Mexico Droughts and its Implications

Droughts have been present throughout all of history and are defined as prolonged periods of abnormally low precipitation resulting in water shortage, impacting agriculture, ecosystems, and human activities. As climate change worsens, it intensifies the likelihood and severity of droughts due to several interconnected factors. Rising global temperatures accelerate evaporation rates, leading to drier soils and increased water loss from reservoirs, lakes, and rivers. These conditions exacerbate drought conditions, making precipitation patterns more erratic and reducing overall water availability.

Right now, Mexico is facing severe droughts that are impacting the well-being of its civilians. Beginning in summer 2023, Mexico experienced one of its most severe droughts in over a decade, exacerbating to extreme and exceptional levels across several northern and southern states as classified by the North American Drought Monitor. This drought has severely impacted agriculture, increased the risk of wildfires, and strained water systems throughout the country. In Mexico City, home to 19 million people, water reservoirs have dropped to historically low levels, prompting officials to reduce water delivery from critical systems like the Cutzamala network. The lack of rainfall and a potent heat wave have exacerbated water scarcity, intensifying the reliance on groundwater pumping, further depleting aquifers in the region.

This issue has gone so far that thousands of dead fish have blanketed the surface of a lagoon in Mexico’s northern state of Chihuahua. Livestock, including cows and donkeys, have also perished as dams run low and farmers struggle to secure water. The absence of fish from lagoons and rivers means reduced access to a vital protein source for local communities, impacting their nutritional intake and food security. Similarly, the death of livestock such as cows and donkeys deprives farmers of valuable assets essential for their livelihoods and agricultural productivity. These losses exacerbate the economic hardships already faced by rural populations, further highlighting the urgent need for sustainable water management practices to safeguard both environmental resources and the well-being of Mexican civilians.

Mexico could adopt several approaches to address the long-term challenges of severe drought and its impacts. Enhancing water conservation through infrastructure upgrades and modernization, implementing robust drought monitoring systems, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices are key strategies. Investing in reforestation and watershed management to protect water sources, along with fostering collaboration among communities and stakeholders, could also bolster resilience to future droughts while supporting sustainable development and safeguarding the well-being of Mexican populations.

Biden’s Executive Actions

Controversies surrounding border crossings in the United States have long been contentious issues with varying perspectives from both sides of the political spectrum. Critics of lenient border policies often argue that illegal crossings contribute to security risks, strain public resources, and undermine immigration laws. They advocate for stricter enforcement measures to deter unlawful entry and prioritize border security as a national priority. However, advocates for more humanitarian approaches argue that stringent border policies neglect the trouble of asylum seekers and immigrants fleeing violence or persecution. They emphasize the moral obligation to provide refuge and support fair immigration practices that uphold human rights. These contrasting viewpoints frequently lead to heated debates and policy disputes over how best to manage immigration and secure the nation’s borders.

Recently, President Biden had an executive action, similar to an executive order, in response to this growing issue. President Biden’s executive actions on immigration, announced through a presidential proclamation, aim to restrict asylum claims for migrants who cross the southern border illegally. Under these directives, the administration plans to impose a ban on asylum for such individuals if daily illegal crossings exceed 2,500, with the ban lifting only when crossings drop below 1,500 per day for at least a week. This policy exempts unaccompanied children but subjects children traveling with their parents to these restrictions. The administration contends that these measures are necessary to address ongoing concerns about illegal immigration and secure the border, though legal challenges are anticipated due to similarities with previous policies that courts have deemed unlawful.

In response to President Biden’s restrictions on asylum for illegal border crossings, there are possible public policy approaches for both sides of the political spectrum. Advocates for stricter immigration policies may seek legislative support to solidify these measures and increase border security funding. They aim to ensure effective enforcement while addressing concerns about national security. Conversely, opponents may advocate for legislative reforms that uphold asylum protections regardless of entry method, emphasizing humanitarian values and legal obligations. They may also call for enhanced oversight and diplomatic efforts to address root causes of migration. Balancing these perspectives will require bipartisan dialogue to create a comprehensive immigration policy that respects humanitarian principles and national interests.

