. This sort of climate brings about an annual typhoon season. Typhoons are mature, tropical cyclones that mostly occur in the Pacific Ocean. They carry with them heavy winds, rain and tornadoes that rip through villages and beaches. These storms have the potential to be devastating, a fact confirmed by history several times over.

Thailand

While Thailand is not hit with as much force as its southern neighbors, the typhoon season is still clear. From September through November, the country is prone to typhoons with the potential to change the country’s landscape and infrastructure. 

In 2006, Typhoon Xangsane made landfall in the Philippines and devastated its way across Laos, Vietnam and Thailand. It wiped out 810 square miles of farmland across Thailand and caused 47 deaths. The storm brought with it strong winds, landslides and torrential rain that wiped out villages and caused hundreds of families to become homeless. 

Fortunately for Thailand, most storms are not nearly as devastating as Xangsane. Monsoons can be counted on, though, to bring about tropical storms each year. 

Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia 

These three Southeast Asian countries feel the brunt of two different sets of cyclones. Typhoons move in from the northern Pacific, while tropical cyclones make landfall from the south. While safety measures are in place, such as shelters, help lines and emergency services, ultimately their geographic location leaves them vulnerable to Mother Nature’s worst.

In 2017, Vietnam experienced its deadliest typhoon since 2001. Dubbed Typhoon Damrey, the storm originated in the Philippines’ Visayan archipelago toward the end of the rainy season and killed at least 123 people and over 600 injured. The severe flooding and winds swept away anything that was not secured to the ground and left an estimated $1 billion in damages across Vietnam. Since then, the country has taken measures to ensure that it has a better communication system for its citizens to learn about the threat of storms as they arise. 

Korea 

Farther north, the Korean Peninsula sits in a spot not nearly as impacted by typhoon season as countries in Southeast Asia. While the peninsula experiences jangma, or the rainy season, its normal extent is heavy rains that inconvenience residents. This shows just how quickly tropical storms lose power as they move inland; they dissipate soon after doing so. 

A recent exception was Typhoon Hagupit, which made landfall in August. The Category 1 typhoon traveled north from the Philippines to China before impacting Korea as a subtropical storm. South Korea reported 15 deaths along with considerable property damage from the storm. 

The western Pacific typically sees more tropical storms than anywhere else in the world. About one-third of the world’s natural disasters occur in the region, and the numbers only seem to increase each year. These storms have caused countries to increase safety measures, focus on disaster communication, develop evacuation measures and create safe spots in public areas. The countries are well-known among visitors, but during the rainy season, the more experienced traveler might count these locations out.

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Elizabeth Misnick

Elizabeth is a Professional Writing and Rhetoric major at Baylor University. She grew up in a military family and lived in Europe for almost half her life, traveling and living in different countries. She hopes to continue writing professionally throughout her career and publish her writing in the future.

Homophobia Rises in South Korea Following COVID-19 Outbreak

There has been a resurgence of discriminatory acts against South Korean LGBTQ+ individuals following a COVID-19 outbreak in May.

Itaewon, the district where the outbreak occurred, comes to life at night. Heather Lim.

South Korea has been globally recognized for its disease control and prevention protocol, revealing an impressively low number of COVID-19 cases. American journalists lauded this quick response as a prime example of liberal democracy’s success. South Korea’s new reputation as a world power was further cemented by its efficient system for COVID-19 prevention. 

Although South Korea’s curve has been flattened, a particular outbreak ignited political and social retaliation against one of the country’s most marginalized groups.

In May, South Korea’s surveillance system for tracing the coronavirus showed that an outbreak occurred at a nightclub frequented by members of the LGBTQ+ community in Seoul’s Itaewon district. Over 100 cases were linked to this particular outbreak, in which an infected 29-year-old man visited various gay nightclubs in one night. The tracking system used by the South Korean government quickly notified possible carriers of COVID-19 from that evening. Up to 6,000 individuals were followed and notified through the use of cell tower signals, rather than through voluntarily shared information. This particular method of tracking, along with an ample number of testing sites, helped the country to stop the spread of the virus. 

