Japan’s Population Crisis Hits a Record Low

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

Harajuku District in Japan. @paulkrichards. Instagram

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Michelle Tian

Michelle is a senior at Boston University, majoring in journalism and minoring in philosophy. Her parents are first-generation immigrants from China, so her love for different cultures and traveling came naturally at a young age. After graduation, she hopes to continue sharing important messages through her work.

The Forgotten Chinese History of Vladivostok

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hope Zhu

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

Skellig Michael: Monks, Star Wars, and More

The island where fantasy meets reality.

Skellig Michael, Stinglehammer, CC BY-SA 4.0

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

Skellig Michael Beehive Cells, Arian Zwegers, CC BY 2.0

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

Mystical Skellig Michael, Beyourbest2, CC BY-SA 4.0

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jeremy Giles

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

Bangladesh: Ground Zero for Climate Change

Where the worst affected are among the least culpable.

Bangladesh Ground Zero, SuSanA Secretariat, CC BY 2.0

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

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

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

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

Flash floods, amirjina, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

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

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

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

TO GET INVOLVED

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

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

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

Jeremy Giles

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

Yakutia: One of the Coldest Places on Earth

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Michelle Tian

Michelle is a senior at Boston University, majoring in journalism and minoring in philosophy. Her parents are first-generation immigrants from China, so her love for different cultures and traveling came naturally at a young age. After graduation, she hopes to continue sharing important messages through her work.

Underground Schools for Women and Girls in Afghanistan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TO GET INVOLVED

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

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

Kimberly Hidalgo Hernández

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

Racism in the Fantasy Genre

How real stereotypes get pulled into fictional worlds.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jeremy Giles

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

Reversing Climate Change One Smallholder Farm at a Time

If the world's smallholder farms used sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices, they could bring us 53% of the way to meeting the United Nations’ net-zero carbon goals.

A hillside slashed and burned, degrading the soil, destroying wildlife habitats and releasing carbon stores into the atmosphere. Adam Cohn CC 1.0

This past February, I worked alongside Sustainable Harvest International (SHI) and their field trainers in Penonome, Panama. SHI is a non-profit organization that opened its doors in 1997 and operates predominantly in Central America, addressing slash-and-burn agriculture, rural poverty, and their connection to climate change. 

The Link Between Slash and Burn Agriculture and Rural Poverty

Slash-and-burn agriculture is practiced by 500 million farmers globally. In fact, 20%-30% of deforestation is estimated to be caused by it, directly resulting from a lack of educational opportunities and resources. Similarly, 3.1 billion people worldwide live in poverty, many starving on land ready and available to be farmed. Looking at these issues as one, we’re faced with poverty in rural places and environmental degradation being unavoidably and intrinsically linked.

A smallholder farmer raises fish and livestock or cultivates crops in a limited capacity. In the developing world, a smallholder farm is typically family-owned, and most cultivate less than 5 acres of land. If all 6 million smallholder farmers had the knowledge and training to implement regenerative and sustainable techniques, they wouldn’t have to worry where their next meal was coming from or if their land was healthy enough to be passed from generation to generation. Farmers would no longer have to walk miles to find ground healthy enough to plant for a single season, forced to move further to the following plot the following season. They would have enough food to sustain their families and communities during, for example, a global pandemic—and sell their organic produce at the market for a living wage. Their food would double as medicines, healing bodies from the inside out and healing the soil at once. 

What if being able to farm this way simultaneously drew 6 billion tons of carbon from the atmosphere into nutrient-rich soil—the equivalent of shutting down every coal mine? Then, imagine it only costs ~$5,000 for a smallholder farmer to experience and create this transformation. 

Many farmers are left with some of the most difficult to cultivate land. They take advantage of the mountainous terrain with terracing. Raeann Mason

Even in the dry offseason, a skilled farmer tends to crops growing on a lush, terraced hillside. Raeann Mason.

Sustainable Harvest International

This is where Sustainable Harvest International comes in. It began as Florence Reed’s dream to mobilize her knowledge, and the knowledge of others, to heal our planet and its people and reverse the effects of climate change through agriculture. As of today, more than 3,200 farmers have been through the SHI program, planting over 4M trees, regenerating over 26K acres of previously degraded land, and building more than 2K clean wood-conserving stoves. And they’re only just getting started. SHI is working tirelessly to scale its programming; by 2030, its goals are to

  • transform 1 million farms

  • plant 1 billion trees

  • sequester 18 million tons of CO2

  • regenerate 8 million acres of land

  • achieve food security for 5 million people

I learned quickly that SHI isn’t interested in promises of “going net zero” or slowing the rate at which the atmosphere is warming through offsets. Instead, they work directly with smallholder farmers to prevent more destruction and undo the damage already done in their lives, their land, and the planet’s climate; their work goes beyond sustainability— it’s regenerative.

Sustainable Harvest International’s Field Trainers demonstrate how to use the wind to separate rice husks. Raeann Mason.                                               

A farmer explains how his terraces are braced with grass to prevent runoff. Raeann Mason

How It Works

With Sustainable Harvest International (SHI), farmers commit to learning new methods and receive hands-on tactical training and education. Each program phase lasts around one year, taking 4-5 years and ~$5,000 to complete. SHl hires local field trainers with sustainable and regenerative agroforestry training, local history and insight, and agricultural experience. 

A farmer shares the pictures she drew of her farm in the present day compared to what she hopes her farm will look like by the end of the program. Image courtesy of Sustainable Harvest International. 

