MADRID, Spain — A lack of quality education can deprive people of achieving development in the future. Access to public education is a human right and should be prioritized by governments worldwide. Initiatives, such as Resolution 240 and the Global Partnership for Education, support quality education for all children. The Importance of Education Having access to quality education is essential when considering someone’s future. Individuals with an academic background can contribute to families, communities and the economy. Schools also create a safe and inclusive environment for students to freely express their opinions and learn from others. In addition, education creates more…
Author: Lynsey Alexander
TACOMA, Washington — Africa is a continent rich in natural abundance. This abundance ranges from resources to people, environments and wildlife as well as thought and ideology. People have historically taken advantage of these various abundances through varyingly nefarious means. For each nation on this continent, regaining control of their nations and regions has been as much economic as socio-political. A nation like Cameroon, located on the western coast of sub-Saharan Africa, is absolutely perfect to demonstrate this struggle across modern times. Cameroon: A Brief Economic Summary Since Independence After achieving independence from the French in 1960, Cameroon quickly rose…
SCARSDALE, New York — Amelie Zilber, the 19-year-old daughter of film producer Laurent Zilber and actress Christina Zilber, has grown on social media over the past few years. Unlike most influencers, Amelie has used her platform as a way of educating followers on politics, foreign affairs and society’s most pressing issues. Zilber has over two million followers on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. How Did Zilber’s Interests in Global Issues Start? Zilber’s interests in world issues, specifically Middle Eastern affairs, stem from her family dinners. In one of Zilber’s YouTube videos, she explains that growing up, her mom and brother used…
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia — A refugee crisis is brewing in Afghanistan after the Taliban’s stunning and rapid advance across the country, and as such, time is of the essence. The crisis in Kabul calls for an expansive Afghan refugee resettlement policy. Conditions in Afghanistan One of the primary factors motivating thousands of Afghans to flee is the threat of violence and reprisals by the Taliban. Those “who assisted U.S. government as well as “women, religious and ethnic minorities, human rights activists, journalists and members of the LGBT community” are all at risk considering the Taliban’s history of horrific human rights abuses.…
SEATTLE, WA — Thousands of children are recruited all over the world to take part in armed conflicts. Often referred to as child soldiers, they are usually abducted by state or non-state armed groups and forced to take part as fighters, cooks, suicide bombers, human shields or are sexually exploited. Child soldiers are forcefully recruited through abduction, coercion, exploitation and manipulation by armed forces. Other times, children become soldiers in order to escape poverty or defend their communities. Regardless of the reason, the recruitment of children for armed conflicts violates child rights and international humanitarian law. Because of the coronavirus…
TACOMA, Washington — Sports are an effective way to ameliorate the conditions of poverty in developing countries. Implementing sports programs or networks of competitive teams in impoverished communities provide opportunities to gain life skills. These new skills and community can then be utilized to overcome hurdles thrust on those living in poverty. In Haiti, soccer is one sport sparking hope for rural communities to rise out of poverty. GOALS Haiti is one organization specifically demonstrating how sports can be used as a tool to fight poverty. The Positive Impacts of Sports Some of the most significant effects of playing sports…
SUISUN CITY, California — African Swine Fever (ASF) is a deadly and contagious disease that has been lowering pork production, devastating peoples’ incomes and causing malnutrition. It has spread across continents from Africa to Europe, and most recently, to Asia and Southeast Asia. This is most devastating to the continent, which produced 60% of the world’s pork, according to an interview with Dr. Gregorio Torres from the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health). This disease affects all wild and domestic pigs. Though ASF does not spread to humans, it has killed pigs used in backyard and commercial farms throughout the…
SEATTLE, Washington — Since the discovery of oil in the late 1930s, Saudi Arabia’s economy has changed dramatically. The country became the largest supplier of petroleum in the world as a result. It is now one of the richest countries in the Arab region. The Saudis enjoy generally good living conditions compared to other Arab countries. Although Saudi Arabia is struggling to overcome poverty and other issues that ravage parts of its community, a future vision is also coming to light and bringing changes. When oil prices decreased drastically in 2015, affecting the revenue budget of the country, Prince Mohammed…
ANN ARBOR, Michigan — Millions of people adapt to unfamiliar languages and cultures to integrate into a brand new society. Language barriers are some of the biggest challenges to accessing resources and fitting into a new country. Some migrants must leave their homes to escape dangerous circumstances while others might leave for education or work opportunities. The experience of moving to a new country varies depending on the distance traveled, similarities or differences between cultures, rules and regulations in the host country, discrimination and the person’s intended length of stay. Helping migrants integrate into their new environments is not just…
TACOMA, Washington – Costa Rica is widely known for its incredible biodiversity, lush landscapes and iconic wildlife. During the past several decades, Costa Rica has become a global leader in environmental sustainability. The country has shown steady economic growth. In fact, according to The World Bank, Costa Rica has one of the lowest poverty rates in Latin America and the Caribbean. However, despite healthy growth rates, Costa Rica has not been able to significantly reduce its poverty rate for the last twenty years. Parque La Libertad, located in the Costa Rican province of San Jose, aims to break the cycle…