South Carolina and Gerrymandering

Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to benefit a particular political party. Racial gerrymandering, a subset of gerrymandering, involves manipulating these boundaries to affect the voting power of racial groups, either by concentrating them in a few districts or spreading them thinly across many. This can impact the balance of political power by affecting the voting strength of these groups. This practice has been a longstanding issue, affecting fair representation and leading to various legal challenges, including recent cases addressed by the Supreme Court.

The South Carolina NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) challenged the state’s redistricting plan in a federal district court, arguing that it was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The case focused on how the Republican-dominated South Carolina legislature redrew congressional districts after the 2020 Census. The key issue was the redistribution of voters to balance district populations: the 1st Congressional District had 88,000 too many voters, while the adjoining 6th District, represented by the state’s only Black member of Congress, had lost a similar number.

The legislature’s solution involved moving approximately 200,000 Black voters into new districts and significantly altering Charleston County’s boundaries, stripping much of the city of Charleston from CD1. After a nine-day hearing, the three-judge federal district court found that the redistricting plan was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, claiming it “bleached” African American voters from a district.

This decision was eventually appealed and brought up to the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s decision that had declared South Carolina’s congressional redistricting plan an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. In a 6-3 decision along ideological lines, the Court ruled that the redistricting was a legal partisan gerrymander rather than an illegal racial one. The majority argued that the redistricting aimed to achieve political goals, not racial discrimination, and imposed stricter requirements for proving racial gerrymandering claims.

Racial gerrymandering raises significant social justice concerns because it can effectively diminish the political influence of minority communities. By redistributing voters based on race, this practice has the potential to disenfranchise racial minority groups, undermining their ability to elect representatives who reflect their interests and concerns. Such actions not only impact the democratic process but also perpetuate inequalities in political representation. Thus, allegations of racial gerrymandering often provoke legal challenges aimed at ensuring fair and equitable electoral practices, safeguarding the principles of equal voting rights and representation for all citizens.

“Doomsday” Glacier

Known as the Doomsday glacier because it has the ability to transform the world we live in, the Thwaites Glacier is one of Antarctica’s largest and most important glaciers. Spanning about 120 kilometers (75 miles) wide, it plays a crucial role in holding back the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, a massive ice region that contains enough ice to raise global sea levels significantly if it were to melt completely. The stability of Thwaites Glacier is critical because its rapid retreat and potential collapse could trigger the destabilization of the entire ice sheet, leading to substantial sea level rise and posing a major threat to coastal regions worldwide. Understanding and monitoring Thwaites Glacier is essential for predicting future sea level changes.

This glacier is currently showing signs of destabilization, raising serious concerns among scientists. Recent high-resolution satellite data reveals that warm ocean water is infiltrating beneath the glacier, causing it to melt from below. This process makes Thwaites particularly vulnerable due to its wide expanse of about 80 miles and its deep, downward-sloping base.

Thwaites already contributes to about four percent of global sea level rise. If it collapses entirely, it could raise sea levels by approximately two feet (65 centimeters). More alarmingly, its collapse could trigger further melting of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, potentially resulting in a total sea level rise of around 10 feet (3 meters). This situation underscores the glacier’s critical role in holding back a much larger ice mass and highlights the urgent need to monitor and address these developments.

In addition, more studies have indicated that there are record low levels of sea ice around Antarctica and are unlikely to recover fully, leaving glaciers like Thwaites more exposed to ocean waves and warm waters. If Thwaites were to collapse, the implications would be more grand than what was initially expected.

