Cruel Summer & Barbie

July 21, 2023 - The heat 🔥 & Barbie 👱‍♀️

Jul 21, 2023

Before we start…

Congrats to Rebecca Weiner. She was sworn in as NYPD Deputy Commission for Intelligence and Counterterrorism this week, the first woman to hold the post.

Turkey’s women’s volleyball team are world champions. They won the Volleyball Nations League title. 🇹🇷👊💥

I’m thrilled that Noa Schmid, a rising junior at Connecticut College who is majoring in international relations and art, joined me in writing this week’s lede.

Climate change is wreaking havoc on every aspect of our lives. There is no shortage of data points to back that up, not that we actually need data to see and feel its effects.

Across much of the northern hemisphere, temperatures have broken records, with July 2023 becoming the hottest on record. Floods in the northeast US and South Korea have killed several dozens. Wildfires rage in Canada and Greece. Droughts are causing a food crisis in Africa. Extreme weather events are on the rise across the globe. In cities, where density and concrete make the heat worse, put the elderly, poor, and homeless at increased risk.

We’ve previously noted that while climate change is a given, it’s a hard topic to write and read about. The science is obvious and there’s not much new to add that will help us understand what’s happening. What’s worse: there’s not much happening to counter climate change — to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, clean our oceans, increase sustainability.

John Kerry, the Biden administration’s climate czar, traveled to China last week to talk about possible areas where the two superpowers can collaborate and find solutions. Together, the US and China are responsible for 40 percent of global carbon emissions. Sadly, he came back empty handed.

Earlier this week, Russia pulled out of a grain deal that made it possible for Ukraine to export wheat across the Black Sea (and through Turkey). According to the World Food Programme, the grain deal allowed over 725,000 tons of wheat to be shipped to Afghanistan, Yemen, and east Africa. Many are worried that this will lead to more food shortages, increasing hunger particularly in Africa. They’re probably right.

When it comes to solutions, we are largely dependent on policymakers and corporate heads, who have the power to do better, if they are brave enough to consider humanity over profit. Some are. Car manufacturers are moving over to electric vehicles. Oil companies are exploring alternative sources of energy. What more can be done?

We can rethink the design of cities. The Economist has a piece in this week’s edition that suggests carving out more spaces for trees (which help cool the air) and painting rooftops white (since it deflects heat, whereas black absorbs).

Digging into Elmira’s entrepreneurship knowledge, we can also get behind startups that are working on alternative energy and green solutions. Investing into research and development is key here as is venture capital funds. VCs, along with hedge funds and private equity firms, are focused on the biggest returns. We can’t think of anything bigger than tampering temperatures and saving lives. — Elmira and Noa

Today’s headline is from the 80s Bananarama song. not Taylor Swift, which I was surprised to discover. This newsletter keeps me young and hip. 😎 Here’s the really bad video of the otherwise catchy song. Hey, it was the 80s. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Girls Just Wanna….

I saw Barbie last night. (Thank you Krista!) I loved it.

I didn’t want to love it. Barbie is complicated for me, the brown haired, brown eyed, olive skinned Muslim daughter of blue collar immigrants. Barbie represented all the things I wasn’t: white, blonde, perfect.

Director Greta Gerwig addresses touches on that and more — the unrealistic beauty standards, the whiteness, the patriarchy, objectification, exploitation, and commercialization. Interestingly, while she points out the ugliness of all of it, she manages to think about Barbie as a symbol of not so much feminism, but individualism.

There is a great scene with America Ferrera who breaks down the challenges and contradictions of being a woman — we have to be beautiful, but not too beautiful; we have to be thin, but not too thin; we have to be successful, but still care for those around us; we have to care, but can’t be emotional. It is applause worthy.

For me that scene, along with the whole movie, said: just be you. You can be for women’s empowerment and rights, while getting your hair and nails done. No one woman is like the other. Nor should we be.

Andi Zeisler nails my sentiment in a piece in today's NYT:

I’m willing to acknowledge — even mock — my once-reflexive feminist rejection of everything Barbie: She never had to be a zero-sum figure, a thing you were either with or against. Many of us definitely saw her that way. That we did speaks only to the continuing challenges of a world that, even now, isn’t sure whether women can be free of stereotypes or expectations and be allowed to simply exist.

