Welcome to our roundup of news and current events related to ethics and international affairs! Here’s what we’ve been reading this month:
Customers being screened for high temperatures at a store in Wuhan, amidst the coronavirus outbreak. Photo Credit: Painjet via Wikimedia Commons
The coronavirus, which started in Wuhan, China in 2019, has been spreading rapidly – there are currently about 40,000 confirmed cases worldwide, as well as over 900 deaths. Along with the health concerns, there have been ethical concerns regarding quarantine. There has also been a widespread wave of xenophobia and racism against people of Asian descent.
Read more about coronavirus and global health in Ethics & International Affairs:
The Coronavirus and Trust in the Process of International Cooperation: A System Under Pressure (February 2020)
Disease Diplomacy: International Norms and Global Health Security by Sara E. Davies, Adam Kamradt-Scott, and Simon Rushton (2017: Volume 31.3)
A kangaroo rushes past a burning house in Lake Conjola, Australia, in what is one of Australia's worst fire seasons in history. Photo Credit: Bruce Detorres via Flickr
Reuters: 'No doubt' climate change causing wildfires, experts say as Australia burns
Australia has been ravaged by wildfires for months, with 27.7 million acres burned and many citizens and animals affected. Though the Australian government is against cutting carbon emissions and argues that climate change has nothing to do with the fires, many climate scholars argue that climate change undoubtedly causes severe heat, dry weather, and, in turn, rapidly spreading fires.
Read more about climate change in Ethics & International Affairs:
Tackling Climate Change: Why Us Now? (February 2019)
Climate Change and the Power to Act: An Ethical Approach for Practical Progress (May 2018)
Climate Change and the Future of Humanity (September 2014)
Anti-government protests in Baghdad. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Al Jazeera: Students are the 'backbone' of Iraq anti-government protests
Iraq has seen anti-government protests for the past four months, with topics ranging from lack of job opportunities, to unacceptable public services, to corruption and inequality following the 2003 US invasion. High school and college students make up a large portion of the protesters, with some universities even going on strikes for weeks to get the message across.
Read more about protests and resistance in Ethics & International Affairs:
The Ethics of (Un)Civil Resistance (2019: Volume 33.3)
Backfire: The Dark Side of Nonviolent Resistance (2018: Volume 32.3)
Photo Credit: jaydeep_ via Wikimedia Commons
South China Morning Post: India to restore Kashmir’s internet access, but social media ban to remain
Amid a 160-day internet shutdown in Kashmir, the Indian Supreme Court finally ruled that the internet ban was impermissible as it is a restriction on basic freedoms. However, with the new order in place, only 300 websites are approved – with social media still being completely offline. Many citizens believe this is a human rights violation, as well as a major inconvenience in daily work and studies.
Read more about internet censorship and regulation in Ethics & International Affairs:
EIA Interview with Ronald Deibert on a Human-Centric Approach to Cybersecurity (January 2019)
Free Speech: Ten Principles for a Connected World (September 2016)