Failures and Successes of the Paris Agreement
Introduction The Paris Agreement, passed at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in 2015, is an international legislation addressing climate change. Though not the first of its kind, it has had a significant impact on the geopolitical landscape. Despite facing setbacks and failures, the agreement has proven to be effective in addressing climate change, […]
Effects of War in Ukraine on the Global Space Industry
The space industry is a collaborative, international field of study. Space agencies rely on states’ diplomatic efforts to establish and sustain partnerships that facilitate manned and unmanned missions to space. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022 had significant diplomatic ramifications, particularly because Russia is a major player in the space industry. Waves of […]
Understanding Critical Resource Extraction in the Arctic
The Arctic Region The Arctic is the northernmost region of the Earth, centered on the North Pole. Most scientists define the Arctic as the area within the Arctic Circle, a line of latitude approximately 66.5° north of the Equator. The Arctic is home to more than 4 million people, including indigenous people such as the […]
Pros and Cons of the American Innovation and Choice Online Act
Introduction The American Innovation and Choice Online Act (AICOA) is a bill proposed in the United States Congress to promote competition in the digital marketplace by addressing antitrust concerns related to major technology companies. The bill aims to prevent monopolies and trusts by prohibiting dominant platforms from abusing their gatekeeping power, favoring their own products, […]
Pros and Cons of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act
Background President Nixon initiated the War on Drugs in the 1970s, which was designed to tighten security over the regulation, consumption, offenses, and accessibility of controlled substances. The War on Drugs and increased prosecution of drug-related offenses have disproportionately impacted minority populations. Schedule 1 drugs—substances that are considered to have the greatest risk of abuse […]
Understanding the Hazardous Air Pollution Debate
Background Hazardous air pollution (HAP) is the contamination of the air by toxic pollutants that can cause serious health effects at high levels of concentration or exposure. While some release of HAPs can occur naturally, such as from forest fires, most comes from human activity and man-made sources. The largest sources are called stationary sources. […]
Introduction to the New Transatlantic Agenda
Background Following the Second World War, the United States and Western European powers have built a strong relationship based on shared values such as democracy, free trade, and human rights, culminating in the New Transatlantic Agenda. The New Transatlantic Agenda was an agreement signed between the US and the EU in 1995, which outlined commitments […]
Food Security and Local Food Production
Background Generally, local food production refers to systems in which food is produced, distributed, and consumed within the same area. However, there is debate within the local food movement about this definition. For example, some call for local food systems to expand distribution—to sell food outside of the boundaries of the local community—while others fear […]
Understanding the Absentee Voting Debate
While absentee voting in the United States can be traced back to the Civil War Era, the Pandemic created an unprecedented demand for absentee ballots as an alternative to traditional polling locations. Absentee voting or voting by mail is a process that allows voters to cast their ballots before election day either by dropping off […]
Understanding the Access to STD Resources and Healthcare Debate
What are Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)? Also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are “infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact”. While there are more than 20 types, the eight most common in 2018 included chlamydia, genital herpes, HIV, HPV, syphilis, trichomoniasis, and hepatitis B. STDs […]