HONORING THE LIFE AND INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LEGACY OF PROF. DAVID WEISSBRODT

By Sosamma Samuel-Burnett, G.L.O.B.A.L. Founder/President

Nov. 15, 2021

It is with a remarkably heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of Prof. David Weissbrodt -- a man who has had a distinctively important role in my life and career, including at G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice.

Prof. David Weissbrodt was many things in my life -- beloved Professor, Mentor, Employer, Advisor, Board Director, & Friend,. I had the blessing of having Prof. Weissbrodt for several of my law school courses at the University of Minnesota Law School (1994-1997), but most notably his International Human Rights Law Course. That course set me on a path to a lifelong career focused on international human rights.

I had the opportunity to work for Prof. Weissbrodt as a law student and co-authored with him an article that appeared in the Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights. Thereafter, once he became the U.S. Member for the U.N. Sub-Commission for Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities (later the U.N. Sub-Commission on Human Rights), I had another amazing opportunity to serve with him in Geneva, Switzerland through an a grant from the renowned Human Rights Center, which he had established. After graduation, I served as Development and Policy Director for Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights (now Advocates for Human Rights) which he founded and continued to serve as General Counsel. We had extensive meetings, engaged in many events, and had so many remarkable experiences together in all of these contexts.

As I continued my career in Washington, D.C., California, and now Colorado, my relationship and collaborations with David continued. By 2014, when I established my own organization, G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice, David served as one of my first Board Directors and as Expert Commentator.

While we had so many wonderful educational and professional experiences together, what I enjoyed most were my visits with David and his family when I travelled to MN with my family. I was especially honored to return to the University of Minnesota for a special tribute event for David at his retirement from his full-time faculty role. It was an evening filled with the Who's Who of human rights -- and all influenced by David.

My last visit with David and his family was pre-COVID-19 and during a summer trip to MN. We had great conversations over lunch at St. Anthony Main. David's soft but strong voice had become softer, but his quick, alert mind remained sharp. But I knew that his health was wearing on him. I was so hopeful we would have just one more visit. But despite not having that opportunity, I will cherish all the remarkable years and memories we have had together.

Prof. David Weissbrodt will always be considered a giant in international human rights. But he also shared his platform and his opportunities to allow me and many others to also learn and lead in this field. For that and so much more, I am forever grateful to David.

https://law.umn.edu/news/2021-11-12-minnesota-law-mourns-passing-legendary-human-rights-professor-david-weissbrodt

Penetrating China’s Economic Riddle

By Randall Margo, Ph.D., Board Director, G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice

Winston Churchill famously remarked that "Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." Contemporary wisdom could similarly be offered on the present state of China given the government's harsh crackdown foisted upon several of the country's leading technology firms. Why during a worldwide pandemic causing economic turmoil, along with a multibillion dollar tariff tussle with its largest trade partner would the government unleash a severe regulatory attack on some of its largest and most successful technology companies, including Alibaba, Tencent, and Didi, wiping out hundreds of billion dollars of equity from its shareholders?

The conventional wisdom is that these technology companies became too big for their own good, and therefore, posed a systemic threat to the government due to their large wealth. But China's opaqueness may becoming transparent with the recent collapse of Evergrande, the country's largest real estate development company as more accurate information emerges to unveil the company's as well as the nation's present condition.

Note: Ratio of median apartment price to median family disposable income, as of mid-2021. Source: J.P. Morgan Asset Management Guide to China.

To wit, the chart above succinctly displays the prodigious cost of home ownership in China's major cities, far surpassing the vast sums needed in the west's most expensive cities. Clearly, these housing values are unsustainable, which is one reason why the Chinese government is not interceding to bailout Evergrande. But there is a more significant issue that ties the crackdown of major technology and the real estate predicament: the growth of technology and the cost of housing has resulted in greater income inequity within China, similar to its occurrence in the United States. Why is this a problem?

With the accession of Xi Jingping in 2012, the theme of "common prosperity" has increasingly and more fiercely been emphasized. Xi views the Chinese economic model as superior to the western model of capitalism, whereby society as a whole prospers more equitably and appropriately under a hybrid system of capitalism managed and controlled by sturdy and benevolent government leadership. The Gini-coefficient in China, which measures distribution of income on a scale of 1-100 with 1 being a totally equitable society, is 38.5 compared to Russia's 37.5, with all of its oligarchs and poverty, and comparable to the 41.1 level in the United States. Consequently, it becomes difficult for a communist government to contend its policies ultimately result in common prosperity, when its ostensibly utilitarian model of governance offers no meaningful difference from other systems regarding income inequity, while also lagging behind the standard of living of its capitalistic competitors.

