Women's rights and "unhappiness leave"
#316 Outriders Magazine
The fight for women's rights: Pakistan, Japan, Great Britain
In Pakistan, women rarely become judges and pursue careers in that profession. They believe that the main obstacles are Pakistan's patriarchal system and "male chauvinism." Less than one in five Pakistani judges and court officials are women. Just seven women serve on the "higher courts" - the highest level of Pakistan's judiciary - which employs 126 judges, including the Supreme Court and the Federal Sharia Court. Moreover, only 17% of lawyers and 15% of prosecutors are women. The situation in other South Asian countries, such as India and Nepal, is similar.
As part of the expansion, the Japanese army should recruit more women, but in 2023, the number of Japanese women willing to join the Japan Self-Defense Forces dropped by 12%. One reason is fear of harassment. A recent ministerial inquiry into harassment in the male-dominated world of the Japanese military uncovered more than 170 such incidents.
A study by the Pregnant Then Screwed group shows that in Great Britain, over 435,000 mothers were silenced under non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) or confidentiality clauses due to mistreatment at work. These women experienced discrimination, intimidation, or harassment there. Approximately 75% of mothers who signed an NDA say it has harmed their mental health. NDAs are legal agreements that prevent UK individuals from sharing information that companies or individuals wish to keep private.
Wildlife trade, Costa Rican ocean environment and sea turtles’ health
The illegal wildlife trade is a significant issue, with traffickers targeting over 4,000 species of wild fauna and flora in more than 80% of countries. Shockingly, 40% of confiscated mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians are on the red list of endangered or almost endangered species, contributing to the disappearance of animal species. This illegal practice could be worth up to $23 billion annually.
The movie The Last Shark follows marine conservationists in Costa Rica who strive to protect the country's diverse coastal ecosystems. These ecosystems are home to some of the most varied corals in the Pacific and attract numerous sharks and rays. However, these efforts face resistance from the fishing sector, which seeks to exploit marine diversity at the expense of endangered species. Additionally, rising ocean temperatures pose a threat to marine life.
Sea turtles worldwide are primarily threatened by commercial fishing activities. Turtles often accidentally end up in nets, a phenomenon known as bycatch. A study by scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that these turtles suffer from the bends - when unwanted gas is formed in their organs due to being forced to the surface too quickly. This can lead to organ damage and death, even if turtles appear uninjured.
"Dating concierge" and AI vs employees
Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder of the Bumble dating app, discussed how AI could impact the dating world at the Bloomberg Technology Summit. She mentioned that soon, and users will be able to utilize a "dating concierge" to receive communication tips and to filter potential partners more, creating a safer and friendlier platform for establishing healthier relationships.
A new report by Microsoft and LinkedIn revealed that despite concerns that artificial intelligence would lead to job loss, many employees are using AI to boost their productivity. The data shows that three out of four employees use generative artificial intelligence, with 90% believing it helps save time and 84% stating that it stimulates their creativity. This highlights AI's potential to streamline tasks and inspire and foster creativity in the workplace.
Qu Jing, the head of the PR department at the Chinese technology company Baidu, recently posted videos on her social media that caused controversy. In the videos, she emphasized the need for employees to make significant sacrifices for the company and the culture of hard work. She also warned her subordinates that she "is not their mom" and "could make them unemployed in this industry." However, Qu Jing has already probably lost her job at Baidu.
Decarbonization: the Mammoth project, green smelters and refineries
The Austrian company OBRIST Group uses carbon dioxide to produce the so-called green methanol - a chemical compound that can serve as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. The company uses Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology, which filters CO2 from the atmosphere and treats it for industrial purposes. In turn, the Swiss company Climeworks AG launched the Mammoth project in Iceland - a huge "vacuum cleaner" that can remove 36,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually.
Century Aluminum Company intends to build the first aluminium smelter in the United States in 45 years. The Green Aluminum Smelter project could double the amount of clean aluminium produced in the country while emitting 75% less CO2 than older smelters thanks to increased efficiency and the use of renewable energy. Meanwhile, chemists at Utrecht University are proposing a way to decarbonize oil refineries to meet the net-zero emissions goal: developing refineries that produce chemicals and materials from biomass and recycled plastics instead of crude oil and synthetic fuels from hydrogen and carbon dioxide using electricity from renewable energy sources. Replacing one oil refinery with technology compliant with net zero emissions targets will cost between €14 and €23 billion.
While the shipping industry is also under increasing pressure to decarbonise, unclear regulatory guidance, such as on technology and the type of cleaner fuel large ships should burn, complicates the path to net zero emissions.
