Update from Zihuatanejo
We are about to depart from Zihuatanejo. We have spent the past two days exploring and reprovisioning here. The town is unlike any we have seen yet, it somehow has the humm of a busy city and the quaintness and relaxed vibe of a coastal town. The bay itself is beautiful; steep, jungle-clad hills (mostly
In Turbulent Times, One Source Keeps Brazil Laughing
Forbes – Past ICWA Fellow Shannon Sims reports on Sensacionalista, a Brazilian satirical paper that could be compared to The Onion. According to Sims, the political and economic situation in Brazil is tough and “as the political scandals multiply and surpass anything seen in a House of Cards script, Brazilians are sharing Sensacionalista’s fake news with gusto, as
The Mysterious Case Of The Shrinking Brazilian Easter Egg
Forbes – In her latest article, past Fellow Shannon Sims examines Brazil’s incredibly popular chocolate Easter eggs in a new context; economics. A recent economic crash has caused the value of one Brazilian real to shrink from 50 U.S. cents to 25 cents and in conjunction the average size of a Brazilian chocolate Easter egg has shrunk as well. To
Finding Altata: the Slow Change for the Fishers
“Whatever you do, don’t go to Altata.” These were the last words we heard as we cast off our dock lines in Guaymas. We were about to sail 300 miles with limited charts but plentiful warnings—with the goal of getting to this near-mythical town protected by a bar that might as well have been filled
Hezbollah Claims a ‘Nuclear Option’ in Tense Standoff with Israel
The Daily Beast – In a new article, past ICWA Fellow Neri Zilber delves into the topic of the Israeli-Hezbollah cold war and what the next escalation in Lebanon might look like. Zilber writes, “Like the historic global battle between East and West, this more localized Middle Eastern version sees both Israel and Hezbollah preparing
The Business End of Palestinian Despair
The Times of Israel – In a featured blog post, past Fellow Neri Zilber discusses the grim economic realities of the most recent wave of violence between Israel in Palestine. Many attacks are perpetrated by young Palestinians who defy categorization; they come from a variety of economic, social, and political backgrounds without a unifying leader or affiliation. In
The Fall Of Intrade And The Business Of Betting On Real Life
Buzzfeed News – In a new longform piece, past Fellow Andrew Rice examines the rise and fall of Intrade, a website dedicated to predicting (and betting on) real-life events, including politics, before it was shut down by the government. As Rice explains, the website was continually troubled, stymied by government regulations on gambling and struggling financially,
U.S.-Russia Deal on a Partial Truce in Syria Raises More Doubt Than Optimism
The New York Times – Past Fellow Andrew Tabler is quoted Mark Landler’s latest piece on the recent agreement for a partial truce in Syria. Tabler, whose ICWA Fellowship took place in Syria and Lebanon and who is currently an Syria expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy said about the agreement; “Washington’s stated
Putin’s Patriotism Playbook
Foreign Affairs – In his latest piece on Russian politics, author and past ICWA Fellow Gregory Feifer examines Vladimir Putin’s push for nationalism and Russia’s search for a unifying identity. Understanding this concept is essential to the West because, as Feifer explains, “assessing the Kremlin’s potential for cooperation requires understanding not only the Russian president’s
Pramila Jayapal, State Senator and Nationally Known Immigrant-rights Advocate, Announces Congressional Run
The Seattle Times – Past ICWA Fellow Pramila Jayapal has announced her candidacy to succeed retiring 14-term U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott. Jayapal is currently a Washington State Senator and has been a respected activist and voice in Washington politics for years. After her ICWA Fellowship in India, Jayapal founded Hate Free Zone, an immigrant-rights advocacy group now called