OCTOBER 2022
VOLUME II, NO. 2
OPINION
“Women. Life. Freedom” — What Are the Iran Protests Fighting For? By Anonymous From Khuzestan to Tehran, we hear the phrase “نز، یگدنز، ”یدازآbeing chanted in streets by hundreds of Iranians. From Tehran to Paris, we see it take the form “femme, vie, liberté”; in New York and London we hear “women, life, freedom.” This central phrase of the protests exemplifies the basic values Iranians are fighting for — but what are they really related to and where do they stem from? SEE PAGE 17
NEWS
Estrosi’s Bid for Greater Mayoral Jurisdiction in Dealing with Migrants On July 22, 2022, the Nice administrative court handed down a decision allowing for the eviction of an illegal migrant camp in the city. The initial request to carry out said eviction was made in April by Nice mayor Christian Estrosi.
By Saoirse Aherne, Staff Writer
Within a day, the migrants were expelled. ActuNice interviewed a
young Cameroonian migrant living at the camp before being evicted — he reported that police “flattened and burst the tents to prevent people from staying.” ActuNice also announced that the eviction order was illegal. According to the local news source, someone close to the case claimed that the administrative
court decision could not prove whether the migrants were aware that they would be evicted.
CULTURE
Chocolate Hummus and Dogs with Passports: A Review of Netflix’s Mo By Lilith Springer, Staff Writer
“Us Palestinians, we carry on”. Yusra’s eyes sparkle, in her tears Mo can see the trauma that his mother has lived through since Municipal police must she fled Palestine and later Kuserve court notifications wait. But he also sees defiance of eviction before re- and resilience. He sees endless turning a receipt signed love for her family and their by the affected party to homeland. Her tears are burnthe municipal clerk’s of- ing her cheeks, hot, like the fice. This confirms that pride that ignites in her heart the evicted party was when she talks about their idenindeed notified in ad- tity. “It is who we are.” vance. SEE PAGE 2 SEE PAGE 26
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OCTOBER 2022
Estrosi’s Bid for Greater Mayoral Jurisdiction in Dealing With Migrants Continued from Page 1 According to ActuNice’s research, the impacted party in this case — the migrants — was not given a notice of eviction. Overall, evicting an illegal camp is largely unconducive to typical legal procedure as migrants do not possess a permanent address to be served court papers and are rarely capable of defending themselves with legal representation. Contrary to this account, the mayor’s office reported that the notification of the order was served at the migrant camp, and the clerk’s office claims it was received. Estrosi’s campaign for greater mayoral jurisdiction Over the summer, Estrosi began to push for mayors across France to “have the means to act directly” when evacuating migrant camps. He envisions a reality wherein mayors would no longer have to appeal to the court to order an eviction nor be burdened with inapplicable legal procedure. Instead, municipal police would carry out evictions immediately at the mayor’s request. In late July of 2022, Es-
trosi enumerated these aspirations in writing to the Minister of the Interior, Gerald Darmanin. He made five proposals, including 1) reviewing current legislation to allow municipal police to intervene to stop illegal encampments 2) allowing municipal police to carry out identity checks 3) authorizing the municipal police to seize the materials and equipment of wandering populations 4) simplifying procedures for the placement of children and 5) initiating the revision of the Schengen Agreements to allow for systematic border checks which will assess whether an individual has the means to live on French soil for more than three months.
state and arm our communities.” Per Estrosi, there is an influx of “Nomadic populations from Eastern countries” in Nice, some of whom “cause significant disturbances to public order.”
“He envisions a reality wherein mayors would no longer have to appeal to the court to order an eviction nor be burdened with inapplicable legal procedure.” In August, Estrosi stated on Twitter that his community is “faced with clandestine and wandering populations,” making it “necessary to rearm the
All of Estrosi’s statements and propositions can be read here. (Christian Estrosi on Twitter: “Suite à l’annonce de la présentation d’un projet de
loi relatif à l’#immigration à l’automne, j’ai écrit à @ GDarmanin pour lui faire part de ma contribution et de mes propositions afin de renforcer le pouvoir des Maires, notamment concernant les populations errantes. https://t.co/FTkerJvtJT” / Twitter) Natacha Bouchart, mayor of Calais — a city on the North coast of France with a significant undocumented migrant population — expressed support for Estrosi’s efforts, stating, “Giving this power to the mayor would make it possible to act in a more
News
OCTOBER 2022
relevant time of responsiveness.” A New Immigration Bill in Discussion Estrosi’s decision to send this proposal came soon after July 27, when Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin announced his intent to present a new immigration bill to the Sen-
to deport foreigners with rejected asylum applications. However, less than two weeks after this announcement, on August 4, Minister Darmanin admitted that the examination of the new bill would be postponed until the beginning of 2023. In the meantime, Darmanin asserted that a
“While the continual effort to tighten French immigration law proceeds at both a local and national level, the flow of people hoping to cross into France shows no signs of slowing.” ate. According to sources close to the Minister, the bill would focus on “facilitating deportation and simplifying the [asylum] dispute process.” French President Emmanuel Macron passed the current immigration bill in 2018. During his re-election campaign, Macron promised to enforce laws
“major debate” on the matter would take place in Parliament. On September 16, Macron confirmed that a new bill on asylum and immigration would be proposed in early 2023. With regard to this bill, Macron called for asylum seekers to be distributed around the country, as opposed to be-
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“He also promised to improve the effectiveness of deportation policies.” ing concentrated in urban zones. He also promised to improve the effectiveness of deportation policies. Though Estrosi agrees that a new bill ought to be passed, he is pushing for a tougher bill than the one announced by Darmanin or described by Macron. Further, the proposal made by Estrosi in July places significant emphasis on strengthening municipal powers. Going Forward While the continual effort to tighten French immigration law proceeds at both a local and national level, the flow of people hoping to cross into France shows no signs of slowing. The migrant organization “Caritas,” based along the Franco-Italian border, reported greater numbers of
migrants passing through Ventimiglia this August. Confronted by the apparent inefficacy of increased deportations and controls to quell the flow of migrants, the question becomes: what purpose will a tougher immigration bill serve? If municipal authorities are awarded the ability to confiscate the possessions of migrants and directly order evictions without appealing to the courts, it seems likely to worsen an already serious humanitarian situation at the Italian border, in Calais and across France.
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OCTOBER 2022
102 Students Elect 2022-2023 Deaths Representative and 40 Missing Article by Colette Holcomb, English Section Editor After a week of intense campaigning — primarily on social media — students were able to make their voices heard by electing their student representatives for their year group. These represent-
highest number of candidates — four competed for the representative spot. In both the English track and exchange student elections, candidates ran unopposed. In both the first and second years, few students attended the candidate’s speeches.
“The administration reminded students that the election should not be a popularity vote, emphasizing the importance of the role in campus communication”
atives will have seats on the Campus Life Council, which will meet regularly throughout the year with an administrative team composed of the campus director, the pedagogical managers, the student life advisor, and the presidents of the permanent associations. At the start of the semester, the administration reminded students that the election should not be a popularity vote, emphasizing the importance of the role in campus communication. In accordance with campus tradition, the first-year tracks have one representative each, while second-years share two representatives (typically one female and one male). Exchange students also elect a representative. This year, the first-year French track displayed the highest voter turnout, with 87% of the students voting. French track also had the
For the first years, William Chan was elected to represent the English track and Pablo Civera to the French track. Ishan Naithani and Valentine Menegazzo will represent the second-year students, and Bianca Van Tonder will represent the exchange students. To see a full-length profile of the candidates, check out this post on the Menton Times Instagram. The representatives play a vital role in student life. The elected students will meet monthly with the administrative team throughout the year to discuss all student issues and concerns — from campus life to student projects. “Your cohort representative will have the delicate and crucial task of transmitting information between the administration and the student community from the bottom up and down,” stated Solène Hoy, the student life advisor, in an email to the first-year students.
As student representatives serve primarily as liaisons between the student body and the administration, candidates emphasized their communication skills and experience throughout their campaigns. Additionally, they promised to advocate for solutions to various student issues on campus, like the lack of a campus cafeteria and adequate English language outreach. Beyond prioritizing general student well-being and mental health, other key topics included improving networking resources for students — particularly regarding the third year abroad — and helping forge connections among exchange students across the different years and tracks. Many representatives also stressed making the communication between students and administration and subsequent problem-solving more efficient.
“The representatives play a vital role in student life” As representative meetings commence, the student body eagerly anticipates what changes the new representatives will bring to our campus.
Article by Ghazal Khalife, Staff Writer Bodies drifting ashore, sirens blaring, and families frantically searching for survivors: this was the scene when a boat carrying 150 people capsized close to the Syrian shore. On Sept. 22, 2022, a boat carrying 150 emigrants — most of whom were Lebanese citizens, but also Palestinian and Syrian refugees — capsized near the coast of Tartous, Syria. More than one hundred bodies have been found, while 40 other victims are still lost. Syrian and Lebanese authorities have cooperated to locate these missing persons and inform their families of their fates. Lebanese officials, meanwhile, succeeded in capturing the smuggler and accomplices involved in the scheme. The scene is nothing short of a tragedy. Testimonies from the few individuals who survived and from victims’ relatives show just how calamitous the incident was. What pushed these people to embark on a journey where the death toll exceeds the survival rate? Mostafa Mesto, one of the fatalities, reportedly sold all his belongings to collect the 12 thousand dollars that the smuggler demanded. It was Mesto’s last chance to escape Lebanon with his family after his four failed attempts at legal immigration. Desperation is the common motive for victims of the illegal immigration industry and they are often inspired by success stories of families
News
OCTOBER 2022
who reached Europe. A Palestinian survivor, Jihad Michlawi, explains how friends that migrated to Europe by sea promised that conditions in European migrant camps were more dignified than living in Lebanon, alleging that “even the food is way better.” This highlights the despair that the Lebanese popula-
tion is feeling, faced with an ever-deteriorating economic crisis and a shamelessly negligent political class. It appears that this disaster will be repeated as more Lebanese citizens struggle to make ends meet and lose faith in a promising future. A Dire Economic crisis with no Glimmer of Hope
Lebanon’s economic crisis is pushing people towards absolute desperation anon-Cyprus illegal immigration industry is increasing. In one year, Lebanon’s migration rate increased by 426%; many are comparing the current immigration wave to that of the 1880s.
The financial crisis blew up in 2019 after successive governments borrowed money with few restraints. Prior to this depression, the balance of payments deficit was usually remedied by foreign aid and remittances from the Lebanese diaspora. However, as the budget deficit sky-
“What pushed these people to embark on Most of the people on the a journey where the boat came from Lebanon’s death toll exceeds the Northern region, Akkar and survival rate?” Tripoli, one persistently neglected by the government even before the financial crisis that plagued the country in 2019. According to a report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 2022, 708,000 out of the 1.1 million residing in Lebanon live under the poverty line, among them 266,000 Syrian refugees and 88,000 Palestinians. As a result, it comes as no surprise that the demand for the Leb-
rocketed and the government implemented few reforms, foreign donors refrained from handing out billions of dollars worth of pledged aid. The symptoms of a plummeting economy began to emerge in 2016, but the impending market slump was hastened by the 2019 protests. In short, a combination of poor financial planning, a turbulent political climate, and foreign investors’ loss of faith, further
worsened by the pandemic and the Beirut explosion, paralyzed the Lebanese economy. As an import-dependent country, Lebanon’s sharp currency depreciation caused prices to increase drastically
almost overnight. The price of bread rose 900%, and unsurprisingly wages could not keep up. In Tripoli’s densely populated Tabbene neighborhood, where most victims originated, the economic situation hit families hard — with disproportionately higher unemployment rates and close to no government intervention compared to the rest of the country. Furthermore, the consequences of the financial crisis have manifested themselves in greater emigration and crime rates. One of the more recent developments has been attacks on banks. Within a few months, there were two cases of desperate depositors attempting to access their money by holding bank employees hostage. The general public even sympathized with these depositors, hailing them as heroes who were “claiming their own rights.” Sally Hafiz, a woman
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who raided a bank demanding 13,000 dollars from her account to fund her sister’s cancer treatment, said in an interview, “I had begged the branch manager before for my money, and I told him my sister was dying, didn’t have much time left… time was running out and I had nothing to lose.” Hafiz’s case exemplifies the desperation uniting much of the Lebanese public.Fears of an even more dire future have inhibited popular protests. Lebanon is experiencing a vicious cycle of an increasingly dysfunctional political class and an apathetic population looking for ways to escape or reach short term solutions rather than demanding fundamental reforms. This reaction is shared by the masses — many are too occupied with securing their day to day needs rather than engaging in political activism which already proved ineffective in changing the existing political regime. As the perilous political and economic climate persists, Lebanese residents continue risking their lives in search of dignity and fundamental rights. They are looking for a solid government plan to resuscitate the dying economy and collapsing country. As long as no evidence of realistic, firmly implemented economic and political reforms appear on the horizon. Lebanese residents will continue embarking on suicide missions to seek out a stable livelihood. In an interview following the migrant boat’s capsize, 16-year-old Rawane El Maneh, a relative of one of the victims, said, “they went looking for a new life, and there they are in a new life, hopefully, one better than this one.”
