Actors are striking for more pay – and to ward off AI

+ to lose weight, is it better to exercise or eat less? US Edition - Today's top story: Actors are demanding that Hollywood catch up with technological changes in a sequel to a 1960 strike [View in browser]( US Edition | 18 July 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Returning to the moon – the economic and geopolitical pull]( - '[Zombie fires' and all that wildfire smoke from Canada]( - [Kids shown gun safety video more cautious with guns – study]( Lead story Like many Americans, I’ve mainly relied on streaming to watch TV series and movies for years. It’s hard to beat the convenience of seeing shows in your own home, on your own schedule and not having to own, rent or borrow a DVD to see “Ted Lasso” or “Don’t Look Up.” But this technological shift – while a boon for the audience – has upended the economics of show business. It’s one of the primary reasons both the screenwriters and the TV and movie actors unions have gone on strike. As David Arditi, a University of Texas Arlington sociologist, explains, “[Most actors struggle to make ends meet](.” And their low pay is getting lower due to the declining residuals – a kind of royalty payment – they receive in the streaming era. Another contentious issue threatening to cause further financial pain in the future: the use of artificial intelligence to replace actors doing paid work. [ [Sign up for our weekly Global Economy & Business newsletter, with interesting perspectives from experts around the world](. ] Emily Schwartz Greco Philanthropy + Nonprofits Editor As this picket sign says: lights, cameras, no action. Katie McTiernan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images [Actors are demanding that Hollywood catch up with technological changes in a sequel to a 1960 strike]( David Arditi, University of Texas Arlington Some of the ways that streaming has transformed the industry are jeopardizing actors’ livelihoods. Health + Medicine - [Exercise may or may not help you lose weight and keep it off – here’s the evidence for both sides of the debate]( Donald M. Lamkin, University of California, Los Angeles Some researchers assert that the body responds to exercise by burning fewer calories when you’re not working out. Regardless of its effects on weight loss, exercise provides many health benefits. Economy + Business - [Using green banks to solve America’s affordable housing crisis – and climate change at the same time]( Tarun Gopalakrishnan, Tufts University; Bethany Tietjen, Tufts University; Seth Owusu-Mante, Tufts University Massachusetts is establishing the first US green bank dedicated to sustainable affordable housing. Three experts in climate finance explain why better housing can help rein in global warming. Ethics + Religion - [175 years ago, the Seneca Falls Convention kicked off the fight for women’s suffrage – an iconic moment deeply shaped by Quaker beliefs on gender and equality]( Julie L. Holcomb, Baylor University Most of the convention’s core organizers were Quakers. The religious movement’s beliefs about men and women’s equality before God has shaped members’ activism for centuries. Politics + Society - [Registering refugees using personal information has become the norm – but cybersecurity breaches pose risks to people giving sensitive biometric data]( Joseph K. Nwankpa, Miami University Capturing biometric data helps UN agencies and other groups avoid the risk of fraud and increase efficiency. But the practice is complicated and has created security risks for vulnerable groups. - [China needs immigrants]( Dudley L. Poston Jr., Texas A&M University Chinese politicians have looked toward policies to encourage couples to have more children to offset population decline. It hasn’t worked. Environment + Energy - [‘Zombie fires’ in the Arctic: Canada’s extreme wildfire season offers a glimpse of new risks in a warmer, drier future]( Patrick Louchouarn, The Ohio State University Large stretches of the Arctic are carbon-rich peat bogs. As the region warms and dries, lightning strikes can spark underground fires that can burn for years. Science + Technology - [FTC probe of OpenAI: Consumer protection is the opening salvo of US AI regulation]( Anjana Susarla, Michigan State University The Federal Trade Commission’s investigation of ChatGPT maker OpenAI shows that the US government is beginning to get serious about regulating AI. - [Returning to the Moon can benefit commercial, military and political sectors – a space policy expert explains]( Mariel Borowitz, Georgia Institute of Technology While a return to the Moon will allow the U.S. to collaborate with other nations interested in space, this endeavor is also complicated by geopolitical tensions. - [A 1-minute gun safety video helped preteen children be more careful around real guns – new research]( Brad Bushman, The Ohio State University; Sophie Kjaervik, The Ohio State University Kids were more likely to tell an adult and less likely to touch or hold a handgun that they discovered if they’d recently watched a short video about gun safety. Trending on site - [Empty office spaces can be converted to residential buildings – but it won’t be affordable]( - [Children, like adults, tend to underestimate how welcome their random acts of kindness will be]( - [Fiber is your body’s natural guide to weight management – rather than cutting carbs out of your diet, eat them in their original fiber packaging instead]( Today's graphic [A map of the United States highlighting states with rules limiting disconnections during high heat.]( From the story, [America faces a power disconnection crisis amid rising heat: In 31 states, utilities can shut off electricity for nonpayment in a heat wave]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? 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