The Phases

During phase one, farmers and field trainers dream together, planning and plotting how much of their land they’re willing to commit to learning new techniques, discussing long-term goals and drawing a picture of what they hope their degraded land will look like by the end of the program. I was so moved by the hope these colored-pencil drawings provide, and when the program is over, they stand as a testament to the process—how much work it took and how effective it was. 

Phase two is about learning new practices, focusing on health and nutrition for the body and the soil. Many of the people I met were subsistence farmers, which means they were growing food to meet their immediate needs to survive; no working farm=no food. When we talk about making changes in our life for the sake of our planet—riding a bike to work, ditching single-use plastics—most of us aren’t faced with the fear that if it doesn’t work out, our ability to survive, for our families to survive, is at risk. This is why when I say these smallholder farmers are the closest people I’ve met to real-life superheroes, I’m not exaggerating. They’re willing to put it all on the line to make a change, not just for themselves but for you and me. Despite years of slash-and-burn tradition and generations of methods passed down, they’re choosing to take the risk on something unknown. They’re choosing to heal our planet. Witnessing this posture of vulnerability, I was forced to grapple with the level of my own (un)willingness to sacrifice and risk-take for the sake of humanity and our shared planet. 

A farmer cuts the stalk of a plantain tree for composting. Raeann Mason

Farmers in Panama learn to make “ensalada de vegetales,” in English, “vegetable salad,” which is nutrient-dense compost. Raeann Mason.

I was also struck by SHI’s commitment to maintaining and supporting farmer autonomy, allowing them to choose the type of crops to grow throughout the program. All the farms I visited had a different layout, each an oasis of its own right, with different visions and hopes to meet the families’ needs. Farmers are trained to understand the adverse effects monocropping has on biodiversity and are eager to grow crops ranging from cacao trees, pigeon pea shrubs, herbs and spices, peppers, cucumbers, rice, coffee, yucca, yams, plantains and so much more. One farm, in particular, was set in the trees, a forest of life-giving foods hidden in plain sight, masked by the assumption that farms don’t look like rainforests. 

Chocolate growing, hidden in plain sight. Raeann Mason

Coffee harvest. Raeann Mason

Phase three shifts gears from subsistence farming and scales to commercial education and training, which centers on environmental stewardship. Here again, I saw how SHI goes above and beyond the work of typical non-profits. Farmers find themselves with an abundance to sell, and the focus on land restoration and conservation begins to turn the heads of neighboring farmers. The farm starts to take care of itself, money earned allows farmers to thrive, and regenerative practices keep the soil nutrient dense for every growing season. Many farmers will choose a select few crops to grow commercially beyond what they grow for themselves. I saw lots of coffee being produced for this, but instead of a flat field of endless rows of coffee under manufactured shade, the crop was planted alongside plantain trees and corn, scattered about the farms and tucked within treelines; everything felt native. 

Phase four is all about business development and micro-finance. The farms I worked on in phase four allowed me to listen and learn in the place of laborious volunteer work. Farmers have been relishing the benefits of adopting regenerative practices during this phase. Their history with the land, the tactical support and guidance of SHI’s field trainers, and the confidence from seeing the literal fruit of their labor meant as a volunteer, there was little I could bring to the table aside from profound respect. There’s an indescribable excitement on farms in this phase, or perhaps it’s being able to sense the weight of living in survival mode lifted.

An SHI stove featured in a farmer’s kitchen set up next to the typical stove, which is the pile of rocks in the lower right corner. Raeann Mason

Demetrio dries coffee beans in the sun. Raeann Mason

In phase five, farmers reach that inevitable state of being a community leader and graduate from the program. Graduation is more of a celebration than a formal affair because by now, the farmers and SHI field trainers are like family—bonding through fear, hope, sweat, body aches and success, freedom and trust hard earned. Some farmers go on to work for SHI as field trainers, and others are hired as consultants within their own communities because their farms can be sustained with much greater ease, while others become the experts in their communities which neighbors look to for advice.

Volunteers take a break from leveling a rice paddy. Kate Herndon. 

While most of my time with SHI was spent getting my hands dirty on projects like terracing and planting rice paddies, there was one farm I visited that graduated from the program a decade ago. It was time to size SHI up against the truest test: time. Too often, I see organizations with good intentions come in like a storm, ask people to radically change their methods, and dash once the program is over. But a decade later, Demetrio, the field trainers, and even the founder of SHI, Florence Reed, greeted each other as old friends on a farm resembling a lush oasis or eco-wildlife resort. Demetrio has become so successful with his farm that he’s now hired as a consultant in surrounding communities. He’s a true testament to the effectiveness of the SHI program—friends, community members, and SHI field trainers consider him a bit of a legend because he has been able to grow strawberries on his farm in the mountains of Penonome—something considered impossible for that region. He also attested that during the last government-led health audit, his family walked away with a clean bill of health while neighboring farmers practicing monocropping and slash-and-burn techniques were hit with an onslaught of diagnoses and medications to manage due to a lack of nutrition; an issue SHI trained farmers don’t have to face to the same degree. 

Farmers are trained to take advantage of their hilly plots of land by growing tilapia-fertilized and terraced rice paddies. Raeann Mason.

In fact, SHI offers more than tactical agricultural training. Aside from their commitments to climate action and ending and preventing poverty and hunger, SHI is committed to clean water access and sanitation. Many homes utilize unsafe, life-threatening cooking stoves. SHI has worked to increase the life expectancy of women by implementing a safer cooking stove that ultimately requires fewer resources. They also build composting latrines that provide cleaner, eco-friendly, and agriculturally beneficial alternatives to burying human waste. One farm learned to harvest clean, fresh spring water from the mountain top. Another family shared that what they learned about microfinance allowed them to spearhead a community funding program, training other farmers to manage their commercial endeavors and providing grants to help them get started. 