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OCTOBER 2022
Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Exposes the Duality of European Hospitality
Over 7 million people have fled Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression. The unity and warmth with which Europe has responded to the exodus of Ukrainian refugees is commendable. Yet it has highlighted the prejudice and bigotry that has plagued Europe’s willingness to welcome refugees from other parts of the world. Article by Hugo Lagergren, Staff Writer Over the summer, I had the privilege of spending one month working with an NGO called Quick Response Team (QRT). I witnessed firsthand the brilliant work they do in supporting refugees in and around Thessaloniki, both psychologically and physically, both of which are part of their self-proclaimed mission. Naturally, I was nervous before arriving as I had never done something like this before. However, I realize now that there was no need for such feelings. The warmth and kindness that I was met with upon my arrival, not only from the QRT team, but also from the refugees, surprised me. Many of the people who manage to complete the treacherous journey to Greece from
a prison, while I have gone back to my dayto-day life as a student, saddens me deeply. And knowing that the conditions in which they are living are worsening because of the war in Ukraine makes me very angry. It is for these reasons that I felt compelled to write about the desperate situation that many refugees find themselves in and to relay Syria, Iran or Afghanistan Even now, three months the message, that it is time have suffered innumera- after, I still struggle to to change how Europeble hardships just to get to find the words to describe ans view refugees arriving Europe. Despite this, from the Middle they always, without East and North Affail, took the time “There is no doubt that the im- rica, as the crisis is to find out how we, pressive speed and efficacy with anything but over. the volunteers, were which Europe has acted with redoing. They asked gard to the Ukraine crisis is to Since the beginus about our home be applauded” ning of the war in countries, how we Ukraine, Europe liked Greece and has shown its solconstantly thanked us for the impact this summer idarity with the people of anything and everything. had on me. Knowing that Ukraine through the swiftthese people, who I devel- ness of its response to the To say it was moving would oped such a strong con- crisis, through direct aid be an understatement. nection with, are stuck in to Ukrainian forces in the
Opinion
OCTOBER 2022
fight against Russia, as well as welcoming the seven and a half million refugees that have been forced to flee their country due
from the MENA region since then. Notwithstanding, it is important to mention that I am in no way trying to belittle the plight
“It highlights a clear divide on a humanitarian level in the treatment of refugees based on culture, religion and skin color” to the war, a number that continues to grow as the war drags on. There is no doubt that the impressive speed and efficacy with which Europe has acted with regard to the Ukraine crisis is to be applauded. However, before attitudes become overly self-congratulatory, it is important to think back to Europe’s response to the 2015 refugee crisis and to observe how it continues to respond to the steady influx of refugees
of the Ukrainian people. What they are undergoing, both as individuals and as a nation, through Putin’s aggression is utterly tragic. Yet, the stark contrast in treatment remains relevant, not only because it highlights a clear divide on a humanitarian level in the treatment of refugees based on culture, religion and skin color, but also because it reveals lurking sentiments within Europe that have contributed to the rise of far-right politics.
Within weeks of the war’s commencement, the European Union fast-tracked the repurposing of funds originally intended as a COVID relief package, a decision which would usually take many months of debating. The money was redirected to Ukraine’s neighboring countries, including Moldova, which is currently not a member of the union, to support the mass reception of Ukrainian refugees.
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grate these refugees into their society. In Poland, refugees were met with banners that read “you are safe here” in Ukrainian. People rushed to carry their luggage and make sure that they found their way. Local governments on the Polish-Ukrainian border have spent millions of Euros providing refugees with food, water and prepaid phones among other things.
Even on a macro level, “Immigration policy has beEU citizens come a major point of controhave been versy in the last few years” filled with humanity and compassion, with A survey conducted at the many people offering up start of the war revealed their houses to refugees. that 64% of Polish people The scenes of kindness were willing to personaland generosity visible in ly assist Ukrainian refutrain stations across the gees, with 90% supporting continent illustrated Eu- their acceptance into the rope’s willingness to inte- country. Poland has now
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accepted over 1.4 million Ukrainian refugees. Germany has followed suit by accepting one million refugees, with Italy and Spain having accepted 170,000 and 145,000, respectively. In the United Kingdom, where immigration policy has become a major point of controversy in the last few years, the government has facilitated the acceptance of Ukrainian refugees through the creation of various sponsorship schemes. N e a r ly 100,000 Ukrainians have taken advantage of this. A n o t h er country whose political discourse has revolved around immigration in recent years is France, yet it has managed to take in over 100,000 Ukrainians with little controversy. Of the seven and half million refugees that have been forced to flee Ukraine in the last seven months, already over 50% have been registered as having “Temporary Protection”
OCTOBER 2022
under the Temporary Protection Directive of the EU or similar national protection schemes (The Temporary Protection Directive has never been activated previously since its conception in 2001.). This grants them the same rights as EU citizens or residency permit-holders
Many have jumped at the opportunity to praise the warm reception provided to Ukrainians by the European community. Rightly so. When hearing praise for the swift and effective efforts to aid Ukraine I can’t help but to think back to the conditions experienced by refugees in Dia-
for an initial period of one year, thus opening the possibility of housing, work and access to social welfare and medical assistance.
vata camp in Thessaloniki. I remind myself that such hospitality was not often shown when Middle Eastern and North African refugees arrived on the shores of Europe in 2015.
“Since 2014, two and a half million S i n c e refugees have arrived in Europe 2014, two from the MENA region.” and a half
million
refugees have arrived in Europe from the MENA region. Civil war and political persecution are some of the reasons that they have been forced to flee their homes. There was no rush to alleviate the suffering of these people. Instead, the response has been marred by discord, lethargy and a lack of willingness to aid those seeking safety and opportunity. Many countries tightened their borders, implemented harsher immigration regulations, and suspended the Schengen Accords, which allows for the free movement of people inside of the EU. Notably along the Serbia-Hungary border, where the Hungarian government infamously built a large barbed-wire fence along the entirety of the border, thus blocking a frequently used route by refugees coming from Turkey seeking passage to Germany. Police were also given the right to detain any who try and force their way through.
Opinion
OCTOBER 2022
“This apparent reluctance to welcome non-white refugees has resulted in many displaced individuals being stuck in the countries that they initially arrive in, notably Greece and Italy” As of today, Hungary has taken in 30,000 Ukrainian refugees.
the face of larger humanitarian emergencies wherein donors often opt to fund more urgent causes, like that of Ukraine.
for upwards of five years as they wait for approval to continue their journey, often towards Germany, a popular destination for refugees due to their better record in the 2015 crisis compared to other European countries.
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across the border, specifically, a pathway along the Alpes-Maritimes which has now been dubbed the “Pass of Death” due to the dangers presented by the terrain.
A couple of weeks ago, I found myself debating with On the Franco-Italian a friend whether racial tenborder between Menton sions were more prominent This apparent reluctance and Ventimiglia, where I in the US or in Europe. I to welcome non-white ref- Upon arrival in receiving am currently a student, was adamant that the two ugees has resulted in many countries, Middle Eastern the gendarmerie routine- weren’t comparable, both displaced individuals be- and North African refugees ly searches trains coming in terms of its scope and its ing stuck in the countries are not met with signs of from Italy, removing and radicalism. that they initially arrive in, greeting and acts of civilian detaining anyone they notably Greece and Italy. kindness, but are instead deem to be illegal, often as Now, I’m not so sure. AfThe resultant burden on confronted by armed po- a result of racial profiling. ter researching this article, these countries has been lice, who then round them France has in fact suspend- I realize that Europe has crushing, as they have up into designated camps ed the Schengen Accords simply been successful in largely been forced to deal which have been built for for the first time since pushing the issue to the with the repercussions of one purpose: to contain 2015 to control the influx periphery of the continent, this crisis on their own. and remove the refugees of illegal immigration from thus removing the issue Italy – a from day-to-day life in its In Italy, this has move which society. contributed to the “NGOs working in Greece are now be- the bishop emergence of the ing forced to rely more heavily on pri- of Ventimi- For you, Zahra, Mina, Dofar-right, with the vate humanitarian donors” glia said will nia, Kowsar, Zohre, Iram, election of a coalihave “very Gowsar, I hope it changes tion led by Georgia n e g a t i v e and Europe becomes the Meloni. Greece has also from the general popula- consequences” by stoking place you dreamed of. begun to crack-down on tion. The camps, which racial tensions. immigration. Recent re- have been built out of tall ports suggest that Greek concrete blocks with some This decision also causes authorities are attempt- having barbed wire along refugees to risk their lives, ing to block an additional the top, can often be found as they are pushed to take 40,000 refugees from en- in rural or industrial areas, more dangerous paths tering the country. Moreo- isolated from central and ver, new cumbersome reg- suburban parts of cities. ulations concerning NGOs “France has in and journalists have also The managers of these fact suspended the been put in place which camps can also be author- Schengen Accords may hinder their presence itarian in the way they for the first time in the country. govern the camps. For in- since 2015 to control stance, traditional cele- the influx of illegal NGOs working in Greece brations are blocked from immigration from are now being forced to taking place and person- Italy” rely more heavily on pri- al gardening projects are vate humanitarian donors. forcefully prohibited. As of This can prevent local today, some of the refugees NGOs from effectively in have been living in camps
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OCTOBER 2022
l’État Espagnol: Une Mémoire Sélective Article by Amalia Heide, Staff Writer En Amérique latine, l’héritage de l’Espagne «a été d’apporter l’espagnol et, à travers les missions, le catholicisme et, par conséquent, la civilisation et la liberté au continent américain»... il faut avoir des nerfs pour défendre une position aussi absurde. Je propose de reformuler cette phrase de Isabel Díaz Ayuso,
“... il faut avoir des nerfs pour défendre une position aussi absurde” présidente de la Communauté de Madrid, pour se débarrasser des euphémismes inutiles : «En Amérique latine, l’Espagne, malade de son arrogance / eurocentrisme, a IMPOSÉ sa langue, sa religion ainsi qu’une vision du monde où les populations non-européennes avaient un rôle forcé d’assujettissement, de soumission et d’esclavage». Que quiconque m’explique comment l’Église catholique de l’Inquisition a favorisé le développement de la «civilisation» en Amérique latine colonisée (civilisation que nous associons au XXIe siècle au monde de la science, de la raison, du respect de la diversité, du droit, de la liberté et de l’égalité). Lue hors contexte, j’aurais
logiquement pensé que cette phrase très démodée, chargée d’eurocentrisme à l’extrême, datait d’au moins un demi-siècle. À ma grande déception, elle a été exprimée avec un dépit irritant par Isabel Díaz Ayuso, membre du Parti populaire, le 29 septembre 2021 à Washington. Voulant croire que seul ce spectre politique, de plus en plus qualifié de «conservateur», défendait cette position, j’ai été à nouveau déçue de lire un article dans la colonne d’opinion d’El País, journal prétendument progressiste, où Jaime de las Heras Gordon déclarait : «La plupart des Latinos avancent l’argument typique selon lequel “les Espagnols ont volé
notre or”, et ils ont raison, mais allons-nous nous le jeter à la figure 500 ans plus tard ?» Il faut saluer la légère, mais significative, amélioration des barbaries exprimées par notre chère Isabel : Jaime de las Heras Gordon ne nie pas que certains crimes ont été commis contre les peuples d’Amérique latine. De toute manière, ses tentatives de réinterprétation historique s’arrêtent là. Malheureuse-
On sent une volonté semblable à celle de Pilate de se laver les mains de ce qui s’est passé « il y a 500 ans ». Je suis mauvaise en mathématiques, mais même en utilisant une calculatrice, je n’arrive pas à obtenir les bons chiffres : les indépendances atlantiques datent du XIXe siècle, c’està-dire de moins de deux siècles pour de nombreux pays d’Amérique latine. Il semble également que l’État espagnol ait une mémoire sélective. En ce qui concerne Gibraltar, cédé à l’Angleterre par le traité d’Utrecht en 1704, l’État espagnol se prétend victime de l’impérialisme ou de colonialisme britannique, ou du moins l’était-il jusqu’à très récemment. Ce qu’il faut retenir ici, c’est que pour l’État, il s’agit d’une question d’actualité et qui le concerne. Cependant, lorsqu’il s’agit de parler
“Malheureusement, il commet la faute de minimiser à la fois les crimes commis et la part de responsabilité actuelle de l’État espagnol” ment, il commet la faute de minimiser à la fois les crimes commis (il faut rappeler que l’activité espagnole ne se limitait pas au vol d’or) et la part de responsabilité actuelle de l’État espagnol.