The adverse effects of high technology and real estate sectors, like in America, fall primarily on the young. The real estate sector is particularly pernicious towards the young, pricing most out of the home buying market in places proximate to where the best employment opportunities exist. High technology also creates huge inequity issues. In America, Amazon, among the richest companies in the world, is about to become the nation's largest employer. Yet, the vast majority of its workers toil in fast-paced warehouses and delivery trucks for wages at or modestly above minimum wage. China's largest technology firms, including Taiwan based Foxconn, which manufactures most Apple products, mimic Amazon's approach in what Chinese employees call 9-9-6, meaning work from 9am-9pm six days a week. Meanwhile, the large mostly migrant labor force building all of China's expensive real estate projects labor 72 hours a week for pay that offers little likelihood of ever owning the increasingly expensive housing units they are constructing. All of this has given rise to discontent and cynicism among China's younger population struggling for an economic foothold in modern China.

There is one notable difference between American and China. Youthful housing aspirants in America can readily borrow upwards of 90% of the cost to purchase a house from private lenders, whereas most housing in China is purchased without borrowed funds. To the extent private credit exists, most new homeowners need to provide 40-60% of the purchase price. As a result, most homes in China are bought by existing homeowners with equity in other properties, primarily for investment, because real estate values always go up - don't they. This situation exacerbates the difficulty for first-time homebuyers in China. Moreover, as younger workers struggle to save there is less disposable income available to move its society away from an export related economy dependent upon low wages to a more affluent consumer oriented economy. It also has left China with an estimated 65 million vacant housing units.

This confluence of factors is also harmful to the formation of marriage and families, which is already under distress due to its decades long one-child policy. Unfortunately, China's elimination of its one-child in 2016 hasn't boosted its population, and in fact, produced only 1.3 children per female (15-49) resulting in just 10 million births in 2020 compared to 17.86 million in 2016. As China's population begins to shrink, its economy will likewise suffer, as we have seen in Japan.

Xi Jingping surely recognizes these circumstances and is determined to achieve his "common prosperity" goal in a manner that evades potential conflict while addressing economic issues that have been festering and undermining China's governance model. Whether it can be done is the ultimate question. Perhaps his Russian counterparts can help him unwrap this enigma.   

Cryptocurrency - Transformative or Anarchistic for Society

By Randall Margo, G.L.O.B.A.L. Board Director & Commentator

Bari Weiss, who penned a blistering letter of resignation as an editor/writer for the New York Times, recently posted a debate on Substack on the case for and against Bitcoin, Bitcoin Is Civilization - by Balaji S. Srinivasan - Common Sense with Bari Weiss (substack.com) and Michael W. Green - Common Sense with Bari Weiss (substack.com). I bring this forward to commend Ms. Weiss for providing well-reasoned opinions side-by-side as an example of what major newspapers and magazines should furnish, allowing readers to make up their own minds on timely and complex topics, and to examine the comments made by Messrs. Srinivasan and Green.

Although the seeds of cryptocurrency were planted in the 1980s, it has only been about a decade since the currency commenced public trading. Bitcoin, the largest of the cryptocurrencies has a current market value of roughly $600 billion, while the total crypto market is now $2.5 trillion. Whether these astronomical values reflect a sophisticated ponzi scheme or a transformative method of exchanging money continues to be argued. Less examined and understood are the implications as to why the popularity of cryptocurrencies exist. 

Ms. Weiss hit on a key topic when she observed that fiat money systems are centralized through governments and central banks, whereas crypto systems are decentralized through an application known as Blockchain. Consequently, crypto systems function outside the regulatory control of governments. Key to crypto platforms is the privacy afforded individuals. Governments, however, tend to view this secrecy as enabling nefarious criminals to launder funds without detection or to escape taxes.

A recent example highlighting governmental concern was the cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline, which disrupted energy supplies and demanded ransom by Bitcoin payment. While the majority of funds were able to be recovered, the attack still netted the thieves a couple of million dollars. A larger issue though, is that these 'funds' are traded, maintained and accumulated beyond the reach of taxing authorities. To the extent cryptocurrencies can purchase goods and services from vendors, and the list is growing, it limits the power of governments to force individuals within their borders to accept their own currencies for payment.