An inevitable ripple effect is occurring in Central America, one that you can only understand by listening and learning. It’s always a humbling experience when someone signs up to volunteer, gets their hands dirty, does back-breaking work, and then has the luxury to leave that work behind. But in a more nuanced way, I understand it’s not volunteer work that is planting the seeds of healing, that it’s these smallholder farmers who are genuinely risking it all, making the lifestyle changes and healing the planet by their own hands. So what can we do to support them?

To Get Involved:

There are several ways to support the efforts of SHI. You can start by sharing this article in your network to help spread awareness. Most importantly, there are several ways to donate, including signing up for their Legacy or Sustainer giving programs. You can even see the impact of your donation and travel to a program site in Central America. They offer career opportunities and internships; you could join their mailing list here. Remember, it only costs $1,000 per year, for only 4-5 years, to completely transform a farmer's life and improve the health of our planet.

Raeann Mason

Raeann is the Content and Community Manager at CATALYST, an avid traveler, digital storyteller and guide writer. She studied Mass Communication & Media at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism where she found her passion for a/effective journalism and cultural exchange. An advocate of international solidarity and people's liberation, Raeann works to reshape the culture of travel and hospitality to be ethically sound and sustainable.

7 Sustainable Ways To Travel Green

If you are reading CATALYST you probably have a passion for travel. Here are some ways to make your journeys as sustainable as possible.

White bus on the road. Oleksandr Pidvalnyi. CC BY 2.0.

Traveling around the globe alone or with a few friends can do wonders for your inner peace. It’s self-care at its finest. Seeing new places, meeting interesting people, and experiencing a novel culture can give you a broader perspective on life. And let’s not forget all the memories you’ll fondly look back on years from now. 

However, despite all the positive effects of travel, one thing that might not cross your mind is how everything we do while globetrotting  deeply affects the environment. 

As travelers, we often forget that we have a responsibility to travel with care, not only for ourselves and the people around us but also for the places we visit. 

Remember, we humans are the ones depleting Earth’s natural resources. So whenever you’re going somewhere, do your best to practice sustainable travel. 

Here are some ways to travel green: 

1. Choose Off-The-Beaten-Path Locations

Woman walking on a path in the forest. Erik Mclean. CC BY 2.0.

Right now, one of the biggest threats that the travel industry faces is over-tourism. In fact, according to the World Economic Forum, about 80% of travelers visit the same five to ten locations in each country. 

Popular cities may have  up to 70% population growth during peak season, placing strain on the environment and infrastructure.

As much as possible, opt to avoid adding to this over-tourism phenomenon. Get creative when determining where to go next. This way, you won’t have to deal with crowds, and you’ll get to enjoy more genuine and lasting experiences than you could get in the overdone tourist traps. 

2. Public Transportation Is Earth’s Best Friend (And Yours, Too) 

Silhouette of a person riding a bike on top of the mountains. Jahangeer Bm. CC BY 2.0. 

Sometimes the fastest way to your destination isn’t always the better option. Instead of speeding through a checklist or an itinerary, why not slow down a little bit? Allocate more time to your journey to discover more than you could ever ask for.

Slowing down can be beneficial for the environment, and it will allow you to soak in every sensation and experience. Travel by train so you can visit towns and cities you would normally miss if you took a direct route. 

For shorter distances or if you’re just going to explore cities, take a walk or cycle to your destination. These two activities won't consume energy and are also pollution-free. They’re also a great way to stay healthy while traveling.

3. Don’t Use Single Use & Cleanup Wherever You Go 

Woman drinking from a tumbler. PNW Production. CC BY 2.0.

The image of plastic bottles littering beaches, parks, and waterways has grown alarmingly common in many tourist places. The plastic waste we humans produce poses a serious health risk for all living things, particularly marine life. 

Avoid using plastic bags as much as possible. Try to refill and bring your travel-size containers whenever possible. 

Carry a refillable water bottle with you at all times to avoid purchasing single-use plastic water bottles. Don’t forget to pack an extra cloth bag in case you need to buy something. 

Additionally, if you’re visiting the beach (or any other natural area), pick up some of the trash that you see. Beach cleaning is a great way to meet new people while traveling. You can also look for local clean-up events to meet locals while preserving the environment. 

4. Support The Local Economy 

Person buying fruit from a local vendor. Erik Scheel. CC BY 2.0. 

Always buy products from businesses that support sustainability. A great place to start is with cafes and restaurants that use locally sourced ingredients and avoid single-use plastics. You'll often find that these kinds of restaurants donate a certain amount of their earnings to a deserving cause.

Avoid going to multinational chain restaurants for meals or shopping at supermarkets. Instead, support local entrepreneurs and small businesses to boost the local economy. By doing this, you're keeping people employed and reducing the need for transportation across far distances. 

You can also purchase handmade souvenirs and crafts created by indigenous artisans to help preserve the location’s authentic cultural heritage. 

Another way to help boost the local economy is to select a local guide. You can reduce the harm that your trip would otherwise cause by selecting a tour operator who cares about preserving the environment and the local people. 

Lastly, you can stay in neighborhood guest houses rather than big resorts and hotels. Not only are they typically the more environmentally friendly option, but they’re also more affordable. 

5. Pay Attention To The Local Resources You Use

Man brushing his teeth. Tima Miroshnichenko. CC BY 2.0. 

