2018

Social Determinants of Health

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The Season Finale of 'This Is Us' Offers an Important Public Health Lesson
The TV series "This Is Us" shows how health is not only affected by individuals' decisions, but also by the larger contexts in which they live. These social determinants of health include income, quality of housing, and access to health care.
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Mar 23, 2018
Scientific American
Sarah MacCarthy
Civic Education

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Truth Decay and the Spirit of the Law
The widening gap between how the law is expected to be (and generally is) practiced, and certain events transpiring in America's political and policymaking realms, is of increasing concern.
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Mar 23, 2018
Daily Journal
Dan Grunfeld
Domestic Violence

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Tackling Gender-Based Violence Among Syrian Refugees in Lebanon
Increased poverty and major shifts in traditional gender roles for Syrian refugees have worsened interpersonal tensions, increased the risk of domestic violence, and caused challenges for aid workers.
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Mar 22, 2018
The RAND Blog
Mahlet Atakilt Woldetsadik
Environmental Pollution

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Can Dirty-Air Discontent in New Delhi Push India Toward Greener Days?
The downside to India's dramatic economic growth is New Delhi's off-the-charts air pollution. Public health officials have compared the harms of breathing in India's capital to smoking dozens of cigarettes a day. How bad must things become before Indians demand change and make it stick?
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Mar 22, 2018
Inside Sources
Gulrez Shah Azhar
Russia

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Putin Can Learn from Gorbachev on How to Gain from Future U.S. Talks
Vladimir Putin has won a flawed election to a fourth term as Russia's president, and Donald Trump has suggested the two will likely meet soon. For the Kremlin leader, however, a summit may draw shortcomings into sharper relief. If the two presidents meet, several key issues will await them.
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Mar 22, 2018
The Hill
William Courtney @courtneywmh
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Revising Japan's Peace Constitution: Much Ado About Nothing
Despite Abe’s legislative majority, it is unclear whether he has enough political capital to convince the public of the need for a constitutional revision on the Self-Defense Force. Japan’s security policies are heavily constrained by legal and normative constraints and Abe’s plan would likely do little more than codify the status quo.
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Mar 21, 2018
War on the Rocks
Jeffrey W. Hornung
Nutrition Policy

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Fighting Obesity: Why Chile Should Continue Placing 'Stop Signs' on Unhealthy Foods
By instituting its innovative food warning label policies, Chile has become a beacon of light to countries around the world. The new government would do well to consider why it should maintain these policies, which in the long run will benefit business and the country as a whole.
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Mar 19, 2018
Inside Sources
Deborah A. Cohen
Civic Education

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The Danger of Truth Decay Across Europe
“Truth Decay” poses a threat to the health and future of democracy across Europe. With partial facts, disinformation, and incompatible versions of “the truth” competing for attention, it's more and more important for Europeans to recognize this phenomenon.
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Mar 19, 2018
E!Sharp
Hans Pung
Chemical Weapons and Warfare

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Russian Nerve Agent from Skripal Attack a Deadly Game-Changer
The use of Novichok in last week's attack against Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia demands global condemnation and an insistence that Russia account for how the nerve agent came to be used at all, much less on foreign soil.
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Mar 19, 2018
Axios
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
Russia

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Putin's Boasting About Nuclear Weapons Won't Help Him in the Russian Election
In a March 1 address to the nation, Russian President Vladimir Putin evoked Soviet-era exaggeration, proclaiming barely feasible economic and social goals and boasting of nuclear arms that are unlikely to change the strategic balance. Continued exaggeration could sap public confidence in the legitimacy of Russia's ruling system and leaders.
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Mar 15, 2018
Newsweek
William Courtney @courtneywmh, Miriam Matthews
Sleep

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Teens Are Driving Drowsy Every Day, and That's Dangerous
About 1 in 10 car crashes are caused by drowsy driving, and young drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 account for more than half of them. Many parents unwittingly allow their teens to drive while tired on a daily basis.
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Mar 12, 2018
Salt Lake Tribune
Wendy M. Troxel @wendytroxel
Communication Systems

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Our Reliance on Space Tech Means We Should Prepare for the Worst
Space-enabled connectivity, technology, and services support a diverse array of political, military and economic activities, many of which modern life on Earth relies upon and which the public often takes for granted. How prepared is global society to deal with the growing reliance on this technology and to mitigate associated risks?
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Mar 12, 2018
Defense News
James Black
Submarines

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Location, Location, Location: Evaluating Risks to Submarines from Low-Yield Warhead and Submarine Missile Launch Detection
Experts can argue that a low-yield SLBM might not be worth deploying as it would put U.S. submarines at unacceptable risk. But the costs to adversaries to develop the capability to target U.S. submarines with nuclear weapons are substantial. In contrast, the costs to the United States are low, requiring only modification to an existing warhead.
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Mar 12, 2018
Lawfare
Austin Long
North Korea

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What Will Kim Jong Un Want and What He Might Give
Verifiable denuclearization is an impossible goal, not just because Kim Jong Un may not agree, but because such a deal couldn't be fully verified if he did. But this doesn't mean there is no deal worth making for America.
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Mar 12, 2018
The Hill
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
International Diplomacy

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Can Europe Save the Iran Nuclear Deal?
In mid-January, President Trump threatened to withdraw from the Iran agreement if Europe does not “fix” it within four months. There are viable steps Europe could take to address Trump's concerns about the deal — on missile development, inspections, and sunset clauses. However, if the U.S. withdraws, Europe could still work with other international powers to keep the deal alive.
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Mar 12, 2018
Reuters
Dalia Dassa Kaye, James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins