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 Midwest…
The Midwest faced record colds this week as a polar vortex moved through the region, bringing many cities to a standstill. Schools and local businesses were closed, more than 2,000 flights were cancelled, Amtrak and even the U.S. Postal Service suspended service, many people worked from home, and residents were urged not to leave their houses if they could help it. The wind chill in Minneapolis reached minus 53, and Chicago hit minus 50. Eight deaths were reported across the Midwest due to cold, dozens of frostbite patients have been treated so far, and officials throughout the region declared a state of emergency.
Homeless populations are especially vulnerable during cold weather, and cities scrambled to create makeshift shelters and warming areas. In Chicago, even stationary city buses served as warming points and Lyft offered free rides to shelters. There were some moments of beauty though, too. There were frost quakes, steamy lakes, and boiling water turned to ice before your eyes.
Record-breaking cold has officially hit Chicago, with temperatures dipping to -20 Wednesday morning. Time-lapse video shows steam rising from Lake Michigan. pic.twitter.com/8pKIwDb3pk
— WYMT (@WYMT) January 30, 2019
Such cold temperatures prompted President Trump to Tweet, “In the beautiful Midwest, windchill temperatures are reaching minus 60 degrees, the coldest ever recorded. In coming days, expected to get even colder. People can’t last outside even for minutes. What the hell is going on with Global Waming? Please come back fast, we need you!”
Of course, cold weather does not negate global warming, which refers to a trend in rising temperatures over decades. Experts say, “the warming of the climate system is unambiguous and irrefutable,” and the majority of Americans believe that, too.
People have been wary of using weather events as a way to convince people of climate change because of cold periods like these, but David Leonhardt of the New York Times argues it might be our only hope. “ The weather still has one big advantage over every other argument about the urgency of climate change: We experience the weather,” he wrote in a recent column. He goes on to say, “The past year is on pace to be the earth’s fourth warmest on record, and the five warmest years have all occurred since 2010. This warming is now starting to cause a lot of damage. In 2018, heat waves killed people in Montreal, Karachi, Tokyo and elsewhere. Extreme rain battered North Carolina and the Indian state of Kerala. The Horn of Africa suffered from drought. Large swaths of the American West burned. When I was in Portland, Ore., this summer, the air quality — from nearby wildfires — was among the worst in the world. It would have been healthier to be breathing outdoors in Beijing or Mumbai.”
In case it comes up while you’re talking about the weather with a climate change skeptic, know this: heavy precipitation is a symptom of climate change. We’re getting more precipitation per year every year, but it’s coming in fewer events. Snowfalls and cold snaps like this are going to become much more common, but it’s also going to be more common for it to go a long time between snowfalls. That doesn’t mean this particular weather event is caused by climate change, but it’s part of a significant trend.
Our take: climate change is real, and it is pressing. If there is a climate change denier in your life, try to educate them. We must take action to prevent the worst effects of climate change now. As always, be as sustainable as you can in your everyday life, and vote and give money to candidates who will take action. Climate change affects everyone and should not be a partisan issue. Take time to learn about how climate change is affecting people wherever you travel.
In Venezuela…
Last week, we talked about protests in Venezuela prompted by hyperinflation. Since then, Juan Guaidó, leader of the legislature, declared himself acting president, challenging President Maduro and recent presidential election results that granted him another six-year term.
Since taking office six years ago, Venezuela’s economy crashed and its inflation rate is expected to hit 10 million percent. Venezuelans blame Maduro and his government for the economy’s decline, and the May 2018 elections were highly contested. For more about the background on Venezuelans’ frustration with Maduro and why Guaidó believes he has a legal right to the presidency, read this primer.
President Donald Trump quickly recognized Guaidó as president, as did Canada, Israel, Argentina, Peru, Australia, and a number of other countries. Russia and China, however, still back Maduro, who broke off diplomatic relations with the U.S. after Trump’s announcement. The U.S. State Department urged any U.S. citizens in the country to leave. A few days later, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Venezuelan state run oil company PDVSA in an attempt to choke off the country’s oil supply and force Maduro to step down. Residents lined up for hours to fill their tanks.
Now, fresh protests have broken out after Venezuela’s highest court froze Guaidó’s bank accounts and imposed a travel ban on him. Guaidó and his supporters immediately took to the streets.
“They thought to cause fear, they thought the people of Venezuela would be scared,” Guaidó told reporters.
He is urging the military to side with the opposition, and many are hoping the United States will supply weapons. Who security forces side with will be crucial in determining Venezuela’s future.
Our take: Our advice from last week still stands, though the week’s events have caused even more unrest and made the Maduro government more hostile to Americans. Travel to Venezuela is not advised due to conflict, unrest, poor health infrastructure, and hyperinflation. Violent crime is common, specifically homicide, robbery, and carjacking, and security forces have arbitrarily held U.S. citizens for long periods of time in the past. If you are injured or get sick in Venezuela, the health infrastructure might not be adequate to treat you. You will also be affected by the issue of hyperinflation–there is very little cash in the country and you will lose large percentages (often up to 60%) in the exchange of USD. If you do not have a debit card capable of withdrawing Venezuelan Bolivar, the trip will be much more expensive than you’re probably expecting. You are also required to book all hotels ahead of time (this is not always enforced, but often enough you probably want to play it safe), so you will be paying the USD rate online instead of the much lower BsF rate you would pay on arrival. If you absolutely must travel to Venezuela, do not travel at night, see a travel doctor before you go and bring any potentially needed medications, avoid demonstrations, and never take unmarked taxis.
On the U.S./Mexico Border…
The U.S. government reopened last Friday for a three-week period. Congress is continuing to discuss border security though Democrats remain staunchly opposed to providing President Trump with funding for a border wall. Trump has promised to close the government again on February 15th if no deal on the wall is reached.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is making asylum seekers wait in Mexico while their cases are heard in immigration courts. This has caused confusion between the U.S. and Mexico governments, and could face legal challenges.
While many asylum seekers hope to reach the U.S., some migrants are opting to stay in Mexico. In the weeks leading up to the November midterm elections, Trump used migrating Central Americans to galvanize support for his proposed wall, often making false claims about criminals and using other scare tactics. Mexico’s Andrés Manuel López Obrador has taken a decidedly different approach. As a new, larger wave of immigrants floods into Mexico from Guatemala, the Mexican government is welcoming them with open arms. The country has eased the process of applying for a humanitarian visas and made work permits more accessible. In addition, Mexico is pushing a $30 billion development plan to spur economic growth. Under the plan, the minimum wage for Mexican border residents will double, and other measures will be taken to stop residents from wanting to migrate to the United States. The plan highlights the differences between the two leaders, who have a strained relationship as is, and demonstrates Mexico’s left wing policies, a contrast with much of the Americas right now.
Our take: many people are nervous about travel to Mexico, but they shouldn’t be. There are dangerous and safe places to visit in Mexico, as always, but the migrant situation has not affected travel as far as safety. One thing to keep in mind, if crossing the border by car or foot, is that lines to reenter the U.S. could be longer than usua
