Feminist Weekly November 22
News clippings and #FeministWins curated by Contributing News Editor Annie Wu Henry, The Recount, and Good Good Good Co. From feel good news to headliners keeping you on the pulse. Here is the round up for the week!
ICYMI
‘Peng, 35, a three-time Olympian, had been missing since Nov. 2, when she used social media to accuse Zhang Gaoli, 75, a former vice premier of China, of sexually assaulting her at his home three years ago. She also described having had an on-and-off consensual relationship with Zhang.’ Public attention was brought to the matter after tennis star Naomi Osaka took to her own social media to ask “Where is Peng Shuai?”
‘The Chinese tennis star disappeared from public view for weeks this month after she accused a top Chinese leader of sexual assault, prompting a global chorus of concern for her safety. Then, this weekend, the editor of a Communist Party-controlled newspaper posted video clips that appear to show Ms. Peng eating at a restaurant and attending a tennis event in Beijing. And on Sunday, the International Olympic Committee said its president had spoken with her in a video call.
A representative for the Women’s Tennis Association said it was “good to see” Ms. Peng in recent videos, but added that the organization remained concerned about her ability to communicate freely. China’s authoritarian government has a long record of iron-fisted treatment of people who threaten to undermine public confidence in the party’s senior leaders.’ (Via New York Times)
There were wins for representation in the election.
While many were dismayed that the Virginia gubernatorial race went to a rich, white conservative, let’s take a moment to celebrate the history that WAS made on Tuesday’s Election Day around the country and remember that we must keep fighting for progress. Michelle Wu is the first woman and person of color to be elected Boston's mayor. She is daughter of Taiwanese immigrants and her election broke Boston's 199-year streak of white, male city leaders. Ed Gainey was elected Pittsburgh’s first Black mayor. He was born and raised by a single mother in Pittsburgh, where he lived in public housing and now will represent the area which is 23% Black. Elaine O'Neal will be first Black woman mayor of Durham, North Carolina. She ran on boosting public safety and access to housing and jobs. Aftab Pureval was elected as Cincinnati’s first Asian American mayor. The 39-year-old Tibetan-Indian son of immigrants won against his more moderate 82-year-old opponent and has advocated for funding several public safety programs. Abdullah Hammoud, the son of Lebanese immigrants, will become the first Arab-American and Muslim mayor of Dearborn, Mich. The Detroit suburb which has one of the largest Arab communities in the U.S. has never been reflected in the city's highest office. Eric Adams will be the second Black man to lead New York City. A Brooklyn native who currently serves as its borough president, he ran on the promise to both beef up and reform the NYPD. Alvin Bragg was elected as Manhattan's new district attorney, the first Black person to hold the job. A native of Harlem, he will lead an office that's currently pursuing an investigation into former President Donald Trump's business practices. Shahana Hanif became the first Muslim woman elected to City Council. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Hanif is the daughter of Bangladeshi Muslim immigrants and vowed to help build an “anti-racist, feminist city.” We celebrate these and the many other small wins that were made around the country in local and state elections and remember that we must keep fighting for progress!
Over 100 experts and advocates are demanding the world's largest PR firm drop all of its fossil fuel clients.
