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.
Throughout the world…
Lives are improving. Given the humanitarian crises in Yemen, Syria, and elsewhere, it may be hard to notice, but extreme poverty and child mortality are much lower and life expectancy is higher than three decades ago. Even ten years ago, extreme poverty was almost 10 percent higher and life expectancy was 2.4 years lower than today. Literacy rates have also improved worldwide.
Over the last thirty years, major achievements include halving the deaths of women at childbirth and drastically decreasing malaria deaths. We also kill each other at much lower rates than we used to. Though overall conditions are improving, experts say a big area of need is infectious disease prevention and treatment. For example, pneumonia remains rampant in much of the developing world. The illness kills more children than malaria and diarrhea combined.
One disease that is expected to stay prevalent is cancer. Since the disease affects mostly older individuals and people are living longer, we will likely see a rise in cancer rates over the next few decades. World Cancer Day was this week. Medical professionals throughout the world urged a focus on early detection to fight the disease.
Our Take: There has never been a better time to travel. Due to health and diplomatic advances, more of the world is accessible and safer than ever before. Always do your research before traveling to ensure you have the correct shots and to know whether you can stomach the area’s water. Do your research on areas that may be dangerous for tourists. All of this information can be found in our growing list of guides. While conditions are improving worldwide, we can still make them better. Dr. Devi Sridhar, a professor of global public health at the University of Edinburgh told the New York Times that one way to help is “to continue to support institutions like the World Health Organization and the Global Fund to fight H.I.V./AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.” She continued, “To manage the threat of drug-resistant infections which is already a major problem in poor countries, lobby all governments to adopt a binding United Nations agreement to regulate the use of antibiotics in humans, agriculture and the environment, particularly middle-income countries.”
In the Himalayas…
More than two-thirds of Himalayan glaciers could melt by 2100 if current emission levels hold steady. Even if goals outlined in the Paris Climate Accord are met, one-third of the glaciers will likely melt. The frightening findings were published in The Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment, a five-years study with input from 350 researchers.
The glaciers provide more than beautiful scenery for climbers. They are also a crucial water source for much of the world’s population. 1.6 billion people rely on glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region for their water. Without the glaciers, Southeast Asia would face a water crisis the likes of which we have never seen.
India is already experiencing its worst water crisis in history. Last year, extreme water scarcity affected around half of the population. As the glaciers melt, the region is actually expected to receive more water from the mountains through about 2050, when the problem will become drastically worse. In Nepal, where the poorest citizens live in the mountains, climate change will likely increase poverty rates.
While small nations such as Nepal and Bhutan are low-emitting countries, China and India are among the largest polluters in the world, though on a per capita basis, both lag far behind countries such as the UAE, the U.S., and Australia. (Plus, rich countries such as the U.S. and European Union nations also ‘outsource’ their pollution to countries like China and Bangladesh by shifting the production of goods. Read more here). The assessment calls for the regions to not only adapt to climate change, but do everything possible to mitigate the effects. It also calls for greater regional collaboration when responding to the increased levels of natural disasters.
Our Take: If you are a lover of mountains and glaciers, plan a trip to the Himalayan region before it is too late, but while there travel as sustainably as possible and consider donating to local organizations working to provide water and mitigate the effects of climate change. If you can, extend your stay to include other parts of the region you would like to see. Air travel is a major contributor to climate change and reducing the number of long-distance flights you take over a period of years by extending each trip is one way to cut down. Stay updated on the issues of the region before departing on your trip. For example during the worst of India’s water crisis last year, some residents in mountainous regions called for tourists to stay home. With a limited supply of water, they needed it for themselves. Respect their wishes. As always, be as sustainable as you can in your everyday life, and vote and give money to candidates who will take action.
In Venezuela….
The Venezuelan military blocked a shipment of humanitarian aid, in the latest in the political turmoil and economic crisis we’ve been reporting on here the last few weeks. Opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who has declared himself interim president, organized the aid. Meanwhile, the military is still on President Nicolás Maduro’s side for now. The move comes after Maduro hinted the crisis could lead to a civil war, comments Guaidó dismissed. In the United States, President Trump underlined his commitment to Guaidó during last night’s State of the Union address, and has said deploying the U.S. military is “an option.” Most of the European Union has joined the U.S. in recognizing Guaidó as the legitimate leader, as well as several other countries. Learn more about Guaidó in this profile from the New York Times.
Our Take: As we’ve said before, 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 do 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. Zimbabwe is another story. While the street protests can be violent, the country is generally safe. As with many places, avoid openly displaying cash and traveling alone at night. Stay away from any political demonstrations you come across, and leave valuables in your hotel safe. (In any country, we always recommend carrying a copy of your passport and visa, and leaving the originals in a safe). You will need the yellow fever vaccine and at least two blank pages and six months of validity on your passport to obtain a visa on arrival.
In the United Arab Emirates…
This week, Pope Francis acknowledged a persistent problem of sexual abuse of nuns by priests. Catholic nuns across the world have accused priests and bishops of sexual assault for years, and many were impregnated. This is the first time Pope Francis has publicly acknowledged the issue. He is also still dealing with the child sex scandal that has plagued the Catholic Church. The acknowledgement came on the way home from the Pope’s trip to the Arabian Peninsula, which was seen as a chance to promote the metropolitan nation’s image of acceptance and tolerance.
Pope Francis became the first pontiff to visit the Arabian peninsula, the birthplace of Islam. The historic visit began with a remarkable welcome featuring horse-mounted guards and a Vatican-themed flyover. Monday’s keynote speech called for inter-religious cooperation, while Tuesday’s mass was the largest public Christian gathering in the UAE’s history.
The Pope used his keynote address to promote religious tolerance and denounce all violence. “Human fraternity requires of us, as representatives of the world’s religions, the duty to reject every nuance of approval from the word ‘war.’” he said. Later he and Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of an important Egyptian mosque, signed a “document of human fraternity” with the aim of spreading “a culture of tolerance.”
In one instance, the pope directly criticized his host country by specifically mentioning the war in Yemen. “Let us return to [war’s] miserable crudeness,” he said. “It’s fateful consequences are before our eyes. I am thinking in particular of Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Libya.” The UAE has joined Saudi Arabia in its assault against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Over 85,000 children have starved to death due to the war which the UN has called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The United States supports the Saudi-led offensive as well.
Though Christians and other religious minorities in the UAE face discriminatory laws, they fare much better than Christians throughout the region. Christians are free to pray in private and in places of worship and reports of harassment and discrimination are rare. However, since conversion from Islam is illegal, Christians cannot spread their religion. There are also barriers to building churches. Only citizens can own land, and the majority of Christians are poor migrants from India, South America, and the Philippines with no path to citizenship. The Emirati government welcomed and praised Pope Francis throughout the visit.
Our take: While symbolically the visit was positive, what really matters is where both the Pope and the UAE go from here. If steps toward religious tolerance are taken, that will of course be welcome, but all too often leaders use their platforms to make sweeping statements that aren’t followed with any real change. While we don’t discourage visiting the UAE, we don’t want you to give the government a complete pass either. Many readers are wary of the Saudi government, as they should be, but happily visit Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Just know that the UAE government, like the US government, is still contributing to the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Pope Francis’s acknowledgement of sexual abuse is also a welcome step, but stay tuned for what actions follow. Will these priests and bishops receive any sort of punishment? That’s TBD. While there’s not much travelers can do in either of these situations, it’s still important to be aware of the politics of a place you’re visiting. And if you’re Catholic, you can make it known in your own church and community that enough is enough when it comes to covering sexual abuse. #nunstoo
In Bulgaria…
In Smokiniya, protected dunes were bulldozed earlier this month, drawing outrage from the public. A construction boom is transforming the country’s Black Sea coast, and photos have emerged of construction machinery along beaches and dunes. The coastal sand dunes are protected under Bulgaria’s environmental protection laws, and it is illegal to destroy dunes even on private land. After protest on social media and calls of “eco-vandalism” from Bulgarians, the National Construction Directorate halted construction at three coastal areas. Now, a debate is raging on whether land development on the coast is legal.
Our take: Bulgaria’s coast has seen increased tourism in recent years, and with Brexit looming is expected to see more (it’s a better value, as the pound has dropped against some other currencies). This is a tricky issue. Tourism is generally good for economies, and in 2016 tourism generated 98,000 jobs in Bulgaria. But it can also be harmful to the environment and ways of life. Visit Bulgaria by all means, but think about where you’re staying. If it’s a new luxury resort on the Black Sea, know that the building could have come at the cost of protected land. Consider staying in lodging that has been around for awhile. While you’re there, talk to residents about how they feel about tourism and development. Your trip will be more rewarding having learned something, and you’ll still have plenty of time to enjoy the beach. Learn something interesting on your travels or through conversation with locals? Share it with us on Instagram or Twitter using #beabettertraveler and we’ll share.
