Many of us are <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2022/great-resignation-playlist-baby-queen/748521" target="_blank">still swooning</a> over <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2022/netflix-heartstopper-binge-watching/745051" target="_blank">Heartstopper</a>, three-plus months after Netflix released it this past spring. However, many in the LGBTQ community are now also furious that Netflix announced last week it is <a href="https://time.com/6203263/first-kill-cancelled-netflix/" target="_blank">canceling</a> the supernatural drama First Kill after only one season. Could it be because it centers around an interracial lesbian love story? We’ll never know, and —pardon the pun — we’ll never get a straight answer from Netflix. So, while LGBTQ content keeps improving, there still appears to be an unwritten rule that the main characters need to be light-skinned, wear a white dress shirt and tie, and attend an elite prep school or university. To that end, that’s where Thai BL (often referred to as “Y series” as well) waltzes in, literally — and it’s not a just a thing, it’s a phenomenon. 

<h2>What are so many of us cray over Thai BL?</h2>

Thai BL — i.e., boy love — is a genre of entertainment that has been the biggest hit across much of Asia since Korean dramas. And, sorry Heartstopper fans, but the boy-meets-boy story sans dystopian drama <a href="https://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/d00607/" target="_blank">has been around for a while</a>: Thai BL's popularity has been increasing for <a href="https://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/d00607/" target="_blank">almost a decade</a>, in fact. Like Heartstopper, this genre’s roots <a href="https://www.queerty.com/heartstoppers-got-nothing-thailands-boy-love-tv-shows-20220804" target="_blank">are in print and web comics</a> dating as far back as subtexts in <a href="https://yattatachi.com/history-of-boys-love" target="_blank">1970s Japanese manga</a> (specifically, yaoi).

For years, Thai BL stories were largely underground; until the early years of this century, such content was actually imported from Japan rather than produced domestically. Then the series <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OQl08Weel4" target="_blank">2gether</a> snowballed in popularity during the early months of the global pandemic, and <a href="https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2305042/asia-falls-in-love-with-thai-boys-love" target="_blank">virtual tours</a> of the various locations where the series was shot soon followed after. 

One cannot typecast Thai BL stories as simply homoeroticism or gay love stories. Just as the case with Heartstopper’s creator, Alice Osman, many of these boy love stories are authored by women — though in the case of these love stories, many of these women authors are actually writing for women. Think of them as same-sex romance stories, often with ridiculously hilarious plot twists and far too many awkward moments. Yet women are often an afterthought in Thai BL series, as on many occasions the female characters in these series are often distracted and are clueless about their gay peers as they are frequently obsessed with watching BL stories on their iPads. As the editor and writer Cameron Scheetz of Queerty <a href="https://www.queerty.com/heartstoppers-got-nothing-thailands-boy-love-tv-shows-20220804" target="_blank">sums up</a>:

<blockquote>
“The guys are cute, the stories are sweet and breezy, the music is upbeat, and they’re largely optimistic, free of anything too traumatic (seriously, it’s almost as if homophobia doesn’t exist in a great many of these shows). At a time when the general state of things *motions wildly* feels grim, it’s not hard to understand why people are gravitating towards BL shows.”
</blockquote>

<h2>Not 100 percent authentic, but Thai BL series are still a welcome break</h2>

To be clear, Thai BL <a href="https://lovewithoutgender.com/2020/04/01/thai-bl-series-its-all-a-matter-of-perspective-bl-female-authors-versus-gay-male-world-view-an-opinion/" target="_blank">isn’t exactly</a> a true representation of the LGBTQ experience in Thailand. The country’s LGBTQ rights record is <a href="https://www.equaldex.com/region/thailand" target="_blank">mixed</a>: not outright terribly oppressive, but the general public’s attitudes — as well as the laws on the books — evoke mere tolerance, not complete equality and acceptance, and gay marriage is <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-edges-closer-legalising-same-sex-unions-2022-06-15/" target="_blank">almost</a>, but not yet, legal. Further, we’ve still got the problem of most BL characters being fair-skinned and enrolled in elite schools. Nevertheless, at a time when many LGBTQ people feel like it’s the 1980s all over again with the response to the monkeypox outbreak, Thai BL series can offer an escape and respite, because let’s face it: Many in the LGBTQ community appreciate seeing queer people portrayed as protagonists instead of punchlines.

For LGBTQ fans of Thai BL, the way in which these series is delivered offers indulgence with a side of discretion. Among the streaming services, Japanese-owned Line TV has <a href="https://www.insider.com/boy-love-tv-shows-asia-queer-stories-2022-6" target="_blank">exploded in popularity</a> with its platform, which many fans choose to watch on their phones. The result, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/30/thailands-gay-romance-tv-dramas-help-revive-flagging-tourism-industry" target="_blank">explained</a> the Guardian's Rebecca Ratcliffe, is that these series don’t compete with conventional soap operas on Thailand’s television networks while largely going unnoticed by the more conservative elements of society within Thailand and other countries.

In addition, Thai BL is doing more than challenging the entertainment industry. It could inspire a new genre of travel as well.

<h2>Book yourself that Thai BL tour, folks</h2>

About Thai BL tourism: It’s already happening, and not just virtual tours like the ones focused on locations seen in 2gether. Take the epic 2020 series, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuG1D7KVM1I" target="_blank">I Told Sunset About You</a>, along with its follow-up drama, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFbs_SwsxaE" target="_blank">I Promised You the Moon</a>. Count in one small business that’s already cashing in: a café in Phuket that sees one particular table booked solid far in advance, as it’s where the two leads in both series often sat and experienced their romance bloom. “They scream so much that I would like to call an ambulance,” quipped the restaurant’s owner during a recent interview with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/30/thailands-gay-romance-tv-dramas-help-revive-flagging-tourism-industry" target="_blank">Ratcliffe of the Guardian</a>.

Judging by the success that two video distributors had after <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2022/07/02/films/thailand-boys-love-tourism/" target="_blank">setting up booths</a> at a recent Thailand-themed festival in Osaka, Japan, enthusiasm will keep growing and could help revive the tourism sector in the country which is still lagging due to the lingering effects of the pandemic. Representatives of the country’s tourism ministry were reportedly at the festival as well, <a href="https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/06/b80956bb7d10-feature-thailand-betting-on-dramatic-boys-love-tourism-boom.html" target="_blank">passing out pamphlets</a> on Thai BL. Similar exhibitions <a href="https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/02/8dbca6f91ea6-feature-thailand-brings-boys-love-back-to-japan-with-homegrown-dramas.html" target="_blank">have been held</a> in Tokyo and other cities across Japan in recent months, as the Japanese tend to be the most devoted fans of Thai BL. But as the genre’s popularity expands, more opportunities to welcome tourists from other nations will emerge as well. 

Thailand has long been visited for its beaches in the south and cultural riches in the north, along with a dicey side, as in <a href="https://www.asianage.com/travel/311221/bangkoks-newest-museum-chronicles-its-notorious-nightlife.html" target="_blank">Patpong</a>, the infamous Bangkok neighborhood. But Thai BL fans who are visiting the country can bring with them a new dynamic, similar to how Iceland and Croatia (<a href="https://www.asianage.com/travel/311221/bangkoks-newest-museum-chronicles-its-notorious-nightlife.html" target="_blank">Game of Thrones</a><a href="https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/4/4/18293965/game-of-thrones-tourism-croatia-iceland-ireland-spain" target="_blank">)</a> and Crema, Italy (<a href="https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/call-me-by-your-name-travel-guide" target="_blank">Call Me By Your Name</a>, before Armie Hammer creeped out and even <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/03/the-fall-of-armie-hammer-a-family-saga-of-sex-money-drugs-and-betrayal" target="_blank">horrified</a> his fan base) saw new influxes of tourists. 

