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Contents contributed and discussions participated by juliam814

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'Nothing Will Be the Same': A Prison Town Weighs a Future Without a Prison - The New Yo... - 5 views

www.nytimes.com/...california-prison-closing.html NYTimes California prison
shared by juliam814 on 10 Jan 22 - No Cached
  • now almost every aspect of the town’s economy and civic life, from real estate to local schools, depends on the prison
  • Perhaps inevitably, then, the plans to close the prison have become political. Most of the town’s leaders say they believe the plans are a vendetta from Mr. Newsom to punish them for their conservative politics, rather than the fruition of efforts over many years to change the criminal justice system, some approved by voters through ballot measures.
  • The announcement that California would close two prisons was hailed as a milestone by activists, the culmination of years of new sentencing laws and the work of liberal prosecutors that sharply reduced the number of people in prisons across the state. At their most crowded, California prisons housed more than 160,000 people. Today, they hold just under 100,000.
  • juliam814 on 10 Jan 22
     
    A town in California protests the closing of their local prison, arguing that it destroy their town and economy. As inmate numbers decline, Governor Newsom announced the close of two prisons, and this town is taking it as an attack on their conservative political views.
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Why New York Is Unearthing a Brook It Buried a Century Ago - The New York Times - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...s-brook-bronx-daylighting.html NYTimes NewYork
shared by juliam814 on 07 Dec 21 - No Cached
  • juliam814 on 07 Dec 21
     
    New York City, which which was built atop rivers and wetlands, is planning to daylight Tibbetts Brooke in an effort to replace outdated infrastructure. This would hopefully reduce flood damage, which has been increased by climate change.
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As World Shuts Borders to Stop Omicron, Japan Offers a Cautionary Tale - The New York T... - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...omicron-japan-border.html NYTimes economy Japan Covid-19
shared by juliam814 on 29 Nov 21 - No Cached
  • Japan has gone further than most other countries so far, announcing on Monday that the world’s third-largest economy would be closed off to travelers from everywhere.
  • Over the many months that Japan has been isolated, thousands of life plans have been suspended, leaving couples, students, academic researchers and workers in limbo.
  • The government’s decision to close again reflects its desire to preserve its successes battling the virus and to prevent the kind of strain on the health care system that it experienced over the summer during an outbreak of the Delta variant.
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  • “Trust should be put in Japan’s success on the vaccination front,” the council said. “And Japan and its people are now firmly in a position to reap the economic rewards.”
  • “I don’t know what else to do,” he added. “This pandemic seems endless.”
  • juliam814 on 29 Nov 21
     
    I wonder if the seemingly perpetual nature of this pandemic will cause the people to question government legitimacy. Japan's isolation, while drastic compared to most places, has been beneficial to health, but it may hinder many other areas of potential growth.
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Infographic: What has your country pledged at COP26? | Infographic News | Al Jazeera - 0 views

www.aljazeera.com/...-your-country-pledged-at-cop26 AlJazeera COP26
shared by juliam814 on 14 Nov 21 - No Cached
  • juliam814 on 14 Nov 21
     
    This article is contains a bunch infographics that easily summarize which countries promised what at COP26.
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"No photo!": A visual essay of Haiti - 5 views

apnews.com/...b19a8f84b4a6297f352cc5adf4262a Haiti
shared by juliam814 on 07 Nov 21 - No Cached
Kay Bradley liked it
  • juliam814 on 07 Nov 21
     
    This article is a photo essay depicting the dichotomy between socioeconomic classes in Haiti.
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Haiti out of control: rich seek visas to come to Dominican Republic - 0 views

dominicantoday.com/...-to-come-to-dominican-republic economy Haiti economics
shared by juliam814 on 01 Nov 21 - No Cached
  • The terror being imposed by the gang groups that control neighborhoods and streets of Port-au-Prince, Cap Haitian, and other cities of Haiti, the generalized insecurity, unemployment, business bankruptcy, lack of food, fuel, and other evils, is driving many Haitians of upper and middle class to seek visas in the Dominican consulates in Haiti, to settle here.
  • juliam814 on 01 Nov 21
     
    Rich Haitians have the resources to escape the gang violence of many major Haitian cities, while most live in poverty.
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Haiti crippled by fuel shortages as gang leader demands prime minister resign | Reuters - 0 views

www.reuters.com/...ime-minister-resign-2021-10-26 economy Haiti economics
shared by juliam814 on 01 Nov 21 - No Cached
  • Haiti's streets were unusually quiet on Tuesday and gasoline stations remained dry as gangs blocked the entrance to ports that hold fuel stores and the country's main gang boss demanded that Prime Minister Ariel Henry resign.
  • The situation has put further pressure on a population already struggling under a weakening economy and a wave of gang kidnappings, which include the abduction earlier this month of a group of Canadian and American missionaries.
  • juliam814 on 01 Nov 21
     