The LGBTQ+ community in South Korea soon faced a resurgence in discriminatory acts, from being profiled to losing jobs. Jong Geol Lee, a Korean gay rights activist, told CBS News in May that there had been an influx of calls to his support group from members of the LGBTQ+ community in fear of losing their jobs. Lee Youngwu, a gay man in his 30s, expressed his anguish to The Guardian, saying, “I felt so trapped and hunted down. If I get tested, my company will most likely find out I’m gay. I’ll lose my job and face a public humiliation. I feel as if my whole life is about to collapse. I have never l felt suicidal before and never thought I would, but I am feeling suicidal now.” 

South Korean news outlets exacerbated the wave of homophobia plaguing the country. Kukmin Ilbo, a newspaper closely aligned with Korean Protestant churches, released the names of the clubs visited by the 29-year-old man. The Washington Post shared that “gay club” and “gay coronavirus” were South Korea’s top search items following the outbreak, filling the internet with hate speech and derogatory slurs toward gay individuals. 

Although non-heterosexual relationships aren’t outlawed in South Korea, they are often stigmatized by hospitals and the government. Many hospitals have even refused to treat patients with AIDS. The many cases of violence against gay troops in the South Korean military have been often brushed aside and dismissed, leaving the victims unprotected and traumatized. 

Since May, the negative attention on the LGBTQ+ community has decreased somewhat. However, members of the group remain quiet about their identities in fear of being alienated from society. 

To combat rising levels of discrimination, LGBTQ+ rights group Chingusai has been offering support to gay men through telephone counseling. The Korean Sexual Minority Culture and Rights Center has also been fighting for the rights of Korean LGBTQ+ individuals.

Heather Lim

recently earned her B.A. in Literature in English from University of California, San Diego. She was editor of the Arts and Culture section of The Triton, a student-run newspaper. She plans on working in art criticism, which combines her love of visual art with her passion for journalism.

A Taste of Home: Holding on to Food Culture as a Syrian Refugee

What does it feel like to lose your home and start your life again in a foreign land with a foreign culture? How would you anchor yourself to feel safe? How would you find the familiar in so much unfamiliar?

A Taste Of Home is a recipe book created by refugee families across Lancashire who have had to live through the unimaginable venture of fleeing home. The book shows just a small glimpse of how they have begun to rebuild and recenter their life while honoring the homes they’ve lost.

Food, family and friends are at the core of Syrian culture; and what better way to honor the land they've let than by sharing good food with others.

This one of a kind cookbook is now available to for order at mezepublishing.co.uk/product/a-taste-of-home-available-to-pre-order/

Buenos Aires Allows Bedside Vigils for COVID-19 Patients as Case Numbers Climb

On Aug. 27, the city council of Buenos Aires, Argentina, approved a new law that allows family members to maintain bedside vigils for patients dying of COVID-19. This comes after months of strict government-imposed lockdown measures which had drawn criticism and protests by citizens.

The new policy, known as “the Law of the Right to a Final Goodbye,” allows one family member of a patient dying of COVID-19 between the ages of 18 and 60 to maintain a bedside vigil with the patient, as long as they themselves are not pregnant or have preexisting medical conditions. 

According to a press release from the Buenos Aires city council’s website, “the Plan of Accompaniment for patients infected with COVID-19 in an end-of-life situation [has the goal that] patients will be accompanied virtually or in-person, depending on their circumstances, by a person from their family environment.”

Juan Facundo del Gaiso, one of the legislators who voted for the law to be implemented, expressed his support for the new policy on Twitter in Spanish.

“Today we approved in [the city council] the first law in the country for the right to say goodbye,” del Gaiso tweeted. “As of today patients in critical condition can be accompanied by their [family members, out of] respect for the life and dignity of each person.”

Other cities across the country are currently looking toward the Buenos Aires law to find ways to ease tensions within their own communities, as protests have continued throughout the pandemic in response to the government’s strict quarantine regulations. 

