Brain rot, conscious veganism and Canid Swan Point

Outriders Magazine #342

Russian and Chinese Incidents and Sabotage in Europe

Two data cables running near Helsinki along the land border between Finland and Sweden were damaged in early November. This incident caused internet outages, affecting approximately 6,000 Finnish households and 100 business customers. Later, in mid-November, two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea were cut—one connecting Finland and Germany and the other between Sweden and Lithuania. These events raised concerns about possible sabotage. Authorities in Scandinavia are actively investigating the incidents, mainly focusing on a ship flying the Chinese flag, which was reported to be operating near the affected areas. It is suspected that the ship may have damaged the cables by dragging its anchor.

Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jan Lipavský, stated that up to 100 of the 500 “suspicious incidents” of sabotage attempts reported in Europe this year could be linked to Russia. These incidents include “hybrid attacks, espionage, and influence operations.” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also commented that “both Russia and China have sought to destabilize our countries and divide our societies through acts of sabotage, cyberattacks, and energy blackmail.” Additionally, a UK court is investigating a spy ring that allegedly relayed secrets to Russia over nearly three years while gathering intelligence on potential targets in Europe. Authorities are also looking into whether Russian-linked spies used the courier service DHL to place incendiary devices in European countries, including Birmingham in the UK and Leipzig in Germany, which could lead to catastrophic consequences.

Human Rights Issues in Tigray, Brazil, and Somalia

Unexploded ordnance left in Tigray after the conflict between the Ethiopian military and the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front poses a serious threat to local populations. Approximately 80% of the victims of unexploded ordnance who are referred to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) rehabilitation project in Ethiopia are children. Furthermore, farmers have experienced multiple lost planting and harvesting seasons, leading to alarmingly high malnutrition rates, particularly among young mothers and children under the age of five.

In the northern Brazilian state of Para, a hub of the illegal gold trade, women often earn money as sex workers in local mines and mining communities. According to the Brazilian government, between 80,000 and 800,000 men are employed in illegal mines. The human costs associated with operating these mines—violence, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking—are vastly underreported to security agencies. The three main buyers of Brazilian gold are Canada, Switzerland, and the UK. According to the Instituto Escolhas think tank, over 90% of the gold exported to Europe originates from illegally mined areas.

Somali women who speak out on social media often face a barrage of fake nude photos, degrading harassment, intimidation, and sexist hate speech. Many women who participated online under the #SomaliMeToo have disappeared from the internet due to the pressure, while others are reducing their online presence, concealing their identities, and resorting to fake profiles to protect themselves.

The China-US Trade War and New Sanctions on Iran

China has reacted to the United States imposing new restrictions on selling high-end memory chips by banning the export of gallium, germanium, antimony, and superhard materials to the U.S. Additionally; China is tightening export controls on graphite. There are indications that China may also impose restrictions on the export of tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, tin, indium, chromium, tantalum, niobium, and caesium. These minerals and elements are crucial for high-tech production and military technology.

In a separate issue, the U.S. has sanctioned 35 companies and vessels believed to be involved in a shadow fleet that illegally transports Iranian oil to foreign markets. This illicit operation employs false documentation, manipulates ship tracking systems, and frequently changes the names and flags of the vessels. The sanctioned companies are registered in various locations, including China, India, Hong Kong, the Marshall Islands, and Panama.

Meanwhile, cognac and champagne producers are preparing to increase shipments to the U.S. in anticipation of potential additional tariffs that President-elect Donald Trump may impose. For instance, LVMH's Hennessy cognac brand has already ramped up shipments across the Atlantic. Trump has promised to impose new import tariffs on goods from various countries, including China and Canada, but it remains uncertain whether he will also target French luxury goods. The U.S. is the largest export market for champagne and cognac.

How to Be a Conscious Vegan and a New Approach to Treating Obesity

Experts from MIT have developed a groundbreaking gastric balloon that offers promising health benefits. This innovative device can be inflated just before a meal and then contracted after eating, effectively mimicking the presence of food in the stomach and subsequent emptying. This unique feature allows the gastric balloon to remain effective longer, particularly in patients who adapt more slowly. The balloon is inflated using a pump connected to a portable kit, providing a convenient and encouraging solution for those seeking to improve their health through innovative technology.

A study by researchers from the University of Oxford and University College London found that individuals considering a vegan diet should choose beans, soy, and peas over processed alternatives like veggie burgers. The researchers evaluated 24 meat and milk alternatives, considering their nutritional value, environmental impact, and cost. They discovered that although processed foods such as veggie burgers, tofu, tempeh, and plant-based milks have lower climate benefits and higher costs than unprocessed options, they remain better than animal products. Interestingly, lab-grown meats ranked the lowest on the list.

Research from the University of California, San Francisco, highlights the detrimental effects of ultra-processed foods on health. A high consumption of these foods is linked to increased muscle fat and a higher risk of diseases such as osteoarthritis. The accumulation of excess fat in the muscles weakens them and contributes to conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and insulin resistance. This information should serve as a wake-up call, encouraging individuals to reconsider their dietary choices for their health.