To address the destabilization of the Thwaites Glacier, public policy efforts should prioritize increased funding for scientific research and monitoring initiatives aimed at understanding the glacier’s behavior and potential collapse risks. This could involve establishing international collaborations to share data and expertise, as well as investing in advanced technologies such as satellite monitoring systems. Additionally, governments should consider implementing stricter regulations on activities that could exacerbate glacier destabilization, such as offshore drilling and mining in polar regions. Furthermore, policymakers should work on developing comprehensive adaptation strategies for coastal communities that could be affected by rising sea levels resulting from the glacier’s collapse, including infrastructure upgrades and land use planning measures.

New York’s Recent Stance

Located in western Long Island, Nassau County shares its western border with New York City’s borough of Queens and its eastern border with Suffolk County on Long Island. Nassau County’s Executive Bruce Blakeman issued an executive order to prevent transgender women from participating in girls’ and women’s athletics at Nassau County parks, claiming to protect women’s and girls’ rights. He argued that biological differences between males and females could give transgender women an advantage in sports, leading to the issuance of the order. From this action, many in this county were negatively affected. For example, the roller derby league, which is inclusive of transgender women, was prevented from accessing facilities within Nassau County due to the executive order. Since many were being directly impacted from this ruling, the responses were quite controversial and polarized, prompting it to be brought up to the New York State Court.

The court ruled that the Executive Order exceeded the County Executive’s authority, as there was no legislative enactment granting such power. This effectively overturned Blakeman’s action, creating a bigger sense of equality for those that are transgender. An important distinction that needs to be made is that the court ruled on the idea of Blakeman overstepping his power, not ruling on any infringement on civil or human rights. By not directly ruling on civil or human rights violations, the court avoided making a judgment on the underlying controversy regarding transgender athletes’ participation in girls’ sports, making New York’s stance on this issue unclear. However, the public is interpreting this in a different way, a way that is beneficial to those that are transgender. This ruling naturally reinforces the rights of transgender individuals to participate in sports according to their gender identity, even though it did not directly rule that way. Further, this ruling can set a precedent for other jurisdictions, promoting greater acceptance of transgender athletes and shaping future policy decisions in sports.

To clear up New York’s stance on this issue to make sure that the interpretation of celebration the public maintains, there is many public policy approaches that can be made. First off, many individuals, citizens of the state, can push their representatives to propose bills that can make rules regarding transgender participation in sports. This way, legislation can be passed to achieve the implied results of the court.

The Midwest–Too Much Rain

An increase in rainfall is a recognized consequence of climate change across various regions globally. As the planet continues to warm, the atmosphere retains more moisture, resulting in more frequent and intense precipitation events. This is not only backed up by observation, but is supported by scientific understanding that predicts a rise in precipitation levels due to the changing climate. Such changes in rainfall patterns have widespread implications– affecting ecosystems, agriculture, infrastructure, and human livelihoods. Increased rainfall can lead to flooding, erosion, and landslides, causing damage to infrastructure and disrupting ecosystems. Further, these environmental impacts can have widespread economic consequences, including property damage, agricultural losses, and increased costs for disaster response and recovery efforts, affecting communities and economies globally.

Currently, many farmers in the midwest are facing these challenges, as there has been a 10% increase in spring rainfall in the Midwest in the past 3 decades. By mid century, 2050, there is a predicted additional 8-20% increase in this spring rainfall, which will continue to have negative ramifications. Southern Ohio, northern Kentucky and large swaths of Indiana are the main victims, and the sporadic nature of ideal fieldwork days is noted, requiring long hours and continuous efforts to capitalize on shorter windows of opportunity. These challenges are leading to significant revenue losses and operational strain, prompting farmers to adapt their planting methods and work schedules to mitigate risks and maximize efficiency. Another challenge being faced from this is managing water, which can lead to soil erosion. Utilizing techniques such as tile drainage, which removes excess water from fields, is common among larger farms. However, this method can also risk soil dehydration if summer rains are insufficient.

