Sextortion, the end of e-scooters and nature on Instagram
Outriders Magazine #328
China, Sweden, and Australia: Balancing Green and Fossil Energy
In the first half of 2024, China took the lead in constructing new coal-fired power plants, starting facilities for 41 GW of power and planning to launch another 39 GW this year. However, building permits for power plants in the first half of this year only amounted to 9 GW of power, marking an 83% decrease compared to the first half of 2023. China is the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide, responsible for over a quarter of global emissions.
To achieve economic development while being environmentally friendly, Sweden serves as a great example. Since 1990, Sweden has reduced net greenhouse gas emissions by 80% while doubling its economic growth. The average emission reduction in the European Union during the same period was 30%. Despite being highly industrialized, Sweden has significantly decreased fossil fuel usage for electricity production, heavily investing in renewable energy sources.
On the other hand, the Australian government has given environmental approvals for the $19 billion Australia-Asia PowerLink solar farm. This solar farm is expected to deliver up to 6 GW of green electricity annually, mainly to Singapore. The electricity generated from Sun Cable's 12,500-hectare project will be transmitted to Darwin through an 800-kilometer overhead transmission line and then to Asia via a 4,300-kilometer submarine cable. Australia is taking steps towards green energy solutions despite having an economy heavily dependent on coal and gas and being one of the world's largest per capita emitters of greenhouse gasses.
The Impact of the Military on Climate Change and the Situation of Indigenous Peoples in the US
The world’s militaries are responsible for almost 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions annually, more significant than the combined emissions from the aviation and shipping industries. Researchers from Queen Mary University of London found that the emissions from the first 120 days of the recent conflict in Gaza exceeded the annual emissions of 26 individual countries, and the emissions from rebuilding Gaza will be greater than the annual emissions of more than 135 countries, similar to the annual emissions of Sweden or Portugal.
In Gaza, military campaigns often lead to ecocide, where the enemy population's ability to live sustainably and maintain autonomy over its water and food supplies is reduced or eliminated. According to researchers from Forensic Architecture, at least 50% of the agricultural land and orchards in Gaza have been destroyed, along with greenhouses and olive groves.
Native Americans living along the Pacific Northwest coast face severe climate change impacts, including rising sea levels, extreme heat, coastal flooding and erosion, rising water temperatures, decreasing snowpack, and an increasing risk of wildfires. They require assistance accessing government funding to help them adapt to new living conditions, relocate homes, and adapt salmon runs to warmer water temperatures.
The Intersection of Sports and Business: Paris Olympics, the German Euro, and Sports Gambling
The Paris Olympics have contributed to the eurozone economy, as business survey data indicates that monthly output in the French private sector reached its highest level in 17 months in August. The European Union has seen positive impacts from the Paris Games. The eurozone PMI, compiled by Hamburg Commercial Bank and S&P Global, increased to 51.2 in August from 50.2 the previous month. The International Olympic Committee has projected that the Paris Games could result in $12.2 billion in economic benefits for the Île-de-France region.
Strong sales of replica jerseys associated with the English national football team’s participation in the German Euros have bolstered the financial performance of manufacturer JD Sport. The retailer’s shares surged by over 8%, even as major brands like Nike performed below expectations. England has advanced to the Euro 2024 final.
English Premier League clubs have agreed to cease featuring gambling sponsorship on the front of their shirts until the conclusion of the 2025/26 season. Following that, clubs will still be permitted to display gambling brands in other areas, such as the sleeves of their shirts and LED advertising. Eight top-flight clubs promote gambling companies on the front of their shirts, amounting to an estimated £60 million a year in advertising. Gambling with Lives, a community for families affected by gambling-related suicide, described the decision as “not ideal but a welcome move and a significant acknowledgement of the harm caused by gambling advertising and sponsorship”.
Urban Street Medicine and the Healthcare System in Lebanon
Volunteers at the Federico Gomez Children’s Hospital in Mexico City care for the birthday boys and girls, doing their hair, makeup, and clothes. They organize an annual 15th birthday party for patients currently being treated for severe illnesses or those who have already beaten cancer. The hospital covers the costs since some families cannot afford the party after undergoing expensive treatments. In Mexico, the “quinceañera,” or “fifteenth birthday,” holds significant cultural importance, especially for girls, and the hospital aims to honour this tradition.
In the United States, a growing form of street medicine involves nurses and social workers providing water and medicine to people experiencing homelessness. In California, where 64 of the roughly 150 U.S. street medicine organizations operate, a medical group called Healthcare in Action is exclusively dedicated to homeless individuals. It seeks funding from state and federal governments to provide medical treatment and housing for patients. Medicaid, a state social welfare program, can assist homeless individuals in finding housing or paying utility bills.