    Gasoline shortages, caused by a major gang boss, pressure Haiti's weak economy.
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Desperate Haitians suffocate under growing power of gangs - 0 views

apnews.com/...93b917718e5f67f27317e765c410aa Haiti economy economics
shared by juliam814 on 01 Nov 21 - No Cached
  • Gang violence waxes and wanes depending on the state of Haiti’s economy, its political situation and, at one point, the presence of United Nations peacekeepers.
  • Experts believe much of this activity is driven by extreme poverty in a country where 60% of the population makes less than $2 a day and millions of people go hungry.
  • The country’s GDP dropped to -3.3% last year, the biggest decrease since the -5.7 drop that followed a devastating 2010 earthquake. In addition, the Haitian gourde depreciated more than 50% in the past year, and inflation remains above 10%, which has reduced purchasing power, said Haitian economist Enomy Germain.
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  • Gangs also choke Haiti’s economy by blocking gas distribution terminals and major transportation routes — moves that prevent goods from flowing through the country. Many gas stations now remain closed for days at a time.
  • juliam814 on 01 Nov 21
     
    Haitians resort to participating in gangs due to extreme poverty.
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'Squid Game' cryptocurrency up nearly 2,400% in the last 24 hours - 0 views

www.cnbc.com/...cent-in-the-last-24-hours.html Cryptocurrency
shared by juliam814 on 01 Nov 21 - No Cached
  • juliam814 on 01 Nov 21
     
    A new type of cryptocurrency was launched as the exclusive coin of a crypto play to earn platform.
  • juliam814 on 01 Nov 21
     
    "We are in a cryptocurrency bubble right now and it will crash and cause a recession" - Elizabeth
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Brazil's Economy Minister shakes markets with unexpected announcement - MercoPress - 0 views

en.mercopress.com/...s-with-unexpected-announcement Brazil economy
shared by juliam814 on 28 Oct 21 - No Cached
  • In that scenario, the Brazilian real fell 1.7% against the US dollar, closing at 1 US $ = 5.65 R $, the highest rate in 2021, while Sao Paulo's stock exchange Bovespa index recorded a 2.3% contraction.
  • Thus, the Government announced it intended to increase the Auxilio Brasil plan by 20%, which in November will replace Bolsa Familia, the successful aid program set in place by the opposition Workers' Party (PT) in 2003 and which has reportedly rescued 54 million people from poverty.
  • The decision means each family will receive R $ 400 (US $ 71) from Bolsonaro's Auxilio Brasil plan, with which the incumbent head of state aims at defeating former President and opposition leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva next year.
  • juliam814 on 28 Oct 21
     
    The Brazilian government plans to give people more money, probably in an attempt from President Bolsonaro to get votes.
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Venezuela introduces new currency, drops six zeros | Business and Economy | Al Jazeera - 0 views

www.aljazeera.com/...s-new-currency-drops-six-zeros Venezuela AlJazeera economy
shared by juliam814 on 28 Oct 21 - No Cached
  • As of Friday, seven one-million bolivar notes – the highest denomination and very hard to come by – were required to pay in cash for one loaf of bread.
  • juliam814 on 28 Oct 21
     
    Venezuela introduces a new currency to combat inflation.
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Guatemala's growing palm oil industry fuels Indigenous land fight | Indigenous Rights N... - 0 views

www.aljazeera.com/...ry-fuels-indigenous-land-fight Guatemala Police Indigenous Conflict
shared by petertimpane on 20 Oct 21 - No Cached
  • Community members accuse a Guatemalan company of planting oil palm on their traditional lands, and they have built homes to reclaim the disputed tract – spurring an eviction notice, several police operations, and a day of deadly violence that remains ever-present in the memory of the settlement’s more than 500 residents.
  • One of the principal causes has been the institutional weakness of the State to address the legal certainty of land and to guarantee the human rights of citizens. This absence of the State definitely generates conditions for conflicts
  • Last year, Guatemala produced some 880,000 tonnes of crude palm oil. Roughly 80 percent of it is exported, mainly to Mexico, a few European countries, and other Central American nations. Palm oil and its derived ingredients are commonly found in processed foods, cosmetics, and cleaning products.
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  • NaturAceites, one of Guatemala’s top palm companies, claims ownership of the land under dispute and had planted it with oil palm. Maya Q’eqchi’ residents claim it historically belongs to Chinebal.
  • Police operations have struck fear in many community members, but Chaman’s killing has also sparked anger and determination.
  • juliam814 on 20 Oct 21
     
    Indigenous people in Guatemala are disputing with palm oil companies over the land used for plantations. The State has not been able to properly address these tensions, and the people live in fear of police operations (evictions and murders).
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Pfizer to Vaccinate Entire City of Toledo in Brazil As Part of Study - The New York Times - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...entire-city-toledo-brazil.html Brazil NYTimes Covid-19 Vaccinations
shared by juliam814 on 20 Oct 21 - No Cached
  • Pfizer announced that it would fully vaccinate everyone in the city over the age of 12 so it can carry out a study of the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.
  • Brazil has suffered one of the world’s highest death tolls from the pandemic.
  • The study will follow participants for up to one year to investigate how long vaccine protection lasts against Covid-19 and new virus variants.
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  • Many Brazilians have expressed anger at how slowly their government acquired vaccines and a corruption scandal involving vaccine deals.
  • juliam814 on 20 Oct 21
     