Some public policy responses could include insurance programs for crop losses, research into climate-resilient farming practices, infrastructure investments for better water management, financial support for adaptation measures, educational initiatives for farmers, and incentives for sustainable practices. These measures aim to mitigate the economic and environmental impacts of excess rainfall on agricultural operations, ensuring the resilience of farming communities in the face of changing weather patterns.

Controversy with Tik Tok

TikTok is a social media app where users create and share short videos, often with music, filters, and special effects. Launched in 2016 by ByteDance, it quickly gained global popularity, especially among younger audiences, due to its engaging content and powerful algorithm that tailors the feed to user preferences. TikTok’s features like viral challenges, music integration, and creative editing tools have made it a cultural phenomenon, driving its rapid growth and widespread influence.

With this growth, this has led to many discussions about the nature of Tik Tok. People have several concerns about TikTok, primarily focusing on privacy and security issues. Lawmakers and officials worry that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, could be compelled by the Chinese government to share user data, which they see as a potential national security threat. Additionally, some critics are concerned about TikTok’s highly engaging nature, which they believe can lead to excessive screen time and impact mental health, especially among younger users. There are also challenges with content moderation, as the platform sometimes struggles to manage inappropriate content and misinformation. The pressure to create popular content and the influence of viral trends can also affect users’ self-esteem and well-being. These many issues have prompted discussions about stricter regulations and, in some cases, potential bans on the app.

This idea of banning TikTok across the United States has been present for quite some time, but now this process has been expedited. Just recently, the US Senate and House of Representatives both passed a bill that would effectively ban Tik Tok in the United States, if ByteDance doesn’t sell its stake in the app within a year. This bill was then brought to President Biden, where he signed this into law.

With this passing of this law, there are many controversies on both sides. ByteDance claims that this law suppresses freedom of speech among the United States population, and is therefore unconstitutional. However, the United States continues to argue that it is a threat of national security. The final fate of TikTok is still unknown, and as more time passes, we will be able to see.

Arizona and Abortion

After the overturning of Roe v Wade in summer of 2022, states had the right to rule on abortion rights in their borders. Since states of all different ideological backgrounds can choose how to provide abortion to their constituents, there are 5 main categories for states: expanded access, protected, not protected, hostile, and illegal. Generally states that fit with Democratic beliefs are more accepting of abortion rights, while states that side with Republican ideals are not. Here, we discuss recent moves made from Arizona.

Arizona historically leaned Republican, as they consistently voted for Republican candidates from the 1950s through the early 2000s, but has become more politically competitive in recent years, with shifting demographics and changing attitudes leading to increased Democratic activity. In the 2020 presidential election, Arizona voted for the Democratic candidate, Joe Biden, for the first time in decades, reflecting a significant shift in its political landscape and making Arizona more mixed rather than stuck to one side.

Recently, Arizona’s Supreme Court has ruled in favor of enforcing an 1864 law that would make abortion punishable by two to five years in prison, except when the mother’s life is at risk. The court’s justification for this ruling was because there no federal or state protections for the procedure. The decision could lead to the closure of all abortion clinics in the state, potentially leading to increased unsafe abortions. It also sets a concerning legal precedent, worsens political divisions, and may disproportionately impact marginalized communities.

Public response is unfavorable of this ruling on both sides alike– Democrats and Republicans. Democrats generally wish for an expanded acceptance of abortion, sitting with the pro-choice view, so they are not in favor of this ruling. Although many may believe that Republicans would be ecstatic about this ruling, they have their own concerns. This includes the ruling’s impact on reproductive rights, healthcare access, and public health. Additionally, they may view the decision as government overreach and a violation of individual freedoms, which is a core value.

There are a few possible public policy approaches that could be taken, and some are being taken now. State activists claim they have already surpassed the signature threshold necessary to present the issue to voters this fall. Additionally, many individuals can push their representatives to propose a bill that could limit or amend the 1864 law, effectively overturning it.

