Weekly Update: Brazil's President Lula, Selena Gomez supports Iranian protestors, and Must Listen Podcasts
With Brazil hosting the G20 in 2024 and possibly COP30 in 2025, Global Citizen hopes to work with Brazil and its member states to ensure that they uphold their promises to assist vulnerable countries
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Ramadan Kareem to those observing. I wish you all a peaceful and serene month.
I’m writing to you from the airport lounge, as I wait to board a plane to Fiji, after having just come off one from Brazil. It’s been a whirlwind few days, having we, along with our Global Citizen Festival International Curator, Chris Martin, met yesterday in Rio with President Lula (more on that below!), and now off for a week in Fiji with Rotary International's inspiring President, Jennifer Jones and UNICEF (stay tuned next week for a recap).
Rounding up here some highlights from the week, from Brazil, to Selena Gomez, and more, including some recent podcasts I’ve been listening to.
A Rendezvous In Rio - Meeting President Lula
Yesterday, Global Citizen had the pleasure of meeting with President Lula and the First Lady in Rio, to discuss potential avenues for partnership, as well as the vital role the Amazon Rainforest plays in sustaining the health of our planet, joined by Global Citizen’s International Festival International Curator, Chris Martin.
During our Global Citizen Live Campaign in 2021, Global Citizen had significant success working with our talent, global citizen audience in Brazil, and the regional governments, resulting in the Brazilian states of Amapá, Amazonas, Ceará, Piauí, and Pará making commitments towards environmental protection and strong climate actions.
With Brazil hosting the G20 in 2024, and potentially COP30 in 2025, we look forward to working with Brazil and member states to ensure they follow through on the promises they have made to help vulnerable countries tackle the climate crisis.
Check out some coverage of this iconic meeting across Brazilian news here, here, here and here, and stay tuned to see what we come up with together!
Outright International
On Monday, 20th, a high-level reception was held by LGBTI+ partners Outright International, which was attended by US Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield. Outright, is an organization that has been working tirelessly to promote the rights of the LGBTI+ community. Attendees left feeling inspired and energized to continue advocating for the rights of the LGBTI+ community.
Supporting Protestors in Iran
Global Citizen was excited to see Selena Gomez re-sharing its content on her Instagram account this week.
This repost came in response to a video Global Citizen had posted of five Iranian girls dancing to ‘Calm Down’ by @heisrema (ft. @selenagomez) for International Women’s Day, and posted it on TikTok. In the video, the girls are dancing without hijabs in a show of defiance against the Iranian regime, which declares both of these actions illegal. Days later, authorities had tracked down the girls, detained them and forced them to return to the same spot where the video was recorded to issue an apology with their heads covered – which was also recorded.
This is just the latest incident in Iran’s sweeping crackdown on women, following the September death of Mahsa Jina Amini. For decades, women living in Iran have been targets of abuse, silenced, and had their rights violated through the enforcement of strict laws – and they need your voice now more than ever. Visit Global Citizen’s website to find out how you can support protestors in Iran from wherever you are.
IPCC Report: We Can Still Avoid Climate Disaster But We *Really* Need to Act NOW
This week, the latest IPCC Report was released, detailing the climate-induced devastation that has already been inflicted on swathes of the world, and discussing changes ahead, including how existing solutions can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help people adjust to impacts of climate change that can’t be avoided.
Though nations have taken some steps to reduce their emissions in the past 10 years, no effort made so far is enough to prevent temperatures from reaching a 1.5°C rise by the end of the century. Currently, the Earth has already warmed 1.1°C since the industrial age, but an increase to 1.5°C would lead to even deadlier consequences for our environment and populations.
At today’s temperature, those living in low-income countries (LICs) are already experiencing the worst effects of climate change compared to the rest of the world, despite being the least responsible for causing climate change. How global warming affects these populations in the future depends on whether wealthier nations change course immediately.
Check out our full review of the report here and here.
Supporting the Release of Human Rights Defenders
Global Citizen believes that whenever and wherever Global Citizens raise their voices and take action to eliminate extreme poverty; call out for much-needed climate action or equity; and hold their governments accountable, they are exercising their human rights and allowing for others to do the same. Unfortunately, in too many locations around the world people face persecution for doing exactly that. As you know, since last year and as part of our civic space work, we have partnered with CIVICUS to highlight cases of particular imprisoned Human Rights Defenders and support calls for their release. To add to Global Citizen’s already existing actions on cases in Nicaragua, Iran, Eswatini, Belarus and Bahrain, it has launched a new petition to Hong Kong asking for the release of Lawyer and Pro Democracy Activist Chow Hang-Tung who last year was charged for “inciting subversion” under the new National Security Law and faces potential 10 years of imprisonment. Please support and amplify!
Global Citizen is Hiring - Come Work With Them!
Are you or someone you know passionate about Global Citizen’s mission, and want to join what will most certainly be another impactful year of action? If so, come work with Global Citizen! Global Citizen is hiring for two key positions - Consultant - Impact & Private Sector Policy and Government Relations and Advocacy Manager (Germany).
If either of these are up your street, please throw your name in the hat! Or if you know someone who might be a good fit, do share across your networks.
Must Listen to Podcasts
Last week I spoke about the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Peace Agreement and the impact that had on peace-building throughout the island of Ireland. If you’re interested in learning more, I recommend this recent great interview with former Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern on “Leading” that unpacks what went into securing this historic agreement.
Earlier this week, I sent a note about a recent interview I did with “Talking Independence” about support for Australia becoming a Republic. I had a few questions for non-Australians, some of whom were surprised to learn Australia shares its head of state still with Britain. Australia last had a vote on the Republican question in 1999, which largely failed because a split amongst Republican supporters on what type of Republic Australia should adopt in lieu of a King / Queen. In this interview, I invoke Ireland’s model as an example I believe Australia should emulate. Irish presidents have ranged from celebrated humanitarians like Mary Robinson through to poets like current President, Michael D Higgins. Check out my interview with “Talking Independence” to learn more.
Another question on the subject of the Republic is what happens with Australia’s relationship with the Commonwealth - the association of mostly former British colonies. In my view not much! The vast majority of Commonwealth countries, from Nigeria through to India, have for a long time been republics with the British monarch serving as titular head. I’ve seen this organization at its best, such as in efforts to make polio just the second human disease in history to be eradicated. You can check out this piece I wrote a few years ago on this.
My Weekend Reading List
A million lives later, I cannot forgive what American terrorism did to my country, Iraq
What Would It Look Like If We Treated Climate Change as an Actual Emergency?
Not Even Water? And Other Things Not To Say To Your Muslim Friends During Ramadan
UN warns of ‘draining humanity’s lifeblood’ amid worsening water scarcity
Indie supergroup Boygenius: ‘Anything that starts a fire in you is the stuff of life’
As a special mention, check out this piece by Global Nation on the latest thinking around global public goods (just like the “Amazon Rainforest” for instance!).
That’s all for this week! Stay tuned for more next week with Rotary on my Fiji trip!
As always, if you’re enjoying the weekly newsletter format, and want even more, you can subscribe to my Substack here where I publish reviews, lists and articles on a regular basis.
All best,
Mick