Matcha lovers, take a deep breath.
Japan is trying to balance overtourism.
Your Monday, Wednesday, and Friday briefing on global affairs, human rights, environment, social innovation, business, culture, and design—offering fresh insights through the lenses of sustainable development, women-centered perspectives, and emerging global trends. The aim? To keep you informed, curious, and always ready with a compelling conversation starter at the dinner table.
In today’s letter: the Financing for Development summit in Sevilla, Spain, the US State Department has completely taken over USAID, women in the Congo are demanding peace, the Dalai Lama’s birthday, Indigenous women in Bolivia are becoming community firefighters, California has taken a controversial step to build more houses, “insetting” is the new thing, the bull runs are happening in Pamplona, exciting art exhibits around the world, and much more.
Good morning!
How was your weekend? Did you stumble across anything interesting, nourishing, or quietly wonderful?
I found myself tangled in too many books again (eight, to be exact), and I don’t recommend it. Two are for book clubs (Sula by Toni Morrison and How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang), and I’m also listening to The Women of NOW: How Feminists Built an Organization That Transformed America on solo walks, as well as a Frank Lloyd Wright biography with my boyfriend. I started Democracy Awakening and Jacinda Ardern’s memoir, too, and I’m still dipping in and out of Roxane Gay’s Portable Feminist Reader and Women’s Work: The First 20,000 Years.
Eventually, I’d love to narrow it down to one physical book, one Kindle book, and two audiobooks (one solo, one shared). I think that would be the ideal, manageable rotation.
We were in Wisconsin over the weekend and made a day trip to Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s former home, studio, and farm. It sits nestled into the hillside in Spring Green like it’s grown there, as though it belongs to the land, rather than being built on it. This was, of course, what he wanted and what he aimed to achieve with his “organic architecture”. The tour we took wound through rooms flooded with light, his collections of art, books, and shells tucked into nooks, and architectural choices so exacting and imaginative that you’re reminded design can (and should) be both philosophy and poetry.
It’s far more expansive than his home and studio in Oak Park and well worth a visit. I’m going to write a full dispatch about it in the upcoming weeks, as there is a lot to say and many photos to share.
Later in the day, we stopped by the Cave of the Mounds, which is tucked into the rolling hills of Wisconsin’s Driftless Region. This is an underground limestone cave that has formed over millions of years, featuring delicate mineral formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, and shimmering crystal deposits. You walk through the cool, dim, often rather small (!) passageways and with every curve and contour, you see the story of water, stone, and patience.
All in all, a great Wisconsin travel day.
Last week’s big global conference was the Financing for Development summit in Sevilla, Spain. What came out of it? Well, Spain is increasing its aid budget, Italy launched a debt-for-development swap program, which aims to convert €230 million of debt obligations in African countries to investments in development projects, and several countries are behind a tax on premium-class flying and private jets in a bid to raise funds for climate action and sustainable development. Also, UN Women sounded the alarm on the $420 billion annual gap that hinders global progress toward gender equality, civil society feels left feeling marginalised, and Macron was the only G7 head of state to attend. Keep in mind that this conference only occurs once every decade…
However, the Green Climate Fund (the world’s largest multilateral climate fund) is set to make its biggest investment push yet, approving $1.2 billion for 17 new projects, mostly across Asia and Africa.
The US State Department has officially taken over foreign assistance operations from USAID, effectively shuttering the agency that, for decades, oversaw U.S. humanitarian aid, global health programs, and disaster response. Secretary of State Marco Rubio framed the shift as a bid for more "strategic" and "accountable" aid aligned with U.S. national interests, though critics, including former Presidents Bush and Obama, called the closure a dangerous mistake. A new Lancet study estimates the cuts could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, particularly in low-income countries where USAID-funded programs once supported HIV prevention, girls' education, and access to clean water. Humanitarian groups have already reported major program shutdowns, warning that the end of USAID marks not just a bureaucratic restructuring, but a profound unravelling of life-saving global support.
Women from across the Democratic Republic of Congo have united to demand peace in the conflict-torn east, submitting a detailed advocacy note to Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner. The document, developed over months of consultations with support from MONUSCO, UN Women, and other partners, outlines urgent realities faced by women and communities and proposes actionable solutions. “We just want life to be normal again,” said Julienne Lusenge, activist, organiser, force of nature. May their message echo far beyond the borders of the Congo, and may we all listen.
Russia has become the first country to recognise the Taliban government as the legitimate authority in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Afghan women face almost complete social, economic and political exclusion.
The Dalai Lama turned 90 on Sunday. I have been to Dharamsala, where he lives, but I did not see him. My sister, on the other hand, saw him drive by when she was there and has a pretty epic photo of it!
“Insetting” is the new thing. This climate action strategy involves a company reducing its carbon emissions within its own supply chain, rather than paying for external carbon offsets. It is especially relevant for agri-food and beverage companies, where up to 90% of their emissions are classified as "Scope 3" (indirect emissions resulting from farming, land use, and transportation).
