New consumer protection measures slash transaction costs nationwide, providing significant financial relief to citizens
Athens – Greece has implemented sweeping banking reforms that eliminate ATM withdrawal fees and significantly reduce other transaction costs, marking what officials describe as a turning point in the nation’s banking sector pricing policies for private customers.
The latest phase of reforms, which took full effect on August 11, 2025, abolishes fees for cash withdrawals from any Greek bank ATM and caps charges at €1.50 for third-party ATMs. This represents the second wave of changes following initial measures introduced in January 2025 that targeted digital banking transactions.
Comprehensive Fee Structure Overhaul
The reforms affect a broad set of transactions for individuals — including employees, pensioners, the unemployed, and the self-employed — with either no fees or significantly lower costs. The Greek Ministry of Finance designed these measures to provide direct financial relief to consumers across all demographic groups.
For ATM withdrawals specifically, customers previously faced costs between €2.30 and €2.75 when withdrawing cash from another bank’s ATM, combining the ATM operator’s fee and the customer’s own bank fee. Under the new regulations, Greek bank cardholders pay nothing for withdrawals from any domestic bank ATM, regardless of which institution issued their card.
Withdrawals from third-party ATMs (such as Euronet) are capped at €1.50, while cardholders of Piraeus Bank pay no fee at Cashflex ATMs. Additionally, in areas with only one ATM—whether bank-operated or third-party—withdrawals remain free for Greek bank cardholders.
Digital Transaction Benefits
The January reforms established substantial savings for digital banking customers.
Money transfers of up to €5,000 between accounts in different Greek banks are now capped at €0.50 for outgoing transfers and €0.50 for incoming transfers, reducing the total maximum cost to €1.
The IRIS payment system, which enables instant transfers using mobile banking without requiring an IBAN, offers even greater convenience.
The system allows transfers between individuals or to self-employed professionals using only the recipient’s phone number or tax ID, with no fee for transfers between individuals.
Utility and Service Payment Reforms
Consumer advocacy groups have particularly praised the elimination of utility payment fees. From January 2025, no fees are charged for bill payments to utilities, public bodies, social security funds, or insurance companies if made via online banking, mobile banking, or standing orders. This change addresses a major source of consumer frustration, as many customers previously paid multiple fees monthly for essential service payments.
The reforms also modernize prepaid card services. Banks cannot charge for loading up to €100 per day onto prepaid cards, with a 1% fee applying above this amount, subject to a €1 minimum.
Bank of Greece on the Isle of Rhodes. Photo credit: Bank of Greece.
Banking Industry Adaptation
While the changes have reduced non-interest income for banks in the first half of the year, they have translated into direct savings for consumers. Major banks have responded by restructuring their subscription packages to reflect the new regulatory environment.
Alpha Bank offers its myAlpha Benefit package from €0.80 monthly, providing free transfers and bill payments beyond those mandated by law. Eurobank’s My Advantage Banking starts at €0.60 monthly, offering free debit card services and unlimited standing order bill payments. The National Bank of Greece provides its Privilege Account at €0.80 monthly for up to 50 free transfers and unlimited bill payments.
European Context and Consumer Impact
The reforms place Greece among Europe’s most consumer-friendly banking systems, addressing long-standing consumer complaints about excessive transaction costs.
For households with limited income, previous ATM fees represented far from trivial expenses, with annual costs potentially reaching €156 for frequent users of third-party ATMs.
Bank of Greece.
The European Union’s Payment Services Directive has encouraged member states to enhance consumer protection in banking services, and Greece’s comprehensive approach exceeds many E.U. requirements.
Banking industry analysts note that while traditional fee income has declined, banks may benefit from increased transaction volumes and customer satisfaction.
Consumer rights organizations have welcomed the changes as addressing fundamental fairness concerns in banking access.
The reforms ensure that basic banking services—particularly ATM access—do not create additional financial burdens for citizens managing everyday transactions.
The Greek government estimates that the combined reforms will save consumers millions of euros annually in transaction costs, with the most significant impact felt by frequent ATM users and those who regularly make digital transfers between banks.
Officials describe the measures as part of broader efforts to modernize Greece’s financial services sector while prioritizing consumer protection.
Summary
Greece’s comprehensive banking reform eliminates ATM withdrawal fees from all domestic bank machines while capping third-party ATM charges at €1.50. The reforms, effective August 11, 2025, follow earlier January measures that reduced fees for digital transactions, bill payments, and money transfers. Banks’ non-interest income has declined, but consumers gain direct savings. The changes position Greece among Europe’s most consumer-friendly banking systems, addressing long-standing concerns about excessive transaction costs.
Israel Claims Targeted Reporter Was “Hamas Commander;” Al Jazeera Calls It Assassination as Funeral Draws Mourners Amid Ruins
New York, N.Y. — The shattered courtyard of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City filled with grief and anger today as dozens of Palestinians gathered to bury six journalists killed in an Israeli airstrike.
The attack, which targeted a tent clearly marked for media personnel outside the hospital’s main gate, claimed the lives of five Al Jazeera staff members and a freelance reporter on Sunday.
Israel confirmed it deliberately targeted prominent correspondent Anas al-Sharif, 28, accusing him of being a Hamas commander— a claim met with widespread skepticism as no evidence was presented.
Mourners navigated the debris of bombed-out buildings, carrying the bodies of the journalists, each wrapped in white shrouds with faces exposed, through narrow alleys towards their final resting place. Men wearing distinctive blue journalists’ flak jackets were among those bearing the coffins, a stark visual testament to the deadly risks faced by reporters covering the now 22-month-old war.
Anas al-Sharif was one of five Al Jazeera journalists killed Al Jazeera. Photo credit: Al Jazeera.
Targeted Strike Amidst Growing Isolation
The strike occurred outside the gates of Al-Shifa Hospital, a facility repeatedly besieged during the conflict. Al Jazeera stated its employees were working from a tent explicitly established for journalists. Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, the hospital’s director, confirmed the sixth victim as freelance reporter Mohammed Al-Khaldi. In total, seven people died in the attack.
Israel’s military issued a statement asserting it had targeted al-Sharif, labeling him a “terrorist” affiliated with Hamas who “posed as a journalist.” It claimed he “served as the head of a terrorist cell” and was involved in rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and troops. The military published a graphic listing what it said were Hamas operatives in northern Gaza, featuring al-Sharif’s name marked “Eliminated,” and promised documents proving his affiliation.
However, press freedom advocates immediately noted the absence of any publicly verifiable evidence, a pattern following previous killings of journalists in Gaza by Israeli forces.
Al Jazeera Condemns “Blatant” Attack on Press Freedom
Al Jazeera vehemently condemned the killings as a “targeted assassination” and “yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom.”
The network stated al-Sharif and his slain colleagues—correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa—were “among the last remaining voices documenting the realities of life in Gaza.”
The broadcaster accused Israel of killing ten of its journalists since October 2023, along with numerous family members.
Al-Sharif was one of the most recognizable faces reporting daily from Gaza throughout the conflict.
Shortly before his death, he posted on X about intense Israeli bombardment, warning of “fire belts” in parts of Gaza City.
In a poignant, pre-written message published posthumously, he stated: “If these words of mine reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice. Do not forget Gaza, and do not forget me in your sincere prayers for forgiveness and acceptance.”
He wrote of his commitment to convey the truth “without distortion” and lamented the international community’s failure to be moved by the “mangled bodies of our children and women.”
‘A desperate attempt to silence voices’
International Outcry Over Silencing of Gaza’s Witnesses
The killings prompted swift and sharp condemnation internationally and from media advocacy groups. Ireland‘s Tánaiste, Simon Harris, declared Israel’s killing of journalists in Gaza amounted to the “silencing of some of the few journalistic voices left” in the region. SIPTU, Ireland’s largest union, labeled the attack an atrocity and an assault on all media workers.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ireland held a protest vigil at the Spire in Dublin to condemn the killings.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which had warned last month that al-Sharif was in “acute” danger, strongly condemned the strike. “Israel’s pattern of labelling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom,” stated Sara Qudah, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa director.
U.N. special rapporteur on freedom of expression, Irene Khan, echoed these concerns, having previously warned that journalists in Gaza were being killed based on “unsubstantiated claims” linking them to Hamas.
A Deadly Pattern and Grim Statistics
This incident follows a disturbing pattern. In April, Israeli forces bombed a media camp near Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, killing journalist Hassan Aslih, whom Israel subsequently described as a “terrorist from the Hamas Khan Yunis brigade,” again without presenting evidence.
Ahmed Mansur and Hilmi al-Faqaawi also died in that attack. Rights groups assert that Israel has killed more than 200 journalists and media workers in Gaza since the war began in October 2023, making it the deadliest conflict for journalists since records began. The CPJ states that nearly 70% of all journalists killed globally in 2024 died in Gaza, predominantly at the hands of the Israeli military.
Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud, who was one block away during Sunday’s strike, described reporting on his colleague al-Sharif’s death as “the hardest thing I have had to do in the past 22 months of war.” He asserted the journalists were killed specifically “because of their relentless reporting on the starvation and malnutrition” devastating the Gaza Strip population.
The strike occurred mere hours after Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu [Luce Index™ score: 51/100] announced a policy shift, pledging to allow some foreign media into Gaza for the first time since the war’s outset—a move met with cynicism by many observers in light of the ongoing targeting of local journalists who have been the world’s primary window into the enclave’s suffering.
As the white-shrouded bodies were lowered into the ground amidst the ruins of Gaza City, the question hanging over the funeral was not just who would bear witness next, but whether any voice reporting the harsh realities of life and death under bombardment could truly be safe.
In a Gaza City hospital courtyard scarred by war, mourners buried six journalists killed by an Israeli airstrike on a marked media tent. Israel claimed it targeted prominent Al Jazeera reporter Anas al-Sharif as a Hamas commander but provided no evidence. Al Jazeera condemned the attack as an assassination silencing vital voices. The strike drew international condemnation, highlighting the extreme danger for journalists in Gaza, where over 200 media workers have been killed since October 2023, making it the deadliest conflict for reporters on record.
TAGS: Gaza, Israel, Palestine, Al Jazeera, Journalism, Press Freedom, Media Safety, Al-Shifa Hospital, Hamas, Israeli Military, Airstrike, Funeral, Committee to Protect Journalists, War Correspondents, National Union of Journalists, Ireland, Dublin, Tánaiste, Simon Harris
Secretary-General António Guterres Tells Mayors in Nagasaki
New York, N.Y. — Eighty years after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the “only guarantee” against the use of nuclear weapons today is their “total elimination”, the U.N. Secretary-General said on Friday.
Inspired by the hibakusha, survivors of the atomic bombings at the end of World War II who turned their suffering into a powerful appeal for peace, António Guterres renewed his call for a world free of nuclear weapons in a video message to the 11th General Conference of Mayors for Peace in Nagasaki.
United against nuclear weapons, the conference is an opportunity for mayors from around the world to discuss and adopt key priorities in support of global denuclearization.
‘No place in our world’
“Nuclear weapons have no place in our world,” said Mr. Guterres in his video-message, as they only offer the “illusion of safety and the certainty of devastation,” he said.
Calling for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, the Secretary-General urged all participants at the conference to “keep mobilising communities, inspiring young people, and building peace from the ground up.”
“I urge all States to recommit to nuclear disarmament,” he said.
Yosuke Yamahata took 119 photographs in total (Image copyright Shogo Yamahata, provided courtesy of Bonhams).
A better world
“I commend Mayors for Peace for your unwavering commitment to a better world,” said the Secretary-General, as the organization aims at creating real momentum for the realization of a peaceful world without nuclear weapons.
In honor of the hibakusha, and in the memory of the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Mr. Guterres made an impassioned call for action to end the nuclear threat once and for all.
End the arms race
Speaking later at the official memorial in Nagasaki to remember the dead, U.N. disarmament chief Izumi Nakamitsu said on behalf of Mr. Guterres that the shadow of nuclear weapons looms all too large.
“They have returned to the centre of national security strategies and are being brandished as tools of coercion. Meanwhile, military spending has reached record highs — while investments in peace and sustainable development falter,”, she added.
“Peace and security cannot be achieved through an arms race,” she said, calling on countries to re-commit to the proven tools of disarmament; “dialogue, diplomacy, confidence building, transparency, and arms control and reduction.”
Summary
Eighty years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres calls for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, stating they offer only the illusion of safety and the certainty of devastation. Addressing mayors globally, he urges mobilizing communities, inspiring youth, and building peace from the ground up. The Mayors for Peace conference aims for worldwide denuclearization and honors hibakusha, reinforcing the message: nuclear weapons have no place in our world.
Martial Law Looms Over Blue Cities and States as Tensions Rise
This opinion piece examines President Donald Trump’s deployment of federal troops to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., arguing that these actions may foreshadow martial law in Democratic strongholds. It critiques the legal and political implications, highlighting risks to civil liberties and federalism, and urges vigilance to protect democratic norms amid escalating authoritarian tactics.
New York, N.Y. — The recent deployment of federal troops to Los Angeles and now Washington, D.C., under the direction of President Donald Trump [Luce Index™ score: 35/100] , has ignited fierce debate about the boundaries of executive power and the specter of authoritarianism.
These actions, ostensibly aimed at quelling protests and enforcing federal law, raise a chilling question: Are we witnessing the prelude to martial law in America’s Democratic-leaning cities and states?
From a critical perspective, the evidence suggests a troubling pattern—one that threatens the principles of federalism, civil liberties, and the rule of law.
A Provocative Power Grab in Los Angeles
On June 7, 2025, President Trump ordered nearly 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles, citing protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids as justification.
The move, which bypassed the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom [Luce Index™ score: 94/100], sparked immediate legal challenges. Newsom’s lawsuit alleged that Trump’s actions violated the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which prohibits the use of federal military forces for domestic law enforcement without explicit congressional or constitutional authorization.
A federal judge initially ruled the deployment illegal, citing violations of the Tenth Amendment, though the 9th U.S. Circuit Court temporarily stayed the order, leaving the troops in place.
This deployment was not a response to widespread chaos. Reports indicate that Los Angeles protests, while intense in pockets, were largely contained by local law enforcement, including the Los Angeles Police Department and California Highway Patrol.
Security forces members from Oregon Air National Guard train during exercise Cascadia Rising. Photo credit: U.S. Air National Guard / John Hughel.
U.S. Marines Facing Off Against Protesters in Los Angeles
Former LAPD Chief Michel Moore argued that the city’s emergency response systems were fully capable of handling the unrest, rendering federal intervention unnecessary and “tactically unsound.”
Trump’s claim of a “rebellion” under 10 U.S.C. § 12406—a statute requiring state cooperation—was dubious, as he himself described the situation as “well under control.” Yet, the presence of federal troops escalated tensions, with reports of Marines facing off against protesters and isolated incidents of violence, including property damage and clashes near federal buildings.
United States National Guard troops were deployed to Los Angeles, California by order of President Donald Trump.
The real intent, critics argue, is political. Los Angeles, a Democratic stronghold, appears to be a testing ground for a broader strategy to target “blue” cities. Trump’s rhetoric—labeling Los Angeles a “trash heap” and claiming it was “invaded” by “illegal aliens and criminals”—paints a distorted picture that justifies heavy-handed federal action.
This narrative, amplified by Fox News and other conservative outlets, stokes fear and division, aligning with Trump’s campaign promises to crack down on immigration and urban unrest. The selective focus on Democratic cities, while ignoring similar issues in Republican-leaning areas, suggests a calculated effort to undermine political opponents rather than address genuine threats.
The pattern of federal overreach has now extended to our nation’s capital where Trump has deployed federal law enforcement officers, citing vague threats to public safety.
Washington, D.C.: A New Front in the Power Play
The pattern of federal overreach has now extended to Washington, D.C., where President Trump has deployed federal law enforcement officers to patrol the streets, citing vague threats to public safety. This move, like the one in Los Angeles, has drawn sharp criticism from local leaders, including D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who argue that it undermines local governance.
White House Press Conference announcing plans to deploy federal law enforcement officers to patrol the streets, citing vague threats to public safety.
Posts on X reflect growing alarm, with commentators like Rep. Lloyd Doggett warning that Trump is “normalizing the use of federal law enforcement and the U.S. military to police Democratic cities,” potentially setting precedents for suppressing dissent in future elections.
Unlike Los Angeles, where protests against ICE raids provided a pretext, the Washington, D.C. deployment lacks even a clear triggering event.
The District of Columbia, which operates under unique federal oversight, is particularly vulnerable to such interventions.
Trump’s actions here echo his June 14, 2025, military parade in the capital, a spectacle featuring tanks and rocket launchers that critics decried as a display of authoritarian showmanship.
The juxtaposition of military might in D.C. with troop deployments in Los Angeles creates a troubling visual: a president leveraging the U.S. military to project dominance over urban centers that oppose his agenda.
The Legal and Constitutional Peril
At the heart of this controversy lies a clash between two foundational laws: the Insurrection Act of 1807 and the Posse Comitatus Act. The Insurrection Act allows the president to deploy military forces domestically to suppress rebellion or enforce federal law, but its requirements are vague, granting significant discretion.
Trump has not formally invoked this act, instead relying on 10 U.S.C. § 12406, which permits federalizing the National Guard in cases of “rebellion” or to execute federal laws. However, legal experts argue that this statute mandates state cooperation, which Trump has ignored, and that the absence of a genuine insurrection undermines his authority.
The Posse Comitatus Act, by contrast, explicitly limits the use of federal military forces for domestic law enforcement. Without invoking the Insurrection Act, Marines and federalized National Guard troops in Los Angeles are barred from activities like arrests or crowd control, though their presence alone risks escalating confrontations.
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Trump v. United States, which grants broad immunity for official acts, further complicates accountability, potentially shielding Trump from prosecution for illegal deployments. This legal ambiguity creates a dangerous loophole, allowing the president to militarize cities under the guise of protecting federal interests while evading judicial oversight.
The threat of martial law—though not yet formally declared—looms large. Martial law, historically rare in the U.S., involves the suspension of civilian governance and the imposition of military authority. Trump’s actions, combined with his threats to arrest Governor Newsom and his provocative rhetoric, suggest a willingness to push these boundaries.
The selective targeting of “blue” cities like Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., raises concerns that martial law could be used to suppress dissent in Democratic strongholds, particularly as the 2026 and 2028 elections approach.
Governor Gavin Newsom of California scored 94/100 on the Luce Index™.
A Broader Threat to Democracy
Beyond the legal questions, Trump’s actions signal a broader assault on democratic norms. By deploying troops against the wishes of local leaders, he undermines federalism, the principle that states retain sovereignty over their internal affairs. Governor Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass have decried the deployments as inflammatory, arguing that they exacerbate tensions rather than resolve them.
The Kent State tragedy of 1970, where National Guard troops killed unarmed protesters, serves as a stark reminder of the risks of militarizing civilian spaces.
Moreover, Trump’s rhetoric—calling Los Angeles a “city of criminals” and Washington, D.C. a target for federal control—fuels a narrative of division. This language, coupled with his administration’s focus on ICE raids and deportation, taps into xenophobic fears, portraying Democratic cities as lawless havens for “illegal aliens.” Such tactics not only polarize the electorate but also normalize the use of federal force against political opponents, a hallmark of authoritarian regimes.
Public sentiment, as reflected in X posts, is deeply divided. Some view Trump’s actions as necessary to restore order, with USA Today op-eds defending the National Guard deployment as a response to violence against law enforcement.
Others, including Bill Kristol and Seth Abramson, warn of a slide toward fascism, with Abramson suggesting that Trump’s “rebellion” claims could presage martial law. Polls cited by The Telegraph indicate significant support for the deployments among Trump’s base, highlighting the political capital he gains from projecting strength. Yet, this support comes at the cost of eroding trust in democratic institutions.
United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump both score a crippling 35/100 on the Luce Index.
