Tag Archives: Public Health and Safety

Scholars’ Circle – Kazakhstan Protests and Government Violence ; Omicron Variant Rages and Global Vaccine Distribution Issues – January 9, 2022

Kazakhstan has erupted in protests and government violence this week. We explore the potential that these protests leads to greater democratization in this authoritarian government, and detail its recent human rights abuses.[ dur: 34mins. ]

  • Erica Marat is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Regional and Analytical Studies Department at the College of International Security Affairs, National Defense University. She is the author of The Politics of Police Reform: Society against the State in Post-Soviet Countries.
  • Robert English is Associate Professor of International Relations and Co-Director of Central European Studies Program at the University of Southern California (USC). He is the author of Russia and the Idea of the West.
  • Steve Swerdlow is Associate Professor of the Practice of Human Rights in the Department of Political and International Relations at the University of Southern California (USC). He was Senior Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. He has conducted extensive field work internationally with a particular focus on Central Asia and the Caucuses.

Vaccine hesitancy slows the effective response to Covid 19 in the Global North. Lack of vaccine distribution slows the response in the Global South. And the new omicron variant rages on. We may be fatigued of the virus, but it’s not over. We discuss vaccine inequity and distribution. [ dur: 24mins. ]

This program is produced by Ankine Aghassian, Doug Becker, Melissa Chiprin and Sudd Dongre.

Scholars’ Circle – Managing Pandemic in Brazil and Mexico; Kenyan Entrepreneur adapting to aid during pandemic – April 4, 2021

The effects of the Covid Pandemic are particularly devastating across the Global South.  Two of the largest nations in Latin America, Mexico and Brazil, have some similarities but key differences in their responses to the pandemic.  We explore these two nations. Hosted by Doug Becker. [ dur: 39mins. ]

We explore the pandemic in Kenya and a company in Nairobi that has developed a creative model to aid vulnerable populations. [ dur: 19mins. ]

This program is produced by Ankine Aghassian, Doug Becker, Melissa Chiprin and Sudd Dongre.

Scholars’ Circle – Prisoners Human Rights in times of COVID-19 pandemic and Insights into race to develop autonomous vehicles- January 17, 2021

Covid-19 has worsened prison conditions worldwide. This week we explore the human rights implications of the pandemic on prisons. [ dur: 32mins. ]

China is winning the race for autonomous cars, despite inherent advantages for the United States. We explore this race and why China is winning. [ dur: 26mins. ]

This program is produced with generous contribution from Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin and Sudd Dongre.

Scholars’ Circle – US and international response to Covid-19 vaccine & Decolonizing the language of arms control – December 13, 2020

Promise in a new Covid-19 vaccine is tempered by the huge spike in cases in the United States. What lessons will nations learn from the virus response and when can we expect to control the pandemic? [ dur: 27mins. ]

Arms control discourses are centered around western notions of modernity and civilization. What does it mean to decolonize the language around arms control? [ dur: 30mins. ]

This program is produced by the following team members: Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.

Scholars’ Circle – Impact of Women who lead nations in times of Covid-19 pandemic – November 29, 2020

The popular media narrative is that countries led by women are performing better with Covid. But is this really true? And if so, what are the reasons? Is it the nature of leadership or is it the values of society that determine the successes or failures of governments confronting Covid? Hosted by Doug Becker. [ dur: 58mins. ]

This program is produced by the following team members: Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.

Scholars’ Circle – Psychological First Aid in Times of Crisis -/- Cost of misinformation during COVID-19 pandemic – Aug 23, 2020

What is the role of psychological first aid in times of crisis? Lillian Ng explores ways to support psychological well being. [ dur: 24 mins. ]

Misinformation is rampant about the novel Coronavirus, COVID 19, in some cases, it has caused death, blindness, other emergency health issues, and widespread stigma and social ostracization. Our next guests studied the rumors, conspiracies, and falsehoods spreading through social media. What are the costs of this mistruths? [dur: 34 mins. ]

This program is produced by the following team members: Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.

Scholars’ Circle – Pandemic in times of Military occupation in Kashmir -/- Just War in the age of Military privatization – Aug 2, 2020

First, the difficulties of life under military occupation and a pandemic for the people of Kashmir. [ dur: 18 mins. ]

Next, we revisit how privatization of militaries is compromising international conduct, and affecting international law and ethics in honour of Amy Eckert, who passed away this past week. She is the author of Outsourcing War: Just War tradition in the age of military privatization. [ dur: 39 mins. ]

This program is produced by the following team members: Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.

Scholars’ Circle – United nations Climate Treaty affected by COVID-19 pandemic -/- Moral Distress in time of COVID-19 – May 24, 2020

The global Covid-19 pandemic has provided new openings to link global health with climate action. How will this influence the upcoming meetings on global climate action, called COP 26? Doug Becker hosts. [ dur: 28 mins. ]

  • Shannon Gibson is Associate Professor of Political Science, International Relations, and Environmental Studies at the University of Southern California. She is the author of the forthcoming book Politics of Global Environment.

We look at the implications of moral distress and clinical decision making in the time of COVID-19. Lillian Ng hosts. [ dur: 30 mins. ]

  • Monique Jonas is a Senior Lecturer in Health Systems at the University of Auckland. Jonas is an ethical theorist specialising in health care ethics.
  • Phillipa Malpas is an Associate Professor in Psychological Medicine at the University of Auckland. Malpas is an expert in medical ethics.

This program is produced with contributions from the following volunteers: Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Anaïs Amin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.

Scholars’ Circle – Building Emotional Resilience in time of crisis -/- How our ancestors dealt with climate and environment changes – May 17, 2020

How do we ride the emotional roller coaster of difficult times? We discuss building emotional resilience. Lillian Ng talks to Marthinus Bekker about building emotional resilience. [ dur: 34mins. ]

  • Marthinus Bekker is Clinical Psychologist and Research Fellow at University of Auckland, NZ. with a range of experience in both clinical work and research across a range of clinical, university, and private settings.

Then, how have our ancestors dealt with earlier changes in the climate and environment? What does it tell us about our current situation? [ dur: 23mins. ]

For a transcript of this interview, please visit: TheBigQ

This program is produced with contributions from the following volunteers: Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Anaïs Amin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.

Scholars’ Circle – What is the role of psychological first aid in times of crisis? -/- Greenwashing culture – May 10, 2020

What is the role of psychological first aid in times of crisis? Lillian Ng explores ways to support psychological well being. [ dur: 24 mins. ]

Greenwashing culture. How journalism, the entertainment industry and museums impact our environment. Joining us is Toby Miller author of 30 books, including Greenwashing Culture. [ dur: 32mins. ]

  • Toby Miller is a Professor Emeritus of Media and Cultural Studies at the University of California, Riverside. He is the author of 30 books including Greenwashing Culture. His Wikipedia page.

This program is produced with contributions from the following volunteers: Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Anaïs Amin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.