INSIDE GLOBAL AFFAIRS Volume 3 Issue 1

Inside Global Affairs

January 2019

COVER STORY

IN THIS ISSUE

Update on Brexit Two years ago, to the shock of the whole world, the “Leave” side of the Brexit referendum succeeded. After the vote, negotiations began between the Conservative government of Theresa May and the EU. Generally, May has been seen as weak by critics, and has had seven of her cabinet officials resign over the handling of the deal. The main topic of contention is the UK’s access to the single market of the EU, which enables free trade to all EU member countries. A significant place in this single market is the Irish border, which separates Northern Ireland, a part of the UK and The Republic of Ireland, a country in the EU. While the UK is in the EU, the Irish Border, due to the economic rules of the EU, is free. Many believe a “hard border”, in which the customs rules are different, could

lead to an inflammation of tensions which are not desired in a region which has a violent history. In the past, 3,500 died in the conflict of Northern Ireland as Protestant and Catholics fought over the status of the area, with Irish nationalists fighting for a unified Ireland. The deal May has struck includes a backstop which would lead to the UK staying a part of the single market if no trade deal is made between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The backstop would keep the UK tied to the single market, while still keeping the UK out of the political process of the EU. The “Leave” side of Brexit does not want to be tied in any way to the EU and view the backstop as an impediment to the separation. Continued on page 3

Peru and the Plight of the Andes This past summer, the Global Affairs Fellows

visited Peru and learned about the indigenous

Andean tribes with ancient ancestry and their

plans for the future.

Page 2

Featured World Organization

Sean Miller discusses the importance of the AU, its

complex relationship with Western powers, and its

roles in the international community.

Page 4

By Daniel Moscoso (’19), Lawrence Bernert (’19), Sean Miller (’20), and Jack Elliot (’21)

“The Global Affairs Fellows program seeks to instill in its participants the desire and skills necessary to make the world a more peaceful and just place.”

Want to know more about what

is going on in the world? Look for

Summaries of World Events

throughout the newsletter.

INSIDE GLOBAL AFFAIRS | Issue 1 2

On July 10th, 2018, the

senior and sophomore cohorts of the Global Affairs Fellows met at the Norfolk Airport to begin our voyage to Peru. We flew into Lima and traveled to Cusco the next day. Once in Cusco, we took a bus to Ollantaytambo to explore the village and markets. The next day, we took a bus up to the indigenous village of Patacancha to meet the Quechua women associated with our partner organization Awamaki and learn more about the importance of weaving to their culture. There we made bracelets, watched the women make a stove within the ground to cook us lunch, and listened to their knowledge of colored dye for cloth. After returning from the Awamaki day trip, and we rested for the early morning ahead of us. We woke up around 3 A.M. to see the sunrise at Machu Picchu and enjoy its magnificence without the distraction of other people. We hiked to the Sun Gate and reflected on what it truly means to be a traveler. The next day, we woke up

to meet with a guide from Centro Bartolome de Las Casas, a center of Peruvian studies. The CBC guide accompanied us on a visit to another Quechua village to learn about tradition medicine. After meeting with the CBC, we spent our evening at the Cusco Planetarium. Learning about the ancient Inca constellations, we finished the night finding our current day constellations in the planetarium telescopes. On our last day in Peru, we visited the San Pedro market, the best representation of Peru in our eyes.

The array of people, foods, objects, and meat was overwhelming. After exploring the vast market, we began our trek home.

For the eight days we were in Peru, our fellows group lived life at a different speed. Greeted with only open arms to each place we visited, it became clear that the inhabitants of both larger cities in Peru, like Cusco, or smaller villages, like Patabama, live by the principle of reciprocity. Called “Anyi” in Quechua, it is the idea that what we contribute to each other is what will be offered in the future. The connection to the land, history, and culture thrives in Peru,

but it is not immune to globalization. While on our day trip with the CBC, we witnessed a village elder playing games on his flip phone. Granted this same man had previously spent his morning passing out bread to everyone he passed, he was still exposed to the Western dependence on technology.