Towards the end of the movie, there is a scene where Barbie apologies to Ken. I won’t spoil why. Suffice to say, that it’s a reminder that while you’re being you, be kind.

— Elmira

On our radar...

Women’s World Cup ⚽️

The Women’s World Cup is expected to bring in $500 million and it’s the first time the womens’ cup is being treated as its own commercial entity – not an extension of the men’s cup. 👏There’s still plenty of work to be done, as the gap in prize money between the men’s and women’s cup is still wide, says Nancy Armour. (USA Today)
Women’s soccer has gained popularity in the last few years in Britain. Why now? Yasmeen Serhan explains. (Time)
Laurel Wamsley with the 5 storylines to follow during the Women’s World Cup. (NPR)
And Ella Brockway and others bring us everything you need to know about the group stage of the Women’s World Cup. (Washington Post)

Of note:

Migrant or prop? We don’t think of a white person living in Tunisia or France as a “migrant.” That’s a term we slap on those who are brown and black. Similarly, when there’s an article about the dangers of migration, we see images of men. When it’s a story victimizing them we see images of women and children. Shreya Parikh’s piece about those moving to and from Tunisia and France are portrayed and how it shapes our understanding of belonging. (Africa is a Country)

Donald Trump may face another indictment. Cue his proclamations that this is unprecedented and outrageous. Actually Orange One, it’s not. Since 2000, 78 political leaders in democratic nations have faced criminal charges. Ashley Ahn and Brawley Benson have the details. (Foreign Policy)

How can neurodiversity benefit US national security? FPI Fellow Courtney Weinbaum explains how autistic military service members and employees have to keep their diagnoses hidden. (Military Times)

US

Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, visited the United States this week and addressed a Congress on Wednesday. But not all elected representatives turned up. Rachel Oswald on the progressive members that boycotted the speech and the increasing fault lines in unified support for Israel. (Roll Call)

AOC addresses UPS workers ahead of what is likely to be the largest single-employer strike in history. Sharon Zang updates us. (Truthout)

US soldier Travis King ran across the demilitarized zone, aka DMZ, between North and South Korea on Tuesday. While we all wonder why, Stella Kim, Jennifer Jett, and Larissa Gao on North Korea’s silence and it’s focus on launching short-range ballistic missiles. (NBC News)

Africa

Where is the ICC in Sudan? Sarah Nouwen says the ICC can deliver justice to the Sudanese if they investigate the army and the RSF for crimes. (Al Jazeera)

The showdown between Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin may have died down, but its effects will impact Africa. Wagner has a presence in a half a dozen African countries, with more than 5,000 deployments and, as Joyce Davis notes, a “complicated network of businesses intertwined with fighting forces.” And that impact will more than likely be bloody. (CNN)

Meanwhile, Amanda Kadlec points out that Wagner’s troubles may actually open up an opportunity for other private military companies in Africa. She also puts into perspective the shadowy world of these contractors and their opaque operations. (New Lines Magazine)

Asia

Where in the world is China’s foreign minister? (No, it’s not a new video game.) Qin Gang hasn’t been seen in three weeks. Yuchen Li notes that this is troubling for a nation eager to be the next global superpower. (DW)

Thailand’s Move Forward Party candidate Pita Limjaroenrat lost his second chance in his bid for prime minister this week. Francesca Regaldo says conservatives have crushed the chances of forming a progressive government. (Nikkei Asia)

India launched a spacecraft on Friday, advancing the country’s position as a space power. Nivedita Bhattacharjee reports. (Reuters)

Asia’s “tiger economies,” Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan, have the chance to be trailblazers in a world disrupted by geopolitics. However, they need to adapt quickly, says Janet Pau. (South China Morning Post)

Mongolia currently holds a place at the bottom end of Asian nations in concern with women in politics. But, its upcoming constitutional referendum could completely reverse this, making it number one, says Bolor Lkhaajav. (The Diplomat)

Filipino leader, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, son of the infamous dictator from the 1980s, announced a plan to fight disinformation. Sounds great, right? Be very weary, says Ellery Roberts Biddle. She explains how Bongbong floods social media with his own propaganda and seeks muzzles smaller websites and media outlets. (Coda Story)