These fans would also engender niche of tourism that would be far more responsible and sustainable. We’re not talking about the types of visitors that would overrun historical ecologically fragile destinations, nor are we discussing backpackers on Khao San Road polishing off cans of Singha beer — after all, these traveling fans have their sights set on the neighborhoods, cafes, restaurants and buildings where the most epic Thai BL series were shot on location. Therein lies a boost for many small businesses, such as the one in Phuket with the popular corner table — travelers always need to eat, rehydrate and, sure, occasionally shop. With close to 20 new Thai BL series <a href="https://travelnoire.com/gay-romance-tv-shows-bring-a-rise-to-thailands-tourism-industry" target="_blank">produced this year alone</a>, the results could benefit the struggling Thai tourism sector while allowing a more localized form of travel to thrive.

The popularity of LGBTQ-themed shows such as <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2022/2sebastian-croft-allyship-lgbtq/748986" target="_blank">Heartstopper</a>, <a href="https://www.out.com/television/2022/7/01/9-first-look-photos-netflixs-young-royals-season-2" target="_blank">Young Royals</a> and, yes, Thai BL series shows that there’s a craving for compelling and entertaining content — and the next country full of creative types who can capitalize and produce such content might just witness a wave of visitors who wish to see where further acceptance of their community was filmed.

Image credit: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/33iKv_A1E2s" target="_blank">Honey Fangs</a> via Unsplash

Want to Revive Sustainable Tourism? Film and Stream More LGBTQ Romance Series, 'Thai BL' Style

Bet you’re feeling this intense heat. So are many of the roughly one in 10 Americans who <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/04/07/who-relies-on-public-transit-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank">ride public transportation daily</a>. Climate change poses a real threat to mass transit systems. In 2021, <a href="https://www.c40knowledgehub.org/s/article/Reducing-climate-change-impacts-on-mass-transit?language=en_US" target="_blank">extreme heat damaged</a> Portland’s streetcar wires and deformed Seattle's roadways, triggering suspension of service as so-called “sun kinks” from extreme temperatures can bend tracks and lead to a derailment. Scorching heatwaves this summer have <a href="https://www.democraticunderground.com/11303550" target="_blank">had an impact</a> on transit agencies in central Texas, Oklahoma and even New York City.

Public transportation officials have a duty, of course, to operate transportation systems resilient to changing climate impacts as they also aim for net-zero carbon emission. More transport planners find it essential to collaborate with climate adaptation or resilience teams in their cities to adapt to critical weather events for their riders’ safety.  

Increasingly, municipal policymakers and planners are developing and adopting climate-sensitive design for public transit stops and transportation, from buses to trains.  Some cities, such as <a href="https://www.rtcsnv.com/ways-to-travel/summer-heat/" target="_blank">Las Vegas</a>, have raised awareness of the dangers of extreme temperatures to their transit riders. Las Vegas has modified its transit service schedule as part of its “beat the heat” initiative, and others are rerouting buses to reduce wait times and passengers’ exposure to the heat. Making operational adjustments often cost less than building and maintaining new physical infrastructure. 

In heat-stricken Austin, Texas, in 2019, two University of Texas researchers <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/2/463" target="_blank">studied</a> transit ridership and concluded that tree planting at bus stops can prove more effective than bus shelters because trees mitigate climate change. In <a href="https://www.eenews.net/articles/deadly-heat-waves-lesson-this-is-the-future-we-all-face/" target="_blank">Portland</a>, misting systems at public parks and stadium shelters that remain open through the night have been improvised as a method of cooling off during this summer’s extreme heatwaves. Spokane, Wash., public libraries have extended their hours to accommodate people seeking refuge from the heat, and the city doesn’t collect transit fees for passengers using the libraries as cooling centers.

In general, city planners and transit officials can take several initiatives to reduce their transit passengers’ heat stress while waiting for and taking public transportation. One essential: public officials must develop extreme-weather emergency plans and identify and adopt adaptation actions.

More specifically, they can: cool pavements on transit routes and transit station roofs via higher solar reflectance to lower surface temperatures; shade main walking and cycling routes to public transportation; use low-energy ventilation systems on buses and metro trains; paint buses white and tint windows to shade off the sun; install thermometers inside buses and trains for riders to monitor temperatures; set up misting systems in waiting areas (while being conscious of water and energy demands); and install drinking fountains in public spaces.

As for riders, what can they do when taking public transportation during off-the-chart heatwaves? They can stay hydrated, use a handheld fan, choose light and airy clothes, travel when it’s cooler, avoid needless trips, and avoid sugar and salt that can aggravate thirst. When possible, they should avoid the sun and be prepared for delays. 

In other words: stay cool.

Image credit: <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/timelapse-photo-of-bus-stop-136739/" target="_blank">Scott Webb </a>via Pexels

Heatwaves Are Perils for Public Transit Users: What Transit Systems and Riders Can Do

In case you missed it, the sky has fallen as the restaurant chain, overnight RV parking scion and rest stop staple Cracker Barrel recently <a href="https://www.facebook.com/crackerbarrel/photos/a.207628002620308/5288633637853027/" target="_blank">decided</a> to serve the Impossible plant-based sausage patty as an option on its breakfast menu.

The result has been a gift that keeps on giving after the company posted the menu item on Facebook, as the faux outrage began (the following responses were copied verbatim):

<blockquote>
“I Use to Love your store Now No Way”

“I can’t believe Cracker Barrel has bought into this ‘fake meat’ junk!”

“Its not about being triggered. When a company like CB buys into the Woke Burgerking Crap, and even calls it "impossible", they have lost all touch with the individuals they are marketing to. I can assure you this will proof to be a bad misstep! There would be nothing wrong with a Vegetarian menu item, but the fact they choose this timing and type of language, is another matter.”

“Read the room and understand your base. It’s not that there are options, it’s that yet another woke company will bite the dust with this one.”

“I just want to know why all these companies feel that they have to follow the leader on all of this crap. Cracker Barrel is a great company and they got great Without Woke Meat. Get the message most people don't want this crap. You are only appealing to a small percentage of people. I still love Cracker Barrel but please stick to your roots.”
</blockquote>

The joy of this saga, of course, is in the responses, and something is going on with Meta’s algorithms as the more mocking comments — not necessarily the ones expressing “vegan, yay!” — have filtered their way toward the top of the comments section, including:

<blockquote>
“Imagine being angry that a restaurant is adding an item to their menu for non meat eaters.”

“Holy sheet. Lmao y'all act like the Cracker Barrel staff is gonna come out and cram impossible sausage down your throat. Honestly, for some of y'all, I'd buy a ticket to that event.”

“I go there to eat peanuts off the floor pretty soon they'll replace them with vegan peanuts what is the world coming too...”

“Such is the toxicity of our time: Menu options are now perceived political slights. What a world.”

“Imagine being triggered that people will have an alternative that’s not a mf salad. Cracker Barrel should add mushroom gravy to their menu too!”

“I often wonder if Mark Zuckerburg envisioned that his little project to rate girls on the internet would turn into a forum for thousands of old people to yell at Cracker Barrel for adding a menu item they didn't want. Absolutely wild.”

“Next time I'm at a Cracker Barrel, I'm ordering everyone in the restaurant one side of Impossible Sausage (no substitutions) then I'm going to sit back, enjoy my coffee, and watch the tantrums ensue.”
</blockquote>

The angst toward Cracker Barrel hasn’t abated quite yet, as a post earlier today about its <a href="https://www.facebook.com/crackerbarrel/photos/a.207628002620308/5300031910046533/" target="_blank">stuffed cheesecake pancakes</a> with a side of curbed delivery pickup provoked comments such as “I hope it’s not dairy free.”

The <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cracker-barrel-impossible-sausage-patty-backlash/" target="_blank">response</a> of Cracker Barrel so far to this spit-spat has been understated yet brilliant. When asked by CBS News about the kerfuffle, a company spokesman replied that it “appreciate[s] the love our fans have for our all-day breakfast menu,” and that the company has a goal “to satisfy every taste bud — whether people want to stick with traditional favorites like bacon and sausage or are hungry for a new, nutritious plant-based option like Impossible Sausage."

