williamflannery

Gasoline to Winter Fire

While Russia continues their hot war in the beseiged country of Ukraine, they must fight on another front– a cold war sparked with gasoline against Europe. The European Union has recently finalized a deal on regulating emergency gas cuts this upcoming winter despite energy cut-offs from Putin. The surge in natural gas prices has alreadyContinue reading “Gasoline to Winter Fire”

Music Review: The Spielberg/Williams Collaboration

This week I wanted to take a break from politics and write about art, namely some of my favorite music. I started on the 16th of July and wrote quite a bit, but hopefully it makes for an okay read. ————————————————————————————————– John Williams and Steven Spielberg have had a collaboration like no other, coming upContinue reading “Music Review: The Spielberg/Williams Collaboration”

The Faroe Island Whale Cull

It seems bizarre that a government would sanction the killing of dolphins, but that is what the Faroe Islands have precisely done. As a part of their annual whale cull, they have set a quota for no more than 500 dolphins to be hunted by fishermen. Though this cull has historic roots in the islands’Continue reading “The Faroe Island Whale Cull”

An Unfinished Journey

I understand if on this Fourth of July, you don’t quite feel like celebrating. With the rise of gun violence, Supreme Court rulings and future agendas, and a divisive political landscape that has unwoven through the last decade– it makes sense not to feel pride in this country. But if celebration isn’t what you feelContinue reading “An Unfinished Journey “

The Leap Backwards is Just Beginning

This past Friday, the United States took a major step backwards in civil and women’s rights when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, leaving the legality of abortion at the mercy of the states. This is seen by many as an afornt to women’s rights and will likely causes multitude of deaths– either byContinue reading “The Leap Backwards is Just Beginning “

Remembering Vincent Chin

Forty years ago, Vincent Chin was murdered. Forty years on, his memory remains both in remembrance and in chilling parallel to hate crimes today. In 1982, Chin was approached by two men in the city of Detroit where an altercation broke out and Chin was left mortally wounded by a baseball bat. The assailants hadContinue reading “Remembering Vincent Chin”

The Ripples of Europe felt in the Pacific

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has dominated the international spotlight, but it’s important not to lose focus on another rising contender in this new world stage– The People’s Republic of China. Recently, an international group based in the Pacific known as The Quad (consisting of Japan, India, Australia, and the United States) met toContinue reading “The Ripples of Europe felt in the Pacific”

No SWIFT way around a Security Dilemma

Mounting pressure against the Kremlin continues as the European Union agrees to block more than two-thirds of Russia’s oil imports. This action, compounded with the EU’s decision to cut Russia’s largest bank from the global SWIFT economic system, brings heavy consequences to Putin as his forces move through the Donbass. But is it too late?Continue reading “No SWIFT way around a Security Dilemma”

Enough

Warning: Sensitive topics ahead. I am reminded once more that I live in a country where I might have to one day tell my children “in case a school shooting ever happens, try covering yourself in blood to play dead.” I say this because in the wake of the Uvalde school shooting that took theContinue reading “Enough”

No More Happy Meals for Russia

McDonalds has announced that it will be closing all of its locations within Russia following President Vladamir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. McDonalds had previously closed 800 restaurants in the country since the war broke out last March, but are now going through with a complete shutdown of their operations in Russia, which will cost theContinue reading “No More Happy Meals for Russia”