Tonight’s energy trivia event should provide an ample temporary distraction from your finals.
Content Warning: This article contains mentions of death.
Happening in the World: Iran has executed a second citizen due to participation in the protests—the first of which being last Thursday. Twenty-three-year-old Majidreza Rahnavard was hanged in Mashhad this morning for enmity against God, as stated by the judiciary. Many human rights groups are commenting that these trials lack any form of due process, and are instead, conducted on coerced confessions, in attempts to intimidate protesters. (BBC)
Happening in the US: The three-day-long US-Africa Leaders Summit starts tomorrow, with over 40 African leaders flying out to Washington DC. This assembly comes after several other Africa summits hosted by foreign powers such as China, Turkey, France, Russia, Japan, and the European Union, as the US now attempts to make new diplomatic and economic connections with countries on the rapidly-developing continent. (NY Times)
Happening in NYC: After nearly a month of strikes that started on November 16, the New School’s part-time faculty, which make up over 80% of the total faculty, have reached an agreement on a five-year contract to provide payment for additional work outside of the classroom, healthcare benefits, and general pay increases. The faculty claimed that, in the past four years, their wages have decreased by 18%. In statements from several faculty members, many are extremely satisfied with the progress made. (Gothamist)
Happening in our Community: Tonight, the Center on Global Energy Policy and the Columbia Energy Association will be hosting the first-ever Holiday Energy Trivia Night with climate scholars and faculty in the Presidential Ballroom, inside the Faculty House. Winners will be provided prizes, and attendees will be provided beer, wine, and other refreshments. A Columbia UNI is required, doors open at 5:30 pm, trivia starts at 6 pm, and goes until 8 pm.
Trivia-goers via Flickr