Language Extinction, Emojis, and the Word of the Year for 2024

It's fascinating that scientists are still working to fully understand some of Earth's most biologically diverse places, such as Papua New Guinea and the Amazon, which are also home to remarkable linguistic diversity. Lydia Liu of Columbia University points out that periods of mass extinction and climate change often coincide with rapid language loss. The UN estimates that an indigenous language dies out every two weeks, and over 40% of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages are at risk of extinction by the end of this century. This interconnectedness of biological and linguistic diversity highlights the importance of preserving our languages.

Oxford University Press's Word of the Year for 2024 is "brain rot." The usage of this phrase has increased by 230% compared to last year, reflecting significant societal changes. The publisher defines brain rot as "a perceived deterioration in a person's mental or intellectual state, especially due to excessive consumption of materials (currently, especially online content) considered trivial or undemanding." Meanwhile, Cambridge Dictionary's Word of the Year for 2024 is "manifest." The Cambridge Dictionary website has been searched for this term almost 130,000 times. A modern interpretation of the verb means to use specific practices, such as visualization or affirmation, to focus your mind on something you wish to achieve. These trends in language usage provide insight into evolving societal norms and values.

Researchers at Indiana University suggest that people who frequently use emojis in their messages to friends may possess higher emotional intelligence. In contrast, less frequent use of emojis in relationships with friends and romantic partners is linked to an avoidant attachment style characterized by a fear of intimacy and a reluctance to trust or depend on others.

The Four-Day Workweek in Japan and the UK

In the UK, companies are conducting a six-month trial of a four-day workweek without pay cuts, involving around 1,000 employees, led by the activist group 4 Day Week. Following a previous pilot in 2022, 56 out of 61 participating companies have chosen to continue with the four-day week. Among the nearly 3,000 employees who participated in the trial, 70% reported lower levels of stress and burnout, and companies noted no negative impact on their revenues. The 4 Day Week initiative aims to establish a 32-hour, four-day workweek in UK law, joining a global movement that includes similar efforts in countries like Iceland, New Zealand, Scotland, and the US.

Starting in April 2025, the Tokyo metropolitan government will implement a four-day workweek for its employees to address Japan's low birth rate. This initiative aims to enhance work-life balance for civil servants while ensuring they still meet their monthly work-hour commitments. Under Governor Yuriko Koike's plan, government workers, excluding shift workers, can take up to three days off each week but must still work 155 hours a month. This initiative is expected to benefit young children's parents by providing flexible working hours to help them manage family responsibilities.

Clovis, Canid Swan Point, and the Mystery of Non-Decomposing Brains

Whether the prehistoric Clovis (Paleo-Indian) people of North America regularly hunted mammoths has been a topic of considerable scientific debate. A new chemical analysis of the only known remains of a Clovis individual suggests that megafauna constituted a significant portion of their diet. This finding is crucial as it provides deeper insight into the dietary habits of these ancient people. Scientists examined the bones of an 18-month-old baby, who was likely breastfed, and learned that the mother’s diet included 35 to 40 per cent mammoth meat.

The evolution of wolves into the loyal companions we know today as dogs is a fascinating story of human influence. A chemical analysis of bones from the Swan Point Canid, which includes wolves, coyotes, and dogs found in Alaska, dated between 8,000 and 12,000 years old, provides compelling evidence of this unique relationship. The study revealed that a significant proportion of the diet of these wild canids consisted of salmon protein. This leads scientists to conclude that humans played a crucial role in domesticating these animals by providing them with fish, among other foods.

While the brain typically decays rapidly after death, there are exceptions. It can sometimes remain intact for hundreds or even thousands of years, outlasting all other soft tissues. Scientists from the University of Oxford have discovered that this unusual preservation is linked to the “misfolding” of proteins. This discovery has significant implications as the protein misfolding shows similarities to the pathologies associated with some neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This finding has sparked new avenues for research and potential breakthroughs in these fields.

Operation Destabilization and Operation Comby in the British Isles

British authorities, in collaboration with France, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, have successfully dismantled a Russian-linked money-laundering operation that posed a global threat. This operation had been benefitting oligarchs, organized crime groups, cyber criminals, and drug traffickers. The joint effort, known as Operation Destabilise, resulted in the seizure of over $25 million in cash and cryptocurrency, alongside the arrest of more than 80 suspects. The networks involved, identified as Smart Group and TGR Group, had enabled criminals and wealthy Russians to exchange cash and cryptocurrency, conceal the illicit origins of their funds, evade sanctions against Russia, and purchase property in the UK. Additionally, the Russian state exploited this scheme to funnel money to spies in other countries.

A separate initiative, Operation Comby, aimed at cracking down on people smuggling, has led to the arrest of hundreds of individuals in Northern Ireland attempting to enter the UK illegally. These criminal gangs charge exorbitant fees of up to $8,000 for their services. However, law enforcement has made significant strides in curbing their activities. Their illegal travel packages—marketed as safer alternatives to crossing the Channel by boat—include a flight from Europe to Dublin, false documents, travel to Belfast, and a ticket to any destination in the UK. The actual cost of providing this service is approximately €1,000. The individuals using these services include Syrians and Bedouins, a stateless Arab minority from Kuwait, as well as other European citizens who have received adverse immigration decisions in the UK.