Argentina imposed a mandatory lockdown on March 20. This initially saw success, as throughout the first months of the pandemic the country had significantly lower numbers of cases compared to neighboring Chile and Brazil. However, cases continued to climb as the country considered easing restrictions, resulting in a prolonged lockdown which has lasted more than 160 days.

According to Rosendo Fraga, a political scientist based in Buenos Aires, a lot of the resentment toward the government’s restrictions is due to the psychological effects caused by the prolonged lockdown.

“People are at the end of their ropes; they are in trouble and they just cannot go on any longer,” Fraga said in an interview with Deutsche Welle. “President Alberto Fernandez's government simply underestimated the psychological damage such a long period of isolation would have on people.”

Much of this uncertainty dates back to long before the pandemic began. Over the past several decades, Argentina has faced several instances of hyperinflation, ending 2019 with an inflation rate of 53.8%, the highest in the past 28 years. In the same year, 25.6 percent of the country’s population was living in poverty.

According to Ana Ines Navarro, the director of the economics department at Austral University in Buenos Aires, this current socioeconomic crisis differs from prior ones on account of the country’s pandemic response.

“The serious problem that Argentina has at the moment is the closure of businesses,” Navarro said in an interview with Foreign Policy magazine. “It’s the number of companies that have stopped producing, or that can’t produce because they’re not yet operational, and that are unlikely to reopen after the quarantine. Then you are going to find, after the quarantine, a very worrying landscape from the point of view of the generation that is looking for employment.”

President Alberto Fernandez had originally stated earlier this summer that lockdown restrictions would be loosened on Sept. 1. However, on Aug. 28 President Fernández extended most restrictions until Sept. 20.

As of Aug. 3, Argentina has had 439,172 cases of COVID-19, the 10th-highest number in the world and the third-highest in South America. The majority of cases have been in and around Buenos Aires, which has a metropolitan population of over 15 million.

Jacob Sutherland

is a recent graduate from the University of California San Diego where he majored in Political Science and minored in Spanish Language Studies. He previously served as the News Editor for The UCSD Guardian, and hopes to shed light on social justice issues in his work.

Child Traffickers: the Ultimate Beneficiaries of COVID-19

As if COVID-19 has not created enough challenges, reports reveal that child trafficking and child pornography have increased significantly during the pandemic. 72% of human trafficking victims are women and children, and they are often forced to work on the streets as a way to help bring income home to their families. As a result of COVID-19’s economic impact, many U.S shelters that previously housed trafficking victims are shutting down due to “lack of financial support.” In equally worrying news, the demand for child pornography has increased by up to 30% in some EU member states. 

Developed Countries

Child trafficking is not exclusive to developing countries; it remains widespread in developed countries as well. In the U.S. and the U.K., many women are subjected to “sextortion” by their landlords, and 13% of the United States’ fair housing organziations have seen an increase in sexual harassment reports during the pandemic. Europol, the EU’s law enforcement agency, has also reported that online predators are working to engage with children while they remain isolated at home as their parents work. In Italy, the first six months of 2020 saw an estimated “1,000 new victims of child trafficking and exploitation.”

Developing Countries

Many children in developing countries have taken to the streets to help bring their families a form of income. In the Middle East, exploiters withhold the documentation of victims, preventing them from returning home. In Nigeria, some who were able to flee the brothel they were held at have been prevented from going home due to border restrictions from COVID-19. Ultimately, developing countries are especially vulnerable to child trafficking due to the severe economic instability caused by the pandemic. Thousands of families are finding themselves without a steady job or source of income, leading other members of the family to turn to desperate measures to bring food home. 

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact every aspect of life, the risks of child trafficking and exploitation grow significantly. Vulnerable groups have become even more exposed and easily fall victim to trafficking rings. Additionally, COVID-19 restrictions at borders have prevented many survivors from returning home. The issue has increased in prominence all over the world as every continent records an increase in exploitation. In response, multiple organizations such as Save our Children, and Polaris continue their work to expose trafficking rings and bring victims home to their families.