Mr. Srinvivasan, former Chief Technology Officer for cryptocurrency company Coinbase, enthusiastically views this sweeping change occurring from the blockchain technology used to convey cryptocurrency. In countries where currencies are unstable and authoritarian regimes rule, he sees Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies providing a lifeline for financing dissidents that can't be tracked to the end users. Moreover, it provides an alternative source of 'money', thereby creating an option for residents living within nations that dilute the value of their fiat currencies, by unleashing unlimited amounts of dollars and debts. He points to Venezuela as the most egregious example of this practice.

He further contends that the same blockchain technology enabling cryptocurrency to be transferred without a central hub, such as the federal reserve, also can serve to construct a decentralized social network. Consequently, just like no banks are needed to move cryptocurrencies, no social network platforms like Facebook are required for individuals to send encrypted digital messages to each other. Mr. Srinvivasan identified several partially decentralized social networks presently in existence, noting more are being built. In essence, encryption lies at the heart of blockchain technology for financial or communication exchanges. But, instead of being on a hub platform, it is decentralized on a myriad of individual platforms, as a record-keeping ledger. Srinivasan argues that this leads to a world where government is unable to spy on its citizens - think China's social credit system, or America's NSA.  Online privacy of individuals is protected, not by inconsistent application of laws within nation-states, but by a technological system designed for confidentiality. He claims that the crypto community now reaches 100 million members across the globe in just its first decade, and is accessible to anyone with an internet-connected device, explaining that the cloud, not the land of one's residence, is where the future of financial and human freedom lies.

Michael Green, the former portfolio manager for Peter Thiel takes issue with much of the above. First, he argues that these cryptocurrencies are unsafe. If you lose your crypto-key, there is a power outage, or a cyber-attack, you lose everything. Unmentioned is that governments can easily shutoff land-based internet connections, as we have seen in Cuba and elsewhere, shutting out customers from their accounts. He further notes that China, Iran and Russia play a dominant role in the world of cryptocurrency, with China "...accounting for roughly 90% of the processing power in the Bitcoin network." These countries are using cryptocurrencies primarily to diminish the power of the U.S. dollar, which has remained the supreme currency for global trade since World War II.

Mr. Green emphasizes the criminal characteristics of Bitcoin, in which an estimated $400 million a month in illicit activity occurs, or roughly 40% of all Bitcoin usage. Meanwhile, the energy consumption used to mine the Bitcoins is now on par with that of Sweden. Of greater concern, is that the price of Bitcoin depends upon continuous additions of customers and fiat money. While the value may currently $600 billion, that is half of its value compared to just April of this year. It's difficult to make the case for an alternative currency to replace fiat money when that alternative lost half its value within the past three months.

Yet, if cryptocurrency is not the answer, it still leaves the overriding questions unresolved. How can fiat currencies increasingly expanded by nation-states to finance unsustainable debt, be corralled before these currencies are debased to the point worthlessness? And, is there a way to protect free speech where communication through digital platforms without the risk of tracking by governments, or high tech platforms? So far, the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve are promoting stablecoin as an alternative digital currency, which would mirror the dollar, albeit, with strict regulatory controls. While this could prevent a safer option for residents of nations like Cuba or Venezuela seeking a safe haven for their savings, it runs the same risks of government tracking.

In an environment where individual privacy is being eroded and fiscal policies among nations are severely testing the limits of government funded by debt, the debate on digital currencies and the accompanying blockchain technology reveals and presents these issues in an illuminating manner. How this debate is eventually resolved may provide the future course to our economic and private lives.

Donald Trump, Extremism, & the Aftermath

By Sosamma Samuel-Burnett, J.D.

Founder/President, G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice

 In January 2016, I wrote a commentary about the reasons why then presidential-candidate Donald Trump should not be elected President.  In November 2016, I wrote an open letter to then President-elect Donald Trump with the concerns I had for his presidency.  Now in January 2021, I write about the implications of outgoing-President Donald Trump’s presidency, especially in light of the riots that occurred just one week ago at the U.S. Capitol.  In each of these instances, my comments not only address concerns about Donald Trump but also concerns for the broader context of our country.  And as the U.S. is just a week away from the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, it is significant that we understand both sets of concerns if there is to be true progress in the aftermath of the recent riots.

Donald Trump the candidate did not have the character, temperament, or political experience to be President of the United States. But he was elected. Donald Trump as president became a divisive and polarizing figure for many.  But he also garnered the support of many others.

