🌏 Best Of Oslo Freedom Forum In Taiwan 2023 And The Latest From Gaza

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• 🕊️ Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan

• 🌏 This Week’s Top Stories
• 🙌 Good News For Your Week

Last week, Almost partnered with Human Rights Foundation for its annual Oslo Freedom Forum event about democracy and human rights in Taiwan, taking over the Oslo Freedom Forum Instagram with on-the-ground coverage and behind-the-scenes interviews. Here are the highlights from the day.

We asked the Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan 2023 speakers what kind of world they are fighting for.

🗣️ Speakers also shared their advice for young activists fighting for a better world.

🇮🇩 Indonesia’s first Muslim woman standup comedian, Sakdiyah Ma’ruf, spoke about the importance of representation and the responsibility of those who have a platform to speak truth to power.

🇻🇪 Venezuelan filmmaker and nonviolence activist, Gustavo Tovar shared why young people are a focus of his work and how they are crucial to driving change around the world.

💄 Attendees put camera filters on photos of dictators as part of the “Filter the Dictators” interactive exhibit.

🇸🇾 Syrian public speaker and human rights activist Omar Alshogre explained why we must share our struggles with others and strive for a better world for everyone.

🇰🇪 Malcolm Bidali, a Kenyan former migrant worker in Qatar who became a prominent whistleblower of brutal conditions for migrant laborers in the lead-up to 2022 FIFA World Cup, shared what he wants the world to know about migrant workers.

🫧 Attendees also injected colors into a wall of bubble wrap to creating a wall representing the world we’re fighting for — freedom and unity.

✊ Tibetan activist Chemi Lhamo reminded us we are not alone because we have community.

🇰🇷 Pastor Seungeun Kim, a Korean human rights activist and the leader of a modern-day underground railroad rescuing North Korean defectors, shared what keeps him going and why freedom is worth fighting for.

In the latest development in the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Israel has ordered 1.1 million Palestinians to evacuate Gaza within just 24 hours.

The United Nations said Israel’s military had told it late Thursday Oct. 12 that all civilians living in Gaza City and in the north of the Gaza Strip should move south within 24 hours.

That’s half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million.

The Israeli military sent a warning to Gaza civilians saying the evacuation was for “their own safety” and that they would only be allowed to return when permitted.

It said that it will continue to “operate significantly” in Gaza City in the following days.

More than 1,500 Palestinians have already been killed and more than 6,000 injured as a result of intense Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.

An evacuation of this scale is unprecedented in recent history, according to Bloomberg.

The UN called Israel’s evacuation order “impossible”, adding that it would have “devastating humanitarian consequences”.

Also Happening Around The World

🇵🇸 Meanwhile, Israel bombed a hospital in Gaza where children were sheltering and killed at least 500 people, according to Palestinian officials.

🇦🇺 People in Australia have voted to reject including Indigenous people in its constitution in a referendum.

🇦🇺 After the referendum failure, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese gave a moving speech about not losing hope.

🇮🇳 India’s top court has refused to legalize same-sex marriage.

🇫🇷 A huge bedbug outbreak is sweeping Paris and people are freaking out.

A heartwarming moment between the captain of Ireland’s rugby team, Johnny Sexton, and his son after Ireland was knocked out of the Rugby World Cup by New Zealand has melted people’s hearts.

In the match on Sunday Oct. 15, New Zealand won 28-24 over Ireland, breaking Ireland’s hope of gaining its first world title.

Ireland has won a remarkable record of 33 games unbeaten but has never progressed further than quarter-finals at the World Cup.

This was Sexton’s final match playing for Ireland, which he has captained for since 2019, and he kicked an amazing seven points.

But despite Ireland’s heartbreaking loss, Sexton shared a wholesome moment with his son after the game.

“You’re still the best dad,” Sexton’s son seemed to say, as he walked off the field with his father.

The clip has gone viral after being posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

More Good News For Your Week

🇯🇵 Also at the Rugby World Cup, Japanese rugby players bowed to their fans to show their respect after they lost at the World Cup.

🇨🇦 This Indigenous journalist and rapper has become Canada’s first First Nations province leader.

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