Youth Advocacy
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 08 (198 total reports)
14.02.2023-20.02.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Advocating for young people in the face of authoritarian voices undermining democracy and silencing voices of freedom around the world.
Best Links of The Week
20.02.2024
Solzhenitsyn’s Warning
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was one of the first dissident voices from Russia that warned the US about the repression of citizens in the Soviet Union. Like Alexei Navalny, Solzhenitsyn was tormented by Russia’s KGB leaders (only that one of those people now happens to be the President of Russia). Solzhenitsyn’s warning to the west about capitulating to Russia (and then, the Soviet Union) are as pertinent today as they were when he was alive. Take time to reflect on them for a historical perspective on the corruption of those that rule that region today and their long term goals—not just for regional domination—but undermining the freedom of the world.
19.02.2024
The GOP Has Crossed an Ominous Threshold on Foreign Policy
Even Nikki Haley has said that “Trump gets ‘weak in the knees’ over Putin.” The Russian assassin’s grasp over ‘Authoritarianophiles’ like Trump and Tucker Carlson and their subsequent sway over doting lackeys like Mike Johnson and the rest of the GOP is undermining democracy and freedom all over the world. Ever since Trump came to office, the GOP has become a tool of his deviant form of totalitarianism. The consequences include the undermining of Ukraine and NATO, the murder of Navalny, and the encouragement of dictatorships all over the world. Their words cause not only the destruction of freedom, but death.
18.02.2024
Alexei Navalny Is With Us Forever Now
https://time.com/6696240/alexei-navalny-death-russia-essay/
Navalny is perhaps the bravest man we have seen since the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi. Of course, Putin had to silence him.
17.02.2024
Putin must be held accountable - Yulia Navalnaya
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68320466
Yulia Navalnaya shows as much bravery as her husband, will it be long before Putin has to reckon with her too? Putin could not have blatantly acted the way he did without the compliance and adoration of Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson. Carlson said that “Every leader kills people, some kill more than others.” Within a week, Navalny was dead. Just as disgraceful is Citizen Trump who is currently comparing himself to Alexei Navalny. Nothing could be further from the truth. Trump has been rated the worst president in the history of the United States. He is a rapist, a traitor, and hoarder of his own country’s secrets. He has betrayed the constitution to which he took an oath to defend and has duped his followers into paying his exorbitant legal fees for everything from rape to fraud. The only thing more far-fetched than Trump being Navalny-like is Mike Johnson declaring himself to be personally selected by God to be the new Moses. These people are seriously deranged—and hold positions of high leadership in the United States government. Indeed, it is a precarious time and our chance to resoundingly defeat them will come at the polls in November. Please register to vote if you haven’t, and make your vote count this year, no matter what you face at the ballot station.
16.02.2024
The Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Critical Theory
In an age of deep-fake AI and terrorist attacks on voter information from entities like Russian, China, Iran, and the GOP, teaching critical thinking is one of the most—if not THE most—critical skill in education today. Please read this article for how you can apply it in your own work with young people or your own life. We are easily duped—especially when we want to justify our beliefs and today’s deepfakes are hard to spot—even for the discerning mind.
15.02.2024
The growing peril of national conservatism
https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/02/15/the-growing-peril-of-national-conservatism
National Conservatism is not just a US movement. Far right groups around the world are using similar tools of fear and xenophobia to push authoritarian goals in nation’s around the world and states throughout the US. In light of the chaos they are trying to spread by lying about diverse populations and immigrants, they are attempting to control a narrative that proves they are essential. It is a tell-tale sign that they run almost exclusively based upon platforms of chaos and fear.
14.02.2024
First look: Film dives into threats of Christian nationalism
https://www.axios.com/2024/02/14/god-country-film-christian-nationalism-racism
Please put this documentary at the top of your “watch and share” list. Christian Nationalism (which is also White Christian Nationalism) is a very dangerous movement attempting to take away freedoms people have fought decades to gain. Freedoms for the LGBTQI+ community, for non-Anglo people, for women, for non-Christians. In the US, you have the right to be Christian, but you do not have the right to force other people to adapt your religious beliefs.
This Week’s Links
20.02.2024
Solzhenitsyn’s Warning
'So grotesque': Joe slams Trump for comparing himself to Navalny
Opinion: US Republicans Lose Avdiivka
https://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/28323
'You're Such A Dick': Jon Stewart Tells Tucker Carlson How He 'Really, Truly' Feels
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jon-stewart-tucker-carlson-russia_n_65d4295ae4b0f7fbe7b3cf9e
Trump ranked dead last as worst president ever in U.S. history
https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/trump-ranked-worst-president-in-u-s-history-204519493623
The first Black 'Peanuts' character finally gets his origin story in animated special
Statistics That Tell the Story of Family Estrangement
Massachusetts school officials ask for governor to send the National Guard to help with unruly high school
19.02.2024
The GOP Has Crossed an Ominous Threshold on Foreign Policy
Trump compares himself to Navalny, Liz Cheney slams the former president
Disinformation threatens global elections: How to fight back
https://phys.org/news/2024-02-disinformation-threatens-global-elections.html
Schools Are Taking Too Long to Craft AI Policy. Why That's a Problem
Need an AI Policy for Your Schools? This District Used ChatGPT to Craft One
Report highlights anti-immigrant bigotry among Border Patrol agents
Murders of The Civil Rights Era You Must Never Forget
https://www.theroot.com/black-history-month-the-most-grisley-murders-of-the-ci-1851266130
Hermann Hesse on Discovering the Soul Beneath the Self and the Key to Finding Peace
https://www.themarginalian.org/2024/02/18/hesse-soul/
Top 5 Fastest Growing Leadership Skills To Learn In 2024, Per Research
18.02.2024
Alexei Navalny Is With Us Forever Now
https://time.com/6696240/alexei-navalny-death-russia-essay/
Over 400 detained in Russia as country mourns the death of Alexei Navalny, Putin's fiercest foe
https://apnews.com/article/russia-alexei-navalny-death-prison-putin-d0121f49840ee1cd6fbf94f6d7249e1b
To Democratize Finance, We Must Take the Banks Away From the Bankers
https://truthout.org/articles/to-democratize-finance-we-must-take-the-banks-away-from-the-bankers/
Russia investigates Duolingo for spreading “traumatizing” LGBTQ+ content
In wake of mass shootings, some parents hesitate bringing their kids to big events
https://www.npr.org/2024/02/17/1231866948/kansas-city-mass-shooting-parents-children-events
Why some travelers are skipping the US: 'You guys are not afraid of this?'