des actions de l’Espagne en Amérique latine au XVIIIe siècle, « l’État espagnol moderne n’existait pas encore », « ce sont les élites qui ont décidé, le peuple n’avait rien
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à voir avec cela », « aucun ci- volé, humilié et tué les con- sur notre pluralité culturelle toyen de cette époque n’est vi- quis. Les Aztèques n’ont-ils et politique, et l’intégration vant pour être jugé ». Si l’État pas décimé la population des royaumes d’Espagne dans espagnol peut se retourn- maya, ou les Incas les Mapu- une monarchie unique, ener contre tame une période de projecd’autres “...la cerise sur le gâteau, c’est tion linguistique et culturelle États pour que l’Espagne, en tant qu’État, au-delà des frontières eudes événe- montre des signes clairs de firopéennes”. Cette projection ments sur- erté à l’égard de son ancien rôle (retour aux euphémismes) venus au de colonisateur” est-elle une source de fierté ? début du Il semble que Isabel Diaz AyXVIIe sièuso se soit inspirée de cette cle, il doit également assumer ches ?” C’est pitoyable comme loi pour entretenir ses conla responsabilité de sa propre défense. Supposons que je victions. Pour être fier, l’État politique étrangère à cette tue une personne demain et est présent, pour s’excuser, il époque. Il est très facile de que, devant le tribunal, ma disparaît. pointer du doigt sans faire de défense pour échapper à la mea culpa. condamnation consiste à ac- Ce que l’on réclame aujocuser mon voisin d’avoir tué urd’hui, c’est avant tout une Ainsi, certaines institutions deux personnes : cela me justice symbolique. J’admets témoignent d’une volonté de rend-il moins responsable de qu’il n’y a pas de vérité abréconciliation historique avec mes actes, moins coupable solue, qu’il y a des nuances l’Amérique latine et ont la dé- devant le juge ? C’est totale- et des circonstances atténucence de faire leur mea culpa. ment incongru. antes. Mais les faits restent Le pape François, par exemles faits. L’Espagne a commis ple, a récemment présenté Néanmoins, la cerise sur le des crimes imprescriptibles. des excuses au nom de l’Église gâteau, c’est que l’Espagne, en Pour qu’il y ait une véritable catholique romaine pour tant qu’État, des « erreurs » com- montre des “La douleur d’une injusticce se mises il y a plusieurs siècles. signes clairs transmet donc de génération en Les fonctionnaires du Vati- de fierté à génération” can d’aujourd’hui n’étaient l’égard de son pas en vie à l’époque de la ancien rôle de colonie, et ils ne sont donc colonisateur. Sur quoi puis-je réconciliation, l’État espagnol pas responsables des déci- me baser pour affirmer cela doit faire preuve d’un minsions prises par les autorités ? Je vous propose l’exemple imum de repentance. Faire il y a des centaines d’années. suivant : la fête nationale es- de la “découverte des AmériCependant, l’Institution qu’ils pagnole. Quelle est la date ? ques” un jour férié pour représentent l’est. Suivant la Le 12 octobre. Quand Chris- célébrer l’époque de la colonimême logique, personne ne tophe Colomb est-il arrivé sation espagnole ou permetblâme les citoyens espagnols en Amérique ? Le 12 octobre. tre aux politiciens de diffuser pour ce qui s’est passé il y a Coïncidence ? Bien sûr que les avantages de la colonisades siècles. La responsabilité non. La loi 18/1987 stipule : tion n’est pas la meilleure apn’incombe pas à la population proche. espagnole mais à l’État es“...bien que beaucoup de temps pagnol, qui a le devoir moral se soit “écoule, la blessure est Peu importe le d’assumer la responsabilité encore ouverte et l’amertume temps écoulé. de ce qui s’est passé. n’est pas éteinte” Les ancêtres occupent une Mais le grandiose Ponce Piplace culturelle late espagnol, incarné dans “La date choisie, le 12 octo- centrale en Amérique latine ce cas par notre pauvre ami bre, symbolise l’événement : les générations vivantes Jaime de las Heras Gordon, historique au cours duquel cherchent à honorer, à se ne s’arrête pas là. Ce dernier l’Espagne, sur le point de souvenir et à maintenir le lien affirme également que “toutes conclure un processus de avec les générations passées. les nations colonisatrices ont construction de l’État fondé La nuit des morts au Mex-
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ique en est un bon exemple. C’est peut-être la raison pour laquelle, bien que “beaucoup de temps” se soit écoulé, la blessure est encore ouverte et l’amertume n’est pas éteinte. La douleur d’une injustice se transmet donc de génération en génération, et il arrive qu’elle soit si profonde qu’elle embrasse même l’identité entière d’une communauté. L’identité latino-américaine est marquée au fer rouge par cette douleur. Je ne défends pas pour autant l’attitude violente et populiste de certains politiciens latino-américains de gauche, comme Manuel Lopez Obrador, par exemple, qui ont la fâcheuse tendance à utiliser ce trait identitaire pour expliquer tous les maux qui accablent le continent. Il est inadmissible d’utiliser l’Espagne, et le colonialisme/ néo-colonialisme en général, comme bouc émissaire pour justifier les crises économiques, l’autoritarisme et la corruption qui ne cessent de secouer l’Amérique latine. En revanche, il me semble légitime qu’aujourd’hui, les communautés latino-américaines ressentent le poids de cette douleur et cherchent à trouver un minimum de respect et de considération de la part de l’État espagnol et de ses représentants.
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OCTOBER 2022
United States Midterms 2022: Races to Watch By Peyton Dashiell, Staff Writer On November 8, 2022, over 100 million Americans will head to the polls to vote for congressional, gubernatorial, state, and local candidates in what could be one of the most consequential elections in recent history. Democrats hold a delicate congressional majority — 48 Senate seats are occupied by Democrats, with Independents Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Angus King (I-Maine) typically voting with Democrats and Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tiebreaker in contentious party line votes. The House of Representatives has a slightly larger majority with 221 Democrats and 209 Republicans, but it could still be easily upset as every seat faces re-election.
Voters have a wide range of issues to consider as they fill out their ballots. Republicans may see a boost in the polls as the Biden administration deals with economic troubles — the annual inflation rate hit a 40-year high of 9.1 percent in June, and corresponding interest rate hikes will soon make it more expensive for Americans to purchase homes and take out loans. However, the aggressive social agenda of the Republican party could push centrist and moderate Republican voters to the left or third-party candidates. In June, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ruling that abortion is not a constitutionally protected right and sparking a frenzy of abortion bans and restrictions in conservative states. In Texas and West Virginia, recent “trigger
laws” have rendered abortion completely illegal — exceptions for rape, incest, and medical emergencies are only accepted in West Virginia and only until the eighth week of pregnancy. Additionally, immigration issues have risen to prominence in national dialogue — the governors of Texas and Arizona have sent large groups of migrants by bus to New York, Washington, D.C., and Martha’s Vineyard despite limited resources for migrant intake. As election day approaches, here are some races that could spark partisan turmoil, recalibrate foreign policy relationships or lead to a generational shift in Congress.
Congress
FL-10 In Florida’s 10th congressional district, covering most of the Orlando met-
ropolitan area, Maxwell Frost gained the Democratic primary nomination in early August. Frost, a 25-year-old progressive activist and former national director of March for Our Lives, will become the first Gen Z member of Congress if he wins the general election. FL-10 is a heavily Democratic district, with 203,000 registered Democrats and 100,000 registered Republicans, and Frost can expect a victory over opponent Calvin Wimbush barring an unprecedented upset. Frost garnered national attention this summer for confronting Florida governor Ron DeSantis with an emotional plea on gun violence during a DeSantis event in Orlando. Frost’s ambitious policy platform includes support for the Green
Opinion
OCTOBER 2022
New Deal, a single-payer healthcaresystem, extensive gun control, decriminalized drug use, and a “future without prison.” Orlando. MI-11 In August, Representative Haley Stevens narrowly defeated incumbent Representative Andy Levin in a controversial primary that could impact the relationship between the United States and Israel. Representative Stevens received over $4 million in campaign funding from the United Democracy Project, a super political action committee run by the political action wing of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Despite Levin identifying a “lifelong Zionist,” former AIPAC president David Victor labeled him as “arguably the most corrosive member of Congress to the US-Israel relationship” due to Levin’s past legislative efforts regarding Israel. In 2021, Levin introduced the “Two-State Solution Act,” which outlined concrete steps the US should take in pursuit of a two-state solution, including recognizing the West Bank and Gaza as occupied territories and ensuring that US defense funding to Israel is not used to establish settlements in the West Bank. While foreign policy is not at the center of Stevens’ platform, her support for the US-Israel relationship will likely be less conditional than Levin’s. NM-2 In New Mexico’s 2nd district, incumbent Representative Yvette Herrell faces Democrat Gabe Vasquez in
a race that could redefine energy policy in the United States’ largest oilfield, the Permian Basin. Since taking office in 2020, Herrell has been a staunch supporter of the fossil fuel industry and voted to restrict government regulation of fossil fuel extraction. Additionally, she has overseen New Mexico’s “Safer and Stronger” public relations campaign, which reminds the public that $700 million in funding for the state’s public school sys-
“Frost’s ambitious policy platform includes support for the Green New Deal, a single-payer healthcare system,extensive gun control, decriminalized drug use, and a “future without prison.” tem comes from the oil and gas industry — around 20 percent of total education spending. On the other hand, Vasquez supports a “pragmatic” approach to the fossil fuel industry, balancing government regulation and alternative clean energy sources to mitigate adverse environmental impacts. The Permian Basin produces five million barrels of oil per day, around half of the total US supply, and has deep underground reserves that remain undeveloped. FL Senate Three weeks before the election, incumbent Senator Marco Rubio leads Democrat Val Demings by just two points. Demings, former Orlando police
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“This race will signify the Democratic party’s potential in Florida — are these expensive campaigns still worth the fight, or should they dedicate their attention to other states and districts?” chief and Congresswoman in Florida’s 10th district, has consistently out-fundraised Rubio, more than doubling his donations in the second quarter of 2022. While in the House of Representatives, Demings helped manage Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, served on the Judiciary and Homeland Security committees, and recently passed the VICTIM Act — a bipartisan bill to increase local police force funding to solve homicides and gun crime. Florida, often referred to as a swing state, has seen an increase in conservative voters over the past few years. Donald Trump won the state during his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, and endorsed governor Ron DeSantis during his 2018 gubernatorial campaign. Additionally, both Florida senators are Republicans. This race will signify the Democratic party’s potential in Florida. Are these expensive campaigns still worth the fight, or should they dedicate their attention to othestates and districts?
Gubernatorial
Texas In Texas, the largest Republican-led state in the country, incumbent governor Greg Abbott will face off against Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke in the general election. Due
to his 2018 attempt to unseat Senator Ted Cruz and his short-lived 2020 presidential campaign, O’Rourke is a familiar name to many voters on the national stage. But despite this national notoriety, Abbott currently leads by seven points, with 31 percent of likely voters naming immigration as their top voting priority. Potential deciding issues in Texas include Greg Abbott’s restrictive stance on abortion, immigration policies, and infrastructure developments — a 2021 winter storm in Texas forced a large portion of the state to live without power, running water, or heat for a week, killing an estimated 246 people. Texas is the only state with an independent power grid, and O’Rourke heavily criticized the Electric Reliability Council of Texas for corruption and lack of oversight — he has called for Texas to connect to the national power grid to prevent future tragedies. Kansas In Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly is up for reelection against Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt in a close race with one key issue missing: abortion. Kansas is a pro-choice state — in July, Kansas residents overwhelmingly voted against the “Value Them Both” amendment, which would have removed the state constitution’s enshrined right to abortion. However, the state voted for Donald
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Trump in 2020, and Kelly is the only Democratic governor of a Trump-voting state to run for reelection this year. Kelly has avoided almost all mention of abortion in her campaign, focusing on education and economic issues. Sources close to Kelly have said this is an intentional decision to retain her moderate, bipartisan public image in a purple state. She currently polls only two points ahead of Schmidt — will her avoidance of the abortion controversy lead her to victory in November?
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1.75 percent and use the additional money to support zero-emission vehicle initiatives and wildfire suppression, allowing California to increase
equal rights regardless of sex. Effectively, this would end distinctions between men and women in matters of divorce, unemployment,
49 percent throughout his presidency. Midterms tend to experience vastly lower voter turnout than general elections, with 113 million Americans voting in 2018
firefighter staffing by as wildfires grow more intense every year. However, Governor Gavin Newsom has gone against his party to oppose the measure — although he supports a full state transition to electric vehicles by 2035, he has called the bill a “trojan horse” at the hands of rideshare giant Lyft. Te State of California ordered Lyft to transition entirely to electric vehicles by 2030, and Newsom says this bill is an effort to make taxpayers fund these newcars.
property, and more. The ERA was passed by Congress in 1972 and required 38 state legislatures to ratify the amendment by 1979 to be adopted. Only 35 states ratified the amendment by the deadline, but Virginia, Illinois, and Nevada symbolically approved it in the 2010s as the pro-ERA movement began to regain traction.
compared to 157 million in 2022. Most of this gap comes from young voters and Democrats. Young, progressive voters must learn that midterms are crucial and the ambitious policy proposals of their presidential picks cannot be accomplished without the legislative work of Congress. American Sciences Pistes, apply for your absentee ballot online before the election.
