Old

Boys

A three-piece ensemble,

a funnel of thought

I. The World

Came across Oxfam’s annual inequality report in my internet readings today. Appropriately titled, Inequality Inc., it focuses on corporate power, monopolies and billionaires. Since 2020, five billion people have become poorer, while the world’s five richest men have more than doubled their fortunes—at a rate of $14 million per hour.

If each of the five wealthiest men were to spend a million US dollars daily, they would take 476 years to exhaust their combined wealth.

The world’s richest 1% own 43% of all global financial assets.

The richest 1% globally emit as much carbon pollution as the poorest two-thirds of humanity.

Seafood-processing workers in Southeast Asia have supplied food to supermarkets such as Amazon-owned Whole Foods and others.5 Workers in this industry include Susi, who used to work at a shrimp factory. She said, ‘While we were working there wasn’t time to rest. I was not allowed to drink.

🔖 Inequality Inc. | Executive Summary | Jan 15, 2024

🔖 Inequality Inc. | Report | Jan 15, 2024

can’t blame yourself,

when monsters arrive,

pretend to be living,

in their control,

drab three dimensional,

artificial,

and oh so,

material, world

II. Falastin

Rushed past running,

for their life,

self loading barrel,

intensify,

and revolve,

draped on rocks,

desert land,

apocalyptic,

unforgiving,

diseased minds,

crave, enslave,

imprison millions,

endlessly, occupy,

machinic tones,

perfect lab,

mass produce,

murdering,

AI weapons,

surveillance tech,

spying ware,

battle-tested,

against white tents,

profit motive,

unparalleled,

rich blood money,

cruel grins,

glee upon, agony

🎥 War on Gaza: Palestinians have nowhere to go as Israel orders more evacuations

@Al Jazeera English | Jul 29, 2024

Israeli air strikes have killed at least 66 people across Gaza since Sunday. In Khan Younis, an Israeli attack on a home killed 10 Palestinians. And in al-Mawasi, which the Israeli military has declared a safe zone, at least five people were killed in a strike on a tent sheltering displaced people. Many Palestinians say they are fearful after Israeli authorities ordered them to evacuate the Bureij camp in Deir el-Balah. The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees is warning 86 percent of people in the Gaza strip have been told to leave. Palestinians say they've been forced to flee several times and there's nowhere left to go.

🎥 Skin diseases & life-threatening virus in Gaza due to filthy water

@Al Jazeera English | Jul 29, 2024

Palestinians trying to survive Israel’s war on Gaza face another threat: filthy water that contains the life-threatening polio virus and has been causing skin disease among even the youngest children.

🎥 Why a China-brokered deal is uniting Palestinians

@Al Jazeera English | Jul 28, 2024

It’s been hailed as an “historic moment for the cause of Palestinian liberation.” Fourteen Palestinian groups, including longtime rivals Fatah and Hamas, signed a deal for “national unity” aimed at maintaining Palestinian control over Gaza once the continuing Israeli assault is over.

III. My Parents

In other news, mama and baba are here!

Arrived this morning, and boy was I late!

I find my mind mostly pre-occupied,

my heart heavy and sad,

Falastin, why haven’t we saved you yet?

I am so deeply sorry for that…

They interview tomorrow at a local U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office. I submitted their naturalization paperwork April this year.

So safe to say, pretty sure am their favorite kid 🤓 (no offense Nahla & Karim, should you happen to read this lovely piece)

Their last trip here almost killed him (baba), and yet here we are. Inshallah this time, medical drama-free, and closer to, fulfilling his dream.

One certain thing, mama whispers in my ear, loudly at that, I need to spend more time eating, and hence (hint hint) gaining some weight…

Some things in life remain cemented in certainty 🙃

contraction of wonder,

clear present question,

certain to dream,

about them again,

floating deep,

dark shadow,

transparent,

melancholy,

twilight

@wisamaljazaeri

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