Granted, Impossible sausage shouldn’t be remotely as triggering as what has been going on with volatile issues such as <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2019/spotlight-unilever-employee-activism-confronts-pr-firms-us-immigration-policy/84561" target="_blank">immigration</a>, <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2022/businesses-transgender-rights-texas/739146" target="_blank">LGBTQ rights</a> and <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2022/dobbs-pregnant-people/750141" target="_blank">abortion</a>. Nevertheless, the episode involving Cracker Barrel this week shows some timely lessons — overall, it’s all right to take a stand on a social (real or perceived) issue. Those who are upset will most likely stick around; you might score some new customers; and even if politicians take up the mantle and try to gaslight the public by passing legislation that singles your company out, the odds are that the system of checks and balances here in the U.S. still prevails ... at least for now.

Image credit: Cracker Barrel via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/crackerbarrel/photos/a.207628002620308/5288633637853027/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>

The Social Media Fuss Over Cracker Barrel Shows Why Companies Need to Just Be Authentic and Carry On

Venture onto most companies’ websites, and you’ll see statements about their commitments to taking on climate change. The problem, however, is that the numbers don’t add up — specifically, the number of dollars these companies are diverting toward lobbying efforts to defeat any meaningful climate change legislation. Even more problematic is that many of America’s leading companies are doing this by proxy, as in funding the work of groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable.

Now, these lobbying organizations are focused on <a href="https://www.uschamber.com/taxes/u-s-chamber-warns-tax-increases-prescription-drugs-price-controls-will-discourage-investment-and-undermine-economic-growth-and-innovation" target="_blank">defeating</a> the latest iteration of the “<a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2022/activism-climate-bill-back/751336" target="_blank">Build Back Better</a>” bill, titled the <a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/inflation-reduction-act-of-2022" target="_blank">Inflation Reduction Act of 2022</a>. The bill, which includes investments for taking on climate climate change along with investments in healthcare, <a href="https://www.businessroundtable.org/tax2022" target="_blank">is facing opposition</a> from the U.S. Chamber and Business Roundtable, largely over a proposal to tax companies with more than $1 billion revenue at a rate of 15 percent.

The legislation had been largely tossed aside until Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia reached a deal with the U.S. Senate’s leadership. “Tax fairness is vital to our nation’s economic future. It is wrong that some of America’s largest companies pay nothing in taxes while freely enjoying the benefits of our nation’s military security, infrastructure and rule of law,” Manchin said in a <a href="https://www.manchin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/manchin-supports-inflation-reduction-act-of-2022" target="_blank">public statement</a> late last month. “It is commonsense that a domestic corporate minimum tax of 15 percent be applied only to billion-dollar companies or larger, ensuring that America’s largest businesses are no longer able to operate for free in our economy.”

Meanwhile, the money keeps flowing from groups who oppose the legislation. Accountable.US has estimated that lobbyists have funneled <a href="https://accountable.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022-06-08-Corporate-Opponents-to-Biden-Inflation-Plan-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">$9 million</a> in corporate money to legislators who are determined to block or defeat any version of Build Back Better. At the same time, Business Roundtable itself has spent more than <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/summary?cycle=2022&amp;id=D000032202" target="_blank">$9 million</a> this year on lobbying. Political action committees with ties to the U.S. Chamber have so far spend more than <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/us-chamber-of-commerce/summary?id=D000019798" target="_blank">$19 million</a> during 2022.

As independent journalist Judd Legum has pointed out, some companies that would benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act, such as GM, have <a href="https://popular.info/p/corporations-versus-the-climate?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank">very strong ties</a> to these business groups — GM’s CEO, in fact, is currently the Business Roundtable’s chairperson. Legum has also cited a survey that <a href="https://itep.org/report-illustrates-how-70-corporations-could-be-affected-by-minimum-tax-proposal-in-the-build-back-better-act/" target="_blank">concluded</a> at least 70 companies with more than $1 billion in revenues have paid less than a 15 percent federal corporate tax rate. 

At least one noteable CEO is calling out his peers for their funding of lobbying efforts designed to prevent companies from paying their fair share of taxes, while also urging them to support Build Back Better. In a recent LinkedIn post, Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/companies-stop-hiding-behind-us-chamber-commerce-business-gellert/?r=4nsxg&amp;trackingId=KszGdCYLQTu3X1pWP%2FNx2A%3D%3D&amp;utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank">urged the U.S. business community</a> to support the act, concluding with:

<blockquote>
“Many companies that belong to these organizations talk a big game on climate — just look at their websites. They should no longer remain silent while the Chamber and Business Roundtable do their dirty work. If you talk about how your company is going to protect the planet, you need to pay your fair share to help scale solutions for things like clean power, transportation and manufacturing. It’s time for the business community to unite in support of the Inflation Reduction Act.”
</blockquote>

Image credit: <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/capitol-dome-government-building-2377995/" target="_blank">Mikdev</a> va Pixabay

Companies Keep Outsourcing Their Opposition to Climate Change Legislation: One CEO Has Said, Enough Already

The headlines this summer have summed up what many of us have been feeling for the past several weeks: It’s hot as hell and we really don’t want to take it anymore. Even if many Americans still don’t want to acknowledge that climate change is real, many are noticing that something is up in the air, and it isn’t pretty.

The research and insights firm Civic Science has been <a href="https://civicscience.com/climate-change-effects-now-hitting-home-for-the-majority-of-americans/" target="_blank">keeping tabs</a> on Americans’ attitudes about climate change, and the numbers that its staff has been crunching are revealing. For one thing, as with any problem such as climate change, the deal is not what you’re asking, but how you’re asking it.

Take this question, for example: “How concerned are you right now about climate change and the environment?” Five years ago, there was a 56 to 44 split in who was concerned versus not (or hardly) concerned. That 12-point gap isn’t overwhelming, but that’s not a surprise considering what happened in the 2016 presidential election. But by 2020, those who were concerned about climate change outpolled those not concerned by more than a two-to-one margin. But this year, the gap has narrowed by eight points. That decrease shouldn’t be too shocking, as headlines about Ukraine and price hikes are front and center on the minds of much of the U.S. public.

But when asked if people have “noticed different weather” in the past year, those who’ve noticed a difference outpoll those who have noticed little or nothing by a 20-point gap. So, if they aren’t believing it, they’re feeling it — and interestingly enough, folks in the U.S. west by far, Midwest, and southern states (albeit slightly) are more concerned about climate change than Americans living in northeastern U.S. states.

Civic Science’s researchers have also witnessed an uptick in concern about climate change over the past few weeks — par for the course as cities from <a href="https://www.kxan.com/weather/weather-blog/record-austin-just-experienced-its-hottest-july/" target="_blank">Austin</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSBoston/status/1551320111037894658" target="_blank">Boston</a> have set record high temperatures this summer. 

Polling on climate change has been all over the place, though most surveys have <a href="https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-democrats-are-disillusioned-over-climate-change/" target="_blank">revealed</a> more of an age gap in attitudes toward climate change than a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/15/gop-climage-change-generation-gap-poll" target="_blank">political gap</a>. On that point, politicians seemed to have gotten the message, based on the behind-the-scenes urgency that led to <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2022/activism-climate-bill-back/751336" target="_blank">Capitol Hill’s progress</a> on the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, i.e., the latest version of the climate bill.

But it’s time for the business community to get on message, too. The reality is that we’ve been long past hearing about climate goals for 2030, and let’s face it: <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/net-zero-critics/724166" target="_blank">Net-zero promises</a> for 2040 or 2050 will only open the doors to more mockery and mistrust from the public. Bottom line, your stakeholders, especially younger citizens, want to know what your company is doing now. After all, younger citizens will be the ones who will experiences summers with more days of scorching temperatures as the world lurches toward mid-century without any meaningful climate action plan

Image credit: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/MVLhRT1H8Bs" target="_blank">Kelly Sikkema</a> via Unsplash

This Summer Made Americans Get It: Yes, Climate Change is a Thing

Unilever is hoping that its new breed of miniature coconut trees will lead to big improvements for farmers. 