Ballot Measures
Colorado - Initiative 58 In Colorado, the Natural Medicine Health Act would allow citizens 21 or older to use psychedelic mushrooms privately or in regulated “health centers” with trained facilitators. Proponents of the initiative argue that psilocybin offers healing potential to those suffering from mental health issues — Colorado has been ranked as the worst state for adult mental health, and numerous studies show benefits from psilocybin for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. However, some critics, including the founder of the Denver-based Society for Psychedelic Outreach Reform and Education, argue that the initiative’s “healing center” framework is purely a way for large corporations to take control of the psilocybin market and put profits over health. California - Proposition 30 This proposition would increase the income tax by
Nevada -Equal Rights Amendment In Nevada, voters will have the option to amend Nevada’s constitution to adopt a modified version of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which guarantees
Takeaways
Although the next presidential election will not occur until 2024, the midterms will serve as a telling referendum on the presidency of Joe Biden after a tumultuous two years in office. His approval rate reached a yearly high of 46 percent this month — his predecessor Donald Trump ranged from 34 to
Opinion
OCTOBER 2022
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The Far Right Tests Europe’s Tolerance By Colin Lim, Staff Writer
least strategically adopting some of their stances. Emmanuel Macron, as the head of his self-created centrist Renaissance party, has adopted stricter stances on border control, migration and secularism, all in an attempt to lure would-be Reconquest or National Rally voters and avert a complete usurpation of power.
It is a sequence of events Europe has seen before. A firebrand, — either of humble, apolitical origins or from a generations-long political dynasty to uphold — rallies their formerly left-voting, working-class base who feel alienated by the establishment. On a continent that aspires to be — and is widely lauded for being — tolerant and open to the rest of the world, the far right has attained an incongruously high standing in recent years. In addition to the more established Fidesz Party in Hungary, the UK Independence Party, and the Law and Justice Party in Poland, the recent electoral success of the Sweden Democrats and Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy have added momentum to the populist machine. Fueled by the increased flow of refugees and migrants from the Middle East and North Africa region and the broader Global South since 2015, such political actors have relied heavily on the othering of those whom they perceive as dangerous to and incompatible with European society. The European Union is also presented as a faceless, bureaucratic and undemocratic institution whose sole goal is to over-regulate citizens’
lives and to tear asunder their individual national identities. The omnipresent menace of the “globalists,” chief among them Hungarian-American philanthropist George Soros, is also a common feature in extremist rhetoric.
the party’s attempts to soften its positions to appease more moderate voters, its stances on the EU, the Russia-Ukraine war, reproductive rights and LGBTQ equality, among others, have alarmed people across Italy and the world.
“It feels like we are only going backwards” - Sara Kovacheva, 2A Many of these parties have roots in neo-fascism or neo-Nazism, which remain persistent political entities despite their often highly public rebranding efforts. For instance, the recently elected Brothers of Italy, headed by Giorgia Meloni, has often been described as neo-fascist, and despite
The line between ostensibly moderate right-wing parties and more extreme ones has been severely blurred. As radical parties occupy a non-negligible number of seats in legislatures, it becomes increasingly difficult for center-right parties to govern without cooperating with extremists, or at
Bulgarian second year, Sara Kovacheva asserts that the renewal of her country’s right-wing in October 2022 parliamentary elections makes her “terrified” that the political right has gained too much power in recent years. “I really wouldn’t want to live in a far-right Europe,” she passionately declared. The recent trends across Europe make it “feel like we are only going backwards,” she continues. The vision of a united Europe is threatened by the rise of the right, but it is not a uniquely European phenomenon. The factors behind this emboldened far-right ideology — migration, Euroscepticism, wars in Europe’s neighborhood — are uniquely European, but the rightward and nativist shift is a global phenomenon that will hopefully be resolved before extremism has a chance to cement itself in the mainstream.
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OCTOBER 2022
Are Problems With Female Leadership Unique to Britain’s Left? Article by Leo Gerza, Staff Writer Ensuing the crowning of Liz Truss as victor of the summer palaver that was the contentious Conservative Party leadership election, many in Britain and abroad had the opportu-
focusing her attention on the apparent failures of the Labour opposition in not being able to elect a leader that “is not male or from north London.” Setting aside the observation that
political party which generally claims to stand for progressive ideals. The fact is that all three of Britain’s female prime ministers have been leaders of the Conservative Party. On the
great reverence, especially Margaret Thatcher, who has become idolized by the Thatcherites, swooning over the glory days of the “Iron Lady.” How is it that the party of
nity last month to watch the new PM jousting in her first Prime Ministers Questions. Amidst a tirade of questions expressing concerns around inflation, the economy, rising energy costs and recession, Liz Truss chose to distract, by
statements such as these are symptomatic of the conservative cabinet’s disease, preventing its elected members from answering the questions posed to our government, Liz Truss’ comment does raise questions about equality in a
other hand, Labour has only ever had three female leaders during periods of opposition, all of which were in an “acting” capacity, thus temporary by design. Yet, the Conservative Party looks towards its elected female leaders with
progress lags behind the party of right-wing beliefs and politicians stolen from a museum display when it comes to electing? This phenomenon is difficult to dissect clearly but seems to be guided by deep rooted and outdated misogynistic political beliefs.
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The leading theory suggests that this is not solely a problem in the UK.
ers. They have always faced more vicious scrutiny, yet the outpour of criticism in
“This phenomenon is difficult to dissect clearly but seems to be guided by deep rooted and outdated misogynistic political beliefs” In fact, across the G7 countries, “widespread distrust in women at the top” has been a core barrier, according to the Reykjavik Index, which outlines that in almost all western countries, men are perceived as more capable leaders than women. What this suggests is that ultimately, in a democratic system which still suffers from institutional sexist ideas, men are more likely to be elected into positions of power because there is a greater belief in their competence to perform as a leader. I think Boris Johnson and Donald Trump make a good rebuttal without having to go further into the history books. The study also hints towards a rising tide of misogyny in recent years against female lead-
reaction to a video of the Finish Prime Minister partying, demonstrates that double standards remain a core-rotting pillar in politics.Increasingly concerning, is that the same Reykjavik Index, outlining the general bias towards men, also found that 18 to 34 year olds have a “less progressive attitude to gender and leadership.” Could this signal a warning that we may be diverging from decades of progress on gender equality? I would argue that attitudes perpetuated on social media sites, such as Tik Tok, are both a manifestation of this statistic and a source of its existence: hyper-macho content and misogynistic comedy combine to infect impressionable youth to
believe that men are the apex of society and that women are an evolutionary tool for man’s benefit. This is to say that these issues are not exclusive to the Labour party, they are global. In fact, Labour can claim to have had significant impacts on the fight for equality by introducing the Equal Pay Act of 1970 and the Equality Act 2010. Perhaps more significantly, Labour also introduced all-women shortlists to select half the candidates running in the 1997 UK general election. The affirmative action taken by Sir Tony Blair saw a record 101 female MP’s elected to the House of Commons. However, more needs to be done so that rather than mitigating ine-
“This is to say that these issues are not exclusive to the Labour Party, they are global. “
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quality our political parties can be actively promoting it. As for Liz Truss’ comments, perhaps she can be credited with raising important questions about equality in politics, but it should not distract from the dismal omnishambles her prime ministerial career has been so far.
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OCTOBER 2022
Mère Teresa du Maroc, Mère Courage, Aicha Ech Chenna l’Emblème du Féminisme au Maroc, Est Morte
Article by Layla Hammouda, Staff Writer Aujourd’hui maman est morte.
à son enfant alors qu’elle s’apprêtait à l’abandonner. L’assistante sociale lui de-
vent mère malgrè elles, étant notamment victimes de viol, l’avortement étant illégal au
Sauf qu’aujourd’hui nous sommes le 25 septembre 2022, et ce n’est pas la mère de Meursault* qui est morte, mais celle qui est surnommée la Mère Teresa du Maroc.
Pour son engagement infaillible et son combat honorable au service de cette noble cause, la Mère Teresa du Maroc fut decorée par le Roi Mohammed VI en 2000, puis recompensée par la Légion d’honneur française en 2013.
Aicha Ech Chenna, aussi appelée Mère Courage, est une emblème du féminisme au Maroc. Elle s’est malheureusement éteinte en ce 25 septembre, sans faillir à laisser à sa cause un héritage de progrès et d’avancées sans précédent. Aïcha a toujours eu un rapport très maternel à la cause de la femme. À ses 12 ans déjà, elle a pu entrevoir la primauté du combat feministe au Maroc à travers le courage de sa mère, qui l’a éloigné de son beau père voulant lui faire porter le voile et quitter l’école pour la couture. À 16 ans, à la suite de soucis familiaux, les rôles s’inversent et c’est à son tour de prendre en charge sa mère lorsqu’elle obtient son diplôme d’infirmière. À l’hôpital, une scène marquera Aïcha au fer rouge. Une scène provoquant le combat maternel de Aïcha, une scène qui sera la pièce angulaire de sa bataille. Une mère donnait le sein
ise de part leur situation. Aicha les aide même à formuler leur mal être, en publiant « À Hautes voix », un livre recueillant les témoignages de femmes de cette Association ainsi que ceux de leurs enfants, devenus grands.
