nder The Radar is a special series and newsletter offering from Diplomatic Courier bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world over the past month. This month in the Americas: controversial judicial reform in Mexico, the worst drought ever recorded in the Amazon, and a Canadian women’s hockey club’s fight for survival amid what they claim to be gender discrimination.
Mexico’s judicial reform prompts elation, concern
On 15 September 2024, Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador signed into law a judicial reform that critics argue threatens their democracy. The government says the reform will help eliminate judicial corruption, holding judges publicly accountable by allowing the public to elect judges by vote rather than appointing them. Critics fear this change will only exacerbate corruption.
Protestors have taken to the streets to voice their concerns that the measure will make corruption worse, as Mexico used to elect judges under the previous constitution—and the current rules were put into place specifically to fight corruption among elected judges. The protestors argue that by allowing the judges to be elected, judges will feel pressured to make rulings that will be popular. Critics also believe this fear will make the judiciary not only less just, but less capable of acting as a check to the power of the executive.
This new reform affects not only how judges are selected but also reduces the qualifications a candidate must possess to be considered for the role. Rather than the exams previously required, only academic qualifications and letters of recommendation will be required to qualify for candidacy.
Another record–breaking drought in the Amazon
The Amazon’s dry season lasts from June to November and, since September, the Amazon River has been in the midst of the worst drought ever recorded. Driven in no small part by climate change and deforestation, the region has suffered more and more serious droughts in recent years. The trend will likely get worse before it gets better as climate change continues to accelerate globally and deforestation in the Amazon continues despite commitments by the Brazilian government to halt deforestation over the coming years.
Unfortunately, the extreme drought has a ripple effect that impacts not just area residents but the world. Many locals have begun protesting and demanding action from the government to preserve the ecosystem, as the Amazon River’s waters are necessary for transport, trade, subsistence, and drinking. At present, the river’s waters can support nearly none of these activities.
On 20 September 2024, a group of Brazilian Greenpeace activists placed a banner reading “WHO PAYS?” on a sandbank now exposed by the record–breaking drought. The activists are protesting international and Brazilian banks’ continued investments, sometimes using taxpayer money, in fossil fuel usage and deforestation. Spokesperson Romulo Batista highlighted that vulnerable communities pay the highest price as climate change continues to impact the environment.
In storied Canadian hockey city, women’s league in peril
Kenora, a city in Ontario, Canada, helped shape the modern sport of hockey. The Kenora Thistles—formerly named Rat Portage Thistles—won the Stanley Cup in 1907 with their focus on “skating fast,” which encouraged other teams to follow suit until it became a necessary skill of the sport. Today, members of the Kenora Women’s Hockey Team are looking to save their ability to play the game by threatening to sue the city on the basis of gender discrimination.
In a letter sent to the city, the women’s representatives allege that while 31 hours a week are allocated to hockey practices for men, only two hours a week are allocated for the women’s league. Those two hours are also after 10 p.m., a difficult time for many, especially mothers, to attend practice.
As of when the women sent the letter to the city, the Kenora Women’s Hockey Team had already lost many members. A goalie explained that while 90 women used to show up to practices, now “less than 20 … might show up.” Citizens of Kenora have expressed fears that these scheduling policies will make hockey inaccessible for adult women. For such a passionate hockey town, these women believe that their league falling apart would be unacceptable.
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Does judicial reform endanger Mexico’s democracy?
Mexico City protest against hate, 2017. Photo by Jerónimo Bernot on Unsplash
October 7, 2024
Diplomatic Courier staff writer Stephanie Gull brings you three under–the-radar stories from the Americas in September: Mexico’s judicial reform draws criticism, a major drought in the Amazon, and a Canadian women’s hockey club’s fight for survival.
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nder The Radar is a special series and newsletter offering from Diplomatic Courier bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world over the past month. This month in the Americas: controversial judicial reform in Mexico, the worst drought ever recorded in the Amazon, and a Canadian women’s hockey club’s fight for survival amid what they claim to be gender discrimination.
Mexico’s judicial reform prompts elation, concern
On 15 September 2024, Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador signed into law a judicial reform that critics argue threatens their democracy. The government says the reform will help eliminate judicial corruption, holding judges publicly accountable by allowing the public to elect judges by vote rather than appointing them. Critics fear this change will only exacerbate corruption.
Protestors have taken to the streets to voice their concerns that the measure will make corruption worse, as Mexico used to elect judges under the previous constitution—and the current rules were put into place specifically to fight corruption among elected judges. The protestors argue that by allowing the judges to be elected, judges will feel pressured to make rulings that will be popular. Critics also believe this fear will make the judiciary not only less just, but less capable of acting as a check to the power of the executive.
This new reform affects not only how judges are selected but also reduces the qualifications a candidate must possess to be considered for the role. Rather than the exams previously required, only academic qualifications and letters of recommendation will be required to qualify for candidacy.
Another record–breaking drought in the Amazon
The Amazon’s dry season lasts from June to November and, since September, the Amazon River has been in the midst of the worst drought ever recorded. Driven in no small part by climate change and deforestation, the region has suffered more and more serious droughts in recent years. The trend will likely get worse before it gets better as climate change continues to accelerate globally and deforestation in the Amazon continues despite commitments by the Brazilian government to halt deforestation over the coming years.
Unfortunately, the extreme drought has a ripple effect that impacts not just area residents but the world. Many locals have begun protesting and demanding action from the government to preserve the ecosystem, as the Amazon River’s waters are necessary for transport, trade, subsistence, and drinking. At present, the river’s waters can support nearly none of these activities.
On 20 September 2024, a group of Brazilian Greenpeace activists placed a banner reading “WHO PAYS?” on a sandbank now exposed by the record–breaking drought. The activists are protesting international and Brazilian banks’ continued investments, sometimes using taxpayer money, in fossil fuel usage and deforestation. Spokesperson Romulo Batista highlighted that vulnerable communities pay the highest price as climate change continues to impact the environment.
In storied Canadian hockey city, women’s league in peril
Kenora, a city in Ontario, Canada, helped shape the modern sport of hockey. The Kenora Thistles—formerly named Rat Portage Thistles—won the Stanley Cup in 1907 with their focus on “skating fast,” which encouraged other teams to follow suit until it became a necessary skill of the sport. Today, members of the Kenora Women’s Hockey Team are looking to save their ability to play the game by threatening to sue the city on the basis of gender discrimination.
In a letter sent to the city, the women’s representatives allege that while 31 hours a week are allocated to hockey practices for men, only two hours a week are allocated for the women’s league. Those two hours are also after 10 p.m., a difficult time for many, especially mothers, to attend practice.
As of when the women sent the letter to the city, the Kenora Women’s Hockey Team had already lost many members. A goalie explained that while 90 women used to show up to practices, now “less than 20 … might show up.” Citizens of Kenora have expressed fears that these scheduling policies will make hockey inaccessible for adult women. For such a passionate hockey town, these women believe that their league falling apart would be unacceptable.
