The Protests in Cuba (2021): Causes and Implications
Since the Cuban revolution in 1959, the relations between the US and Cuba have undergone various degrees of tension. The US sanctions on Cuba, food shortages, a failing economy, and the rising cases of COVID-19 have created a sense of dissatisfaction and urgency. Together, these factors have compelled the Cubans to initiate nationwide protests demanding reforms. The author argues that with the US turning a blind eye to the protests, and the United Nations’ failure to help the Cubans, the people of the state are left with no one to rely on.
The Rising Tide of Islamophobia in France
In the last decade, Islamophobia has been on the rise in France. The situation worsened after the French president, Emmanuel Macron, called Islam a “religion in crisis”, defended blasphemous caricatures, and declared that he would make Islam “compatible” with French republican values and liberate it. The author notes that although the French government claims that it introduced policies like the hijab ban and the religious disassociation in schools, offices, and public areas, to curb radicalism, separatism, and Islamism, they marginalized the entire Muslim community in France. The author asserts that France witnessed a 53% increase in religious violence last year, and if the gap between the French Muslims and the rest of France continues to increase, the Muslim population will become easy targets for terrorist organizations.
The Destruction of the Great Barrier Reef by India’s Adani Group
The Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a World Heritage-listed site, is witnessing the destruction of its reefs by the Australian government and India’s Adani Group. Protests and movements by various NGOs and international institutions are spurring the need for conservation initiatives and projects.
Failure of Democracy in Myanmar: What Went Wrong?
The author seeks to explain the democratic insufficiencies and the violation of civil and political rights in Myanmar against a backdrop of Martin Luther King Jr.’s words. The violence against the minorities – particularly the Rohingya Muslims – has unveiled cracks that lay just beneath the surface of Myanmar’s so-called ‘democracy’.
Farmers’ Protests in India: Modi’s Predicament
The introduction of three farm laws, and the revocation of Article 370 by the Indian government has left India with quite a few challenges. While gathering allies abroad, the Modi regime has neglected the state’s minorities and gone as far as to commit human rights violations. The author notes that the regime’s nationalist Western policies have only created resentment within the minority groups, and they will eventually cause India’s downfall.
Civil War in Libya: The Impact of the Arab Spring
The civil war in Libya has been a constant struggle for power. It has turned Libya into a failed state, divided between two administrations. The author asserts that the civil war in Libya divided groups, ethnicities and sects and played them against each other, causing nothing but destruction.
Reaping What You Sow: Protesting India’s Agricultural Reforms
The farmers consider the recent agricultural reforms in India a reason for their indignation. They have demanded a rescission of these repressive laws.
Will Lukashenko’s Belarus Prevail or Fall?
President Lukashenko’s sustained grip on Belarus has forced the citizens to protest against the authoritarian regime of 26 years, which will probably last for another decade or so, if democracy continues to be stifled. Russian alliance has bolstered Lukashenko’s unyielding position of maintaining his regime, considering that both nations have put Tsikhanouskaya, the opposition leader, on their wanted lists.
The George Floyd Protests: A Nation Struggling For Breath
George Floyd’s death was fuel for the Black Lives Matter movement across America and the world. However, it remains to be seen whether the outcome will impact years of policy inertia. The protests have achieved a few things: from banning chokeholds to raising the issue of police brutality in the national and global consciousness. The coming American elections are likely to show how years of oppression and injustice galvanize change.