Welcome to the weekly world briefing, a midweek feature that helps you stay up to date on issues worldwide and how they affect travelers. Is there something you think should be added to the next briefing? Tell us on Twitter.
Across the world…
Oceans are warming faster than previously thought, according to a new study in Science. 2018 was the warmest year on record, continuing the trend of breaking the record every year for the last several years. The findings have dire consequences for seaside communities. Oceans serve as a barrier against the worst effects of climate change, because 93% of excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases ends up in the oceans. But all that excess heat is damaging our deep blue barrier. Marine life, especially coral, is dying off rapidly. Sea level rise is contributing to the harshness of catastrophes such as Hurricane Florence. Waves are also becoming more powerful.
Across the world, tourist destinations are scrambling to defend themselves from the consequences of the rising temperatures. In Greenland, tourist agencies are encouraging people to see glaciers before they disappear, and are swapping sled dog tours for longer boat trips. Hawaii is aiming for 100% clean energy by 2045, and contemplating how to protect the roads that circle the island from going underwater. The Indonesian government announced that it would double its disaster relief budget in 2019 after enduring 2,564 natural disasters in 2018. Fiji is even testing out “coral gardeners” to help replace bleached coral with healthy, more durable coral.
The long-term effects of warming oceans are much worse. Warmer oceans cause fish populations to decline, leaving many coastal economies stripped of a major source of food and income. Fewer resources could lead to an influx of starvation and trade wars. In addition, rising waters and more intense storms could lead to more climate refugees as some coastal areas become unlivable.
Our take: Places like Indonesia and Fiji rely heavily on tourist dollars. If you are considering going, you should go. Then, do whatever you can to ensure those locations can thrive for years to come. If you travel frequently, condense your trips to reduce your air travel. Vote and give money to candidates who will take action on climate change. Follow this advice, which includes going carless and eating a plant-based diet. Take time to learn about how climate change is affecting people wherever you travel.
In Syria…
The U.S. has started its withdrawal from the war torn country of Syria. Equipment is being removed, but so far all troops remain in place. There are currently around 2,000 U.S. personnel in Syria. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly announced that the U.S. would withdraw from Syria within 30 days, which prompted the resignations of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Brett McGurk, the special presidential envoy to the coalition fighting the Islamic State. Trump stated that the troops’ mission of defeating ISIS was nearly complete, and it was time for U.S. allies to take over. Now, U.S. officials have pushed the timeline for withdrawal back several months.
Syria has been marred by civil war since 2011 when protesters called for the removal of President Bashar al-Assad. The rise of ISIS in 2014 complicated the multi-factioned war. The U.S. has been involved since 2014, when it accused the Syrian government of conducting chemical attacks on rebels.
The planned withdrawal has many Syrian Kurds worried for their safety. The YPG Kurdish Militia is a key U.S. ally, but is seen as a terrorist group by Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to set up a security zone along the Syria-Turkey border to prevent an outbreak of violence post-U.S. withdrawal. If Turkey breaks its promise and attacks Kurdish forces, Trump has vowed to “devastate” the Turkish economy.
The withdrawal in Syria is part of a larger shift in U.S. policy in the Middle East headed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Last week, Pompeo delivered a speech in Cairo in which he had harsh words for both Iran and his predecessors in the Obama administration. He accused Obama of underestimating “the tenacity and viciousness of radical Islamism,” and said that “we learned that when America retreats chaos often follows. When we neglect our friends, resentment builds. And when we partner with enemies, they advance.” He also assured listeners that the withdrawal from Syria was not an end to U.S. involvement in the region. “Let me be clear: America will not retreat until the terror fight is over,” he said.
The Trump administration’s policy on the Middle East has diverged from Obama-era decisions in several instances. Near the beginning of his presidency, Trump withdrew from the Iran Nuclear Deal, which sought to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Later, the U.S. controversially moved its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Critics noted that Pompeo did not mention human rights once in his long speech. Even when touching on Yemen, he did not mention one of the worst humanitarian crises in fifty years.
Though U.S. troops may be retreating from Syria, the fighting is not over. This morning a suicide bombing claimed by ISIS killed 15 people, including U.S. troops.