Coconut trees provide many common ingredients in popular consumer products, most notably coconut sugar. However, coconut farming is risky. Coconut trees are tall, typically around 100 feet high, and to collect the nectar needed for coconut sugar production, farmers must climb to the top of the trees with buckets and knives in order to harvest nectar by hand. 

In order to improve farmer safety and secure future supply of coconut sugar, Unilever and the Indonesian Coconut Institute are releasing a new breed of coconut trees that only grow to approximately one-third of the height of a typical coconut tree, which should make nectar harvesting a significantly safer activity. This new coconut tree, called the <a href="https://www.unilever.com/news/news-search/2022/these-small-coconut-trees-are-going-to-be-big-news/" target="_blank">Genjah Kuning Bali</a>, also reaches maturity in four years rather than the typical seven. 

Developing and releasing this new tree breed is one of the actions Unilever says it has taken to improve the sustainability of the coconut industry since <a href="https://www.unilever.com/news/news-search/2020/we-are-helping-to-create-a-more-sustainable-coconut-industry/" target="_blank">signing</a> the <a href="https://www.sustainablecoconutcharter.com/" target="_blank">Sustainable Coconut Charter</a>, an initiative to improve incomes and livelihoods of smallholder farmers, enhance supply chain traceability, prevent deforestation and mitigate the climate crisis. 

<h2>Short coconut trees: a new approach to boost farmers’ livelihoods</h2>

Before the planting season begins, Unilever establishes a list of farmers interested in partnering with Unilever. Then, the company partners with local suppliers and nurseries to distribute coconut seedlings to farmers, free-of-charge. In turn, the farmers commit to applying more responsible agricultural practices to ensure the trees grow well. 

Climate change has created new burdens for coconut farmers, so Unilever has partnered with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/balitpalma.kementan" target="_blank">Balit Palma</a>, an institute focused on palm and coconut research in Indonesia, to offer educational services for farmers in good agricultural practices and climate change resilience. 

“Unilever also works closely with the farmer community to build a service delivery model, which should help farmers access finance, fertilizers and ensure offtake of their coconut sugar,” explained Clement Jaloux, Unilever’s Procurement Manager, Supplier Development South East Asia. “Taken together, farmers can increase their incomes by farming their plots without needing to clear forests. Keeping trees standing is an important way to slow the progress of climate change.”

<h2>Harnessing technology to improve sustainability</h2>

Developing new breeds of coconut trees is not the only high-tech agricultural solution Unilever is providing for farmers. The company has also developed a smartphone app to help identify agricultural issues, provide farmers with advice, and forecast coconut sugar output.  

The app also helps the company monitor deforestation and environmental degradation using satellite technology. “All farmers and their land involved in the mini coconut trees initiative are registered using digital technology. Once this process is underway, deforestation is monitored via digital platforms, where deforestation alerts are tracked on a monthly basis,” Jaloux explained. He added that the platforms “use geolocation technology to enhance the traceability and transparency of our supply chains.”

“It’s exciting progress; this is technology that just wasn’t available a few years ago,” Jaloux said.

<h2>Unilever’s future plans for coconut program growth</h2>

The first 100-hectare test plot of Genjah Kuning Bali trees was planted in 2017, and since then, Unilever says it has s<a href="https://www.unilever.com/news/news-search/2022/these-small-coconut-trees-are-going-to-be-big-news/" target="_blank">caled up production</a> at a rapid pace. As of June 2022, Unilever says it has planted the equivalent of 3,300 hectares with their miniature coconut trees in collaboration with 3,600 smallholder farmers. The number of hectares planted with Genjah Kuning Bali coconuts is expected to grow as farmers replace their older, less-productive trees with the new, smaller variety. Unilever’s timing is critical, as coconut trees in Indonesia are quickly <a href="https://rainforestjournalismfund.org/stories/coming-coconut-crisis" target="_blank">aging out of peak productivity</a>. By 2026, Unilever will aim to source half of its coconut sugar supply from this new variety of tree.

Image credit: Unilever

Why Unilever Is Betting Big on Shorter Coconut Trees

It comes as no surprise that CEOs who value their employees reap the benefits, including higher productivity, more trustworthy behavior and higher retention. Higher Ambition Leadership Alliance, a non-profit committed to harnessing the power of leadership to create stronger organizations, conducted a study of CEOs to determine how such executives fuel performance. In a time when many employees across the world are becoming more concerned with purpose, inclusivity, authenticity and communication, leaders who take human-centered approaches are making strides across industries.

As <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61f049af0e85110b66fa10b2/t/62d6a81c555f10711eadd037/1658234909107/Higher+Ambition+Leadership+Alliance+CEO+Study+July+2022.pdf" target="_blank">the study</a> explained, “Now more than ever the world is looking to business for meaningful and intentional leadership.” To that end, Higher Ambition Leadership says it is determined to help corporate leaders realize the full potential of their company’s people, purpose and performance.

The Alliance believes that this human-centered approach results in trusting relationships with stakeholders, supportive company cultures, outperformance of peers and a positive influence on the world. Shared themes of building trust, honoring people and embracing authenticity were seen among the participating CEOs. Rather than seeking quick results, cutting corners or succumbing to corporate inertia, successful executives believed in long-term benefits that come from adopting more sustainable practices.

The Alliance’s interviews included 50 CEOs who varied in gender, age, tenure and organization size. The research began during widespread COVID-19 shutdowns and continued through early 2022. As they worked to adapt to the business challenges brought on by the pandemic, leaders found success by narrowing their focus: care for people and maintain the business.

Although difficult and nuanced, having a clear purpose resulted in remarkable adaptability and resiliency, says the Higher Ambition Leadership Alliance. Researchers recognize the impacts of climate change, geopolitical shifts, AI, cyber security risks, and future pandemics on supply chain, labor and market volatility. According to the group’s researchers, today’s business challenges require more meaningful actions than, say, a public statement about an initiative or an environmental awareness campaign. On that point, the executives who were included in this study said they have implemented intentional, distinctive and human-centered actions that produce powerful performance and productivity. 

The study highlights three ways that “higher ambition” leaders, as the Alliance refers to them, motivate employees: 

<blockquote>
“Build high-trust relationships with stakeholders to power innovation and agility. Recognize that culture is the high stakes value driver…or destroyer… and invest accordingly. Show up authentic, open, and vulnerable to engage and inspire your team.” 
</blockquote>

From this research’s perspective, knowing the what is a great first step, but knowing the how provides much more insight. In an interview with the organization’s CEO, Jeannie Diefenderfer, she highlighted for TriplePundit some tangible ways leaders are able to put these practices into action.

Diefenderfer told 3p, “The CEOs we speak with aren’t afraid to show they are fallible… Many of them have also shared powerful personal stories with their teams from childhood or from early in their careers that affected them deeply and have shaped who they are as leaders.”

Further, having personal conversations with employees in both one-on-one and group settings allows CEOs to connect with, care for and better support employees. The study suggested the importance of openness and honesty, admitting when mistakes are made and following through on commitments. In addition, the study concludes that authenticity and reflection are ways of building a united team of employees.

Diefenderfer also discussed the power of purpose. When asked how leaders can get started on a human-centered approach to leadership, she replied, “Naming their own purpose and thinking about how it connects with the mission and purpose of their teams and organization is an important first step.”

One participating CEO from The CEO Study, Tom Polen, mentioned that quality is the purpose of his company. Polen said, “We hold ourselves and our teams accountable for ensuring quality is at the core of everything we do. If we aren’t asking questions and listening, we aren’t learning.”

This focus on product quality helps anchor team forums as they reflect on progress and challenges. He added, “As a result, we’re building a culture where our associates feel comfortable challenging the status quo and speaking up if they see a more efficient process, an innovative approach, or a potential problem that needs to be addressed.”

Intentional leadership requires regularly reflecting upon what matters, what is working and what can be improved. It takes making the effort to ask more questions, to connect with employees about topics besides work and to clarify purpose and values through deep reflection. Grounded in academic research and real-world experience, the Higher Ambition Leadership Alliance’s research could help organizations become more successful with meaningful and long-lasting impacts on business and beyond. 