A Call for Vigilance
The deployment of federal troops to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., is not merely a matter of perspective—it is a warning. President Trump’s actions, cloaked in the guise of law and order, risk setting a precedent for unchecked executive power.
The failure of Congress to provide robust oversight, combined with the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling, leaves few checks on this trajectory. Americans must demand transparency and accountability, urging their leaders to reject the normalization of military force in civilian governance.
As Governor Newsom stated, “Where’s your decency, Mr. President? Stop. Rescind this order, it’s illegal and unconstitutional, and it’s immoral.” His words underscore the stakes: a democracy that allows its military to police its cities without clear justification risks losing its soul.
The path to martial law is not inevitable, but it grows closer with each unchallenged step. Citizens, regardless of political affiliation, must remain vigilant, lest “blue” cities become battlegrounds in a war against dissent.
Tags: Donald Trump, Los Angeles, Washington DC, martial law, National Guard, Posse Comitatus Act, Insurrection Act, federalism, civil liberties, ICE raids
It has been a banner week in my life. Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, and Mary hosted a benefit for Orphans International Worldwide, the U.N.-accredited organization I founded six years ago.
New York, N.Y. — Then, I was lauded by Congress as an “extraordinarily effective humanitarian, activist, and philanthropist.” Plus, on Nov. 12th my first article for the New York Times was published as the lead story in their annual Philanthropy Section. I’d like to rest on these laurels, but as any parent knows, there is no rest when there are kids in the house. We have kids all over the world.
Many, many challenges face orphansinternational.org‘s vision as we continue to move poor orphaned children from warehouse conditions to small homes, beginning the move towards foster care in the developing world.
In 2008 we will consolidate our projects in Sulawesi and Sumatera into a united and interfaith “Orphans International Indonesia.” We are searching for land to buy in Indonesia and Haiti to build permanent campuses for more children, with schools and jobs training for when they grow older. Acquiring land is a slow, expensive, and bureaucratic process.
We have been asked to address the needs of orphans–including AIDS orphans–in West Africa: from Nigeria and Togo to Ghana and Liberia. As always, we fund-raise constantly.
Finally, we are expanding our low-cost office in Lima, Peru, staffed by dedicated global volunteers.
The challenges have never been greater to our mission of raising global citizens
Orphans International is spread across the globe, dealing with different languages, cultures, religions, and time zones. We share the same identical challenges that SOS Kinderdorf, Save the Children, and UNICEFface globally. We are newer, smaller, and still function with an all-volunteer international staff, paid from honorariums of $1 per year to actual stipends of $400 per month.
The care for kids inside poor, distant countries is not that costly, but the infrastructure needed to sustain them–even with free space and volunteer labor–is expensive. The needs of orphaned children are enormous.
Each OI child is directly supported by four different donors, each paying $600 per year. We are looking for additional child sponsors now. In addition, we must support out staffs’ expenses, and the overhead of this “business.” We run a project of 12 children on less than $50,000 per year almost anywhere in the world.
We spend less than $50,000 annually on our New York office. We have been successful in stretching our contributions – with less than 8% spent on administration. We do not have the fancy jeeps, telecom systems, high salaries, or health benefits that other similar organizations routinely provide.
The Internet has made global volunteerism work for us
We are fast, flexible, and connected to the needs of our staff and kids in each country we serve. We have become only the second global network of orphanages approved by the United Nations. The second, SOS Kinderdorf, is a multi-million dollar organization operating for over sixty years in more than sixty nations. It can be difficult to get people from diverse backgrounds together on the same page.
Only by instant messaging, e-mail, and today with Skype, LinkedIn, and Facebook, can we do it at all. Today we are truly international, interfaith, interracial, intergenerational, and Internet-connected. The ten global officers of OI Worldwide help oversee our projects electronically and in person, all funded through the development efforts of OI America and its U.S. chapters.
I was raised by parents active in the Civil Rights Movement and the Anti-War Movement of the late 1960s. These experiences have shaped who I am and the organization I have built. As a child, I walked with my mom in civil rights marches, and listened to my father speak out on the main square against our country’s involvement in Vietnam.
Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, and Mary hosted a benefit in his home last week for our Orphans International Worldwide, to help raise global citizens in the Developing World. Photo credit: John Lee / The Stewardship Report.
Martin Luther King‘s speech in Washington sends shivers down my spine to this day. Global citizens, I learned as a child, stand for tolerance and diversity, and against oppression and ignorance, in all of its forms – from misogyny and racism to homophobia and xenophobia.
At Peter Yarrow’s performance in his own home last week, I choked up sitting at his feet – as we raised money for our kids. He explained to the younger members of our audience–and reminded us older ones–how, when facing the police in mass demonstrations of civil disobedience, we must cross our arms over our chests, strongly holding hands together, standing against discrimination and illegal wars, from Vietnam to Iraq.
Peter then attempted something I have not witnessed in thirty-five years: He led us all in singing–and understanding–the Civil Rights anthemWe Shall Overcome.
In his living room benefit for Orphans International, Peter Yarrow had the audience link arms and sing with him, “We Shall Overcome.” Photo credit: John Lee / The Stewardship Report.
To my shock and delight, our well-heeled Upper East Side audience responded
With heart and voice, we sang “We shall overcome, We’ll walk hand in hand, We are not afraid.”
Wynton Marsalis was generous to donate an autographed horn for us to auction for Orphans International in Peter Yarrow’s Upper West Side home. Photo credit: The Stewardship Report.
Peter even added a stanza to honor Orphans International, “We can make a change.” We were all swept away by his passion and energy in that room.
Raising $45,000 with Peter Yarrow’s magic dragon “Puff” leading the way was wonderful – supplying roughly 10% of our annual budget in one night.
But the dollars flew out immediately to Haiti, Peru, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia as fast as we bring them in.
With ongoing local support, especially from our friends on Roosevelt Island in New York City, where we are based, we have made the impossible possible.
The energy of our all-volunteer staff and generous donors continues to move us forward. The effort is daunting.
Yet, as Peter Yarrow sang to us last week: We are not afraid. With our many supporters, We’ll walk hand in hand. In keeping the dream of raising global citizens alive around the world–of battling ignorance and intolerance–We shall overcome.
His Enduring Legacy Bridges Music With Social Justice
Focus on the Folk Legend’s Humanitarian Work Through Operation Respect and Orphans International Continues Inspiring Global Change
New York, N.Y. — When Peter Yarrow [Luce Index™ score: 99/100] shared the stage with His Holiness the Dalai Lama [Luce Index™ score: 99/100] , he stepped forward to greet the audience with warmth and humility. Reflecting on his history with the legendary folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, Peter recalled performing before more than 250,000 people at the 1963 March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. [Luce Index™ score: 99/100] led the fight for civil rights.
As an introduction, he strummed a few familiar bars of one of his most beloved songs, Puff the Magic Dragon, instantly connecting with the crowd. The moment encapsulated decades of musical activism that has defined Peter’s extraordinary career—a journey that began in the Greenwich Village folk scene and evolved into a global mission of social justice and humanitarian work.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Peter Yarrow after he performed his song “Never Give Up” at the Chiba Institute of Technology in Japan on November 13, 2013. Photo/OHHDL.
From Folk Trio to Global Advocate
Peter Yarrow graduated second in his class from New York’s High School of Music and Art—the “Fame” school—before earning his B.A. in psychology from Cornell University in 1959.
He began singing with Paul Stookey and Mary Travers in the West Village, debuting in 1961 at The Bitter End.
The trio rapidly developed a following and signed with Warner Brothers, releasing Lemon Tree in 1962, followed by Pete Seeger’s “If I Had a Hammer.”
Their first album, Peter, Paul & Mary, remained in the top ten for ten months, in the top twenty for two years, and sold more than two million copies.
In 1963, they released Bob Dylan‘sBlowin’ in the Wind, which sold another million copies and became a Civil Rights anthem when they performed it on stage with Martin Luther King at the historic March on Washington.
As their fame grew, the trio mixed music with political and social activism increasingly. They marched with Dr. King in Selma, demonstrated against the Vietnam War, and sang to a half-million people at the 1969 anti-war March on Washington.
Over the years, Peter performed at the wedding of John Kerry [Luce Index™ score: 91/100], campaigned to free Soviet Jewry, visited Arabic schools in Israel, supported presidential campaigns from Eugene McCarthy to Barack Obama [Luce Index™ score: 100/100], and played for the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators.
Peter, Paul and Mary singing at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. Dr. Martin Luther King made his “I Had a Dream Speech” shortly after they performed.
Building Bridges Through Operation Respect
In 2000, to counter childhood bullying, Peter helped found Operation Respect, a nonprofit that brings curricula of tolerance and respect for each other’s differences to children in schools and camps.
Peter was able to connect to people from the stage and one-on-one. Photo credit: John Lee / The Stewardship Report.
The project began when Peter heard the song Don’t Laugh At Me and realized it could become an anthem of a movement to help children find their common sensitivity to the painful effects of intolerance, ridicule, and bullying.
Molly McCloskey, past president and C.E.O. of Operation Respect, worked tirelessly alongside Peter to expand the program’s reach.
The initiative has been presented to more than ten million children and, in some form, has reached nearly one-third of all elementary and middle schools in America—at least 20,000 schools in total.
On behalf of Operation Respect, Peter performed from Hong Kong and Vietnam to Croatia, South Africa, Egypt, and Argentina.
His message remains consistent:
“I believe that the work of Operation Respect may be the best way for us to address the great challenges of our time. Educating the next generation of children in such a way that they care about each other, love each other, and treat each other with kindness will create a heart-connected world.”
Supporting Global Orphans and Building Citizens
Peter played at several benefits for Orphans International founded by the author. Here, at a club in the East Village c. 2012.
Peter’s humanitarian efforts extend beyond Operation Respect to his longstanding support of Orphans International Worldwide (OIW), which I founded in 1999 to help raise global citizens in the developing world.
The U.N.-accredited organization operates projects across multiple continents, moving poor orphaned children from warehouse conditions to small homes while working toward foster care systems in the developing world.
I recall meeting Peter in New York and securing his commitment to the cause. After founding Orphans International Worldwide in 1999 to help raise global citizens in the developing world, Peter agreed to help our efforts.
Peter held multiple benefit performances, including his “PBS special” in his own home on Central Park, concerts after the earthquake in Haiti, and performances at Marietta College in my Ohio hometown.
Our organization operates with remarkable efficiency, running projects of 12 children on less than $50,000 per year almost anywhere in the world, with less than 8% spent on administration. Each child is directly supported by four different donors, each contributing $600 annually. Projects span from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India to Haiti, Peru, and expansion efforts in West Africa, including Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, and Liberia.
Orphans International Worldwide and the J. Luce Foundation combined benefit of 2016 at St. John’s University used “Light One Candle” as its theme. Peter Yarrow’s influence on my philanthropic efforts were enormous.
The Dalai Lama Connection and Children’s Peace Education
Peter’s encounter with His Holiness the Dalai Lama exemplifies his approach to peace education. He told His Holiness of his admiration for the spiritual leader’s thought and leadership, revealing that he had composed a song based on the Dalai Lama’s words—”Never Give Up.”When Peter played the song to a class of ten-year-olds in Tokyo, some of whom had faced problems with bullying, he explained that if they love each other, people will join them in working for peace.
The children understood profoundly; one child told him that while they didn’t have to accept what a bully had done, they could learn to see the bully as another human being. Peter hoped this would help children become peacemakers at an early age.
His Holiness was effusive in his appreciation, particularly of the idea of making a distinction between what someone has done and the person themselves. Laughing, he showed his gratitude by offering a kata—a white silk scarf—to both Peter Yarrow and his guitar.
Legacy of Social Justice Through Music
Peter Yarrow clowns around affectionately with Jim Luce in his Upper West Side Home, NYC (2009). Photo credit: The Stewardship Report.
Peter’s million-selling illustrated children’s book and CD ofPuff, The Magic Dragon has given him a new platform—creating a new path—for folk music to occupy the limelight once again.
Over his half-century career, Peter reached out live to over half a million of what he affectionately calls “co-advocates of positive change.”
His songs call across decades, resonating with a history that he and his musical partners Mary and Paul not only helped write but one that has changed and inspired millions to continue to “keep on keepin’ on,” hold firm to principle, and not be deterred in the face of adversity.
His performances created an environment where a sense of reassuring commonality was shared, at a time when society was deeply concerned for collective welfare and future.
As Bill Bauer, retired McCoy Professor of Education and Leadership at Marietta College and vice president of the J. Luce Foundation, observed: “Marietta College and the greater Marietta area were treated to something larger than Peter’s presence. He allowed several generations of people to join together to forget the mundane of day-to-day concerns and be present in the moment. It was a very spiritual concert that allowed the audience to actively feel a role in this memorable event.”
Peter Yarrow has been recognized by many organizations as well as the U.S. Congress. In 2005, Orphans International Worldwide awarded him their Humanitarian of the Year Award. An unabashed liberal, friend, mentor, and mensch, Peter continued to demonstrate that music remains one of humanity’s most powerful tools for social change and global understanding. He passed away this January at the age of 86. Peter, my brother, you are missed!
Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary continues his decades-long commitment to social justice through Operation Respect and Orphans International Worldwide. From performing with the Dalai Lama to supporting orphaned children globally, Yarrow demonstrates how folk music activism endures. His work spans anti-bullying education, global citizenship development, and peace-building, reaching millions of children worldwide while maintaining the humanitarian spirit that defined the 1960s civil rights movement.
TAGS: peter yarrow, folk music, social justice, operation respect, orphans international, humanitarian work, peace education, civil rights, music activism, global citizens, dalai lama, anti-bullying, peter paul and mary
Six-episode series highlights 19th-century general’s role in reclaiming region from foreign forces
New York, N.Y. – China has released a six-episode documentary series focusing on Qing dynasty general Zuo Zongtang’s efforts to reclaim Xinjiang from foreign forces in the late 19th century, marking Beijing’s latest attempt to strengthen its historical narrative regarding the western autonomous region amid ongoing international scrutiny.
Historical Context Shapes Modern Messaging Strategy
The documentary was produced and aired by the broadcaster of Hunan province, the birthplace of Zuo Zongtang, one of the most famous generals and reformists in the late Qing dynasty (1644-1911).
Qing Dynasty General Zuo Zongtang’s reclaimed Xinjiang from foreign forces in late 1800s.
The timing of this production reflects China’s broader media strategy to present its perspective on Xinjiang governance and historical claims.
The documentary comes as Beijing has worked to cement its narrative on the history and governance of China’s borderlands, with the aim of “forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation” – a phrase coined by President Xi Jinping in 2014.
This concept has become central to the Chinese Communist Party‘s approach to ethnic minorities and territorial integrity.
The series specifically addresses the period when the Qing dynasty faced multiple internal and external challenges in the 19th century, which severely undermined its reign.
Its rule was weakened by the Taiping Rebellion (1851-1864), unequal treaties with Western naval powers such as Britain, and growing foreign infiltration in its western regions.
These historical parallels serve to contextualize contemporary geopolitical tensions.
Background on the Taiping Rebellion
The Taiping Rebellion was a massive civil war in southern China, led by Hong Xiuquan, a Christian convert who, after receiving divine visions, claimed to be Jesus Christ’s younger brother. He challenged the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, resulting in a staggering 20 million deaths, mostly civilians, making it one of history’s deadliest conflicts.
Hong founded the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, with Nanjing as its capital. At its peak, the Kingdom controlled much of southern China, governing roughly 30 million people. The rebels pursued radical social reforms, advocating shared property and replacing Confucianism, Buddhism, and Chinese folk religion with their version of Christianity.
Known as “Longhairs,” Taiping forces faced relentless Qing sieges. The rebellion was ultimately crushed with assistance from French and British forces. In the 20th century, Sun Yat-sen drew inspiration from the rebellion, while Mao Zedongcelebrated the Taiping rebels as early revolutionaries against a corrupt feudal order.
The Battle of Tongcheng (Taiping Rebellion, 1850-1864).
Documentary Focuses on 19th Century Separatist Threat
Central to the documentary’s narrative is the figure of Yaqub Beg, whose actions in the 1860s form a crucial part of China’s historical justification for its current policies. The documentary depicts how Yaqub Beg, a general of the Kokand Khanate in Central Asia, invaded and occupied Xinjiang in 1864 and created a separatist state there, which was backed briefly by Britain and Russia.
The series portrays Beg as a threat to Chinese sovereignty, noting that Beg was a jihadist who wanted to establish an Islamic caliphate. He has been revered by modern Islamic fundamentalists, including al-Qaeda, which has praised him as a hero. This characterization serves to draw connections between historical separatist movements and contemporary security concerns.
Zuo Zongtang’s military campaign to reclaim the region represents a pivotal moment in Chinese territorial history. The general’s success in reasserting Qing control over Xinjiang has been increasingly highlighted in China’s educational curriculum and media productions as a model of national unity and territorial integrity.
Yaqub Beg, a general of the Kokand Khanate in Central Asia, invaded and occupied Xinjiang in 1864 and created a separatist state there, which was backed briefly by Britain and Russia.
Educational Integration Reinforces National Identity
This documentary represents part of a broader educational initiative. The documentary is not the first time China has highlighted Zuo Zongtang as a national hero. In 2023, his historical deeds were included in junior high school and university history textbooks. This integration into formal education demonstrates the systematic approach to promoting specific historical narratives.
The emphasis on Zuo Zongtang reflects Beijing’s strategy to highlight historical figures who successfully defended Chinese territorial claims against foreign interference. These educational efforts aim to strengthen national identity among China’s diverse ethnic groups, particularly in border regions like Xinjiang.
Qing Dynasty General Zuo Zongtang’s reclaimed Xinjiang from foreign forces in late 1800s.
Media Strategy Addresses International Criticism
The documentary’s release coincides with ongoing international discussions about China’s policies in Xinjiang. While Western governments and human rights organizations have raised concerns about treatment of Uyghur and other minority populations, Beijing has consistently defended its approach as necessary for maintaining stability and combating extremism.
By focusing on historical precedents of foreign interference and separatist movements, the documentary attempts to provide historical context for contemporary governance approaches. The series presents China’s current policies as part of a long-standing effort to maintain territorial integrity against external threats.
The production also reflects China’s broader media diplomacy strategy, using historical narratives to support contemporary policy positions. This approach seeks to demonstrate continuity between historical challenges and modern governance approaches in Xinjiang.
Known as “Longhairs,” Taiping forces faced relentless Qing sieges. The rebellion was ultimately crushed with assistance from French and British forces. In the 20th century, Sun Yat-sen drew inspiration from the rebellion, while Mao Zedong celebrated the Taiping rebels as early revolutionaries against a corrupt feudal order.
Regional Broadcasting Highlights Local Connections
The choice of Hunan province’s broadcaster to produce the series carries particular significance, given the region’s connection to Zuo Zongtang. This local angle helps personalize the historical narrative while demonstrating how different provinces contribute to national historical memory.
The documentary serves multiple audiences, addressing domestic viewers who may be unfamiliar with 19th-century Xinjiang history while also providing content that can be used in international media outreach. This dual-purpose approach reflects China’s sophisticated media strategy for addressing both domestic unity and international perception.
As part of the Self-Strengthening Movement, Zuo Zongtang made another of his great accomplishments, founding China’s first modern shipyard and naval academy. Under the guidance of the French, who were occupying part of Vietnam at the time, Fuzhou became home to an expansive naval yard.
Contemporary Relevance of Historical Narratives
The timing and content of this documentary reflect how historical narratives continue to shape contemporary political discourse. By highlighting Zuo Zongtang’s successful campaign against separatist forces, the series reinforces themes of national unity and territorial sovereignty that remain central to Chinese governance philosophy.
The documentary’s emphasis on foreign interference in 19th-century Xinjiang also provides a historical framework for understanding contemporary geopolitical tensions. This approach allows Beijing to present current policies as part of a historical continuum of defending Chinese sovereignty against external threats.
