Abortion in Poland, Environmental Nationalism, US Campus Protests, and MoreThe latest at Inkstick Media.Hello, everyone. The latest episode of the Things That Go Boom podcast takes listeners to Poland, where abortion rights advocates have made recent strides toward reproductive justice. But the path has been a struggle, and the fight might not yet be over. Listen here. In 1996, the now-departed author David Foster Wallace published his magnum opus, the infamously long novel “Infinite Jest.” Nearly three decades later, Collin Van Son argues, the book can still provide valuable insight into the crossroads of environmental degradation and jingoism. Further back still, during Reagan’s years in the White House, the US implemented the first iteration of what’s known by many as the Global Gag Rule, a directive that threatens funding around the world for healthcare providers and others who provide abortions. Democratic presidents have time and again repealed the measure only for Republicans to reinstate a new version of it. Rachel Marchand makes the case that it’s high time to implement a permanent ban on the rule. That’s not all we’ve got at Inkstick. And if you’re not already, please follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Threads, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. “Inside Poland’s Abortion Crossroads” by Laicie Heeley (April 29) The latest episode of the Things That Go Boom podcast looks at how Polish abortion activists are on the cusp of a huge change. After 30 years of some of the strictest abortion laws in the country, it looks like some liberalization could be on the way. But it wasn’t easy to get here. “Dear Chronically in a Situationship (With Nukes)” by Molly Hurley (April 29) This installment of the Mixed-Up of Files of Inkstick Media is dedicated to the decades of anonymous writers providing ideological guidance. “A Tighter, Tidier Nation: ‘Infinite Jest’ and Environmental Security” by Collin Van Son (April 30) With its vision of nationalism and commercialism run amok, “Infinite Jest” offers a useful lens with which to examine the environmental security studies agenda. This includes the origins of the movement to securitize the environment, the relationship of the state to environmental degradation, and the nature of scarcity in the 21st century. “It’s Time to End the 40-Year Legacy of the Global Gag Rule” by Rachel Marchand (April 30) The Biden administration revoked the anti-abortion Global Gag Rule early on, but the rule’s harm endures. The directive acts as a de facto brick wall for healthcare actors, leaving clinics, NGOs, and providers to make an impossible choice. “Can the Philippines Grow its Regional Influence?” by Haroro Ingram & Andrew Mines (May 1) By virtue of its geography alone, the Philippines is arguably Southeast Asia’s most strategically important country. In recent years, however, the country has rapidly emerged as one of the most consequential countries in the Indo-Pacific, driven in large part by President Ferdinand Marcos’ transformative policies. “Deep Dive: Gender Quotas Are a Social Construct” by Emily Tamkin (May 1) A new study looks at attitudes toward gender quotas, using Norway as a case study. The authors chose Norway because political polarization on the issue of gender quotas was minimal, and lawmakers’ opinion studies found that political parties did not have coherent opinions on the matter. “US Political Leaders Should Focus on the Real Threat, Not Protests” by Olivia Chilkoti (May 2) Debate over the campus protests for Gaza, and the students involved in them, has come to overshadow discussion of the conflict itself. Our media and leaders need to change that, and urgently: The risk of escalation into a regional war is too great. “Prison Everywhere is the Same” by Susan Aboeid & Sumaya Tabbah (May 2) Yassin Mohamed, a Cairo-based artist, spent almost four years in Egyptian prisons for participating in political protests during the revolution. While imprisoned, Yassin produced a series of sketches and paintings that chronicled his life behind bars. “Student Gaza Solidarity Movement Draws on Long History of Divestment” by William D. Hartung & Nick Cleveland-Stout (May 3) Underlying these larger issues are the demands from student activists that their universities divest from companies with ties to Israel. This is not a new tactic. Divestment has a long, rich history, not only to publicize critical issues but as an effective tool for bringing about change. From the desk of Patrick Strickland, managing editor of Inkstick Media. Photo: Pro-Palestine protest and encampment in White Memorial Plaza in Stanford University in late April 2024, during the Gaza war (Suiren2022 via Wikimedia Commons) Inkstick’s work is free today. But it’s not free to produce. If our content is something that you’ve come to rely on, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. Even $5 or $10 a month makes a huge difference. Together, we can change the face of foreign policy. |