A group of over 100 creators, educators, and advocates just shared a joint statement to @edelman, demanding they drop all its clients that are causing climate destruction. "As experts in sustainability and advocates dedicated to climate justice, many of us are frequently asked by public relations and advertising agencies to participate in sustainability campaigns. Yet many of these same agencies are simultaneously working with fossil-fuel corporations to spread climate denial and misinformation," the statement, published on @clean_creatives, said. According to Clean Creatives, "Edelman does more work for fossil fuel interests than any PR agency on earth. "In the statement, the advocates said private conversations with the firm went "nowhere," and were now publicly demanding Edelman "drop ExxonMobil and all other fossil-fuel clients. Ending advertising and PR for fossil-fuel companies is a crucial step toward climate justice." The statement also invites other thought leaders, advocates, activists, creatives, influencers, and social media managers to join the #EdelmanDropExxon campaign and pressure the advertising and PR industry to drop fossil fuel clients. (Via GoodGoodGood)
The Department of Justice has challenged Texas' harmful voting restrictions. — The Justice Department challenged Texas' new voting law. The department says that the measure, which was passed by the Republican-led Texas Legislature, violates the Voting Rights Act because it prevents Texans who do not speak English, older voters, and people with disabilities from voting. The Texas law, which Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed in September, bans election officials from promoting mail-in voting or sending out unsolicited absentee ballot applications, even though neither of those measures has ever led to proven massive voter fraud. It also limits the use of ballot drop boxes and expands poll watchers' authority. Kristen Clarke, head of the DOJ civil rights division, called Texas' restrictions on how poll workers can help voters and absentee ballot rules "unlawful and indefensible." Governor Abbott then sent a tweet that said, "Bring it. The Texas election integrity law is legal." (Via NY Times)
Americans quit jobs in record numbers in September — economists say this is because workers are seeking better pay and benefits.— In September 2021, Americans quit their jobs in unprecedented numbers according to data released by the Labor Department. A record 4.4 million people voluntarily left their jobs during the month with the "quits rate" up to 3 percent which is also a record high. These stats supported the signs that the labor market is recovering as the economy rebounds from the damage of coronavirus pandemic lockdowns and business shutdowns. Economists say this trend in the numbers shows that American workers are increasingly willing to leave their current jobs in search of better pay and greater satisfaction. Currently in America, there is not a single state in which someone working a full time job that pays minimum wage can afford to rent a two bedroom place to live. (Via The Hill)
U.N. researchers warn that the Earth's temperature is set to exceed the target. — Global temperatures are on a path to rise to 2.5 degrees Celsius (4.5 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels. At the COP26 summit in Galsgow, Scotland, the United Nations scientists warned that this much of an increase in average global temperatures exceeds the world's shared target by a full degree Celsius, and could result in catastrophic damage from climate change. In their preliminary analysis, the U.N. researchers determined there is a huge divide between countries' vows to reach net zero carbon emissions around 2050 and their more immediate plans for concrete actions to cut greenhouse-gas pollution. The Earth already is 1.1 degrees Celsius warmer than it was before the Industrial Revolution. (Via Washington Post)
Disability activist Engracia Figueroa passed away after an airline destroyed her custom wheelchair — people are honoring her life by demanding change.
On October 31, 2021 disability rights activist Engracia Figueroa passed away due to complications caused by damage done to her wheelchair by United Airlines. Last July, Engracia’s wheelchair, which was custom-designed to support her spinal cord injury and left leg amputation, was destroyed by United Airlines. Engracia’s wheelchair was critical to her independence, as well as essential to maintaining her health. Instead of replacing the wheelchair, United insisted that they would only pay to have it repaired. United provided a loaner chair that was ill-fitted to Engracia which further exacerbated her injuries. Ultimately, United Airlines agreed to fully replace Engracia’s chair valued at $30,000. However, the months in which they fought against the replacement took a toll on her body. Because the loaner chair United provided was not properly fitted to her body, Engracia suffered from muscle spasms, body sores, severe edema, and an inability to eat, as well as two additional hospitalizations. Her sores became infected and these complications directly caused Figueroa’s death. While shocking and devastating, stories like Engracia’s unfortunately aren’t rare. When you hear them, you might feel like there’s nothing you can do to make a difference or help make change inside these huge companies — but that’s not true. People are already coming together to honor her life by demanding change — and you can join in and make a difference. (Via GoodGoodGood)
The jury has found Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty on all charges in the shooting of three men in Kenosha, Wisconsin during a Black Live Matter protest in 2020
The jury has found Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty on all charges in the shooting of three men in Kenosha, Wisconsin during protests that were in direct response to the murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade and countless others who were unjustly murdered at the hands of police in 2020 and beyond.
