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Submitting guest blogs is open to Global Washington’s members of the Atlas level and above. We value a diversity of opinions on a broad range of subjects of interest to the global health and development community.
Blog article submissions should be 500-1500 words. Photos, graphs, videos, and other art that supports the main themes are strongly encouraged.
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Have an idea of what you’d like to write about? Let’s continue the conversation! Email comms@globalWA.org and put “Blog Idea” in the subject line.
Posted on September 19, 2013
There is more to focus on than just the US and EU vs. Syria debate these days. As political military issues rise, so has the issue of providing adequate education to the next generation of Syrians. Let's not forget the civilians affected within Syria and outside.
By Sandy Lam
Being a good neighbor is beginning to take a toll on Syrian’s neighboring countries and limited public resources, including impact on some of the most crucial parts of society: education. Countries such as Lebanon are facing unprecedented problems this school year as the number of Syrian refugees now outnumber the Lebanese students in public schools, causing a shift not only in educational resources, but the quality of education as well.
The increasing conflicts in Syria have forced the amount of fleeing Syrians to double in the last six months to over two million registered refugees, according to the European Union. Over 700,000 have been displaced in Lebanon, the smallest neighboring country which holds the most refugees than any other bordering country. Dana Suleiman, media official at the United Nations Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) reports 300,000 of those registered refugees are students who fled to Lebanon. The United Nations Children’s Fund believes that the amount of displaced Syrian students will reach half a million in Lebanon alone by the end of 2013. Continue Reading
Posted on September 18, 2013
Global Washington applauds the efforts of organizations working to better the lives of those living in poverty all over the world – at home and abroad. To help those living in the US find resources for assistance, tools for advocating for social justice, and other ways to get involved, check out this post by Carrie Watson, writer for MSWonlineprograms.com: http://mswonlineprograms.org/poverty-hunger
Posted on August 29, 2013
With the debate surrounding a US Strike against the current regime in Syria, Washington’s globally-minded political leaders advocate for extreme caution in making decisions that hold the “possibility of entangling our nation in a long, drawn-out conflict.”
By Mark Olmstead
Yesterday, Washington Representative and top Democrat of the House Armed Services Committee Adam Smith [WA-9] issued a press release on United States involvement in Syria. Along with other congressional Democrats including Washington Senator Patty Murray, Smith warns of United States entering Syria militarily in any sense should not be approached hastily, “Military action could have significant consequences and there is no guarantee that it would improve the situation or promote a positive outcome.”
Next week the United Nations will release its report on the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government and from that any type of decision will be based. Senator Patty Murray joins the views of Congressman Smith in calling for no immediate actions, she said “The use of chemical weapons, as well as conventional weapons, on innocent civilians in Syria is abhorrent and must end, however, as the recent past has taught us, we must be exceedingly cautious in making any decision that holds the possibility of entangling our nation in a long, drawn-out conflict.” Continue Reading