Oropouche Fever, Funal Techo Channel and AI at War

Outriders Magazine #327

AI and Noise: Israel’s Modern Warfare Methods

Since October of last year, Israel has been using noise as a weapon in Lebanon, triggering memories of the 2020 Beirut port explosion and instilling fear in the population. Lebanese citizens have been terrorized by the noise of low-flying planes exceeding the speed of sound. These attacks have become more frequent over time, and the noise over Beirut on August 6th was the loudest heard in the city since the current Middle East crisis began. According to Abu Hamdan, a sound expert and founder of the organization Earshot, the use of sonic booms is part of a broader trend of psychological warfare being conducted by Israel against the Lebanese population. The repeated sounds of jets and explosions can increase the risk of stroke and deplete calcium deposits in the heart in the long run.

Political commentator Khalid Albaih wrote for Al Jazeera that "AI-assisted killing of people is no longer science fiction. It is reality." He added that "the Gaza genocide is probably the most technologically assisted genocide in human history" and that every aspect of the extermination is supported by modern technology. The decision about who lives and who dies is made by a person sitting far away behind a monitor screen. AI programs Lavender, Gospel, and "Where's Daddy?" select human and military targets for attack, while drones, quadrocopters, and tunnel-based dog-like robots attack people on the ground.

How the Demand for Avocados Is Destroying Mexico and the Battle for the Amazon Jungle

America's love for avocados is leading to widespread deforestation in Mexico. Avocado farming in states like Michoacán is causing water shortages because it uses much water. Despite claiming otherwise, companies such as West Pak Avocado Inc. and Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. are facing lawsuits for their unsustainable practices.

The Funan Techo Canal project in Cambodia aims to reduce the country's reliance on ports in Vietnam. The $1.64 billion canal will connect the Mekong River near Phnom Penh to new deep-water ports on the Gulf of Thailand. Critics argue that the project doesn't make economic sense, and environmentalists are concerned that diverting water from the Mekong could harm Vietnam and its rice-producing regions.

Satellite data reveals deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest has decreased by 46% compared to the previous year. However, according to the National Institute for Space Research's Deter satellite system, the Amazon has lost over 4,400 square kilometres (1,600 square miles) of land from August 1, 2023, to July 30, 2024.

Warnings: Oropouche and West Nile Fever and the Mpox Virus

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has urgently issued a risk assessment of Oropouche fever, detailing 19 cases in the Old Continent. These cases, all identified as travellers who have visited Cuba or Brazil and returned to Europe, underscore the pressing need for preventive measures. Meanwhile, two fatalities from Oropouche fever have been reported in the Brazilian state of Bahia, with no such deaths documented in the global scientific literature. The disease, common in Latin America and the Caribbean, shares symptoms with the dengue virus and is transmitted through the bites of infected midges and mosquitoes.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is currently investigating the potential declaration of a global emergency due to the escalating spread of mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus, in Africa. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported detecting the mpox virus in 10 African countries this year, with the Democratic Republic of Congo accounting for over 96% of all cases and deaths.

Experts are warning of a potential West Nile virus outbreak in the U.S. after the first cases were reported very early this summer. At least 80 cases have been detected in at least 23 states so far, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local government reports. West Nile virus is the leading cause of all mosquito-borne infections in the U.S. One in 150 infections leads to severe, sometimes fatal disease. The severity of this situation cannot be overstated.

Human History: The Indonesian Hobbit and the Cradle of European Man

Twenty years ago, on the Indonesian island of Flores, scientists discovered fossils of an early human species that stood about 1.07 meters tall and earned the nickname "hobbit." The remains of Homo florensis date back to between 60,000 and 100,000 years ago. A new study by experts from the University of Tokyo suggests that the ancestors of hobbits were even shorter - by 6 cm, to be exact - and lived 700,000 years ago. The fossils were unearthed at Mata Menge, a few dozen kilometres away. Scientists do not yet know where to place hobbits on the ladder of human evolution - whether they descended from Homo erectus or our even more primitive ancestors.

