On October 2nd, thousands of women marched in the streets of Washington D.C. and surrounded the Supreme Court, demanding that the justices uphold their right to an abortion. They shouted, “My body, my choice,” holding up signs of protest as they marched with fervor.
Read MoreYears ago, when Rachel Krengel and her family went into debt, Krengel said that menstrual products became “the first thing under the bus.” Krengel was forced to ration her menstrual products and would regularly use sanitary pads for close to a full day, instead of the recommended three to four hours—not only was this a health risk, but Krengel’s everyday functioning was disrupted by this. In fact, Krengel would have to sacrifice menstrual products to put food on the table instead.
Read MoreOn February 1st, military tanks began rolling into the capital city of Myanmar, Naypyitaw, and two other large cities, Yangon and Mandalay, effectively blocking roads. In an early morning raid the same day, the military (known as Tatmadaw), detained the democrat civilian leader Suu Kyi and other senior officials of the government. The military had successfully carried out a coup d'etat and officially seized control of Myanmar.
Read MoreIn the Nov. 8, 2020 parliamentary election in Myanmar, the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 396 out of 476 seats. The Union Solidarity and Development party (USDP)—a proxy for the Burmese military—lost to the NLD by claiming only 33 seats. The USDP contested the results, appealing to the Union Election Commission. The commission dismissed the allegation of voter fraud due to a lack of evidence.
Read MoreAmerican politicians are often humorously characterized in pop culture as disgustingly rich, self-serving, and entirely uncaring of the people they govern. They might be depicted smoking cigars, scheming, and cutting ruthless deals with other slimy characters to secure a big stack of cash. But how much of this caricature is fiction?
Read MoreNearly eleven million kids live in poverty in the U.S., or 1 out of 7 children. In the land of opportunity, many are denied resources equal to that of their own peers. With millions of children falling behind due to lack of food, stable housing, and healthcare, there is ample work to be done. Current assistance for low-income children and their parents is a patchwork of niche programs, temporary assistance, needless requirements, and bureaucratic burdens. To fix these broken aspects, assistance to the poor should embrace the goal of ensuring each child receives, at a minimum, adequate nutrition, housing, and healthcare.
Read MoreCongressional staffers are perhaps the most overworked and underpaid individuals on Capitol Hill. These finely dressed, experienced and educated individuals are the engine that keeps the federal government running. Yet murmurs of living off of food stamps and being unable to afford dry-cleaning can be heard echoing throughout the offices of our nation’s representatives.
Read MoreThe rainbow flags that filled Munich’s Allianz Arena during the European Championships soccer game between Germany and Hungary on June 23, 2021, signaled the approach of a new storm cloud over the European Union. A week prior, Hungary’s pseudo-autocratic ruling party Fidesz and its prime minister, Viktor Orban, passed a law banning the depiction of LGBTQ content in schools or for anyone under 18 years old. The justification given was typical for the Hungarian government, which sees itself as a bulwark against anti-Christian forces within Europe
Read MoreDevastating flare-ups between Israel and Palestine have become commonplace news that we seem to routinely observe in a seemingly never ending cycle. However, the tragic recent war between the Israeli government and Hamas, the fundamentalist militant group that has controlled Gaza since 2007, has already brought drastic new developments and may very well lead to the political and social changes necessary to promote a long term path for peace and a better life for the civilians involved.
Read MoreWhile there has been increasing awareness more than ever about unethical Big Pharma, many people are unaware about the role of universities in the drug delivery pipeline. They are crucial in the discovery process and are often the root of unfair licensing and patenting practices. A study conducted to assess the contribution universities have to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies showed that of the 252 drugs approved by the FDA between 1998 and 2007, 24% of the drugs were discovered at a university.
Read MoreThe world is at a precipice of a new Cold War embroiling the Russian Federation with the United States of America. Since its inception after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian bear has clawed its way through Ukraine and Georgia, and has thrown itself into conflicts in the Middle East and diplomatic spats with Europe. As during the Cold War, the Russians are labeled as a direct threat to US strategic interests, a label which has not been printed since 1991.
Read MoreFor decades, tensions between Japan and South Korea have continued to rise. Despite other countries, including the United States, urging the two to reconcile, efforts to fully resolve the conflict have failed thus far. The countries have had countless disputes with each other, legal, economic, and security related. Many people, including most Japanese civilians, are unaware of the true cause of this rocky relationship. However, this cause can be traced back to Japan’s history of abuse, denials, censorship and lack of accountability.
Read MoreAfter staggering economic decline, increasing political instability, a massive blast at the port of Beirut that claimed over 200 Lebanese lives, and the displacement of nearly 300,000 others, the Lebanese state seems to be on the verge of total collapse. While the political elite and powerful political parties fight to maintain their grip on power as well as the status quo, ongoing protests and continued youth mobilization work to fight against the country’s dire situation.
Read MoreRecently while driving across the barren plains from California to Oklahoma, I was reminded of how vast America is. It is easy to forget this when you are a California resident accustomed to the hustle and bustle of urban life. While nearly 39.1 percent of the population of America huddles along the coasts, millions of people live in rural areas across the United States. Along Interstate 40, there are long stretches where no towns or gas stations can be seen for miles.
Read MoreChange is coming to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and it’s coming soon. For too long, the NCAA has operated under a restrictive model of amateurism for its student-athletes. Under this model, the only compensation that a student-athlete can receive is an athletic scholarship, in addition to secondary aid such as tutoring, medical services, or equipment. But when student-athletes fill out their clearance forms prior to the start of every new school year, they sign away something crucial: control over their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).
Read MoreThe power of the Länder has proven a thorn in Merkel’s side throughout the pandemic. In the United States, states have the power to set their own public health guidelines. Huge policy discrepancies have arisen as a result, as states like Texas have removed all restrictions while states such as California have hewed much closer to the guidance of public health experts.
Read MoreBased on the results of the 2020 US Census, California will be losing a seat in the House of Representatives, going down from 53 to 52 seats, for the first time in the state’s history. This loss of a House seat is another sign of what red state conservatives have called the California exodus, or the mass migration of Californians out of the state.
Read MoreA lack of housing is contributing to homelessness, reducing economic growth, and contributing to existing income inequality. And affordable housing is necessary to remove the economic barriers that are holding back America’s cities. In order to address these interconnected and pervasive problems, bold housing policies must be enacted. These are local issues with national implications.
Read MoreOn March 23rd, Israeli citizens voted in the fourth legislative election Israel has held in the past two years. Each of these elections has been an inconclusive referendum on current prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is under indictment on three corruption related charges and seems to care more about personal power than the good of Israel.
Read MoreGenerally, without a concerted effort to preempt this reemerging threat in 2021, ISIS is likely to capitalize on the pressing economic and public health challenges in Iraq and Syria and continue to expand until the U.S. and coalition partners are forced to address the problem, which will have worsened exponentially.
Read More