Our take: The Syrian Civil War is a devastating crisis that has left around 400,000 people dead. Another 11 million people have become refugees with 6 million internally displaced people and 5 million more around the world. Do not attempt to visit the country. If you would like to help Syrian refugees, here are a few ways you can get started.
In Saudi Arabia…
In 2016, Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman announced the Saudi Vision 2030 development initiative, which included increasing revenue from tourism to 18% by 2020. It is currently at 10.4%.
“Tourism is one of the focal points of the government’s strategy to strengthen the economy and reduce dependence on oil revenue,” Ibrahim Al Rashid, chairman of the tourism committee and Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told the Saudi Gazette.
As part of the initiative, the country is building an Islamic museum, hosting numerous concerts and events, and transforming the Red Sea coastline by adding more resorts, scuba diving, and other water activities. Perhaps the biggest draw for tourists is Madain Saleh, an archaeological site of Nabataean ruins–some even better preserved than those in much more popular Petra, Jordan.
Aside from tourism, Saudi 2030 also includes increasing non-oil trade, increasing military spending, and reforms for women, who can now attend sporting events, drive, and take physical education classes. When Saudi 2030 was first announced, Muhammad bin Salman was hailed for progress, but less than two years later global opinion has soured.
Women’s rights defenders were held for eight months without trial, and more recently a Saudi woman fled her family and took asylum in Canada, where she said, “I was not treated respectfully by my family, and I was not allowed to be myself and who I want to be….in Saudi Arabia, this is the case for all Saudi women except for those fortunate enough to have understanding parents. They can’t be independent, and they need approval from their male guardian. Any woman who thinks of escaping or escaped will be at risk of persecution.”
Of course the biggest detriment to Muhammad bin Salman’s plan was the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents with close ties to the prince in Istanbul in October. The killing brought international uproar and many prominent business people and government officials boycotted a major Saudi investment summit last year.
Now, Saudi officials are hoping these events will blow over and have moved along with developing the historical sites for tourism, implementing an e-visa system, training residents on how to work with tourists, and planning new resorts.
Our take: It can be tempting to visit places where few Westerners have gone before, but we urge you to wait. Your tourism dollars go to support the government, which has one of the worst human rights records in the world. Each year, dozens of peaceful dissidents are jailed. Women and minorities are routinely discriminated against and have few rights. There is little to no freedom of expression. There is no penal code, so detainees can be held without judicial review for years. Executions are common. Migrant workers are exploited and abused. And Saudi Arabia is the leader of a coalition in Yemen that has committed violations of international law including numerous airstrikes–the largest cause of civilian casualty in Yemen throughout the war–and exacerbated the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Your tourism dollars do not go to the population, but to the government. While the archaeological sites are beautiful and an important part of history, they’ve been around for hundreds of years and will likely be there in the future. In Curiosity Magazine, one writer did visit and found the country had a long way to go before becoming the next Middle Eastern hotspot, and another writer looked at the situation for expat workers–which is increasingly bleak.
In Dar Es Salaam…
Traffic for locals and visitors alike is a pain. Only eight lanes of major road lead into and out of the center of the bustling city of 6 million people, and public transport is lacking. The Tanzanian economic center is expected to reach a population of 13.4 million by 2035, but unlike other African megacities, Dar Es Salaam is not planning to build a metro to transport its people. Instead, the city is incorporating bus lanes along major roads. The new and improved buses have already shaved two hours off some commutes. While cities such as Lagos and Abidjan have poured money into metro lines, Dar Es Salaam’s bus system is able to move more people at a fraction of the cost.
However, the new system is not without flaws. The Tanzanian government has not deployed buses as quickly as promised. Payment through smart cards has also caused some administrative headaches.
Our take: While many visitors only pass through Dar Es Salaam on their way to safaris or Mt. Kilimanjaro, the city itself has plenty to offer. As a port city, there are several beaches and marine tours. The northern part of the city is home to ruins from civilizations dating back to the 1700s. In the bustling city center, you’ll find markets and seafood. If you are visiting Tanzania for the wildlife, consider spending a day in the city. Then move on to see how amazing it can be when a country devotes 25% of its land to national parks and protected areas.
