https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/13/world/americas/mexico-beer-climate.html

This article details the effect of the heavy droughts in northern Mexico on the country’s beer industry which has become a target for climate activists in Mexico. Mexico’s beer industry largely operates in the drought-prone northern regions of Mexico where it can capitalize on its proximity to the United States. In fact, Mexico is the top global exporter of beer. At the same time, a quarter of Mexico’s states have experienced moderate to extreme drought and more than half of its municipalities are experiencing water shortages. As a result, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has expressed a plan to move the majority of the beer industry’s operators to southern regions where water is more abundant. As water shortages have worsened, cities have begun to pressure private companies to cede some of their water allotments to the city, while activists argue that federally granted water permits to industrial users have not adequately accounted for local needs, such as water access for households. Furthermore, a challenge to moving the industry south is a lack of infrastructure and railroad transportation. This article raises such questions as how the government of Mexico will continue to respond to water shortages, how this will affect various industries, such as the beer industry, and how people will react as climate change worsens. It connects to our course as it exemplifies the significant impact climate change can have on a country and the varying and interrelated responses, including activism, a heightened awareness, and rethinking development, that arises in response to such a challenge.

The election in Brazil has recently ended. The current right-wing President, Jair Bolsonaro, has lost to the former left-wing President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. After the election was over and Lula had been named the winner, the country was at a standstill for 48 hours. The reason for the standstill was due to Bolsonaro’s threats about how he would not lose this election. Supporters began causing chaos including blocking over 300 highways throughout Brazil. Bolsonaro would later hold a press conference and accept his defeat.

A big part of Lula’s win was his plan for the Amazon rainforest. During Bolsonaro’s term, he increased the deforestation rate by 60%, destroying efforts in battling climate change. Also due to Bolsonaro’s effect on the rainforest, he lost many foreign allies and damaged E.U. (European Union) relationships. Lula was successful in his last term at limiting climate change effects and working with international cooperations. Also, Lula plans to control deforestation in the Amazon rainforest again. Lula plans to take office on January 1, 2023 and will begin his plan to rebuild Brazil.

How Lula Won Brazil’s 2022 Election | Time

Liberal-aligned candidate Natasa Pirc Musar has come up on top in Slovenia’s recent runoff election, defeating former Prime Minister Anze Logar with a lead of 8% of the vote. Regardless of her political affiliation, she hopes to open dialogue among all Slovenians to help form their country into a strong example of democracy. She is the first woman of substantial state power in the recently-formed country since the separation of Yugoslavia. Initially, none of the seven candidates were able to achieve the 50% of the vote required to gain the presidential seat, leading to a runoff between the top two candidates. Within Slovenia, the president holds a significant amount of power in the decisions regarding who gets what seat in the government, including the Prime Minister and nominating people who will then have the change to ascent to high judiciary and parliamentary positions. Switching from the country’s previous centrist and right-aligned leaders, much of Slovenia’s infrastructure is sure to change over the course of the next few years.