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2024/02/18/travel-to-us-down-gun-violence-fears/72608745007/
'The ABCs of Book Banning' underscores school children being affected by book banning efforts
Who Do You Want to Be?
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/self-made/202402/who-do-you-want-to-be
17.02.2024
Putin must be held accountable - Yulia Navalnaya
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68320466
Navalny's legacy: His ceaseless crusade against Putin and corruption
https://www.npr.org/2024/02/16/1231980139/alexei-navalny-who-was-he
Tucker Carlson Days Ago on Navalny and Assassinations: 'Leadership Requires Killing People'
The Power of Hate and Its Consequences
'Performing hope' – how a campaign to spur climate action offers an antidote to apathy
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/02/performing-hope-nature-and-climate-crisis/
This map shows you where same-sex marriage is legal around the world – and there’s a long way to go
11 Inspiring Places Around the U.S. to Learn More About Black History
https://www.veranda.com/travel/g46822423/black-history-month-trip-ideas/
Trans Adults Are the Next Target in the GOP’s War on Gender-Affirming Health Care
https://www.them.us/story/trans-adults-next-target-gop-war-on-gender-affirming-health-care
The Real Difference Between Trump and Biden
https://apple.news/AN8aEocgtSa-gZ_vDjFp5Fw
Donald Trump’s ‘Fraudulent Ways’ Cost Him $355 Million
https://apple.news/AUYgdWMjSSpusfcx_TLR0Zw
The Billionaire Bully Who Wants to Turn Texas Into a Christian Theocracy
Texas ban on university diversity efforts provides a glimpse of the future across GOP-led states
https://apnews.com/article/texas-university-diversity-ban-dei-46e4b6193abe27b6abbdffcd1945cf38
Democrats question House speaker's invitation of 'radical Christian nationalist' preacher
https://apple.news/A1euHf0DCSkWKcCltg8G4Tg
Universal Basic Income Has Been Tried Over and Over Again. It Works Every Time.
https://gizmodo.com/universal-basic-income-has-been-tried-over-and-over-aga-1851255547
16.02.2024
The Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Critical Theory
Gun violence has claimed the lives of almost 5,000 people so far in 2024
https://abcnews.go.com/US/gun-violence-claimed-lives-5000-people-2024/story?id=107262776
How US gun culture stacks up with the world
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/26/world/us-gun-culture-world-comparison-intl-cmd/
Trump tells NRA members 'no one will lay a finger on your firearms' if he returns to the White House
Scoop: N.Y. governor wants to criminalize deceptive AI
https://www.axios.com/2024/02/15/hochul-ai-criminalize-deceptive-ny
‘Massive benefit’: Immigration surge set to boost U.S. economy by $7 trillion
Alexei Navalny, vocal critic of Vladimir Putin and Russian government, dies in prison
15.02.2024
The growing peril of national conservatism
https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/02/15/the-growing-peril-of-national-conservatism
She Was Denied an Abortion After Roe Fell. This Is a Year in Her Family’s Life.
https://projects.propublica.org/the-year-after-a-denied-abortion/
Republicans have delivered a shameful week of wins for Putin
Livid Kansas City congressman rips thoughts-and-prayers Congress for doing 'nothing at all' on guns
Stagnant state funding leaves Texas public schools reeling
Limerence, Love, and Neurodivergent Women
Report: Threats to Federal Judges Have More Than Doubled Since 2020
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/02/federal-judges-prosecutors-trump-threats-double-2020/
Cultivating the Ability to Relate After Relational Trauma
What a Teacher's Letters Reveal About Robert Smalls, Who Stole a Confederate Ship to Secure His Freedom From Slavery
14.02.2024
First look: Film dives into threats of Christian nationalism
https://www.axios.com/2024/02/14/god-country-film-christian-nationalism-racism
Michael Steele: Dictators don't make life better for you; pick up a history book and read it
Biden’s Hidden Economic Success
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/02/biden-keeping-big-economic-promise/677444/
20 Donald Trump Business Ventures That Failed Miserably | Wealth of Geeks
https://wealthofgeeks.com/trump-ventures/
In January, Fox News’ highest rated evening programs spread white nationalist rhetoric in nearly half of their immigration segments
AI Is Disrupting Professions That Require College Degrees. How Should Higher Ed Respond? - EdSurge News