Internet Cables, "Oppenheimer," Riots in France, Sierra Leone's Election, and More
Welcome to Inkstick Media's weekly update!
Hello everyone!
It’s been a big month at Inkstick Media. For starters, we’ve published our very first impact report! When we launched Inkstick Media, we did so with the belief that hope is logical, global is local, and human security is national security. We’ve made some major progress since 2017, and we have some big plans for the future. So please take a look. You can share the impact report on Twitter and LinkedIn or any other platform you use.
Along with the impact report and a brand new site, we have a whole new season of Things That Go Boom. On Season 8, we’re talking all things Internet: spyware, malware, phishing attacks, TikTok bans, Russian disinformation, and beyond. And the first episode is about the internet itself: Which, it turns out, is just a series of cables at the bottom of the ocean.
Also this week, Justin Salhani wrote on what isn’t being said about France’s riots, while Hanan Zaffar and Jyoti Thakur reported on the emerging signs of genocide in India against its Muslim population. Wilson McMakin walked us through the gold mines in Cheggat, Mauritania, which is home to the ongoing scramble for African resources, and Matthew Gallagher made a case for why Americans’ car dependency should be a national security issue.
And finally, Taylor Barnes, our field reporter on the military-industrial complex, dug into 25+ years of data to figure out what’s up with unions at the top 5 defense contractors. It turns out that unions aren’t as big as we thought they were. She’ll also be in Utah on Thursday for a high-stakes public records hearing with the government and Northrop Grumman stemming from her report, “Utah Refuses to Share Details of Nuclear Weapons Subsidy.” And stay tuned for her newsletter, “Military-Industrial America,” launching next week, and share with your friends!
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This week on Inkstick Media:
“The Internet Is at the Bottom of the Sea” by Things That Go Boom (July 10)
This is a story about volcanoes and sharks, entrepreneurs and politicians. It’s also about none of those things.
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“Kyiv’s First Queer Film Festival Fights Two Battles” by Katie Toth (July 10)
As Kyiv faced Russian air power, movie buffs also pushed for gay rights at home.
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“Russia’s Handbook for Evading Sanctions” by Anna Romandash (July 11)
While Russia may be the most sanctioned country in the world, it is rather successful in bypassing some of the more severe restrictions on its economy and military sector.
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“What Isn’t Being Said About France’s Riots” by Justin Salhani (July 11)
French politicians have been quick to condemn any riots, but they’ve failed to implement changes to the policies that led to them in the first place.
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“Sierra Leone’s Bio Wins Re-Election but Can He Heal the Broken Country?” by Obiora Ikoku (July 12)
Lack of opportunity and growing discontent among its youth are the West African country’s main challenges.
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“War Games: Part II” by Kelsey D. Atherton (July 13)
International Relations should take the study of games seriously, especially those that folks play in their spare time.
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“US Hypocrisy Over Cluster Munitions Undermines Its Long-Term Interests” by Orlando Bell (July 13)
As global powers are spiraling in a military race to the top and a moral race to the bottom, it’s time for the US to set a better standard.
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“What To Know Before Watching Oppenheimer” by Mackenzie Knight (July 14)
Navajo miners, the proxy war in Congo, and other legacies of the Manhattan Project will likely be left out of the film.
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“Americans’ Dependence on Cars is a National Security Issue” by Matthew Gallagher (July 14)
Car dependency warps US foreign policy to discount mounting dangers, abandon principles, concede political victories to hostile powers, and rationalize military overreach.
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–From the desk of Sahar Khan, managing editor of Inkstick Media.