World:
The Good: Protestors In Brazil Call Out Government Officials For National Musuem Fire
This week Brazil suffered a substantial and preventable fire that consumed at least 90% of the countries irreplaceable artifacts. Although the loss is devastating to the culture and history of the Brazilian people, it didn’t deter residents from storming the streets and venting their anger and frustration with a government that seemed too occupied with scandals to address the needs of the nation’s treasures.
Teachers and other educators were represented in strong numbers as protesters from across Brazil closed in on riot police outside of the wreckage in Rio Di Janeiro seeking answers and retribution.
Rosana Hollanda, a History teacher was seen crying at the scene and spoke to Time magazine saying: “This fire is what Brazilian politicians are doing to the people…They’re burning our history, and they’re burning our dreams.”
The neglect of the 200 year old museum dates back for sometime. Even efforts to save the building during the fire were delayed due to broken hydrents that were close to the building forcing firefighters to use water from a nearby lake instead.
Records show funding for the site had been reduced from $130,000 in 2013 to merely 84,000 in 2017 despite the governments willingness to spend money on the multiple stadiums for the World Cup in 2014, a detail noticed by the museum’s deputy director Luiz Fernando Dias Duarte who also spoke out: “The money spent on each one of those stadiums — a quarter of that would have been enough to make this museum safe and resplendent.”
The demonstrations have placed Brazil under the world’s watch, turning attention to Brazil’s current political state which has been nearly dismantled from corruption, investigations and dozens of arrests over the past several years. So far no major injuries or deaths have been reported in connection with the protests.
The Bad: Journalists Sentenced To 7 Years For Investigating Military
Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were investgating the 2016-2017 Rohingya crisis that led to 10 men being killed by the hands of local military when they were arrested and sentenced to 7 years for obtaining official government documents in Myanmar, Asia. Although Kyaw Soe Oo hung his head in court witb his crying wife close by he reiterates his innocence saying he and his colleague were set up by police.
Both journalists are being prosecuted under the colonial age “secrets act” that is being seen as a disgusting display of censorship within the free press community arcross the world.
Reuteurs’ regional editor for Asia Kevin Krolicki, was outside the courthouse after the verdict and said the decision was: “heartbreaking for friends and colleagues and family of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who in addition to the outrage many will feel, are deprived of their friends and colleagues, husband and father.”
Despite the jailing of the journalists, officials in Myanmar are expected to face consequences for their treatment of the Rohingya with many charging the military with genocide.
Law
The Good: California Passes 100% Clean Eletricity Bill
In step with it’s plan to eliminate carbon emissions completely, California has initiated one of the most aggressive energy bills in the country, requiring all energy sources to be renewalable by 2045. California plans to meet their ambitious goal by including solar, wind, geothermal, and small-scale hydroelectric generation into the energy rotation and will also use other non-renewable sources that don’t emit carbon such as nuclear energy.
Although California seems to lead the U.S. in technological and social advances, the move comes largely due to California’s battle with climate change as they continue to fight unprecendented wildfires and unrelenting temperatures.
Admittedly, officials aren’t certain that 100% carbon free eletricity is currently feasible due to technological difficulties such as battery storage for renewable sources, however lawmakers are confident moving forward with their plan and coming up with solutions on the way is the best long-term route. Laura Wisland, senior anaylyst for the Union of Concerned Scientists explained: “Whether we have all of the answers today is not the most important question..You start by looking at the most cost-effective combinations of resources that will get us to our goal. Given what we’re up against, which is climate change, we don’t have the luxury to only take action when we have all the answers.”
The Bad: Malaysian Women Punished For Sexual Relationship
This week two Malaysian women were pubically caned after they were convicted of “sexual acts between women” by an Islamic High Court. In front of a host of witnesses the women were both struck six times with a rattan cane, a punishment which has Right’s groups in an uproar damning the government for continuing the hold antiquated beliefs and preventing the equal treatment of its citizens.
