This week we look at oil in Libya, police militarization in Ferguson Missouri, and another splinter group from the Sunflower Movement. Common themes include social unrest that is deeply rooted in race and a feeling of powerlessness over the economy. Tune in now:

  • Amidst conflicts involving some of the major oil-producing OPEC countries, including Libya, Iraq, and Iran, the world has seen an increase in the amount of crude oil. In contrast to the previous concerns prompted by news of the drop in profits in the second quarter from Australian oil and gas group, OMV, prices are likely to ease especially after the reopening of Libya’s key oil port, Ras Lanuf. According the International Energy Agency (IEA), the cost of Brent crude oil has fallen to its lowest since last year on August 12… (See here)
  • On Saturday, August 16, Sunflower student movement leaders Yoshi Liu (劉敬文), Wu Hsueh-chan (吳學展) and others officially announced the formation of the Formoshock Society (福爾摩鯊會社) at a public event held near National Taiwan University… (See here)
  • For the past week, a town outside of St. Louis, Missouri has been the center of attention in one of the most shocking and controversial riot and police siege in the United States in recent memory. On August 9, racial tension flared up in the town of Ferguson, Missouri after an unarmed 18-year-old African American male, Michael Brown, was shot dead by a Caucasian police officer, Darren Wilson, in broad daylight(See here)

(Feature photo of a scene outside the parliament during the Sunflower Movement, by Alysa Chiu)

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The Debrief