Image credit: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/CpH2BusVAgI" target="_blank">Paul Hanaoka</a> via Unsplash

Memo to the Boss: a Human-Centered Work Culture with Purpose Pays Off

Russian media has painted a picture of a strong wartime economy, enabling the country to continue its war against Ukraine and ultimately prevail. The evidence, though, clearly indicates that the Russian economy is in free fall. The economic sanctions are working, and a new study based on exclusive research by the Yale School of Management describes how business leaders have played a key role in making them work. Even so, the same fascistic tendencies at work in Russia are present here at home, with no similarly coordinated response from U.S. businesses.

<h2>When boycotts work: brand reputation on the line</h2>

Consumer boycotts are notoriously fickle and difficult to sustain. <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2017/when-boycotts-work-famed-boycotter-bill-oreilly-loses-fox-platform/17961" target="_blank">Business-to-business boycotts</a>, though, have become powerful tools for progressive activists fighting against hate speech, misogyny and extremism from the radical right.

The grassroots campaign #GrabYourWallet is one leading example. Launched during former President Trump’s 2016 campaign, #GrabYourWallet organized members of the public to <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2018/ivanka-trump-and-consequence-brands-not-taking-stands/11536" target="_blank">contact and shame</a> retailers that were selling goods under the Trump and Ivanka brands. The effort was aimed at drawing attention to the candidate’s racist, xenophobic remarks in the runup to Election Day, and his to policies as U.S. president afterwards.

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Another boycott campaign that launched around the same time, Sleeping Giants, organized members of the public to s<a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2017/when-boycotts-work-breitbart-youtube-tailspin-over-hate-speech/18676" target="_blank">hame advertisers</a> on media that enable or disseminate <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2017/when-boycotts-work-breitbart-youtube-tailspin-over-hate-speech/18676" target="_blank">hate speech and right-wing extremism</a>.

The boycott movement has also expanded to include withdrawing platform support. For example, some tech companies halted business with the extremist social media site Gab in 2018, after it was linked to a <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2018/next-level-corporate-social-responsibility-and-end-gab/10476" target="_blank">hate-fueled massacre</a> at a synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Another example is OAN, a <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/far-right-channel-one-america-news-officially-dropped-by-verizon-fios" target="_blank">far-right media organization</a> reportedly favored by Trump. OAN has been dropped by both of its major television carriers, DirectTV and Verizon. It is also facing a lawsuit by the company Dominion Voting Systems over unfounded claims of voter fraud during the 2020 election.

<h2>Brand reputation and the business case against Russia</h2>

The experience of progressive business-to-business boycotts in the U.S. helped prime the pump for the corporate response after Russia launched its unprovoked attack on Ukraine in February.

In fact, <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2022/russia-corporate-leadership/738631" target="_blank">the organizing forces</a> behind the Russia boycott are similar to the models used by #GrabYourWallet and Sleeping Giants. They coordinate and amplify the voice of progressive sentiment in order to encourage corporate activism.

Shortly after Russia’s attack on Ukraine, for example, the organizations <a href="https://www.thegoodlobby.eu/" target="_blank">Good Lobby</a> and <a href="http://www.progressiveshopper.com/" target="_blank">Progressive Shopper</a> created an online index for consumers to track the corporate response to the invasion.

Here in the U.S, the Yale School of Management set up a similar system. <a href="https://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/some-of-the-biggest-brands-are-leaving-russia-others-just-cant-quit-putin" target="_blank">Within six weeks</a> of the invasion, their online list included hundreds of U.S. companies that had voluntarily withdrawn or curtailed operations in Russia, as well as those failing to take action.

As with the other online boycotts organizers, Yale set up its index with a very specific goal.

“We realize that some companies already do business with many other repressive and murderous regimes around the world. But now there’s a chance to draw a line with one country, over one unprovoked war of aggression, and make a difference,” they explain.

<h2>When boycotts work: the Yale difference</h2>

In contrast to other Russia boycott indexes, the Yale project leverages a considerable range of unique resources. A team of 24 researchers combs through “private Russian language and unconventional data sources including high frequency consumer data, cross-channel checks, releases from Russia’s international trade partners, and data mining of complex shipping data.”

Another point of contrast is name recognition. The Yale School of Management came into the corporate tracking field with a widely recognized legacy brand name of its own, and a worldwide reputation for academic excellence and policy influence.

The Yale project is led by Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, the Lester Crown professor in management practice and a senior associate dean at the Yale School of Management, and Steven Tian, the director of research at the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute. They credit the school’s reputation with raising the profile of their index from the beginning.

“When the list was first published the week of February 28, only several dozen companies had announced their departure from Russia,” they point out. “In the two months since, this list of companies staying/leaving Russia has already garnered significant attention for its role in helping catalyze the mass corporate exodus from Russia, with widespread media coverage and circulation across company boardrooms, policymaker circles, and other communities of concerned citizens across the world.” 

<h2>This boycott really is working</h2>

Sonnenfeld and Tian recapped the <a href="https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/07/22/russia-economy-sanctions-myths-ruble-business/?tpcc=recirc_latest062921" target="_blank">Yale boycott tracking project</a> in an article published in Foreign Policy magazine last week. 

“Far from being ineffective or disappointing, as many have argued, international sanctions and voluntary business retreats have exerted a devastating effect over Russia’s economy,” they wrote.

They also published an analysis of their findings in the online library SSRN, <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4167193" target="_blank">titled</a> “Business Retreats and Sanctions Are Crippling the Russian Economy.”

According to their analysis, the 1,000-plus companies exiting Russia represent a combined investment of more than $600 billion, or approximately 40 percent of Russian GDP.

This astonishing feat of solidarity “almost single-handedly” reversed 30 years of progress on attracting foreign investment and integrating the Russian economy with the rest of the rest of the world, they write.

As a consequence, the authors assert, domestic production has virtually halted, and the nation is incapable of replacing the loss of business, or the loss of employee and executive talent. That includes foreign employees in Russia who were expelled along with an estimated 500,000 Russian citizens who fled their own country after the invasion, taking their skills, experience and assets along with them.

“Looking ahead, there is no path out of economic oblivion for Russia as long as the allied countries remain unified in maintaining and increasing sanctions pressure against Russia,” the Yale team asserts. “Defeatist headlines arguing that Russia’s economy has bounced back are simply not factual — the facts are that, by any metric and on any level, the Russian economy is reeling, and now is not the time to step on the brakes.”

<h2>ESG lessons for the U.S. as fascism spreads</h2>

The success of the Russia boycott is a clear demonstration of the power of U.S. and global businesses to push back against fascism. It also demonstrates that fighting fascism can have bottom-line benefits.

“We found that foreign investors by far and large rewarded companies for removing the risk overhang associated with exposure to Russia,” the Yale team explains.

In that regard, the Russia boycott reflects the strength of the ESG (environment, social and governance) sustainable investing movement.

<a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2022/greenwashing-EVs-colors/741026" target="_blank">ESG reporting</a> is still in the early stages of standardization, which leave some room for uncertainty. However, the field is also <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2022/esg-reporting-disney/745516" target="_blank">maturing and expanding</a> to encompass corporate behavior on a holistic level.

In one especially interesting example, S&amp;P booted Tesla from its S&amp;P 500 ESG Index last May. 

“While Tesla may be playing its part in taking fuel-powered cars off the road, it has fallen behind its peers when examined through a wider ESG lens,” <a href="https://www.indexologyblog.com/2022/05/17/the-rebalancing-act-of-the-sp-500-esg-index/" target="_blank">explains Margaret Dorn</a>, S&amp;P’s Head of ESG Indices North America.

Businesses that take brand reputation and ESG reporting to heart were highly motivated to withdraw from Russia, and they made the right decision. Now they need to reassess their role in supporting the fascist movement in America.

It's no accident that the pattern of policy making on the Republican side of the aisle, including the 6-3 Republican majority in the Supreme Court, echoes the regime of Russian President Putin. Homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, censorship, banning books, rewriting history, disrupting the electoral system and fostering violence to achieve permanent power are all part of the plan, here in the U.S. as in Russia.

