featured - Catalyst

Latin America’s Weak Democracies During the COVID-19 Pandemic

November 23, 2020November 10, 2021 Ariana Castillon

With many being asked to stay at home and unable to look for work, one would think the governments would implement relief programs to keep the economy running and support people unable to work. While many governments did offer some kind of relief money or package to their citizens, it was a very small amount, and only to those in the most precarious situations. Rather than appeal to the people’s collective conscience, many governments’ first step was to solidify military support before addressing their people, with generals behind them as they imposed new restrictions.

Dissociation, Dispossession, and Food in the Israel-Palestine conflict

November 21, 2020November 10, 2021 Adriana Gabriela Franco

Food is an often overlooked element in conversations of national identity. Food is tangible, it is known by most members of a nation regardless of socio-economic background, and it is “experienced everyday”. Food is incredibly important for both parties in this two-sided conflict, as it plays a strong role in the creation of identity for each group.

A Time to Heal?

November 19, 2020November 8, 2021 Robin Vochelet

Ultimately, US minorities do not owe an openly racist Republican Party anything. Yet this is not the full story; the truth is that a Biden-Harris administration is far from being the progressive ticket one could think it is.

Collaboration vs. Isolation: The Coronavirus Vaccine

November 17, 2020November 10, 2021 Misbah Lalani

The picture of positive cooperation between nations takes on quite a different character in the United States. US decisions regarding international distribution and development of the vaccine have been extremely unclear. Although President Trump claims that the US is open to partnership, many of his actions directly contradict these seemingly inclusive claims.

A Look at Reproductive Rights Behind Bars

November 15, 2020November 10, 2021 Jasmine Acharya

The fact that an abortion can cost anywhere around $500 places a considerable strain on an already vulnerable women. What solidifies the economic challenges of abortion is that four out of five state prison systems require a women to pay for her own abortion. The financial burden is arguably the largest barrier in obtaining a safe abortion as many incarcerated women do not have the means to pay.

Authority, Liberty, and COVID-19 in the World’s Greatest Democracy

November 13, 2020November 10, 2021 Santhindu Wijesooriya

The United States, with its decentralized government, has completely lost the battle against the novel coronavirus. China, Canada, and Sri Lanka, however, with their greater executive authority, have collectively demonstrated that the United States had no excuse for their malpractice. The three nations and their adherence to executive jurisdiction, demonstrated noteworthy abilities to combat an unanticipated crisis, leaving humanity to observe the capital of individual liberty and freedom in utter dismay.

Challenging the International Response to the Refugee Crisis

November 11, 2020November 10, 2021 Melanie Baume

Thus far, the global response of most developed countries has been to funnel money into the international refugee support system, which provides humanitarian aid relief through the establishment of refugee camps. As these camps are short-term solutions, in most host countries, refugees lack the right to work or move freely. This might not have been a problem if the duration of their stay were short, however the conflicts from which refugees flee usually last indefinitely.