On The Rhodes To Progress
November 23, 2021
The Good News
- Deere workers approve contract and end strike (WaPo, $)
- Target will keep stores closed on Thanksgiving for good (CNBC)
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” — John F. Kennedy
“We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.” — Kurt Vonnegut
New Modi’s Operandi
It turns out protesting really can make a difference, even if it takes over a year to do it. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in a television address to the nation on Friday that he would repeal three laws about farming, saying, “Today, I beg the forgiveness of my countrymen and say with a pure heart and honest mind that perhaps there was some shortcoming.” The victory for farmers is hard-won, after Modi’s laws were passed in September 2020. Most of the protests were focused in New Delhi, and are reflective of a general dissatisfaction with Modi Bharatiya Janata Party.
Modi took office seven years ago, and has become increasingly authoritarian, so his concession to protesters came as somewhat of a surprise — though some think it’s all for show. Modi didn’t apologize for his mistake, but rather “admitted only to neglect and oversight in how the policies were messaged,” according to Berkeley anthropologist Angana Chatterji.
The farm laws were certainly not the first time Modi’s faced opposition from constituents, but they proved to be the most controversial. The laws turned the agricultural market over to commercial buyers, which leaves farmers at the mercy of huge companies. India’s current system essentially guarantees farmers a minimum income, as the government purchases goods and sets the prices. Farmers were understandably nervous to turn their fate over to large corporations and the ups and downs of the markets.
Despite Modi and the government’s promises that they would be okay, the farmers’ fears were not assuaged. Nearly 60% of India’s population relies on agriculture, and many aren’t qualified for or can’t find other sources of income. Over 80% of farms in India are smaller family farms, which means their income is vital to their survival. The visceral reaction farmers had to the changes proposed by Modi are simply a reaction to the overall failings of the Indian economy to provide for its farmers, either in the agricultural sector or in offering up alternative streams of income. (Vox)
Vaximum Effort
- While many nations in the Asia-Pacific region lagged behind the rest of the world in their rollout of COVID-19 vaccines right when the vaccines became available, they have now outstripped the US and many European nations.
- Countries like Cambodia and Japan struggled to roll out their vaccines at the pace of European countries and the U.S. for a variety of reasons. Many Asian countries felt less pressure to adopt vaccines due to low infection rates when the vaccines became available, while others struggled with infrastructure issues.
- Now, Cambodia, Japan, and Malaysia all have vaccination rates around 75%, and Singapore’s population is over 90% vaccinated. The U.S. sits at just 58 percent vaccinated. Investment in vaccine infrastructure helped fuel this change, as well as the example set by the rest of the world, as countries with lower vaccination rates faced higher death tolls. (ABC)
Philippines’ Resupply Mission Undeterred
- According to a Philippines defense minister, the country is set to resume a military resupply mission in the South China Sea this week. The news comes after the Philippines’ first operation into the sea was blocked by three Chinese Coast Guard vessels, which used water cannons to cut off the Philippines’ resupply boats on course for Second Thomas Shoal.
- The actions prompted harsh responses from the U.S. and the Philippines, with the U.S. calling the actions “dangerous, provocative, and unjustified,” and stating that any further interference would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments to the Philippines.
- Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana declared that the follow-up mission would not be stopped by China, stating “They (China) have no right to impede, prevent or harass our ships within our EEZ (exclusive economic zone).” Chinese Coast Guard forces in the area have since decreased, and China denies that there are any other militia vessels near the shoal. (Reuters)
Additional World News
- Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai tells Olympics chief she is safe in video call, but concerns remain (NBC)
- 2 of 17 kidnapped missionaries are freed in Haiti (NPR)
- Sailboats Packed With Migrants Now Using Lesser Known Route to Europe (NPR)
- New Zealand to end tough COVID curbs, adopt new virus-fighting system (Reuters)
- Five Chinese nationals kidnapped in DR Congo after attack near mine (CNN)
- France’s Macron: Situation in Guadeloupe “very explosive” (Reuters)
- Australia border rules: Eligible visa holders allowed entry from Dec 1 (CNBC)
- We all want to make healthier choices, but it’s not always easy. Saje supports physical and emotional wellness for all, which is why they create 100% natural products to help you make healthier choices every day.