As China continues to face international scrutiny regarding its Xinjiang policies, historical documentaries like this one serve as tools for reinforcing domestic support while providing alternative narratives to counter international criticism. The series represents another example of how historical storytelling is being mobilized in service of contemporary political objectives.
The documentary “Zuo Zongtang Recovers Xinjiang” represents China’s continued effort to promote its official historical narrative of the region while countering Western criticisms. Produced by Hunan province’s broadcaster, the series depicts the 19th-century military campaign that reclaimed Xinjiang from Yaqub Beg’s separatist state. This media initiative aligns with President Xi Jinping’s broader strategy to forge national unity and reinforce Chinese identity in ethnic minority border regions through historical storytelling and educational content.
Critics question drought-driven restrictions as province prioritizes fire prevention over public access rights
New York, N.Y. – Nova Scotia’s unprecedented decision to ban public access to provincial forests during extreme drought conditions has ignited a heated debate about government authority, personal freedoms, and environmental protection.
The controversial measure, implemented as wildfire risks reach critical levels, has drawn sharp criticism from outdoor enthusiasts, civil liberties advocates, and rural communities who view the restrictions as excessive government overreach.
Emergency Measures Trigger Public Backlash
The Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources issued the forest access ban following weeks of below-normal precipitation and dangerously low humidity levels. The restrictions prohibit entry to all provincial Crown lands, affecting approximately 13 million acres of public forest that typically serve thousands of residents and tourists for hiking, camping, hunting, and other recreational activities.
“This is government control gone too far,” said Marcus Thompson, president of the Nova Scotia Outdoors Association. “We understand the fire hazard, but completely shutting down our forests treats citizens like children who can’t be trusted to exercise common sense.”
The ban encompasses not only recreational activities but also affects Indigenous hunting and gathering rights, commercial forestry operations, and research activities. Even essential services like search and rescue operations face additional bureaucratic hurdles under the new restrictions.
Canadian firefighters. Photo credit: Government of Alberta.
Officials Defend Precautionary Approach
Provincial officials maintain that the extreme measures are justified given the unprecedented drought conditions and the catastrophic potential of wildfires. Natural Resources Minister Patricia Williams emphasized that the decision follows extensive consultation with meteorologists, fire safety experts, and emergency management officials.
“The science is clear—our forests are tinderboxes right now,” Williams stated at a recent press conference. “One careless action, one unattended campfire, one hot exhaust pipe could trigger a disaster that destroys homes, wildlife habitats, and potentially costs lives.”
The province points to recent wildfire events in neighboring jurisdictions as evidence supporting their cautious approach. British Columbia’s devastating fire seasons and the 2016 Fort McMurray disaster in Alberta serve as stark reminders of how quickly forest fires can spiral beyond control.
Data from Environment and Climate Change Canada supports the province’s concerns, showing that current moisture levels in Nova Scotia forests are at their lowest point in over four decades. The Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index rates current conditions as “extreme” across most of the province.
Economic Impact Raises Additional Concerns
The forest closure extends beyond recreational inconvenience, creating significant economic ripple effects throughout rural Nova Scotia. Tourism operators report substantial revenue losses as hiking guides, camping outfitters, and wilderness adventure companies face complete shutdown of their business operations.
“We’re looking at potentially tens of thousands of dollars in lost bookings,” explained Sarah Chen, owner of Atlantic Adventure Tours. “International visitors don’t understand why they can’t access forests they’ve traveled thousands of miles to experience.”
Local communities dependent on forest-based economies face additional hardships. Small-scale logging operations, maple syrup producers, and wild food harvesters find their livelihoods suspended indefinitely. The restrictions also impact scientific research projects, including biodiversity studies and climate change monitoring programs that require forest access.
The Nova Scotia Federation of Labour has raised concerns about employment impacts, particularly for seasonal workers whose jobs depend on forest access. Union representatives argue that the blanket ban fails to consider essential work activities that could continue with appropriate safety protocols.
Constitutional Questions and Legal Challenges
Legal scholars question whether the provincial government possesses the constitutional authority to implement such sweeping restrictions on public lands. Charter of Rights and Freedoms advocates argue that the bans infringe upon fundamental freedoms of movement and peaceful assembly.
“There’s a difference between reasonable safety regulations and blanket prohibition of public land access,” noted constitutional lawyer Dr. Michael Roberts. “The government must demonstrate that less restrictive measures wouldn’t achieve the same safety objectives.”
Indigenous communities have raised additional concerns about the restrictions interfering with Treaty rights and traditional land uses. The Mi’kmaq Nation has indicated potential legal action if the bans continue to impede traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering activities guaranteed under historical agreements.
Several civil liberties organizations are exploring court challenges to the restrictions, arguing that the government failed to conduct adequate public consultation before implementing the measures. They contend that alternative approaches, such as enhanced fire safety education and targeted area closures, could achieve safety goals without completely eliminating public access.
Balancing Safety and Freedom in Climate Era
The Nova Scotia controversy reflects broader tensions emerging across Canada as climate change creates more frequent and severe drought conditions. Other provinces are monitoring the situation closely, recognizing that similar extreme weather events may force comparable policy decisions in their jurisdictions.
Quebec and Ontario have implemented less restrictive measures, including enhanced fire safety patrols, temporary camping bans, and public education campaigns. These provinces argue that targeted interventions can achieve safety objectives while preserving public access rights.
Environmental groups remain divided on the issue. While some support the province’s precautionary approach, others argue complete forest closure prevents citizens from developing personal connections with natural environments that inspire long-term conservation support.
“We need people to experience and value our forests,” said Dr. Jennifer Walsh, a forestry researcher at Dalhousie University. “Complete exclusion may protect trees in the short term, but it doesn’t build the public support necessary for long-term forest stewardship.”
As drought conditions persist and wildfire risks remain elevated, Nova Scotia faces difficult decisions about when and how to lift the restrictions. The province has indicated that substantial precipitation and improved fire weather conditions will be necessary before access is restored.
The debate continues to evolve as stakeholders seek balanced solutions that protect both public safety and fundamental rights to access public lands. The outcome may establish important precedents for how Canadian governments respond to climate-driven emergencies while preserving democratic principles and civil liberties.
Summary
Nova Scotia has implemented sweeping forest access restrictions during severe drought conditions, sparking debate over government authority versus public safety. Critics argue the bans represent overreach, while officials defend them as necessary wildfire prevention measures. The controversy highlights tensions between environmental protection and personal freedoms across Canada.
Pete Hegseth’s social media repost highlights controversial Christian nationalist perspectives on electoral participation
New York, N.Y. – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth [Luce Index™ score: 48/100] sparked widespread controversy Thursday evening by reposting a video featuring Christian nationalist pastors advocating for the elimination of women’s voting rights, accompanied by his endorsement message stating “All of Christ for All of Life.”
The extraordinary social media post on X illuminates Hegseth’s deep connections to Christian nationalist movements and raises questions about the intersection of religious ideology and military leadership in the current administration. The video, originally produced by a congregation known for extreme theological positions, featured multiple pastors arguing that women’s suffrage represents a departure from biblical principles.
Military Leadership Under Scrutiny
The repost has drawn sharp criticism from Congress members, military analysts, and civil rights organizations who question whether such views align with the Defense Secretary’s constitutional oath to protect all Americans regardless of gender.
Hegseth, who assumed the role overseeing the nation’s largest employer and most powerful military force, has not issued clarifying statements regarding the post.
The timing of the social media activity coincides with ongoing debates about women’s roles in combat positions and military leadership structure.
Current U.S. military policy includes women in all combat roles, a policy that has evolved significantly since the Pentagon’s 2013 decision to lift the ban on women in combat positions.
Christian Nationalist Movement Connections
The video originates from a Christian nationalist congregation that advocates for implementing biblical law as the foundation of U.S. governance. This theological position, known as Christian Reconstructionism, calls for restructuring society according to specific interpretations of biblical texts, including traditional gender roles and limitations on women’s public participation.
Hegseth’s relationship with such movements extends beyond this single social media post. Public records and previous statements indicate longstanding connections to organizations promoting Christian Nationalist ideologies, including groups that advocate for male headship in family and societal structures.
The Defense Secretary’s endorsement message, “All of Christ for All of Life,” represents a common Christian Reconstructionist slogan emphasizing the application of religious principles to all aspects of society, including governance, law, and military affairs.
Historical Context and Constitutional Implications
Women’s suffrage, guaranteed by the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution since 1920, represents a fundamental democratic right that required decades of advocacy and political struggle. This protester was photographed in 1917. Credit: Library of Congress.
Women’s suffrage, guaranteed by the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution since August 26, 1920, represents a fundamental democratic right that required decades of advocacy and political struggle.
The amendment’s ratification followed extensive campaigns by suffragettes and women’s rights activists who faced imprisonment, violence, and social ostracism for demanding electoral equality.
Contemporary legal scholars note that any attempt to restrict voting rights based on gender would require constitutional amendment processes, making such proposals largely theoretical.
However, the symbolic significance of high-ranking government officials endorsing such positions raises concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and equal protection principles.
The Constitution’sEqual Protection Clause and subsequent Supreme Court decisions have consistently affirmed gender equality in civic participation, making the Defense Secretary’s apparent endorsement of contrary positions particularly noteworthy for constitutional law experts.
Soldiers carrying the cross. Photo credit: U.S. Defense Department.
Military Culture and Gender Integration
Hegseth’s position places significant influence over military culture, policies, and personnel decisions affecting approximately 2.1 million active duty and reserve service members. Women currently comprise about 17% of active duty military personnel and hold leadership positions throughout all service branches.
The Defense Secretary’s views on women’s societal roles could potentially impact military policies regarding gender integration, leadership opportunities, and operational assignments. Military advocacy groups have expressed concern about potential policy reversals that could limit women’s advancement opportunities within the armed forces.
Recent Pentagon initiatives have focused on expanding opportunities for women in military service, including combat roles previously restricted to men. These policies emerged from extensive studies demonstrating women’s capabilities in various military occupational specialties and combat environments.
For the most part, the Mainline churches – “normal” Protestant churches – are opposed to Christian Nationalism. These churches membership have declined, however, to only 15% of churches.
Political Reactions and Public Response
Congressional Democrats have called for hearings to examine whether Hegseth’s personal views compromise the military’s commitment to equal opportunity and treatment of all service members.
The Life of Jesus: “Pete Hegseth walks the footsteps of Jesus in original series.” – Fox Nation.
Senate Armed Services Committee members have indicated plans to question the Defense Secretary about the social media post and its implications for military policy.
Republican lawmakers have offered mixed responses, with some defending Hegseth’s right to express personal religious views while others have remained silent about the controversial repost.
The divide reflects broader tensions within the party regarding Christian nationalist influence and traditional conservative values.
Civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and National Organization for Women, have condemned the Defense Secretary’s apparent endorsement of restricting women’s voting rights as fundamentally incompatible with democratic principles and equal protection under law.
About 18% of the U.S. military are female – who can vote. That’s about 250,000 women. Above, an American G.I. in Iraq.
Implications for Defense Policy
The controversy surrounding Hegseth’s social media activity extends beyond symbolic concerns to potential practical implications for Defense Department policies and culture.
Military personnel policies, including promotion criteria, assignment opportunities, and leadership development programs, fall under the Defense Secretary’s purview.
Current military equal opportunity policies prohibit discrimination based on gender and require leaders to promote inclusive environments.
Hegseth’s apparent personal views on women’s societal roles could create tensions with these established policies and military culture initiatives.
The Defense Department’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs may face scrutiny given the Secretary’s endorsement of positions that fundamentally challenge women’s equal participation in democratic society.
As the controversy continues to develop, military leaders, Congress, and civil rights advocates are monitoring whether Hegseth’s personal religious views will translate into policy changes affecting the nation’s military forces and their commitment to defending constitutional principles for all Americans.
Summary
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reposted a video Thursday featuring Christian nationalist pastors arguing women should lose voting rights, writing “All of Christ for All of Life” alongside the controversial content. The social media post highlights connections between military leadership and Christian nationalist movements, raising questions about potential impacts on defense policies and military culture regarding gender equality and democratic principles.
TAGS: Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary, Christian nationalism, voting rights, women’s suffrage, military leadership, Pentagon policies, gender equality, constitutional rights, religious extremism, X social media, Congress oversight, military culture, democratic principles, civil rights
What? The death penalty for offenses like blasphemy, adultery, and homosexuality? In a nutshell, ultimately, Yes.
New York, N.Y. — Beneath the surface of contemporary American politics, a theological movement born in the mid-20th century exerts a quiet but discernible influence, its tenets resonating within certain corridors of power.
From 1985-91, I co-founded and fought with an organization offering simultaneously a lifeline to those caught in the grip of religious addiction and educating the public on the dangers of the Fundamentalist Mindset. This was Fundamentalists Anonymous.
The organization I co-founded in 1985, Fundamentalists Anonymous, was declared ‘#1 Enemy of the Gospel’ by Moral Majority and Liberty University president Jerry Falwell.
In fact, my partnerRichard Yao (M.Div., J.D.), raised with Jerry Falwell‘s missionaries in the Philippines, and we were the first to use the term “religious addiction” on national television (Donahue, May 17, 1985), define “Fundamentalist Mindset” (and get the American Psychological Association to have a panel on this topic at their 1987 convention). [Phil Donahue–Luce Index™ score: 99/100].
We were the first to use the term “religious addiction” on national TV (Donahue, May 1985).
In fact, we followed TV evangelist Pat Robertson(700 Club) across the South during his presidential bid in 1988 holding press conferences to explain to the media what his belief in “Reconstructionism” (and R.J. Rushdoony–see below), and we testified against televangelists Jerry Falwell (Moral Majority) and Jim & Tammy Bakker (PTL) in Congress in 1989.
[Pat Robertson–Luce Index™ score: 55/100; Jerry Falwell–Luce Index™ score: 55/100; Jim Bakker–Luce Index™ score: 53/100]
We managed to work with the courts to topple the TV evangelists, but their ideas are back with a vengeance in the Trump Administration.
Trump [Luce Index™ score: 35/100]; has no belief system other than self and power–to be king–and he has opened the door to the Reconstructionists who are willing to make him king in an authoritarian state – a theocracy straight out of The Handmaiden’s Tale.
The author with his partner Richard Yao, Esq. testifying against televangelists Jerry Falwell (Moral Majority) and Jim & Tammy Bakker (PTL) in Congress in 1989. Photo: Stewardship Report.
The Christian Reconstruction Movement, advocating for the implementation of Biblical law as the foundation for all civil governance, presents a vision starkly at odds with the pluralistic foundations of the U.S. Constitution. Its proponents champion a form of Dominion theology, aiming for a society governed by their specific interpretation of Old Testament statutes, encompassing areas from criminal justice to family structure.
While not all adherents publicly embrace the “Reconstructionist” label, the movement’s core ideas – including its views on Christian Nationalism, the subordination of women, and vehement opposition to LGBTQ+ rights – permeate the rhetoric and policy goals of several prominent figures connected to recent Republican administrations and the current U.S. Congress.
We followed TV evangelist Pat Robertson (700 Club) across the South during his presidential bid in 1988 holding press conferences to explain to media his belief in “Reconstructionism.”
From Obscure Theology to Political Influence
The roots of Christian Reconstructionism lie primarily in the work of R.J. Rushdoony and his equally evil son-in-law, Gary North. Rushdoony’s magnum opus, The Institutes of Biblical Law(1973), systematically argued for applying Mosaic law, including its penal codes (often interpreted as requiring the death penalty for offenses like blasphemy, adultery, and homosexuality), to modern civil society.
Central to the movement is Dominion theology, derived from Genesis 1:28, which they interpret as a divine command for Christians to take dominion over every aspect of life, including government, law, education, and culture.
This vision explicitly rejects the Enlightenment principles underpinning the U.S. Constitution, particularly the separation of church and state, viewing them as impediments to establishing a truly Christian nation.
Reconstructionists believesociety should be reconstructed according to their Biblical law framework, establishing a theonomy (God’s law) or theocracy.
While the movement itself remains relatively small and few politicians explicitly claim the Reconstructionist label, its ideas have significantly influenced the broader Religious Right and Christian nationalist currents within American conservatism.
Core Tenets and Contentious Positions
Christian Reconstructionism presents a comprehensive, and deeply troubling, blueprint for society.
Its vision is patriarchal, asserting distinct and hierarchical roles for men and women, relegating women primarily to domestic spheres and subservience to male authority within the family and church.
This view directly opposes concepts of gender equality and women’s autonomy.
The movement is vehemently anti-LGBTQ+, viewing homosexuality and transgender identities not merely as sins but as capital crimes deserving of death under their interpretation of Biblical law.
While acknowledging that such punishments wouldn’t be immediately implementable in contemporary America, they view them as the ideal standard to strive towards.
Sound familiar? Reconstructionists advocate for the abolition of public education, favoring homeschooling or private Christian schools operating under their theological framework, seeing state-run education as inherently secular and hostile to their beliefs.
They promote a radical laissez-faire economic model rooted in their biblical interpretation, often rejecting central banking and most forms of taxation and government welfare. Thus, they often receive support from Libertarians.
Furthermore–and this is admittedly complicated for the non-Fundamentalists–they hold ‘postmillennialist’ eschatology, believing Christ will return after Christians have successfully established His kingdom on earth through social and political dominance, fueling their drive for cultural and political influence.
In this clip from “On Earth as it Is In Heaven,” Bill Moyers introduces a grassroots movement aiming to infuse religion into every area of American life, including civic institutions. Moyers speaks with R.J. Rushdoony, who believes the Bible should be used as law in the U.S. Considered the father of Christian Reconstructionism, Rushdoony interprets the Bible literally, and believes that the Constitution can be retained while introducing a faith-based moral law.
Echoes in the Halls of Power: Key Figures and Sympathies
Identifying explicit card-carrying Reconstructionists within high-level U.S. government is difficult; the label is often avoided due to its controversial associations. However, the movement’s core ideas – particularly Dominion theology, Christian nationalism, opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, and advocacy for patriarchal structures – find strong resonance with several influential figures.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, an Army National Guard veteran and Fox News host nominated by Donald Trump, has multiple Christian Nationalist tattoos.
While not definitively labeled a Reconstructionist, Pete Hegseth [Luce Index™ score: 48/100], a prominent media personality and former C.E.O. of Concerned Veterans for America who served on the Donald J. Trump for President 2016National Security Advisory Committee and was reportedly considered for roles including Veterans Affairs Secretary and Army Secretary, has expressed deep sympathy for these views.
Hegseth co-authored the book Modern Warriors: Real Stories from Real Heroes and frequently espouses Christian nationalist rhetoric on television, emphasizing America’s identity as a fundamentally Christian nation needing restoration. His views align closely with Reconstructionist ideals regarding society and governance.
Within Congress, members associated with the House Freedom Caucus and aligned with groups like the Family Research Council and Alliance Defending Freedom often promote policies reflecting Reconstructionist influence.
Figures like former Representative Steve King (R-IA) and current members such as Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Lauren Boebert (R-CO) frequently utilize Christian nationalist language, advocate for policies restricting LGBTQ+ rights(particularly transgender rights), and promote a vision of America governed by conservative Christian principles, mirroring key Reconstructionist goals, even if not explicitly citing Rushdoony or North.
The appointment of Supreme Court Justices like Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh to the Court, nominated by President Trump and supported by Senate Republican leadership including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, was celebrated by groups advocating the rollback of separation of church and state precedents and the overturning of rulings like Roe v. Wade – outcomes aligned with Reconstructionist objectives of aligning law with specific religious interpretations.
Former Attorney General William Barr delivered speeches decrying secularism and championing a public role for religion that resonated strongly with Christian nationalist themes central to Reconstructionist thought.
Criticism, Controversy, and the Future of Influence
The Christian Reconstruction Movement and the broader Christian nationalist ideology it fuels face intense criticism across the political and theological spectrum. Mainstream Christian denominations, both Protestant and Catholic, often reject its interpretation of Biblical law and its theocratic aspirations as incompatible with the New Testament message of grace and the core American value of religious freedom for all.
