Foundations
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Asia Foundation President's Visit to Mongolia Kindergarten Spotlights Early Literacy and Foundational Learning
SAN FRANCISCO, California, May 27 -- The Asia Foundation issued the following news:* * *
The Asia Foundation President's Visit to Mongolia Kindergarten Spotlights Early Literacy and Foundational Learning
Ulaanbaatar--The Asia Foundation President and CEO Laurel E. Miller recently visited a public kindergarten in Mongolia to see firsthand how early literacy initiatives are helping strengthen the foundational language, cognitive, and socio-emotional skills critical to children's early learning and long-term development.
The visit highlighted the impact of the Let's Read Mongolia initiative, ... Show Full Article SAN FRANCISCO, California, May 27 -- The Asia Foundation issued the following news: * * * The Asia Foundation President's Visit to Mongolia Kindergarten Spotlights Early Literacy and Foundational Learning Ulaanbaatar--The Asia Foundation President and CEO Laurel E. Miller recently visited a public kindergarten in Mongolia to see firsthand how early literacy initiatives are helping strengthen the foundational language, cognitive, and socio-emotional skills critical to children's early learning and long-term development. The visit highlighted the impact of the Let's Read Mongolia initiative,implemented by The Asia Foundation in partnership with Mongolia's Ministry of Education and supported by the Lorinet Foundation. Since 2025, the partnership has supported efforts to strengthen the use of reading and children's books in early childhood education, helping young children develop foundational skills and enter school ready to learn.
The visit also underscored the importance of collaboration among schools, families, communities, and education institutions in helping children build strong foundations for lifelong learning. During her time at Kindergarten No. 35, one of the project's partner schools, Miller met with teachers, parents, and caregivers and joined in a Storytime session with young learners.
Let's Read Mongolia combines teacher training, caregiver engagement, access to children's books, public awareness campaigns, and policy collaboration to help strengthen Mongolia's early literacy ecosystem. The initiative has also supported national efforts to integrate read-aloud methodologies into Mongolia's preschool education curriculum.
To date, the initiative has:
* strengthened the capacity of more than 7,200 kindergarten teachers to implement effective read-aloud methodologies;
* reached more than 100,000 parents and caregivers through early literacy awareness activities;
* engaged more than 11,000 children nationwide through Storytime sessions; and
* supported the creation of 273 Mongolian-language children's books through the Let's Read digital library.
Educators and families participating in the program report stronger engagement with books among children, increased caregiver participation in reading activities, and noticeable improvements in children's language development and socio-emotional growth.
Through the initiative, teachers have received training in interactive read-aloud methodologies designed to make classroom learning more engaging and developmentally supportive for young children. The project has also worked closely with parents and caregivers to strengthen understanding of the importance of reading from an early age and to encourage reading activities at home.
Launched in 2021, Let's Read Mongolia promotes reading as a critical tool for supporting early childhood development during children's formative years, contributing to improved literacy and numeracy outcomes among Mongolian primary school children.
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Original text here: https://asiafoundation.org/the-asia-foundation-presidents-visit-to-mongolia-kindergarten-spotlights-early-literacy-and-foundational-learning/
Illinois School District Drops Middle School Graduation Prayer After FFRF Intervention
MADISON, Wisconsin, May 27 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:* * *
Illinois school district drops middle school graduation prayer after FFRF intervention
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has ensured that the Lisbon Community Consolidated School District 90 will not permit official graduation prayers at a middle school from now on.
FFRF learned last year that Lisbon Grade School included a preplanned invocation and benediction at the eighth-grade graduation ceremony. It was reported that Kari Friestad, who is a youth ministry coordinator at West Lisbon ... Show Full Article MADISON, Wisconsin, May 27 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release: * * * Illinois school district drops middle school graduation prayer after FFRF intervention The Freedom From Religion Foundation has ensured that the Lisbon Community Consolidated School District 90 will not permit official graduation prayers at a middle school from now on. FFRF learned last year that Lisbon Grade School included a preplanned invocation and benediction at the eighth-grade graduation ceremony. It was reported that Kari Friestad, who is a youth ministry coordinator at West LisbonChurch, delivered a Christian sermon before leading the audience in both a prayer as well as a religious benediction, blessing the students as they graduated. The content of her speech reportedly included direct references to Christian theology and was delivered in the tone and format of a sermon. Both the invocation and the later benediction were included in the graduation ceremony program, demonstrating that they were preplanned and school-sponsored.