manda de poser son empreinte sur l’acte d’abandon; ce que la mère fit en retirant à son nourrisson son sein d’un geste coléreux et brusque. Le bébé s’écria, le lait gicla sur son visage. Aicha Ech Chenna n’en dormit pas, encore moins lorsqu’elle découvre les endroits où logeaient ces enfants abandonnés, nés hors mariage, nés dans l’illégalité malgré eux. « Leurs cris résonnent encore dans ma tête. Depuis ce jour-là, je me suis jurée de faire quelque chose » avait-elle dit dans un entretien. S’est alors dessiné un combat à double front pour la Mere Courage: (i) d’un côté la cause des mères célibataires - sou-
Maroc-et (ii) de l’autre côté, la cause des enfants abandonnés- par ces mêmes mères
Malgré ces distinctions, Aicha Ech Chenna s’est vu rattrapée par les résistances des mentalités au changement, telle qu’ex-
“...aujourd’hui nous sommes le 25 septembre 2022, et ce n’est pas la mère de Meursault* qui est morte, mais celle qui est surnommée la Mère Teresa du Maroc.” contre leur grè. Elle commence alors par fonder l’Association Solidarité Féminine en 1985, où elle accueille des mères célibataires, leur offre des cours d’alphabétisation, les forme à divers métiers et les soutient psychologiquement. En d’autre termes, elle leur permet de mieux s’intégrer dans une société qui les marginal-
primées à travers la fatwa** émise contre elle suite à un passage sur la chaîne Al Jazeera où elle abordait des sujets jugés “tabous”, tels que l’inceste et les mères célibataires. Le combat de la Mère Courage est alors un combat où les espoirs furent souvent bridés, et où la persévérance fut cruciale pour voir le progrès es-
OCTOBER 2022 péré in fine se dessiner. Alors, quand le Roi Mohammed VI demande à ce que le Maroc autorise l’avortement dans les cas de viol, d’inceste, et de graves malformations du fœtus, Aicha est reconnaissante et repond « C’est une première étape! ». Aicha Ech Chenna a dédié sa
“Malheureusement nous vivons sur les acquis de nos grands-mères” vie à ce combat et telle sa mère lui a inculqué l’importance de cette bataille, Aicha, dans un élan maternel, a contribué à l’inculquer aux femmes marocaines et à leur donner les outils pour la perpétuer. Car si cette bataille est la bataille d’une vie, elle ne se gagne pas en l’espace d’une même vie. Donc lorsque j’entend Myriam Bessa, collaboratrice d’Aicha, s’inquiéter et déplorer que « Malheureusement, nous vivons sur les acquis de nos grands-mères, la jeune génération fait du militantisme sur les réseaux sociaux. Qui est la future Aïcha Ech-Chenna ? Qui osera sacrifier sa vie pour porter la voix des femmes au Maroc ? », je me tourne vers les émouvantes manifestations de début septembre suite au décès d’une jeune fille de 15 ans lors d’un avortement clandestin, et je reprend confiance: les militantes appellent à reprendre le flambeau de Mère Courage. *Meursault est le personnage principal de l’Etranger d’Albert Camus, roman qui commence par la célèbre phrase employée au début de cet article ** Arabe : consultation juridique sur un point de religion, donnant parfois lieu à condamnation
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“Women. Life. Freedom” What Are the Iran Protests Fighting For? Continued from Page 1 On Sept. 16, 2022, the news of the murder of Zhina Mahsa Amini — a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who was visiting Tehran — by Iran’s morality police broke out. They brutally attacked Amini for wearing an “improper hijab,” causing a traumatic brain injury that put her in a three-day coma prior to her death. In an attempt to dodge accountability, Iranian officials claimed her death was due to pre-existing heart conditions. However, her family denied these allegations, confirming that she had no serious health problems prior to this event. This shocking report instigated a wave of visceral reactions, predominantly nationally but also internationally. People were outraged at the human rights abuses taking place, the systemic oppression against women and the extent to which the regime devalues the lives of their population. What started as women cutting off their hair on social media snowballed into Iranian women courageously unveiling themselves and burning their hijab in public, and has now transformed into the population taking to the streets of Iran and demanding their rights. To better understand this social movement, let us try to dissect its central slogan and its implications. Women As the first word of our phrase and the catalyst of the protests, Iranian women are central to this cause. Wom-
en’s rights (or lack thereof) in Iran takes several dimensions; nonetheless, a detail that gives a glimpse into the injustices they have to submit to is the imposition of the hijab and the existence of the morality police. The latter is a branch of the security force that ensures that women are abiding by the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code which forces all women, regardless of belief or religion, to wear the hijab and dress “modestly” through loose clothes and minimal to no makeup. Consequently, wearing an “improper” hijab or not wearing one at all, tight clothing or showing a little bit of skin is penalized. This general concept has existed since the 1979 revolution, but has been reshaped and taken its current institutionalized form during the Ahmadinejad presidency. The morality police operate as a patrol team in a van, generally including two to three women who lure in the victims and at least two men who may use force if she resists, as they did with Amini. They situate themselves in crowded areas of cities and their actions can range from a simple warning or a fine to taking women to the “center of education and commitment,” punishing those who resist, and occasionally arresting victims. The morality police’s abuse of power through the unjustifiable use of violence raises infinite distrust about their legitimacy. Furthermore, the police’s omnipresence shines a light on the ceaseless mis-
treatment of Iranian women who fear for their lives due to clothing further underscores their objectification by the regime as they are being obliged to cover up. The enforcement of the hijab strips women of their choice, acting as an instrument to control their bodies. Said instrument — this mere piece of fabric — symbolizes their oppression, informing Iranian women’s decision to burn it. After all, the hijab loses all meaning once imposed. By cutting their hair, Iranian women broadcast the tragic reduction of their existence to these few strands. This is not said to orientalize and pity Iranian women. As the face of the movement, their strength, bravery, and grace are to admire and undoubtedly to defend. Life The right to life should not be subject to negotiation because it is an essential and fundamental human right. Yet, it is clear that the regime values the lives of some over others’. This is epitomized by the discrimination against the Kurdish-Iranian population, illustrated through the murder of Zhina Mahsa Amini, who is believed by some to have provoked officials by speaking with a Kurdish accent. Amini’s choice to go by her Persian name (Mahsa) as opposed to her Kurdish birth name (Zhina) further confirms this perennial fear of ethnic intolerance. On a larger scale, Iran’s bombing of Iraqi Kurdistan on Sept. 26,
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accusing them of the protests happening in the country, displays the Iranian government’s hostility towards the Kurdish population. It goes without saying that the regime targets protestors, as the death count stemming from these protests has reached (at the time of writing this article) over 150 people. Let us turn to the Islamic Republic’s treatment of students — the future of their nation. How much does the government value a demographic that most would assume it would prioritize? How does it treat their “élite de la nation”? Even here, we find that students’ lives are practically worthless to the authorities who recently attacked Sharif University in Tehran, Iran’s highest-ranking engineering academy. They locked the entrances and exits, trapping the students, and started
OCTOBER 2022 shooting, students even compared it to a “war zone”. Their identities no longer mattered — not whether they were innocent or guilty, nor whether they stayed longer to study or to talk with their friends. At this moment, they were all a threat, voices to be silenced, an existence that no longer served the government. One by one, with each bullet, another name, and another bright future was permanently crossed off the attendance list. Freedom The intense restrictions on freedom extend across almost every aspect of Iranian life, yet one kind of right — freedom of speech — is particularly endangered. I am sure, as Sciences Pistes, you have all seen the Fariba Adelkhah posters plastered in the corridors and amphitheater of campus. This Iranian Sciences Po Academic, this col-
league of our professors and administration, was detained in 2019 simply for speaking against the regime. This fear lives within virtually every Iranian — extreme censorship is a pillar of the republic’s tight grip on power. The censorship ranges from dayto-day inconveniences, such as needing a VPN to access certain social media platforms, to fearing exile, arrest and even death for expressing one’s views. The magnitude of the repressive situation is highlighted throughout these protests as the government has shut down (or slowed) the internet for almost two weeks, so news covering the process stays quiet. Moreover, countless journalists and political activists have been detained. As goes another slogan stated in the protests, “Evin has become a university and Tehran a prison.” “Evin” relates to a notorious prison in Tehran that incarcerates political
prisoners. This same prison was recently set on fire by the regime, killing and injuring its prisoners often consisting of students, activists or protestors. This chilling reality is precisely the reason that it is vital that we, as the international community who can talk about this issue, do not cease to be the voice of Iranians living in Iran. The Iranian people depend on our efforts to spread the movement and prevent the dialogue from fading away. “Women. Life. Freedom.” A simple expression embodying a myriad of grievous realities that Iranians resist daily. The Iranian people are putting their lives on the line to be heard. From Rue Longue to Bastion, it is now our turn to show support. It is time for these three powerful words to resound through the Menton’s streets.
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October Sports Recap
Article by Arian Akrami, Staff Writer Formula 1 Max Verstappen was officially crowned 2021 Formula 1 World Champion following the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday Oct. 9. He became only the 11th driver to win back-to-back championships. With 12 victories already secured, and four races left, it remains entirely possible that the Dutchman could break the record for the most wins in a season (13 – Michael Schumacher with Ferrari in 2004, Sebastian Vettel with Red Bull in 2013). However, Red Bull has come under a barrage of criticism following statements that the team had exceeded the budget caps which were introduced at the beginning of the 2021 season. A Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) statement announced that the team exceeded the $145 million budget cap by less than 5%, which constitutes a “minor” level breach. This level has come under criticism since it could still constitute a significant value of approximately seven million dollars. Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said: “five million dollars is about half a second, one to two million dollars is 0.1-0.2 seconds, which can be the difference between second on the grid to pole.” Potential repercussions include a deduction of championship points, financial reprimands and a reduction on the team’s budget cap.
Tennis On Sunday Oct. 9, Novak Djokovic, recently championed at Wimbledon, defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas (6-3, 6-4) to clinch his 90th Association of Tennis Professionals title at the Astana Open in Kazakhstan. United States
Open victor and world number one Carlos Alcaraz faced a major upset following defeat in the opening round Belgium’s David Goffin. Elsewhere on the Association of Tennis Professionals Tour, Taylor Fritz beat the United States Open runner up Francis Tiafoe (7-6, 7-6) in an all-American final at the Japan Open. This has allowed him to enter the world top 10 for the first time. Fritz was able to progress to the semifinals with a walkover due to the injury of Wimbledon finalist, Nick Kyrgios. On the Women’s Tennis Association tour, the Polish world number one, Iga Swiatek, was stunned at the Ostrava Open final in the Czech
Republic. She was defeated by Barbora Krejcikova, who managed to clinch her second successive Women’s Tennis Association title on home soil (5-7, 7-6, 6-3). Football In the Premier League, as Arsenal continued their fine form, beating Leeds United away from home to remain top of the league, out-of-form Liverpool managed to defeat reigning champions and currently second place Manchester City, courtesy of a goal from Mohammed Salah. Manchester United Women thrashed Brighton and Hove Albion 4-0 to remain top of the Women’s Super League, level on nine points with Arsenal and Chelsea, who beat Everton and Reading, respectively. Manchester City picked up their first points of the season with another 4-0 scoreline against Leicester City, who remain rock bottom with zero points, alongside Reading.
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In Ligue 1, Neymar extended his excellent goal-scoring record so far this season in a crucial 1-0 victory for Paris Saint-Germain in the Classico against Olympique Marseille. The club now sit top of the table with a three-point lead over second place FC Lorient, who fell to a draw at home to Reims despite a 45th minute red card for their opponents. On the international front, Denmark’s kit manufacturer, Hummel, have hidden their logo, and Denmark’s emblem, on their World Cup apparel as a way to voice their disassociation with the Qatar tournament which has been criticized for its abhorrent treatment of migrant workers. Although their national colours are red and white, they have decided to release an all-back third kit, which Hummel described as “the color of mourning,” in solidarity with the thousands of lives lost during the construction of the stadiums.
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Amnesty:Tindouf Refugee Camps in Algeria Article by Peyton Dashiell, Staff Writer In 1973, a group of indigenous Sahrawi university students in Morocco established the Polisario Front, a nationalist liberation group with the goal of establishing an independent state in Western Sahara. Later that year, they began an armed rebellion against Spanish colonization in Western Sahara, instigating two years of guerrilla warfare. After facing pressure from the UN to decolonize in 1974, Spain withdrew from Western Sahara and transferred administrative power to Morocco and Mauritania, who split and annexed the territory. The Polisario Front, wanting an independent Sahrawi state in the region, began resisting the Moroccan and Mauritanian governments, and Western Sahara War began. Shortly after, the Polisario Front formed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in Western Sahara. After nearly twenty years of war, the conflict transitioned to civilian resistance in 1991, although the SADR declared war again in 2020 after accusing Morocco of violating a ceasefire agreement. The SADR, governed by the Polisario Front, is currently recognized by 47 UN member states and controls around 20 percent of Western Sahara, with Morocco holding the remaining territory. The United Nations considers Morocco and the Polisario Front the main
parties to the conflict, with both sides claiming a right to the territory. Algeria has continued to dedicate attention on the national stage toWestern Sahara by supporting the Sahrawi right to self-determi-
and prisons. However, camp authorities have faced numerous allegations of human rights abuse, and the Algerian government has inhibited entry of human rights organizations except a select few.
nation and accusing Morocco of using the conflict to advance geopolitical interests.
In 2013, Human Rights Watch issued an extensive report on the Tindouf Camps after being approved for a two-week research visit. They identified several areas of concern for the camps, including arbitrary detentions, physical abuse while in detention, a lack of free and fair trials, and slavery that was ignored by authorities for several years. The Freedom and Progress Association, a civil society organization based in the Tindouf camps, released a report documenting at least 10 current cases of race-based slavery in the camps. Additionally, the Moroccan government and Polisario Front have refused to atone for past human rights violations committed during the military stage of Western Sahara War. Human Rights Watch stated that
Today, thousands of Sahrawis who were displaced in the original Western Sahara War remain in refugee camps and cannot return home. Most Sahrawi refugees live in the Tindouf Camps — a network of five compounds administered by the Polisario Front near the Algerian city of Tindouf.. The camps currently house approximately 165,000 people, down from the 300,000 throughout the 1980s. The Polisario Front conducts government operations in the camps rather than Western Sahara, and the camps include a basic level of democratic organization, a strong education system, and a justice system with courts
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both sides fail to acknowledge most past wrongdoings and have not removed offenders from leadership positions. Additionally, in 2020, Amnesty International called on the United Nations to include a human rights component in the UN Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara — an annually-renewed mandate that is the only modern UN peacekeeping mission without human rights conditions attached. In their statement, Amnesty cited the Moroccan government’s expulsion of journalists and peaceful activists from the camps as well as restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly. In 2022, the international community brought attention to the situation in the Tindouf camps at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The United States delegation, led by Bathsheba Nell Crocker, voiced concern for laws restricting freedom of assembly and expression as well as the practice of arbitrary arrests. Shortly after, the UN heard direct testimony from two Sahrawi human rights activists and residents of the camps, Aicha Duihi and El Fadel Brikel. Duihi highlighted repression of free speech, violence, threats and discrimination that the Al-
OCTOBER 2022 gerian government justifies as counterterrorism measures. Brikel alleged psychological and physical torture in prisons connected to the Tindouf camps and recalled the murders of several Tindouf camp residents, which he believes the Algerian government is responsible for. Additionally, Brikel purported that the Polisario Front is embezzling humanitarian funding. The UN recently reported that food rations have decreased by 75 percent in the camps despite ongoing international assistance, and the amount of money that Polisario forces say is required for food supplies has doubled in the past two years. This discrepancy has caused a sharp rise in malnutrition and life threatening-health issues among children in the camps.
“They identified several areas of concern for the camps, including arbitrary detentions and physical abuse” Amnesty International at Sciences Po Menton calls on the international community to thoroughly explore the situation in the Tindouf camps — investigating and documenting alleged human rights abuses, ensuring that humanitarian aid helps the people of the camps rather than wealthy government officials, and addressing solutions for the Tindouf camps through diplomacy with Morocco and Algeria. To read recent political and humanitarian developments from the Tindouf camps.
