Author: jhnashtongmailcom

Residents fearful how their families will cope as food runs out and Jair Bolsonaro undermines lockdown message

Source: ‘We’re abandoned to our own fate’: coronavirus menaces Brazil’s favelas | Global development | The Guardian

Climate change has had a devastating impact on our planet, an alarming number of animal species have either gone extinct or are under the threat of extinction as a direct result of human activity.

In fact, scientists have now determined that humanity has killed 83 percent of all wild mammals, and half of all plants.

Statistics like these can be incredibly disheartening, however, scientists finally have some good news for us: they have found an astonishing amount of biodiversity in a previously unexplored area of the rainforest.

 

Source: Dozens of Creatures Thought to Be Extinct Found Alive in ‘Lost City’ in the Jungle | The Hearty Soul

From military bases to joint training exercises, Beijing is looking to establish a greater defense profile in Africa.

Source: China increases defense ties with Africa

President Trump recently described Frederick Douglass as “an example of somebody who’s done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more, I notice.” The president’s muddled tense – it came out sounding as if the 19th-century abolitionist were alive with a galloping Twitter following – provoked some mirth on social media. But the spotlight on one of America’s great moral heroes is a welcome one.

Hunger was Douglass’ constant companion as a boy. As a young man, he escaped slavery and became a heroic abolitionist who revealed how food was a key tool in the immoral mechanics of slavery.

Source: Frederick Douglass On How Slave Owners Used Food As A Weapon Of Control : The Salt : NPR

Sandra Aguebor is Nigeria’s first woman mechanic. She is also the founder of The Lady Mechanic Initiative, which teaches women from diverse backgrounds how to fix cars and become financially independent.

Source: Meet the Black Woman Mechanic Teaching Other Women How to Fix Cars

Renowned conservationist Jane Goodall is hoping the coronavirus pandemic will be a wake-up call, warning the crisis is a result of human disregard for nature.

Source: Jane Goodall says global disregard for nature brought on coronavirus pandemic – ABC News

 

Twenty years ago, President Bill Clinton apologized to African American survivors of the study, who were denied treatment for syphilis for four decades.

Source: ‘You’ve got bad blood’: The horror of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment – The Washington Post

Time and Time again, western history has managed to establish many things that are not true about Africa and its history. For many years, modern-day Africans believed that ancient Africa had no writing history until the first explorers of Europen descent settled in the lands. Contrary to popular belief, ancient African societies did have a writing culture. (well-developed reading culture)

 

Even though not as popular as oral history, recent findings have shown that many African civilizations recorded their history through writings and even had well-stocked libraries.

Source: Don’t be fooled, Africa had a well-developed reading culture before the European invasion » Enlightenment Africa

Medical experts have said they fear that Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, could be hastening the country’s march towards a devastating public health crisis like those to have hit northern Italy and New York by undermining social distancing measures.

Bolsonaro is one of just four world leaders still downplaying the threat of coronavirus to public health, alongside the authoritarian presidents of Nicaragua, Belarus and Turkmenistan.

Source: Bolsonaro dragging Brazil towards coronavirus calamity, experts fear | World news | The Guardian