If any more line-drawing from the business community is forthcoming, right here at home is a good place to start. 

Image credit: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/PWa6lW6toG4" target="_blank">Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona</a> via Unsplash

The Russia Sanctions Are Working — Now U.S. Companies Have Work to Do at Home

The full impact of the strict abortion ban movement is rapidly coming into view, and it’s far from the life-honoring picture painted by its “pro-life” advocates. Over and above the human rights implications of a forced-birth regime, states with strict abortion bans have amplified the long-simmering issue of unequal medical treatment based on gender. The bans have set off a time bomb in the human resources departments of corporations all across the U.S., and it is ready to explode.

<h2>Abortion bans create a second class of citizens</h2>

So-called “pro-life” activists deny that outright cruelty is the underlying principle of strict abortion bans, but the truth is undeniable. In the context of 21st-century medicine, strict abortion bans are the definition of cruelty.

Socioeconomic factors often undercut the ideal of equal access to medical treatment in the U.S. However, for millions of Americans all the sophisticated resources of modern medicine are readily available, on demand, for all sorts of conditions. 

As a matter of course, that on-demand access to medical care should include terminating an unwanted or dangerous pregnancy. Pregnancy is a medical condition that carries with it a certain measure of risk, whether or not the pregnancy is desired. In the U.S., <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/maternal-mortality/2020/maternal-mortality-rates-2020.htm" target="_blank">hundreds of maternal and post-partum deaths</a> occur every year.

In addition, many pregnancies result in miscarriage, whether or not the pregnancy is desired. Withholding or delaying treatment for an ectopic pregnancy, an unviable fetus or a medically complicated miscarriage can result in risks to the health and safety of the patient, up to and including death.

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Forcing unwanted pregnancies also further traumatizes <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/sexualviolence/understanding-RRP-inUS.html" target="_blank">victims of sexual violence</a>, including victims of domestic violence, and forced birth puts thousands of others at <a href="https://www.acog.org/clinical-information/policy-and-position-statements/statements-of-policy/2019/gun-violence-and-safety" target="_blank">risk of gun violence</a>.

Nevertheless, strict abortion bans are spreading from state to state on the <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2022/dobbs-pregnant-people/750141" target="_blank">heels of the Dobbs decision</a>. These bans set up a second, inferior class of citizenship for pregnant people, denying them the modern medical resources that could safely terminate a dangerous or unplanned, unwanted pregnancy. 

In addition, the bans are straining resources in other states as pregnant people travel in search of treatment, leading to triage and delays in care. 

“Pro-life” is weak tea in a nation where appropriate medical attention is so readily available on demand for other conditions, but not pregnancy.

<h2>Second-class citizenship for all women, pregnant or not</h2>

As much as “pro-life” advocates try to deny that their extremist position intentionally harms women, children, and anyone else capable of carrying a pregnancy, the effects of strict abortion bans have already rippled out far beyond the field of pregnant people, to have an impact on anyone who even looks like they could be pregnant, now or at some future date.

These effects, too, need to be viewed in the context of modern medical practice.

Specifically, strict abortion bans have an impact on drugs that have been approved to induce abortions in the earlier weeks of pregnancy. These same drugs are also used to treat other medical conditions.

As a result, in states with strict abortion ban every female — and anyone who identifies as female — who needs those drugs for other medical conditions must prove, somehow, that the drugs will not be used for an abortion.

In contrast, no male-identified person must face this kind of sex-based interrogation, or deal with the possibility that care will be denied.

Last month, Medical News Today reported that <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-overturning-roe-v-wade-is-affecting-access-to-autoimmune-medications" target="_blank">some states have banned</a> abortion-inducing medicines including methotrexate, mifepristone and misoprostol.

Those bans can have a huge impact on pregnant people needing prompt treatment for a complicated miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. “Pro-life” advocates claim that abortion bans permit such usage, but that is no comfort to health care workers who fear getting caught up in the justice system simply for prescribing a medication.

“… the fear of penalties, including being charged with a felony, has resulted in some pharmacists refusing to dispense these medications for ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages,” writes Medical News Today.

That fear extends to other conditions, too. Medical News Today cites a list of methotrexate-treatable autoimmune conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and lupus.

“Methotrexate is also used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and a variety of cancers, including breast cancer, lymphoma, leukemia, and lung cancer,” they add.

Since methotrexate can cause birth defects, female patients are advised to double down on their birth control when using the drug for other conditions. However, birth control can fail, and access to birth control is also under threat. Physicians prescribing methotrexate could face liability if an unintended pregnancy occurs during treatment for another condition.

“According to some reports from individuals with autoimmune disorders on social media, rheumatologists have stopped renewing prescriptions for methotrexate,” Medical News Today observes. “Reports from arthritis patients in states with anti-abortion laws have also reported pharmacists refusing to fill prescriptions.”

<h2>The cruelty is the point</h2>

To raise the cruelty level to the boiling point, some of these non-pregnancy medical conditions disproportionately have effects on females, including breast cancer and arthritis. In addition, some of these conditions, including lupus and inflammatory bowel disease, can flare during pregnancy and threaten the life of the mother.

“My fear is that in this new age of widespread abortion restriction, people who have a uterus and are within reproductive age will suffer from undertreated diseases,” explains Dr. Birru Talabi, a rheumatology professor at the University of Pittsburgh, as cited by Medical News Today.

Another source emphasized that “these abortion laws will further widen the already existent inequity in healthcare as women with autoimmune conditions will be disproportionately impacted compared to men.”

Other state laws that can have an impact on pregnant people can further complicate access to medicines. In Missouri, for example, a pregnant person <a href="https://www.riverfronttimes.com/news/pregnant-women-cant-get-divorced-in-missouri-38092512" target="_blank">cannot finalize a divorce</a> during the pregnancy, potentially enabling the estranged partner or other self-appointed community police to interfere with medical decisions during the pregnancy.

The impact of prescription denial also goes beyond the privacy of the doctor’s office, and extends into the local pharmacy. Last week, NBC News4 of Washington, D.C. and the Associated Press reported that CVS Health is requiring pharmacies to verify that their prescriptions will <a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/health/supreme-court-abortion-ruling-complicates-methotrexate-access-for-cancer-arthritis/3107575/" target="_blank">not be used to end a pregnancy</a>.

That may sound mild enough, but it can easily become an aggressive interrogation and result in prescription denial.

The reporters cited Anna Hyde, the head of advocacy and access for the Arthritis Foundation, who explained that “some of the stories we’ve gotten in are of women who are over the age of 50 — they are past their reproductive years — and they’re still being asked really invasive questions and having roadblocks thrown up.”

So far, the CVS verification requirement covers Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma and Texas. It is all but certain to spread as other states enact strict abortion bans.

As for the impacts on corporate human resources departments, those committed to gender equity in health care — including their own benefits packages — will have to do more than send pregnant employees <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/salesforce-texas-abortion-law/728386" target="_blank">flying off to other states</a> for abortion care. Many other people, especially, women, are already suffering the consequences of strict abortion bans, and there are many more to come.

Image credit: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/b_e1YM7Z99A" target="_blank">Manny Becerra </a>via Unsplash

Corporate HR Needs to Prepare As More Abortion Bans are Coming

Protecting intellectual property on the web can be a dicey proposition. In the vast and bountiful wilderness that has become the internet, individuals can misappropriate or blatantly steal what someone else has created and profit from the material without the creator ever knowing. 

The damage to the economy is well-recorded for the creative industries. A <a href="https://www.theglobalipcenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Digital-Video-Piracy.pdf" target="_blank">2019 report</a> from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that digital piracy of videos displaces between $30 billion and $70 billion in annual revenue. The Chamber of Commerce also connects the practice to a loss of 230,000 to 560,000 jobs each year. 

