This is a roundup of news articles, reports, and other materials focusing on (in)security issues and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of Security in Context. The goal is to shed light on knowledge production on security-related issues that are of public interest from different perspectives. Entries may include academic journal articles, think tank reports, non-governmental organizations releases, official documents or government-commissioned research, and regular news items. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each roundup to admin@securityincontext.com
This month's roundup includes a section dedicated to the Ukraine.
Climate Change and Security
Serbia's green activists rally to demand moratorium on lithium mining
January 27, 2021
Hundreds of Serbian activists gathered to protest a $2.4 billion expansion of lithium mining for its harmful environmental effects.
Non-fossil fuels forecast to be 50% of China's power capacity in 2022
January 27, 2021
China is projected to reduce its fossil fuel usage to 50% of its total energy following a pledge to control is fossil fuel consumption.
Climate change: Key crops face major shifts as world warms
January 26, 2022
As the climate changes around the world, we are beginning to see several crops such as cashews, coffee, and avocados threatened.
Madagascar: Deadly tropical storms cause flooding, landslides
January 25, 2022
Massive tropical weather systems have caused severe landslides and flooding in Madagascar. Over 35,000 have been displaced and 34 have died.
Climate crisis drives Mediterranean coral populations to collapse
January 19, 2021
A study conducted by teams from the Faculty of Biology, the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio) of the University of Barcelona suggest that the coral reefs might not be able to recover from rising sea temperatures.
Tonga volcanic eruption: Too soon to assess damage
January 17, 2022
A massive volcanic eruption has caused blankets of ash to cover the capital of Tonga. The first wave of cleaning crews have been dispatched.
How researchers can help fight climate change in 2022 and beyond
January 5, 2022
The COP26 climate conference sparked some significant momentum internationally. We are seeing a significant emphasis on climate research and innovation moving forward from the UN and from other initiatives that were signed by several countries at the conference.
Will there be significant action against climate change in 2022?
Jan 3, 2022
This 30 minute podcast assesses the prospect for real long-term action to tackle climate change following COP26.
Security and International Relations
Yemen: Call for independent probe into deadly prison airstrikes
January 28, 2022
Yemen demands an investigation by the UN after Saudi-Arabia bombs a detention facility killing 91 civilians.
Europe Isn’t Prepared if Russia Turns the Gas Taps Off
January 27, 2022
The U.S. looks for other ways to provide energy to Europe as tensions between the U.S. and Russia flair over Ukraine. Europe receives 40% of its energy from Russia.
Burkina Faso Soldiers Seize Power and Detain President
January 24, 2022
A military coup has taken place in Burkina Faso as soldiers have detained the President.
China defends sweeping maritime claims after US criticism
January 14, 2022
China reaffirms its claim to the South China Sea following a U.S. effort to denigrate China’s claim to the sea.
U.N. Appeals for Nearly $5 Billion in Afghanistan Aid as 1 Million Children Face Severe Malnutrition
January 11, 2022
The UN starts a $5 billion dollar aid appeal to provide humanitarian relief for families in Afghanistan. Conditions are expected to worsen in 2022.
Turkish foreign policy is starting 2022 at a fast and sharp pace
January 6, 2022
Turkish Foreign policy seems to take a much more expansive approach moving forward as Erdoğan meets over the phone with several major international actors.
Migration and Displacement
Greek government blamed for hunger crisis in refugee camps
January 24, 2022
Humanitarian groups accuse the Greek government of implementing policies that harm refugees in Greece. In some refugee camps, 40% of inhabitants are denied basic needs.
Tigray: Eritrean refugees ‘scared and struggling to eat’ amid aid obstacles
January 21, 2022
Over 25,000 have been displaced by the conflict in Eritrea. The UN found that many are dying from preventable diseases and lack the basic goods.
Guatemala’s economy buoyed by record $15bn sent home from workers overseas
January 21, 2022
Guatemala sees a record amount of remittances. The Biden Administration continues to put political pressure on Central American governments in an effort to curtail high levels of migration.
US Chamber of Commerce chief wants more immigrants to check rising inflation
January 16, 2022
US Chamber of Commerce chief Suzanne Clark argues that more migrants will actually deflate the economy.
UK Borders Bill increases risks of discrimination, human rights violations
January 14, 2022
5 UN human rights activists argue that a new UK immigration bill does not grant political asylum for those who need it.
Turkey changes conditions for granting citizenship
January 7, 2022
Turkey changes its citizenship requirements in order to incentivize people to buy Turkish real estate or live in the country for a certain amount of time. This clear path to citizenship is an effort to boost the value of the Turkish currency.
Op-Ed: The world’s definition of ‘refugee’ shortchanges economic migrants
January 2, 2022
The distinction between “refugee” and “migrant” relegates many in dire need of asylum or relocation to the latter. This creates differentiated humanitarian and governmental assistance.
Covid-19, Capitalism & Economy
COVID Hits One of the Last Uninfected Places on the Planet
January 27, 2022
Kiribati as well as other Pacific nations have finally found people are testing positive. These remote nations were the last to have people test positive.
Global Vaccine Inequity Led To The COVID-19 Omicron Variant: It’s Time For Collective Action
January 26, 2022
Differentiated vaccine distribution and development due to a lack of international cooperation and coordination has prolonged the pandemic and has led to more Covid-19 variants.
WHO says omicron won’t be last Covid variant as global cases surge by 20% in a week
January 18, 2022
As levels of infection rise around the world, the WHO suspects we will see another Covid variant soon.
World's COVID-19 cases rise 14%; India up 113%, Brazil 109%
January 16, 2022
Omicron continues to surge worldwide as the more infectious Omicron variant spreads.
