The Joker Effect: Consequences of Inequality in Society
As time progresses, increasing economic inequality and social immobility are evident in the emergence of poverty as one of the consequences of market liberalization policies and structural adjustment programs that were implemented in the 1990s. This new reality has spurred
The Criminalization of Mapuche Land Defenders in Chile
The Case of Logko Alberto Curamil and the Alianza Territorial Mapuche perfectly illustrates the harrowing land protection issues facing the Mapuche people in Chile. To understand the case, some background information is needed. First, who are the Mapuche people? They
El Salvador’s Forgotten Genocide: 40 Years Later
Scorched-earth. Scorched-families. Life provides hard times for each of us, but they come little by little, as if giving us time to recover. For Rufina Amaya, however, life threw its difficulties mercilessly at her, all in just a few hours. On
Chinese Corporate Social Responsibility in Latin America
Among the many notable developments in China's overseas investment in recent years is the growing interest among Chinese companies in achieving certain internationally recognized environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. Whether motivated by growing international scrutiny, Chinese government guidelines on
And Change is Coming Whether You Like it or Not
“And change is coming whether you like it or not.” With these powerful words, Greta Thunberg concluded her speech at the UN climate action summit this past September. We are facing one of the most urgent global challenges as humans; The consequences
Humanitarian Aid Organizations Under Risk
The 2018 Annual Report of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), an organization for humanitarian purposes, has been released. The new Director General of the Office for South America, Josefina Martorell, has confessed that 2018 was not an easy year for MSF or
Gender Equality in Sports: The USWNT “Equal Play, Equal Pay” Campaign is Only the Beginning
Every time I explain the research I do, I inevitably frame it as “soccer and politics,” or even more broadly, “sports and politics.” I have learned that absolutely everyone will have an opinion on these topics. Some might mention the
A Human Rights Crisis: Political Prisoners in Venezuela
Venezuela’s political, economic, and social issues have caused one of the biggest crises in the history of Latin America. Years of corruption, economic mismanagement, and consolidation of power have resulted in the decline of one of the wealthiest countries in
Why is There Still a Debate Over Fracking in Mexico?
While the fracking boom and its awful environmental consequences in the United States is well known worldwide, few people are aware of the use of this detrimental technology in other countries. In Mexico, oil and gas exploration using fracking in
The Fight for Reparations for People of African Descent
Reparations. The contentious term is constantly flung around, but what does it actually mean? According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, the term can mean the following: 1) a. A repair or keeping in repair b. Reparations plural: repairs 2) a. The act of
Post-Conflict: The Mass, Systematic Killings of Social Leaders in Colombia
There has been an increasing awareness of the murders of social leaders in Colombia. Indepaz [1] registered 872 murders from January 2016 to May 2019 related to post-conflict tensions and disputes. Out of the 872 victims, 702 were human rights
The Usage and Dangers of Facial Recognition Technology
The neighborhood of Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro, sometimes referred to as “the little princess of the sea,” is one of the most famous places in the world. This international destination is known for its natural landscape with beaches, a