Consider taking shorter showers rather than longer ones and shutting off the water while shaving or brushing your teeth to reduce the amount of water you use while traveling. Fill your refillable and reusable travel containers with eco-friendly biodegradable soap and shampoo, especially when camping. 

Don’t forget that necessities like hospital beds and emergency services are also local resources. So before hiking or taking a road trip, always check weather conditions and terrain to avoid getting lost or injured and the subsequent rescue mission, which can consume valuable public resources and tax dollars.

6. Respect The Natural Places You’ll Visit 

Man taking in the view on top of a mountain. Jaime Reimer. CC BY 2.0. 

Keep in mind that well-marked hiking trails are there for a reason, mainly to protect the surrounding area and the local flora from harm. So don't litter. As for wildlife, distance yourself from them as much as possible and never feed or touch them. This is for the protection of both you and the animals. 

If you’re going on a beach or diving trip, use reef-safe sunscreen without oxybenzone and octinoxate and avoid stepping on coral. 

7. Share Your Sustainable Travel Knowledge With Others 

Women conversing near a bonfire. Oleksandr Pidvalnyi. CC BY 2.0. 

Inform your friends, family, and fellow travelers about sustainable travel options, and remind them that even small changes can have a big impact. 

Travel helps us better understand the world by exposing us to various cultures and customs that are different from our own. 

Humans have a natural need to explore. That’s why tourism will always be a massive industry. We can highlight the positive aspects of tourism and lessen its drawbacks if we can come together and share strategies to make travel more ethical, respectful, and sustainable.

Travel Mindfully For Yourself & For The Environment 

As regular travelers, we must find a balance between lowering our carbon footprint and helping places that depend on tourism. 

We can all contribute to the preservation of our beautiful planet by making a commitment to travel more thoughtfully and go to locations where delicate ecosystems are protected and local communities are helped.

Myrtle Bautista

Myrtle is a journalism major, a social media marketer and is now exploring freelance writing. She's fond of anything related to health and wellness, and when she's not writing, you'll find her doing long-distance cycling, ultramarathons, hiking, or in a local cafe enjoying a good cold brew.

8 Ways to Get Started with Activism 

A guide to making social changes through small steps.

Climate protests. Unplash

Many of us care deeply about social causes and would like to get involved in activism, but struggle to take the first step. Maybe we fear the time commitment and have other pressing responsibilities with work, family or friends. Or maybe it’s just intimidating. Here are eight ways to get started as a part-time activist. They are all relatively easy and a great way to, as Gandhi said, “be the change you want to see in the world.”

1. Commit Yourself to Learning

The simplest and most overlooked step to becoming an activist is learning. Through consuming media that promotes or educates on social causes, you can discover a cause you’re passionate about, find an activist group whose mission speaks to you, and learn about the people, animals, countries, social groups, and environment that you want to advocate for. Read nonfiction books, research online media such as journals, websites and podcasts, or even just explore social media accounts by searching through hashtags. This is the first step.

2. Donate 

Realistically, economic activism is the bread and butter that allows activist groups to create change, so donating to a cause you’ve researched can make all the difference. More funding and economic investment usually means more social impact, although the relationship is not always linear. Funding keeps activists paid, operations smooth, and costs of office space covered and can also add credibility to a nonprofit's cause. 

3. Volunteer

If you can’t make a monetary investment to social activist groups, make a physical investment. Many hands make light work, and volunteering is a perfect outlet that doesn’t require a large time commitment or an official position. Much like donations, the more volunteers an organization has, the greater its potential impact. Volunteering also has the unique benefit of uniting people that are passionate about the same cause, and so can create a strong sense of community around an issue. 

4. Vote

Some consider voting a civic responsibility. D.H. Parks. CC BY-NC 2.0

Political theorists may argue civic responsibility, but for many activist groups voting is also a way to express satisfaction or dissent for policies that affect their missions. Voting can mean giving a voice to the causes of social activist groups. Activists vote even if they are not convinced of the power of their individual voices, because social activism derives power from a collective voice. Even a small number of votes can be the difference between starkly different policies.

5. Writing Letters of Dissent 

Expressing disagreement with the policy of a company, the politics of a government official, or legislation in general, helps put public opinion in the forefront. Writing on behalf of a particular activist group or a general social action mission can better express the anguish or anger felt toward a particular policy. A letter can contribute to a  general dissent toward a policy which could, then, lead to revisions in legislation and corporate actions that threaten the activists’ goals.

6. Political Activism

Find a political candidate, whether local or national, whose mission and policies align with your own beliefs and advocate for their voice with your own. Helping a political candidate share their message might involve volunteering for a voter drive, canvassing for the candidate in your neighborhood to support their campaign or increase grassroots fundraising, or conducting phone calls to personalize the policies of the candidate to their constituents. Through political activism you can promote a candidate whose policies will truly make a difference in your life, your community and beyond.

7. Passive Activism: Petitions and Social Media

Passive activism often means supporting a cause through signing online petitions or using social media to like, post or repost, hashtag, or comment on a post that advocates for social change. While critics deride this form of advocacy as the easiest and, consequently, laziest form of activism, passive activism can build exposure and boost viewership for nonprofits, activists, and candidates. And it's how many more “active” activists get their start.

8. Protests

Amnesty International’s Refugee Day Rally against Britain’s asylum policy. Lewishamdreamer. CC BY-NC 2.0

Before any part-time activist can protest, they need to find a protest relevant to their desired cause and in a not-too-distant location. You can find local protests through the social media platforms of your city’s local government and more specific organizations. The Twitter and Facebook pages of activists and nonprofits in particular can serve as the social media catalysts for protest. Finding a protest also means checking up on the websites of your favorite activist groups under an “Events” tab, where such groups typically post protest dates and locations for protests. Some local governments even have protest calendars on their websites.  