Feature
Biting Fish & More: A Summer Marked by Climate Change Article by Environnementon Rising Sea Temperatures on the French Riviera Over the last summer, tourists and locals enjoyed the beaches in the South of France. Yet, lovers of sun and sand dealt with an unprecedented concern while spending the day at the beach: fish bites. Triggerfish, a thirty to forty-five-centimeter-long fish, are searching for food in the shallow waters. The French Mediterranean coast is usually between twenty-one and twenty-two degrees, but it is now twenty-eight degrees. Triggerfish are now daring to bite humans swimming close to the shore as they search for food closer to shore with the warming temperatures. Unfortunately, this is just one minor danger of climate change in our world today. Flooding in Pakistan In Pakistan, people are facing crises because of constant flooding, another consequence of climate change. In April, Pakistan reached its record-breaking temperature: 49 degrees Celsius. Higher temperatures cause glaciers to melt, making it harder for flood water to be absorbed. The monsoon rain season will continue for twice as long this year. Extreme floods have killed 1,600 people and 800,000 livestock. Roads and
bridges are also collapsing, and infrastructure and livelihoods are being destroyed. Drought in Somalia Somalia is experiencing a severe drought. Because of it, many households suffer from food insecurity; one-third of families have at least one member they cannot afford to feed. Due to the death of livestock, over 700,000 camels, goats, sheep and cattle, many people have lost their farming capabilities. Somalia has always had droughts, but now, they are lasting longer. Families with children are fleeing their homes, hoping to find water, food and land with livestock. Rising Temperatures and Heat Waves Threaten Livelihoods In certain parts of Iraq, temperatures are currently 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Skyrocketing temperatures are being felt globally. The United Kingdom and America experienced unprecedented heat waves last summer, causing health issues for people worldwide. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres believes that the extreme temperatures will continue to rise due to climate change, and humans are “firmly on track towards an unlivable world.” Recent studies have shown that dire temperatures are in the near
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future, and the human body will not be able to survive through the usual mechanisms such as sweating. Humans will not suddenly die tomorrow, but soon, we will have to base our routines on the climate. For instance, going for runs outside will not be bearable in afternoon heat. Therefore, any exercise must be done in the morning or late at night. Crops that require manual labor will be nearly impossible to tend to, as the workers would not endure the heat. Therefore, rising temperatures will affect the most vulnerable first. This will be an equally challenging issue for workers in the United States and farmers in less prosperous countries. Takeaways From rising temperatures in the sea and land to droughts and floods, climate change is affecting the globe. There are simple ways that SciencesPo students and their families can contribute to the disasters that come with climate change. For example, using solar or wind-powered energy in our houses, using mass transit or an electric vehicle, and replacing old electrical appliances with more energy-efficient models. Little changes make a significant impact. Climate change is not an issue for 2050; it is a lethal issue today.
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OCTOBER 2022
Rising Euroscepticism in EU Countries Following Brexit
Article by Veronica Marcone & Barna Sólyom, Guest Writers On June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom, then part of the European Union, held a referendum to vote on whether to leave the union. It resulted in a slight majority of the British population wishing to part ways with the continental collaboration, with precisely 51.89 percent of voters voting in favor of Brexit. The United Kingdom then officially separated from the union in 2020. Since then, other union members have grown fond of Euroscepticism, prompting the formation of internal political parties intending to follow the in the kingdom’s footsteps. Unlike the states in America, countries in the European Union lack a robust cultural identity which may negatively affect member states’ sense of belonging. Will this identity deficit cause other countries to walk away from the union, or will the economic and political benefits of membership be enough to convince the current nations to stay and work on building even stronger ties? According to Ankita Dutta, “The main reasons for the rise of Euroscepticism have been notions that integration weakens na-
tional sovereignty and the nation-state... The union is too bureaucratic and elite-driven... encourages high levels of migration... or is a neoliberal organ-
for opposition to the Eurozone is the mounting tensions rooted in the separation between donor and debtor countries that the common currency brought.
ization which benefits the business elite at the expense of the working class.” She explains that both sides of the political spectrum have reasons for their Euroscepticism, although it is more common among right-wing parties in union countries. The reasoning for such is based on the desire to preserve sovereignty and national identity.
Since the end of the Second World War, Germany has been working on achieving long-lasting peace and rebuilding the economy; the Euro, according to former Chancellor Angela Merkel, is a necessary tool for maintaining peace. So, while it has been claimed that the Euro’s employment brought serious economic drawbacks, it is still a guarantor of peace.
Despite being one of the countries that benefit the most from being part of the union, Germany is experiencing rising support for the right-wing Alternative für Deutschland party. Robert Grimm explains that the party’s argument
Italy recently had elections that resulted in the victory of the center-right coalition, most of which have shared a somewhat anti-European stance in the past, which could move the country in a Eurosceptic direction. Nicolò Berti posits
that an increasing number of Italians, especially following the pandemic, have seen the union as the cause of internal problems and that introducing the Euro in the country was detrimental to the economy. In 2020, the disapproval rate towards the union reached 42 percent, compared to just 26 percent two years prior. According to the above chart, Italy has the highest disapproval rate. Still, since 2020, the trend has slowly declined from 47 percent to 34 percent Germany, instead, follows the trends of the combined union countries, which have a consistent rate of under 30 percent for the past five years. The pandemic brought severe economic blows across the union, and this shared experience could have affected the trust people have in the union, both positively and negatively. The countries most affected by the pandemic could increasingly doubt the European project if they are not supported effectively. The more stable ones are tired of continuously offering their support to the former. This might cause the different country groups to gradually shift away from each other because of economic differences. According to the European Council on Foreign Relations,
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the pandemic’s effect was mixed but tended towards a positive consolidating experience among the union’s citizens. As shown in the chart, no one surveyed felt less European than before the pandemic despite the fluctuating collaboration between countries and the closure of all borders. It is then safe to conclude that, although right-wing parties have been spreading Euroscepticism among their citizens and proposing more nationalist stances, none of the member countries have had a dangerous increase in negative views of the union. The Anti-union propaganda brought around these countries has not reached an effective percentage to consider leaving as a viable option. As of now, all union countries will most likely not follow the steps of the Brits as citizens still believe that, despite many flaws, the union has brought more benefits than not within their country. Anti-EU voices in Eastern Europe Following Brexit, the topic of whether the European Union can or should enforce its will on member states has returned to public discourse. The message of Euroscepticism is mainly kept alive by either rightwing or far-right extremist parties. Poland’s Law and
Justice and Hungary’s Fidesz, two conservative parties, raise the concept often. Is Euroscepticism a real threat in the eastern part of the union? It would make sense to look at the two government’s official statements, actions and goals to get a clearer picture of the situation. Since joining the union in 2004, Poland has shown dynamic economic and institutional improvements. Yet, after winning the 2015 elections, the right-wing conservative Law and Justice party introduced a change of approach. The new government elected their representatives into the Constitutional Tribu-
ble with union law, as the independence of judges could no longer be guaranteed. The European Commission then prepared a plan to withhold four billion Euros of subsidies from Poland until it makes the necessary changes. In reaction to this, the Polish Tribunal ruled that the Polish Constitution is ranked higher than union law. Thus the reforms are legal, punishment measures are unjust, and in the long term, this could lead to Poland leaving the union, as the two systems are incompatible. The conflict remains unresolved, with promises on the Polish end to habilitate the reform.
“Eurosceptical communication in two countries is mainly used for short-term political gains” nal by preventing five judges from swearing oaths and replacing them after they took power, an action widely considered unlawful. This Tribunal then made some highly controversial rulings in subsequent years, including the prohibition of abortion in 2021. In 2021, Law and Justice introduced a Supreme Court disciplinary chamber, allowing the institution to punish judges for their rulings. This action was widely criticized in the union; the European Court of Justice deemed the reform incompati-
Let us use Hungary as another example. Fidesz, the party governing the country since 2010, has always had conflicts with the union --- for instance, during the refugee crisis of 2014-2015. However, Hungary never questioned its union membership until Brexit took place. The United Kingdom’s referendum and decision to leave the organization sparked some controversies inside the union and in Hungary, which led to the dissemination of anti-union rhetoric by the government. They launched a large-
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scale advertisement/propaganda campaign with the message of “stop Brussels” and talked about the union’s leadership in a negative light. However, leaving the union is still not considered a serious option, as the country depends on economic and social benefits. Another aspect hindering Hungary’s departure from the union is that being a European citizen is fairly popular. A recent survey by an independent Hungarian public opinion research institute Medián, shows that 85% of Hungarian voters support being in the union, so most of the population would not agree to leave. In conclusion, the Eurosceptical communication in the two countries is mainly used for short-term political gains. These nominally conservative but, in reality, opportunistic and populist governments want to preserve their influence and a solid ideological background. These strategic stances can sometimes include anti-union rhetoric and send clear messages to their voter base. However, they do not account for or do not care about the longer-term consequences of their actions on the relationship between their countries and the union or even on the organization itself.
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OCTOBER 2022
Eats With Angela: Speedy October By Angela Saab Saade, our minds. Overwhelmed Staff Writer with these important matters, we may find ourselves October is a transition- betraying our kitchens by al month for most of us; avoiding the hectic task of the weather is as unsta- food preparation. While ble as Katy Perry’s ex, restaurant food and your the tourists of Menton roommates’ ready-to-eat are departing, freeing up options all seem like acour lonely town’s streets, ceptable means to satiate and mid-semester stress your hunger, an array of factors, such as midterm more efficient, cheap and exams, vacations plans, satisfying options will save third-year abroad deci- you from unnecessary tensions and parcours civique sions with your roommates preparations are constant- and a possibly drained ly lurking in the back of credit card.
Research shows a strong relationship between stress and nutrition. Mindful balanced eating “provides the extra energy needed to cope with stressful events.” Other findings posit that short-term stress actually reduces appetite. The disparity in the literature indicates that there is no single truth that generalizes the effect of stress on individuals. What is certain however, is that comfort food — as its name implies — is meant to yield comfort
in anxious times, for example, eating a pack of chocolate for breakfast (guilty as charged). Nonetheless, I hope to help you prepare balanced meals that will fuel you for your long study sessions while simultaneously not exhausting the limited amount of time on your hands.
The Veggie Roast The veggie roast includes three simple tasks: Place the vegetables of your choice onto a baking sheet (cut if necessary or preferred). Some usable vegetables include zucchini, tomato, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrot, pepper, beetroot, potato, sweet potato, onion, butternut squash, corn, and cauliflower. You can use fresh vegetables, frozen or canned; whatever suits you! Place the vegetables into a preheated oven and set the oven temperature and your timer based on your vegetables of choice. Drizzle some olive oil, sprinkle lots of sea salt and enjoy! For a more flavorful and fulfilling serving, I recommend preparing eggs, tofu or your choice of meat to go with your mix, and, for a wiser use of your time, do so while your veggie mix is cooking. My recipe
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involves fresh tomatoes (not cut or peeled) and fresh cut-in-half zucchinis and carrots, alongside some frozen bell peppers and broccoli. I grease the baking tray, throw in my veggies, and add frozen filet fish on that same tray, since the vegetables and protein source I have chosen conveniently require a similar cooking time.
Speedy Bowls Aside from being time-efficient, as its name implies, making this delicious dish only requires two components: a bowl and a microwave. Microwaves have repeatedly come to my rescue for quick breakfasts prior to eight am classes and effortless late-night snacks. However, for those of you without a microwave, do not fret! The oven is just as efficient as an appliance; the main difference is that ovens need to be preheated. Find below three basic items with which you may craft delicious, quick and balanced meals!
Oatmeal Vitamin-rich and mineral-dense, oats are a great source of fiber which may be cooked by different means and with various ingredients to fulfill savory or sweet cravings. Plus, they are incredibly cheap! Simply throw some oats in a bowl and pour in water or your choice of milk. If desired, add chopped fruit, honey, peanut butter, seeds, nuts, coconut flakes,
candy (I would recommend crushing Oreos, M&M’s or sweet biscuits) or whatever else may sound appealing to you. Place the bowl into a microwave and determine the heating time as per the appropriate consistency. I enjoy adding yogurt for a cold twist to my warm oatmeal. Oatmeal serves as a great snack too!
Sweet potato Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. Poke holes in your sweet potato and place it in your microwave for a few minutes, et voilá! You can melt cheese on the potato, add cold or cooked vegetables and chickpeas into the equation.Top with spices and a dressing of your choice for a delightful and filling meal. My sophisticated roommate expertly embellishes her sweet potatoes with marinated tofu, chopped tomatoes and a fried egg. Unfortunately, I am far too lazy for this haute-cuisine and opt to put minimal effort into my sweet potato creations. But, if your ambitions surpass mine, I support you in your gastronomical escapades.
Corn Corn is a canned gem — it may be consumed with olive oil and salt, cream and sugar, or cinnamon and lemon juice. It may also enrich your meals with more flavor and color. It is perfect for tasty corn soup too.
“Mindful balanced eating “provides the extra energy needed to cope with stressful events.”
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“comfort food — as its name implies — is meant to yield comfort in anxious times”
Some items I bet you do not know exist that are advantageous in autumn
Packaged Soup As repulsive as that may sound, packaged soup is cheap, quick and quite flavorful in comparison to what its name may signal. You just pour the soup in a bowl and cook in the microwave or on a stove for a few minutes and enjoy!
