The Amazon, Siberia, Indonesia: A World of Fire

Fires detected from August 2018 to 2019

An increased rate of wildfires from global warming, along with intentional fires by farmers and organizations for agriculture, have attracted a considerable amount of attention from the media in the past few weeks. Global warming is by no means a new topic, yet the conditions continue to worsen every year, with the Arctic melting at a historic rate, warming twice as fast as the rest of the world. In order to meet higher demands for soy and cattle, many farmers are setting fires in the Amazon as a form of deforestation. This is also occurring in Indonesia, as well as many other countries.
It has long been a high value of the United States to fix the problems that we have, as demonstrated by our thirty-three amendments to the United States Constitution. Yet as long as global warming has been denounced as a serious problem, I do not think we have taken sufficient action, especially being seen as one of the leading nations of the world.

Questions:
1) What is your opinion on Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro's statement: "No country in the world has the moral right to talk about the Amazon. You destroyed your own ecosystems"?
2) What do you think is the right course of action to protect ecosystem in the coming years?
3) Do you think there is a turnaround for this continually worsening issue?

New York Times Article
TIME Article

OpenAI Said Its Code Was Risky. Two Grads Re-Created It Anyway

https://www.wired.com/story/dangerous-ai-open-source/

In February, Elon Musk’s OpenAI artificial intelligence (AI) research company created a language generator so realistic it can create “authentic” spam, fake news, and clickbait (such as this blog post), much faster (and maybe even better) than a human. Since OpenAI’s goal is to “benefit humanity as a whole,” one would be surprised when they didn’t release this software. But two young folks fresh out of grad school, claiming they “aren’t out to cause havoc,” compiled millions of Reddit links (you know something’s about to go wrong), basically replicated OpenAI’s project, and posted their software on the internet, culminating in a philosophical clickbait bot (that happens to support Trump). Even better, this is something that a high school freshman can create with some time, effort, and copy-and-pasting skills. What could possibly go wrong? (This is just a rhetorical question; actual ones are below.)

I’m just a bit worried. Several years ago, British political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica harvested personal info from millions of Facebooks, used this data to create algorithms displaying *personalized* fake news to people in swing states in the U.S. during the 2016 election, and potentially… changed things up. But as this article clearly demonstrates: we’ve learned our lessons.

Questions:

1. Am I overreacting?
2. (How) can we regulate AI?
3. What can a Model Don do about this?

The Police Photoshopped His Mug Shot for a Lineup. He’s Not the Only One.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/24/us/police-photoshop-tattoos.html

This article outlines a specific incident in which police airbrushed the tattoos of a suspect of a bank robbery for the lineup photo because the surveillance footage showed the robber without face tattoos. Upon further investigation, it was found that this was not an uncommon practice. Many large police departments use photo editing software, but some criminal justice experts believe there are valid reasons for doing so that sometimes make lineups much fairer. There are was an instance of police adding the distinguishable birthmark of a suspect to the other people in the lineup in order to make the suspect less distinguishable. Most people are enraged, saying it is completely unjust to alter a suspect's image to look more like an eye witness' description.
The public's view of the police in today's political climate is extremely divided. There are many that view the police as corrupt or see them as the enemy, largely in response to senseless murders of black men. Therefore, the photoshopping of pictures of a black man definitely do not help this negative view many people already have of the police.

What do you think about the concept of police photoshopping images of suspects? Do you think it is ever justified?
How do you feel about the way many people view police today (about how many people believe the police to be the enemy or those who are anti-police)? Do you think people are justified in being anti-police?

G7 Exposes Rift Between Trump and Allies

Sources: Business Insider, The Atlantic, and The New York Times

The G7 summit in France exposed great ideological differences between President Trump and the organization’s other members. Specifically, Macron’s decision to focus on so-called “niche issues,” such as Climate Change and gender/income inequality angered White House officials. They claimed that Macron was attempting to exclude Trump by discussing issues where the US president holds significantly different views from the other participants (Trump was the only leader present that doesn't believe in Climate Change). The American delegation says that it would have rather focused on trade and national security. However, it is worth noting that Trump is the only leader present who supports the trade war with China or ending the Iran Nuclear Deal.
The G7 or Group of Seven was created in the late 1970s as a forum for the world's major industrialized nations to discuss global economic and political issues. While its membership has changed over the years, it currently includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, USA, and an EU representative.

