While internet memes are often dismissed as harmless entertainment, their humorous nature frequently masks a more troubling reality: they are constructed from symbolic forms — language, images, gestures, and sounds — that are deeply embedded in cultural systems of domination. … Continue reading
Tag: politics
United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Reaffirms Commitments, Highlights Youth Delegates
From March 10th until March 21st, 2025, the 69th session of the United Nations (UN) Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) gathers thousands of participants from 45 nations at the UN headquarters in New York. The commission began … Continue reading
US President Cuts Aid to South Africa Over Controversial Expropriation Act
Imagine if your government could take your house, your land, and all your private property, and not be required to give you a single cent. This is the fear surrounding South Africa’s Expropriation Act–a bill signed into law by President … Continue reading
The Rise of Silicon States: How Big Tech’s Power Rivals Nation-States
If you have heard the phrase “Data drives all we do”, you’re likely familiar with the 2016 Cambridge Analytica scandal which unmasked how personal data were collected and used to psychologically profile citizens for political consultancy. In … Continue reading
Disappearing Data, Rising Risk: Trump’s Attack on Public Health
The United States of America is experiencing an unprecedented constitutional crisis, hurtling toward authoritarianism. While the first Trump administration had officials who acted as safeguards against his authoritarian impulses, such as National Health Advisor Anthony Fauci and FBI Director … Continue reading
Oh, Canada: The Larger Picture Behind Canadians Fans Booing the U.S. Anthem at Hockey Games
On February 1 at the Ottawa Senators vs. Minnesota Wilds hockey game, the crowd erupted into loud boos as the United States (U.S.) national anthem played over the speakers. Similar scenes unfolded that same weekend at the Vancouver Canucks and … Continue reading
Tariff Tango: The U.S. and Canada’s Costly Dance
The trade relationship between the United States (U.S.) and Canada has taken a sharp turn for the worse following a new wave of tariffs imposed by the U.S. government. The U.S. government recently announced a 25% tariff on all Canadian … Continue reading
Elon Musk’s Undue Involvement in the 2024 US Election
On October 5th, 2024, videos of Elon Musk frantically jumping up and down on stage at a Trump campaign rally circulated across social media. The billionaire appeared to support the Republican presidential candidate, forming an “X” with his body while … Continue reading
Bureaucracy Which Conceals and Controls: The Syrian Civil Registry Under the Assad Regime
On January 17th, 2013, a Damascus University third-year engineering student, Rehab al-Allawi, was arrested by Assad regime forces at her family home in Damascus, Syria. Her degree had been interrupted by the Civil War in 2011, leading her to join … Continue reading
Is Kamala Brat? How Social Media Shaped Gen Z Voting
IS Kamala Brat? After Vice President Kamala Harris’ nomination to run as leader of the Democratic party, the Harris campaign put considerable effort into relating to young voters. When British pop singer Charli-xcx tweeted, “Kamala IS brat”, Harris’ social media … Continue reading