Over summer break, you may have missed a few things happening worldwide. The Blue and Gold is here to catch you up!

Conflicts: who, what, why? 🚨

Why it matters: The conflicts going on around us are important to be aware of. Whether it is happening next door, in the next state or even in a whole other region of the world, it is important to be informed, aware and mindful.  

Ukraine

• Ukraine still resists Russian assault with aid from the West since Russia’s original invasion in 2022. Russia is not backing down and there seems to be no end in sight. This conflict has continued to affect the rest of the world as former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev speaks on the fact that if Ukraine joins NATO there would be no choice but to start a nuclear war.

The Sahel

• The Sahel, a central region in Africa used as a transition between the Sahara desert and many countries,  has been experiencing severe forced displacement, reaching its all-time high in 2022. This is causing people to currently seek refuge in many places, majorly in the south and north, including in North Africa and Europe, while also causing issues of armed conflict.

Haiti 

• Since the murder of Haiti’s president, Jovenel Moïse, in July 2021, Haiti has been in a political gridlock that has caused rising tensions and gang violence. 

June overview ⛅️

• The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 was signed into law on June 3 by President Biden, temporarily ending the threat of economic tragedy.
• A train crash in eastern India on June 3 was the country’s worst rail disaster in two decades, killing more than 270 people.
• Wildfires in Canada have caused more than 120,000 people to evacuate and later caused millions of people in North America to suffer from severe air pollution. 
• On June 9, four extremely young children ranging from the ages of 1 to 13, survived a plane crash and were found alive after 40 days and 40 nights spent in the Colombian rainforest. 
• A submarine in search of the RMS Titanic was lost at sea this June. It was later found that the submarine had imploded causing the five passengers inside to pass. 

Why it matters:

June was filled with rare occurrences and tragedies. These events fostered worldwide attention leading to many social and political conversations.

July Overview🍦

• On July 13, the Hollywood actors union went on strike for the first time in a little over four decades. This was brought on by the collapse of a new contract that sent people into a state of fear. 
• The world’s temperatures rose into a state of extreme heat that had never been seen before. There are numerous conversations surrounding the cause including the global warming crisis. 
• Influential local leaders ask Congress to pass the Extreme Heat Emergency Act. This would make extreme heat and wildfire smoke disasters open to assistance from FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
• An Arkansas law was blocked as it would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers based on the materials being sold to the youth. The ACLU filed a lawsuit that stopped the law from going through.

Why it matters:

July brought up some problems that the world is struggling with. To be able to fix the problems you need to see what they are and how they progress. People need to know that movements are being made against their rights or that there are laws that could help provide assistance for all sorts of natural disasters. 

August Overview 📚

• Donald Trump has been indicted in four criminal investigations, however,  he is leading in the upcoming election polls. His publicist is even using his mugshot as campaign merch. 
• Wildfires spreading on the Hawaiian island, Maui, have killed 100 people and caused thousands more to evacuate. People were escaping to the Pacific Ocean and had to be rescued by the post guard. 
• The first debate for the 2024 election was held this August. Every Republican candidate except Trump showed up to support their causes while the democratic party is not planning on holding any debates. 
• Eight churches and many residences were set on fire in Pakistan on the 16th after supposed blasphemy claims against Islam. 

Why it matters:

August reminded America of its upcoming election that is looming in 2024. The tensions rise as political parties present their candidates and polling numbers change daily as the world is faced with the tragedy of fire.