We will not stand for the continued disregard for the impact of white supremacy, patriarchy and the violent systems of oppression that so frequently harm us and our communities. If the system continues to uphold white supremacy, we must continue to work to dismantle it.
Cover photo by @madisonswart ft. @ramenactivist
Astroworld crowd-surge resulted in lives lost.
A crowd surge quickly became deadly at the Astroworld music festival in Houston. Those who have passed ranged in age from 14 to 27 and an additional 25 people were hospitalized. At this point, investigations are unable to pinpoint if it was a single event that triggered the chaos or if it was a combination of factors at the sold-out venue in which over 50,000 were in attendance. Officials in Houston have comitted to providing the public with answers to how this tragic event unfolded. “This is a very, very active investigation, and we will probably be at it for quite some time to determine what exactly happened,” Houston mayor Sylvester Turner said at a press briefing. Houston Police Department chief Troy Finner also said, “This is now a criminal investigation that’s going to involve our homicide division, as well as narcotics, and we’re going to get down to the bottom of it.” According to online posts from those who attended the festival, there were countless pleas to staff and the performers to pause the show to mitigate what was happening, but not nearly enough efforts were made. (Via Vulture)
Senator Kirstin Gillibrand and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex are working together to get paid leave passed in the U.S.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex recently called Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York — who in 2013 proposed her own paid leave bill — and expressed her desire to help ensure the U.S. passes a universal paid leave policy. Last month, Meghan wrote a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Chuck Schumer as an “engaged citizen and parent” who recently gave birth to her second child. Leave for their family was essential to provide the best care they could for their daughter, she wrote, but it’s a benefit most Americans go without. “No family should have to choose between earning a living and having the freedom to take care of their child,” Meghan wrote, adding that for the United States to “continue to be exceptional, then we can’t be the exception” on paid leave. As @19thnews reports, the U.S. is one of only a handful of nations that does not offer the benefit. (Via GoodGoodGood)
The conservative Supreme Court signals it would like to broaden gun rights. — The Supreme Court's conservative majority signaled that it was leaning toward striking down a New York law limiting the right to carry concealed handguns, potentially broadening gun rights. The court currently holds a conservative majority with 3 of the current justices having been appointed by former President Trump. About 80 million Americans live in states that restrict concealed carrying of firearms. The state of New York limits licenses for concealed weapons to people who are hunting, shooting, or those who work jobs such as bank couriers who have a special need to protect themselves. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito asked New York Solicitor General Barbara Underwood how denying licenses to people who are "scared to death" when they are walking home or to the subway was "consistent with the core right to self-defense, which is protected by the Second Amendment?" (Via NPR)
Prosecutors protested the predominantly white jury in the trial for the murder of Amaud Arbery. — Three white men were put on trial for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old unarmed Black man who was on his daily jog. The defendants — George McMichael, his son Travis McMichael, and their neighbor William "Roddie" Bryan Jr. — are accused of racially profiling Arbery, chasing him down, shooting him and killing him as he was jogging through their neighborhood in Georgia. Prosecutors objected to the makeup of the jury, which included 11 white jurors and only one Black member. Prosecutors said the defense eliminated Black potential jurors who were qualified simply because of their race. Judge Timothy Walmsley agreed that "there appears to be intentional discrimination," but said the case could proceed because the defense met its obligation to show a "legitimate, nondiscriminatory" reason for striking each potential juror. (Via CNN)
#FeministWins
Three nations are now 'carbon negative' — absorbing more carbon than they produce.
The heavily forested Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan — which measures its success in "Gross National Happiness" — hasn't made a net-zero pledge, like a growing number of nations. That's because it is already "carbon negative", absorbing more climate-changing emissions each year than it produces. Bhutan absorbs more than 9 million tonnes of carbon each year, while its economy, designed to reduce fossil fuel use and waste, produces less than 4 million tonnes. Bhutan joins a tiny but growing club of "carbon negative" countries including two others: Suriname — a small rainforest country north of Brazil — and Panama, which is expected to be certified later this year. (Via Good Good Good)
100,000 protesters demanded concrete climate action at COP26.