    To contrast with President Bolsonaro's Covid-19 response, this town in Brazil is allowing Pfizer to test the lasting effects of an entirely vaccinated (ages 12 and up) city.
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U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Heat Up Again After Extradition of Maduro Ally - The New York T... - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...venezuela-maduro-biden.html Venezuela NYTimes
shared by juliam814 on 20 Oct 21 - No Cached
  • Alex Saab, a close adviser to Mr. Maduro, was extradited to the United States on charges of money laundering and links to Hezbollah, and the window of opportunity for a political resolution slammed shut — at least for now.
  • “But I think it’s also indicative, unfortunately, of Mr. Maduro putting self-interests ahead of the interests of the Venezuelan people,” Mr. Blinken said.
  • The United States still views Juan Guaidó, the former head of Venezuela’s National Assembly who attended President Donald J. Trump’s last State of the Union speech in 2020, as Venezuela’s interim leader.
  • juliam814 on 20 Oct 21
     
    After a slight turn towards the better, the relationship between Venezuela and the United States has tensed up again. After one of Maduro's allies, Alex Saab, was extradited (handed over (a person accused or convicted of a crime) to the jurisdiction of the foreign state in which the crime was committed), Maduro called off all negotiations with the US that could have lead to rapprochement. This article then details some of the mistrust the US government has in Maduro.
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Attempt to charge Mexican scientists with 'organized crime' prompts international outcry - 1 views

www.nature.com/...d41586-021-02816-9 Mexico
shared by juliam814 on 20 Oct 21 - No Cached
  • the government prosecutor was planning to charge him and 30 other Mexican academics and former government administrators with organized crime and money laundering.
  • such charges are typically reserved for narcotics traffickers, and are so serious that even just a formal accusation can result in incarceration in a maximum-security prison without the chance of bail until a trial is held.
  • The prosecutor alleges that between 2012 and 2018, before current Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador was in office, Conacyt and the Foro partnered to funnel 471 million pesos (US$22.9 million) of the agency’s money into the Foro.
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  • “We share the concern of many members of the international scientific community that our Mexican scientific colleagues are being subjected to harassment and intimidation,” NASEM wrote in a 6 October missive to López Obrador. “In addition to the disturbing human rights aspects of their situation, we are worried that the actions against our colleagues may have a chilling effect on the broader Mexican scientific community.”
  • juliam814 on 20 Oct 21
     
    The Mexican government accused 31 Mexican scientists of money laundering, sparking discussion about the treatment of academics and many doubts over the validity of the accusations.
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The End of a 'Gilded Age': China Is Bringing Business to Heel - The New York Times - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...china-businesses.html NYTimes China economy
shared by juliam814 on 05 Oct 21 - No Cached
  • juliam814 on 05 Oct 21
     
    China's leader Xi Jinping has started limiting business executive's power and changing how business functions within China to achieve stronger state control. Many companies lost their protections, and some executives were sent to jail. Xi Jinping is attempting to end China's Gilded Age and move to more of a Progressive Era.
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Manny Pacquiao: Boxing star to run for Philippines president - BBC News - 0 views

www.bbc.com/...world-asia-58614108 Philippines President Election
shared by juliam814 on 19 Sep 21 - No Cached
  • juliam814 on 19 Sep 21
     
    Manny Pacquiao, a boxer and current Senator, is running for president, campaigning against poverty and corruption. Current president Rodrigo Duterte is ineligible to run for president again, but he is eligible to run for vice president. I think it is interesting that the president and vice president are separate on the ballot, so they may be from different parties.
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Abortion Is No Longer a Crime in Mexico. But Will Doctors Object? - The New York Times - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...mexico-abortion-objectors.html NYTimes Abortion Mexico
shared by juliam814 on 14 Sep 21 - No Cached
  • juliam814 on 14 Sep 21
     
    Abortion was decriminalized in Mexico, but this decision faced lots of backlash, with many doctors saying that they would still not perform abortions. Also, there seems to be a general negative response or maybe a stigma around abortions.
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Taliban Fighters Crush a Women's Protest Amid Flickers of Resistance - The New York Times - 1 views

www.nytimes.com/...test-afghanistan-panjshir.html NYTimes Afghanistan Taliban
shared by juliam814 on 05 Sep 21 - No Cached
  • juliam814 on 05 Sep 21
     
    Women in Afghanistan held a protest to demand inclusion and rights, but were brutally shut down by Taliban fighters. This is some of the first evidence of mistreatment of women by the Taliban, coming shortly after a representative from the Taliban promised to respect women's rights. Other resistance has faced similar outcomes, but neither the women protestors nor any other opposing forces want to surrender.
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