International Headlines: Society and Culture
What the Pope’s Left Hook in Bolivia Means2015.07.10 Time http://time.com/3953802/pope-francis-bolivia/ In a 55-minute manifesto that was one of the most significant moments of his July trip to Latin America, Pope Francis called for economic justice for the poor during his speech in Bolivia. “You are social poets: creators of work, builders of housing, producers of food, above all for people left behind by the world market,” he told a crowd of Bolivian indigenous workers, farmers, and social activists. “The future of humanity is in great measure in your own hands, through your ability to organize and carry out creative alternatives, through your daily efforts to ensure the three “L’s” (labor, lodging, land) and through your proactive participation in the great processes of change on the national, regional and global levels. Don’t lose heart!” It’s important to note that the Pope was speaking in Bolivia, the poorest country in South America, on his first visit to a country that has had a troubled relationship with the Catholic Church of late. Under Evo Morales’ administration, relations with church officials have been strained, and there are Catholic concerns of an evangelical exodus from faith in the region. Francis went off script to apologize for Church oppression of indigenous people during Bolivia’s colonial period, making clear his desire for reconciliation. For Morales, the visit was a chance to mention his desire to meet with President Obama, given that Bolivia and US ties have been broken since 2008, and given the Pope’s role in brokering US-Cuba relations. Pope Francis’ speech serves as a reminder of his role as an increasingly political player. His power and sway holds particular importance for countries in Latin America, who champion him as the first pope who is actually theirs.
Silicon Valley Made a Bunch of Dudes Billionaires, But It’s Making You Poorer 2015.07.23 Mother Jones http://m.motherjones.com/mojo/2015/07/tech-industry-income-inequality A recent study on global income inequality by the IMF identifies technological change as a top factor driving inequality worldwide. Growth of technology accounts for nearly one-third of the widening gap between the top 10% and bottom 90% over the past quarter century. Other factors include the globalization of trade and finance. Tech has widened the gap by eliminating jobs by automating tasks and driving up the "skill premium," meaning jobs that require skills like programming pay more lucratively than traditional blue-collar jobs. But even tech workers aren't safe, because their industry's needs evolve so quickly that they may become obsolete by the very advancements they're working toward. In the end, the jobs that pay the most are only for those who can keep up with the changing times, and those who can afford the required education to get a position in the first place. The study also notes that technological change has contributed most to rising income inequality in the 39 OECD countries that make up 80% of global trade and investment. Inequality has grown most in the US and UK, even as poverty in emerging economies has decreased. Education hasn't alleviated income inequality as much as it could, according to the study. Despite a notable rise in highly-educated workers, the wage gap between high- and low-skilled workers remains. The researchers suggest that education is a viable solution only if governments invest it and make it affordable.
Invitation for Gay-Rights Activist to Hear Pope Spurs Hope for Paraguay’s LGBT Community 2015.07.11 The Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/articles/invitation-for-gay-rights-activist-to-hear-pope-spurs-hope-for-paraguays-lgbt-community-1436656303 Paraguay’s largest gay-rights group has received a formal invitation to a speech by Pope Francis. Simón Cazal, executive director of SOMOSGAY (We Are Gay) which has 35 chapters nationwide, says Paraguay is among the region's most socially conservative, heavily Catholic countries, as well as the only one with no sexual antidiscrimination laws. Political opposition to recognizing gay rights runs deep in Paraguay. A recent study by the Pew Research Center showed that 80% of Catholics and 87% of Protestants in Paraguay oppose gay marriage, among the highest proportions in Latin America. Mr. Cazal was asked to be in the audience as Pope Francis spoke with representatives of civil society, including trade unionists, educators, artists, and student groups. Although Mr. Cazal was only one of hundreds of invitees, SOMOSGAY hopes the occasion will spur future dialogue with local church officials, and perhaps politicians, about supporting measures to curb violence and discrimination against gay people.
Is Google’s Job to Fix Society? July 13, 2015 ComputerWorld http://www.computerworld.com/article/2946569/search/is-it-googles-job-to-fix-society.html Increasingly, organizations are calling on Google to solve social problems, usually at the expense of the quality of their company’s own products. When it comes to advertising, google’s job is to utilize its user information and a company’s user information in order to most effectively target the advertising. Is it google’s job to correct for sexism by rebalancing who it targets particular advertisements to such as those for high executive positions? Google’s social mapping app among other things allows drivers to alert one another about the location of police cars. Police organizations have asked google to disable Waze’s ability to note the location of police cruisers. In connection to google map, the New York City Council asked Google to change its Google Maps to provide directions with fewer left turns.
Movement for Black Lives Conference Demonstrates Power of Organized Community July 29, 2015 Therealnews.com http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=14354 Over 1,000 activists gathered in Cleveland for the Movement for Black Lives Conference around police violence, criminalization, a disfunctional education system, gentrification, as well as defining blackness and ensuring room in the struggle for LGBTQ community members.