FFRF took action to remind the district of its constitutional duty to stay secular.
"School officials may not invite a student, faculty member, clergy member or anyone else to give any type of prayer, invocation, benediction or sermon at a public school-sponsored event," FFRF Staff Attorney Madeline Ziegler wrote to Superintendent William Pender. She noted that the courts have continually reaffirmed that the rights of minorities are nonetheless protected by the Constitution.
Grade school graduation is a once-in-a-lifetime event that students and families look forward to. There is no need to marginalize non-Christian and nonreligious students and family members by inserting prayer into an event that is meant to honor all students regardless of which faith, if any, they believe in. At least a third of Generation Z members (those born after 1996) have no religion, with a recent survey revealing almost half of Gen Z qualifies as "Nones" (religiously unaffiliated).
While the district did not initially respond, upon a follow-up this month, Interim Superintendent Chris Mehochko confirmed via email that the district had learned its lesson.
"We are in the process of finalizing the graduation program," Mehochko wrote. "We have removed the prayer portion that you are referencing."
FFRF is proud of its persistence that brought about the necessary change.
"Middle school graduations are supposed to celebrate students' achievements as they take an important step into the next phase of their education -- not serve as a platform for sectarian worship," states FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. "We're pleased to receive these reassurances that future graduation ceremonies will be free of such divisiveness."
* * *
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with over 41,000 members and several chapters across the country, including more than 1,000 members and a chapter in Illinois. Its purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/illinois-school-district-drops-middle-school-graduation-prayer-after-ffrf-intervention/
[Category: Religion]
Foundation for Economic Education Posts Commentary: Slow Disappearance of Cash in Europe
DETROIT, Michigan, May 27 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary by Claudia Ascensao Nunes, president of Ladies of Liberty Alliance-Portugal:* * *
The Slow Disappearance of Cash in Europe
The digital euro is on the way.
*
Under the guise of fighting money laundering, the EU is making anonymous economic activity progressively harder.
Starting in July 2027, Europeans will no longer be allowed to pay businesses or professionals more than Euros10,000 in cash (roughly $11,500). Any transaction above Euros3,000 (just under $3,500) will require mandatory customer ... Show Full Article DETROIT, Michigan, May 27 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary by Claudia Ascensao Nunes, president of Ladies of Liberty Alliance-Portugal: * * * The Slow Disappearance of Cash in Europe The digital euro is on the way. * Under the guise of fighting money laundering, the EU is making anonymous economic activity progressively harder. Starting in July 2027, Europeans will no longer be allowed to pay businesses or professionals more than Euros10,000 in cash (roughly $11,500). Any transaction above Euros3,000 (just under $3,500) will require mandatory customeridentification. This is another step toward political uniformity across Europe, stripping countries of autonomy and subtly pushing citizens toward the digital euro.
This measure, part of the new Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (AMLR), applies directly to all Member States. Under the pretext of fighting money laundering, Brussels is imposing yet another form of forced harmonization that ignores the principle of subsidiarity: the idea that decisions should be made at the level closest to citizens and national governments.
What was once a matter regulated by individual countries is now becoming a uniform mandate from Brussels.
This is a thinly disguised restriction not only on political freedom, but above all on economic freedom. Cash remains one of the last truly private means of exchange still available; unlike digital transactions, cash does not automatically create a centralized record accessible to banks or public authorities.
The use of cash is often associated with the intention to hide illicit activity. Yet the ability to conduct private and discreet transactions is a natural extension of property rights and freedom of contract. Many law-abiding citizens prefer cash for entirely legitimate reasons, including protection against financial instability or potential capital controls.
From that date onward, professionals will be forced to turn every transaction above Euros3,000 into a bureaucratic process involving identity verification, data collection, and the risk of penalties. This is yet another regulatory imposition that raises the cost of doing business, similar to the introduction of VAT in Europe decades ago, which pushed many small businesses to close their doors or move into the informal economy because of increased bureaucracy and compliance costs. Small entrepreneurs, already pressured by high taxes and excessive red tape, will once again bear the heaviest burden.
What were once simple voluntary exchanges will become sources of additional costs, delays, and state intrusion.
