Group items tagged

"For, above all, it is the chasm between the rich and poor in our societies and on a global level that Covid-19 has unlocked. The fatal flaw of the Enlightenment - the unfulfilled promise of economic, social and political equality - has opened up beneath our feet. We are not so much as being thrown back into a bygone primitive age, as being thrown forward into a primitivism that is the true essence of twenty-first century capitalism."

In 2020, for the first time, Millennials and Gen Z (which comprise young adults born in 1981 or later) will equal Baby Boomers and prior generations (older adults born in 1964 or earlier) as a share of all Americans eligible to vote. But in 2024, the two younger generations are expected to equal the older ones as a share of actual voters on Election Day. And by 2028, Millennials and Gen Z will dwarf the older generations as a share of both eligible and actual voters.

"It is estimated that worldwide plant disease caused 13%, insect 14% and weed 13% loss in food production and accounted for 2000 billion dollars economic loss per year" The initial response to this challenge has been the use of chemical pesticides, but those have historically caused environmental and health issues. This article does a nice job of summarizing the current state of nanopesticides, which hold the promise of being equally effective as the chemicals in use now while doing much less collateral damage. The article concludes with a punch list of the challenges that need to be overcome to make these nanopesticides easy to deploy and raise the confidence that they are safe.

Interesting article in that it takes the perspective of the worker and the effects of climate change. It asks questions about getting to zero emissions and the effects of doing so. The call is for a smooth transition--one wth minimal disruption, and the idea is that people have a right to such a transition

This report focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the underdeveloped world, and outlines 'six essential solutions to build a safer world.' 'The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a world that is unequal, divided, and unaccountable. The health emergency ecosystem reflects this broken world. It is not fit for purpose and needs major reform. Hundreds of expert recommendations have been made over the last two decades, new structures have been created, but the level of ambition and action has failed to match the global need. We know what to do. We just cannot seem to do it'