<h2>‘Copyright exists from the moment the work is created’</h2>

Marc Sazer, a violinist, explains the human consequences of IP theft. “When our work is stolen, we’ve been robbed of our living,” he told the <a href="https://www.dpeaflcio.org/factsheets/intellectual-property-theft-a-threat-to-working-people-and-the-economy" target="_blank">Department for Professional Employees</a> (DPE) — a coalition of 24 national unions touching various sectors. “We are artists, but we are also working people who depend on the intellectual property that we create to pay for our homes, families, health care, and more.” 

Perhaps, the law is at fault. The governing law for intellectual property on the internet is the <a href="https://www.copyright.gov/legislation/dmca.pdf" target="_blank">Digital Millennium Copyright Act</a>, which popped onto the scene 24 years ago. Some, including the DPE, call it “outdated.” Others, such as the <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/02/reevaluating-dmca-22-years-later-lets-think-users" target="_blank">Electronic Frontier Foundation</a> (EFF), a nonprofit that defends civil liberties like privacy and free speech on the internet, note the creative freedom the law’s processes have afforded the web. 

Law reform may (or may not) be part of the solution. Thankfully, dancing around legal hypotheticals isn’t necessary to find progress in protection. After all, the U.S. Copyright Office <a href="https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html" target="_blank">teaches</a>, “Copyright exists from the moment the work is created.” 

<h2>Getting back to the basics: Citing and paying creators</h2>

Qualitative researcher <a href="https://drcareyyazeed.com/" target="_blank">Dr. Carey Yazeed</a> jokes that her pronouns are, “Cite me; pay me.” That’s how preciously she now holds those actions. She learned recently that those simple steps are not always guaranteed when you put your intellectual property into the world.

Just last year, Dr. Yazeed posted a <a href="https://drcareyyazeed.com/the-dangers-of-courage-culture-and-why-brene-brown-isnt-for-black-folk/" target="_blank">thought piece</a> that went viral — more than once. Within just one month, it got 30,000 hits. She said, at first, she was just trying to keep up with moderating all the comments on social media, positive and negative responses alike. Then, she started to hear that others were being asked to speak on the topic of her article, even conducting workshops and trainings, without having relevant expertise.

In a <a href="https://drcareyyazeed.com/how-a-critical-analysis-of-brene-brown-benefited-everyone-except-the-expert/" target="_blank">post</a> about the experience, Dr. Yazeed shared, “…I learned from several individuals who shared my article with their audiences on social media that they were invited to be guests on several podcasts, offered paid speaking engagements and served on panel discussions.” One man asked if Dr. Yazeed herself had received requests to elaborate on her ideas. The answer? Barely. 

More than one individual has simply pasted pieces of her work directly to social media — without quotation or attribution. Dr. Yazeed also learned second-hand about a training program that was created for mental health clinicians at a university. “And it was based on my article,” she said. No one had reached out to her for permission or even a conversation. And when Dr. Yazeed contacted the creator of the program, she received no response. 

One man reposted her article and was starting to get requests to speak on the topic. He kindly redirected the requests to Dr. Yazeed. Surprisingly, many insisted that he speak instead. He didn’t, but clearly not everyone has taken that ethical stand.

<h2>Yes, race and gender are relevant to the issue of intellectual property theft</h2>

Dr. Yazeed notes that the individuals she’s seen benefiting from her work have been Black men and white women, a fact that may not seem relevant to some. Dr. Yazeed said she recognizes that society doesn’t see IP theft as a specific problem for Black women. But, she added, “I can say that, since I have spoken out, I have seen other Black women come forward and share how their intellectual property has been stolen.”

A quick Google search brings up other instances of blatant theft. Of course, there’s the recent “<a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2022/marketing-juneteenth-dei/747781" target="_blank">Juneteenth ice cream</a>” debacle, in which critics <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2022/juneteenth-authenticity/748446" target="_blank">accused Walmart of stealing a flavor</a> from <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/walmart-pulls-juneteenth-ice-cream-black-owned-creamalicious-touted-1709413" target="_blank">Creamalicious</a>, a company <a href="https://www.socreamalicious.com/our_story" target="_blank">founded and led</a> by a Black woman. Then, there are <a href="https://theblackwallsttimes.com/2022/04/18/a-karen-tried-to-steal-trap-feminism-from-black-women-in-new-book/" target="_blank">entire books</a> that writers have based off the original research and ideas of Black women. If that’s not enough to convince you there’s a pattern here, consider this <a href="https://www.citeblackwomencollective.org/" target="_blank">collective</a> that centers around citing Black women. 

Some have told Dr. Yazeed that the issue she’s really facing is copyright. Maybe she shouldn’t have posted her ideas in a blog format to begin with. Dr. Yazeed is pursuing copyright for her article, but she said there isn’t any easy way to protect a blog post, and you don’t really expect blogs to take off. Questions like these make her wonder, “Should I just not say anything at all?”

<h2>A #MeToo movement for Black female IP owners </h2>

Two of Dr. Yazeed’s recent speaking engagements failed to actually give her a voice. One was a virtual panel discussion in which Dr. Yazeed wasn’t given time to elaborate on her ideas. Additionally, just before the event, she was asked to exclude an element that constituted the crux of her argument. She’s not entirely sure why she was invited to speak in the first place, but all signs point to the group using her name and image to muster public interest. 

Another more recent event was cancelled, even though people in the company had been showing excitement and interest in hearing what she had to say. Dr. Yazeed was told the reason for the abrupt cancellation…apparently, she is known for being a “problematic Black woman.” 

For Dr. Yazeed, being called problematic isn’t her biggest concern. “Other people learn from what has happened with me…to speak up when you see that it’s being done,” she said, speaking to the issue of stolen intellectual property. “My thing is this — people are going to call us problematic anyway.” 

“I think the first issue is that, as Black women, we are often told not to speak publicly about our problems,” Dr. Yazeed said. “That you keep those things either to yourself or they're shared with your inner circle, but you don't make it public. And so, I think the problem becomes that a lot of us think that this is only happening to me, and it's not happening to anyone else.” 

She said it is easy to start believing that there’s nothing you can do when your intellectual property is stolen. After all, the individual or company that took from you could simply have more money or power than you do. Plus, no one is going to believe you. Nevertheless, having the courage to share when your IP has been stolen, Dr. Yazeed emphasized, has radiating benefits that encourage others. These could be the beginnings of another <a href="https://metoomvmt.org/get-to-know-us/tarana-burke-founder/" target="_blank">#MeToo</a> movement of sorts, building awareness around an issue that remains easily hidden from public view.

In the kindest of terms, Dr. Yazeed calls stealing intellectual property borrowing a cup of sugar with no intention of returning it. “The way you return it is — just cite the person. Give them credit so people can go and check out other stuff that they've done, even if you can’t pay us.” It’s a modest ask, and almost incredible that Dr. Yazeed even has to remind people, but sharing the significance these simple actions carry may just help transform the way Black women’s intellectual property is treated at large.

Image credit: <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/2-men-sitting-on-gray-sofa-1181505/" target="_blank">Christina Morillo</a> via Unsplash

‘Cite Me; Pay Me’: Protecting Black Women’s Intellectual Property in a Digital Age

The civil rights movement lost two icons this week, Nichelle Nichols and Bill Russell. Nichols’ role as Uhura on the original 1960s iteration of Star Trek helped open doors for Black women in the entertainment industry. Later, she became an ambassador for NASA encouraging women of color to pursue their career dreams in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).

Russell, of course, was a transformative figure in sports, as he changed basketball from what had been a rigid, tactical game played by shorter and faster players to what is now a breathtakingly fast-paced 48 minutes during which some of the globe's tallest, most talented athletes play. More importantly, he helped integrate what for years had been a sport for white guys.

Nichols and Russell leave behind some big shoes to fill. Yet change-makers out there continue to break barriers, paving the way for young people of color to dismiss stereotypes and pursue their dreams. One of them is Rhonda Harper, the founder of <a href="https://blackgirlssurf.org/" target="_blank">Black Girls Surf</a>.