Elizabeth Misnick

is a Professional Writing and Rhetoric major at Baylor University. She grew up in a military family and lived in Europe for almost half her life, traveling and living in different countries. She hopes to continue writing professionally throughout her career and publish her writing in the future.

Locked Up: Unmasking Australia’s Aboriginal Youth Prison Crisis

The Aboriginal people have been severely marginalized by Australia’s government, but among the most impacted are the group’s children.

A young Aboriginal girl. mingzhuxia. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Indigenous people make up approximately 3% of Australia’s overall population and are considered the country’s most disadvantaged group. It is believed that the Aboriginal people lived in Australia for over 47,000 years prior to European colonization. Even today, the Aboriginal people continue to suffer some of the consequences of violent colonization such as low literacy rates, low life expectancy and a high unemployment rate.

Aboriginal children in particular are 30 times more likely to be stopped and prosecuted than other Australian youths. This reveals a pattern of racial profiling and stereotyping that has been called out by protests affiliating with the U.S.’s Black Lives Matter movement. 

Progress was made in 2018, when police in Western Australia apologized for practicing “forceful removal,” the separation of Indigenous children from their families. Forceful removal was popular throughout the late 19th century and was legal until 1969. Many refer to those impacted by forceful removal as the “Stolen Generation.” 

Since May 26, 1998, Australians have observed “National Sorry Day” as a way to apologize to the Aboriginal people for the harmful practice. It is a nationwide campaign committed to paying homage to affected groups while teaching youth of Australia’s harmful past actions. In 2008, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a proposal in front of Parliament to help bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. 

Australia’s National Sorry Day in 2015. butupa. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Yet, the gap between the Aboriginal community and other Australians remains as wide as ever. In February, the police of New South Wales revealed details about the Suspect Targeting Management Plan, which is intended to prevent future crimes by targeting likely or repeat offenders. Reports from 2016 to 2018 show that up to 72% of targeted children were likely from Indigenous descent. The youngest child identified was 9 years old. 

The minimum age of criminal responsibility in Australia is one of the lowest in the world, allowing children as young as 10 to be sentenced to jail. Additionally, Aboriginal children are 17 times  more likely to be jailed than non-Indigenous youth. Statistics from Western Australia say that 60 to 70% of children currently being held in the state’s detention centers are of an Aboriginal background. 

As of now, very little research proves that locking up children reduces criminal activity in the future. In fact, youth already in the criminal justice system are far more likely to be repeat offenders, challenging the original intent of New South Wales’ Suspect Target Management Plan. 

There is a push by lawyers and advocacy groups to raise the age of criminal responsibility in Australia to at least 14. Others believe that an alternative is to provide better health care and other social services in an attempt to elevate Aboriginal children’s socioeconomic standing. The end goal would be to improve their overall quality of life, allowing for better employment opportunities and an end to the societal obstacles currently facing the group.

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Eva Ashbaugh

Eva is a Political Science and Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies double major at the University of Pittsburgh. As a political science major concentrating on International Relations, she is passionate about human rights, foreign policy, and fighting for equality. She hopes to one day travel and help educate people to make the world a better place.

Venezuela Labels Coronavirus-Infected Citizens as ‘Bioterrorists’

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has implemented harsh measures throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to arrest, detain and punish those infected with the virus and citizens who have broken quarantine measures. These authoritarian measures mark a stark contrast with the relief efforts of neighboring countries, as Maduro has labeled those suspected of coming in contact with the virus as “bioterrorists.”

The government was initially quick to respond to the virus, suspending all flights from Europe and Colombia and banning all public gatherings on March 12, before the country had officially reported any cases. However, cases in Venezuela have since risen, with experts suggesting that the current tally of 42,898 infections is much lower than the actual case number due to an insufficient amount of testing materials.

Infected Venezuelan citizens have been subjected to inhumane treatment, leading many to defy the government’s orders. According to a taxi driver from Caracas who was forced into a state-run isolation facility, the government treats infected citizens in an inhumane manner.