The cradle of European civilization may be located in the southwestern part of the German Swabian Jura. Archaeologists have drawn this conclusion in the light of several 40,000-year-old figurines carved from mammoth bone discovered there more than 20 years ago. During archaeological excavations, a flute from a swan's neck bone was also found, considered the world's oldest musical instrument. These discoveries mark the most critical threshold in human development: the ability to create pictorial and symbolic representations. Our ancestors are far from simple cavemen - they are hunter-gatherers with a high level of spirituality and the ability to express themselves through art and music.

Migration to the US: Skeletons in the Desert, Terrorists, and the Darién Gap

In recent years, thousands of migrants have died while crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, and volunteers frequently discover human skeletons scattered across the desert. The United Nations reported last September that nearly 700 deaths and disappearances occurred there in the previous 12 months. Almost half of these deaths, which are likely underreported, took place in the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts that run along the border. Experts believe that more than 4,000 migrants have died along the Arizona-Mexico border over the past 20 years, based solely on remains found. "It's estimated that for every migrant's remains discovered, three to eight migrants are not recovered," stated Brad Jones, a political science professor at the University of California, Davis.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has identified over 250 migrants on terror watchlists attempting to enter the U.S. At least 99 of them were allowed into the United States from 36 countries, including Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Syria.

Panamanian border guards have apprehended 15 individuals who were allegedly operating a smuggling ring that transported Chinese migrants across the Darién Gap, a dangerous, jungle-covered region between Colombia and Panama that serves as a primary route for migrants heading to the U.S. border. In recent years, the Chinese have become the fourth-largest national group to use this crossing. This year, 212,000 people have crossed the Darién Gap.

Diplomatic Relations Between Germany and the Philippines, Mali and Ukraine

The governments of Germany and the Philippines have agreed to expedite the finalization of a defence pact, which could significantly impact the situation in the South China Sea. This pact aims to facilitate joint military training and potential arms sales from Germany directly responding to the increasing threats, particularly China's aggressive actions in the region. China's long-standing claim over the sea route, a crucial global trade and security artery, has posed a persistent challenge to the Philippine government. The proposed defense agreement also paves the way for exchanging security information and closer cooperation between the German and Philippine militaries.

The recent decision by the Malian government to sever diplomatic ties with Ukraine is a significant development. This decision comes following accusations that Kyiv supported an attack by armed groups in July, resulting in the deaths of numerous Russian Wagner mercenaries and Malian soldiers in northern Mali. One analyst has described this as a significant setback for Wagner’s group on the battlefield in recent years. Senegal has also expressed objections to Ukraine’s involvement in its internal affairs.

Following Venezuela’s presidential election, diplomats from Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico have been in constant contact with representatives of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo González, seeking a resolution to the country’s political crisis. The current leftist presidents of these countries are allies of Maduro. However, unlike many other countries that have recognized Maduro or González as the winner, the governments of Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico have taken a relatively neutral stance on the issue.

Women, Refugees, and Minorities at the Paris Olympics

Manizha Talash, the first Afghan Olympic breakdancer, has achieved a significant milestone in the history of the Olympics. She began training as the only girl among 55 boys from the Superiors Crew. Despite her challenges, she persevered, demonstrating that gender should not be a barrier to pursuing one's passion. The Kabul gym, where she trained, has been a target of attacks, including a car bomb and the arrest of a would-be bomber, highlighting the courage and determination of Talash and her fellow athletes. After the Taliban took power, Talash fled from Pakistan to Spain to seek asylum and continue breakdancing, a testament to her resilience and commitment to her art.

Cindy Ngamba, the Cameroonian-born boxer, is a beacon of courage. She made history by winning the first medal for the refugee Olympic team. Ngamba, who moved to the UK at age 10, does not possess a British passport. Her words, “It’s essential to me to be the first refugee to win a medal,” reflect her courage and determination. Ngamba, who cannot return to Cameroon due to her sexual orientation, is a living example of bravery. The refugee Olympic team, which first competed in Rio in 2016, did not win a medal then.

Gymnast Kaylia Nemour became the first Algerian woman in 24 years to win an Olympic gold medal. Kayla was born and raised in France, where she trains, but last year, she decided to represent her father’s country, Algeria. Despite the initial resistance from the French Gymnastics Federation, the French government released Neymour from its jurisdiction, allowing her to compete for Algeria. This decision was met with support and encouragement from both the Algerian and French communities, highlighting the unity and solidarity that sports can foster.