Nonprofits and Activist Organizations to Donate to or Volunteer for:

Climate Change 

  • Sustainable Harvest International: Addresses climate, biodiversity, forest and soil restoration and human health in relation to the environment

  • Environmental Defense Fund: Addresses climate, energy, ecosystem, ocean, and health issues in relation to the environment

  • Sunrise Movement: Youth political action organization whose mission is to stop climate change and create jobs 

  • Extinction Rebellion: Global pro-environment movement that uses nonviolent civil disobedience to compel government action on climate change and environmental protection

Human Rights 

Racial Justice 

Women’s Issues

  • The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network: Anti-sexual violence organization that provides victim services, raises awareness about sexual violence and works to achieve justice for survivors

  • Malala Fund: International nonprofit that fights for girls’ education by investing in education activists and holding global leaders accountable

Global Health 

  • Doctors Without Borders: Mostly donation-based medical humanitarian project dedicated to caring globally for communities in danger

  • Partners in Health: International nonprofit that partners with local governments to bring medical care to poor areas 

LGBTQ+ Rights

  • The Trevor Project: Provides and utilizes crisis services, peer support, LGBTQ activism, research, and public education efforts to end suicide for LGBTQ youth.

  • Ali Forney Center: Offers services like job readiness training, support, and shelter for homeless LGBTQ in New York to protect them from the dangers of homelessness

Veteran

  • Wounded Warrior Project: Provides programs and services to injured veterans, including mental health care, rehabilitative care and career counseling

Su Ertekin-Taner

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

A Grassroots Youth Movement Is Changing the Political Narrative in Peru

Recent political instability in Peru has resulted in violent uprisings led by the nation’s youth, who are fed up with longstanding corruption. 

Protesters Take the Streets in Lima, Peru CC BY-SA 4.0

Over the past few months Peru’s political system, and especially its President Dina Boluarte, have come under the scrutiny of protestors demanding fair and just elections. A country that ranks 101 out of 180 on the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index, Peru is categorized as one of the nations with the most public sector corruption. Facing regional criticism with polarization, impeachment threats, and violent manifestations across the country, Peru’s current turmoil is opening a path towards a new Peruvian identity for young citizens who wish to set their nation on a different course. Seeking democracy and transparency, a group of Peruvian students are increasing awareness of structural changes that they feel must take place in their country.

Former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo was arrested in January 2023 after an attempted coup from above, resulting in the ascension of the then Vice President Dina Boluarte to head of state. Many citizens, however, especially those outside of the capital Lima, felt that this was an attack on their freedom because there was no democratic input in the transition. Throughout the pandemic Peru suffered an economic downturn that reduced access to basic services, especially for health care and education. Triggered by the political unrest, civilians have since taken to the street in violent anti-government protests, demanding that their nation allow transparent elections and eliminate elite privilege.

Demonstrations at Plaza Manco Capac following the Ayacucho massacre CC BY-SA 4.0

Peru’s youth  have been key to these protests, taking a stand and raising their voices to demand what they view as a better future free of corruption with access to quality basic services. Creating their own slogan, #TheyMessedWithTheWrongGeneration, Peru’s younger population warns authorities that they will not rest, and plan on continuing the fight for an end to systematic dishonesty and fraud. Considered a grassroots movement, the non-partisan group is gaining momentum as even some among the older generations feel that the current government no longer represents them and that their country deserves better. One activist in the movement, a 33-year-old publicist named Diego Cruz, gave the following statement to reporters at a march, “It’s not just one generation marching here, it’s everyone, because we feel outraged that [congress] is carving up the country.” 

The youth movement also demands university reform, adherents arguing that access to college is not possible for everyone, especially those that live in rural communities far from the cities. Politicians and traditional political analysts mistook the youth’s dissatisfaction of the old ways for political apathy, a supposition which has now proven woefully false. Members hope that their movement can pave the way to a better, more transparent Peru.  It remains to be seen whether they will achieve this.

Kimberly Hidalgo Hernandez

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

5 Ways AI Will Revolutionize Travel

AI is changing the way travelers make decisions through personalized features ranging from customer service to travel planners.

AI is changing global travel. Mike MacKenzie. CC BY 2.0.

Imagine 10 years from now, you feel like setting out on a journey. With a few taps on your device you scroll through a customized list of the best travel destinations tailored to your interests, budget, and preferences. After picking a destination you press a button that automatically reserves all the hotels, restaurants, and tickets to the tourist spots along the way. A smart application secures the best flight deal, leaving you to simply pack your bags and prepare for a personalized and extraordinary travel experience.

New digital  technologies have greatly impacted the travel industry in recent years, from online platforms for homestays and transportation to travel suggestions. With the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT in various aspects of travel, traveling will grow less stressful, more convenient, and more personal. As the world of travel resuscitates from a hiatus caused by the pandemic, the future of AI-powered travel will open the door to boundless  possibilities. Here are five ways AI could revolutionize the travel experience.

Personalized Travel Planner 

Designing a highly personalized travel plan with multiple features powered by AI is a growing trend for travelers around the globe. Yearning for a more authentic cultural experience beyond standard hotels, crowded tourist areas, and the overpriced local specialty, one-third of international travelers nowadays are interested in using digital assistants for travel research and booking. These individuals are also actively searching for information on hotels, flights, and destination activities online. Apps such as Booking, Expedia, and Hopper are reaping growing profits through their users by providing a one-stop shop for flights, car rentals, cruises, and other services

With AI algorithms able to analyze vast amounts of data and make predictions about travelers’ requirements, a personalized travel planner could provide recommendations for flights, accommodations, and activities based on a traveler’s specific needs. These platforms will allow users to input their information and leverage machine learning to generate a customized itinerary. Users have the ability to make edits and manage aspects of their trip as needed.

