Bold Politics: A Global Overview – OZY

The island nation of Singapore imports more than 90% of its food from overseas, and that’s not normally a problem. But the the disruption of global supply chains by the pandemic forced the wealthy city-state to recognize the food insecurity it might face in future crises. Now, the seeds of change are germinating in an initiative spearheaded by the country’s National Parks Board and former Social and Family Development Minister Desmond Lee. Called Gardening with edibles, the program involves sending seeds to residents so they can grow fruits and vegetables on their tiny balconies. It’s part of the whole country”30 by 30» initiative: to meet 30% of its nutritional needs at the national level by 2030. By March, the initiative had sent nearly half a million packets of seeds.

To ensure that legions of new home gardeners aren’t left guessing, Singapore’s National Parks Board has released instructional videos on how to sow and harvest the produce. Those who register do not choose their seeds, but the plants have been selected to reflect the ingredients of traditional Singaporean dishes, such as cai xin jumped and Kang Kong Belacan. Part of the deployment also means double the number of community gardens by 2030, as growing vegetables on a windowsill or balcony can become cramped and space on the island is limited. Additionally, Lee is pushing an initiative to get residential apartment developers to increase green space, like rooftop gardens and wall landscaping – providing an added benefit: an all-natural cooling effect.

Bangladesh suffered from a major famine in its early days as a nation, but today the country has become a success story in the face of food shortages. Between 2000 and 2015, he halve chronic hunger, although one-sixth of the country’s population remains food insecure. Today the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina focuses on the next big threat to food supplies: antimicrobial resistance in which microbes, evolving over time, no longer respond to drugs. She is warn the world on the risk of future pandemics and threat it poses to food security. Will rich countries listen before it’s too late?

It’s not just about having enough food; it’s also about having the right nutrition. Hasina encourages young people in Bangladesh to take up fish farming. Not only is it an opportunity for self-employment, she said, but it is a way to strengthen the country’s food supply locally. His government would focus on increasing fish production while providing food to farmers and fishermen to ensure they did not fall into financial hardship, as well as arranging collateral-free loans for those looking to start a fishing business.

Creative? Yes. Efficient? Only time will tell. El Salvador made headlines after thriving overbearing and depressed with children President Nayib Bukele made Bitcoin legal tender in the Central American country. But this does not want to say all companies still accept it as payment. Bukele’s vision is a libertarian dream: he maintains that he wants citizens to have access to a market-governed currency instead of relying on the US dollar, which is also legal tender. And it should be easier and safer to access money virtually – at least in theory.

But Bukele’s bold move didn’t have the smoothest launch. Bitcoin first took a beating in the markets shortly after becoming legal tender on September 7, before recovering. Their latest effort to issue Bitcoin bonds has also have been reported due to market conditions. And Salvadoran Citizens Are Worried About Bitcoin’s Volatility — he’s a fickle friend — and the potential for its use in money laundering. The state launched an official digital wallet, called Chivo, with $30 worth of Bitcoin preloaded, but since its introduction it has been plagued by glitches. Some users did not receive the funds and were unable to use ATMs or even access their wallets. Now the president is urging Salvadorans to “buy the dips” by joining him in currency speculation. Sink or swim, the outcome of this experiment could mean big changes for a country where 70% of the population does not have access to banking services.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle aren’t the only ones to cut ties with the British monarchy. Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley, elected in 2018, deposed Queen Elizabeth II as the island nation’s formal head of state. Talk to vogue, Mottley described the decision as “accepting responsibility for who we are”, rather than any ill will towards the Royal Family. The coming months will see the crystallization of a new constitution following the recognition of former Governor General Dame Sandra Mason as the country’s new president and first local head of state.

But Mottley is a changemaker in more ways than one: She’s also aiming for marriage equality. Noting that Barbados “was forged in its modern incarnation from the experience of racism and discrimination”, she says the government can no longer discriminate against its own citizens. His plan includes legalizing same-sex civil unions, then holding a gay marriage referendum. LGBTQ groups and activists, however, are not confident; they say building equality will take much longer than civil unions, warning it may be too early for a referendum on marriage.

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As an ethnic Albanian, Qëndron Kastrati, the mayor of Kamenica, Kosovo, does not speak much Serbian. But with a growing number of other people in his area, he learns — thanks to the language exchange courses set up by his municipality make the bridge ethnic and cultural tensions. The vast majority of Kosovars are Albanian, after violent conflict in the late 1990s which prompted many Serbs to leave. Those who remain live largely apart from the Albanians, and language and cultural barriers perpetuate historical divisions. The course includes visits to sites of religious and cultural significance to both parties. More than 100 people have joined the program, and Kastrati hopes to expand its reach as other cities borrow its idea.

It takes courage to be an openly gay, atheist, feminist and pro-European politician in an increasingly conservative Poland ruled by the right-wing Law and Justice party. Yet it is a position that Robert Biedroń has been defending for years. Member of the European Parliament and candidate for the presidential election of his country in 2020, Biedroń pleaded for a counterattack plan against the proliferation of “LGBTQ-free zones” in Poland, where local authorities have pledged since 2019 to prevent pro-LGBTQ policies. Biedroń tabled a resolution in the European Parliament saying the bloc should instead become a zone of “LGBTQ freedom”. The resolution was adopted, although some regions chose to forgo EU funding rather than comply.

In March, Biedroń appeared on one of Poland’s biggest current affairs TV shows with hair dyed tomato red. “This is my manifesto“, he said, explaining that it is his sign of support for young people who do not have access to sex education, which has led to perpetuating stereotypes, homophobia, inequality for women and minorities – and increasing physical violence.