In Bolivia’s eastern lowlands, Indigenous women are on the frontlines of a worsening wildfire crisis fueled by climate change, deforestation, and weak government response. Armed with water-filled backpacks, oversized donated boots, and sheer determination, they have become community firefighters—organising locally, receiving basic training, and building early warning systems to protect their land, families, and forests. Last year, over 10 million hectares burned, and with political leaders silent and penalties for illegal burning as low as $1.40 per hectare, these women persist not only as guardians of the land but as symbols of resistance against systemic neglect. As the world continues to overlook the intersection of climate and gender, these women offer a vital, underrecognized model of leadership and care.
California has taken a bold step and decided to roll back the landmark California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to address its deepening housing crisis. Governor Gavin Newsom (probably positioning himself for a 2028 presidential run) made reforming CEQA—a law long used to delay or block development—a condition for signing the 2025-26 budget. The move aims to ease regulatory barriers, especially in dense urban areas, to accelerate housing construction amid a severe shortage that has made nine of the country’s least affordable cities in California. Supporters hail the reform as essential economic pragmatism, while critics warn it risks sidelining environmental protections. This is an incredibly complex and challenging aspect of balancing the country’s urgent housing needs with sustainability.
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has issued a powerful advisory opinion calling on Latin American and Caribbean states to cooperate more boldly and urgently on climate action. Requested by Colombia and Chile, the opinion urges governments to set ambitious, time-bound emissions targets, regulate corporate polluters, crack down on greenwashing, and ensure businesses act with due diligence on human rights and climate impacts across their value chains. While non-binding, the opinion carries weight (regional courts often cite IACHR guidance as precedent) and reflects a global shift toward climate litigation as a tool for accountability. From South Korea to Vanuatu, courts are increasingly recognising climate inaction as a human rights violation.
The global tourism landscape is shifting, and the US is falling behind. In 2025, destinations such as Brazil, Paraguay, and Chile are emerging as front-runners, offering what travellers want most: authenticity, value, and uniqueness. Brazil’s surge, fueled by affordable flights and a weakened currency, has seen a 48% growth, while Paraguay captivates travellers with its untouched wilderness and eco-tourism. Meanwhile, Gambia, North Macedonia, and Malta are seeing significant tourism spikes, thanks to their raw authenticity and immersive experiences.
That being said, the US State Department has issued a rare “worldwide caution” alert ahead of peak summer travel (citing risks from global unrest and conflicts in the Middle East), but many American travellers remain undeterred. While some, especially those travelling with children, are adjusting their plans or opting for Canada and domestic destinations, others are doubling down on their summer itineraries with a sense of pragmatism and resolve. Destinations like Canada, New Zealand, and Tasmania are responding with calm-focused campaigns, promoting safety, serenity, and open-air escapes. Tourism boards are shifting their messaging toward wellness and nature, and advisors are encouraging travellers to register with STEP for added security. It is another summer of uncertainty for travellers and tourism industries alike.
Matcha lovers, take a deep breath. Japan’s green tea is facing a supply crunch. Record heat in Kyoto (Japan’s hottest year on record) has scorched tea bushes and slashed tencha yields by as much as 25%, even as global demand for matcha continues to skyrocket. Exports rose 25% in value last year (!!!), fueled by viral wellness trends and our obsession with antioxidant-packed lattes, while prices have surged 170%. It takes new tea fields five years to mature, so supply is going to be a problem for the foreseeable future.
Speaking of Japan, they are trying a new strategy for combating overtourism. In an effort to encourage tourists to explore some of the country’s less-visited cities, Japan Airlines is offering free domestic flights to international tourists. The country’s tourism is booming, with a record 36.9 million visitors in 2024, and they need to figure out how to get travellers to go beyond Tokyo and Kyoto asap. The Far Right in Japan is starting to use overtourism as a rallying cry (they don’t have much illegal immigration).
This morning marked the first of nine iconic bull runs in Pamplona. We went to the city last month, and it was lovely - happy not to be there for the bull runs though.
In Brooklyn, a new generation of entrepreneurs is reimagining the humble laundromat as a hybrid community hub, merging coffee culture, cocktail bars, live jazz, and neighbourhood gathering space with the once mundane act of doing laundry. As retiring owners pass the keys to a new generation, savvy entrepreneurs are transforming these neighbourhood staples into hybrid community hubs that not only generate strong cash flow but also reimagine essential infrastructure to foster local connection, culture, and commerce.
Edinburgh International Book Festival is taking place throughout August. Highlights include Japanese author Asako Yuzuki speaking on her cult-favorite novel Butter, Turkish journalist and political commentator Ece Temelkuran leading a (timely) talk on “Coming Together to Fight Dictatorship,” Nussaibah Younis & Leor Zmigrod on “The Science (and Art) of Radicalisation”, and Katie Kitamura on her new novel (which I loved) Audition.
At Rome’s Galleria Borghese, Kenyan American artist Wangechi Mutu makes her Italian debut with Black Soil Poems—a powerful meditation on memory, history, and regeneration. The title itself evokes earth as metaphor: fertile and fraught, a site of burial and rebirth. Through her richly layered works, Mutu conjures a terrain where stories are unearthed and reshaped, where the body and the land speak in clay, pigment, and poetry.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Museum of Art has an exhibition titled The World of Anna Sui, which looks amazing. “A self-taught historian of culture, art, and fashion, she samples music, books, exhibitions, movies, time periods, photography, and art movements in her designs.”
Thank you for reading! Please share with an interesting and interested person in your life. xxx
Excellent edition as always!
Amazing edition! ❤️