To understand the dichotomy of Donald Trump as President, we need to understand the precursors in our country that led to Donald Trump’s election.  Donald Trump becoming President was the result of an amplification of a range of issues that had long been part of America but that are surfacing in more apparent ways in recent years.  He was elected President because of two major factors -- a very disgruntled far Right and a dissatisfied right and center of America.  The establishment had "failed" these segments by not hearing or responding to their concerns.  Working class, rural communities, and others who did not feel an alignment with the view of the Democrats, gravitated to Trump who in some ways spoke their language or at least seemed to indicate an understanding of their points of view.  The disgruntled and the dissatisfied existed before the Trump presidency and under various previous presidencies. But Trump tapped into their emotions and amplified them in a way that other candidates had not recently.  And in the process of doing so, he also tapped into something further and of greater concern -- extremism. 

Beneath the various issues that our country has been facing both before, during, and presumably after the Trump presidency, is also a rising tide of extremism on both the far Right and the far Left.  Trump emboldened, both directly and indirectly, the extremists on both ends of the spectrum with his rhetoric and actions over the past four years, and especially in the past week.  But Trump is not solely responsible for the extremism in the U.S.  The nature of U.S. politics and the nature of our parties and media also contribute to the rise of extremism.

The divisive nature of American politics pre-dated Trump, but over the past four years, the far Right and the far Left have increasingly demonstrated their unwillingness to hear from the other side, to cooperate, and to compromise. As divisions have increased, segments of both the far Left and far Right no longer respect the values, principles, or institutions of our country.  As such, during the past four years in particular, the extremists followed those political divides to increasingly and more openly become associated directly or indirectly with the far Left and the far Right.   As each side has become more radicalized, extremists responses against these values, principles, and institutions have intensified.

 In addition, both the major political parties and media in general have deepened and widened the impact of Trump and the rise of extremism based on their own approaches and rhetoric in response to a myriad of political concerns in the country.  They have repeatedly placed Trump front and center no matter what their position about him.  Taken together with the broader context in the country, the parties and media have sparked extremism on both ends of the spectrum and Trump has been the lightning rod.  Extremism has thus become more apparent in the U.S. in recent years, though these segments have existed for a long time in this country.

Extremism then began to seep into the current political process.  While the Left (and some center and right) rejected the presidency of Donald Trump, the far Left extremists wanted to destroy the Trump presidency.  Similarly, the Right (and some others) rejected the election of Joe Biden, but extremists in the far Right wanted to destroy his election results.  As such, rejection has given way to riots, mobs, and violence.  It is no longer a matter of agreeing, disagreeing, or debating issues.  It is about using force and coercion to get what each side wants – power and control.

The riots that occurred at the U.S. Capitol one week ago were particularly shocking, but they were not a surprise. Extremists on both ends of the spectrum had demonstrated an anarchical and violent streak against our country for some time.  And they often work within the fringes of protest. Anarchical groups like Antifa and radical segments of BLM who were at the center of violent riots in 2020 were an indication that the extremes were now moving out from the shadows of the Left.  And the white supremacists and mob who stormed the Capitol indicated that the extremes on the Right were also pursuing violent means to anarchical ends.  Each instance of chaos and violence furthers the likelihood of a counter incident on the other side and deepens the impact of anarchists and extremists in general.

 In this past year especially, extremists are crossing literal and figurative societal boundaries with significant impact.  By destroying property, defacing monuments, storming the Capitol, threatening institutions and individuals, and causing loss of life, extremists are demonstrating their penchant for lawlessness and anarchy. The recent storming of our halls of government, invading government officials’ offices, and the forced entry to the floor of the House seems surreal unless you realize that these institutions and locations are the very representations of what the extremists want to destroy. When they violate boundaries of civil society, they are pursuing their ends.

 In the aftermath of last week’s violent riots, our government and our people stand in unusual and significant points of decision-making.  Both the government and the people need to determine not only the impacts and implications of the extremists’ actions, but also the bearing that President Donald Trump has in inciting or at least not quelling the mobs.  Vice President Mike Pence now has to exercise his own conscience in certifying the elections and choosing to or declining to invoke the 25th amendment against Donald Trump to strip him of his presidential power.   Congress needs to determine whether to pursue impeachment or censure – both of which require time for investigation and process. In addition, businesses, particularly media entities, are making decisions to censor and block Donald Trump but their actions can also have wider implications for the people beyond Trump’s presidency. 

 While these decisions are challenging, their implementation difficult, and their implications wide, they only address the immediate concerns about Donald Trump.  They do not address the broader concerns about extremism.  And it is likely that whatever decisions are made, they may further deepen the political divides and further amplify the extremes.

