The Great Disruption: while exposing the fatal fragility of global health infrastructure, Covid19 is also putting strain on dangerous geo-political tensions barely below the surface. This week’s links explore some of the social, political and economic fault lines the pandemic has exposed.
Malnutrition is leading cause of death and ill health worldwide
Coronavirus highlights weakness of food and health systems as Global Nutrition Report finds one-in-nine of world’s population is hungry
by Karen McVeigh, The Guardian, May 12, 2020
Read here.
The 2020 Global Nutrition Report in the context of Covid-19
The Global Nutrition Report’s emphasis on nutritional well-being for all, particularly the most vulnerable, has a heightened significance in the face of this new global threat. The need for more equitable, resilient and sustainable food and health systems has never been more urgent.
Read here.
Hunger could be more deadly than coronavirus in poorer countries
by Liz Sly, The Washington Post, May 14, 2020
Read here.
The coming post-Covid anarchy
The pandemic bodes ill for both American and Chinese power—and for the global order
by Kevin Rudd, Foreign Affairs, May 06, 2020
Read here.
Our China showdown has nothing to do with Washington’s Cold War
Canada’s differences with China should be kept distant from the self-interested conflict-mongering of Trump and his circle
by Doug Saunders, The Globe and Mail, May 8, 2020
Read here.
Who’s decoupling from whom?
As U.S. re-evaluates its relationship with China, Asian giant’s export data show increasing regional integration
by David P. Goldman, Asia Times, May 11, 2020
Read here.
Covid-19 tilts the future toward Asia
Asia returns to work while America struggles to regain its footing, in what looks like a historical tipping point
by Scott Foster, Asia Times, May 14. 2020
Read here.
What doesn’t kill the oil industry could make it stronger
Can you say “free-market cartel” ten times fast?
by Katy Lederer, Online Only | n+1, May 4, 2020
Read here.
Finally a movie that tells the story of how we got into this mess
Capital in the 21st Century is based on the 2013 book by Thomas Piketty. Directed by Justin Pemberton, the film undermines that core power of the world’s elites—shaping how we think—in a particularly wise, sneaky way.
by Jon Swartz, The Intercept, May 5, 2020
Read here.
Under cover of mass death Andrew Cuomo calls in the billionaires to build a high-tech dystopia
by Naomi Klein, The Intercept, May 8, 2020
Read here.
Coronavirus contact tracing poses serious threats to our privacy
by Aaron Mauro, The Conversation, May 10, 2020
Read here.
We need a radically-different model to tackle the COVID-19 crisis
The Current situation in the United States: May 2020
by James K. Galbraith, Defend Democracy Press, May 5, 2020
Read here.
Six takeaways from the Senate’s surreal virtual hearing on the U.S. coronavirus response
by Lev Facher, STAT, May 12, 2020
Read here.
Coronavirus is the ultimate demonstration of the real-world impact of racism
The BAME experience during this pandemic tells us that race is not about individual morality; it profoundly shapes people’s lives
by Alana Lentin, The Guardian, May 12, 2020
Read here.
Majority Black counties in U.S. see triple the Covid death rate
Coronavirus is deadlier in majority African American counties
by Jeff Green and Jackie Gu, Bloomberg, May 11, 2020
Read here.
Toronto scientists dug into the connection between race, income, housing, and COVID-19. What they found was ‘alarming’
By Kenyon Wallace Jenna Moon, The Star, May 12, 2020
Read here.
Why are so many people getting sick and dying in Montreal from Covid-19?
The city is at the center of the crisis in Canada, and Quebec is now the seventh deadliest place in the world for daily deaths
by Tracey Lindeman. The Guardian, 13 May, 2020
Read here.
Inside Canada’s coronavirus epicenter
Montreal North, one of the poorest urban areas in the country, faces down a catastrophe
by Jillian Kestler-D’Amours, VICE, May 8, 2020
Read here.
C-19’s devastating toll on families in Montreal’s poorest neighbourhoods
‘Anyone who sees these health inequalities emerge is completely unsurprised,’ says public health ethicist, Benjamin Shingler
by Verity Stevenson, CBC News, May 15, 2020
Read here.
At least nine women and girls killed in domestic homicides in Canada during pandemic
Murder of women and girls in domestic homicides continues unabated
by Molly Hayes, The Globe and Mail, May 13, 2020
Read here.
Violence against women must not be glossed over
One of the most distressing aspects of domestic violence is the studied ignorance that surrounds it
by Donna F. Johnson, Edmonton Journal, May 13, 2020
Read here.
And finally, links to two major reports released this week on nutrition and food security
2020 Global Nutrition Report
Everyone deserves access to healthy affordable food and quality nutrition care. The 2020 Global Nutrition Report looks beyond global and national patterns, revealing significant inequalities in nutrition outcomes within countries and populations. Based on the best-available data, in-depth analysis, and expert opinion rooted in evidence, the report identifies critical actions to achieve nutrition equity.
Read here.
Growing Resilience and Equity: A food policy action plan in the context of Covid-19
Food Secure Canada, Montréal, May 14, 2020
A policy action plan for renewing Canada’s food system. The report was developed through an intensive process of information-gathering and consultation with people and their organisations involved in Canadian and global social movements advancing food system transformation.
Read here.