“I spent three days sleeping on an aluminum chair,” the driver said in an interview with Bloomberg. “They fed us cold rice, lentils and arepas. The place was controlled by armed militias and Cuban doctors.”

Venezuela’s approach to the pandemic is a result of its failing health care system and Maduro’s resistance to internal reforms advocated for by activists over the past decade. The country’s sociopolitical system, which at one time was hailed by some as one of Latin America’s best, was brought to its knees after oil prices plummeted in the early 2010s. This just exacerbated shortages of basic food staples that began under the presidency of Hugo Chavez.

Using drastic anti-protest tactics which became commonplace in the mid-2010s, Maduro has authorized security forces to impose punishments for violating social distancing protocol such as sitting under the hot sun for hours, intense physical exercise and beatings.

In response to citizens evading testing facilities for fear of being subjected to harsh punishments, the Venezuelan military has encouraged citizens to turn in neighbors who they suspect have come into contact with the virus throughout the summer.

“Defense for the health of your family and community,” one tweet by the military stated in Spanish. “[Someone who helps others hide their infections] is a bioterrorist, which puts everyone’s health at risk. Send [us] an email with their information and exact location. #ReportABioterrorist.”

Maduro has largely ignored calls to reform his response to the pandemic, dismissing claims that those infected have been treated inhumanely.

“[In Venezuela] you’re given care that’s unique in the world, humane care, loving, Christian,” Maduro said in an Aug. 14 national address.

In response to calls for aid from organized opposition groups, on Aug. 21 the United States granted activists access to millions of dollars of previously frozen Venezuelan assets to be used to support health care workers. However, it is unclear how these funds will be accessed by opposition-supported health care workers, or if the Venezuelan government will be able to interfere with their distribution.

As of this article’s publication, Maduro has not responded to calls for pandemic relief reform, nor have efforts been made to test in a more humane manner.

Jacob Sutherland

is a recent graduate from the University of California San Diego where he majored in Political Science and minored in Spanish Language Studies. He previously served as the News Editor for The UCSD Guardian, and hopes to shed light on social justice issues in his work.

The Back-to-Africa Movement: A Response to Racism

Some Black Americans have chosen to move to Africa to embrace their heritage and ancestral roots after experiencing racism, violence and stereotyping in the United States. 

A village in Tanzania. ceasrgp. CC BY-SA 2.0

The Back-to-Africa movement was initially started to encourage those of African ancestry to travel back to Africa where their ancestors once lived. Even though many are unsure of the movement’s founder, many in the U.S. attribute it to Marcus Garvey, who founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association in 1914 in New York City’s Harlem district. He encouraged many Black people to seek social equality even if it meant moving to Africa through “self-emancipation.”

However, the Back-to-Africa movement can be traced even further back to the 19th century and the establishment of the American Colonization Society The predominantly-White group, founded by Robert Finley in 1817, shipped up to 12,000 freed slaves and freeborn Black Americans to Liberia. Historians’ views on the American Colonization Society’s work remain split; some view it as an early group dedicated to Black Americans’ freedom while others see it as nothing more than an attempt to remove Black people from the United States. Either way, the group was unpopular among the African American community, and should not be confused with more recent Back-to-Africa movements.

Painting of Marcus Garvey. David Drissel. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Many African Americans have more recently picked up the Back-to-Africa movement to help strengthen Black identity. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X both made visits to Ghana in order to reconnect with their heritage. 

Obadele Kambon is a recent example of the modern Back-to-Africa movement. Kambon was living in Chicago in 2007 when he was wrongfully accused of possessing a loaded firearm illegally in his car. In reality, he had an unloaded, licensed gun. The fear of mistreatment and wrongful convictions, sometimes even leading to death, was a main influence in Kambon’s decision to move to Ghana in 2008.He said his participation in the Back-to-Africa movement made him realize what it “feels like to be a White person in America, just to be able to live without worrying that something is going to happen to you.”