Wall ‘art’ on sale through Walmart.
Secular critics and advocates for civil liberties agree it as fundamentally anti-democratic and a dire threat to the U.S. Constitution, pluralism, and individual rights, particularly for women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and religious minorities. Its vision legitimizes discrimination and potentially violence under the guise of religious mandate.
The movement’s historical ties to figures who defended apartheid in South Africa and segregation in the U.S. further stain its reputation.
While Reconstructionism as a formal movement may not dictate policy directly, its ideational framework provides the theological underpinning and radical energy for activists and politicians pushing a hardline agenda on issues from reproductive rights to education policy and the role of religion in government.
The continued presence of figures espousing these views in advisory roles, media, and elected office ensures its influence will remain a potent, and contentious, force in American political discourse, challenging the very notions of liberal democracy and separation of church and state.– JL
This article examines the Christian Reconstruction Movement, its core tenets advocating governance by Old Testament law, and its influence on modern U.S. politics. It explores the movement’s controversial views on women, LGBTQ+ rights, and education, and identifies figures like Pete Hegseth and certain Congressional leaders whose support for Christian nationalism aligns with Reconstructionist ideals. The piece highlights the significant criticism this movement faces and its ongoing impact on American political discourse.
TAGS: Christian Reconstruction Movement, Dominion Theology, R.J. Rushdoony, Biblical Law, Theonomy, Christian Nationalism, Religious Right, Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump, U.S. Congress, House Freedom Caucus, Gary North,LGBTQ+ Rights, Separation of Church and State, U.S. Constitution, Mosaic Law, Pentecostalism
Strategic Move Enhances Defense of Southwestern Islands Amid Regional Tensions Around East China Sea. Jets Have Vertical Landing Capabilities.
New York, N.Y. – Japan’s strategic deployment of its first F-35B stealth fighter jets at Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture signals a pivotal shift in its defense posture, aimed at countering rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
This move, announced on August 7, 2025, underscores Japan’s ambition to bolster its military capabilities, particularly in its southern territories, amid concerns over China’s growing maritime assertiveness and regional influence.
A New Era for Japan’s Air Defense
The arrival of three F-35B jets at Nyutabaru Air Base on August 7, 2025, marks a significant milestone in Japan’s military modernization. These advanced stealth fighters, developed by Lockheed Martin, are equipped with cutting-edge technology, including short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities, enabling flexible operations from both land bases and naval platforms.
The deployment is part of Japan’s broader strategy to enhance its defense capabilities in the East China Sea, particularly around its remote southwestern islands, which are increasingly vulnerable to regional security challenges.
Japan’s decision to station the jets at Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture reflects a calculated response to evolving geopolitical dynamics. The Senkaku Islands, a point of contention with China, lie in close proximity to Japan’s southern territories.
The F-35B’s advanced radar-evading technology and versatility make it an ideal asset for rapid response and deterrence in this strategically sensitive region. By integrating these jets into its air fleet, Japan aims to project power and maintain a strategic edge in the Indo-Pacific.
Naval Integration and Operational Challenges
The F-35B jets are designed to operate from Japan’s Izumo-class helicopter carriers, which have undergone modifications to accommodate fixed-wing aircraft. The carriers,Izumo and Kaga, are being retrofitted with heat-resistant decks to support the jets’ vertical landing capabilities.
This transformation effectively turns these vessels into light aircraft carriers, enhancing Japan’s ability to project air power across its maritime borders. However, operational challenges remain, as training flights for the F-35B are currently confined to Nyutabaru Air Base due to delays in constructing a dedicated runway on Mageshima Island.
In Japanese – TV Tokyo BIZ. The Japanese Ministry of Defense’s newest cutting-edge fighter jet, the F35B, has been deployed for the first time to the Nyutabaru Air Base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force in Miyazaki Prefecture.
The Defense Ministry has acknowledged these delays, citing logistical and environmental hurdles. Mageshima, an uninhabited island in Kagoshima Prefecture, was designated as a training hub for the F-35B to minimize disruptions to local communities near Nyutabaru.
Residents in Miyazaki Prefecture have voiced concerns over noise pollution caused by the jets’ frequent training operations. The Defense Ministry has pledged to address these concerns through community engagement and plans to relocate training to Mageshima once infrastructure is complete.
Expanding the F-35 Fleet
Japan’s acquisition of the F-35B is part of an ambitious plan to field one of the largest F-35 fleets globally, second only to the United States. The Defense Ministry has committed to procuring 42 F-35B jets alongside 105 conventional F-35A models, with the goal of creating a robust air defense network capable of addressing multifaceted threats. By March 31, 2026, an additional four F-35B jets are expected to arrive at Nyutabaru, further strengthening Japan’s southern defenses.
This expansion aligns with Japan’s 2018 National Defense Program Guidelines, which emphasize the need for enhanced air and missile defense capabilities in response to China’s growing military presence and North Korea’s missile tests.
The F-35B’s stealth features, advanced sensors, and network-enabled operations provide Japan with a significant technological advantage, enabling real-time data sharing with allied forces, including the United States and Australia, under frameworks like the Quad alliance.
Regional Implications and Local Concerns
The deployment of F-35B jets has broader implications for regional security dynamics. China’s expanding naval and air capabilities, coupled with its assertive claims in the South China Sea and East China Sea, have prompted Japan to reassess its traditionally pacifist defense posture. The F-35B deployment signals Japan’s intent to assert greater influence in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in defending its territorial waters and exclusive economic zones.
However, the integration of these advanced jets has not been without controversy. Local communities near Nyutabaru Air Base have expressed frustration over the noise generated by F-35B training flights. Community leaders have called for greater transparency from the Defense Ministry regarding flight schedules and mitigation measures. In response, officials have promised to implement noise reduction strategies, such as adjusting flight paths and limiting nighttime operations, while accelerating the development of Mageshima’s training facilities.
The F-35B deployment also raises questions about Japan’s balancing act between military modernization and its constitutional commitment to pacifism. Article 9 of Japan’s Constitution renounces war and the maintenance of offensive military forces, but reinterpretations in recent years have allowed for greater flexibility in self-defense operations.
The acquisition of F-35B jets and the conversion of Izumo-class carriers reflect a gradual shift toward a more proactive defense strategy, sparking debates among policymakers and the public about the future of Japan’s military role.
A Strategic Signal to Allies and Adversaries
Japan’s investment in the F-35 program underscores its deepening alignment with the United States, which has supplied the jets and provided technical support for their integration. The F-35B’s interoperability with U.S. forces enhances joint operational capabilities, particularly in scenarios involving regional contingencies.
This deployment also serves as a signal to China and other regional actors that Japan is prepared to defend its interests and contribute to stability in the Indo-Pacific.
The F-35B’s arrival at Nyutabaru comes at a time of heightened regional tensions.
China’s increased maritime patrols near the Senkaku Islands and its expansive claims in the South China Sea have raised concerns among Quad members, including Japan, United States, India, and Australia.
The F-35B’s advanced capabilities provide Japan with a credible deterrent, enabling rapid deployment to contested areas and enhancing situational awareness through its sophisticated sensor suite.
As Japan continues to expand its F-35 fleet, it faces the challenge of balancing military modernization with domestic and regional sensitivities. The Defense Ministry’s commitment to community engagement and infrastructure development will be critical to maintaining public support for the F-35B program.
Meanwhile, Japan’s strategic pivot toward a more assertive defense posture is likely to reshape its role in the Indo-Pacific, influencing alliances and security dynamics for years to come.
Japan has deployed its first three F-35B stealth fighter jets to Nyutabaru Air Base to strengthen southern defenses. The jets, capable of short take-off and vertical landing, will operate from modified carriers Izumo and Kaga. This move, part of a plan to field 42 F-35Bs and 105 F-35As, aims to counter China’s maritime assertiveness. Local concerns over noise persist as Japan expands its advanced air fleet.
Nationwide policy benefits 12 million children this autumn, saving families 20 billion yuan annually; part of broader strategy addressing demographic challenges.
New York, N.Y. — China has ushered in a transformative policy this autumn semester: universally free preschool education for all children in their final year of kindergarten nationwide.
The initiative immediately impacts approximately 12 million children, projected to save household spending by roughly 20 billion yuan (about US$2.8 billion) this semester alone. This phased implementation represents a significant stride in the nation’s efforts to alleviate family financial burdens and encourage childbearing amidst persistent demographic headwinds.
Preschool children take part in a waste-sorting simulation at a kindergarten in Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, on June 3, 2025. Photo credit: Hang Xingwei / Xinhua.
Policy Structure and Immediate Impact
The free tuition applies to children enrolled in both public and private kindergartens. Under guidelines released earlier this week, fees for children at private institutions will be reduced to match the exemptions now offered at local public kindergartens.
Funding for the exempted fees is a shared responsibility between central and local governments, with the central government providing the majority of support. Crucially, central and western regions, often facing greater economic constraints, will receive proportionally larger financial backing from the central authorities.
“This policy is a concrete measure reflecting the State Council‘s commitment to people-centered development,” stated Vice Minister Guo during a Thursday press briefing. She emphasized the government’s intention to refine the policy over time, “We will improve the policy in due course to ensure more children can benefit,” signaling potential future expansions beyond the final kindergarten year.
Children play with a sound-conducting toy made with paper cups at a kindergarten in Changxing County, Huzhou City, east China’s Zhejiang Province. Photo credit: Tan Yunfeng / Xinhua.
Image credit: Shi Yu / China Daily.
Relief Resonates with Families Nationwide
Public reaction has been swift and overwhelmingly positive, particularly resonating with young families grappling with the rising costs of childcare and education. For many, the savings translate into tangible relief from significant monthly expenditures.
“The monthly kindergarten expense is a substantial part of our household budget,” shared Wang, a working mother in Beijing. “If preschool becomes free, even for just the final year, it would make a real, positive difference in our lives. It could even influence decisions like ours about having another child.” Her sentiment echoes a common theme among urban parents facing high living costs.
Timing proved fortuitous for one family in Guangzhou, the capital of south China’s Guangdong Province. “How lucky I am!” exclaimed a parent on the Weibo social media platform. “My child will enter the final year of kindergarten next month. Even though public kindergarten fees aren’t exorbitant month-to-month, they still accumulate to around 10,000 yuan (about $1,401 U.S.) annually. This policy will save us a significant amount.”
Kindergarten children wearing gowns of Doctor Degree run at the Hedong District No 2 Kindergarten in Tianjin, North China. Photo credit: Xinhua.
Ensuring Seamless Implementation and Equity
With the policy set to take effect nationwide this September, a Chinese Ministry of Education official assured that comprehensive preparations are underway. “All necessary groundwork, including staff training and widespread policy promotion, is on track for completion by the end of August,”he stated at the same briefing. The goal is a smooth rollout ensuring no eligible child misses out on the benefit.
Vulnerable children, including those from financially disadvantaged families, orphans, and children with disabilities, have long been covered under a dedicated financial aid system.
The official further clarified that the new fee exemption is designed to integrate with, not replace, existing financial aid programs. “Vulnerable children, including those from financially disadvantaged families, orphans, and children with disabilities, have long been covered under a dedicated financial aid system,” he explained. “This new universal policy will work in tandem with that targeted support, reinforcing our commitment to ensuring no child is left behind due to economic hardship.”
Embedded in Broader Demographic Strategy
Illustration credit: Jin Ding / China Daily.
The launch of free preschool for the kindergarten final year is not an isolated measure. It forms a critical pillar within China’s multifaceted response to profound demographic challenges, characterized by a declining birth rate and a rapidly aging population.
Recognizing that financial pressure is a major deterrent to family formation and expansion, the Chinese government has progressively introduced a suite of support policies across key life domains.
In recent years, this has encompassed measures related to childbirth, child-rearing, education, healthcare, and housing, collectively aimed at fostering a more birth-friendly society and mitigating the long-term socioeconomic impacts of an aging populace.
Just last week, the government announced a nationwide child care subsidy program scheduled for 2025. This initiative will provide families with an annual subsidy of 3,600 yuan for each child under the age of three. Crucially, these subsidies, expected to benefit over 20 million families annually, will be exempt from individual income tax.
Furthermore, they will not be factored into household or individual income calculations when determining eligibility for other welfare assistance programs, such as subsistence allowances or allowances for people living in extreme difficulty.
Building Momentum for Family Support
For families like Meng’s in Beijing, the cumulative effect of these recent announcements signifies tangible progress. “These policies mark a real step toward stronger, more concrete economic support for families raising children,” Meng, a working mother, observed. She expressed hope that the combined impact of initiatives like child care subsidies and free preschool would extend beyond immediate financial relief.
“I hope these measures not only ease the significant financial burden on parents,” Meng added, “but also help cultivate a more genuinely family-friendly society. A society where more young people feel economically secure and socially supported enough to confidently pursue starting and raising a family.”
The phased free preschool policy, starting this autumn, represents a significant down payment on that vision, directly impacting millions of households and signaling the government’s intensified focus on supporting families as the cornerstone of national demographic resilience.
Summary
China has implemented free tuition nationwide for all children in their final year of kindergarten, effective this autumn semester. The policy benefits approximately 12 million children, saving families an estimated 20 billion yuan ($2.8 billion U.S.) this semester. Funded jointly by central and local governments, with greater central support for less affluent regions, it applies to both public and private kindergartens. This initiative is a key part of China’s broader strategy, including upcoming childcare subsidies, to address demographic challenges by reducing family financial burdens and encouraging childbearing.
Israeli Prime Minister Accuses U.S. Paper of Defaming Israel; Global Coverage Intensifies Scrutiny of Humanitarian Crisis
Netanyahu’s Threat: Defamation or Defense?
New York, N.Y. — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [Luce Index™ score: 51/100] has ignited a fierce global media debate with his announcement that Israel is considering a lawsuit against The New York Times over its coverage of starvation and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Muhammad, a one-year-old boy, can be seen writhing in pain amid Israel’s blockade on the Gaza enclave, which has prevented citizens receiving the vital aid they need to survive.
Netanyahu’s accusation rests on the assertion that an influential article and its devastating photo of an emaciated eighteen-month-old boy, Zakaria al-Mutawaq, actively—rather than incidentally—defamedIsrael by implying direct responsibility for the suffering of Gaza’s civilians.
During a Fox News interview on August 7, 2025, Netanyahu declared, “The New York Times ought to be sued. I am currently examining if a nation can take legal action against The New York Times… I believe it constitutes clear defamation.”
His core grievance: the article’s original caption and narrative omitted the child’s preexisting illnesses, including cerebral palsy and a genetic disorder.
The omission, Netanyahu argued, created a one-dimensional, misleading representation of Gaza’s crisis, fueling international outrage against Israel.
The compelling imagery and prose, widely circulated by international outlets, provoked a wave of condemnation—much of it focused on Israel’s blockade and military strategy as the driving factors behind the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
The Times Under Fire: Gaza Coverage and Controversy
The New York Times’ July 25 feature, titled “Young, Old and Sick Starve to Death in Gaza: ‘There Is Nothing,’” included the photo of little Zakaria al-Mutawaq cradled by his mother.
This image became an immediate symbol of the anguish afflicting Gaza during Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, spurring both empathy and protest across the world.
In the days following publication, fact-checkers and pro-Israel advocates pointed out inconsistencies: Zakaria’s brother appeared healthy, and doctors confirmed that Zakaria suffered from congenital health issues.
The photographs of the starving Palestinian boy made available to the media through Getty Images have now been published around the world. Here, The Mirror in London.
On July 30, the Times published an editor’s note clarifying the child’s condition, retracting the mother’s original claim that he was “born healthy.” Netanyahu viewed the correction as inadequate, likening its impact to “the size of a postage stamp—buried in the back pages.”
The Times, defending its coverage, said: “Children in Gaza are malnourished and starving, as our reporters and others have documented. Mr. Netanyahu is referring to an update we made to a story about how the food crisis is affecting the civilian population… Attempts to threaten independent media providing vital information and accountability to the public are unfortunately an increasingly common playbook.”
The newspaper asserted its reporters work bravely in Gaza, underscoring the risks and responsibilities faced by correspondents in war zones.
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Truth, Images, and the War for Perception
Netanyahu’s legal threat encapsulates a larger battle: the struggle to define and defend truth amid competing narratives in wartime. The question of defamation turns on whether The New York Times knowingly and maliciously published false information or whether their reporting reflected the devastating realities witnessed daily in Gaza.
International law sets a high bar for defamation by a nation against a news outlet— requiring proof of“actual malice” and measurable reputational harm. Thus far, legal scholars and media advocates argue that any such lawsuit would face formidable obstacles in U.S. courts, not least the principle that truthful reporting is not actionable as defamation.
Images of bombed babies, starving children, and destroyed neighborhoods, broadcast to billions, define public perception. Yet they also evoke fierce debates. Netanyahu’s supporters contend that media outlets routinely neglect the complexities—the role of Hamas in commandeering aid and the medical histories of affected civilians.
UNICEF and other organizations, however, affirm Gaza’s populations are experiencing famine and acute malnutrition after “22 months of war and a two-month blockade by Israel.”
Humanitarian Crisis and Global Reaction
The humanitarian catastrophe gripping Gaza is not merely an abstract dystopia.
United Nations agencies and independent aid networks report malnutrition rates consistent with famine across much of the enclave.
UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban called the situation “horrendous,” attributing suffering to both the blockade and the breakdown of civil order—looting by Hamas and other factions, and the wartime destruction of hospitals and food distribution networks.
While Netanyahu acknowledges the suffering, he maintains that Israel is working to overcome these hardships but blames Hamas for hoarding, looting, and reselling aid at inflated prices; he states that ending Hamas rule is the only path to relief.
Amid rising international pressure, Israel is reportedly preparing for renewed military control over Gaza; this move remains controversial even within Israeli political and military circles, with mounting objections from European allies and skepticism among military leaders who favor a new cease-fire over further escalation.
Legal and Ethical Battlegrounds for Media
Netanyahu’s threatened lawsuit has intensified debate about press freedom and the ethical responsibilities of journalism in conflict zones. The Times and other outlets argue that efforts to intimidate independent reporting are part of a dangerous pattern worldwide—where powerful actors seek to silence or shape narratives for political ends.
Media ethics demand rigorous fact-checking, contextualization, and transparency about sources. The Gaza famine reporting, replete with visceral images and tragic testimony, stretches the capacity for nuanced storytelling; corrections, editor’s notes, and ongoing debates are inevitable collateral in the pursuit of truth.
A crucial, unresolved tension remains: if the suffering in Gaza is verifiable, then, as critics say, “if it’s the truth, it cannot be defamation.” Yet the struggle to hold each side accountable continues on legal, ethical, and humanitarian fronts.
Summary
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering a lawsuit against The New York Times, alleging defamation over its coverage of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. His focus is a front-page photograph of an emaciated child, which, he says, falsely implies Israel is causing famine. The Times updated the article, noting the child’s medical conditions. Humanitarian agencies, meanwhile, verify widespread starvation. Legal experts say Netanyahu’s claim faces steep hurdles as truthful reporting is not, by definition, defamation.
Empowering Orphaned Children Through Education and Care Since 1999
New York, N.Y. – In a world marked by crises, one organization stands out for its unwavering commitment to vulnerable children for a quarter-century. The updated website reflects this.
With a mission to provide education, healthcare, and emotional support, OIW operates in regions devastated by poverty, conflict, and natural disasters.
By fostering sustainable community-based solutions, the organization ensures children grow into empowered adults capable of breaking cycles of poverty.
This feature explores OIW’s impactful work, innovative approaches, and vision for a brighter future.
A Legacy of Compassion and Action
Founded by Jim Luce, OIW emerged in response to the global orphan crisis, which the United Nations estimates affects over 163 million children worldwide.
The organization’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that every child deserves a chance to thrive, regardless of circumstance.
