Week #56 {October 10 '23}
- The Bulletin Buzz
- Oct 10, 2023
- 6 min read
Articles by Ananya Nayar, Rain Jha and Misaki Tomiyama
Articles:
Israel War: What’s happening?
By Misaki Tomiyama
On Saturday, at 6:30 a.m., the Palestinian military group called Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, near the Gaza Strip. Around 5000 rockets were launched according to Hamas. Hundreds of Israelis were killed in this attack, and Israel retaliated by bombing the Gaza Strip, and on Sunday, Israel declared war.
What/Where is the Gaza Strip?
The Gaza Strip is a narrow piece of land between Israel and Egypt. It was controlled by Egypt till 1948, after which Israel seized control after a war in 1967. That is, until 2005, which is when Israel withdrew 9000 settlers and military forces after succumbing to international pressures. This left Palestine with the dominant control over the Gaza Strip. However, to this day, Israel still seizes land, air, and sea control over the region's border, despite criticisms about how Israel’s act is going against the Geneva Convention, and thus illegal. The Gaza Strip is currently controlled by Hamas and is considered one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
Who/ What is Hamas?
Palestine has two main political parties, and Hamas is one of them. They currently have control over the Gaza Strip, and aim to replace Israel with an Islamic state. Hamas and Israel have been clashing over the past years, and relations have only gotten worse recently. The two parties have since been engaging in military conflict over the Gaza Strip’s blockade issue.
Which countries are on which side?
While Israel has been receiving criticism regarding the border seizure, it has support from Egypt, the US, the EU, and the UK. Hamas is backed by Iran.
What are the casualties?
The exact numbers are not clear, but it is said that as of Monday, there have been more than 500 Palestinian casualties, and 3000 wounded in Gaza. In Israel, the casualties are around 800, but numbers are expected to rise as the fighting accelerates.
Canada India Dispute
By Rain Jha
Recently, the diplomatic relations between Canada and India have faced challenges, due to a disagreement centered around the Sikh independence movement and a tragic event in June 2023.
At the heart of the issue is the Khalistan movement, a movement that seeks an independent Sikh state from India. The Khalistan movement has a long and complicated history, dating back to the 1970s. It is a diverse movement with a range of views, but all its supporters share the goal of an independent Sikh state.
Canada is home to the largest Sikh diaspora in the world, with over 500,000 people. India has accused Canada of sheltering Sikh extremists and providing support to the Khalistan movement. Canada has denied these allegations.
In June 2023, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh activist, was murdered outside a temple in Surrey, British Columbia. Canadian authorities are still investigating the motive for the killing, but some have speculated that it may have been linked to the Khalistan movement.
Following Nijjar's murder and the accusations, India withdrew its high commissioner from Canada and halted trade discussions. India also imposed various measures, such as refusing visas and canceling flights. Canada responded in kind, worsening the situation further.
Collaborations in trade, investment, and security are now at risk. Additionally, the Sikh community in Canada, a big part of its diverse culture, faces quite a few challenges in maintaining connections with their roots in India and their homes in Canada. In this complex situation, finding a solution is essential, and only through cooperation can these two powerful nations rebuild their relationship and create a future based on shared benefits.
How can AI change democracy?
By Ananya Nayar
In the past few years, AI has grown exponentially, displaying new possibilities and tools we couldn’t have fathomed even a decade ago. From ChatGPT to score the internet in an instant, to Google Duplex where AI can generate phone calls and so much more- it seems as if Artificial Intelligence tools have the dependent world at their fingertips. However, a serious question arising is not only about the laziness humans will adopt but about the restrictions on freedom we aren’t even realizing are happening. All the content we see and information we obtain all links to our perceptions- and all linked to our democracy.
Artificial Intelligence tools could have the power to mold democracy into the way governments want it to. To begin with, social media markets utilize tools daily to increase their growth and interactions depending on the content and for how long someone views a post for example. Polarisation in this method is effected as a reinforced disparity grows prevalent through the ‘bubbles’ and ‘chambers’ created by social media algorithms recommending, repetitive and popular content.