Many of those who have moved to Africa from the United States fear that “nothing can fix [racism].” Africa holds the potential to reconnect people with their roots while offering them a life less affected by racism and violence. 71% of African Americans in the United States have said that they have experienced discrimination in some form. For many African Americans, heading abroad frees them from the need to prove themselves to be more than their skin color.

2019 was marked by Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo as the “Year of Return.” It coincided with the 400th anniversary of what is believed to be the first enslaved Africans arriving in the United States. Last year, Ghana rewarded over 100 citizenships to Black individuals from the Americas as a part of its “Year of Return” initiative. The campaign brought over 500,000 visitors to the region—and some of them have decided to stay.

Eva Ashbaugh

is a Political Science and Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies double major at the University of Pittsburgh. As a political science major concentrating on International Relations, she is passionate about human rights, foreign policy, and fighting for equality. She hopes to one day travel and help educate people to make the world a better place.

Iowa’s ‘Inland Hurricane’ Wreaks Havoc on Locals — and the World’s Food Supply

On Aug. 10, Iowa and much of the United States’ Midwest experienced one of the most damaging storms seen in recent history. Hurricanes usually strike states like Florida and Louisiana, so the idea of one ravaging a landlocked state like Iowa was something residents were not prepared to face. After nearly a week, the Midwest is finally free of the devastating derecho, and now some are coining it as “Iowa’s Katrina.” 

The prolonged storms in Iowa are what the National Weather Service refers to as a derecho, a widespread, persistent windstorm associated with a band of quick-moving showers or thunderstorms. Because these storms are so powerful, they tend to leave similar damage to hurricanes and tornadoes. “Straight-line wind damage,” when the wind gusts powerfully in one direction, generally concentrates the destruction caused by derechos. 

According to the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center, it barreled eastward across the Midwest, traveling 770 miles in just 14 hours. Since the storms, thousands are still without water and power, with Cedar Rapids being one of the hardest-hit cities. According to Greg Smith, the city’s fire chief, more than 800 buildings have partially collapsed and more than 20 school buildings in Cedar Rapids have been damaged.

Cornfields on an Iowa farm. inkknife_2000. CC BY-SA 2.0.

This sweeping derecho  impacts not only Iowans and Midwesterners but also the world’s food supply. According to Iowa’s Gov. Kim Reynolds, this storm destroyed at least one-third of Iowa’s crops, which is about 10 million acres. Tens of millions of bushels of stored grain were blown away by extreme winds as well.

Soy farm in Iowa. User1778011. Pixabay.

Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig said in total, 14 million acres of insured crops were in the path of the derecho. About 3.57 million acres of corn and 2.5 million acres of soybeans in 36 counties were damaged or destroyed during the storms. 

As the United States is one of the largest exporters of soy and the top exporter of corn, this could place a strain on domestic and international food and feed supplies. Iowa and Illinois, the top corn-producing states, typically grow about one-third of the U.S. crop. The widespread devastation of crops in the region only increases the burden on an already strained agricultural industry recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Damage in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Alli_jakoubek. Instagram.

While this event has been classified as a federal emergency, Iowa residents and farmers will not see much assistance. The federal major disaster declaration approved on Aug. 17 does not include financial assistance for Iowans despite President Donald Trump tweeting that he approved the state's application in "FULL." Gov. Kim Reynolds' request for $82.7 million to cover the 8,273 homes that were damaged or destroyed was not approved. Also denied were her requests for $3.77 billion for damage to farmland, grain bins and buildings along with a request for $100 million toward private utilities repair. The state did receive $45 million from the federal government to put toward recovery. 

This storm has shown the importance of states like Iowa as the repercussions of the derecho radiate across borders. For suppliers reliant on corn and soy as well as farmers who use the crops for feed, the derecho has depleted essential supplies already strained by the pandemic. While very little international attention has been given to this derecho, Midwestern farmers’ vital role in agriculture is essential to the world.