Purée I do not know how you feel about mashed potatoes, but I adore them. Warm and savory, mashed potatoes will work wonders if you give them the chance. Unfortunately, however, cutting, peeling and mashing the potatoes is not a good use of your time. For that reason, I often head to the store and purchase eight packs of powdered mashed purée (each pack makes one to two servings) for approximately three euros. Whenever I have no time on my hands, I empty a pack into a bowl, add milk or water, microwave the bowl for a few minutes, drizzle some oil and sprinkle some salt. Complemented by boiled eggs, beans or vegetables, this platter tastes heavenly.
Last tip While creating quick meals is ideal for stressful days, it is also worth considering cooking one “proper” meal and storing it for the longer term. This could be as simple as making a pot of pasta or rice and storing it for future consumption. In fact, if you are seeking shortcuts, you can find portioned bags of rice or couscous that simply need to be dropped into boiling water for consumption. For example, a meal that takes under ten minutes to prepare is the combination of couscous, lentils, and a side salad. I apologize in advance for my North African counterparts, however I prepare couscous by just placing the couscous in boiling water and covering them for five minutes. Meanwhile, rinse some canned lentils, chop up an apple and parsley. Add all ingredients on the plate and add the dressing of your choice. I added olive oil and salt on the couscous and lentils and opted for balsamic vinegar for the side salad. If speedy and cost-effective recipes are your jam, stay tuned for next month’s edition of Eats with Angela. Traditional Lebanese recipes that require under 10 minutes preparation await you.
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OCTOBER 2022
On Chocolate Hummus and Dogs With Passports: Netflix’s Mo Continued from Page 1 The new Netflix show “Mo” is one of the first American television shows to portray a Palestinian-American refugee as the protagonist. This show will make you cry tears of joy but its profundity may also provoke some tears of empathy with this family trying to make their way through the American immigration system. Mo is a semi-autobiographical dramedy, which may sound like a paradox. The show includes countless punchlines while also treating topics such as asylum, torture, PTSD, war, drug abuse and discrimination with taste and authenticity. Mo loves his family. He loves his country, his religion and he loves hummus. His family was displaced from Palestine to Kuwait, where Mo was born and was later forced to flee to the US during the Gulf War. They have been waiting for a hearing to receive asylum in the United States for 20 years. The show follows him in his efforts to sustain his family through small, illegal jobs whenever someone is willing to employ him despite not having a work permit, unobtainable for foreigners without permanent resident status in the USA. Besides brilliantly sarcastic and hilarious dialogues, “Mo” features inner struggles of belonging, frustration and feel-
ing of frailty. “Whenever something emotional happens, we’re going to sit in it and we’re going to embrace it and we’re going to go through it. It’s very important to have those moments and let it breathe.”, explains Mo Amer, creator and executive producer who portrays the protagonist.
“Mo” highlights the role of religion in the quest for belonging, something that many of the 400,000 – 450,000 Palestinians displaced during the exodus from Kuwait during the Gulf War struggle with. The characters seek reassurance in God, may it be at home, in a Christian church or at the mosque.
“I love Jesus, I believe in Jesus, Jesus was Palestinian”
“I get grazed by a bullet and I am addicted to lean. It’s a joke.” A
study carried out by the University Michigan School of Health among Arab refugees and immigrants highlights that Arab Americans reported high levels of depression and anxiety symptoms. Another British study confirms these findings, finding that up to 50% of the Palestinian refugees questioned, struggle with mental health, an observation confirmed by the UNRWA. “Mo” pays long overdue attention to this circumstance, going into the complexity of addiction and its relation to stress and mental health. “No not Palestine, Texas. Palestine. You know, the land of milk and honey?” There are multiple references to the conflict, but “Mo” refrains from bringing up these political elements in a patronizing way that might alienate the audience. Rather, the sarcastic comments on the occupation, belonging and daily discrimination are conveyed in the form of jokes or witty dialogues, that make you think just the right amount. The short show took a vital step towards a more authentic representation of Palestinians on Netflix and is definitely worth the watch.
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The Tunisian Constitution, or Kais Saeid’s Constitution? By Luca Utterwulghe, Staff Writer Tunisia’s 2014 constitution has been hailed as one of the Middle East and North Africa region’s most progressive. A product of the multi-stakeholder process led by the Quartet du Dialogue National during the post-uprising period, the Constitution exhibits, aside from its praised commitments to “liberal” values, a strong system of checks on power between the three branches of government. However, recent political developments are challenging the foundational principles — compromise, pluralism and multi-polarity — of this (literally) revolutionary document. Tunisian President Kais Saied’s momentous consolidation of power, beginning with his move to terminate Parliament on July 26, 2021, and subsequent decision to fire Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, was situated in the broader context of Tunisian political dysfunctionality and economic crisis. Kousai Ghrimil, a Tunisian 1A student, expresses his support for this measure: “One of the things it does… is weakening Ennahda, which is the leading Islamist party … that party has caused a lot of destruction and a lot of issues in the country ever since the revolution.” As a manifestation of his endeavor to restructure
Tunisia’s political system, Saied released a draft constitution — crafted by a small group of ‘handpicked’ architects — in late
mate, genuine “constituent power” or whether the nation is transitioning into a “façade democracy.”
June 2021. The Saeid administration released an online consultation survey which, in theory, offered citizens a platform to share their thoughts on the document’s fundamental elements, although only 10 percent of citizens were eligible to respond.
How is the 2022 Constitution different from the post-revolution 2014 one? Article 101 of the 2022 Constitution gives the President the power to appoint the “Chef du Gouvernement” (Prime Minister) and “les autres membres du gouvernement” (cabinet ministers); the 2014 Constitution reserved this power for the Parliament. Moreover, Article 102 authorizes the President to dissolve the Parliament at his wish, further demonstrating the constitutional shift to a more powerful executive. In a direct effort to undermine parliamentary primacy in lawmaking, Article 68 of the 2022 Constitution grants the President the ability to propose statutes to Parliament which are granted “la priorité” (priority) over Parliamentary proposals. Additionally, Article 110 explicitly states that the President
Ghrimil suggests that the constitutional formation process was legitimate because President Kais Saeid “does have the right to call for a new constitution.” A referendum on the proposed constitution was held on July 25, 2022; the state’s Independent High Authority for Elections reported that 95 percent of voters (only 30.5 percent of the eligible population) voted “yes” for Saied’s proposed document. These numbers bring into question the extent to which the new Tunisian Constitution of 2022 was formed through a legiti-
“bénéficie de l’immunité durant son mandat présidentiel” (benefits from immunity during his presidential mandate), fundamentally limiting criticism and formal checks on the executive’s power. Ghrimil has mixed sentiments on the 2022 Constitution: he supports adjustments that will place more importance on the national popular vote. Still, he struggles with the Constitution’s commitment to advance Islamic principles, for Tunisia is “a secular country and this takes us a step backward.” On the contrary, he “wish[es] that the constitution would have mentioned the Jewish minority, the Christian minority,” as this is a symbol of Tunisia’s diversity. Evidently, President Kais Saeid is spearheading a significant constitutional and political restructuring of the Tunisian system. In light of an economic crisis and growing disillusionment towards the political system, how will these changes shift the relations between the Tunisian people and the government? It will be essential to keep a close eye on the parliamentary elections in December of 2022 as they may reflect the developing political sentiment in the country.
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The Menton Times
OCTOBER 2022
The Worrying Rise of Jihadism in Africa: A Look at Nigeria By Izzy Hehl Dalla Zuanna, Staff Writer Known for its cruel abductions, school attacks and village-burnings, this particular Islamist insurgency group is responsible for the murder of tens of thousands, as well as the forceful displacement of millions. With their focus primarily on northeast Nigeria but sometimes spilling into the Lake Chad Basin, these ruthless terrorists might be responding to their country’s widening economic disparity, political corruption and longstanding religious tensions, fueled by the Nigerian government’s counterterrorism efforts and strong-handed police. Created by a prominent Borno State Islamist cleric named Mohammed Yusuf, this group’s aim is to establish a fundamental Islamic state with sharia criminal courts. Estimated by U.S. intelligence officials to number around four and six thousand hardcore militants, and by others three times that, the group is known around the world. Once its name is said, it alludes to trauma, violence and overwhelming fear throughout West Africa … Boko Haram. Founded in 2002 in Maiduguru, Nigeria, this Salafi insurgency movement has
conducted countless terrorist attacks on political and religious groups, police and military, as well asarbitrary civilian attacks in villages and busy markets. onsidered to be one of the largest insurgency groups in Africa, Boko Haram seems to be particularly effective at displaying the weaknesses of the Nigerian government in its inability to effectively contain the group. Prior to the 2009 Maiduguri crackdown, the jihadists only operated in northern Sahel. They did not target Christian minorities and expatriates, only focusing on Nigerian state representatives, government institutions and those they determined to be “bad” Muslims. However, the crackdown set off an armed revolt in the Bauchi state, which spread to the northeast. In this uprising, police and government forces were responsible for the murder of over eight
hundred people, including many suspected Boko Haram members, including their leader, Yusuf. As a result, the conflict spread beyond the Borno states and since then the attacks have had national and international repercussions. Although the attacks lack coordination and an apparent cycle, they have now multiplied to target prisons, military barracks, banks, police stations, churches and mosques, especially on Christian and Muslim holidays. Political scientist and research director Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos states, “It is important to emphasize how the execution of Mohammed Yusuf was a serious strategic error. By creating a martyr, it has indeed generated a current of sympathy in favor of the victims of repression, at least in the Northeast.” Since Yusuf’s
death, Boko Haram has splintered into two factions, with Abubakar Shekau at the head of one and Yusuf’s son Abu Musab al-Barnawi at the other, which has the same final goal as that of Shekau but a less uncompromising view as to what apostasy constitutes. Arguably, the increasingly atrocious nature of Boko Haram has also led to rifts within the group, which then decided to rebrand itself as the Islamic State’s West Africa Province after it declared allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in 2015. However this might not be as significant as it first appears, since many jihadists often swear allegiance to another terrorist group for a semblance of power and unity, yet still work mostly independently. However, it can still be argued that this rebranding symbolized Islamist unity, connecting Middle Eastern and Northern African terrorism with that of the Eastern African domain. In May 2021, Islamic State’s West Africa Province killed its Boko Haram leader, Shekau, resulting in the surrender of thousands of people, including civilians, former Boko Haram fighters and their families, to Cameroonian and Nige-
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rian authorities. However, another consequence was that many Boko Haram commanders joined the Islamic State’s West Africa Province, leaving Boko Haram in disarray. Yet, the end of violence in northeast Nigeria seems unlikely, especially since the new jihadist group might be more resilient — estimated by United Nations analysts to already have four to five thousand fighters — and continues the ransomed kidnappings, lootings, military facility attacks and the taxing of local populations and commerce, mostly in northern Nigeria. The political and socio-economic conditions of Nigeria have only intensified Boko Haram’s violence. With a record of inequality, political corruption and instability due to over half a dozen coups, the 19671970 civil war, and decades of ironfisted military rule, Nigeria proves to be fertile ground for radicalization. Although the country is Africa’s biggest economy and contains abundant natural resources, it is also statistically one of Africa’s poorest populations, with about half of its two hundred million citizens surviving on less than roughly $1.90 per day. This can arguably be attributed to the unequal distribution of oil revenues, which mostly go to a small percentage of elites, as well as through the embezzlement of highly corrupted government ministers. Analyst Chris Ngwodo states,“The emergence of Boko Haram signifies the maturation of long-festering extremist impulses that run deep in the social reality of northern Nigeria. The group it-
self is an effect and not a cause; it is a symptom of decades of failed government and elite delinquency finally ripening into social chaos.” Although we can see a decline in Boko Haram’s brutality in northeastern Nigeria since 2015, jihadist-linked violence in Africa has increased 17-fold since 2009. In 2021, United Nations statistics revealed that in the first six months of that year, “the most striking development” was the shift in the African continent. Instead of the perhaps expected Middle East or South Asia, as the world region most impacted by jihadi violence and suffering the worst number of casualties due to such U.N.-designated jihadists. Now called the “African turn,” since early 2022, ISIS has conducted about half of its operations in Africa, and in the first four months of 2022, there have been more attacks organized by the Islamic State in Nigeria than in Iran. Arguably, it is Africa’s emergence as the mentioned jihadist’s center of gravity which has caused the continent to serve as the new international epictenter of jihadi terrorism. Even the U.S. Committee on Homeland Security in 2017 claimed, “The threats posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and al-Qaeda are dynamic and are expected to increase as the Islamic Stateloses ground in Iraq and Syria, and as al-Qaeda seeks to reclaim its status as the leader of the global jihadi movement. In this context, North Africa, which sits on the edge of Europe, has emerged as an
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important theater in the war on terror.”
tax collection as well as the legitimation of the group.
