Note to Self
October 6, 2023 - We can stand up for Indigenous rights
Congrats to Iran activist Narges Mohammadi. This morning the Nobel Committee awarded her the Peace Prize for “her fight against the oppression of women in Iran.” That brings the number of women awarded to 62. I’ll have more to say about this. Stay tuned.
Happy Thanksgiving Canada, which celebrates on Monday.
Monday also marks Indigenous People’s Day/Columbus Day in the US. That’s what my column today is about. Emily Smith, a senior at Bard College and who has been on the editorial team since 2022, joins me this week. Thank you Emily for pushing for this topic.
Since 1937, Americans have celebrated Columbus Day on the second Monday in October. It honors explorer Christopher Columbus, who landed in the Americas, specifically the Bahamas in 1492. For the past three years, the Biden White House has issued a proclamation that the second Monday in October would be Indigenous Peoples Day, acknowledging the native inhabitants of the United States.
While that is a welcome development, it’s important to consider what Indigenous peoples in the US have faced for centuries — dislocation, violence, poverty, discrimination, and genocide — with little to no resolution.
Australia, meanwhile, has made an effort to address Indigenous rights. Next Saturday, October 14, the country will hold a referendum on whether to recognize Indigenous peoples in the constitution and enshrine an “Indigenous voice” in the country’s parliament — the creation of a body, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. This body would allow Indigenous people to finally have representation on matters relating to their own people and their own land.
Resistance to this measure is high, with opponents arguing that the amendment would lead to further racial division in the country. They argue that voting it down “should not be seen as an end to the struggle for Indigenous constitutional recognition.”
The question is: how does the struggle for Indigenous recognition move forward? That’s not only an important question for Australia, but other countries with significant Indigenous populations.
In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People would be observed on August 9 every year. We don’t know about you, but have you ever paused on August 9 to commemorate Indigenous peoples?
In 2007, the United Nations adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. One hundred forty four countries signed in favor, four against — Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US. All have since reversed their positions, (possibly because they’ve elected more progressive leaders.) There were 11 abstentions, including Russia and Ukraine. 👀
This framework sets out minimum standards for the survival, dignity, and well-being of Indigenous peoples.
It’s obvious to say that more needs to be done. But what?
With so many challenges facing us today — from climate change to global health crises to polarization and growing inequality, it’s hard to prioritize Indigenous peoples. Yet it would be a mistake to relegate Indigenous rights into the bin of “complex” matters — or a matter for those in high office.
All of us can acknowledge and fight for more representation and inclusion in policymaking.
We can also recognize and support the work of activists fighting for Indigenous rights. In Brazil, we’re awed by the work that Sônia Guajajara is doing. She’s the country’s first Minister for Indigenous Peoples and is fighting efforts to take away Indigenous land rights. Journalists, NGOs, frankly anyone - highlight the work that Sônia and others are doing. Keeping these activists front and center is something that all of us can do. And, hey Nobel Committee, maybe take a look at what these Indigenous activists are doing too.
As we go into the holiday weekend, we can also simply remember. When we fail to do so, we not only are prone to repeat mistakes but to delve into a world of denial.
— Elmira & Emily
The Yom Kippur War
On October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria attacked Israel. It was Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Hence, the name of the war. Golda Meir stood at the helm of the country as prime minister. I’ve been reading a lot about “Golda” and saw the movie where Helen Mirren plays Ms. Meir. (She was great. The movie was, frankly, awful.) I looked for pieces that looked back on her role in the war, but came up short. I can commend The Only Woman in the Room: Golda Meir and Her Path to Power by Pnina Lahav.
Yesterday, at CFR, I asked Ehud Barak about Ms. Meir’s role in the war. Kudos to him for pushing the moderator to call on me, even though we had run out of time.
Elsewhere in the World.....
On our radar...
