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20 JUNE
Separation anxiety
Immigration and border politics in the United States has this week captured the public's attention in a manner not seen since some of the most heated debates of the 2016 presidential election.
Children of migrants and refugees who cross the southern US border illegally are being separated from their families while their parents face legal proceedings. The images and audio of children taken from their parents and put into detention centres furnished with metal cages and concrete floors have outraged politicians, former first ladies and large sections of the American public.
At least five governors, including two Republicans, announced Tuesday that they would pull state troops from the southern border or cancel planned deployments in response to the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" immigration policy. Republicans vowed to press ahead with votes this week on a pair of more sweeping immigration bills drafted by conservatives and moderates, claiming they would address the family separation issue while overhauling the nation’s immigration system.
Senior lecturer David Smith spoke to Triple J's Hack program yesterday about the controversial policy and the public backlash.
NEWS WRAP
US withdraws from Human Rights Council
The United States is withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley announced Tuesday, noting a perceived "bias" against US ally Israel, and accusing the body of failing to hold human rights abusers accountable. The move had been threatened for months, but came down just one day after the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights slammed the separation of children from their parents at the US-Mexico border as "unconscionable". READ MORE HERE.
- The Pentagon confirmed it suspended all planning for joint military exercises with South Korea in the month of August. President Trump’s initial announcement of the suspension of war games during the Singapore summit with Kim Jong-un caught his South Korean and Japanese allies by surprise. The White House insists no decision has yet been made on future joint exercises on the Korean peninsula. CEO Simon Jackman discussed the outcomes of the Singapore summit as a panellist on this week's Q&A program. WATCH HERE.
- The fallout continues from Trump’s G7 performance in Quebec. The spectacular animosity of the meeting in Canada, when contrasted with the pleasantries of the Singapore summit which immediately followed it, has led to questions of what the future holds for the G7 grouping. When asked this question by ABC Radio, director of the USSC’s Trade and Investment Program Stephen Kirchner said the G7 is in peril as it is already effectively acting as the “G6”. LISTEN HERE.
- House Republicans unveiled a 2019 budget proposal on Tuesday to send a message to their core supporters that repealing Obamacare, cutting taxes and partially privatising Medicare remain high on their agenda in the lead-up to the midterm elections. The plan is set for a committee vote Thursday ahead of a possible House floor vote next week. READ MORE HERE.
- President Trump has called for the establishment of a US “Space Force” as a sixth branch of the US military. He made the announcement while signing a policy directive on the management of space traffic and debris. “We are going to have the Air Force, and we are going to have the Space Force,” Trump said. “Separate but equal.” The new military branch is reportedly vehemently opposed by senior figures in the US Air Force, whose current remit encompasses space matters. Research fellow Brendan Thomas-Noone spoke to RN Drive about the announcement yesterday. LISTEN HERE.
For too long the Human Rights Council has been a protector of human rights abusers, and a cesspool of political bias.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley
(State Department press conference)
19 June 2018
ANALYSIS
Diversity in tech
Zoe Meers
Research assistant and data visualisation analyst
Recent research into the US tech industry shows that while diversity is deemed important, active involvement in ensuring its increase is less apparent. In comparison, the tech industry in Australia is ramping up its diversity efforts.
Factoring in the relative nascence of Australia’s tech scene vis-à-vis the United States, this may not seem surprising. Although Australia can only claim one “unicorn” start-up with a female founder (whereas the United States has 16 of the world’s 23), support for women in technology in Australia has never been more apparent. The Australian venture capital industry is actively encouraging and supporting females as founders and investors through initiatives like their Diversity Handbook, and Australian VC firms are doing better than the United States on gender diversity measures.
There has been a big push to increase diversity in Australian tech companies. This weekend in Sydney, Vogue Australia is hosting their third annual Vogue Codes Summit which emphasises female innovation. Compared to Silicon Valley, Australian tech hubs are racing ahead, implementing more equal frameworks for all minorities. No doubt a significant challenge to diversifying the tech industry in the United States stems from the pervasive sense of the ‘boys club’ in American start-ups and larger technology companies. On the other hand, more women and minorities are shaping Australian start-ups during their most formative period, with 22 per cent of start-ups in Sydney being founded by women – compared to Silicon Valley’s 17 per cent, contributing to more diverse workplace environments from inception.
As the missions of large, global technology companies evolve to tackle broad issues like healthcare and poverty, the need for a diverse workforce increases. The tech industry in Silicon Valley has historically been preoccupied with niche technical questions that cater to a self-selecting market. Through broadening the scope of their work, tech companies will increase the proportion of minorities working on challenging, technical problems.
Women and other minorities are ready to take on this challenge. In the United States, the number of women studying computer science at university has increased. More members of the graduating class at Harvey Mudd, one of the country’s top technological institutes, in the computer science department identified as women, rather than men. Likewise, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the computer science department’s graduating class nearly reached parity. Clearly, the problem is not a lack of talented female coders.
Fundamentally, tech companies need to ask broad, interesting questions that will draw talented people from a wide variety of backgrounds. On this issue, the United States has much to learn from Australia.
Americans could begin by looking at SheStarts, an Australian accelerator for female-founded start-ups, or other institutionalised groups, including Women in Digital which pairs rookies with seasoned mentors, or Females in IT and Telecommunications which actively measures gender diversity data. Australians are readily addressing the diversity issue in tech spaces. What women and other minorities need is for that conversation to continue. The tech industry is not finished yet. Silicon Valley, especially, has a long way to go. But Australian tech spaces should take this chance to create an ideal, diverse workforce as a model for tech companies around the world.
DIARY
The week ahead
Wednesday, 20 June: World Refugee Day
Wednesday, 20 June: President Trump is scheduled to hold a 'Make America Great Again' campaign rally in Minnesota.
Sunday, 24 June: Turkish general election.
Monday, 25 June: Western Governors’ Association Annual Meeting begins in South Dakota.
EVENT
Public health law and health leadership in the United States: What can Australia learn?
In 2016, life expectancy at birth in the United States fell for the second year in a row. Since his inauguration in 2017, President Trump and his administration have taken a number of actions that arguably weaken America’s public health infrastructure.
At the same time, the United States remains one of the world’s great innovators. With 52 States and more than 89,000 local and city governments, the United States frequently functions as a social laboratory for social policies, and public health laws and practices. While constrained in some areas by its constitutional design, the United States remains a leader in global health: its influence and innovations in public health law cannot be ignored.
What can Australia learn from recent American experience with public health law and regulation? What are the good ideas? What should be avoided? How can Australian jurisdictions adapt the best American innovations and create an enabling legal and political environment for public health and wellbeing?
This seminar features presentations from Georgetown University's Professor Lawrence Gostin and Adjunct Professor Alexandra Phelan, and Sydney Law School's Professor Roger Magnusson, who will look at public health law and leadership in the United States, with particular reference to: communicable diseases and pandemic preparedness, non-communicable diseases, health care, injuries and global health leadership. USSC CEO Professor Simon Jackman will chair the event.
DATE & TIME
Thursday, 19 July 2018
6pm-7.30pm
LOCATION
The University of Sydney Law School - Law Foyer, Level 2 (building entry level), Eastern Avenue, Camperdown, NSW.
COST
Free, but registration required.
VIDEO
Former WH chief strategist Steve Bannon on whether President Trump has ever lied
THE WEEK IN TWEETS
#FamilySeparation
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United States Studies Centre
Institute Building H03
University of Sydney NSW 2006
