Posts in Global
Burkina Faso’s Second Coup of 2022 and What It Could Mean for the Future

“A series of raids orchestrated by extremist groups has recently left dozens of soldiers and civilians alike dead or missing, which provided a catalyst for the Burkina Faso army to depose Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, and replace him with Captain Ibrahim Traoré. In a televised statement made by Traoré, he justified the change in power due to Damiba’s inability to suppress a burgeoning Islamist insurgency in the north and east of the nation that has driven over two million people — or 10% of the population — from their homes.”

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The Moai Statues of Easter Island Suffered Irreversible Damage from Fire: What Does the Future Hold for the Island’s Tourism Industry?

“Repetitive damage to the island’s cultural relics and statues pose a threat to the preservation of the Rapa Nui people and way of life. Many wonder if selling the island as a tourist attraction is worth losing its rich, beautiful history.“

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Quebec Election - A New Direction for Nationalism?

“Beyond the CAQ’s sweeping victory, the election results are also notable for the sharp defeat of the Parti Quebecois and its platform of full independence from Ottawa. Yet the decline of the party most traditionally linked with Quebec separatism is not a decline of the nationalist project itself. Rather, the victory of the CAQ marks a redefinition, not a repudiation, of Quebec nationalism.”

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Diplomatic Escalations in the Russia-Ukraine War

“We have passed two hundred and twenty five days into the Russia-Ukraine war; Russia’s international support falls as Putin threatens nuclear escalation, and the west suspects the Kremlin of attacks on Europe’s energy infrastructure. Ukraine works to entrench its security guarantees as Russia annexes four of its regions.”

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War Crimes In Ukraine and the UN Charter: An Inadequate Mechanism of Protection?

“After a thorough investigation, a United Nations commission recently concluded that Russia committed war crimes in Ukraine, which has incited even more outrage from world leaders. UN Secretary-General António Guterres even warned that these recent developments could lead to “an endless cycle of horror and bloodshed.” The beginning of a discussion involving war crimes requires an examination of the UN Charter, which President Biden referred to in his recent speech to the UN General Assembly.”

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Increased Polarization Evident in French Presidential Election

“On April 24, almost 48 million registered voters will be able to cast their votes for either Emmanuel Macron or Marine Le Pen to become the next French president. Both survived the first round of voting, coming out as the top two contenders amongst a group of 12 total candidates. While such a result was expected by many experts, the results from the first round of elections showed an increasingly polarized political arena in France as voters take more extreme positions.”

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The Modern Tragedy of Healthcare Inequality Across the Globe

“Healthcare inequality happens on a macro and micro level. At a micro level, each nation's people can find commonality in the struggle to secure lifesaving healthcare services, treatments, and medication. People within these nations often cannot access these treatments unless they are affluent. On the macro level, wealthier nations have proportionately better healthcare access than poorer nations.“

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Lead Poisoning: A Global Epidemic

“Anka, Nigeria displays how collaborative work for humanitarian goals cannot be understated for their lasting and beneficial impact. Unfortunately, Anka is not the only region that faces the dangers of lead contamination. Lead poisoning is an epidemic…[it’s] gravity cannot be underestimated, it is potent and fatal, and has long term consequences that can extend past generations.”

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Volunteers from Around the World Join the War in Ukraine

“Less than a month ago, Brazilian shooting instructor Tiago Rossi had no active combat experience; today, he is fighting as a volunteer for Ukraine against Russia, one of the world’s strongest militaries. “I came here to fulfill my mission - if I die it’s because that’s how God willed it,” Rossi said of his decision. According to Ukrainian officials, he is one of almost 16,000 international volunteers who has signed up to join Ukraine’s new International Legion of Territorial Defense.”

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A Sphere of Fractured Influence: Why Putin Has Waged Unprovoked War in Ukraine and NATO’s Involvement in Aiding the Crisis

“Given the history of political and ideological conflict between Western nations and Russia, recent Ukrainian alignment with Western nations as well as NATO has been perceived as betrayal by Putin. With former Soviet nations like Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania already members of NATO, Putin faces a waning sphere of Russian influence in Eastern Europe. Putin’s manifestation of war in Ukraine reveals his fear of losing political influence, as demonstrated by his impetuous and desperate military endeavor to maintain political influence and power over Ukraine.”

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The World Has Moved to Sanction Russia. Will It Make a Difference?

“Still, this conflict has only been going on for a relatively short period of time (12 days). No one knows how strong Russia’s resolve is in bearing the costs of these sanctions. No one can say whether these sanctions will help bring an end to this war. However, history has shown that sanctions cause real human suffering and have yet to win major concessions for the U.S.”

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