Bread & Roses: Labor Commission Grants Rights to Uber Eats Union
The Tokyo Labor Relations Commission provided us a bright day in labor history with the first ever ruling extending union rights to those engaged in work via an online platform.
German Divisions Over New Eastern Politics
Germany, led by Social Democratic Party (SDP) Chancellor Olaf Scholz, considers China both an essential economic partner and a “systemic rival.” This seemingly contradictory stance has produced political fractures within the coalition government, but it is part of a pragmatic geopolitical strategy.
Japan Caught In Its Own Net of Plastic Pollution
As garbage islands floating in the Pacific Ocean have grown to the area of entire countries, Japan and other nations’ use of plastic fishing nets is believed to not only take a major toll on sea life, but is even threatening the future of the fishing industry itself.
Killer Robots Take Flight in Ukraine War
Human Rights Watch issued a report earlier this month urging world leaders to move forward with a ban on autonomous weapons systems. This latest plea comes nearly a decade after the organization co-founded the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, and as advanced military drones are operating in the skies over Ukraine.
Suruga Bank Allegedly Targeted Foreigners for Dodgy Loans
Suruga Bank is facing allegations of fraudulent lending practices that disproportionately targeted Japan’s foreign residents, wiping out personal savings, and placing the safety of tenants at risk.
Visible Minorities: Hard to Root for Japan at Sports Events
It’s difficult for me to root for Japan teams in general. It’s not an issue of nationality. It’s a matter of how Japan as a society approaches international sports; we take all the fun out of it.
Environmentalists Cheer New York Cryptocurrency Mining Ban
Environmentalists celebrated after Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul approved this week a two-year moratorium on permits for fossil fuel plants that power cryptocurrency mining operations.
US Progressives Call for Saudi Accountability Over Yemen War
US progressives in recent days have renewed efforts to push President Joe Biden and Congress to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for its atrocities, including war crimes in Yemen and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Bolsonaro’s Destructive Legacy in the Amazon
Brazil President-Elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva declared last week that “the devastation [of the Amazon] will be a thing of the past.” He has his work cut out for him. Outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro presided over the destruction of an unprecedented proportion of the precious rainforest, crucial to human survival, during his four years in office.
Sunset for the Asian El Dorado
Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng is making it increasingly clear that the territory he administers no longer sees the gambling industry as the key to its future development.