Next Saturday, October 14, Australians go to the polls to vote on whether indigenous peoples should have a voice in parliament. What’s standing in the way of a yes? Many things, but Peter Dutton is a significant one. Dutton is stressing the supposed division that a yes vote would bring to the nation, notes. Katharine Murphy. (The Guardian)
The Catholic church is holding a synod. Elisabetta Povoledo and Jason Horowitz explain what it is and why this one is so important for Pope Francis’ papacy. (NYT)
In a controversial move, Pakistan announced a mass deportation of immigrants, including Afghans. Pakistan is home to over 1 million refugees, many of whom are from Afghanistan, so this move will have major consequences. Sophia Saifi and Jessie Yeung have the details. (CNN)
Sixteen year old Armita Geravand boarded a Tehran subway on Sunday. She’s been in a coma ever since. Was this another case of police brutality? Farnaz Fassihi takes a look. (NYT)
US
Psssst, Matt Gaetz. You are playing into Vladimir Putin’s hands, says Frida Ghittis. Ghittis considers how this week’s chaos in Congress is perceived worldwide. (CNN)
Immigration was a big topic at last week’s (painful) GOP debate. Maria Cardona outlines how the Republican party candidates' approaches will potentially decrease American voters’ support. (The Hill)
US Senator Bob Memendez (D-NJ) has been indicted on bribery and fraud charges. At the center of the accusation is a scheme to direct aid and sell weapons to Egypt in exchange for gold and thousands in cash. But what we should all really be focused on, say Asha Rangappa and Marc Polymeropoulos are the numerous disclosures to the Egyptian government and pulling of strings, putting US national security at risk. (Just Security)
FPI Fellow Amy Hawthorne shares her perspective on the Menendez indictment — and its connection to Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, which took place five years ago on October 2, 2018. (Arab Digest)
Africa
Malawi was once known as one of Africa’s friendliest host nations for refugees fleeing strife, but that reputation is slipping away. President Lazarus Chakwera has ordered all refugees living outside of camps to go back to the overcrowded Dzaleka refugee camp – one of the largest in Africa. Ashley Simango on the implications of this move. (Al Jazeera)
Asia
As tensions between Canada and India rise, Ayesha Siddiqa warns of the possibility for other Western countries to overlook potential human rights abuses for the sake of strategic alliances. (Middle East Eye)
South Korea has been slowly curtailing democracy under its current American Pie singing president. E. Tammy Kim outlines how US foreign policy may overlook authoritarianism in countries like South Korea in order to keep advantageous relations. (New Yorker)
China is harassing nations like the Philippines in the South China Sea. That’s a red flag that the international community should heed, says Saman Rizwan. (Euronews)
This is an interesting and long read: What is China’s United Front Work Department? Think CIA meets VOA. Its main work is abroad where it seeks to influence a positive image but, as Jessica Batke and Vera Liu note, it also operates within the country. (China File)
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) turns ten this year. Ruby Osman looks at its impact and the three new initiatives the country will focus on for the next 10 years. (Time)
Japan, like many countries, has had a “motherhood” penalty — passing over women for promotions or certain roles. With a demographic decline, it’s time that the country reconsiders the role of women in the workplace, argues Nobuko Kobayashi. Mothers should be rewarded and women considered a core part of any economy. #Amen (Nikkei Asia)
The Americas
As the violence and instability in Haiti persists, the UN Security Council this week greenlighted a security mission, led not by UN peacekeepers but Kenya’s national police force to tackle gang related violence. Ellen Ioanes on the UN-backed move. (Vox)
Ecuador’s descent into violence has been rapid. Glaeldys González and Ivan Briscoe wonder if the upcoming October 15 runoff election can save the country. (Foreign Affairs)
Argentina’s presidential elections are set for October 22 and far-right libertarian Javier Milei is up in the polls. What’s fueling his support and what has Milei promised that other candidates haven’t? Laura Gomez-Mera, Benjamin Gedan, Bruno Binetti, and Jorge Heine fill us in. (The Dialogue)
On September 21st, indigenous people across Brazil celebrated the “ruling of the century” after the Brazilian Supreme Court made a decision upholding indigenous rights to their ancestral lands. 🙌 Andrea Carvalho has the story. (Human Rights Watch)
Europe