Unlike traditional aid models, OIW prioritizes long-term empowerment over temporary relief.
Its programs focus on education, vocational training, and emotional well-being, ensuring children are equipped to contribute to their communities.
In Haiti, OIW’s flagship program supported over 300 children in Gonaïves, Léogâne, and Jacmel, providing schooling, meals, and medical care.
Following the 2010 earthquake, OIW rebuilt community centers, integrating trauma counseling to address psychological scars.
Similarly, in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, OIW partners with local organizations to offer vocational training to teenagers, teaching skills like sewing and computer literacy.
These initiatives reflect OIW’s commitment to culturally sensitive, sustainable development.
OIW has set forth Global Standards for international orphan care, covering both full care and family care of orphaned or abandoned children.
The OIW Global Standards – about 20 pages long – are posted online.
This is the only standard for international orphan care readily available to the public.
These Global Standards include OIW’s non-participation in international adoption.
Innovative Approaches to Global Challenges
OIW’s model stands out for its emphasis on local partnerships. By collaborating with community leaders and organizations, OIW ensures programs are tailored to specific cultural and economic contexts.
In Tanzania, for example, OIW supports a cooperative of women who run a school for orphaned children, combining education with income-generating activities like farming.
This approach not only supports children but also strengthens community resilience.
Technology plays a pivotal role in OIW’s operations. The organization leverages digital platforms to connect donors with beneficiaries, offering transparency through real-time updates on project outcomes.
Donors can track their contributions via OIW’s website (orphansinternational.org), where detailed reports highlight the impact of their support.
This transparency has earned OIW high ratings from charity evaluators, reinforcing trust among supporters.
Another innovative strategy is OIW’s focus on disaster preparedness. In regions prone to natural disasters, such as Indonesia and Haiti, OIW trains local staff in emergency response protocols.
This ensures rapid, effective aid delivery when crises strike. For instance, after stroms hit El Salvador in 2013, OIW mobilized resources within 48 hours, providing food, water, and temporary shelters to affected families.
Operating in unstable regions presents significant challenges. In Haiti, ongoing political turmoil and gang violence complicate aid delivery. OIW navigates these issues by maintaining strong relationships with local authorities and community leaders, ensuring safe access to vulnerable populations.
In India, where a continuing caste system–officially illegal–impacts millions of once-called “Untouchables” (dalit).OIW has partnered with other international NGOs to provide housing, nutrition, and education.
Funding remains a persistent hurdle. While OIW relies on donations from individuals and grants from foundations, fluctuating support can strain resources.
To address this, OIW has diversified its funding streams, launching social media campaigns on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to engage younger donors. These efforts have boosted visibility, with campaigns like #HopeForOrphans reaching over 50,000 views in 2024.
Logistical challenges also arise in remote areas. In rural Tanzania, poor infrastructure makes it difficult to transport supplies. OIW counters this by training local volunteers to manage distribution, reducing reliance on external logistics. This approach not only improves efficiency but also empowers communities to take ownership of their development.
Stories of Impact: Changing Lives One Child at a Time
The true measure of OIW’s success lies in the stories of the children it serves. In Haiti, 16-year-old Marie, orphaned during the 2010 earthquake, found a new path through OIW’s programs.
Enrolled in a vocational school, she learned tailoring and now runs a small business, supporting her younger siblings. “OIW gave me hope when I had none,” Marie says. Her story is one of many, each a testament to the organization’s transformative impact.
In Indonesia, 14-year-old Ahmad, a tsunami survivor, struggled with trauma until OIW’s counseling programs helped him regain confidence. Now a top student, Ahmad aspires to become a teacher, inspired by the mentors who supported him.
These stories highlight OIW’s holistic approach, addressing not just physical needs but also emotional and psychological well-being.
OIW’s work extends beyond individual children to entire communities. In Tanzania, the women’s cooperative supported by OIW has grown into a self-sustaining enterprise, funding education for over 200 children.
This ripple effect demonstrates how OIW’s interventions create lasting change, empowering communities to break free from poverty.
Looking Ahead: A Vision for the Future
As OIW approaches its 30th anniversary in 2029, the organization is expanding its reach. Plans are underway to launch programs in Colombia and Bangladesh, targeting regions with high orphan populations.
OIW is also investing in digital education, developing online learning platforms to reach children in remote areas. These platforms will offer courses in literacy, math, and vocational skills, ensuring access to education despite geographical barriers.
Climate change poses a growing threat to OIW’s work, particularly in disaster-prone regions. To address this, OIW is integrating environmental education into its programs, teaching children about sustainable practices like water conservation and reforestation.
By fostering environmental awareness, OIW aims to equip communities to withstand future challenges.
The organization’s leadership, led by its CEO Jim Luce, remains committed to innovation and impact. “Our goal is to create a world where no child is left behind,” Luce says. With a dedicated international team and a global network of supporters, OIW is poised to continue its mission for decades to come.
To learn more or contribute, visit orphansinternational.org, call 212.872.1473, text 347.316.7087, or email info@orphansinternational.org.Every donation, no matter how small, makes a difference in transforming lives.
Summary
Orphans International Worldwide, headquartered in New York, transforms lives by providing education, healthcare, and support to orphaned children globally. Since 1999, OIW has empowered communities in crisis-hit regions, fostering sustainable solutions to break poverty cycles. Through programs in Haiti, Indonesia, and beyond, OIW ensures children receive holistic care, preparing them for brighter futures. Learn more at orphansinternational.org or call 212.872.1473 to support their mission.
Orphans International Worldwide: Transforming Lives Globally (Aug. 8, 2025)
From Whimsical Rhymes to Wartime Warnings: How Geisel’s Greatest Works Challenge Young Minds
New York, N.Y. — In an era when children’s literature increasingly faces scrutiny for its messages, the works of Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel)[Luce Index™ score: 89/100] stand as testament to the power of combining entertainment with profound social commentary.
Three of his most significant works—The Butter Battle Book,Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, and The Lorax—demonstrate how surrealist art and accessible storytelling can tackle humanity’s most complex challenges.
The Foundation of ‘Seussian Surrealism’
Geisel’s artistic journey began long before his breakthrough with The Cat in the Hat in 1957. His visual vernacular, established early in his career, provided what he called “logical insanity”—a consistent fantastical framework that allowed readers to suspend disbelief while confronting real-world issues.
This approach proved revolutionary in children’s literature, where moral instruction typically relied on heavy-handed didacticism rather than imaginative allegory.
The author’s commitment to consistency within his invented worlds created a unique artistic signature. As Geisel himself explained, “If I start with a two-headed animal, I must never waiver from that concept. There must be two hats in the closet, two toothbrushes in the bathroom, and two sets of spectacles on the night table.”
This principle extended beyond mere visual consistency to encompass the moral and political frameworks underlying his most controversial works.
Cold War Commentary Through Childlike Eyes
The Butter Battle Book, published in 1984 during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, represents perhaps Geisel’s most ambitious attempt to address nuclear warfare through children’s literature. The story of the Yooks and Zooks—identical species divided by their bread-buttering preferences—serves as an unmistakable allegory for the Cold War arms race.
The escalation from simple disagreement to potential mutual assured destruction mirrors the real-world tensions of the 1980s. Geisel’s “bitsy big-boy boomeroo”—little glowing beans representing nuclear warheads—reduces the incomprehensible scale of atomic warfare to terms children could understand while maintaining the existential terror such weapons represent.
The book’s reception proved as polarizing as its subject matter. Conservative critics like those at The National Review denounced what they perceived as moral equivalence between democratic and communist ideologies.
Libraries banned the work, fearing its anti-war message would corrupt young minds. Yet this resistance only underscored the book’s effectiveness in challenging comfortable assumptions about American militarism.
Environmental Prophecy in Truffula Trees
The Lorax, published in 1971, anticipated many contemporary environmental concerns with remarkable prescience. The story’s central conflict between the Once-ler’s industrial expansion and the Lorax’s environmental stewardship resonates even more powerfully today amid climate change discussions and corporate environmental responsibility debates.
The work faced significant opposition from industrial interests. The National Oak Flooring Manufacturers’ Association went so far as to publish a counter-narrative called Truax in 1994, attempting to rebut Geisel’s environmental message through mimicked artistic style. This response highlighted how effectively The Lorax challenged established economic paradigms.
Small communities like Laytonville, California, attempted to ban the book in 1989, fearing it would instill anti-industry sentiment in children. Such reactions demonstrate the work’s power to influence young readers’ perspectives on corporate responsibility and environmental protection.
Universal Inspiration and Personal Agency
While Oh, the Places You’ll Go!avoids the overt political commentary of Geisel’s other major works, it addresses equally important themes of personal empowerment and resilience. The book’s message about overcoming obstacles and taking control of one’s destiny has made it a graduation favorite, but its deeper implications about individual agency in complex systems align with Geisel’s broader philosophical framework.
The work’s emphasis on personal choice and determination complements the author’s political writings by suggesting that meaningful change begins with individual decision-making. This theme connects to Geisel’s wartime service, where he created educational materials featuring Private Snafu, teaching soldiers to think critically about their circumstances.
Legacy of Resistance and Relevance
Geisel’s political evolution from World War II propagandist to Cold War critic reveals an artist unafraid to question authority when circumstances demanded it. His earlier political cartoons targeted isolationist policies and criticized the “America First” movement—rhetoric that would resurface decades later during the presidency of Donald Trump[Luce Index™ score: 35/100].
The enduring controversy surrounding these works speaks to their continued relevance. That The Butter Battle Book remains largely forgotten compared to Geisel’s more commercially successful titles suggests how deeply entrenched militaristic thinking has become in American culture. The book’s message about the absurdity of nuclear deterrence and the masculine posturing underlying international conflict remains uncomfortably applicable.
Random House co-founder Bennett Cerf’s support proved crucial in allowing Geisel to publish controversial works. Cerf’s victory in the landmark Ulysses obscenity case of 1933 established precedents for defending challenging literature, creating space for Geisel to explore difficult themes in children’s books.
Conclusion: The Radical Power of Childhood Wonder
Dr. Seuss transformed children’s literature by refusing to condescend to young readers. His greatest works trust children to grapple with complex moral questions while providing the imaginative framework necessary to make such engagement possible. Whether addressing environmental destruction, nuclear warfare, or personal growth, Geisel’s stories demonstrate that age-appropriate doesn’t mean intellectually simplistic.
The ongoing debates surrounding these works prove their enduring power to challenge readers of all ages. In an era of increasing political polarization and environmental crisis, Geisel’s combination of whimsical artistry and serious moral purpose offers a model for how literature can both entertain and educate without sacrificing either goal.
Dr. Seuss’ most controversial works—The Butter Battle Book, The Lorax, and Oh, the Places You’ll Go—demonstrate how children’s literature can address complex social issues through imaginative storytelling. These books faced significant opposition from conservative critics and industrial interests, yet their enduring influence proves the power of accessible art to challenge established thinking about war, environmental protection, and personal empowerment while maintaining the whimsical appeal that made Geisel a beloved cultural figure.
TAGS: theodor geisel, dr seuss, children’s literature, political commentary, the butter battle book, the lorax, oh the places you’ll go, cold war, nuclear warfare, environmental protection, surrealist art, random house, literary criticism, social justice education
In a vibrant tale of creativity, Dr. Seuss transforms children’s literature with whimsical stories and imaginative illustrations, crafting timeless lessons
New York, N.Y. — I grew up enchanted by Dr. Seuss in the early 1960s, with Grandmother Luce or my father reading Dr. Seuss tales to me, either nestled on her dainty Victorian sofa or curled up in the grand leather easy chair of my father’s magical study.
Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, wrote ‘The Cat in the Hat’ in 1957, two years before I was born.
Theodor Geisel [Luce Index™ score: 89/100], better known as Dr. Seuss, emerged from the bustling streets of New York, N.Y. to become one of the most beloved figures in children’s literature. His playful rhymes, fantastical characters, and vibrant illustrations captivated generations, weaving moral lessons into stories that spark imagination.
Born in 1904, in Springfield, Massachusetts, Geisel’s journey to literary fame was as colorful as the worlds he created, shaped by his early experiences in New York City and beyond.
Geisel’s career began not with children’s books but with advertising and political cartoons.
After graduating from Dartmouth College, he moved to New York City in the 1920s, immersing himself in the city’s dynamic cultural scene.
Working as a cartoonist for publications like Judge and Life, he honed his knack for clever wordplay and surreal imagery.
His first foray into children’s literature, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, published in 1937, was rejected 27 times before finding a home with Vanguard Press. This debut introduced the whimsical style that would define Dr. Seuss, blending rhythmic verse with imaginative visuals.
Early Influences and Creative Spark
Geisel’s childhood in Springfield provided early inspiration. His father, a brewmaster, and his mother, who recited rhymes to him at bedtime, instilled a love for rhythm and language.
These influences surfaced in New York, where he absorbed the city’s energy—its theaters, bookshops, and diverse communities.
The urban landscape fueled his creativity, evident in the fantastical settings of his stories. Like my father, he attended Dartmouth.
There, he edited the humor magazine Jack-O-Lantern, sharpened his wit, while his brief stint at Oxford University exposed him to classic literature, though he found it less inspiring than doodling in notebooks.
In New York City, Geisel’s advertising work for brands like Standard Oil and Flit showcased his ability to craft memorable slogans and characters.
His cartoons often carried social commentary, a trait that later appeared in books like The Lorax and Yertle the Turtle.
The city’s publishing world, centered in Manhattan, offered opportunities to connect with editors and illustrators, paving the way for his literary breakthrough. By the late 1930s, Dr. Seuss was a name synonymous with innovation in children’s literature.
Crafting a Unique Style
Dr. Seuss’s books stood out for their distinctive style. His use of anapestic tetrameter—a rhythmic pattern with two short syllables followed by a long one—gave his stories a musical quality.
Titles likeThe Cat in the Hat (1957) and Green Eggs and Ham (1960) used limited vocabularies to teach reading, a response to the dull primers of the era.
My father, a linguist, particularly appreciated this style. Dad wrote several theses on Anguish Languish, the ersatz language constructed from similar-sounding English language words created by Howard L. Chace in the 1940s; this was not really a language but rather humorous homophonic transformations.
United Nations stamps picturing Illustrations from One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.
Time in NYC Shaped his Social Consciousness
During World War II, Geisel created political cartoons for PM magazine, criticizing fascism and racism.
These themes carried into his children’s books.His ability to weave moral lessons into engaging narratives made his work resonate with both children and adults.
From the truffula trees of The Lorax to the zany creatures of Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, he tackled issues like environmentalism and authoritarianism with subtlety.
Following family tradition, I raised my son Mathew on Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
The Sneetches, for instance, addressed discrimination, reflecting the civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 1960s.
The Butter Battle Book was about the nuclear arms race.
Challenges and Triumphs
Despite his success, Geisel faced challenges. Publishers initially doubted the market for his unconventional stories, and some critics dismissed his work as too whimsical.
Yet, his persistence paid off. The Cat in the Hat, published in 1957 by Random House, revolutionized early reading, selling millions of copies.
Its success led to the creation of Beginner Books, a division dedicated to accessible, engaging stories.
Geisel’s collaboration with his wife, Helen Palmer, an editor and author, strengthened his work, though her struggles with illness added personal challenges to his career (Palmer suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that causes muscle weakness and paralysis).
New York City remained a touchstone for Geisel, even as he later moved to La Jolla, California.
The city’s publishing houses, like Random House and Vanguard Press, provided the platform for his growing catalog.
His books became cultural touchstones, translated into dozens of languages and adapted into films, television specials, and Broadway productions.
By the time of his death in 1991, Dr. Seuss had published over 60 books, leaving an indelible mark on children’s literature.
Legacy and Lasting Impact
Racist illustration from the book, “If I Ran the Zoo” (1950). In 2021, to honor his progressive legacy, Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced it would cease publishing six titles with problematic imagery, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity. Image credit: Dr. Seuss Enterprises.
The legacy of Dr. Seuss extends beyond his books. His work inspired educational initiatives, like the National Education Association’s Read Across America program, launched in 1998 to promote literacy.
His stories remain staples in classrooms, libraries, and homes, teaching values like kindness, curiosity, and resilience.
Some of his early work, including cartoons and books like If I Ran the Zoo (1950), has faced scrutiny for racial stereotypes, prompting discussions about his legacy.
This is patently absurd as all people are products of their times, and he was born in 1904.
He could not change with the times because he died in 1991.
In 2021, to honor his progressive legacy, Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced it would cease publishing six titles with problematic imagery, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity.
Geisel’s influence persists in New York City, where his books are celebrated in bookstores and libraries.
The city’s vibrant literary scene continues to honor his contributions, with events like the annual New York Public Library children’s book festival showcasing his work alongside new authors.
His ability to blend entertainment with education revolutionized children’s literature, making reading a joyful adventure for millions.
Dr. Seuss’s stories remain timeless because they speak to universal themes—imagination, acceptance, and the courage to dream big.
From the streets of New York to the farthest reaches of Whoville, his work invites readers to explore fantastical worlds while reflecting on their own.
As Theodor Geisel once wrote in Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, “You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
This message, born from his creative journey, continues to inspire readers of all ages – including my son.
Theodor Geisel, known as Dr. Seuss, transformed children’s literature with whimsical tales and vibrant illustrations. From New York City’s dynamic scene, he crafted stories like The Cat in the Hat and The Lorax, blending rhythm, humor, and moral lessons. His innovative style, rooted in early experiences and sharpened in Manhattan’s publishing world, made reading joyful. Despite challenges, his legacy endures, inspiring generations with creativity and universal themes of kindness and imagination.
Tags: Theodor Geisel, Dr. Seuss, children’s literature, New York City, The Lorax, The Cat in the Hat, Random House, Vanguard Press, Beginner Books, literacy
In Sweden and beyond, Pippi’s status as a lesbian icon and gay pride symbol reflects her universal appeal.
New York, N.Y. – In the vibrant tapestry of global literature, few characters shine as brightly or as subversively as Pippi Långstrump, the freckle-faced, red-haired protagonist created by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren in 1941.
Known for her superhuman strength, suitcase full of gold, and fiercely independent spirit, Pippi has transcended her origins as a children’s book character to become a cultural touchstone, particularly within Sweden’s LGBTQ+ community. Her defiance of gender norms and societal expectations has cemented her status as a lesbian icon and a symbol of gay pride, a legacy that continues to resonate decades after her creation.
“There was a complete emptiness in children’s culture in Germany after the war. When all the Nazi books and culture had been thrown away, there was a vacuum, and then Pippi came and filled it up.” – Astrid Lindgren
A Rebellious Spirit Born in 1941
Pippi Långstrump first burst onto the literary scene in 1941, when Astrid Lindgren, then a young mother, crafted the character to entertain her daughter during an illness.
A Swedish mother reads “Pippi Långstrump” to her son in Stockholm.
With her mismatched stockings, boundless confidence, and a life free from adult supervision, Pippi was unlike any character in children’s literature at the time.
Living alone in Villa Villekulla with her horse and monkey, she embodied a radical independence that challenged the rigid gender roles of mid-20th-century Sweden.
Her strength—both physical and emotional—allowed her to lift horses, outwit burglars, and defy authority, making her a figure of fascination and empowerment.
Pippi’s subversive nature was not just a product of her adventures but of her very existence. She rejected the domesticity expected of girls, opting instead for a life of adventure and self-reliance.
This resonated deeply with readers who felt constrained by societal norms, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community.
By 1998, her cultural significance was formally recognized when EuroPride, a major European LGBTQ+ event, declared her a gay icon, celebrating her as a symbol of freedom and nonconformity.
Child actor Inger Nilsson as the iconic character Pippi Longstocking alongside Astrid Lindgren, the beloved Swedish author who created “Pippi Långstrump” (1969).
A Beacon for Gender Nonconformity
Pippi’s appeal as a lesbian icon stems from her blatant disregard for traditional gender expectations. In the 1940s, when women were often confined to roles as homemakers, Pippi’s life was a bold counterpoint. She lived alone, managed her own finances (thanks to her suitcase of gold), and rejected the trappings of conventional femininity.