Organize Review  

Online reviews play a crucial role in travel decision-making, particularly as an increasing number of travelers opt for an “impulse trip”. Enticing reviews with vivid descriptions of an “ideal adventure” can be a persuasive factor for potential customers. However, the use of generative AI such as ChatGPT in crafting reviews can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, fake reviews produced by AI undermine the authenticity and credibility of the user-generated aspect of travel as a market product. On the other hand, AI can also provide a solution to this problem. Companies like Magpie use AI tools to perform sentiment analysis, which allows them to identify emerging trends and adjust their search ranking algorithms accordingly.

Booking Assistant  

You might be familiar with chatbot pop-ups on travel websites, where you can start a conversation with an AI assistant about the details of your journey. Booking flights and accommodations can be a challenging and time-consuming task as travelers sift through various flight fares and hotel prices in search of the best deal.  

An AI-powered booking assistant can simplify this process by constantly monitoring and predicting fluctuating prices in the travel industry and finding the most cost-effective options.  Travel and hospitality consulting firms, such as Altexsoft, have developed self-learning algorithms capable of forecasting future prices based on seasonal trends, demand growth, and special promotions. 

To improve the accessibility and convenience of their real-time prediction for users, popular social media platforms such as Facebook Messenger, Skype, WhatsApp, and Viber integrated chatbots that assist users throughout the booking process, offering a smooth and efficient experience. The deployment of chatbots on these widely used communication channels enables travel companies to reach a wider audience and provide more accessible support to customers.

Virtual Traveling

Bringing the world home might not be a distant dream with virtual reality (VR) technology. VR simulates an environment or three-dimensional space that users can interact with. With the personalizing features of AI, it is possible to create physically and emotionally immersive travel that is unique to each user without leaving the doorstep. After AI recommends the site according to your needs, companies like First Airlines can give you the options for immersive virtual reality travel “trips” to destinations like Hawaii, Rome, and Paris. You can enjoy first-class airline service with four-course meals and VR tours of the destination’s main sights. By using an interactive virtual experience that can accurately reproduce a real-world setting, tourists can gain a comprehensive understanding of a location before they visit it.

Enhanced Customer Service

AI chatbots have the potential to revolutionize customer service for travelers. These chatbots can provide real-time information and personalized assistance, such as helping travelers find their gate or answering a traveler’s questions about their destination. For example, according to Rajesh Naidu, senior vice president and chief architect at Expedia Group, their platform has generated 29 million virtual conversations, saving over 8 million hours of agent time. Some hotels, such as the Henn-na Hotel in Nagasaki, already employ multi-lingual robots for check-in and checkout processing. AI-powered instant translation services can help travelers negotiate last-minute changes with accommodation hosts and rental car providers who may speak different languages. Furthermore, each interaction with AI improves the quality of future communications.

Artificial Intelligence is poised to transform the travel industry by providing a customized travel experience. Utilizing its ability to analyze vast amounts of data, make accurate predictions, and facilitate smart communication, AI-powered travel promises to be both more enjoyable and less stressful. As technology continues to advance rapidly, the future of travel looks brighter and brighter.

Hope Zhu

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

OPINION: Why “Symbolic” European Monarchies Should Be Abolished

How European Monarchies help to cloak their country’s colonial past. 

Queen Elizabeth 1957, Library and Archives Canada, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The problem with symbolic monarchies is not the monarchs themselves. The late Queen Elizabeth was known for her steadfastness and dedication to her job. Eighty-five percent of people in Britain believe she was good for the country, and 87% think that she will be regarded as one of Britain’s greatest Monarchs. While not nearly as popular, a September 2022 poll suggests King Felipe VI of Spain is viewed positively by 56% of Spainiards.

Symbolic monarchies, whether ruled by someone good or bad, should be abolished because of the old imperialist powers they represent. Queen Elizabeth’s family ruled over an imperialist and colonialist Britain that denied freedom and self-government to millions of people around the world. In 1947, the same year Britain reluctantly granted India independence, the then Princess Elizabeth gave a speech on her 21st Birthday where, in reference to World War II, she claimed that “the British Empire has saved the world.” In 1948, a year later, the British governor of what is present-day Malaysia used brutal counterinsurgency tactics to fight communist national liberation uprisings. In 1952 in Kenya, to fight the anti-colonial Mau Mau insurgency, Britain created detention camps in which its agents  tortured tens of thousands of people.

The British Empire 1921, Vadac., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1953, Elizabeth became the Head of the new British Commonwealth, a neo-colonialist rebranding of the old Empire. Over the next 50 years, she would reign over the destabilizing and messy decolonization of Yemen, Cyprus, Apartheid South Africa, Jamaica, Hong Kong, and more. These poorly planned and often hasty withdrawals have left traumas of their own.

These atrocities are not directly the fault of Queen Elizabeth. She was Britain’s symbolic leader, not its head of government. She was also not blameless. Even if she did not outwardly condone them, many of Britain’s worst atrocities were committed in her name. While Britain was decolonizing, Queen Elizabeth spent years touring the “nations of the Commonwealth,” putting a smiling face on Britain’s remaining colonial Empire and glorifying its imperialism. 