<h2>Rhonda Harper is opening more doors for Black girls and women</h2>

Harper, a Coast Guard veteran who has also <a href="https://whalebonemag.com/rhonda-harper-changing-line-up/" target="_blank">worn many hats</a> including as a journalist and carpenter, founded Black Girls Surf almost a decade ago after experiencing firsthand the lack of diversity in professional surfing. Her love for surfing started to take shape soon after her family moved from Kansas to northern California. There, she could pursue her love for the water — in Kansas, she could only dream of such experiences from reading magazines.

Competitive swimming wasn’t an option for Harper, however, due to a racist swim coach at her high school. But surfing intrigued her for being an individual rather than a team sport, and a passion was born.

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As she told <a href="https://www.si.com/more-sports/2022/08/02/rhonda-harper-black-girls-surf-100-influential" target="_blank">Sports Illustrated</a> this week, she had to forge her way in a very white sport focused on very “white” concerns. When George Floyd was murdered two summers ago, Harper responded with organizing a global “<a href="https://www.kusi.com/surf-in-solidarity-black-girls-surf-help-organize-worldwide-paddle-outs/" target="_blank">paddle-out</a>” to protest how Black people have continued to be treated in the U.S and abroad. Many of the participants were Black surfers who had felt threatened at beaches for participating in the sport they love. 

“The surfing industry was so locked into environmental justice that they didn’t realize it goes hand in hand with social justice," Harper told Sports Illustrated contributor <a href="https://www.si.com/author/bryna-jean-marie" target="_blank">Bryna Jean-Marie</a>. "We know that because there’s landfills in Black and brown communities. This is not just about the ocean. It’s about the environment and its totality. I was watching my white counterparts talk about whales being killed. And on the other side, all my Black friends were crying because Black people are being killed.”

<h2>A career of many firsts, going beyond surfing</h2>

Harper’s commitment to diversifying the world of surfing has led her to many firsts. She’s the first Black judge certified for professional surfing events; she founded an <a href="https://www.hurley.com/pages/hurley-x-black-girls-surf-swim-collection" target="_blank">apparel line</a> focused on Black women surfers; she has filmed, funded and mentored female <a href="https://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/activist-spotlight-rhonda-harper-black-girls-surf" target="_blank">Senegalese surfers</a>, including Khadjou Sambe, who is now training for the Olympics; and of course, there's her ongoing work at Black Girls Surf.

Black Girls Surf’s programs include surf camps for Black women and girls, semi-private surf lessons, and even <a href="https://blackgirlssurf.org/programs/nappy-roots/" target="_blank">surf therapy</a>.

It’s a tall order to carry on the work of the likes of Nichols and Harper, but if anyone can charge ahead in breaking down barriers, Harper is on the short list.

<h2>Black Americans still feel excluded from public spaces</h2>

She certainly stands her ground, as she has no choice: Like many Black people in America, she’s been made to feel <a href="https://www.pps.org/article/public-space-park-space-and-racialized-space" target="_blank">unwelcome in public spaces</a>. In a profile done in 2020 by the <a href="https://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/activist-spotlight-rhonda-harper-black-girls-surf" target="_blank">Surfrider Foundation</a>, she recalled an experience she had in Santa Cruz, California, a town so progressive that liberals are seen as right-wingers: “I’m standing in the middle of the street at Pleasure Point yelling at this grown grandpa about the beach which is free and a public entity. Why am I arguing with you about territory on the beach when it’s public property? That’s where we are where grown men have decided to intimidate people who look different than them for no reason at all.”

Watch surfing to become more diverse worldwide thanks to Harper’s work. Black Girls Surf first started with two girls. When the organization expanded to South Africa, it had to <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/rhonda-harper-black-girls-surf-profile" target="_blank">halt applications</a> because the number of girls and women interested in the sport was overwhelming. That enthusiasm keeps paying off. Now, Harper is j<a href="https://www.bustle.com/wellness/chelsea-woody-surfing-inclusivity-textured-waves" target="_blank">oined by other Black women</a> who want it known that the oceans and beaches belong to everyone. 

Image credit: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/28Mhs01R8r8" target="_blank">Roman Raizen</a> via Unsplash

She's Changing the Face of Surfing and Making the Sport More Inclusive

Approximately 32 million Americans live within three miles of a peaker power plant, which puts them at an elevated risk for various health problems — from asthma to heart disease — as well as <a href="https://www.cleanegroup.org/ceg-resources/resource/peaker-problem" target="_blank">increased rates of death.</a> A recent <a href="https://www.cleanegroup.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Peaker-Problem.pdf" target="_blank">study from Clean Energy Group</a> found that emissions from peaker power plants were significantly higher when they are located near low-income neighborhoods where 65 percent or more of the residents are people of color. While <a href="https://www.ehn.org/environmental-justice-2646185608/the-father-of-environmental-justice" target="_blank">environmental injustice</a> is <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2019/here-comes-sun-oakland-turns-solar-meet-peak-energy-demand/84346" target="_blank">nothing new</a> to vulnerable communities, reports like this one give ammo to activists in the fight for equity and provide an impetus to move towards clean, sustainable energy.

Peaker power plants are supplemental energy-producing systems that can be turned on and off quickly to help meet demands for electricity when usage peaks, such as during a snowstorm or heatwave. But this convenience comes with a price — they produce more pollution than the baseload plants that supply day-to-day energy needs, and those extra pollutants end up in surrounding communities.

According to the report, the authors of which studied peaker plants in Boston, Philadelphia and Detroit, two-thirds of these power plants are located in low-income neighborhoods (defined as 29 percent or more of households at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line). However, pollution rates vary greatly due to how old the systems are and what sort of maintenance or upgrades are done. Who owns the plants can affect how efficient, and therefore how polluting, they are: The owners of such power plants are generally municipalities, “merchants” (private investors without shareholders, thereby assuming all risks) or investor-owned utilities (which are accountable to shareholders).

Where the percentage of residents is less than 65 percent people of color, these plants average 14.6 to 16.4 lbs. of nitrogen oxide per kilowatt hour produced. But where that percentage is 65 percent or higher, the plants average 23.8 lbs. per kilowatt hour. It isn’t just nitrogen oxide that is being pumped into these communities either — sulfur dioxide along with fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) are also emitted. The health repercussions for those living in communities polluted by these compounds include lower fertility rates — including miscarriages — as well as higher percentages of residents suffering from heart disease, chronic kidney disease, asthma and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers <a href="https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/files/covid-pm/files/pm_and_covid_mortality.pdf" target="_blank">found a 15 percent increase in deaths</a> from the virus with previous long-term exposure to elevated levels of PM 2.5 — so it is fair to assume that at least some of the disproportionate mortality experienced by people of color is due to the <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/cities/articles/2020-05-27/its-time-to-shut-down-polluting-urban-power-plants" target="_blank">discriminatory nature</a> behind what is driving the placement of peaker power plants in the first place.

Fine particulate matter has also been <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31999950/" target="_blank">linked to cardiac arrest</a>, even with short exposures at low levels. Considering the data concluding that Blacks across the U.S. have a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8341333/" target="_blank">much higher rate </a>of cardiac arrest than whites regardless of age, the location of peaker power plants can be considered as among the contributing factors to higher rates of heart disease and lower life expectancy.

Ultimately, environmental justice is a matter of equity in health and quality of life. The use of peaker power plants as a stop-gap measure for periods of high energy consumption creates injustice by increasing rates of preventable disease in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. The information in the Clean Energy Group’s report is useful to community members and activists who are <a href="https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/regional/2022/05/26/peabody-power-plant-protest-climate-change-natural-gas-fossil-fuels/9895156002/" target="_blank">seeking to stop</a> new peaker plants from being built and maybe even decommission old ones. 

Doing away with peaker plants also presents the opportunity to explore alternatives that could benefit communities instead of hurting them. Switching to sustainable energy sources for supplemental production could jumpstart a move towards more sustainable baseload production as well. After all, <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/07/renewables-cheapest-energy-source/" target="_blank">renewables are cheaper</a> in the long run after the initial investment is out of the way. 

Image credit: Thijs Stoop via Unsplash

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