Outside the United Nations' COP26 summit an estimated 100,000 climate activists demonstrated in Glasgow after Friday's student protest with a demand for concrete action to fight climate change at the The leaders at the demonstration echoed tje sentiment of climate activist Greta Thunberg, who criticized the leaders at the summit for ignoring their responsibility to prevent temperatures from rising enough to cause catastrophic damage. "Inside that conference of polluters, the climate criminals are hiding behind barbed wire and fences and lines of police," said Asad Rehman, the COP26 Coalition spokesperson, to the protest crowd. "We're not going to accept their suicide pact." (Via Washington Post)
Taylor Swift's Red (Taylor's Version) broke the record for the most-streamed album in a day by a female and Taylor broke the record for the most-streamed female in a day in Spotify history.
Taylor Swift released her second re-recorded album, Red (Taylor's Version). The album was originally released in October 2012, however after long legal battles over ownership of her own works, Taylor announced she would be re-recording all of the music that she was cheated out of owning and including some additional songs on each album that had never been released. Red was Taylor's transition into pop music and many acknowledge her song All Too Well as one of her best breakup songs. In the "Taylor's Version" of this album, Taylor released a 10-minute version of the song, coupled with a short film of the song that illuminated the themes of couple's power dynamics, gaslighting, emotional abuse, and ultimately, the protagonists ability to overcome those things. The album has broken multiple records in the few days it has been out, including the most-streamed album by a female in a day and Taylor broke the record for most-streamed female in a day in the streaming app Spotify's history. (Via Spotify)
A new study in England found the HPV vaccine has lowered cervical cancer cases by 87%.
A new study — and the first based on real-world data! — in England found that the human papillomavirus, or HPV, vaccine is cutting cases of cervical cancer by 87%. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women around the world, and kills more than 300,000 women every year, according to reporting by the BBC. Additionally, around 9 out of every 10 deaths are in low- and middle-income countries cervical cancer screenings are scarcely accessible. Since nearly all cervical cancers are caused by viruses, experts hope that vaccination could nearly eliminate the disease — and that vaccination would have an even bigger impact in low- and middle-income countries. Cancer Research UK called the findings "historic", and that it showed the vaccine was saving lives. More than 100 countries have started using the vaccine. (Via GoodGoodGood)
Dozens of countries vowed to phase out coal-fueled power plants at COP26.
More than 40 countries at the United Nations' COP26 climate summit pledged to phase out the use of power plants fueled by coal, the single biggest contributor to climate change. The countries signing onto the deal included major coal using countries including Poland, Vietnam, and Chile. Some of the world's biggest consumers of coal like China and the United States did not join in this pledge. "The end of coal is in sight," said Kwasi Kwarteng, the U.K.'s business and energy secretary. A critic said the coal pledge was "not a game-changer." The U.S. signed a separate deal backed by 20 countries committing to end public financing of "unabated" fossil-fuel projects, which don't capture CO2 emissions, abroad by the end of 2022. Several major banks agreed to stop funding new coal plants. (Via Reuters)
The New York City Marathon women's winner made history.
Peres Jepchirchir won the New York City Marathon 2021 and became the first runner in the women's competition to win both Olympic gold and the New York race. "It's not easy," Jepchirchir told ESPN, referring to the New York City Marathon. "Toward the finishing line, I felt something I've never felt before to finish a marathon." The 28-year-old from Kenya finished the 26.2 mile race in 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 39 seconds. She had previously won the gold in the women's marathon at the Tokyo Olympics. (Via ESPN)
The U.S. Senate confirmed the first openly LGBTQ+ woman to serve on a federal appeals court.
Beth Robinson, a Vermont Supreme Court judge who served as co-counsel in the country’s first case to establish that LGBTQ+ couples deserve the same legal protections afforded to straight married couples, was confirmed by a 51-45 Senate vote on Monday as President Joe Biden’s nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. @19thnews reports that Robinson is the first out LGBTQ+ woman to serve on a federal appeals court, following the appointment of Judge Todd Michael Hughes in 2013 — the first LGBTQ+ person to hold such a position. (Via GoodGoodGood)
A judge approved a $626 million settlement for the Flint water crisis.