It is not just Britain. The Bourbons, the current Spanish ruling family, has been on the throne since the 1700s. They have overseen the murder of thousands of Indigenous peoples, and the violent decolonizations of Latin America, the Philippines, Spanish holdings in Africa, and more. This is not to say Spain's current King, Felipe VI, who was crowned in 2014, is responsible for his ancestors’ actions. However, to have the descendants of such bloody tyrants still on the throne is an direct affront to the nations their ancestors colonized, who must still bear the fallout of European imperialism.

Armada Galleas, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Royal families are stubborn remnants of an imperial past, granting titles and privileges so ingrained in society that they are codified into law. 

In a modern democratic nation, there is no place for monarchs or royal families. The Age of Empires is over. It's beyond time to let their monarchies die with them.

Jeremy Giles

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

Earthquake in Turkey and Syria: What This Means for Regional Development

In the early hours of February 6th, Turkey and Syria were struck by a destructive earthquake that will have lasting implications for living standards.

Hatay, Turkey, 9 February 2023. CC BY 2.0

In the early morning of February 6, southeastern Turkey was hit by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake, running all the way through most parts of Syria. About 9 hours later another 7.5 quake rocked the Turkey-Syria border, with over 200 aftershocks recorded. The seismic phenomena have left  over 33,000 dead, a number that is expected to rise, buildings turned to rubble, and a region on the brink of developmental disaster. Survivors have been left homeless in the streets in sub-freezing temperatures with no access to food or water, struggling to find their loved ones amid the remains. 

Sitting on the Anatolian plate between two major faults - the North Anatolian Fault and the East Anatolian Fault - Turkey is vulnerable to strike-slip seismic activity. The main earthquake that occurred on Tuesday morning had its epicenter in the city of Nurdaği, located in the Gaziantep province, which is home to many Syrian refugees who have escaped that country’s Civil War. A developing nation, Turkey struggles to implement legitimate housing laws that keep buildings up to safety standards. The nation’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has reported that poorly enforced regulations played a role in making earthquakes so damaging, as buildings quickly collapsed due to their already vulnerable state. In Syria 11 years of conflict have made it nearly impossible to enforce building standards, and most cities already host vulnerable living conditions, the war leaving buildings and areas unstable and unprepared for seismic activity. 

What are the long-term implications of such natural disasters on this region of the world? Sitting on such an active fault line, with Syria to the south on the Arabia Plate Tectonic, Turkey and its neighbor could experience more quakes. Buildings which have not collapsed from this earthquake are at risk if there is any more seismic activity. At the moment Turkey and Syria both face a deep humanitarian crisis, and will soon have to come up with the money to rebuild. Turkey, already facing a turbulent economic situation, must now spend billions of dollars in a rebuilding project, combined with upcoming elections on May 14. The nation’s economic growth for 2023 could now be up to 2 percentage points less,  leaving the nation behind in its development goals. 

President Erdoğan has continued to threaten Syria’s Assad regime on political matters, which include his habitual threats to attack Kurdish groups in the northern part of Assad’s domain. However, both nations have agreed to offer each other diplomatic assistance and aid after this disaster, and accept international help for the wellbeing of their citizens. This type of earthquake diplomacy is also paving the way for other states with bilateral tensions, such as the United States and Russia, to collaborate with one another and assist Turkey and Syria for the sake of supporting human life and future development in the region.  

TO GET INVOLVED:

UNICEF is accepting donations and financial contributions to help on-the-ground volunteers get aid to children and families affected in both Turkey and Syria. For more information on getting involved, click here.

Save the Children is accepting donations to help surviving children receive food and shelter. To get involved, click here.

CDP has opened a Recovery Fund to help in the reconstruction of buildings in Turkey and Syria, as well as provide aid and resources for survivors. To donate, click here.

Kimberly Hidalgo

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

Life is Getting Harder For LGBTQ+ in China

China has had its reservations about the LGBTQ+ community in its recent history, but under Xi Jinping’s rule only traditional heterosexual values are accepted.

Shanghai Gay Pride 2009. Kris Krug. CC BY-SA 2.0

The LGBTQ+ community has never had it easy in China — from constant surveillance and intimidation to censorship and even police detention, the community has been met with constant repression. 

There was a period in the early 2000s, however, when it seemed as if things might have been changing. Gay clubs were flourishing, and there was a feeling of acceptance that came along with increased social services. Those days are gone, and the reality has become quite different under the rule of President Xi Jinping as China slowly becomes a more conservative country.

But it hasn’t always been like this. While many believe heterosexual traditions have been a hallmark of Chinese culture throughout history, this was not the case before the 19th century: centuries ago homosexuality wasn’t just accepted, but celebrated. One text entitled, “Passions of the Cut Sleeve” depicted an emperor and a servant sharing a bed. The emperor wanted to get out of bed, and to avoid disturbing the servant’s sleep, the emperor cut the sleeve the servant was resting on. While this act could be interpreted differently, the standard interpretation is that  it was done out of love.

This work was celebrated by scholars and is proof that the intolerance of homosexuality has never been a traditional aspect of Chinese culture. But when Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong rose to power later on in the 20th century, there was a sudden shift in attitude. 

LGBTQ Flag. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory - PNNL. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

He encouraged China to embrace modernity. That meant exposing the country to Western culture, which also included exposure to Western concepts of sexuality and, therefore, Western homophobia. Mao imported the notion that homosexuality was an illness and that same-sex attraction was a mental disorder that needed to be cured. Up until 1997, men caught engaging in homosexual acts could be persecuted with charges  of “hooliganism,” a crime that that offended against public order.