Renee Richardson

is currently an English student at The University of Georgia. She lives in Ellijay, Georgia, a small mountain town in the middle of Appalachia. A passionate writer, she is inspired often by her hikes along the Appalachian trail and her efforts to fight for equality across all spectrums. She hopes to further her passion as a writer into a flourishing career that positively impacts others.

Trump Administration Suspends Private Charter Flights to Cuba

On Aug. 13, the United States Department of Transportation suspended nearly all charter flights between the U.S. and Cuba. The announcement comes five months after the Trump administration suspended charter flights to any airport on the island aside from Jose Marti International Airport in Havana.

Under the order, only a handful of public charter flights will be authorized to fly between Havana and the U.S., as well as flights authorized in relation to emergency medical assistance, search and rescue and “other travel deemed to be in the interest of the United States.”

In a letter to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo explained that the measures are being taken as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts against the Maduro administration in Venezuela.

“To … strengthen the economic pressure on the Cuban regime as a means to restrict the regime’s ability to repress its people and support the illegitimate Maduro regime in Venezuela … I respectfully request that the Department of Transportation suspend until further notice all charter flights between the United States and all airports in Cuba over which the Department of Transportation exercises jurisdiction, except for authorized public charters to and from Havana, and other authorized charter flights for emergency medical purposes, search and rescue and other travel deemed to be in the interest of the United States,” Pompeo wrote.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel responded to the announcement in a tweet condemning the new policy.

“The United States has suspended all charter flights: a measure which will isolate more Cuban families,” Diaz-Canel wrote in Spanish. “[This] continues hostile rhetoric, a resurgence of the blockade, and hate and scorn against Cubans.”

Proponents of the decision like Mercedes Schlapp, a Cuban-American who is currently working on President Trump’s reelection campaign, argue that while the measure will further restrict travel to the island, it will not prohibit Cuban-Americans from visiting family members.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, Cuban-Americans can continue to visit their families while the United States continues to hold the regime in Havana and its allies in Venezuela, Colombia and Nicaragua accountable,” Schlapp said in a statement in Spanish to CiberCuba.

However, opponents of the decision argue that the policy only furthers the separation of families on the part of both the Trump and Diaz-Canel administrations.

“This action only helps the Cuban regime to continue separating families - a tactic the Trump administration has disturbingly embraced,” Kevin Munoz, a spokesperson for Biden for President, stated in a press release. “Make no mistake: this is a cynical, cruel and calculated political decision, but with real, human consequences.”

Historically, the United States has maintained a standard of limited travel to Cuba. Beginning in 1963 under the Kennedy administration, travel to the island nation was prohibited for most Americans.

These restrictions, as well as the ongoing embargo against the island, began to be lifted under the Obama administration. In March 2016, President Obama announced that the Department of Transportation would allow U.S. citizens to travel to the island under a “People to People” visa, a policy which saw numerous airlines and American businesses begin working in the country. Obama notably traveled to the country to meet with then-President Raul Castro, the first time a sitting U.S. president had visited Cuba in 88 years.

This policy was reversed only three years later by the Trump administration. In June 2019, Trump removed the “People to People” visa and banned all cruise ships, private yachts and fishing boats from docking in the country.

These restrictions were further tightened later that year when Trump suspended all commercial flights to any Cuban airport aside from Jose Marti International Airport in Havana. This was done in an attempt to reinforce the long-standing tourism embargo.

Prior to last week’s charter flight suspension, the Trump administration had imposed an annual limit of 3,600 charter flights beginning on June 1, 2020, which would only be allowed to land in the nation’s capital city.

Experts believe that these increasingly restrictive policies are being made in an effort to help Trump win Florida, a swing state which contains a large Cuban-American population and has recently polled in favor of Joe Biden. However, it is unclear whether this new policy will have a dramatic effect on the outcome of the November general election.

Jacob Sutherland

is a recent graduate from the University of California San Diego where he majored in Political Science and minored in Spanish Language Studies. He previously served as the News Editor for The UCSD Guardian, and hopes to shed light on social justice issues in his work.