Russia Floods

Floods are current terrorizing Russia’s civilians and infrastructure after many river banks have bursted, releasing large volumes of water onto the surrounding land. These floods have reached serious levels, rising to over 33 feet in some cities like Orenburg. So far, several thousand residents in southern Russia have been forced to leave their residences, with authorities in neighboring Kazakhstan reporting an evacuation of 97,000 civilians. The Ural River flows through Orsk city before entering Kazakhstan and eventually emptying into the Caspian Sea, eventually leading to many dams and reservoirs reaching maximum capacity. With these other concerns regarding dams and reservoirs, it is possible that more dangers may come, leading to more homes and buildings destroyed in the process.

As this crisis continues to damage the daily life of many, citizens across the most-impacted areas, especially Orsk, are protesting against the Russian government, exclaiming ““Shame! Shame!” and “Putin, help!” Other demonstrations include civilians accusing the state of “doing nothing” and criticizing the city’s mayor, Vasily Kozupitsa. These events pose additional complications for Russian government, as they need to maintain the safety and satisfaction of those they govern. However, President Putin has clearly indicated that he does not intend to visit any of the flood zones, further causing civilians to be frustrated and participate in demonstrations.

These river banks burst because of rapid melting snow and ice causing the banks to swell. This can be connected to climate change through the idea of global warming– with rising temperatures, more snow and ice melt at a faster rate, leading to rivers receiving increased volumes of water and higher water levels, putting greater pressure on river banks. This may seem far fetched, but a connection is still clear.

In response to the situation in Russia, there are many possible public policy approaches that could be taken into consideration to mitigate the current issues and prevent them from occurring in the future. First, Russia could invest in infrastructure upgrades and reinforcements to combat extreme weather events such as floods. This includes the dams, reservoirs, river banks, and sewage networks to help prevent this event from occurring again. This also includes upgrading local residential buildings, so civilians can be safe. Second, Russia could look into creating a comprehensive flood plan that would target flooding on all fronts, such as anticipating its arrival and an immediate response system. Both would be effective in mitigating the negative effects of these floods. There are many more possible public policy approaches, but these seem to be the most efficient, as although they may be costly, they have effectiveness in all areas needed.

Harsh Mongolian Winter

When thinking about climate change, a general misconception that human influence only causes global temperatures to increase. Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which trap heat and contribute to global warming. While this leads to overall warming trends, it also disrupts climate patterns, including winter weather. The increase in greenhouse gases alters atmospheric dynamics, affecting the behavior of atmospheric circulation systems like the polar vortex and jet stream. As a result, colder air masses can be displaced from the polar regions and move southward, causing colder temperatures and harsher winters in some regions. Additionally, changes in temperature and moisture levels influence precipitation patterns, leading to heavier snowfall events in certain areas.

This is exactly what is happening in Mongolia right now, a landlocked country in East Asia that is facing its harshest winter in half a century. The severe conditions, known as dzud, have resulted in the death of more than 4.7 million animals and the threatening of basic livelihoods and food supplies for thousands of people. Dzud is characterized by plunging temperatures, deep snow, and ice that blanket grazing areas and cut off access to food for livestock. This is especially detrimental to Mongolian society, as about 300,000 people in Mongolia are traditional nomadic herders and depend on their cattle, goats and horses for food and to sell at market. Additionally, since November, at least 2,250 herder families have lost more than 70% of their livestock, with more than 7,000 families now lack access to adequate food.

There are a few possible public policy approaches that could be made to this situation. Firstly, implementing climate resilience programs to help communities adapt to changing climate patterns by diversifying livelihoods and promoting sustainable practices. Secondly, enhancing early warning systems for extreme weather events to improve preparedness and response efforts. Thirdly, establishing livestock insurance programs to mitigate financial losses for herder families. Additionally, implementing rangeland management practices to promote sustainable land use and reduce vulnerability to degradation. Empowering local communities to participate in decision-making processes and fostering international cooperation to address the underlying drivers of climate change are also crucial. These measures aim to build resilience and mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events on vulnerable populations.