Similarly, microtargeting is useful to spread political campaigns to reach an optimum audience, even at the cost of manipulating community sentiment and group pressure. Chatbots that answer questions about registration and candidates in a particular way can alter perceptions of communities.
Moreover, the integrity of voting systems can be seriously compromised. Essentially, with limited capacities of management and filters of the amounts of information at the disposal, it can be purposefully or accidentally manipulated into amplifying false news, ‘real’ seeming campaigns to a certain engaging audience, etc.
Algorithms development is perfectly capable of generating political discourse through not only misleading public information in the forum.
On the other hand, Artificial Intelligence can do wonders for the privacy and security of elections and ballots. Not only through analyzing cyber movements and network traffic for suspicious and malicious activity but also by decreasing instances of gerrymandering.
However, all these impacts on elections, rights to association, and information processes are key to the fundamental parts of democracy- it’s necessary to protect it.
Regulation and ethical considerations aren’t enough going forward, which is what the Framework Convention and Council of Europe are doing. The CAHAI, or Ad Hoc Committee on AI was established to create a legal framework considering ethics, democracy, and human rights in developments. Along with this, the ECHR (European Convention of Human Rights) set out tasks on the privacy policies that can concern elections as well.
'Get Out' Movie Review
By Rain Jha
"Get Out," the 2017 film directed by filmmaker Jordan Peele, is a gripping thriller that delves into the complex issues of race relations in America. The story follows Chris Washington, brilliantly portrayed by Daniel Kaluuya, as he finds his way through a terrifying situation created by a seemingly normal family, the Armitages, played by Allison Williams, Caleb Landry Jones, Catherine Keener, and Bradley Whitford. The film masterfully addresses themes of racism, and personal fears and tackles big social issues through the lens of horror.
The great performances of the cast, especially Kaluuya, add depth to the characters. The character of Rod provides comic relief, voicing the audience's thoughts as the movie’s events happen. The Armitage family, while appearing very ordinary, becomes one of the most horrifying horror movie antagonists, especially their unsettling nature.
Peele's storytelling is creative and socially relevant, as he creates a narrative that highlights the fears experienced by Black individuals in a predominantly White society. The film's brilliance is because of its suspense, social commentary, and horror elements. The Oscar-winning screenplay is a significant cinematic achievement, tackling important societal issues while delivering a riveting and thought-provoking experience. Peele's directorial prowess, outstanding performances, and compelling script make this film a must-watch, leaving audiences with a finale that lingers in their mind.
Review of the Anime ‘Great Pretender’
By Misaki Tomiyama
The world of con artists, who would have thought it would be so full of surprises and plot twists? Perhaps everyone, but the anime ‘Great Pretender’ will surpass everyone’s expectations. The protagonist of this anime is a juvenile con man, Makoto Edamura, who tries to make a living by tricking tourists and elderly people along with his partner Kudo. That is, until Edamura himself is swindled by Laurent Thierry, an infamous and impetuous fraudster disguised as a tourist, and comes to painfully realize what a neophyte he is in the profound world of disguise and deception. He decides to join forces with Laurent to con the world’s richest and most powerful people, and his enthralling journey to become the world’s ‘greatest pretender’ begins.
The experienced Laurent doesn’t tell Edamura about the plans when they are implemented. This keeps audiences on the edge of their seats as we, along with Edamura, learn more and more about the scams, which are full of twists and turns that Laurent has planned.
The ending theme of this anime is no other than Freddie Mercury’s ‘The Great Pretender,’ which is surprising given the rarity of finding English songs in Japanese anime. However, the tempo greatly matches the anime style, and the lyrics speak to the characters of seemingly artless grace, who hide their deceptive true selves. Despite the anime being full of morally grey characters, the audiences will fail to hate these great “pretenders”.
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