While globalization is a strong force to combat, the Global Affairs Fellows have recently undertaken a project to help preserve some of the Peruvian cultures that might be eroded by

time. We have decided to document ancient, Andean medicinal practices still utilized by some villages in the mountains of Peru. In doing this, the hope is that the Quechua in the future can access this account of their history if it is ever lost, and that future modern

medicine might be able to advance using this compilation as well. To support the Peruvian culture, we have listed the link to the Awamaki online store. Each article or knick-knack is indisputably unique, and the Global Affairs Fellows can attest to the love and time that goes into making everything from the dye to the yarn used. Supporting Awamaki is supporting the culture of the Andes! Visit Awamaki:

https://awamaki.org/shopfront/

Peru and the Plight of the Andean Tribes

Written by Gabrielle Thornton (’19) and

Peyton Harrell (’21)

I founded Awamaki in the belief that income in the I founded Awamaki in the belief that income in the I founded Awamaki in the belief that income in the I founded Awamaki in the belief that income in the hands of women is the best way to lift hands of women is the best way to lift hands of women is the best way to lift hands of women is the best way to lift communities out communities out communities out communities out of poverty. Women know what of poverty. Women know what of poverty. Women know what of poverty. Women know what their children and their communities need and their children and their communities need and their children and their communities need and their children and their communities need and they make those investments when they have the they make those investments when they have the they make those investments when they have the they make those investments when they have the means to do so. Awamaki gives women in remote means to do so. Awamaki gives women in remote means to do so. Awamaki gives women in remote means to do so. Awamaki gives women in remote places access to the modern economy so that they places access to the modern economy so that they places access to the modern economy so that they places access to the modern economy so that they can invest in their children, homes and can invest in their children, homes and can invest in their children, homes and can invest in their children, homes and communities as they see fit.communities as they see fit.communities as they see fit.communities as they see fit.

~Kennedy Leavens, Founder of non-profit Awamaki

INSIDE GLOBAL AFFAIRS | Issue 1 3

International Events (continued from front page)

Update on Brexit (cont.) If the deal does not pass the British parliament, the UK could go through a “hard” Brexit, in which they lose total connection to the EU—a devastating blow to the UK economy. Another option some hope for is another referendum on Brexit, which could result in a reversal, since the “Remain” side is currently polling with a slight lead. The situation is constantly in flux, and May has found herself in a treacherous position. Whatever occurs will be at the center of one of the greatest upheavals in the UK—make sure you watch!

Update on the Syrian Civil War

The Syrian conflict has gone through a number of changes since its origin almost nine years ago, leaving 400,000 people dead with unclear future global implications. What began as a civil war between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s ruthless regime and pro-democracy protesters has turned into a genocide of political opposition, a birthplace for new terrorist organizations, and an arena for proxy conflicts between rivalling world powers. The territorial advancement of the self-proclaimed Islamic State, which is connected to over 140 terrorist attacks since 2014, was the initial reason for American and Russian involvement in the country. However, in 2017 ISIS lost 96% of its territory, shifting the focus from defeating ISIS to dealing with the man who started it all: Assad. This is where things get complicated: Russia and Iran sided with Assad to defeat ISIS (and certainly to gain more influence in the region), while the US trained and supported the Kurdish YPG militia. Turkey, a NATO ally of America, has the sole goal of destroying the YPG, whom they have been fighting for decades. As ISIS has lost nearly all of its influence, the Russia and Iran backed Assad regime also has begun to focus on defeating rebel groups like the YPG and Free Syrian Army, whom the US has also supported. The world is already seeing implications of these mixed alliances between world powers in Syria, and there are inevitably going to be more in the future as Russia and the US stay in the war-torn country.

Theresa May, Prime Minister of

the United Kingdom

Recent Nicaraguan Anti-Government Protests Since April, hundreds have been killed in Nicaragua. These deaths were caused by months of protests against the Nicaraguan government and against the Ortega regime. Daniel Ortega began his political career as a rebel fighting against the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza. Ortega was elected president for the first time in 1984. After losing a string of presidential elections, Ortega was elected for his second, third, and fourth terms in 2006, 2011, and 2016. Unfortunately, for years now, unrest has been growing in Nicaragua as fears of an authoritarian regime rise. In April of 2018, action was taken. What started out as nonviolent protest escalated very quickly, and as early as July, the death toll surpassed 300. As the people continue to ask for early elections and Ortega persistently refuses, death tolls and missing persons lists only increase. The government claims that these disappearances stem from “common criminal” reasons. The people of Nicaragua will continue asking for Ortega to resign. Until some resolution is found, the death toll will inevitably rise.