 To move forward, not just in a Joe Biden presidency, but for a more free, peaceful, and democratic America for years to come, the United States must recognize the need to fight extremism on all sides. That fight needs to be bipartisan and inclusive of a range of other perspectives.  This requires consensus among various segments of the U.S. on some key pillars for our society:

 1)      Human Rights:  Unless all sides are committed to ensuring human rights, extremists will always have a foothold to violate those rights. By protecting and respecting life, thought, speech, and other civil aspects of society that are inherent in human value and dignity, we position our society for justice rather than extremism.

2)      Rule of Law.  By applying the rule of law, we would hold those that engage in violations of law, including riots and violence, accountable no matter the party, the position, or reason.  While human and civil rights allow us to disagree and event protest, they do not allow us to be violent and destructive.  The rule of law applies boundaries and works in coordination with human rights. As such, the rule of law is a powerful guard against extremist actions.

 3)      Pluralism:  By encouraging a diverse and pluralistic society, we are allowing a range of perspectives and a strong context that even allows disagreement.  A pluralistic society requires room for many voices, even those that we don't want to accept. But pluralism is an extension of human rights and rule of law.  Viewpoints may diverge, but no viewpoint gives anyone the right to infringe on others lives and liberties.  Pluralism allows us to coexist, and when possible integrate, but only to the level that doesn’t conflict with human rights, laws, and values as a whole.  Pluralism grounded in human rights and rule of law also guards against the actions of extremist factions.

 4)      Governmental integrity:  We live in a constitutional democracy and democratic republic.  That means that we the people establish institutions and elect officials. We then rely on those institutions and officials to guide and make decisions on overall policy on behalf of those in our society.  Respecting the structures, institutions, processes, and representatives of our government is essential to making this system work.  But what is also essential is the integrity of those who serve in those roles. We must use the channels and institutions we have and work with our representatives to institute, implement, and enforce just laws and policies. And that can only happen through mutual trust and respect. That requires much cooperation and compromise but also integrity.  It is a necessary combination to ensure that extremists do not step into the voids and exploit conflicts.

 5)      Media integrity:  The Media should report the news and not create the news.  Real, fake, or otherwise, the current news sources are mostly biased and not serving the needs of our society.  The Media can be a powerful force for information and influence, but should not use that power to manipulate and coerce people into certain perspectives.  In doing so, they also open up opportunities for extremists to exploit media outlets for propaganda.

These and other key pillars need to be recognized, promoted, and protected not only by our government, but also by our media and by our people in our many contexts.  While Donald Trump and the current versions of extremism are our concerns today, the issues of extremism will continue beyond his presidency and even beyond Joe Biden’s presidency.  To safeguard our country from anarchy and violence into the future, we must rely on these pillars even when we disagree and even when it’s difficult.  Justice in and for the United States lies in how we respond and rebuild, and how we uphold these pillars, in the aftermath.

Top 10 Global News Stories of 2020

By Sosamma Samuel-Burnett, J.D.

Founder/President, G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice

G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice provides daily Global News summaries of key headlines of critical news stories.  But at the end of the year, I review the Global News and determine our Top 10 news stories of the year. 2020 was a particularly “newsworthy” year, so it presented many challenges to limit the number of news stories for a Top 10 list, especially given many domestic issues and global events that marked the year.  So with this unusual year, I opted for an unusual number for this year’s list.  Here are my Top 11 Global News Stories of 2020 based on their reach, impact, and implications for justice worldwide.

11. Harvey Weinstein/Jeffrey Epstein/Ghislaine Maxwell Sexual Assault & Exploitation Scandals:  Starting in 2017, Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein was accused by numerous women of sexual misconduct and assault from several previous years. By 2018, he was arrested and charged with rape.  And in 2020 Weinstein was found guilty and sentenced to 23 years in prison – bringing justice to the many women who were abused by him.  Alongside this conviction, another highly notorious sex scandal involved New York billionaire Jeffrey Epstein and former British social Ghislaine Maxwell. They were involved in an extensive assault and exploitation of minors, creating a ring of exploitation with some of the highest-ranking officials, business leaders, and celebrities. Epstein reportedly took his life while in jail on charges and Maxwell remains behind bars with a multimillion-dollar bail. These sexual scandals not only highlight the abuse and exploitation of women and girls but the depth and breadth of this exploitation even among the highest echelons of society.  

