Fashion trends evolve rapidly; what used to change every six months has now accelerated to weekly shifts, creating a sense of pressure to constantly stay up-to-date.
However, beyond the world of fashion, there are "global trends" that demand our attention as they may impact our lives. Climate change is a persistent issue, and tensions between countries or wars, such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict entering its second year at the end of February and the current situation in Gaza, affect us on a broader scale.
Last October, Hamas militants initiated an unprecedented attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages. Since then the Israeli military conducted air strikes on Gaza and launched a ground offensive. According to a press release (dated January 12th, 2024) from the United Nations, 85% of the total population of Gaza (1.9 million civilians) were forcibly displaced amid Israel's military operations. Besides, since October, 23,000 people were killed and more than 58,000 injured.
Supporting Hamas, the Iranian-backed militia group Houthis, in Yemen, started attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea. The majority of these attacks were intercepted by countermeasures implemented by the US and Israel. Yet recently the US and UK conducted airstrikes on over a dozen sites utilized by the Houthis in Yemen. This action was in response to the Houthis' continuous drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea that they perceived as connected to Israel or its allies, particularly following the outbreak of Israel's war in Gaza.
The Red Sea, located south of the Suez Canal, serves as a crucial waterway connecting Europe to Asia and East Africa, making it one of the world's busiest shipping channels. While the Red Sea route can be bypassed, with ships diverting around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope, such an alternative significantly increases journey times and costs. Ignoring these developments could lead to potential shortages, emphasizing the interconnectedness of global trade.
Another critical situation may unfold elsewhere: Taiwan recently held its elections, featuring a three-party race involving the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), advocating for Taiwan's democracy, supporting progressive values including the LGBTQ+ community and opposing Chinese rule, the Kuomintang (KMT), also against Chinese rule but aiming to restore dialogue and ease tensions with China, and Taiwan People's Party (TPP). The election resulted in the victory of current vice-president Lai Ching-te, who succeeds Tsai Ing-wen from the DPP. Despite the DPP losing its majority in the 113-seat legislative yuan, the party prepares for their historic third term.
The outcome raises concerns about heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait, as the island strives for independence while Beijing claims it as part of its territory. Chinese President Xi Jinping considers indeed Taiwan's "unification" with China as "inevitable" and has not ruled out using force to achieve it. China's Taiwan Affairs Office reaffirmed its claim on Taiwan after the election results, emphasizing their commitment to the "inevitable trend" of annexation.
Taiwan is a relatively young democracy: it held its entirely free elections in the mid-1990s after emerging from authoritarian rule in the late 1980s.
Beijing, labeled the DPP as separatists and Lai Ching-te's victory may prompt China to respond with increased pressure, especially in the lead-up to his May inauguration.
Already, China expressed displeasure when global leaders from the US, the UK, the European Union, Canada, and Japan, congratulated Lai Ching-te, deeming such gestures as interference in its internal affairs, reinforcing its call for allies to support its territorial claim (Russia considers Taiwan an integral part of China).
Taiwan, known for its influential semiconductor industry, plays a crucial role in the global economy. China, separated from the island by a 180-Km strait, has been escalating military pressure on Taiwan in recent years, with frequent probes, naval ships and military drills testing Taiwan's defences. Conflict doesn't seem imminent, but many buildings in Taipei have their own air raid shelters.
The possibility of a conflict over semiconductor resources underscores the need to monitor this situation closely, as it could impact global stability and supply chains.
So, sure, follow fashion trends if you must, but keep an eye on global trends and geopolitics as well. After all, we are all interconnected and the development in one area of the world can have far-reaching consequences.
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