Bashar al-Assad, left, shaking hands with

Vladimir Putin in October 2015

INSIDE GLOBAL AFFAIRS | Issue 1 4

You’ve heard of the EU, but what about the AU? By Sean Miller (’20)

The African Union is a political and economic union of African states. Similar to the European Union, the goal of the AU is to increase Africa’s presence on the global scale by unifying the African nations together. In order to unify the nations of Africa it seeks to end the remnants of European colonization, such as apartheid, as well as protect the sovereignty

of the individual African nations and provide a stronger presence in the United Nations. In recent news, however, some nations have begun to question the ability of the AU to protect Africa. The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, recently held a talk at an African Union summit in Mauritania. There he talked of the spreading threat of terrorism in the region and how France could help with funding and training.

However, France was one of the colonial powers that had control of Africa. While it benefits the African Union to have closer ties with France, France helping the AU brings back the past history of foreign powers spreading their influence in the region. It remains to be seen whether the African Union can fully realize its goal of eliminating the legacy of colonization.

SUMMARIES OF

WORLD EVENTS By Sammi Jacobs (’20)

and Will Inderlied (’21)

Venezuela

On November 1st, the financial director of PDVSA, the Venezuelan state-owned oil company, pleaded guilty in the Miami federal court to capitulating to bribes of $17 million. Abraham Edgardo Ortega is one of the nine formal financial directors who was charged. Venezuela is heavily depended on the PDVSA as a source of income. This only adds to the ongoing crisis in Venezuela as they suffer from many different economic and political issues.

Israel and Palestine

On November 12, Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, launched over four hundred attacks over the Israeli border and the next day Israel conducted an air strike on the Gaza Strip. This increase in fighting is the most fighting between the two sides since the 2014 war.

Britain

On November 14, UK Prime Minister Theresa May presented her Brexit agreement to parliament, but the deal now faces extreme doubt after multiple senior members of her cabinet resigned because of the deal. Questions rise about May as Prime Minister and could potentially lead to new leadership in the government.

PDVSA Gas Station in Caracas, Venezuela

Damage investigation after Israel airstrikes

FEATURED WORLD ORGANIZATION

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These are pictures of Theresa May eating

“chips” (i.e. French fries) during the 2017

general election campaign.

Who is Theresa May?

She has been Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2016 and has been attempting to negotiate the details of Brexit. She previously served as Home Secretary of State from 2010 to 2016. Fun Facts:

• She is UK’s second female prime minister. The first was Margaret Thatcher. • She was introduced in 1976 to her future husband at an Oxford Conservative Association

dance by a future prime minister of Pakistan. • She cofounded the organization Women2Win, which is dedicated to increasing the number of

conservative women in Parliament.

Written by Brammy Rajakumar (’19)

Featured Country:

The United Arab Emirates Written by Brigit Tan (’21)

Population: 6,072,475 people Most Common Language: Arabic Major Religion: Islam Currency: United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) Government: Federation of 7 Emirates with an elected President Economy:

The unemployment rate is 12.1%, which is high compared to the US 3.7%.

The GDP is $686.8 billion and the GDP per capita is 67,700. Fun Facts:

• The title of the national anthem is "Nashid al-watani al-imarati,” which translates to “The National Anthem of the United Arab Emirates.”

• The literacy rate is approximately 93%. • Along with being home to the tallest building in the world, the

Burj Khalifa, the UAE also contains “Ski Dubai,” the Middle East’s first indoor ski resort and the third largest in the world.

•

Person of the Day: Theresa May

INSIDE GLOBAL AFFAIRS | Issue 1 6

SUMMARIES OF

WORLD EVENTS By Sammi Jacobs (’20)

and Will Inderlied (’21)

Quotes of the Day Chosen by Brigit Tan (’21) and Brammy Rajakumar (’19)

“Nobody has better respect for intelligence than

Donald Trump.”

~ Donald Trump, when redoubling his support

for the US Intelligence Community

“I learned that courage was not

the absence of fear, but the

triumph over it.”