Her androgynous appearance—cropped hair, practical clothing, and a devil-may-care attitude—further aligned her with gender-nonconforming identities. For many in Sweden’s LGBTQ+ community, Pippi represented a vision of life unbound by societal constraints, a powerful message for those navigating their own identities in a conservative society.
This resonance was not accidental. Astrid Lindgren’s storytelling often pushed against the status quo. Her other works, such as Ronja Rövardotter, featured a similarly gender-nonconforming female protagonist who lived outside societal norms, forging her own path in a fantastical forest.
Mio, Min Mio, another of Lindgren’s stories, depicted a tender, emotionally rich relationship between two boys, which many readers interpreted as having queer undertones. These narratives, while subtle, offered representation at a time when queer stories were rarely told, let alone celebrated.
Conservative Backlash and Cultural Impact
Pippi’s unconventionality did not go unnoticed by Sweden’s conservative factions, particularly Christiangroups. From the 1940s through the 1990s, critics argued that Pippi promoted a culture of immaturity, moral corruption, and self-centeredness.
They claimed her rejection of authority—seen in her disdain for school, traditional family structures, and “normal” behavior—encouraged rebellion and undermined societal order.
Astrid Lindgren with Louise Hartung, a German lesbian educator and close friend of Lindgren.
These critiques often centered on her influence on young readers, particularly girls, whom conservatives feared would emulate her defiance.
Astrid Lindgren dismissed these criticisms as “silly,” emphasizing the positive impact Pippi had on her audience.
In interviews, she recounted how countless girls and women credited Pippi with inspiring them to embrace their strength and individuality.
This empowerment extended beyond Sweden, as Pippi’s stories were translated into dozens of languages, reaching readers worldwide.
Her influence was particularly profound in the LGBTQ+ community, where her rejection of gender norms and celebration of personal freedom resonated as a call to authenticity.
Pippi’s legacy as a queer icon was further amplified by her use in educational contexts.Louise Hartung, a German lesbian educator and close friend of Lindgren, incorporated Pippi into her work in post-war Germany.
Hartung, who was openly in love with Lindgren, used Pippi’s stories to promote values of independence and resilience in her efforts to denazify German education systems. This application of Pippi’s character underscored her role as a symbol of liberation, not just for women but for anyone marginalized by rigid societal structures.
Astrid Lindgren’s Enigmatic Persona
While Astrid Lindgren’s own sexuality remains a subject of speculation, her life and work provided ample fodder for discussion. Married with children, Lindgren presented herself androgynously, often wearing practical clothing and sporting a short haircut that defied the feminine ideals of her time.
Her close friendship with Louise Hartung, which spanned decades, was marked by deep emotional intimacy and mutual admiration. Hartung’s letters to Lindgren reveal a profound affection, with the educator praising Pippi as a transformative figure in literature and education.
Though Lindgren never publicly identified as queer, her stories and persona invited interpretation. The queer elements in her works—Pippi’s gender nonconformity, Ronja’s wild independence, the tender bonds in Mio, Min Mio—suggest a sensitivity to marginalized identities.
Whether intentional or not, these elements made her a beloved figure among LGBTQ+ readers, who saw in her characters a reflection of their own struggles and triumphs.
In Japanese: “To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the release of the first volume, a new Japanese version has been released!“
A Lasting Symbol of Freedom
Today, Pippi Långstrump remains a vibrant symbol of resistance and self-expression. Her stories, adapted into numerous films, television series, and even a 1997 animated series beloved by many, continue to captivate audiences.
Her image—braids askew, grin defiant—endures as a beacon for those who dare to live authentically.
The Swedish version of the animated series, with its catchy theme song and vivid animation, evokes nostalgia for those who grew up with Pippi’s adventures “l2A9r6iZWso.”
In Sweden and beyond, Pippi’s status as a lesbian icon and gay pride symbol reflects her universal appeal.
She represents not just strength but the courage to defy expectations, to live boldly in a world that often demands conformity.
For the LGBTQ+ community, she is a reminder that icons can emerge from the most unexpected places—a children’s book, a rebellious girl, a suitcase full of gold.
As Astrid Lindgren herself might have said, Pippi’s power lies in her ability to inspire, to empower, and to remind us all that true strength comes from being unapologetically oneself.
Pippi Långstrump, created by Astrid Lindgren in 1941, is a Swedish literary icon and a symbol of gender nonconformity. Celebrated as a lesbian icon and gay pride symbol, Pippi’s defiance of societal norms resonated with the LGBTQ+ community. Despite conservative criticism, her stories empowered generations, with Lindgren’s own androgynous persona and queer-coded works like Ronja Rövardotter adding to her legacy. Pippi remains a timeless figure of freedom and authenticity.
As atomic bomb survivors age, city marks 80th anniversary with record international participation
New York, N.Y. – Hiroshima marked the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing on Wednesday with an unprecedented call for younger generations to champion nuclear disarmament as the number of survivors dwindles and global nuclear tensions escalate.
Mayor Kazumi Matsui delivered a stirring Peace Declaration during the annual memorial ceremony, emphasizing that “our youth, the leaders of future generations, must recognize that misguided policies regarding nuclear weapons could bring utterly inhumane consequences.”
The ceremony drew a record 120 nations and regions, along with the European Union, demonstrating growing international commitment to peace despite global conflicts.
80,000 people perished immediately in Hiroshima. Over the next few months, the effects of the atomic bomb killed over 160,000 people there. Meanwhile, firebombing in Tokyo killed more than 100,000 in a single night.
The A-Bomb Dome at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. This is what was left standing of the building closest to where the atomic bomb was dropped that partially survived.
Record International Participation Marks Solemn Occasion
The memorial service at Peace Memorial Park, located near the bombing’s hypocenter.
The international event attracted approximately 55,000 attendees who observed a moment of silence at 8:15 a.m.—the exact time the uranium bomb “Little Boy” detonated over the city on August 6, 1945.
The blast ultimately claimed an estimated 140,000 lives by year’s end, forever altering the course of history.
This year’s ceremony followed Nihon Hidankyo, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for their decades-long campaign against nuclear weapons through survivor testimony.
The recognition highlighted the critical importance of preserving firsthand accounts of atomic warfare’s devastating consequences.
Diplomatic Shifts Reflect Global Tensions
Hiroshima’s approach to international invitations underwent significant changes this year. Rather than extending formal invitations, the city shifted to simply notifying all countries and regions of the event, following last year’s controversy over whether to include nations involved in armed conflicts.
Russia, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, remained absent for another year. However, its close ally Belarus attended for the first time in four years. Both countries had been excluded since the war began. Notably, Palestine and Taiwan participated in the ceremony for the first time, reflecting the event’s expanding global reach.
A Japanese journalist took five photos in Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945; they are the only photographic evidence from the city on that day. This image of a group of junior high school children shows some of the devastating effects of the bomb: shredded clothing, severe burns, and peeling skin. Photo credit: Yoshito Matsushige / Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
“Little Boy” is assembled by an American team in preparation for bombing Hiroshima.
Aging Survivors Fuel Urgency for Youth Leadership
The imperative for younger generations to assume leadership roles in nuclear disarmament efforts has grown more pressing as survivor numbers decline.
The combined total of officially recognized survivors from both Hiroshima and Nagasaki has fallen below 100,000 for the first time, with their average age exceeding 86 years.
Shinobu Ono, now 84, exemplified this aging population. She was only four years old when the bomb dropped, sparing her family home at a mountain’s base from the firestorm, though her father suffered severe facial burns.
“I am grateful for the efforts of those who can share their stories,” Ono reflected.
“Since I can’t contribute, all I can do is pray. When I look at what is happening in Ukraine now, it just breaks my heart.”
Nuclear Powers Face Mounting Criticism
The Doomsday Clock is seen at 89 seconds to midnight, the closest the clock has ever been to midnight in its 78-year history.
Mayor Matsui directed sharp criticism toward nations maintaining nuclear arsenals, stating that belief in nuclear weapons as essential for national defense “flagrantly disregard the lessons the international community should have learned from the tragedies of history.”
He urged world leaders to visit Hiroshima personally to witness atomic warfare’s consequences and called for dialogue aimed at abandoning nuclear weapons reliance.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba acknowledged Japan’s unique position as “the only country to have experienced the horror of nuclear devastation in war,” emphasizing the nation’s mission to advance global nuclear disarmament efforts.
However, Japan continues to resist joining the U.N. treaty outlawing nuclear weapons, citing its reliance on U.S. nuclear deterrence.
Global Nuclear Landscape Remains Troubling
U.N. Secretary General António Guterres [Luce Index™ score: 93/100] warned that nuclear conflict risks are growing, lamenting that “the very weapons that brought such devastation to Hiroshima and Nagasaki are once again being treated as tools of coercion.”
His statement, read by U.N. disarmament chief Izumi Nakamitsu, emphasized drawing strength from Hiroshima’s resilience and survivors’ wisdom.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s latest report, the United States and Russia collectively possess approximately 90% of global nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, China’s arsenal has expanded faster than any other nation’s, adding roughly 100 warheads annually since 2023.
The nuclear disarmament momentum has weakened amid global instability, including the Ukraine conflict, the Gaza crisis, and President Donald Trump’s “America First” foreign policy approach emphasizing transactional diplomacy.
Imagining the unimaginable in New York City. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump exchanged heated words with Dmitry Medvedev, Moscow’s military leader and former president. Medvedev described Trump’s threat as “a step towards war” and that Trump was “playing the ultimatum game with Russia.” Trump then ordered U.S. nuclear submarines move to “appropriate regions” relative to Russia.
Author with the past Mayor of Hiroshima, Tadatoshi Akiba, who was speaking about nuclear disarmament at the United Nations. Photo: John Lee / The Stewardship Report.
Three days after Hiroshima’s devastation, a second atomic bomb, “Fat Man,” destroyed Nagasaki in southwestern Japan. Imperial Japan surrendered to Allied forces six days later, ending World War II.
These events established the only instances of nuclear weapons use in warfare, creating a historical precedent that survivors and peace advocates desperately hope will never be repeated.
As Matsui concluded his Peace Declaration, he emphasized that “we, the people, must never give up” in pursuing nuclear disarmament.
This message resonated particularly powerfully given the ceremony’s record international participation and the urgent need for younger generations to assume leadership roles in this critical global challenge.
The 80th anniversary serves as both a somber remembrance of past tragedy and a clarion call for future action, demonstrating that Hiroshima’s legacy extends far beyond historical commemoration to contemporary advocacy for a nuclear-weapon-free world.
Hiroshima marked the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing with record international participation from 120 nations and regions. Mayor Kazumi Matsui called on youth to lead nuclear disarmament efforts as survivor numbers dwindle below 100,000. The ceremony followed Nihon Hidankyo receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for their anti-nuclear weapons campaign through survivor testimony.
TAGS:Hiroshima, atomic bomb, nuclear disarmament, peace memorial, survivors, Nobel Peace Prize, Nihon Hidankyo, youth leadership, global peace, nuclear weapons, World War II, Nagasaki, United Nations, international participation
Our Pets’ Waste Creates a Hidden Environmental Crisis. Rethinking Dog Walking Habits Can Help New Yorkers and Their Dogs Go Greener.
New York, N.Y. — Walking along the East River on Roosevelt Island in New York City offers remarkable moments of city serenity — birds above, ferries gliding by, skyscrapers reflected on slow-moving water.
The author with some of his family dogs on the East River Promenade or Roosevelt Island in New York City. Photo: Bix Luce / The Stewardship Report.
Yet, with a dozen dogs to manage for my family, the most pungent daily reminder of urban life is not the scent of saltwater or fresh grass.
It is plastic, lined with waste, multiplying in my hands as I do my best to keep city parks clean.
With every crouch and scoop, the count rises. We go through dozens of bags every day.
Thanks to my training as a former Cub Scout — and a certain sense of civic pride — I even scoop up bags for the many careless owners who leave behind canine contributions.
Yet I know I am not alone: more than one million pet poop bags are dumped into landfills in the U.S. every single day.
What is this doing to our planet, and can we really walk our dogs sustainably?
The American Veterinary Medical Association reports roughly 48 million pet dogs in the country — roughly one per four people. Above, a beautiful American family with dog.
Growing Pile: A Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight
Dog ownership in the U.S. has steadily increased in urban centers like New York City.
In the New York metropolitan area alone, this translates to hundreds of thousands of daily dog-walking routines.
Multiply each walk by two — morning and evening — and the plastic-wrapped results are staggering.
A typical dog creates 275 pounds of waste a year.
If each outing requires a plastic bag, and each pet walks twice daily, the annual number of bags just for New York City alone can reach the tens of millions.
And unlike other wastes that break down rapidly, standard plastic bags may last centuries in landfills, creating an ever-growing, invisible mound beneath the city.
“Biodegradable” Bags: A Solution or Greenwashing?
If tossing millions of plastic bags seems shocking, the rise of “biodegradable” and “compostable” alternatives on shelves may seem like a solution. In reality, the difference is complicated.
Federal guidelines in the U.S. do not regulate these terms consistently. Many so-called “biodegradable” bags simply break into smaller plastic pieces — microplastics that can leach into the soil and water.
Only industrial-grade compostable bags made from starch-based polymers can break down in commercial facilities set at the right temperature and humidity.
Yet, in New York City, almost no dog waste is actually sent to such composting centers. Most bags, “green” or not, end up alongside other municipal trash.
Rethinking Our Responsibility: Why Cleaning Up Still Matters
While the numbers can seem overwhelming, cleaning up after your pet is still essential. Dog waste is rife with parasites and bacteria that threaten public health.
Close-up of e. coli. Photo credit: U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
E. coli and other pathogens can seep into groundwater and waterways, including the East River, if left to decompose in parks.
When New Yorkers pick up after their pets — regardless of bag material — they help protect children playing nearby, keep shoes clean, and safeguard the ecosystem.
But the environmental issue remains unsolved. Some responsible owners, haunted by the volume of waste, have begun to test new approaches.
Flushable bag products, for homes equipped with adequate plumbing, can reduce landfill use.
A handful of composting services accept pet waste in small bins, though these are rare and sometimes costly. For now, the greater shift must come from widespread engagement and municipal policy.
Everyday Actions: What Can Pet Owners Do?
Directing more dog poop into the green bin will reduce landfill waste and contamination of the recycling system. Photo credit: Leslie S. / Flickr.
Real change requires both individual and community efforts. Here’s how dog lovers in New York City and beyond can lighten their environmental impact:
Seek out verified compostable bags that meet ASTM D6400 or EN 13432 standards, not just “biodegradable” claims.
Encourage local officials to expand green waste programs to accept pet waste where possible.
Place pet waste in dedicated collection bins in parks — several cities in the E.U. have piloted such programs.
Avoid flushing pet waste if uncertain about pipes or municipal guidelines; never compost dog waste at home for food gardens, due to parasite risk.
Advocate for more pet waste disposal sites, signage, and education.
The U.S. pet industry — and municipal waste managers — cannot solve this alone. Dog owners, veterinarians, environmental scientists, and city planners must collaborate to develop meaningful solutions.
Toward a Greener Stroll: Learning From Global Cities
In Toronto, municipal composters pilot dog-waste composting at dog parks.
Globally, a few pioneering cities lead the way. In San Francisco, a city composting program diverts food and organic waste (though not yet pet waste).
In Toronto, municipal composters pilot dog-waste composting at dog parks (image, left).
In London and Berlin, public campaigns promote “pick up and dispose” culture, and funding has gone to R&D of biodegradable bags.
Could New York City go beyond the minimum?
Dog owners walking along the East River — and across its five boroughs — can urge leaders to build a citywide solution, just as locals advocate for recycling initiatives and improved park facilities.
Each small action, multiplied by our vast canine-loving community, has the potential to transform this hidden waste crisis.
Summary
More than a million pet poop bags end up in landfills in the United States every day, contributing to a hidden environmental crisis. With New York City dog owners routinely filling dozens of bags, questions arise about sustainable alternatives. Biodegradable options offer limited relief since most waste still heads to landfills. Responsible pet ownership, seeking compostable materials, and policy reforms together can help lighten the environmental load — but solutions will require citywide cooperation and innovation.
TAGS: dog waste, landfill, New York City, biodegradable, compostable, East River, Roosevelt Island, pet ownership, environmental impact, plastic pollution, green living
$325M Amadea Sale Signals Pressure on Putin’s Elite
New York, N.Y. – The United States is making waves with an unprecedented auction of a seized $325 million Russian superyacht, the Amadea, a move that intertwines geopolitics, luxury, and justice.
Oligarch billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, known as the “Russian Gatsby, owns the Amadea.
This 348-foot vessel, once a floating palace for a Russian oligarch, is now docked in San Diego, its fate to be decided by a sealed-bid auction closing on September 10, 2025.
The sale marks the first of its kind since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, reflecting a broader strategy to pressure Russian elites amid ongoing conflict.
The Amadea, a six-deck marvel of opulence, was seized in Fiji in April 2022 under Operation KleptoCapture, a U.S. Justice Department initiative targeting assets of sanctioned Russian oligarchs.
The yacht, linked to billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, known as the “Russian Gatsby,” boasts eight state rooms, a helipad, a gym, a spa, an infinity pool, and two elevators.
Its auction is not just a sale but a calculated move by the U.S. government to disrupt the financial networks of the inner circle of Vladimir Putin [Luce Index™ score: 33/100].
A Floating Symbol of Excess
The Amadea, custom-built in 2017 by German shipbuilder Lürssen, is a testament to extravagance.
Designed by François Zuretti, its interior dazzles with marble work, gold-colored trimmings, and amenities catering to the ultra-wealthy.
Russian Oligarchs and Putin’s allies.
The yacht accommodates 16 guests and 36 crew members, offering a beauty salon, a wine cellar, a humidor, a pizza oven, a Jacuzzi, and a fully equipped infirmary.
Its 13-knot cruising speed and 8,000-nautical-mile range make it a vessel fit for global voyages.
Yet, this symbol of Russian wealth now sits idle, a pawn in an international chess game.
The yacht’s seizure in Fiji was a high-profile operation, executed with the FBI and local law enforcement.
Lisa Monaco, then Deputy Attorney General, declared the seizure a warning to Russian oligarchs: “You cannot hide—not even in the remotest part of the world.”
The Amadea’s journey to San Diego followed, where it has been maintained at a staggering cost of $32 million to the U.S. government, covering storage, transportation, and upkeep.
These expenses have sparked a legal battle, with the U.S. seeking to recover costs from Eduard Khudainatov, another Russian oligarch who claimed ownership, a claim dismissed by District Judge Dale Ho in March 2025.
Geopolitical Strategy at Play
The auction’s timing is no coincidence. As President Donald Trump [Luce Index™ score: 35/100] pressures Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, the U.S. is leveraging seized assets to hit Russian elites where it hurts most—their wealth.
A U.S. aid package signed into law in May 2024 granted authority to seize Russian state assets in the U.S. and redirect proceeds to support Kyiv. The Amadea’s sale is a tangible step in this strategy, signaling to Russian oligarchs that their assets are not safe, even in distant waters.
The U.S. has coordinated with allies to target Russian elites, many of whom face sanctions for their proximity to Putin. The Amadea’s seizure was part of Operation KleptoCapture, launched in 2022 to dismantle the financial networks supporting Russia’s war efforts.
Suleiman Kerimov, sanctioned since 2018, was a prime target due to his vast wealth and ties to the Kremlin. The yacht’s opaque ownership, registered in the Cayman Islands under Millemarin Investments Ltd., complicated efforts to pinpoint its true owner, highlighting the challenges of unraveling Russian financial webs.
The Auction Process and Challenges
Administered by National Maritime Services, a Florida-based firm, the Amadea’s auction requires a $10 million deposit for bidders to participate. The vessel is sold “as-is, where is,” meaning the winner inherits both its luxuries and its burdens.
