ICYMI | #109

Our weekly roundup of stories you may have missed.

Climate Strike on 3 March

Fridays for Future are organising a Global Climate Strike on 3 March to demand action and accountability from policymakers, world leaders and those most responsible for the Climate Crisis. To join the protest in Berlin, head to Invalidenpark from 12:00.

Earthquake aid inequality

50,000 people in Turkey, Kurdistan and Syria have died due to the catastrophic earthquakes on 6 February. NGOs report that aid to the region has been distributed unequally, with Kurds, Syrian refugees and other minorities facing intense discrimination.

Germany has been criticised for its slow aid response and reluctance to accept earthquake victims seeking asylum. Sign this petition to the German government demanding a greater commitment to aid equality and a simplified visa process for those fleeing the region.

Brazil landslides

Record-breaking rainfalls in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state have led to flooding and landslides since last weekend and during the carnival celebrations. In another display of the deadly effects of climate change, coastal towns of Brazil’s richest state have been hit by more than 600mm of rain. The City of Sao Sebastiao bore the brunt of the human toll with at least 56 deaths. More than 4,000 people have been forced from their homes and many are still missing. 

Nablus raids

Israel’s hard-right government has faced growing international criticism since its election at the end of 2022, which has triggered a sharp rise in military and settler violence across Gaza and the West Bank. The West Bank city of Nablus became a focal point last week after 11 Palestinians were killed and over 100 injured during a military raid. Then, dozens of Palestinian homes and cars were set on fire in nearby Huwara, in what looks like one of the worst outbreaks of settler violence in decades.

Taliban crackdown on contraceptives

The Taliban have continued their crackdown on reproductive rights by banning the sale of contraceptives in two of Afghanistan’s main cities, claiming that the use of contraceptives is a western conspiracy to control the Muslim population. Midwives and pharmacies have been threatened and ordered to clear out all birth control medicines and devices. Afghanistan is already one of the most dangerous places to give birth, and these restrictions represent another significant blow.

SoliType fundraiser for the queer community in Turkey and Syria

SoliType, a fundraising platform where designers share typefaces in exchange for donations, has launched a new appeal in support of people from the LGBTQIA+ community and s3x workers who are affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. Head to the SoliType IG to see what’s on offer, or donate directly to the queer relief fund here.

Black History Month Playlist

To celebrate and pay respect to Black musical, cultural and artistic pioneers, we have compiled a selection of our favourite Black History Month-themed radio shows on our website. Listen back to last week's two-hour conversation between Thea and Seun Kuti, a six-part series exploring narratives of resistance through South African and Ethiopian perspectives, a show dedicated to Octavia Butler, and much more.

On The Ground: Iran

Read the second instalment of our On The Ground: Iran series. This time, Johanna Urbancik talks to an anonymous Iranian artist about protest, censorship and creativity in the face of oppression.

---

Cover image licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.