~ Nelson Mandela

US Senate 2018 Election Results

The US: Midterm election cool-down

Currently taking place in the United States is the cool down from the midterm elections that took place on Tuesday, November 6th. The Democratic Party, who primarily support large governmental power, took control of the House. In the House, a total of 435 seats exist and the Democrats currently hold 225 seats. After this recent election, the Republicans have 197 seats. Meanwhile, in the Senate, the Republicans bridged an even greater gap of seven seats from the Democrats with three still undecided. With the Democrats taking the house, the Congress returns to being divided.

“ ”

“I am Groot.”

~ Groot in

Infinity War

“When the whole world is

silent, even one voice

becomes powerful.”

~ Malala Yousafzai

US House 2018 Election Results

INSIDE GLOBAL AFFAIRS | Issue 1 7

From the Editor’s Pen

Discussion Question of the Day

How do you stay up-to-date with world news? Do you read a variety of sources with different biases, or do you attempt to find one trustworthy source that is “unbiased”? Do you rely on social media?

Provided by Brammy Rajakumar (’19)

Hello, Middle and Upper Schoolers! Hope that your first semesters have gone well. We are in the midst of the fourth year of this newsletter already, and I cannot believe it! This began

as a crazy idea one winter break as my Fellows Symposium project and has grown far beyond my initial intentions. Thank you all so much for your support, and I hope that your interest in and comprehension of international affairs have increased through the reading of this newsletter.

As a senior looking back on the history of this project, I am proud of all the ground we have traversed, but I continue to focus on ways to improve. Though the process becomes easier each year, there remains more work to be done, especially regarding distribution of these newsletters. Furthermore, I am attempting to pass the baton on to younger students this year. I believe that this project fulfills important objectives for our community, and I would like to keep this newsletter alive as a staple of Upper School life for years to come. If you are interested in helping out with the development of the newsletter, please contact me!

In the next issue (which will be coming up in May), I plan to open up the opinion section more to all students so please start thinking about an opinion piece you may like to send in for that issue. I want this newsletter to span the divide between Fellows and non-Fellows far more than it does already and would like a greater variety of opinions and topics to be addressed by this newsletter. Not only am I encouraging opinions, but I would like you to use evidence and reasoning to support your arguments. Don’t just spew powerful opinions without backing them up. Your words are meaningless unless you truly understand them.

Additionally, I would like to emphasize the importance of continuing to be up-to-date on world news. Don’t sporadically check a website to find a lone current event only when assigned. This newsletter provides a good glimpse into world events, but there are only two issues a year and there is only so much we can cover. In between our newsletter issues, try and find good world news sources on a variety of mediums (apps, websites, even newspapers) and check them regularly. Better understanding of facts can refine or even change your opinions and strengthen your arguments.

Finally, next year I would like to create an interactive version of this newsletter for the Lower School students. Contact me if you have a special interest in helping me with that endeavor!

Thank you all for your time, and as always, please feel free to contact me with questions, comments, or concerns! Congratulations to all seniors who have received college admissions decisions and good luck to those still waiting! I believe in all of you! ~Brammy Rajakumar Founder and Editor-in-chief of Inside Global Affairs brajakumar19@norfolkacademy.org

INSIDE GLOBAL AFFAIRS Volume 3 Issue 1

This newsletter was published by Catapult Press.

Special thanks to the Literacy

Fellows and Dr. Kidd for helping

us to publish this newsletter and

make it look fabulous. Thank you

so much for your collaboration

and support!

Huge thank you to all our contributors! This would not have been

possible without all of your hard work and tireless effort!

Update on US Foreign Policy: Trump’s United Nations Remarks

Written by Morgan Aufenger (’20)

On September 25, President Donald Trump addressed the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly. He spoke out against globalism, the operation or planning of economic and foreign policy on a global basis, and endorsed embracing “the document of patriotism,” speaking for nationalism and an “America First” agenda. Denouncing the ICC (International Criminal Court) and OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries), Trump says these organizations take away citizens’ right to due process and “are ripping off the rest of the world”. Despite the laughter-inducing statement that his “administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of [his] country,” Trump laid out policy that other nations had to take seriously. He advocated for the denuclearization of Syria, asked all nations to isolate Iran’s regime, and insisted that the best place for refugees is as close to their home country as possible. The power of Trump's comments, regardless of people’s respect for him, impact the way we think about the relationship between our national sovereignty and the forces of globalism.