News in a Kawaii Nutshell (Issue 2)
DATE: December 2020
The Theme of the Month: The Ebbs and Flows of Democracy
As it seems when times are tough that means that our overall freedoms are taken away. And--o, let me stop you right there--that doesn’t mean we are all suddenly slaves to society(?) This isn’t a George Orwell book. But it does mean that what we considered normal before the pandemic isn’t coming back. Change is inevitable but that doesn’t mean it has to suck. How about some eggnog? (I can hear a lot of you groaning from behind your screens. ) We just have to adapt. (But first, we all need a drink. And no not alcohol this time.)
GLOBAL NEWS
Australia: The coal industry may be losing power. It’s Australia’s second most profitable industry. (Approx $49 Billion dollars in net worth.) What does this mean for the fight against climate change? The government has agreed to replace coal with cleaner energy in the next 12 years.
Cuba: Damas 855: a movement started by artists to show their dissent for their government. The demand for more freedom of expression has been higher in recent years after Decree 349 in 2018, which restricts cultural activity that has not been explicitly approved by the cultural committee. Since the pandemic citizens have limited access to necessary resources. Citizens normally have to wait in line for several hours for food, if any is left. The GDP mainly relied on tourism.
Ethiopia: There has been an uprising in Tigray, Ethiopia where massacres are happening between Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), people who are non-Tigrayans, and the Ethiopian National Defense. Information is slow to come out due to internet blackout. Journalists have been unable to carry out much coverage of the situation as it develops because of this though Amnesty International, a non-government organization, has video evidence of the violence that has taken place.
Germany: The government just banned a far-right group under the name of “Sturmbrigade 44”.
Horst Seehofer describes the group’s intentions as a movement to “rebuild the former Nazi state.” - Source
There is a movement against far-right antagonism called: “Grannies Against the Right” that strives to [insert their mission]. It originated in Austria and has since spread to Germany. - Source
United Kingdom: The UK takes its first bid to abate Covid-19 for good this time by purchasing 5 Million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine. There has also been a mutated strain of the virus--a development that has caused the nation to enter full lockdown. According to authorities, we are not yet sure of the exact differences. - Source
The Feel Good Stuff (It’s Hot Chocolate this time)
In a year where news seemed to just get worse and worse, there were glimmers of hope. From diversity to fighting climate change, here are twenty nice things that will warm your heart. - Source
The Great Conjunction Gives nighttime skies a light of hope. - Source
Fast fashion is beginning to die out, making way for better consumer practices. This also includes the Kawaii fashion community. From Lacemarket to Depop, sustainable fashion is gaining speed. - Source