Questions:

1. How should the other leaders present approach Trump and vice versa?
2. What do these differences mean for the long-standing relationships between the USA and its allies?

Salvadoran Woman charged for homicide because of stillbirth cleared of charges

El Salvador has one of the strictest abortion bans in the world, prohibiting abortion under any circumstances.
Women who have miscarriages or stillbirths have been accused of homicide or attempted homicide, with the
majority of charges falling on poor and marginalized women who have little access to education or access to
health care. These sentences can be as long as 40 years; in contrast, the maximum sentence for abortion
is eight years. 

Evelyn Hernández Cruz was charged with aggravated homicide after experiencing a stillbirth in 2016.
At the time she was not aware she was pregnant, which was the result of a rape.

Her original verdict, and the accompanying 30 year sentence, was overturned; the court ruled that there
was enough evidence to convict her. 

El Salvador’s political environment remains difficult, with an attempt to allow abortions in the cases of

rape or health risk to the mother failing in El Salvador’s congress; however, advocates have found some

progress in the courts. Prior to Ms. Hernández’s trial, three other women who had been charged with

homicide following a miscarriage or stillbirth.

Similarly, in some states strict limitations are in place. Earlier in the year, Ohio had attempted to pass the

“heartbeat bill” that outlawed abortions at the six week mark—the earliest a heartbeat can be detected—

which also is before most women know they are pregnant (the law does include exceptions for when the

mother’s health or life is at risk, though not for rape or incest). Though the Ohio bill was blocked by a

federal judge, other states have also passed “heartbeat” law in an attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Questions:

1. To what degree do you think the government can dictate what healthcare services its citizens can

access?

2. Do you believe that Roe v. Wade will be overturned? 

NYT Article on the Clearing of Ms. Hernández's charge

NPR Article on Ohio's Heartbeat Bill

Reuters's Article on Ohio's law being blocked

Planned Parenthood Leaves Title X After New Anti-Abortion Laws Implemented

Planned Parenthood Leaves Title X After New Anti-Abortion Laws Implemented

Protestors holding a banner for the questionable assertion that Planned Parenthood sells aborted fetuses for money Source: Breitbart.com
Source for information: https://www.npr.org/2019/08/19/752438119/planned-parenthood-out-of-title-x-over-trump-rule

Following the new changes made to title X under the Trump Administration, Planned parenthood has made the decision to withdraw from receiving funding from the $286 million program rather than comply to the new regulations.

Trump's new change on Title X, which follows multiple statewide abortion bans, means that programs under its funding cannot provide abortion services or counseling, services which Planned Parenthood and similar organizations have historically provided, in addition to STD screenings and contraception. In these new measures, Republicans in congress hope to overturn the 1977 Roe V. Wade decision legalizing abortion across the U.S. Hoping to utilize a newly gained Supreme court majority from the appointment of justice Brett Kauvanagh to do so.

In its withdrawal, Planned Parenthood intends to continue providing reproductive health services to many disadvantaged communities across the U.S. albeit without federal funding.

This decision comes as a result of continuing debates over the right of women to obtain abortions. Opponents argue that a fetus should still receive basic rights, while proponents believe that women have rights to their bodies, and that abortions are vital to preserving their quality of life at times.

1. Do you believe that Planned Parenthood can continue successfully operating and providing services without additional federal funding?

2. In regards to abortions, How can the government address the conflicts between women's rights and an unborn child's rights, if they can be seen as possessing rights?

Sanders Unveils Plan to 'Fundamentally Transform' US Criminal Justice System

Pictured: Bernie Sanders

LINK

ALSO A LINK TO HIS WEBSITE WITH MORE INFORMATION AND FANCIER WORDS

Bernie Sanders, senator of Vermont and prominent Democratic presidential candidate, has made a promise to reform the criminal justice system should he win the election come 2020. His idea is to tackle the ills of the current justice system by implementing new policies. For example, Sanders plans to end cash bail and privately owned prisons to combat economic injustice and profiteering in the system. In another example, Sanders wants to ensure accountability for law enforcement by banning the use of facial recognition software and military equipment. One of the most controversial of Sanders' goals is to abolish the death penalty. Capital punishment has been a part of the American justice system for decades, ever since it was reinstated in 1976 by the Supreme Court. And of course, recreational use marijuana will no longer be illegal, and all past marijuana convictions will be expunged. Please take a look at the article; I only covered a small portion of the reforms.

