Global Human Rights Hub Fellows Blog Archives 2021-2022
By Phil Berry
I have been fortunate over my 35-year career to consistently manage programs and teams at the intersection of environmental impacts and human rights. In government and business my work has allowed me to experience how placing human rights at the center of actions to address climate change can improve outcomes in both areas.
By Simon A. Lee (S.A.L.)
Over the past two decades the United States has seen more provocation from its adversaries like Russia and China through military, parliamentary or economic means. Whether it’s the annexation of countries that border NATO members, military fleets charting the South China Sea and surrounding areas bordering multiple American military and economic partners, or cyberattacks on its infrastructure, bureaucracies, and allies, America’s reputation has been tested––and weakened. Although the implications of these tests and their effect on America’s long-term reputation are unclear, any loss of influence for America creates a power gap = an opportunity for growing superpowers. China will be the focus of this blog post.
Leah Goldmann
About two and a half years ago, I sat at a bar in Kampala, Uganda while a friend discussed his #ExportProductsNotPeople initiative, in which he planned to walk from Kampala to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to promote African development by and for Africans. While speaking about his initiative to encourage African youth to stay on the continent, the audience of white people asked when trivia would start. I recognized some of those in the audience, who had attended health and development conferences to preach about the importance of local participation and community engagement.
By Brittany Romanello
When I say the word “Mormon,” what comes to mind? In presenting my research over the years, people often associate "Mormon" with “conservatives," "polygamists," or "Anglo-Americans," reflecting common stereotypes. Many are shocked to learn, in reality, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (also called Mormons or LDS) is not that homogenous. Mormonism began as a small religious group from New York in 1830, and began to settle-colonize the Rocky Mountains in 1847. Since then, Church membership grew from 30,000 to over 16.5 million members worldwide. Despite its small size, the Church has amassed over 100 billion dollars, making it the wealthiest globalized religion, about 6 times that of Catholicism. Mormonism gives us insight into how Latinx communities, specifically Latinas, are shaping the future direction of US religious spaces.
By Sinmyung Park
It has been a year since Myanmar’s army launched a coup against the elected government of Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. According to the figures given by the United Nations human rights office, at least 1,500 civilians have been killed in year-long protests and strikes against the military regime in Myanmar, and more than 8,000 people remain in unlawful custody. As the current situation in Myanmar is likely to remain in limbo for the foreseeable future, it becomes critical to consider what strategies the populace could adopt to weaken the military regime's power and influence in the post-coup Myanmar society. In other words, the question then arises as to what can be done to bring about changes in a notoriously closed, militarized state like Myanmar.
By Phil Berry
How often did you hear the term “supply chain” before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic?
In over thirty years working to improve supply chains, I have rarely heard the term used in the popular press until the pandemic disrupted flows of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and other products to retail.
By Brittany Romanello
Since The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also called Mormonism) was established in 1830, it has maintained a prominent position in global religious politics, including building one of the most diverse (inter)national business empires. Although he Church has a controversial history that includes an anti-establishment past, members’ votes have leaned heavily conservative or Republican the last few decades. However, young millennial and Generation Z Mormons are challenging this status quo. Capturing Church members' votes was a priority for presidential candidates in 2012, 2016, and 2020, especially among conservative women and Latinx voters. US Mormonism, like other American religious groups, is experiencing an exodus in traditionally active membership, yet maintains an important influence in former members’ future voting decisions.
By Simon A. Lee (S.A.L.)
What if I told you that in a post-Geneva Convention world, a global power rejected the legitimacy of a smaller, non-nuclear, sovereign state, and invaded said state with aspirations of a regime change that would benefit the global power’s goals and interests. I could be talking about the U.S. led Operation Just Cause in Panama or Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada. I could also Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq respectively. The one invasion that we are currently paying attention to and giving due criticism against is the one where Russian President Vladimir Putin sent neighboring troops into Ukraine with the stated purpose of to protect people who he states for eight years have been facing humiliation and genocide perpetrated by the Kyiv regime. In all four aforementioned military operations, human rights has been a mentioned factor, yet the underlying political and historical aspirations take the mantle on the decisions made.
By Leah Goldmann
In my last blog, I reflected on the definition of “expertise” in international development, including my own journey as a woman in global development who has benefitted from racial whiteness, citizenship privilege, and education opportunities. My presence, as well as that of other (white) Europeans and Americans in the sector, has further reinforced the ongoing projects of neocolonialism, heteropatriarchy, white supremacy, colonization, and climate injustice.
By Sinmyung Park
To many citizens of Gwangju, South Korea, current scenes from Myanmar bring back memories of their own experiences in May 1980. This blog post is to inform the readers of 1) why citizens and civil society organizations (CSOs) of Gwangju are actively engaging in solidarity activities in favor of Myanmar and 2) how the local government of Gwangju has adopted human rights principles as guiding rules of governance to provide platforms for different organizations to facilitate relationship building and stakeholder engagement.