To be fair, low birth rates are a global problem, leading to declining population growth for (most) developed nations (not just Turkey). It is ironic that China--who enforced strict "one child" policies for decades--has now completely reversed direction (even to the point of rewarding/subsidizing additional births within a family) to little affect. Might be a good topic for you to revisit in the future with respect to how UNDER developed nations don't necessary follow the same patterns...which will ultimately have long-term affects on population distribution across the globe.
From what I understand, most of the births in Israel are among the ultra orthodox not the more secular population. This could have a large effect on the future social dynamic and political structure.
Not sure that I should say that I "like" your post. But you are certainly correct. I while back I listened to a long podcast with Benny Morris, the Israeli historian. He was asked about the quality of life in Israel. And complained about how crowded it is, how bad the traffic has become. It's pretty easy to connect that situation to what is happening in the West Bank. Demographics may be playing as large a role as setter ideology. Sadly, the term "lebensraum" came to my mind, offensive as it would be to Jewish sensibilities.
Fantastic article; genuinely am more informed than before I read this.
One small scientific addition: “Brazil Becomes China's Space Anchor in Latin America” is best understood as becoming China’s space anchor globally. Rocket launches often work best close to the equator. The closer, the better. This because it lines up easier orbit insertion and because the equator is rotating faster than locations significantly north or south from it— think of it as larger radius. At the equator, all objects, including people and rockets on the ground, are moving at 1000 miles per hour. You want that rotation speed to reduce the additional energy needed to get to space. Secondly, you want to launch a rocket towards the east, to go with the energy of rotation. So you really want to launch next to an eastern coast with nothing in the immediate path.
Brazil’s Alcantara Space Center is only 2° south of the equator. Much better than anything China has. The same reason is why France’s primary spaceport is the Guiana Space Center right next door, across the Atlantic from France itself.
You’re among the four or five writers on Substack whose pieces I read. I read everything you choose to post and have often shared it. But now you’re making it hard. I have bad eyesight, and white text on black background is very hard to read.
Do as you choose, of course. But neither Substack nor the browser allows a fix. Is the aesthetic shift really meaningful?
Imagine you’re handed a just-published novel by a writer you’ve long followed. But it’s printed in white text on jet black paper, by the writer’s own insistence. Does that make you more eager to read it? You may be able to, but would you want to. I couldn’t if I tried.
Thank you! I appreciate you reading. Let me check into this, normally it’s not a new aesthetic, it’s still same white background. I’ll figure it out for next time.
No worries, and thanks. After David’s comment, I realize this all may be happening on my end. Very odd. Most of my subs the pages come up white on black, but once a writer’s work comes up with different background, there’s no Substack or browser fix.
I first read this in my Gmail account. It was the usual black text/white page. After seeing your comment, I went to Microsoft Edge and looked at this piece. Still black text/white page. It is the same way on the Brave browser.
What are you talking about, Eric? I'm not seeing white text/black page anywhere.
Interesting. I use Firefox browser. Substack writers will change their background/text colors, and there’s nothing to be done. Most of my Substack subscription pages come through black and white, but Zineb suddenly comes through white on black. On my iPad too, which runs Safari, white on black. And there’s not internal Substack override.
I’ll go check other browsers. But perhaps she didn’t change her settings. But I didn’t change anything, and once a writer “goes black,” that writer’s essays are henceforth black.
I appreciate getting news about events or trends that do not generally appear in most western media outlets.
Good work as usual by Zineb.
To be fair, low birth rates are a global problem, leading to declining population growth for (most) developed nations (not just Turkey). It is ironic that China--who enforced strict "one child" policies for decades--has now completely reversed direction (even to the point of rewarding/subsidizing additional births within a family) to little affect. Might be a good topic for you to revisit in the future with respect to how UNDER developed nations don't necessary follow the same patterns...which will ultimately have long-term affects on population distribution across the globe.
Not quite: Israel's fertility rate is 2.87 births / woman, far above the replacement rate of 2.1. Turkey is at 1.47.
https://georank.org/population/israel/turkey
From what I understand, most of the births in Israel are among the ultra orthodox not the more secular population. This could have a large effect on the future social dynamic and political structure.
Not sure that I should say that I "like" your post. But you are certainly correct. I while back I listened to a long podcast with Benny Morris, the Israeli historian. He was asked about the quality of life in Israel. And complained about how crowded it is, how bad the traffic has become. It's pretty easy to connect that situation to what is happening in the West Bank. Demographics may be playing as large a role as setter ideology. Sadly, the term "lebensraum" came to my mind, offensive as it would be to Jewish sensibilities.
"Sadly, the term "lebensraum" came to my mind"
Must be a very tiny mind..
Israel has twice offered over 96% of the West Bank in exchange for peace, in 2000 and 2008, and both times was rejected with no counteroffer.
There is plenty of living space in highly urbanized Israel and shortage of land is hardly an issue.
Demand for living space in urban centers like Tel-Aviv is far higher than interest in a farm in Judea or Samaria.
Very true; I have observed the same in the US.
I (happily) stand corrected: Israel is unique in many ways.
Fantastic article; genuinely am more informed than before I read this.
One small scientific addition: “Brazil Becomes China's Space Anchor in Latin America” is best understood as becoming China’s space anchor globally. Rocket launches often work best close to the equator. The closer, the better. This because it lines up easier orbit insertion and because the equator is rotating faster than locations significantly north or south from it— think of it as larger radius. At the equator, all objects, including people and rockets on the ground, are moving at 1000 miles per hour. You want that rotation speed to reduce the additional energy needed to get to space. Secondly, you want to launch a rocket towards the east, to go with the energy of rotation. So you really want to launch next to an eastern coast with nothing in the immediate path.
Brazil’s Alcantara Space Center is only 2° south of the equator. Much better than anything China has. The same reason is why France’s primary spaceport is the Guiana Space Center right next door, across the Atlantic from France itself.
This is very useful. Look forward to seeing it as a regular feature.
You’re among the four or five writers on Substack whose pieces I read. I read everything you choose to post and have often shared it. But now you’re making it hard. I have bad eyesight, and white text on black background is very hard to read.
Do as you choose, of course. But neither Substack nor the browser allows a fix. Is the aesthetic shift really meaningful?
Imagine you’re handed a just-published novel by a writer you’ve long followed. But it’s printed in white text on jet black paper, by the writer’s own insistence. Does that make you more eager to read it? You may be able to, but would you want to. I couldn’t if I tried.
Cheers. Keep up the sharp analysis
Thank you! I appreciate you reading. Let me check into this, normally it’s not a new aesthetic, it’s still same white background. I’ll figure it out for next time.
No worries, and thanks. After David’s comment, I realize this all may be happening on my end. Very odd. Most of my subs the pages come up white on black, but once a writer’s work comes up with different background, there’s no Substack or browser fix.
I first read this in my Gmail account. It was the usual black text/white page. After seeing your comment, I went to Microsoft Edge and looked at this piece. Still black text/white page. It is the same way on the Brave browser.
What are you talking about, Eric? I'm not seeing white text/black page anywhere.
Interesting. I use Firefox browser. Substack writers will change their background/text colors, and there’s nothing to be done. Most of my Substack subscription pages come through black and white, but Zineb suddenly comes through white on black. On my iPad too, which runs Safari, white on black. And there’s not internal Substack override.
I’ll go check other browsers. But perhaps she didn’t change her settings. But I didn’t change anything, and once a writer “goes black,” that writer’s essays are henceforth black.