The ugly history of weaponizing hunger

+ neighborhoods affect brain development US Edition - Today's top story: Starving civilians is an ancient military tactic, but today it's a war crime in Ukraine, Yemen, Tigray and elsewhere [View in browser]( US Edition | 21 June 2022 [The Conversation]( World leaders have condemned Russia harshly for weaponizing food in its war on Ukraine. By blockading Ukrainian grain shipments in ports and besieging civilians in the nation’s cities, Russia is using starvation as a war strategy. As Tufts University scholars Tom Dannenbaum, Alex De Waal and Daniel Maxwell explain, military powers have done this for thousands of years, typically without being held to account. Now, however, international law clearly forbids starvation of civilians as a warfare tactic. “[It is time to confront the criminality of this practice](,” they assert – and to do it in places like Yemen, Syria and South Sudan as well as in Ukraine. Also today: - [Why Sweden and Finland had a change of heart on NATO]( - [PFAS: a harmful chemical that’s hard to avoid]( - [Cryptocurrency scams contain multitudes]( Jennifer Weeks Senior Environment + Energy Editor Grain warehouse destroyed by Russian attacks in Kopyliv, Kyiv province, Ukraine, May 28, 2022. Dogukan Keskinkilic/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images [Starving civilians is an ancient military tactic, but today it’s a war crime in Ukraine, Yemen, Tigray and elsewhere]( Tom Dannenbaum, Tufts University; Alex De Waal, Tufts University; Daniel Maxwell, Tufts University Countries have used starvation as a war strategy for centuries, historically without being prosecuted. Three experts on hunger and humanitarian relief call for holding perpetrators accountable. Environment + Energy - [What are PFAS, and why is the EPA warning about them in drinking water? An environmental health scientist explains]( Kathryn Crawford, Middlebury The federal government has new advisories on PFAS, which can put human health at risk in a list of ways, but so far only states are regulating the chemicals. - [Here’s how to meet Biden’s 2030 climate goals and dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions – with today’s technology]( John Reilly, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) The road map for a more sustainable future starts with clean energy and fossil-fuel-free transportation. Health + Medicine - [Kids’ neighborhoods can affect their developing brains, a new study finds]( Gabriela Suarez, University of Michigan The latest findings add to the understanding of how social disadvantage such as poverty and low-quality, unsafe housing can affect early child development. Politics + Society - [Finland’s and Sweden’s pursuit of NATO membership is the exact opposite of what Putin wanted for Russian neighbors]( Steven Lamy, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Sandwiched between Russia and NATO ally Norway, both Sweden and Finland have maintained neutrality in global conflicts. That changed in February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. Science + Technology - [Scams and cryptocurrency can go hand in hand – here’s how they work and what to watch out for]( Yaniv Hanoch, University of Southampton; Stacey Wood, Scripps College From initial coin offerings that are totally fake to fraudsters demanding payments in crypto, scams involving cryptocurrencies are on the rise. Two experts explain why – and how to protect yourself. Education - [Does hardening schools make students safer?]( Elizabeth K. Anthony, Arizona State University Surveillance cameras, metal detectors, door-locking systems and armed guards have not prevented school shootings. A school safety scholar examines other possible approaches. From our international editions - [The UK’s plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda raise four red flags]( - [Why it’s crucial to safeguard the ancient practice of finding wild honey with birds]( - [China’s population is about to shrink for the first time since the great famine struck 60 years ago. Here’s what it means for the world]( Today's graphic [A map of the United States that shows locations where Starbucks workers are unionizing and the status of their efforts.]( From the story, [Grassroots mojo and 4 other reasons Starbucks workers have been so successful unionizing]( - - About The Conversation: We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](