Gwen Lee, interim executive director for Amnesty International Malaysia issued a statement concerning the courts decision: “Caning is a form of torture, and to inflict this brutal punishment publicly on two people for engaging in consensual, same-sex relations sends Malaysia back to the Dark Ages, (it’s) a dreadful reminder of the depth of discrimination L.G.B.T.I. people face in the country and a sign that the new government condones the use of inhuman and degrading punishments, much like its predecessor.”
In the wake of the courts order, new political leaders have spoken out agaisnt the abuse of the LBGT community who’ve been suffering abuse for decades.
Charles Santiago, a member of Malaysia’s governing coalition called the canning “outrageous” and called for fellow lawmakers to decriminalize homosexuality completely. “We need to stop targeting the L.G.B.T. community,” he said in a statement. “We need to stop invading their privacy. We need to stop abusing them. We need to grow up as a society and learn to embrace diversity.”This week two Malaysian women were pubically caned after they were convicted of “sexual acts between women” by an Islamic High Court. In front of a host of witnesses the women were both struck six times with a rattan cane, a punishment which has Right’s groups in an uproar damning the government for continuing the hold antiquated beliefs and preventing the equal treatment of its citizens.
Gwen Lee, interim executive director for Amnesty International Malaysia issued a statement concerning the courts descicion:
“Caning is a form of torture, and to inflict this brutal punishment publicly on two people for engaging in consensual, same-sex relations sends Malaysia back to the Dark Ages, (it’s) a dreadful reminder of the depth of discrimination L.G.B.T.I. people face in the country and a sign that the new government condones the use of inhuman and degrading punishments, much like its predecessor.”
In the wake of the courts order, new political leaders have spoken out agaisnt the abuse of the LBGT community who’ve been suffering abuse for decades.
Charles Santiago, a member of Malaysia’s governing coalition called the canning “outrageous” and called for fellow lawmakers to decriminalize homosexuality completely. “We need to stop targeting the L.G.B.T. community,” he said in a statement. “We need to stop invading their privacy. We need to stop abusing them. We need to grow up as a society and learn to embrace diversity.”
Entertainment
The Good: Hip-Hop Responds To Surprise Eminem Album
This week the internet and Hip-Hop enthusiasts recieved a scathing surprise from Eminem after he released his surprise album “Kamikaze” last Friday. After recieving criticism for his last project “Revival” which didn’t seem to please taste makers and media personalities, Eminem successfully stood his ground, taking shots at a long list of detractors including Dj Akademiks of Complex, long time friend Joe Budden, President Trump, along with a host of new age artists like Lil Yatchy, Machine Gun Kelly, Lil Pump, and many more.
Even seemingly taking jabs at artists who use ghost writers, Eminem and Royce Da 5’9 spit fury over a Tay-Keith beat that conicedently or not sounds like JB Blocboy’s “Look Alive” single featuring Drake.
The album is expected to move the equivelent of 360,000 units in it’s first week almost 100,000 more than “Revival” and already has sprouted responses from media outlets, artists and fans.
The Bad: Former Cosby Star Called Out For Having A Job
Geoffrey Owens who played Elvin Tibideaux, the loving and sometimes clueless husband of Sondra Huxtible went viral this week after he was villlified for having a job at Trader Joe’s. Owens played Elvin from 1985 till the show’s end in 1992. Owens stood by his decision to work at the grocerry chain while still pursuing acting and directing stating in an interview with Good Morning America: “There’s no job that’s better than another job. It might pay better. It might have better benefits. It might look better on a resume … but actually, it’s not better. Every job is worthwhile and valuable.”
Despite initially being embarrassed by the photo taken of him, Owens used the opprotunity to discuss work ethic in a generation that is obsessed with entrepreneurship later saying in his interview: “I hope what doesn’t pass is this idea that people are rethinking about what it means to work — the honor of the working person and the dignity of work,” he shared. “I hope that this period that we’re in now where we have a heightened sensitivity about that and a re-evaluation of what it means to work and a re-evaluation of the idea that some jobs are better than others because that’s actually not true.
Owens had been working at Trader Joes for 15 months before his photo went viral and has reportedly been recieving a wealth of well wishes and support from family, colleagues, and fans who praise Owens for his commitment to his family and work.
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