Excluded Headlines: Teachers strike, food queues, drought, resisting Google ...
Stay up to date on the global news stories the US- and Eurocentric media overlook, with author and journalist, Tamara Pearson.
In this week’s Global South news:
Chilean court rules against massive Google data centre - The data centre, to be located in Chile’s capital, would use 169 litres per second of water to cool its servers, and lacked an environmental study, the court ruled. Source.
Uruguay used 100% renewable energy in January and February - So far this year, Uruguay has managed entirely on renewable energy and has even exported some to neighbouring countries. Source.
Ghana increases attacks on sexual diversity - While same-sex sex was already punishable with three years in prison and discrimination was common, the law wasn’t being applied. A new law imposes a sentence of up to five years for the "wilful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities." Source.
Flour massacre in Gaza - The total currently stands at 112 dead after Israeli soldiers shot on Palestinians who were desperately surrounding aid trucks hoping for flour and food. Residents say that they will start dying en masse in a week, as Israel continues to block almost all aid into the region. Source, source, source.
Teachers go on strike in Argentina - On Monday, teachers held a national strike to demand wage increases and reject budget cuts. Also, on Wednesday, informal workers protested the lack of food in community kitchens, compared to the high need for food. Source, source.
Long queues for subsidised rice in Indonesia - With reduced rainfall, the price of the country’s staple has increased by 16% since last year. There are places where people can queue up to get subsidised and price-capped rice, but with a limit of 10 kilos per person, there are long waits. Source.
Drought in Zambia - Likewise, Zambia has gone without rain for five weeks, at a time when it usually has rain, and this has devastated the agriculture sector, farmers, and food supplies, leading to the declaration of a national disaster. Source.
Famine in Sudan - The US estimates that 25 million people in Sudan are struggling with hunger or malnutrition, as the civil war there continues. Source, source.
Haiti to hold elections mid next year - Ariel Henry, who has been an “interim” prime minister since the acting president was killed in 2021, has committed to holding elections in mid 2025. Benin has also announced (in addition to Kenya) that it will commit 2,000 troops to the US-backed forces that will intervene in Haiti, supposedly to combat gang violence there. Source, source, source.
Mongolia faces winter natural disaster - Mongolia is facing an ongoing dzud, a period of heavy snowfall, cold winds, and extreme cold temperatures, that has led to the death of 2.9 million livestock. Source.