A federal judge has approved a $626 million settlement in the Flint, Michigan, water crisis. After years of lawsuits and investigations, this decision is a milestone in the scandal in which children and other residents of the predominantly Black city of 95,000 were exposed to lead-contaminated drinking water. The state of Michigan will be footing the bill for most of the settlement, which is one of the largest in state history. "The settlement reached here is a remarkable achievement for many reasons, not the least of which is that it sets forth a comprehensive compensation program and timeline that is consistent for every qualifying participant," said the judge in the decision. (Via Washington Post)
After 13 years in a controlling conservatorship, Britney Spears is free!
After a 13 year conservatorship, Britney Spears is free! A Los Angeles judge terminated the conservatorship that had controlled the pop star's life, with the decision taking effect immediately. This past summer Britney spoke out against the conservatorship in court, calling it "abusive" and asking to have it dissolved. "I just want my life back," Spears previously said in her virtual court appearance. "And it's been 13 years. And it's enough." She argued that the arrangement was so controlling it prevented her from getting married and having children. Spears won her first legal victory in September when a judge suspended her father, Jamie Spears, from the conservatorship. Many fans have been advocating against the conservatorship for years and when the news broke about the decision, there were "Britney is free" celebrations outside.
The largest Dutch pension fund announced it will no longer invest in fossil fuel companies.
Ahead of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference (which started today), the largest pension fund in The Netherlands announced it would top investing in fossil fuel companies. The Dutch ABP fund said the move was a longtime request from their members, and was prompted by recent climate reports. According to reporting from the Associated Press, ABP manages the pension savings of more than 3 million Dutch government and education workers. Nearly 3% of its assets, or $17.4 billion is currently invested in fossil fuels. The head of climate and energy at the Dutch branch of Greenpeace, Faiza Oulahsen, said it was “fantastic news in the fight against the climate crisis." “This step by ABP is extremely important and makes clear once again that the time of coal, oil and gas is passing,” Oulahsen said. “Quitting fossils is the only logical answer to scientists’ warnings. We also expect this step from other financiers, major polluters and governments.” “We want to contribute to minimizing global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Large groups of pension participants and employers indicate how important this is to them,” ABP Chairman of the Board Corien Wortmann said in a statement. “The ABP Board sees the need and urgency for a change of course,” she added. “We part with our investments in fossil fuel producers because we see insufficient opportunity for us as a shareholder to push for the necessary, significant acceleration of the energy transition at these companies.” (Via GoodGoodGood)
A handgesture led to the rescue of a teenage girl
Palm facing outward, other fingers curled around the thumb. This simple gesture — resembling a closed fist — led to the recent rescue of a 16-year-old girl who had been reported missing from North Carolina days before. The girl sat in the passenger seat of a silver car traveling southbound on a Kentucky interstate and appeared to be “making hand gestures” to other vehicles, officials said. A driver recognized the hand gesture from a viral TikTok video, knew it meant the girl was in danger, and immediately called the police. The gesture was created by the Canadian Women’s Foundation in April 2020 as the pandemic left many isolated in their homes. As people had fewer chances to interact with others or be seen, the organization saw a need to find other ways to signal distress. By July 2020, about 1 in 3 people in Canada knew about or had seen the signal used, according to public opinion polls. "Just as the signal went viral real quick, we’re hoping the training around being a great responder to people in need will similarly go viral," Andrea Gunraj, vice president of public engagement at the foundation told @19thnews. (Via GoodGoodGood)
ON THE PANDEMIC FRONT…
The CDC backed the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. — An advisory panel for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unanimously recommended granting emergency-use authorization to the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. This panel reviewed the Food and Drug Administration's approval, which was made last week. The experts also discussed the potential for the rare side effect myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart. A CDC scientist who presented data on the condition at the meeting, said that "getting COVID I think is much riskier to the heart than this vaccine, no matter what age or sex." CDC Director Rochelle Walensky promptly signed off on the vaccine. About 28 million children 5 to 11 will be eligible to get their first dose, which is roughly one-third the size of teen doses, within days. (Via NY Times)