Today being gay is not illegal in China, but that doesn’t mean the negative stigma around homosexuality has changed. When Xi Jinping became president in 2012, the old Western-inspired values on what a family should look like have come to dominate society once again, to the point where the pressure to remain in the closet became almost unbearable.

There are many people in the Chinese LGBTQ+ community who refuse to fake their “straightness” and have therefore left their homeland. This is known as “sexual migration” and mostly occurs due to both external and internal pressures. 

Internet platforms have also stepped in to enforce the party line. The popular TV show “Friends” had a plotline involving main character Ross’ lesbian ex-wife which has been censored in China, along with any other mentions of the LGBTQ+ community and sex. The gay-dating service app Grindr has also been removed from China’s Apple app store. 

China is growing more suspicious and even hostile to homosexuality, labeling it as a “Western influence.” Being bisexual, gay, or trans is ironically seen as a Western  import and is increasingly not accepted. Homosexuality may have been decriminalized in 1997, but is still very much confined to the shadows.

Michelle Tian

Michelle is a senior at Boston University, majoring in journalism and minoring in philosophy. Her parents are first-generation immigrants from China, so her love for different cultures and traveling came naturally at a young age. After graduation, she hopes to continue sharing important messages through her work

Battling Air Pollution in Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar’s coal addiction is fueling a public health crisis

Smog impedes mountain view. Mongolia, 2010.. Einar Fredrikse.CC BY-SA 2.0.

Many associate Mongolia with a picturesque scene of snow-white sheep roaming the prairies and a chilly, crisp wind sweeping over Bogd Khairkhan Mountain. In sharp contrast to these images, the level of air pollution is 27 times more than the healthy level that the World Health Organization(WHO) recommends, with 687 micrograms or particulate matter per cubic meter invading the Land of the Eternal Blue Sky. Ganjargal Dembrel, a doctor from the northern part of Ulaanbaatar who responded to a house call, said he no longer “knows what a healthy lung sounds like,” with none to be found in his neighborhood, according to his interview with National Geographic.“Everybody has bronchitis or some other problem, especially during winter, ” he said. As Dembrel suggests, the severity of Mongolia’s air pollution is threatening the public health of the country in a way known as “slow violence.” Coined by Rob Nixon, a professor in the Department of Humanities and the Environment at Princeton University, the phrase refers to the adverse impact of climate change, deforestation, acidifying oceans, and other hazardous environmental crises on underprivileged or minority communities. According to Nixon, “slow violence” is largely invisible in the short term, but is detrimental over years, decades, and even centuries, solidifying environmental injustice in the worst-hit regions. The current situation in Mongolia is the case in point.

The primary cause of Mongolia's air pollution is its reliance on coal and other fossil fuels. Households in Mongolia depend on burning coals to remain warm during the winter season, which is the third coldest winter in the world: the temperature can fall as low as -40°F. F. 

During the sub-freezing winter, research found that the residential district in Ulaanbaatar, known as the “ger”, burns around 600,000 tons of raw coal for heating purposes. The  coal consumed by ger areas accounts for 80% of the current air pollution in the city. In addition, the geographic features of Ulaanbaatar accumulate the devastation of air pollution. High mountains surrounding Ulaanbaatar’s urban areas, which have lower wind speeds, block air pollutants from dissipation. 

Home to 3.3 million people, Mongolia faces substantial challenges posed by the aftermath of its climate crisis. The fine particulate matter in the air of Ulaanbaatar contributed to 28.8% of deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and lung disease. Among the impacted population, the children are the most vulnerable. The second leading cause of death for children under the age of 5 in Mongolia is pneumonia, a lung infection. In the highly polluted area of Ulaanbaatar, children have 40% lower lung function than their peers living in rural areas. 

Studies have also found that pollution imposes a high risk to reproductive health. In January, the month of peak pollution, the amount of successfully delivered infants relative to conceptions in Mongolia was reduced by 3.2-fold. The alarming infliction of climate disasters hits the next generation of Mongolians hardest.

To reduce air pollution, governments, organizations, and individuals in Mongolia and around the world are taking action. The Mongolian government passed the “Law on Air Quality” in 2012, implementing policies such as subsidizing household electricity. It also bans raw coal starting in May 2019, replacing it with refined coal. Though not without pushback from weak municipal execution and economic depression, the overall situation is improving. Winter of 2019 saw a dramatic decrease of particulate matter by 2.5 falling 42% compared to the previous year.  It remains to be seen whether these measures and others will be able to fully tackle Ulaanbaatar's pollution problem. 

Non-profit international organizations such as Geres and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) also partner with the government to mitigate the pollution. UNICEF is working with  nongovernmental organizations on programs including training health workers’ skills and knowledge, increasing families’ access to affordable medication, and raising public awareness of the effect of pollution. Geres, a development NGO working in Europe, Africa, and Asia, coordinates projects such as the energy renovation of fragile housing in Ulaanbaatar that aims to eradicate the primary cause of air pollution.

The future holds promise for Mongolia as long as all parties involved take responsibility and work together to protect the environment and public health. Tackling air pollution is a shared responsibility for the government, international organizations, and individuals, and will require immense effort to transition to a more sustainable urbanization model for the traditionally nomadic nation.

To Get Involved:

The UNICEF Mongolia country office works in close partnership with the Government of Mongolia, NGOs, and local communities to protect child rights in Mongolia from access to resources to educate about the environment and air pollution. Find out more about UNICEF here.

Geres is working on multiple projects that contribute to sustainable, energy-efficient development in Ulaanbaatar and other major cities in Mongolia. Learn more about their program and how you can take action here.

Hope Zhu

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