- Saje believes in nature and its ability to soothe ailments, calm the mind, and invoke feelings of joy—that’s why Saje makes plant-based products to power every aspect of your life. They prioritize pure and clean ingredients over everything else.
- From essential oils to skincare, Saje has you covered from head to toe. Order now to start crossing some gifts off your holiday list. Shop Saje today and discover the highest quality, 100% natural products in the world.
On The Rhodes To Progress
- The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest graduate scholarship in the world, allowing international students the opportunity to study at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. Until 1977, the scholarship was exclusively for men. On Sunday, it was announced that a record number of American women had been selected for the award this year.
- 22 American women from across the country will have all their financial expenses covered by the scholarship. Applicants are endorsed by their college or university, and then go through an application and interview process that was completed virtually for the second year in a row due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
- Academic achievement is the first deciding factor for the scholarship, but applicants must also “be committed to make a strong difference for good in the world, be concerned for the welfare of others, and be acutely conscious of inequities.” Past scholars include world leaders, Nobel prize winners, and activists. (The Hill)
An Embarrassing Downgrade
- Stockholm-based International IDEA think-tank added the U.S. to its list of “backsliding” democracies for the first time since the list’s creation. Over the past five years, the think-tank’s list has shown countries trending towards authoritarianism outnumber those who are stably democratic. IDEA bases its list on 50 years of democratic indicators in 160 countries as cross-references for the levels of democracy in countries today.
- For 2021, the report had 98 countries listed as democracies (including the U.K. and Canada), 20 as “hybrid” governments (like Russia and Turkey), and 47 as authoritarian regimes (China and Saudi Arabia). However, the addition of “backsliding” democracies to the list of non-democracies left the world with just 30% of countries considered full democracies.
- The U.S. was downgraded by the list due to a “visible deterioration” that began in 2019. The report says they dealt with corruption and predictable enforcement well, but struggled with civil liberties and checks on government. One major turning point came when former President Donald Trump questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election. Another turning point was the “decline in the quality of freedom of association and assembly during the summer of protests in 2020” after the killing of George Floyd. (CBS)
Additional USA News
- Biden deemed ‘fit to successfully execute the duties of the president’ after first physical in office (CNN)
- White House to announce 95% of federal workforce in compliance with vaccine mandate (CNN)
- Kyle Rittenhouse claims he supports Black Lives Matter in Tucker Carlson interview (NBC)
- Two quit Fox News over Tucker Carlson’s Capitol attack series (Guardian)
- U.S. ‘not as advanced’ as China and Russia on hypersonic tech, Space Force general warns (Politico)
- Beto O’Rourke declines to invite Biden to campaign with him in Texas (CNN)
- Jury to resume deliberations in Charlottesville Unite the Right civil trial (CNN)
Thou Shellt Not Kill
- The U.K. government announced on Friday that decapod crustaceans and cephalopod mollusks will now be classified as “sentient beings” under the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill. New research suggests that the creatures have a central nervous system, and can therefore feel pain.
- Decapod crustaceans include shrimp, lobsters, crayfish, and hermit crabs, while cephalopod mollusks include squid, octopus, and cuttlefish. While the legislation doesn’t affect fishing or restaurants, the research encouraged that these animals no longer be boiled alive because of the findings.
- When the bill becomes a law, a new committee called the Animal Sentience Committee will be in charge of grading the U.K. government when it comes to their animal welfare decisions. Animal Welfare Minister Lord Zac Goldsmith said in the announcement that “The U.K. has always led the way on animal welfare and our Action Plan for Animal Welfare goes even further.” (USA Today, CNN)
Additional Reads
- Why Was This Ancient Tusk 150 Miles From Land, 3,000 Feet Deep? (NYT, $)
- An “incident” with the James Webb Space Telescope has occurred (Ars Technica)
- Researchers Want to Restore ‘Good Noise’ in Older Brains (Wired)
- ‘We are five to 10 years behind’: long road ahead for solving Australia’s textile waste crisis (Guardian)
- Watch this mesmerizing video of butterfly scales forming inside a chrysalis (CNET)
- How to watch Janet Jackson Super Bowl doc, ‘Malfunction’ (LAT, $)