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you feel about the planned riddance of the death penalty?
2. Do you think Sanders' new program will help him in the polls for the presidential race?

Israeli Decision on Omar and Tlaib Inflames Politics in Two Countries

Article link

Rashida Tlaib (left) and Ilhan Omar (right), freshman
Democratic lawmakers, at a news conference in July
Source: Scott Applewhite/Associated Press

Following pressure from President Trump, Israel has barred Muslim American representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from entering the country on their planned trip*, citing both their history of support for anti-Israel boycotts as well as the intended itenerary's heavy focus on Palestine as reasons. This comes just one month after a statement by the Israeli Ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, that no member of Congress would be denied entry to the country out of respect for the institution, leading some to claim that Netanyahu's government is a complacent puppet of the Trump administration. The move has mostly drawn criticism from Democrats, but a few top Republicans such as Florida Senator Marco Rubio have also spoken out against it. Ever since the 1970s, the US has maintained close ties to Israel, but the need for such a relationship has evolved from defense against Soviet influence to the fight against jihad and the control of anti-US popular sentiments in the Middle East.

Discussion Questions
1. Do you believe Israel is justified in barring Tlaib and Omar from entering the country? Why or why not?
2. The Israel-Palestine conflict is one of the tensest conflicts in the world today. Do you believe the US should help in resolving or ameliorating the conflict in any way? If so, what solutions do you propose, and if not, why not?

Sources: New York Times, The Intercept, Vox

*Note: Tlaib was granted access on Friday to visit her 90-year-old grandmother in the West Bank, but declined on the grounds that agreeing to Israel's demands of refraining from politics during her stay would humiliate her and her grandmother.

Gun Control Groups Demand Universal Background Checks and a Red Flag Measure

Article link

                                          Source: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

In one of the largest grassroots efforts ever to combat the gun violence epidemic in the U.S., Everytown for Gun Safety among other gun control groups will be holding rallies in all 50 states this weekend. They will be demanding that the Senate pass universal background checks and a red flag measure targeting dangerous gun owners, which has already passed the House of Representatives. Then it would be up to President Trump to sign a bill and he has signaled support for expanding background checks on gun sales in the wake of mass shootings in El Paso, TX and Dayton, OH.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you see universal background checks and red flag measures as the right solution to the problem? Do we need even more than that or should we take a different approach?

2. Will specifically targeting Republican Senators who have opposed gun control reforms in the past be an effective strategy?

3. The National Rifle Association (NRA) has been a powerful interest group opposing gun control reforms. Can Everytown for Gun Safety use El Paso and Dayton to make meaningful change that the NRA has so far succeeded in blocking?

Source: Politico

Should Beto O'Rourke run for Senate again in Texas?

Article link

Polling link

                                          Source: Slate

Polling at only 3% nationally among Democratic candidates for President, some believe Beto O'Rourke would be better served running for Senate in Texas, where he competed well with Ted Cruz in 2018. O'Rourke won't need to decide immediately as the filing deadline for the Senate race in Texas is not until early December and he already has $5.2 million in campaign funds that he could apply to his presidential candidacy or a potential Senate race. Taking on the incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn next year in a conservative state would pose another challenge, but similar to one he did not shy away from last year when suffering a narrow defeat in an attempt to win Ted Cruz's Senate seat.

Discussion Questions
1. Should Beto O'Rourke continue is presidential campaign or shift to a Senate race in Texas?
2. If he can't win the Democratic nomination for President, is he a potential vice-presidential candidate?
3. Are Beto O'Rourke's six years as a representative in Texas enough political experience or will the fact that he's currently not in politics be a problem for him in next year's election?

Sources: CNN, RealClearPolitics