Excluded Headlines: Dead city protest, Africa wants global taxes for climate change, Mexico decriminalises abortion, protests in Pakistan..
Stay up to date on the global news stories the US- and Eurocentric media overlooks, with journalist and author, Tamara Pearson.
This week’s Global South news, downplayed or ignored by the English-language mainstream media includes:
“Dead city” protest in DRC - After the Congolese army killed 56 people in the lead up to protests against foreign troops in the country, an action was called and roads and shops closed down in the city of Goma. Source.
African leaders call for new global taxes to fund the fight against the climate crisis - At the recently held summit in Nairobi, leaders signed a declaration that they will use for negotiating at the upcoming COP28 in November. The statement provides them with a united front and they agreed that emissions must be cut by 45% this decade. Africa is warming faster than other continents, yet contributing very little to the causes of climate change. Source, source.
Mexico decriminalises abortion - Mexico’s Supreme Court has ruled that criminalising abortion is unconstitutional, and it can no longer be part of the federal criminal code. The ruling has yet to be outlined in laws by congress, which could take years. The court had already ruled two years ago that it was unconstitutional to criminalise abortion up to 12 weeks, meaning state courts could not do so, but this new ruling affects the criminal code and isn’t limited to early abortions. Source.
Striking and protesting Argentine workers win salary increase - The Metalworkers’ Union is one of the biggest in the country, with 800,000 members. They held strikes and protests in July and have now signed an agreement for a 42.6% increase over the next two months. Argentina’s annual inflation however is currently at 114%. Source, source.
Bangladesh hit by record-breaking dengue outbreak - Since the outbreak began in April, authorities have recorded135,000 dengue cases and 650 deaths in the country. Dengue is endemic to tropical areas, but weak infrastructure makes it harder to prevent and treat, and Bangladesh’s hospitals are under a lot of pressure. Source.
Pakistanis protest increasing electricity bills - Thousands of Pakistanis protested the price of electricity, which has reached 50% of household expenditures. Four years ago it was 15-20%, but IMF deals and adjustments, record flooding that displaced 3 million people and affected agriculture, inflation, and government taxes on utilities have caused the increase. Protests are scheduled through to early October. Source, source
1.2 million Palestinians face hungry thanks to US aid block - An aid block implemented by US Republicans could leave 1.2 million people in Palestine without food within the next few months. Source.
World Food Program cuts aid to Yemen - Citing a lack of funds the WFP will scale back its food aid to Yemen this month. Some 17 million people in Yemen face acute food shortages due to the blockade on the country and the Saudi-led war. Source.
Useful reads/views:
Salvadoran Writer Javier Zamora on Coping with Trauma from Being Detained & Undocumented
The US owes Latin America for climate damage and poverty
'We're going to sink': Climate crisis threatens Caribbean island homes
Democratic Republic of Congo Faces “Worst Hunger Catastrophe” as Mineral Extraction Enriches the Few
French Neo-Colonialism in Africa is Falling: What’s Behind the Anger on the Streets? (Video)
Niger and the Sahel are pushing back against insecurity, exploitation, and France (Video)
Global fight needed against ‘anti-immigrant’ pacts, warns human rights advocate in Istanbul
We Don’t Owe! We Won’t Pay! Women in Sri Lanka demand economic justice
In Somalia, a free ambulance service that saves lives operates on a shoestring