The Americas

Bolsonaro banned: Former Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro, has been banned from running for office in upcoming elections after his violations during the last one. Beatrice Rangel, Lucas Fernandes, Mariano Machado, and Peter Hakim fill us in on what they see in the future of Brazilian politics. (The Dialogue)

Peruvians are back on the streets, demanding elections and for President Dina Boluarte to step down. Marina Franco explains why and what’s behind their anger. (Axios)

Nicaragua’s leader, Daniel Ortega, continues to crackdown on civil society, human rights, and independent journalism. It’s time for the international community to have a coordinated response, says Juanita Goebertus Estrada. (HRW)

There’s a new candidate in the running for Mexico’s 2024 presidential race. Carin Zissis introduces us to Xóchitl Gálvez. (Americas Quarterly)

Europe

Ukraine’s path to joining NATO has been far from easy. FPI Fellow İlke Toygür and Max Bergmann dive deep into how it will be even harder for Ukraine to join the EU. (Foreign Policy)

This week, Russia pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal that made it possible for Ukraine, a major wheat exporter, to ship through the Black Sea. What will impact many countries, writes Kali Robinson. (CFR)

Putin doesn’t hold all the power. Dina Khapaeva on the other criminal organizations in Russia who hold power, including the Wagner Group. (Project Syndicate)

Mon dieu. American economist Fiona Scott Morton said she wouldn’t take up her new appointment as the European Commission’s chief competition economist, following an outcry that she wasn’t European. Laura Kayali and Giovanna Faggionato have more. (Politico)

Spain heads to the polls on Sunday, to vote for a new government. With scorching temperatures, many are unhappy that it’s taking place. What’s at stake and who’s on the ballot? Laura Gozzi and Paul Kirby dive in. (BBC)

France’s ban on hijabs in sport is an act of state racism, says Shireen Ahmed. (Middle East Eye)

Middle East

Congress may have honored Israel’s president this week, but it should have reproached him and his country’s increasing extremist politics, says Noura Erakat. (The Hill)

Iran’s morality police are back on the streets to patrol and enforce Islamic dress codes — that is, they’re back to police women. This only underscores the regime’s draconian nature, and how the hijab is not a choice, says Monica Verma. (Firstpost)

Why is China appeasing all sides in Yemen? A new oil deal with the Houthis shows Beijing’s recognition for the rebels, yet ties with the Yemeni government remain as usual. Emily Milliken explains this strategic Chinese move. (Responsible Statecraft)

Science and Climate Change

Are you grieving the Holocene – otherwise known as life as we know it? Global warming is coming on strong and it’s the beginning of the end, says Gaia Vince. (The Guardian) 🫣

How hot is too hot? Rachel Cottle, Larry Kenney, Daniel Vecellio and Tony Wolf explore the limits of human adaptability with extreme heat waves here to stay. (The Conversation)

Links We Loved....

Emergency contraceptive vending machines? Seems like something out of a dream, but it’s real and coming to Interruptrr’s home institution, Bard. Read more here!
I don’t know about you, but we’re all pumped for the World Cup. But, it’s still important to read up and stay informed! Look here to learn about the gender disparities in the competition.
And while the word ‘heatwave' has come to accompany all of us in recent years, check out this photo series showing people coping with the heat from Tunisia to Iraq.
Check out these interviews with 50 rappers to celebrate 50 years of hip hop.
Looking to know more about the history of the Women’s World Cup as this year’s games kick-off?

Job Opportunities

Our pals at the Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative are hiring for a Strategic Communications and Media Engagement Consultant or Agency. Elmira is on the Steering Committee! And you get to work with the terrific Lyric Thompson, Spogmay Ahmed, and Jill Montilla.
In the Americas, north and south, Digital Democracy is hiring for a Fundraising Manager.
The Alexander Hamilton Society has two open positions, one as the Special Assistant to the Executive Director, the second as a Program and Editorial Assistant.
Applications for the Pickering Fellowship are now open. If you’re interested in a career in at the US State Department, check it out.

Editorial Team

Elmira Bayrasli - Editor-in-Chief

Editors:

Samantha Felman
Anouk Jouffret
Pin-Shan Lai
Catherine Lovizio
Noa Schmid
Emily Smith