10. Royal and Economic shifts in Great Britain: 2020 marked a year when Great Britain saw key shifts in some of its key structures.  Not only did Prince Harry and his wife Meghan previously make headlines for their mixed-race matrimony, but in 2020 they also stepped away from their senior roles as Royals – marking some historic shifts within the royal history of Great Britain. In addition, the European Parliament ratified the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, marking the United Kingdom’s formal withdrawal from the European Union (EU). The remainder of this year marked a transition period for Great Britain and Europe to determine their economic relations. Both of these shifts mark significant and historic changes for Great Britain with global implications. 

9. Ukrainian plane crash: Early in 2020, a Ukrainian plane crashed in Tehran, Iran, shortly after take-off, killing 176 civilians. The Iranian government first denied then later admitted “unintentionally” shooting the plane, reportedly mistaking it for a cruise missile. The disaster resulted in mass protests in Iran calling for the removal of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

8. NASA-SpaceX  ‘Launch America’: While much of the Global News this year featured stories of devastation, disparity, abuse, and loss, 2020 also had a remarkable highlight. Launch America, a joint initiative of NASA and Space X, was conducted in May. NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken took off for the International Space Station (ISS) in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft from the Kennedy Space Center. This launch marked the first time in nine years that astronauts left from the U.S. in a U.S. rocket to reach Earth’s orbit.

7. Hurricanes and fires in the U.S.:  In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world also saw a range of natural catastrophes, especially in the U.S.  Notable was Hurricane Laura that hit the Louisiana Gulf Coast in August – one of 12 record-making named storms hitting the U.S. this year.  Similarly, the U.S. saw a range of historic fires in forests and mountains in Colorado, California, Oregon, and Washington State, with the devastating loss of millions of acres of land.

6.  The Death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Justice Ginsburg was a judicial and social icon, particularly for many women’s rights advocates in the U.S. and around the world, and her death was significant.  In addition, her passing marked a shift in the highest court of the U.S., opening the way for President Trump to nominate a more conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Despite the political concerns over the composition of the U.S. Supreme, Justice Coney Barrett also marks a historic addition of another woman to the high court.

5. Impeachment hearings for President Trump:  At the beginning of this year and before COVID-19 took over media and public attention, all eyes and ears were on the impeachment of Donald Trump by the U.S. House of Representatives led by Rep. Nancy Pelosi.  Later acquitted by the Senate, the President and the impeachment process reinforced the divide between the two parties and within the U.S. public.

4. U.S. Presidential Elections: In light of all the issues and concerns in our world and particularly in the U.S., this year’s presidential elections were one of the most divided in history.  Through a divided process and divisive political exchanges, President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden had a campaign year that was distinct.  Not only did this year’s elections garner the largest number of voters in many years (if ever) in the U.S., but it came in the midst of a global pandemic, with a backdrop of racial, cultural, social, economic, and political turmoil both domestically and internationally.

3. Racial conflicts in the U.S.: The killing of George Floyd by a police officer sparked a fire that figuratively and sometimes literally took flame not only in the U.S. but around the globe. A history of racism, police shootings against African Americans, and a media that captured significant aspects of the violence, together created a furor in many cities starting with Minneapolis.  While the resulting protests were sometimes peaceful and other times violent riots, they all are emblematic of a deeper set of racial tensions that coincide with the concerns of systemic racism, police brutality, economic insecurity, and other disparities.

2. Impact of China on the Globe:  Throughout the year, one of the constants of our Global News headlines was China.  It’s political, economic, and social issues have made a substantial impact on the globe.  From being the site of the first COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan to human rights abuses including gendercide, and economic and political power grabs, China stands as not only a world power but a central concern for the world.

1.  COVID-19:  There is no doubt that the new coronavirus and the resulting global pandemic has been the top headline throughout this past year.  Starting in Wuhan, China, COVID-19 spread across the world, including the U.S.. The World Health Organization declared it a global pandemic, reaching well over 150 countries by March and expected to affect up to 70 percent of the world’s population.  Starting in the Washington State, the U.S. has now become the center of many who are ill, hospitalized, or who have died as a result. The impact of COVID-19 included closing businesses, stores, restaurants, churches, and schools, raising wide-scale economic and social concerns.  It required “pivoting” to online work, education, and events, requiring many to learn new modalities and face the challenges of them.  It required cancellations and delays of sports, including the summer Olympics, as well as concerts, shows, and other arts events, changing how people recreating and interacted with one another, and it exacerbated many of the political, economic, and social ills of the world including increased poverty, displacement, exploitation, abuse, and suicide.  The implications of COVID-19 go far beyond this year, but our global community will forever associate 2020 with this coronavirus.