The puzzle of America's record Covid hospital rate
January 13, 2022
While Omicron has led to record numbers worldwide, there have been fewer hospitalizations. However, this is not the case for the U.S. which has seen a record number of patients with Covid.
How Communication around COVID Fuels a Mistrust of Science
January 6, 2022
The change in the CDC guidelines for those with Covid conflicts with infection statistics as the U.S. reaches record hospitalizations and infections. This eroded the public’s faith in the CDC and other health and safety institutions.
Latest COVID updates: Nations report new COVID daily highs
January 5, 2022
Covid cases reach record highs across Europe while China continues to implement incredibly effective lockdown policies.
Technologies of surveillance/Data Analytics/AI
Hungarian journalists targeted with Pegasus spyware to sue state
January 28, 2022
Hungarian Journalists have taken legal action against Hungary which used spyware from the Israeli company NSO to surveil its citizens.
Israelis were mostly unbothered about NSO’s spyware — until it was reportedly turned on them
January 26, 2022
Israel used surveillance technology developed by NSO to spy on foreign political activists, government officials, and journalists. But now, the Israeli police are using it to surveil people in Israel.
Facial recognition taken to court in India’s surveillance hotspot
January 20, 2022
An Indian activist sues the state after he is forced to take off his mask to be photographed for facial recognition.
Legislators examine gaps in surveillance laws: ‘No one foresaw’ NSO spyware tech
January 19, 2022
Israeli legislators acknowledge a lack of government oversight and regulation of surveillance technology. This is in response to the NSO, an Israeli surveillance company, spying on people both foreign and domestic.
Winter Olympics: Athletes advised to use burner phones in Beijing
January, 18, 2022
Many experts urge those competing in the Beijing Olympics to use alternative phones after the app associated with the games was found to be susceptible to surveillance.
Gender, Race, Ethnicity, and Sexuality
West plans to tie Afghan teacher aid to girls’ education pledge
January 27, 2022
Several countries plan to provide money for salaries of teachers for young girls in Afghanistan. This is part of an effort to keep the Taliban true to their word after they promised to allow women to receive a secondary education.
Ban on transgender athletes advances in Indiana Legislature
January 27
The Indiana legislature passed a bill that would ban trans women from participating in sports that pertain to their gender identity. However, trans men are allowed to participate in male sports.
Covid-19 news: Third wave sees continued ethnic disparities in deaths
January 27, 2022
The latest major surge in Covid cases sees sharp ethnic divides in fatalities and transmission.
Some gender disparities widened in the U.S. workforce during the pandemic
January 14, 2022
Over the pandemic, more women left the workforce than men.
Biden seeks to reshape Fed with historically diverse slate of nominees
January 14, 2022
Biden nominated the most diverse team of people to run the federal reserve.
Arms, Weapons, and Military Industrial Complex
All Of Us Remain Hostages to the Military-Industrial Complex
January 27, 2022
While it seems that a large military budget would lead to a safer environment for the country's citizens, a larger military actually means more danger and uncertainty.
Direct action gets the goods - #39
January 25, 2022
Palestinian activists successfully sabotaged drone manufacturers by physically destroying Israeli drones. After being charged with destruction of property, they were acquitted on the basis that they were preventing illegal violence from the Israeli government.
Ralph Nader: Biden’s First Year Proves He Is Still a “Corporate Socialist” Beholden to Big Business
January 20, 2022
Ralph Nader argues that President Biden is a corporatist who refuses to exercise his power to stand up to pharmaceutical companies who are standing in the way of a more cooperative and internationally oriented vaccination approach.
A Wild, Dangerous Military-security Complex Has Seized Power in Israel
January 20, 2022
The NSO, an Israeli surveillance company, has not only been caught surveying foreign government officials, but it is now surveying Israeli citizens. This might suggest that the military-surveillance apparatus in Israel is getting out of control.
Defense Contractors Quietly Restart Campaign Donations to Election Deniers
January 6, 2022.
The military industrial complex has resumed funding several politicians who denied the efficacy of the 2020 election.
Middle East Arms Market Remains Hot Despite COVID Hurdles
January 3, 2022
Despite the economic hardship caused by the pandemic, many defense companies gathered for the Dubai airshow.
The second drone age is here and it’s a free-for-all
January 3, 2022
Drones are becoming more and more commonplace in military engagements around the world. Easy access to technology makes it very easy for some entities to develop drones.
Ukraine
Exclusive: Russia moves blood supplies near Ukraine, adding to U.S. concern
January 28, 2022
The military buildup on the Ukrainian border now includes medical supplies that would be used to treat casualties. This suggests that conflict could occur.
Biden says Russian invasion in Feb. ‘distinct possibility’
January 27, 2022
President Biden warns the President of Ukraine that a Russian invasion could very well happen in February. Putin explains that the U.S. did not meet his demands in negotiations.
Russia remains open but ‘not optimistic’ over Ukraine talks
January 27, 2022
After the U.S. refused to meet Russians demand to reject Ukraine from NATO, conflict seems inevitable.
White House: Russia prepping pretext for Ukraine invasion
January 14, 2022
U.S. intelligence suggests that Russian military build-up could be a false flag.
Ukrainians wait as Russia faces off with the West
January 12, 2022
Negotiations between the U.S. and Russia over Ukraine ironically do not include Ukraine.
January 6, 2022
Russia’s foreign policy towards Ukraine has done nothing but alienate the Kremlin. While Russia does not want Ukraine to align with NATO, the threat of war is not exactly a friendly gesture.