Arguably, the reason for this geographical shift in the focus of terrorism from the Middle East to Africa, is the lack of counterterrorism efforts in the latter. While 2015, Chad, Niger and Cameroon have deployed several thousand troops as a part of an Af-
To achieve the goals the jihadists have set for themselves, they continue their attacks on humanitarian initiatives, international relief activities, and murder and abduct humanitarian workers, as well as loot and burn their offices. As a result, the displace-
“The group itself is an effect and not a cause; it is a symptom of decades of failed government and elite delinquency finally ripening into social chaos.” rican Union authorized multinational force, which has helped the Nigerian military reclaim many of its territories, foreign direct investment inflows to Nigeria have plunged, from $nine billion in 2011 to $3.5 billion in 2017. This symbolizes the decline in international foreign aid, which, in turn, leaves the future of jihadism in the African continent unsure. The current strategy of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province is focused on addressing past mistakes and causes of tension by ensuring that group members are fairly treated by their field leaders and incentivizing fighters through the division of war spoils. This has been a strong driver of success, as can be observed on the eastern front, especially in poor communities which lack resources. The jihadist group’s work to ensure the support of the population through the promotion of mutual investment between itself and communities and stable access to services in isolated areas, allows for
ment rate has increased by almost 50 percent. Most victims in northeastern Nigeria are women and children — a region which has suffered under the struggle for dominance between the Islamic State’s West Africa Province and Boko Haram. According to Al-Ahram, a recent international report covering Borno, which was Boko Haram’s first stable stronghold, has shed light on the dire humanitarian situation — the insecurity in the area has led to about 25 percent of the land being cut off from Lagos, the capital. Borno, once described as the region affected most negatively by this conflict, is now at a complete risk of secession. Borno is but one of the several cities in the Islamic State’s expansive strategy to implement a so-called “scorched-earth” policy, which they may use to their advantage both inside the area and abroad, as a potential signal to the rest of the world that Africa is now the focus of jihadists.
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The Menton Times
OCTOBER 2022
American Presence in Iraq By Payton Dashiell, Staff Writer
refused to acknowledge her death in any way? Why did the American military conduct an exercise in a populous area? And, most of all, why are U.S. troops still present in Iraq after the Iraqi Parliament voted them out years ago and multiple American presidents have pledged military withdrawal?
forts began after the Islamic State launched the Northern Iraq Offensive in August 2014. In response, the U.S. began supplying Kurdish Peshmerga forces with weapons on August 5, and began direct airstrikes three days later. The operation continued for nearly seven years, and U.S. aid to the Iraq Security Forces totaled $3.5 billion throughout the conflict, with over 189,000 officers trained.
2014 that the coalition kidnapped Sunni civilian men to use as forced labor in the fight against the Islamic State. Finally, U.S.-backed prisoner abuses date back to the early stages of the Iraq War in prisons like Abu Ghraib – in 2004, Amnesty International uncovered photos of U.S. troops abusing prisoners of war in the same suburb of Baghdad where Zainab lost her life.
since a U.S.-led coalition invaded the country in 2003 to overthrow Saddam Hussein. After a brief hiatus from 2011 to 2014, the U.S. military formally reentered Iraq in 2014 on “Operation Inherent Resolve” to fight Islamic State forces upon request from the Iraqi government. Ef-
The U.S.-led coalition has been criticized for committing human rights violations during “Operation Inherent Resolve” and compounding Iraq’s existing humanitarian crisis. Poorly targeted coalition airstrikes led to many civilian casualties, and Amnesty International alleged in
Despite the United States formally withdrawing from Iraq in December 2021, nearly 3000 military personnel remain in the country in an advisory role to provide air support and military aid. However, their presence has been contentious. In January 2020, U.S. assassination
On September 21, a 15-year-old girl was shot and killed in Baghdad, Iraq while working on her father’s farm. Despite Baghdad previously being labeled as the most dangerous city on Earth for terrorist attacks, Zainab Essam Al-Khazali was not killed by an Islamic State The United States has militant or a member of maintained a continuous another terrorist group, military presence in Iraq
but by American troops conducting a routine military drill. These are the same troops which first mobilized in 2014 to protect Iraqis from the looming terrorist threat of the Islamic State. Her tragic, senseless death raises critical questions: Why has the United States government
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of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani caused widespread outrage in Iraq. Major political figures called for the U.S. Embassy to be closed and diplomatic relations halted. The Iraqi military launched retaliatory airstrikes on U.S. forces in Iraq, and the Iraqi Parliament voted unanimously to expel all American troops from the country, later revising their statements to include all foreign troops. While several NATO countries withdrew their troops due to safety concerns, the Trump administration threatened Iraq with sanctions if any further action was taken against U.S. forces, thus, cementing their presence. Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter prohibits the use of force except in “intervention by invitation,” when a country requests the military presence of another country. This rare case would apply to the 2014 American entry into Iraq because the Iraqi government requested help in the fight against the Islamic State. But after the vote by the Iraqi Parliament in 2020 asking U.S. troops to leave, their presence became illegitimate under this charter. However, despite a strong opposition wing within Iraq, anti-American sentiment is not universal, largely dependent on ethnic and religious identity. The vote to expel U.S. troops was led by Shia lawmakers, with most Sunni and Kurdish representatives abstaining from the vote. U.S. troops continue to train with the Iraqi military and recently signed a bilateral defense agreement with the
Kurdistan Regional Government to bolster security and military training operations. Proponents of U.S. military presence in Iraq often cite reasons such as countering Iranian influence, preventing terrorist attacks, and protecting the security of Israel and other US partners in the region. However, natural resources, particularly oil, serve as another key factor. Iraq is home to oil reserves totaling over 140 billion barrels, the fifth largest proven oil supply globally, with a large portion located in the
the oil. Kurdistan’s Ministry of Natural Resources has been accused of working with foreign powers to send oil money to international tax havens, flipping assets, and producing massive profits for multinational companies based in North America and Europe. While the Islamic State remains a threat in Iraq, they have no consistent territorial holds, and the Iraqi government has developed effective containment policies for terror cells. Operating with the goal of completely erad-
But nearly two decades later, it is evident that the Iraqi people did not benefit as foreign powers descended upon their oil reserves Kurdistan region. Upon entering the 2003 Iraq War, former U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz pledged to support Kurdistan’s energy sector, telling a Congressional panel that Iraq’s oil and gas resources “could bring between $50 billion and $100 billion over the course of the next two or three years.” But nearly two decades later, it is evident that the Iraqi people did not benefit as foreign powers descended upon their oil reserves. While the oil-rich Kurdistan region has seen more economic development than the rest of Iraq, fraud, corruption and mismanagement have led to nearly $20 billion per year in oil revenue smuggled out of the country, with little benefit to the Kurdish residents working to source
icating all Islamic State adherents and ideology will result in an indefinite U.S. presence in Iraq. Furthermore, while American troops have helped foil and respond to some Islamic State attacks in Iraq, they are increasingly being targeted by Iranian drone strikes, which have killed U.S. servicemembers as well as Iraqi citizens fighting alongside the U.S. in Kurdistan. These attacks signify a larger balance of power the U.S. seeks to maintain in the region — Iraqis are paying a violent price as the U.S. aims to counter Iranian influence. If the U.S. decides to completely withdraw troops from Iraq, lessons must be learned from its 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. The 2021 withdrawal resulted in the Taliban seizing power from the Afghan
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National Army within days of the U.S. military’s departure and created an unresolved humanitarian disaster. Additionally, the withdrawal broke promises made to Afghan civilians who aided American forces — many people were left behind and susceptible to persecution by the Taliban due to past U.S. ties. If American troops leave Iraq, the U.S. must prioritize the protection of Iraqis who have fought alongside them, and ensure that any stabilization money given to the Iraqi government is used for its intended purpose — during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban seized millions of dollars in cash, gold, and weapons left behind by U.S. forces. The question of American military presence in Iraq extends far beyond a pure military partnership. Twenty-first-century Iraq has experienced immense exploitation for military, economic, and geopolitical gain, and the people and government of Iraq should decide the next steps regarding the American military. After 19 years of nearly continuous U.S. military presence, Iraq has limited the influence of the Islamic State, but is still experiencing domestic turmoil, a Parliamentary crisis and extreme corruption in the public and private sectors. Solutions to these challenges should be led by the Iraqi people, not a foreign power with conflicting interests and little investment in the future of Iraq.
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The Menton Times
OCTOBER 2022
Egypt and Israel: Beneficiaries of the Energy Crisis Article by Noor Ahmad, Staff Writer The global energy crisis began in October 2021 with the backdrop of resurgent demand from the re-opening of economies following the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, China’s post-Covid recovery led to a demand for gas that is said to have risen by 8.4 percent. Gas imports are set to increase by 20 percent to satisfy this demand, resulting in less gas available for import to many European countries from gulf countries, such as Qatar, who could not ramp up natural gas supplies to Europe, as they were committed to their long-term contracts with Asian countries.
The other major event that undoubtedly catalyzed the energy crisis was the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia supplied around 40 percent of the European Union’s gas consumption by pipeline, and the 75 percent cut to supply has significantly affected European countries which have relied on Russian gas for years. Russia started to reduce its supply of gas in 2021 on the pretext of maintenance to its major gas pipelines into Europe. This accelerated in the early part of 2022, when gas flow reduced by about 40 percent through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, one of the major conduits of gas from Russia to Europe. By July of this year, the flow of
gas through Nord Stream 1 was reduced to 20 percent of its capacity. On Sept. 30, a series of under-water explosions damaged both Nord stream 1 and 2 pipelines, most likely the result of sabotage. The union has not published its findings, but many suspect Russia to be the culprit.
in 2015 by the Italian company ENI in the Zohr gas field, has been investing in its scope for exportation through the development of its gas liquefaction capacity. Liquefied natural gas has become a major method of transporting gas where piping gas is not possible. According to reports,
“Liquefied natural gas has become a major method of transporting gas where piping gas is not possible.”
Amidst this chaos, two unexpected beneficiaries have been Egypt and Israel. The benefits have not only been economic but also political. Egypt, following the major discovery of offshore gas
Egypt now ranks in the top ten countries in the world with gas exporting capacity. Part of this success is due to its links with Israel through the Arab Gas Pipeline, which is used by Isra-
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el to export piped gas to Egypt for liquefaction and then is re-exported. Israel has become a significant gas exporter in recent years. It relies on its two major gas fields, Tamar and Leviathan, both offshore fields off its coast. Leviathan, which was discovered in 2010, has the capacity to supply Israel’s domestic needs for the next 40 years. Tamar gained significance around the same time. Most recently, in 2022, 60 billion cubic meters of gas was discovered in the Olympus Area, also in the Mediterranean. By some estimates, Israel, which currently exports 10 million cubic meters a year, has the capacity to more than double this in the coming years by investing further.
for its population’s bread consumption. At the same time, sanctions on Russia have affected Egypt’s tourism industry, which relies on Russian tourists. In Israel’s case, a recent report published by the Ministry of Energy showed Israel’s profits from natural gas increased by almost 50 percent. Eleven percent of royalties from revenues from natural gas go directly to the treasury to fund state expenditure. Beyond this, Israel set up its own sovereign wealth fund, The Israeli Citizens’ Fund, to benefit from the increase in gas production; it raises its revenues from taxing excess profits. After a disappointing start, the fund, according to the Israeli Tax Authorities, was expected to collect between 300-$500 million dollars a year over the next decade.
“For both countries, the rising price of gas and their export capacity have provided much needed hard currency to support their economies.” For both countries, the rising price of gas and their export capacity have provided much needed hard currency to support their economies. Egypt’s economy has been severely impacted by rising commodity prices, particularly wheat, which is a mainstay
This turned out to be very conservative given that it raised 500 million dollars in less than three months in 2022. This fund will be invested for future generations, in line with how other sovereign wealth funds operate around the world.
Beyond economics, the two countries’ geopolitical situations have also benefited. The European Union signed a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding between Egypt, Israel and
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a non-binding agreement, no territorial clause was deemed necessary. And while the union recommitted to abiding by United Nations Security Council resolution 2334, which
“The European Union signed a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding between Egypt, Israel and itself in June 2022 to increase the export of Israeli gas.” itself in June 2022 to increase the export of Israeli gas. What has surprised many has been the union’s silence on the values it has held so dear for many years. Both Egypt and Israel have been targeted for various humanitarian issues – the Egyptian military regime’s treatment of dissenters is well documented. Moreover, the union has been historically vocal about Israel’s settlements and occupation of Palestinian territories and. It has been widely noted that the memorandum signed was the first in which the union failed to mention the Palestinian territories. A question was raised on the matter in the union’s parliament to the European Commission on the subject. A response on July 28, 2022 to the question, given by the Vice-President of the commission, Borrell Fontelles, stated that as this is
calls for its member states to distinguish between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967, the omission in this instance is unusual. There is no doubt that energy politics has certainly provided a fair wind for both Egypt and Israel.