Healthy sugars, breakthrough semaglutide and the popularity of obesity drugs
The Karolinska Institute in Sweden conducted a study on the impact of fat cell size and number on long-term changes in human body weight. The experiment found that people with larger fat cells tended to lose weight, while those with smaller fat cells were more likely to gain weight. However, individuals with smaller fat cells were also less likely to develop weight-related diseases.
Medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro lower blood sugar levels by mimicking the hormone that stimulates insulin production. This reduces the reliance on insulin for people with type 2 diabetes. Meanwhile, research from the University College London revealed that patients taking semaglutide, found in Wegovy and Ozempic, had a 20% lower risk of heart attack, stroke, and death from cardiovascular diseases. Semaglutide was also noted for its positive effects on the cardiovascular system and weight loss.
A study among physically fit male teenagers, particularly Swedish army conscripts, showed that the risk of severe coronary artery narrowing almost 40 years later was 33% lower compared to their less fit peers. Additionally, experts from the University of Groningen highlighted the importance of the source of sugar in childhood obesity, stating that sugar from fruit and unsweetened liquid dairy products, such as milk, is safer than other sources.
Diplomacy: Arctic Council, divided Cyprus and the Asia summit
In February 2022, relations between Russia and Western countries were strained. Still, there is limited cooperation within the Arctic Council, which includes the USA, Canada, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Russia. The council addresses pollution, economic development, and rescue missions. In March of this year, Arctic countries conducted a virtual training exercise simulating an oil spill off the coast of northern Norway, with Russia participating in dispatching two ships and contributing to a report on radioactivity in the Arctic.
In Beijing, high-ranking diplomats from China and South Korea held their first direct talks in about six years. They discussed differences in approach to US policy regarding chip exports and North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Also, they pledged to organise a trilateral summit with Japan, which has been suspended since 2019.
Ersin Tatar, the leader of the separatist Turkish Cypriots, believes there is no chance for an agreement with Greek Cypriots to alleviate the ethnic divisions in Cyprus that have been ongoing for several decades. Turkish Cypriots living in Northern Cyprus demand the same international recognition as the Republic of Cyprus.
"Unhappiness leave" in China and Americans’ lack of job satisfaction
The Chinese supermarket chain Pangdonglai offers employees up to 10 days of "unhappiness leave" in addition to sick and holiday leave. The employee may request such leave anytime and the management cannot refuse it. "I want every employee to have freedom. Everyone has times when they are unhappy, so if you are unhappy, don't come to work," said company president Yu Donglai. Is the Chinese idea a solution to the situation in which a mentally suffering employee prefers to report a physical illness to get a day off from work? A 2018 health service survey of BHSF workers found that 2 ⁄ 5 of U.K. workers reported being off work due to physical illness when, in fact, they were complaining of poor mental health.
Men in the U.S. are quitting their jobs and leaving the labour market at an unprecedented rate - according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 89% of working-age men have jobs or are actively looking for jobs. In 1950, the number was 97%. Potential causes include a recession that lowers the labour force participation rate, a decline in men's participation in higher education, and a decline in self-esteem related to their work. Meanwhile, according to the Conference Board's report on job satisfaction in the U.S., women reported lower overall satisfaction than men for the sixth year in a row - the most significant differences concerned remuneration, especially bonuses, career development prospects, and health benefits.
Faces of migration: LGBTQ+ migrants, health care in the USA and Italy
Increasing numbers of LGBTQ+ migrants are fleeing potential prison sentences and even death penalties. They are seeking safety and asylum in Europe as authorities in their home countries tighten anti-homosexuality laws. Currently, more than 60 countries have anti-LGBTQ+ laws, with the majority in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. Most European countries do not keep statistics on the number of migrants seeking refugee status due to persecution of LGBTQ+ people. However, non-governmental organisations tracking the phenomenon report that the numbers are increasing as countries enact or tighten anti-homosexual laws.
Rocca di Papa, a town located several dozen kilometres from Rome, has a welcome centre for migrants and asylum seekers. Migrants from countries such as Syria and Sudan attend Italian language classes and receive health care at the centre before seeking work. The Red Cross operates the centre and receives funding from the Italian government.
As of 2022, approximately 21.2 million non-citizen immigrants live in the United States, making up approximately 7% of the US population. Undocumented migrants often face difficulties obtaining health insurance. A recent KFF study found that only four states - California, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado - make all adult immigrants eligible for state insurance.