The CDC released information that people with natural coronavirus immunity should still get vaccinated. — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report that said vaccines offer "higher, more robust, and more consistent" protection against COVID-19 than just coronavirus infection-induced and vaccine-induced immunity that last at least six months. The report also included that no test authorized by the Food and Drug Administration can reliably measure a person's level of protection. The CDC concluded, based on the research, that despite any natural immunity and those who have already been infected with the coronavirus, should get vaccinated. (Via Washington Post)
The U.K. became the 1st country to approve Merck's COVID pil. — The United Kingdom has approved a promising pill developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics to treat COVID-19. In trials, this pill has reduced the chances of hospitalization and death by almost half. The recommendation by the U.K.'s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency made Britain the first country to sign off on using the antiviral medicine, molnupiravir, to treat people with moderate COVID-19 and at least one risk factor for developing a severe case. Those preexisting conditions include obesity, heart disease, and older age diabetes. The regulator said molnupiravir should be given to patients as soon as possible after they test positive, and within five days of their first symptoms. U.S. experts are meeting later this month to consider whether to recommend use of the drug there. (Via Reuters)
Large companies in the U.S. will have until Jan. 4 to implement vaccine mandates. — The Biden administration announced that large companies have until Jan. 4 to comply with President Biden's coronavirus vaccine requirement for their workers. In September, Biden told the Labor Department to invoke its workplace-safety emergency powers to require companies with 100 or more employees to make vaccinations mandatory for their workers. If employees refuse to get vaccinated, they will be mandated to weekly testing. There are many major corporations that have already announced vaccine requirements for their employees — some have waited for final rules from the federal government. A Mercer poll of 1,088 companies found that as of Oct. 4, 13 percent of respondents were requiring vaccinations company-wide, and 11 percent were only doing it for those coming to the office. (Via NY Times)
A judge overrules the Texas governor's ban on school mask mandates. — A federal judge in Austin has ruled that Texas school districts can require face coverings. This overrules Texas Gov. Abbott's (R) ban on mask mandates in state schools. U.S. District Court Judge Lee Yeakel said Abbott's order violated a federal law protecting disabled students' access to public education. Just days after Abbott imposed the ban, Disabled Rights Texas, a nonprofit advocacy group, filed a lawsuit arguing Abbott's order prohibited accommodations for disabled children who are highly vulnerable to severe effects of COVID-19. "No student should be forced to make the choice of forfeiting their education or risking their health, and now they won't have to," said Kym Davis Rogers, a litigation attorney at Disability Rights Texas, in a statement on the group's website. (Via NPR)
900,000 children ages 5 to 11 have gotten their 1st vaccine shots. — The White House estimated that nearly 1 million kids ages 5 to 11 have received shots of Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine since its recent authorization. COVID Response Coordinator Jeff Zients "conservatively" judged the number of kids to have received their first shot at 900,000. He also said that people have scheduled another 700,000 pediatric vaccination appointments at U.S. pharmacies. "Our goal clearly is to vaccinate as many kids as possible," Zients said Wednesday at a White House pandemic briefing. "This is the very beginning of the program. The program is just getting up to full strength." To avoid a lag in reporting to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the White House came up with its estimate by contacting state and local health officials. (Via NY Times)
Annie Wu Henry is a journalist, social media expert and politics + pop culture junkie. On the cusp of being a gen-z and millennial she understands the power and privilege that social media holds and chooses to use her platform to utilize these tools for good. Through sharing news in digestible, entertaining and easy to understand content, Annie seeks to promote the message that anyone can be an activist and make an impact. She believes people are important and thrives on building meaningful connections with others through sharing our stories and perspectives. As a proud adopted Asian-American, her work focuses on equality, mental health, intersectionality and education.