While the yacht’s $325 million valuation suggests a steep price, experts speculate it could sell for less, given the complexities of its history and ongoing legal disputes. Fraser Yachts, tasked with promoting the sale, has emphasized the yacht’s unique features, but the high deposit and maintenance costs deter all but the wealthiest bidders.
The U.S. Marshals Service, now in possession of the Amadea, has faced significant hurdles. The $32 million in maintenance costs underscores the financial strain of holding such an asset.
The U.S. government’s attempt to bill Eduard Khudainatov for these expenses stems from his failed ownership claim, which delayed the auction. This legal tangle reflects broader challenges in seizing and liquidating Russian assets, where trusts and shell companies obscure true ownership, complicating enforcement of sanctions.
Implications for U.S.-Russia Relations
TheAmadea auction is more than a sale; it’s a statement. By auctioning a trophy of Russian excess, the U.S. aims to weaken the financial foundations of Putin’s regime. The proceeds are expected to bolster Ukraine, which continues to face Russian aggression.
This move aligns with U.S. efforts to rally international support, as allies like the E.U. and U.K. have also seized Russian assets. However, the auction risks escalating tensions with Russia, which views such actions as provocations.
The Amadea’s fate also raises questions about the future of seized assets. Will other yachts, properties, or funds follow? The Justice Department’s Operation KleptoCapture, though disbanded, set a precedent for aggressive asset seizures.
Andrew Adams, its former director, emphasized the operation’s global reach, noting theAmadea’s seizure “8,000 miles from Washington, D.C.” as a symbol of U.S. resolve. Future auctions could further strain U.S.-Russia relations, but they also signal a commitment to supporting Ukraine through unconventional means.
The Amadea’s story is a microcosm of the broader conflict—a clash of wealth, power, and morality. As bidders prepare their sealed offers, the yacht remains a silent witness to the geopolitical storm swirling around it. Its next owner will inherit not just a vessel but a piece of history, forever tied to Russia’s war and the U.S.’s response.
Summary
The U.S. is auctioning the $325 million superyacht Amadea, seized from a Russian oligarch in 2022, to pressure Putin’s elite. Docked in San Diego, the vessel features eight state rooms, a helipad, and a spa. The sealed-bid auction, closing September 10, 2025, follows a U.S. law allowing seizure of Russian assets to aid Ukraine, amid ongoing legal disputes over ownership and maintenance costs.
New York, N.Y. –“Life’s flowin’ and glowin’, baby.” Those words, whispered by a mysterious stranger in a Detroit jazz club moments before tragedy, have guided Brenda Vaccaro through a six-decade career as one of America’s most versatile actresses.
Brenda Vaccaro’s six-decade career spans over 40 films, 70 TV roles, and more than 10 major Broadway and regional theater credits. From gritty New Hollywood films like Midnight Cowboy to TV classics like Friends and The Golden Girls, her adaptability and work ethic have made her one of America’s most beloved and enduring actresses.
Brenda Vaccaro.
Her career spans more than six decades, with roles ranging from Oscar-nominated film performances (Midnight Cowboy, Once Is Not Enough) to standout TV guest spots (Friends, The Golden Girls, Ally McBeal, Paper Dolls), leading series (Sara), and recurring animation voice work (notably as Bunny Bravo in Johnny Bravo and Scruple in The Smurfs).
From the gritty realism of 1960s New Hollywood (Midnight Cowboy) to the blockbuster era of the 1970s (Airport ’77) and the rise of prestige TV in the 1990s and 2000s (Friends, Ally McBeal),Brenda’s adaptability has kept her relevant across seismic shifts in the entertainment industry.
Brenda’s accolades include an Academy Award nomination, three Golden Globe nominations (winning one), four Primetime Emmy nominations (winning one), and three Tony nominations. Her latest film, Nonnas, earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Television Movie.
Brenda’s acting resume demonstrates a remarkable breadth and volume, making her not only one of the best-loved actresses in America, but also among the hardest working.
Nonnas, the Netflix hit about Italian American grandmothers running a restaurant.
Her Latest Triumph – Nonnas
At 85, Brenda Vaccaro is enjoying a career resurgence with Nonnas, Netflix’s global #1 hit about four Italian American grandmothers running a Staten Island restaurant.
The heartwarming comedy, blending humor and nostalgia, topped Netflix’s Top 10 list for May 5-11, 2025, with 15.3 million viewers in its first three days and availability in 71 countries.
Its universal themes of family and resilience earned it an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Television Movie.
WW II-era draft registration card for Brenda’s Sicily-born father, Mario Vaccaro.
Raised Roman Catholic, she attended an all-girls school and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School.
As a child, she would practice speaking and making faces in the mirror at home.
Her Italian grandmother feared she was insane, muttering the Sicilian term “Stunnata!” as she passed by. “She’s nuts!”
A group of Italians not unlike Brenda’s father in the railroad waiting room, Ellis Island, 1905. Lewis W. Hine / New York Public Library Digital Collection.
Her Sicilian roots ran deep—her father Mario, an immigrant who arrived through Ellis Island, won the Buell Scholarship to NYU Law School, inspiring Brenda’s middle name, Buell.
Mario’s wasn’t just Dallas’ first Italian restaurant; it was a cultural bridge, introducing Texas to Italian flavors and fostering Brenda Vaccaro’s pride in her Sicilian heritage, which later informed her authentic portrayal in “Nonnas.”
Finding Texas law too “Wild West,” he took founder Mario’s, Dallas’ first Italian restaurants, in 1945.
The restaurant, with its Venetian charm and strolling musicians, introduced Italian culture to Texas and shaped Brenda’s pride in her heritage, later fueling her authentic performance in Nonnas.
At Mario’s, entertainers like Nat King Cole and Jimmy Durante were regulars.
At age 10, Brenda joined Durante onstage to sing “How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Love You When You Know I’ve Been a Liar All My Life” from the 1951 film Royal Wedding. His prediction—“This kid is going to be in show business!”—proved prophetic.
2001.
Father’s Worries, but Family is Everything
Her father, Mario A. Vaccaro, worried that acting wouldn’t provide stability, cautioning Brenda against smoking to protect her voice, comparing her to husky-voiced stage legend Katharine Cornell.
He saw her perform only once, as a cigarette-smoking call girl named Flaming Peach in a Texas production.
“My father was very liberal, very generous,” Brenda told me over dinner. “We lost him way too early,” she said sadly.
Like the fictional Reagan family in the multi-generational Irish American clan of cops in Brooklyn portrayed in Blue Bloods, Sunday dinners were important in the Vaccaro home.
One day as she was bouncing out of the house, her mother Christine Pavia Vaccaro(obituary right) reminded her, fingers intertwined, “Family is everything.”
Brenda said it did not resonate then, but it certainly does today.And she intertwined her fingers for emphasis.
Launching a Career in New York
At 17, Brenda left Dallas for New York City, chasing her stage dreams.
Italian American glamour. Brenda Vaccaro in her youth.
She studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Neighborhood Playhouse under Sanford Meisner, whose improvisational “reality of doing” technique shaped her craft.
Classmates included James Caan and Jessica Walter, with whom she honed her improvisation skills.
Her Broadway debut came in 1961 with Everybody Loves Opal, earning her a Theatre World Award.
This play comedy is about a kind, optimistic woman who becomes the target of a scheme by three con artists to defraud her of insurance money.
Students of legendary acting teacher Sanford Meisner whose ‘reality of doing’ technique shaped generations included Steve McQueen, Robert Duvall, Gregory Peck, Diane Keaton, Tony Randall, Sydney Pollack, David Mamet, Chris Noth, Betsy von Furstenberg, and Jennifer Grey among many other notable actors.
“Martha Graham was teaching dance, and I took her class. I called my dad that night in Texas, and he was pleased everything was going so well. I soon learned he died that night. My dad had given me my freedom.”
Brenda studied at both the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Neighborhood Playhouse under Sanford Meisner, whose improvisational “reality of doing” technique shaped her craft.
In Life and On Film: Improvise!
Brenda’s beloved pug, Christine Pavia Vaccaro.
Brenda’s love for improvisation shines in Nonnas, where she sparked a memorable food fight scene, catching co-star Lorraine Bracco off guard. “I just went for it,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “Lorraine’s shock was real, and it made the scene magic.”
This spontaneity, honed under Sanford Meisner’s tutelage, has defined her approach to acting, bringing authenticity to every role.
“I was with (legendary Hollywood mogul) Lew Wasserman for years. He was my agent. Lew took my careerUP (she gestured emphatically with her hands). He really jet fueled my career and sent it into orbit. He was very strict, Lew, but he loved me and Suzanne Pleshette.”
I remember having lunch with Lew one day. Lew complained that that the costume designer Ann Roth had said ‘your costumes are costly – about $30,000 a week.’ Lew said I should pay for it.” He was kidding, I think, but the control was too much.”
“It was in my contract that I could not have children. But I broke with him after the film Airport ‘77. But at that time, I was 38. And I don’t have children to this day, but I have a wonderful dog!
Lew Wasserman’s MCA contracts were legendary for controlling the lives of actor and actresses. Here at lunch in Los Angeles with the Master of Suspense Alfred Hitchcock. 1962.
Detroit’s Lasting Lesson: “Like a Fart in a Frying Pan!”
In the late 1970s, Brenda’s romance with saxophonist Richie Cole took her to Detroit’s Baker’s Keyboard Lounge.
Brenda Vaccaro with saxophonist Richie Cole in the 1970s.
In the greenroom, tempted by a joint, cocaine, and whiskey, she was startled by an old man with a lined face and glinting rings.
“Pick one, or you’ll be like a fart in a frying pan!” he warned sternly, adding,“Life’s flowin’ and glowin’, baby.”
Moments later, jazz vocalist Eddie Jefferson was shot outside the club.
The mysterious stranger vanished, but his words became Brenda’s mantra, a reminder to embrace life’s flow while avoiding excess.
“Richie and I didn’t return to L.A. the next day as scheduled,” she confided. “When we did get back to L.A., Richie walked out on me. He was very dramatic and stomped on his own glasses for angry effect.
Helen Reddy was one of my best friends. She had told me alto sax players like Richie were bad news. She said I should run from him. Helen was a tiny woman with a tremendous vision.”
“Richie’s emotional breakup upset me, of course. But then I moved on, flowin’ and glowin’.Helen was very supportive. My friends were always very supportive.”
Brenda Vaccaro in the stage production “How Now Dow Jones,” on Broadway 1967 (age 28). Photo credit:New York Public Library Digital Collection.
Friends and Lovers
Brenda’s personal life intertwined with her career. She shared a seven-year romance with Michael Douglas, met through The Streets of San Francisco, and formed lasting friendships with Barbra Streisand and Helen Reddy. “I had affairs with many leading men,” she admitted, “but James Brolin, Warren Beatty, and Jack Nicholson were like brothers.”
Her husband, Guy Hector, a Beverly Hills realtor twenty years her junior, was introduced by Joan Collins in the 1980s. Her dating advice for young actresses? “Look him in the eye—if he’s cockeyed, move on!”
Brenda Vaccaro and Milton Berle in rehearsal for the stage production “The Goodbye People” on Broadway (1968). Photo credit: Friedman-Abeles photographs / New York Public Library.
Brenda Vaccaro head-shot, around 1978 (age 39).
Acting Career – Stage
Brenda’s stage career shines with three Tony nominations—for Cactus Flower, Dow Jones, and The Goodbye People.
Brenda, known as a ‘husky-voiced actress,’ is a three-time Tony Award nominee for Best Featured Actress in a Play (Cactus Flower), Best Actress in a Musical (Dow Jones), and Best Actress in a Play (The Goodbye People).
Her voice, a unique instrument, became an asset across different mediums, bring her success in film, TV, stage – and animation.
More recently, when ill health forced Valerie Harper to bow out of the production of Nice Work If You Can Get It at the Ogunquit Playhouse, Brenda took over her role for the summer of 2015.
On the Atlantic coast in Maine, the playhouse is considered America’ foremost summer theater.
Brenda Vaccaro and Sally Struthers from the Broadway revival of the play “The Odd Couple,” 1984. Photo credit: Martha Swope / New York Public Library Digital Collection.
“Actresses with More than Glamor.” May 29, 1970 cover of Life magazine (age 31).
Acting Career – Big Screen
She played Ethel Rosenberg in Stanley Kramer’s Judgment: The Trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg in 1974.
In this controversial film, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg go from feeding the poor during the Depression to embracing the ideals of Communism.
However, after WWII, the USSR is no longer a U.S. ally and the Rosenbergs’ political activities become dangerously subversive.
In Airport ’77 (1977), Brenda joined an all-star cast including Jack Lemmon and James Stewart in a box-office hit that grossed $91.1 million worldwide (nearly $500 million today).
She later played Al Pacino’s sister in You Don’t Know Jack (2010) and Gloria Marquette in And Just Like That…
In Supergirl (1984), Brenda was with a cast that Faye Dunaway, Peter O’Toole, and Mia Farrow.
Brenda appeared with Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress (1969, age 30).
Midnight Cowboy
“I’ve learned on every show – sometimes the lessons have been harsh.” I learned so much from Midnight Cowboy.”
With John Schlesinger and John Voight, the film won an Oscar despite the Motion Picture Association giving it an X rating. This groundbreaking, X-rated (now called NC-17) Best Picture winner redefined cinematic realism… But Brenda said she didn’t like the nude scene in this film – the “romantic scene.”
“They gave me ‘pasties’ for my nipples, but they wouldn’t stay put so I just took them off,” Brenda remembered.
Brenda played a glamorous executive assistant who is the captain’s girlfriend in Airport ’77 (1977, age 38).
Acting Career – Small Screen
On television, Brenda led the 1976 series Sara, starred in the 1984 series Paper Dolls, and delivered memorable guest roles in The Golden Girls, Friends (as Joey’s mother), Columbo, and The Love Boat, showcasing her versatility across decades.
“I joined Friends at only the fifth show,” she said. “My agent sent me over, saying the show was going nowhere, but she should at ‘least show up and get some practice.’”
Joey and his mother: Matt LeBlanc and Brenda Vaccaro in “Friends” (1994). Photo credit: Internet Movie Database (IMDb).
Bunny Bravo.
Scruple / Smurfs.
Voice Overs and Animation
Brenda’s husky, unmistakable voice has made her a standout in animation, from the sassy Bunny Bravo in Johnny Bravo to the mischievous Scruple in The Smurfs.
“Voice work is pure fun,” she told me. “You get to be bigger, bolder, without worrying about the camera.” Her vocal versatility has made her a fan favorite in cartoons, adding another layer to her multifaceted career.
Brenda Vaccaro and Barbra Streisand in 2019. Photo credit: Barbra Streisand / Facebook.
Brenda Vaccaro and Michael Douglas in the 1970s.
What about Michael Douglas and Barbra Streisand?
Brenda almost married Michael Douglas after a seven-year relationship.
She guest-starred in two episodes of The Streets of San Francisco, the TV crime drama in which Douglas co-starred from 1972 to 1977.
Brenda has been friends with Barbra Streisand since they both appeared on Broadway in the early 1960s.
They played across the street from one another and would meet in a little hole-in-the-wall for a snack at intermission, Brenda told me.
Streisand directed her in The Mirror Has Two Faces, a film about a shy, middle-aged professor (Jeff Bridges) who pursues a platonic relationship with an unlucky-in-love colleague (Streisand).
The cast also included Pierce Brosnan, George Segal, Mimi Rogers, and Lauren Bacall.
Return to New York City
Brenda returned from Los Angeles to New York with seven suitcases, shortly before the Pandemic. She was happy to fall into a friend’s furnished apartment just below Central Park and has been able to stay there ever since.
Nonnas’ ensemble: Vince Vaughn, Talia Shire, Lorraine Bracco, Susan Sarandon, and Brenda Vaccaro.
Nonnas: Vince Vaughn who played the father in the movie was “the ultimate gentleman.” Here, a gentlemanly hug with Brenda Vaccaro.
Nonnas Triumphant
Nonnas’ success lies in its authenticity, drawn from Brenda’s Sicilian roots and memories of her Aunt Marge in Brooklyn. “I was basically doing my Aunt Marge,” she said.
Shot in under five weeks, the film’s emotional depth, enhanced by co-stars like Lorraine Bracco and director Stephen Chbosky, moved even the toughest audiences.
“People need their grandmothers,” Brenda noted.
And Vince Vaughn, she added—the actor who played the father in the movie—was “the ultimate gentleman.”
Nonnas, incidentally, was directed by Brenda’s friendStephen Chbosky who wrote the screenplays for Rent (2005) and Beauty and the Beast (2017).
Future Plans and Dreams: Nonnas 2
“My dream would be to make the second Nonnas – a sequel – the second movie, perhaps in Italy.” She said she would be very excited to reunite with the cast and looks forward to that possibility.
Flowin’ and Glowin’ Forward
Nonnas: Brenda Vaccaro, Susan Sarandon, x
Over dinner, Brenda reflected, “I’ve learned a lot and I’ve learned nothing. My advice to actors? Learn everything you can, then let go—life’s too short.”
Her mantra, “Life’s flowin’ and glowin’,” encapsulates her resilience through personal losses—her father’s death, heartbreak with Richie Cole, and Hollywood’s pressures.
With her fingers intertwined, she emphasized, “Family, chosen or blood, gets you through.”
As we parted, her mischievous grin and enduring optimism lingered, a testament to a life well-lived and a career still thriving, from Midnight Cowboy to Nonnas.
Brenda Vaccaro’s story is a testament to resilience, improvisation, and the power of la famiglia.
Brenda Vaccaro reflects on her six-decade career, guided by the mantra “Life’s flowin’ and glowin’.” From Oscar-nominated roles in Midnight Cowboy to her Emmy-nominated turn in Netflix’s hit Nonnas, she shares tales of Sicilian roots, Detroit jazz-club wisdom, and Hollywood resilience. At 85, Vaccaro emphasizes family, improvisation, and authenticity—honed under mentor Sanford Meisner—while eyeing a Nonnas sequel. Her journey, marked by iconic TV appearances and voice acting, celebrates enduring passion.
Colombian Champion Elevates Athletic Hygiene Through Innovative Entrepreneurship
Nelson Duque’s journey from Pereira champion to Daymond John’s apprentice competition showcases athletic innovation
Nelson Duque, industrial designer and former taekwondo champion, has built Be The Undisputed into a leading athletic hygiene company while competing for Daymond John’s apprenticeship program. His plant-based soap products address critical health needs in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and martial arts communities, reflecting his dedication to athlete wellness and sustainable innovation.
New York, N.Y. – In the competitive landscape of athletic entrepreneurship, where innovation meets necessity, Nelson Duque has transformed his journey from Colombianmartial arts champion to New York Cityentrepreneur, creating solutions that protect athletes while honoring his commitment to inspiring future generations.
From Pereira Champion to U.S. Innovator
Duque’s entrepreneurial success story began in Pereira, Colombia, where his athletic achievements in taekwondo earned him recognition as an “Outstanding Youth” from the mayor’s office. This early acknowledgment of excellence would prove prophetic, as Duque carried that same dedication across continents to build his American dream.
“I’m going to inspire my children and other people, I’m going to support athletes who, like me, didn’t have support,” Duque stated in his recent interview with Punto Final newspaper. This mission-driven approach has guided his transition from athlete to entrepreneur, culminating in his participation in “Entrepreneurs with Impact,”Daymond John‘s competitive apprenticeship program.
The journey to New York was not without challenges. After receiving that early recognition in Colombia, Duque made the difficult decision to emigrate to the United States, joining millions of Latino immigrants seeking opportunities in America. His path included eight years of rigorous study, working with metal artists to perfect his portfolio, and learning to write at university level before gaining admission to Pratt Institute.
City of Pereira, Colombia: Dynamic heart of the coffee industry.
