Tag Archives: WorldNews

Myanmar coup: What led to the military seizing power?

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The people of Myanmar watched a coup unfold on 1 February. Why are they scared?

Teachers union chastises San Dimas school board member for anti-mask social media posts

The Bonita Unified Teachers Association has rebuked school board member Krista Chakmak for recent social media posts in which she apparently encouraged others to join her in refusing to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“As the Bonita Unified School District works to create a plan in which students, faculty, and staff may return to in-person learning as safely as possible, Ms. Chakmak’s publicly-stated position on pandemic safety and her encouragement that others follow suit is counterproductive and even detrimental to that mission,” the union said in a Thursday Facebook post.

The union statement went on to say its executive board “will continue to follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control, as well as the wisdom and expertise of health care professionals in order to keep our students and their families safe while continuing their education.”

Chakmak, who was appointed to the Bonita Unified School District board in May 2020 and elected to her first full term in November, could not be reached for comment.

On Feb. 8, Chakmak complained on her personal Instagram account about being harassed for not wearing a mask while shopping at a Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Pomona.

“What would I like right now?” Chakmak asked, according to a screenshot of the post obtained by the Southern California News Group. “To shop without being harassed, personal choice, a peaceful experience and respect. What I want most? My children to know that I fought everyday for their rights and freedoms, to not be told what’s “best” for my personal health and the freedom to live how I want. My sons and I were followed around the store, asked several times to wear a mask “because they want everyone in the store to be comfortable also, no one was near us or even in the store.”

In a separate post, Chakmak recounted another unpleasant shopping experience involving COVID-19 mask requirements.

“Just got back from the grocery store where I have worn a mask for almost a year,” she said. “Today, no more. I have been miserable for most of the past year. I know there are so many more people feeling this also but just feel stuck, scared and like you’re going to be judged. But if we don’t start taking our power back now, this will only get worse. So, judge me, hate me, talk about me or join me! Most importantly do what ever your soul tells you to do!.”

Chakmak, who received criticism on social media for her anti-mask stance, has since apologized and removed the posts.

“In a moment of frustration, I stated that I would no longer be wearing a mask, taking back my power,” she said, according to a screenshot of the post. “After reflecting on the impact of my words, I have deleted the post. Like so many of us, I am anxious to resume our way of life that existed before the pandemic. However, I realize there are still stages to go through to reopen our school safely. I do intend to comply with state and local regulations to allow the safe reopening to happen. My words do not reflect Bonita Unified School District or our fellow board members’ opinions.”

Carl J. Coles, superintendent of the Bonita Unified School District, said Friday preparations are underway to safely reopen schools for 5,000 elementary students on April 5.

“In light of a recent private social media post by an individual board member concerning not wearing a face covering, the board of education and the district want to assure the community that we are fully committed to following all laws and rules set by our governing bodies, which includes wearing face coverings on all district properties,” he said in a statement. “Board members may participate in public discourse on civic or community interest matters and have a right to express their personal views freely. To be clear, the comments made regarding not wearing a face-covering do not represent those of the board of education or the district.”

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What the crackdown on farmers’ protests says about the future of democracy in India

They touch on why Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi so fiercely pushed the reforms, the legitimate policy debate at the center of it all, and how the vile online reaction to Rihanna’s and Thunberg’s statements in support of the farmers from pro-Modi trolls shows the rot at the core of India’s democracy.
Indian farmers’ protests continue
Indian Youth Congress workers shout slogans during a protest against the new agricultural laws, the rise of unemployment, and the rising price of goods and services in New Delhi on February 9, 2021. | Imtiyaz Khan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

On this week’s episode of Worldly, we discuss how a real policy debate in India turned ugly.

The farmers’ protests in India had already turned ugly — and then global celebrities like Rihanna and Greta Thunberg stepped in.

In this week’s episode of Worldly, Vox’s foreign affairs podcast, co-hosts Zack Beauchamp, Jennifer Williams, and Alex Ward explain why thousands of Indian farmers have spent months protesting recent agricultural reform laws passed by the government.

They touch on why Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi so fiercely pushed the reforms, the legitimate policy debate at the center of it all, and how the vile online reaction to Rihanna’s and Thunberg’s statements in support of the farmers from pro-Modi trolls shows the rot at the core of India’s democracy.

Hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers and their supporters have been occupying major roads surrounding the capital, New Delhi, since November in protest of the agriculture reform laws.

Under the new policies, introduced by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian farmers must sell goods and make contracts with independent buyers outside of government-sanctioned marketplaces, which have long served as the primary locations for farmers to do business.

Modi and members of his party say the reforms are needed to help India modernize and improve its farming industry, which will mean greater freedom and prosperity for farmers. But the farmers, afraid they will be at the mercy of big business, remain unconvinced.

Modi’s government offered to put the laws on hold for 18 months, but the farmers have refused, demanding a full retraction of the laws to end their standoff.

After an 11th round of talks between the farmers and the government failed, the farmers unions decided to up the ante with a tractor march into the capital on India’s Republic Day, which commemorates the signing of India’s constitution. Miscommunication led to violent face-offs with police, who used tear gas and batons to try to turn them back.

Hundreds of police officers were injured. A farmer was also crushed when his tractor was among the many vehicles overturned in the violence.

Then Rihanna posted a February 2 tweet about the Indian government shutting off internet access to squash debate about the Republic Day violence. And all hell broke loose.

The singer’s tweet angered the Indian government, which responded that foreign celebrities should know the facts before weighing in on Indian affairs. That paved the way for even more vitriol, with online supporters of Modi’s right-wing nationalist government, and one of Bollywood’s most famous actresses, Kangana Ranaut, lashing out on Twitter and in the media with nasty personal attacks against Rihanna, many of which were racist and sexist.

The ugly response to celebrities asking legitimate questions about the treatment of farmers and the suppression of farmers’ freedoms shows just how deep the divisions are within Indian society.

To hear more about what led to widespread farmer protests in India, how the protests became violent, and what the government’s heavy-handed tactics for quashing dissent say about India’s future under Modi, listen to Worldly below.

And don’t forget to subscribe to Worldly wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

You can find specific links for Vox podcasts here.

Why Myanmar protesters see Aung San Suu Kyi as their greatest hope – video explainer

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Hundreds of thousands of people have been protesting across Myanmar since the army overthrew the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi and detained most senior leaders on 1 February.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s rise to power prompted hope she could end years of ethnic strife in Myanmar, but she has been accused of standing by while genocide was committed against the Rohingya people. The Guardian’s south Asia correspondent, Hannah Ellis-Petersen, explains why – despite her fall from grace internationally – Aung San Suu Kyi is seen by so many protesters as the only person who can still save them from military rule

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