Lebanon is facing multiple healthcare crises and is also preparing for a potential conflict with Israel. The World Health Organization recently delivered nearly 32 tons of medical supplies to Lebanon. In the Gaza Strip, the health care system has already suffered extensive damage, and Lebanese health authorities fear that their hospitals could be targeted in a conflict with Israel.
Maritime Geostrategy: China, Iran, the US, and NATO
China has deployed a carrier group to the western Pacific for the second time in a month. The group, led by the 70,000-ton Shandong, the first aircraft carrier built in China and the second in service with the Chinese navy, also included two Chinese destroyers and a frigate. The Japanese reported that the Shandong operated with carrier-based fighter jets and helicopters. At the same time, the Pentagon ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln to expedite its transit from the western Pacific to the Middle East.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and a major shipping route carrying almost 30% of the world’s oil trade is again under tension due to conflicts between Iran and Israel. Iran has a history of attacking merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz and threatening to block transit. While Tehran did not specifically threaten the movement through Hormuz this time, it has supported Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been attacking ships near the southern entrance to the Red Sea.
In July, at least five NATO members sent naval and air assets to track two Chinese ships moving between the Horn of Africa and Russia. Photos released by the British confirmed that they, along with Belgium and France, were monitoring the Chinese destroyer Jiaozuo and the supply ship Honghu as they sailed from the Gulf of Aden across the Atlantic toward the Baltic Sea on the route to St. Petersburg.
Implementing Superblocks for Sustainable Cities and the Future of E-Scooters
Melbourne, Australia, has banned e-scooter rentals due to accidents that have resulted in complaints and public outrage. Some accidents have even led to deaths and brain damage, particularly affecting younger patients. The city introduced scooter-sharing systems in February 2022 for a two-year trial period. Mayor Nicolas Reece stated, "Too many people ride on the sidewalks and don’t park their scooters properly. They’re abandoned and thrown around the city, creating hazards."
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has pledged to host the 2028 Summer Olympics with minimal car use. However, public transport in the city is less advanced than in previous host cities, and the metropolis is known for its traffic jams and extensive motorways.
The superblock is an urban planning concept gaining popularity in Europe. A superblock can be three by three or three by two blocks. Within these blocks, city planners limit vehicle speeds, prohibit traffic, and designate parts of roads and intersections as pedestrian zones. The next step involves creating space for nature and community by adding trees, plants, benches, and playgrounds. Superblocks don’t aim to eliminate cars from traffic—they make them less critical. The space is designed primarily for pedestrians, with vehicles being secondary.
Utilizing Genomic Techniques, Coral Farming, and Instagram to Support Nature
A temperature rise of 1°C results in a 10% and 6.4% loss in rice and wheat yields, respectively. Genomic techniques offer hope for developing more resistant fruits and vegetables. For instance, scientists have pinpointed a gene called AtGRXS17 in the Arabidopsis plant, which enables the plant to withstand drought. Modified plants demonstrated resilience when introduced into tomatoes and subjected to a ten-day water withholding period. In another instance, using the CRISPR/Cas method to modify a single gene called FaPG1 resulted in improved firmness and water retention of strawberries. In February 2024, the market introduced the first edited crop – a purple tomato containing snapdragon genes.
Researchers at Derby University utilized tanks with water temperatures matching those of a coral reef and lighting mimicking the sun and moon cycles to induce over 50 types of coral to spawn throughout the year rather than during a specific month as in nature. The team is currently applying probiotics to small porcelain plugs (used to house larvae) to enhance the survival of young corals.
In addition, the Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board in Wyoming created a new Instagram filter to ensure photographers have safe encounters with their subjects. The Selfie Control tool includes bison, bear, elk, deer, black bear, and grizzly bear. These animals inhabit Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks and the surrounding wilderness areas. The filter guides the appropriate distance to maintain when approaching these animals.
Addressing Internet Sextortion and Youth Gangs in Scandinavia
The Danish and Swedish justice ministers promise to prosecute organised crime leaders abroad. Gangs are using underage Swedes to commit crimes in Denmark, such as contract killings, which have occurred at least 25 times since April. This is partly because Swedish law provides for milder sentences for underage people who commit serious crimes. In addition, one of the two main gangs in Sweden is run by a Swedish-Turkish citizen who lives in Turkey, which refuses to extradite its citizens.
British minors are increasingly encountering the problem of sextortion, when the criminal uses trickery (e.g. impersonation) to obtain intimate/erotic photos of the victim, which they then use to blackmail them to extort money (e.g. in exchange for not making the photos public, etc.). Childline, a child and youth helpline, says it is a daily occurrence to encounter victims of financial and sexual blackmail, with the frequency of such contacts having increased “hugely” over the past 12 months. In that time, Childline has encountered more than 100 cases of financial and sexual blackmail.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), which helps detect and remove child abuse content online, is calling on WhatsApp owner Meta to protect minors better online. Experts say there is nothing to stop the spread of child abuse images on WhatsApp.