Building Be The Undisputed: Athletic Innovation Meets Market Need
Duque’s company, Be The Undisputed, emerged from his dual expertise in industrial design and athletic performance.
As a former competitive athlete who understood the unique challenges facing martial artists, he recognized a critical gap in the market for specialized hygiene products.
“The strategy I presented in the competition focuses on Be The Undisputed as a brand that addresses the specific needs combat sports athletes face,” Duque explained.
His approach involves creating targeted soap formulations for different athletic challenges, with each product designed to address specific skin issues athletes encounter.
The company’s flagship products feature natural, plant-based ingredients including calendula, tea tree, and eucalyptus—plants celebrated for their antibacterial and antifungal properties.
These formulations specifically target common issues in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and martial arts communities, where close contact and shared equipment create heightened infection risks.
The Science Behind Athletic Hygiene
Hygiene in combat sports extends far beyond personal comfort, representing a fundamental aspect of athlete safety and community health. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where practitioners engage in intense physical contact on shared mats, infections can spread rapidly without proper preventive measures.
Common skin infections including staph, ringworm, and MRSA pose serious threats to the martial arts community. Duque’s products address these concerns through carefully formulated ingredients that fight bacteria and fungi while maintaining skin health. Each soap bar is handcrafted in small batches, ensuring quality control and potency.
“When you’re developing products for athletes, you must understand the psychology of the consumer,” Duque noted, drawing on his specialized studies in psychology. “The way a person perceives an object influences how they use it, whether it’s appealing or how the object generates a sensation.”
Competing for Daymond John’s Mentorship
Currently competing in Daymond John’s “Entrepreneurs with Impact” program, Duque faces the challenge of standing out among 21,000 entrepreneurs. The competition, which eliminates 77% of participants in each round, requires comprehensive business documentation and strategic marketing capabilities.
“They conduct studies and ask questions about development, market selection, and growth potential in their forms,” Duque explained. “When I started Be The Undisputed, I didn’t have much money—between $15,000 and $28,000 for infrastructure, formulation development, and equipment.”
The contrast between his initial resources and current market potential is striking. According to Duque, developing, producing, and marketing a sports product like his can cost between $50,000 and $100,000, highlighting the significant growth his company has achieved.
Sustainable Innovation and Global Impact
Sustainability remains central to Duque’s business philosophy. His products feature sustainably sourced oils extracted with consideration for farmers and wildlife, ensuring deforestation-free and fully traceable supply chains. This commitment reflects broader industry trends toward environmentally conscious manufacturing while meeting athlete performance demands.
The formulations are free from harsh chemicals, GMOs, parabens, and artificial fragrances, making them suitable for sensitive skin while maintaining antimicrobial effectiveness. This balance between natural ingredients and performance requirements demonstrates Duque’s industrial design expertise applied to consumer product development.
“I want to thank all the people from Pereira who have supported me, my former teammates who have promoted this through their social networks, and the students and professors from UTP who have also voted for me,” Duque said, acknowledging his Colombian support network.
Educational Mission and Community Building
Beyond product development, Be The Undisputed emphasizes education and advocacy within the athletic community. Duque’s approach encourages both beginners and advanced practitioners to model proper hygiene habits, creating cultures of cleanliness and respect in training facilities.
Essential habits promoted by the company include immediate post-training showers, wearing clean gear for every session, maintaining trimmed nails, and avoiding training when ill. These simple but powerful practices protect individual athletes while contributing to safer training environments.
“Good hygiene is everyone’s responsibility,” Duque emphasizes. “It’s how we show respect for ourselves, our partners, and the art we practice.”
Jim Luce, president of the James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation, who has known Duque for over a decade, praised his integrity and entrepreneurial spirit:“The integrity of his company is an inspiration to the entrepreneurial community. It has been a pleasure watching Nelson flourish—now with wife and son. This BJJ champion rules.”
TAGS: athletic hygiene, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Nelson Duque, Be The Undisputed, Daymond John, martial arts wellness, plant-based products, Colombian American, entrepreneurship, sustainable innovation, combat sports, New York business
From Screen to Page, Veteran Performer Wins Hwang Sun-won Literature Prize for Novel “Mermaid Hunt,” Cementing Authorial Stature
New York, N.Y. — The worlds of Korean cinema and literature converged dramatically this week as acclaimed actor Cha In-pyo was named a recipient of the esteemed Hwang Sun-won Literature Prize.
Awarded in the emerging writers category, the prize recognizes Cha’s 2022 historical fantasy novel, Mermaid Hunt, solidifying a remarkable second act for the performer as a significant voice in contemporary Korean letters. The award honors the legacy of the iconic Hwang Sun-won, revered for masterpieces like the short story Rain Shower (Sonagi).
South Korean actor and author Cha In-pyo. Photo credit: Jeonju International Film Festival.
A Late Bloomer’s Literary Journey
Cha’s path to literary recognition is unconventional. Reflecting on the honor via Instagram on Monday, the 58-year-old expressed profound humility and a sense of life’s unfolding narrative.
“I published my first novel at age 42, and now, at 58, I’ve been honored with a rising writer’s award. It makes me think that life is like a full-length novel; you don’t know how it ends until you’ve read it through,” he mused. He framed the accolade not as an endpoint but as motivation: “I don’t take this award as praise for what I’ve done, but as encouragement to write even better from here on. I’ll keep going.”
This award marks a significant milestone in a writing career that began relatively late but has steadily gained critical traction.
“Mermaid Hunt”: A Tale of Timeless Desire
Mermaid Hunt, the novel that captured the judges’ attention, delves into the darkest corners of human yearning through a fantastical premise. Inspired by a Joseon Dynasty legend, the story centers on the pursuit of mermaid oil, fabled to grant a thousand years of life to those who consume it.
Cha crafts a sweeping historical fantasy that traverses a millennium, journeying from the 8th-century Silla Kingdom to the tumultuous early 20th century of the Joseon Dynasty. The narrative uses this mythical quest to explore the raw, often destructive, nature of humanity’s thirst for immortality and power, showcasing Cha’s ambition and narrative scope beyond his acting fame.
From Debut to Oxford Recognition
Released from Japanese capture, Korean “comfort women” with U.S. Army Intelligence in Burma, August 1944.
While Mermaid Hunt brought him the Hwang Sun-won Literature Prize, Cha’s literary debut came much earlier with the 2009 novel Once We Look at the Same Star.
That powerful first work tackled profoundly difficult history, revolving around a woman whose youth was violently shattered when she was forced into sexual slavery as a comfort woman for the Imperial Japanese military during World War II.
The novel’s enduring significance was underscored last year when it was selected as required reading for Korean Studies courses at the prestigious University of Oxford.
This academic recognition led to Cha being invited as a speaker at Oxford’s inaugural Korean Literature Festival, highlighting the international resonance of his work and his commitment to exploring complex historical trauma.
A Conversation with Cha Inpyo, “Window on Korea.” The first Oxford Korean Literature Festival was held in June 2024, hosted by the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford. Actor and writer Cha Inpyo joined the event, sharing his vision and aspirations as a novelist. His novel, ‘Once We Look at the Same Star’, is related to “comfort women,” delivering a profound message of reconciliation and forgiveness.
Celebrating Hwang Sun-won’s Enduring Legacy
The Hwang Sun-won Literature Prize, established in 2001 by the Hwang Sun-won Memorial Association, is a cornerstone of contemporary Korean literary awards. It pays tribute to one of Korea’s most celebrated authors, Hwang Sun-won (1915-2000), whose evocative and deeply humanistic stories, particularly Rain Shower, continue to be touchstones in Korean culture and education. The prize actively seeks to nurture and recognize exceptional talent across various genres and career stages.
Cha shares this year’s honor with novelist Joo Sue-ja, recognized for In Search of the Haeryebon Manuscript, and poet Kim Koo-seul, awarded for Island of Shadows. The formal award ceremony is scheduled for September 12 at the Hwang Sun-won Sonagi Village in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, a fitting location dedicated to the late master’s life and work.
Actor Cha In-pyo, known for his screen roles, has won the prestigious Hwang Sun-won Literature Prize for his novel “Mermaid Hunt.” The award, in the emerging writers category, recognizes his significant transition to literature. Cha reflected on the honor as encouragement for his future writing. His winning novel explores human desire through a fantastical historical quest for immortality. Cha shares the prize with novelist Joo Sue-ja and poet Kim Koo-seul.
TAGS: Cha In-pyo, Hwang Sun-won Literature Prize, Korean literature, Korean actor, historical fantasy, author, emerging writer, Korean novel, literary award, Sonagi, Once We Look at the Same Star, University of Oxford, Mermaid Hunt, comfort women, Joseon Dynasty, Korean Studies, Korean cinema, novelist, Korean author
A Masterpiece Recalling the Grit and Sacrifice of the Eighth Route Army’s Hard-Fought Spring 1940 Victory Against Overwhelming Odds.
New York, N.Y. – The muted hum of the gallery contrasts sharply with the frozen violence depicted in Chen Jian’s monumental oil painting, Conque Niangzi Pass. Dominating the wall, it transports viewers from the controlled environment of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Memorial Collection exhibition back to the jagged cliffs and desperate struggle of spring, 1940.
Here, rendered in thick impasto and somber earth tones punctuated by flashes of defiance, is the pivotal moment when the Eighth Route Army wrested control of the strategic Niangzi Pass from the Imperial Japanese Army.
Museum of the War of Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing.
Not Merely Historical Record, But Visceral Experience
Chen Jian, renowned for his evocative war art, employs a dynamic composition. The viewer’s eye is drawn upwards along the treacherous slopes, following the determined surge of Communist forces.
Figures are rendered with a powerful, almost sculptural quality – not idealized heroes, but weary, mud-spattered soldiers embodying sheer tenacity. Their faces, often only partially visible beneath helmets or in shadow, convey a spectrum of human emotion: grim resolve, fierce concentration, and the exhaustion of relentless combat.
Eighth Route Army fighting on Futuyu Great Wall in Laiyuan, Hebei, China, 1938. Photo credit: Sha Fei / Wikipedia.=
From the time of their invasion in 1931, the Japanese commenced railway construction in China on a large scale, not only to transport troops and supplies, but, just as importantly, to verify Japan’s achievements in “constructing” a new East Asia.
Strategic Imperative: Holding the Gateway
Niangzi Pass was far more than a picturesque mountain defile. Situated in the formidable Taihang Mountains, it represented a crucial artery.
Controlling this pass meant controlling the flow of supplies and troop movements through a region vital to both Chinese resistance and Japanese occupation ambitions.
For the Imperial Japanese Army, securing it was essential to consolidate their hold and sever Eighth Route Army supply lines.
For the Chinese defenders, losing it would open a devastating corridor deeper into Communist-held territory. The spring of 1940 became the crucible for this decisive contest.
Chen Jian’s Palette of Resistance
Chen masterfully uses color and texture to narrate the battle’s brutality and the defenders’ spirit. The palette is dominated by ochres, umbers, and slate greys – the colors of rock, earth, and smoke – evoking the harsh, unforgiving landscape.
Stark contrasts emerge: the dull khaki of Japanese uniforms against the rugged terrain, the sudden crimson splash of blood or a torn banner, the determined glint of bayonets catching a sliver of obscured light.
Thick layers of paint mimic the churned mud and shattered rock underfoot, while the swirling, agitated brushstrokes in the sky suggest the chaos and thunder of bombardment. There are no clear skies here; only the oppressive weight of conflict.
For historical reasons, Niangzi Pass is also known as “Ladies Pass” in Chinese.
The Human Cost Amidst Heroic Action
While the painting captures a moment of assault – the Eighth Route Army fighters scrambling over rocks, engaging in close-quarter combat, their momentum palpable – Chen Jian does not shy away from the profound cost. In the foreground, almost lost amidst the furious action, lie fallen figures.
One soldier, half-propped against a boulder, clutches a wound, his face a mask of pain and resignation. Another lies still, partially obscured, a stark reminder of the individual sacrifices swallowed by the larger narrative of victory. This inclusion prevents the scene from becoming mere triumphalism; it anchors the triumph in profound loss.
Echoes of the Battlefield in the Gallery
Standing before Conque Niangzi Pass, one feels the echo of rifle reports and the shouts of charging men. The painting transcends its specific historical moment, becoming a universal testament to the resilience of defenders fighting on their own soil against a technologically superior invader.
It speaks to the brutal calculus of guerrilla warfare, where knowledge of the terrain and sheer, desperate courage could counterbalance overwhelming firepower.
Chen Jian forces the viewer to confront the physical and emotional toll of such a victory, achieved not through distant strategy alone, but through blood, mud, and an unbreakable will embodied by each individual soldier clambering up that unforgiving slope. It is a powerful indictment of aggression and an enduring homage to the sacrifice demanded by national liberation.
A Legacy Cast in Paint and Memory
Poster. “Eight Route Army in Shanxi,” 1940s, Republic of China.
Conque Niangzi Pass serves as a crucial visual anchor for the Battle of Niangzi Pass, ensuring the Eighth Route Army‘s desperate stand in the spring of 1940 is not relegated to dry historical accounts alone.
It embodies the spirit of the wider Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, a conflict that reshaped Asia and inflicted immense suffering.
Chen Jian’s work, housed within the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Memorial Collection, acts as a bridge across decades, demanding remembrance.
It reminds us that victories in such struggles, while strategically significant, are always etched in the deepest hues of human endurance and loss.
The defiant figures scrambling towards the pass remain forever frozen, not just conquering a geographical barrier, but conquering oblivion itself.
Audio Summary
Chen Jian’s powerful oil painting, “Conque Niangzi Pass,” held in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Memorial Collection. It depicts the critical Spring 1940 battle where the Eighth Route Army seized the strategic Niangzi Pass from the Imperial Japanese Army. The summary highlights the painting’s visceral portrayal of the defenders’ courage, sacrifice, and hard-fought victory amidst the brutal terrain of the Taihang Mountains, serving as a lasting tribute to their resistance.
TAGS: Eighth Route Army, Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Chen Jian artist, Battle of Niangzi Pass, war painting, guerrilla warfare, Taihang Mountains, Imperial Japanese Army, military art, Communist forces,historical battle, Chinese history, World War II in Asia, memorial collection, oil painting
Honoring Loss Through Action, the Bauer Fund Surpasses $100,000 for Suicide Prevention and Empowers Grassroots Nonprofits for a Brighter Tomorrow
From Grief to Hope: Ten Years of the Bauer Fund
Dr. William “Bill” Bauer is vice president of the J. Luce Foundation.
New York, N.Y. — In the heart of New York’s philanthropic community, the James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation commemorates the tenth anniversary of the Bauer Fund, a living testament to hope born out of loss.
Dr. William “Bill” Bauer, retired Marietta College professor and renowned mental health professional, established the fund in 2015 after the heartbreaking death of his son, Grant Bauer, by suicide.
In the years that followed, the Bauer Fund has galvanized more than 500 supporters and amassed over $107,000, channeled directly to mental health initiatives targeting suicide prevention and seeking to transform the landscape for vulnerable youth in the Ohio Valley.
Each year, led by Dr. Bauer, his wife Mary Ella Bauer, and their extended family, the Fund’s mission has grown.
The awards are announced on September 5, the anniversary of Grant’s passing, and are celebrated during “Grant Week”—a period marked by purposeful kindness and community action.
Reflecting its ongoing commitment, the Bauer Fund’s 2025 awards embrace the principles that have defined its decade of service: funding grassroots organizations, spotlighting leadership, and widening the circle of kindness that began as a father’s act of remembrance.
The 2025 Bauer Fund Grantees: Supporting Young Families and Preventing Crisis
This September, the Bauer Fund recognizes two outstanding organizations as its 2025 award recipients, advancing its twin missions of suicide prevention and community wellbeing.
The Community Baby Shower
At the core of every thriving community is the belief that every child deserves a bright future and every caregiver meaningful support. The Community Baby Shower is a volunteer-driven nonprofit dedicated to uplifting new and expecting families who face economic hardship.
Through annual events, the group provides essential safety and baby-care items, education, and access to supportive services. In just three years, the organization has directly impacted nearly 1,000 families, enhancing their ability to nurture their children with confidence and security.
Entirely volunteer-run, the Community Baby Shower fosters safety, connection, and community—embodying the very values the Bauer Fund seeks to amplify.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
The Lifeline stands as a critical national resource for anyone experiencing mental health struggles, emotional distress, substance use concerns, or simply in need of support. Run by a network of over 200 crisis centers, the 988 Lifeline provides confidential assistance 24/7/365, connecting individuals—in their preferred language—with compassionate, highly trained counselors.
The establishment of “988” as a three-digit emergency number was the result of landmark recommendations by the Federal Communications Commission in 2019, officially adopted on July 16, 2020, to improve access to immediate, life-saving help. By 2021, services expanded to include text, extending support to those distressed or unable to call.
The Lifeline’s inclusive approach embraces all, regardless of background—a principle the Bauer Fund shares. With an emphasis on accessibility, cultural competence, and affirmation across all identities, the 988 Lifeline has revolutionized the U.S. mental health response system while specifically serving veterans, service members, and those who support them.
Random Acts of Kindness: Remembering Grant Through Community Action
At the heart of the Bauer Fund’s activities lie “Random Acts of Kindness” (RAKs), especially during “Grant Day” (September 5) and “Grant Week” (September 5-12).
This grassroots movement, now embraced by the J. Luce Foundation and its supporters, records and celebrates thousands of acts each year—testament to the ongoing ripple effect of Grant’s legacy. In one notable year, over 5,000 documented acts of kindness multiplied Grant’s memory into tangible changes across communities.
But the Fund’s support goes further: micro-grants, social media spotlighting, and recognition through the Foundation’s Stewardship Report continually elevate organizations and leaders who drive progress in mental health, homelessness, and community service.
A New York City mural and its painter reminding us that “Kindness Matters” – and that “Random Acts of Kindness” are critical to being human.
Vision 2050: The Bauer Fund’s Bold Path Forward
The Tenth Anniversary of the Fund unfolds alongside the “Vision 2050” campaign—a strategic plan from the J. Luce Foundation and its sister initiative, Orphans International Worldwide, celebrating 25 years of service.
In what was both a celebration and a challenge, Jim Luce, Foundation Founder, called on all Friends of Grant and supporters to help raise another $250,000 over the next quarter-century.
This visionary goal aims to dramatically expand the Bauer Fund’s reach, ensuring ongoing innovation in suicide prevention, mental health support, and leadership development for youth in the Midwest and beyond.
Gratitude, Leadership, and the Power of Collective Compassion
None of the Bauer Fund’s decade of achievement would be possible without its network—the more than 500 “Bauer Fund Fellows,” who have grown a movement from sorrow to strength.
From the Ohio Valley to Honolulu, the Fund’s micro-grants, annual recognitions, and leadership awards honor not only those lost and those at risk, but also those working tirelessly to foster hope, resilience, and lasting change.
In the words of Dr. Bauer: “Each contribution, large or small, represents a shared belief in the importance of mental health and a commitment to protecting our young people. Grant’s memory lives on through every life touched and potentially saved by these resources.”
For more information, support, or to contribute, searchThe Bauer Fund on the Stewardship Report or donate directly via the J. Luce Foundation (www.lucefoundation.org), earmarked “Bauer Fund.” Join the movement, embrace compassion, and help chart a hopeful path for vulnerable youth—today, tomorrow, and for decades to come.
If you need to talk, the 988 Lifeline is here.
At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, they understand that life’s challenges can sometimes be difficult. Whether you’re facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, caring counselors are there for you. You are not alone. WEBSITE: https://988lifeline.org
Audio Summary
The James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation celebrates ten years of the Bauer Fund, founded by Dr. Bill Bauer in memory of his son, Grant. Raising over $100,000, the Fund supports youth mental health and suicide prevention in the Midwest. The 2025 Bauer Fund Award recipients are the Community Baby Shower and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Vision 2050 challenges the community to help raise $250,000 over 25 years for expanded impact and hope.