Together with the US, the EU aims to block Iran from buying drone technology abroad, says Rina Bassist. A recent report by the Guardian reveals that Iranian drones contain European components. (Al-Monitor)
Robert Fico's parliamentary election win in Slovakia is evidence of Central Europe’s increasing discontent with the war in Ukraine, but Krisztina Than and Jan Lopatka say this win likely won’t mean too much in terms of major policy shifts. (Reuters)
While Fico’s win isn’t great news, Emily Tamkin reminds us that Slovakia has prevented democratic backsliding through civil society and opposition politicians – and explains how. (New Statesman)
The latest war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh presents the US with a strategic opportunity. Iulia Sabina-Joja clues us in. (The Hill)
This is browraising: Israel helped Azerbaijan overtake Nagorno-Karabakh (by supplying weapons). Isabel Debre has more. (AP)
Thirty-three years have passed since Germany’s reunification. Allison Meakem looks at two new books that look at how that reunification has fared. It’s a tale of two Germanys, she notes. (Foreign Policy)
Middle East
The Kurdistan Workers Party, more commonly known as the PKK, carried out a suicide attack on the Turkish interior ministry last Sunday. Does this mark a shift in the group’s strategy that can imperil the military partnership between its Syrian Kurdish franchise and the US, asks Amberin Zaman. (Al Monitor)
While ISIS has been defeated militarily, the ideology still stands strong in some parts of the world, especially in detention and prison camps in Syria. Natascha Rée Mikkelsen, Beatrice Eriksson, and Brian Feldman Clough say that we must act now to avoid ISIS regaining ground and recruiting the children of these camps to their ranks. (Middle East Institute)
A deal signed between Tunisia and the EU to address “irregular migration” is leaving Tunisian family farmers (quite literally) high and dry. Conditions are already not great for family farmers in the country and they’re bound to get worse — climate change is drying out crops, old agreements with the EU have left Tunisia with the short end of the stick, and a monopoly over olive oil production by wealthy investors are only a few examples — explains Sylvia Kay. (Africa is a Country)
Science and Climate Change
Climate change is increasingly being classified as a national security issue. Cara Condit explains why the US Department of Defense should be mobilizing to implement military responses to climate impacts. (Wilson Center)
Scientists behind the creation of the mRNA Covid vaccines, Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman, have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Lauren Young interviews the two scientists and talks about the future of vaccinations. (Scientific American)
How is climate change impacting the drinking water of Americans? Rachel Frazin writes about the water crisis in Louisiana. (The Hill)
Technology
The upcoming British AI Safety Summit in November will address Britain’s role in the future of AI governance. Olivia O’Sullivan says the country is well-positioned to take on a problem-solving role. (Chatham House)
The 2023 Nobel Prizes are in the process of being announced but it seems that in the future these announcements could become less of a surprise. Could AI predict who will win Nobel prizes? Gemma Conroy explains. (Nature)
Links We Loved....
It’s Fall! Here is a recipe for boiled pear sweet soup, a home remedy for coughs, and the best sweet soup for the chilly weather.
Good news about climate change? Yes, please. Check out this NPR roundup of good climate stories.
If you’re looking to get into the Halloween spirit this weekend, watch one of the top-ranked Halloween movies (according to Variety).
Opportunities
I’m renaming this opportunities - since the following aren’t “jobs.” If you have an event, grant, or other “opportunity” to share with our community, please send it my way.
The Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship application closes on Monday, October 9. If you’re a recent college or graduate school alum, consider spending a few months in DC at one of their partner organizations.
Looking to have your analysis published on a hot topic? A new foreign policy journal, the Jerusalem Strategic Tribune, is looking for 1500-2000 word essays on international security issues. Please see the link for examples of recent articles. One of our newsletter subscribers is an Associate Editor, and you can email her at pforzheimera@gmail.com for more details. The journal's politics are moderate and they are looking to expand out of Middle East issues.
Editorial Team
Elmira Bayrasli - Editor-in-Chief
Editors:
Samantha Felman
Pin-Shan Lai
Catherine Lovizio
Maya Scott
Emily Smith
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