Once again, centralized authorities are creating regulatory complexity under the difficult-to-challenge justification of fighting crime, even though each country already has its own rules in this area.
More liberal countries such as Germany will lose flexibility, since they previously had no general limit on cash payments. The uniformity imposed by Brussels ignores cultural differences, particularly differing levels of trust in institutions. In some countries, cash culture remains deeply rooted, and confidence in digital systems is significantly lower.
This measure represents a gradual erosion of individual autonomy. If using cash becomes increasingly inconvenient for merchants and consumers, people will naturally migrate toward digital payments. Over time, this initially convenient shift will make the introduction of the digital euro far easier.
It is difficult to believe that it is mere coincidence that these restrictions are scheduled to take effect in July 2027 at roughly the same time the European Central Bank plans to launch the first pilots of the digital euro. Cash becomes inconvenient and potentially risky at the same time digital money is presented as the practical alternative.
Once the principle is established that the state can limit private cash transactions, there is a strong tendency for those limits to become progressively stricter. European countries themselves demonstrated this pattern when they still controlled these rules nationally. Belgium, for example, steadily lowered its cash payment ceiling over the years to the current Euros3,000.
The most likely outcome is that the new European-wide limit of Euros10,000, which may seem relatively high today, will gradually be reduced further until using cash for most significant transactions becomes impractical. In reality, the vast majority of cash transactions are already well below this threshold. According to studies by the European Central Bank (ECB), around 81% of all point-of-sale payments are below Euros25, and cash is predominantly used for small everyday purchases. This means that the Euros10,000 limit will mainly affect legitimate higher-value transactions, such as the payment of certain professional services that many citizens and small businesses still prefer to carry out in cash.
The digital euro, presented as a complement to cash, will arrive at a moment when cash has already been substantially weakened. Unlike cash, this system is traceable, programmable, and potentially subject to holding limits, expiration mechanisms, or usage restrictions.
China has already offered real-world examples. In several pilots of its digital yuan, authorities tested expiration dates on funds, meaning the money would lose its value if not spent by a certain date. This turns money from a reliable store of value into a tool that encourages spending according to government timelines. Such features demonstrate how programmable digital currencies can be used to control economic behavior, punish saving, and steer consumption in line with state priorities.
These are conditions fundamentally incompatible with the freedom that cash provides.
This accelerated yet discreet path toward a fully digital monetary system opens the door to an unprecedented level of financial surveillance and control in European history. By overriding the principle of subsidiarity, it will affect almost the entire continent.
The road to total societal control passes through the restriction of economic freedom.
* * *
Claudia Ascensao Nunes is a Portuguese writer and political commentator. She is the President of Ladies of Liberty Alliance - Portugal and a columnist featured in both national and international publications. Claudia collaborates with Young Voices and focuses on economic freedom, European policy, and transatlantic cooperation. She has over 20,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter), where she shares insights on politics, liberalism, and cultural issues.
* * *
Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/the-slow-disappearance-of-cash-in-europe/
Foundation for Economic Education Issues Commentary: Hollywood's Golden State
DETROIT, Michigan, May 24 -- The Foundation for Economic Education issued the following commentary by Editorial Director Katrina Gulliver:* * *
Hollywood's Golden State
A new merger could revitalize California's economy.
*
The California Policy Center has a new report analyzing what's going on in Hollywood and how it can affect the California economy. In "Lights, Camera, Growth," they see signs for optimism in a proposed merger, calling it a "bold, audacious attempt to meet the structural changes and challenges reshaping the filmed entertainment industry."
Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. ... Show Full Article DETROIT, Michigan, May 24 -- The Foundation for Economic Education issued the following commentary by Editorial Director Katrina Gulliver: * * * Hollywood's Golden State A new merger could revitalize California's economy. * The California Policy Center has a new report analyzing what's going on in Hollywood and how it can affect the California economy. In "Lights, Camera, Growth," they see signs for optimism in a proposed merger, calling it a "bold, audacious attempt to meet the structural changes and challenges reshaping the filmed entertainment industry." Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros.Discovery (WBD) have reached a merger agreement, where Paramount will acquire WBD for $110 billion at $31 per share in cash. (The final terms of the deal have yet to be approved by the DOJ and the FCC.)
But assuming it goes ahead, report author Jeff Ferry suggests: "At a time when the industry is struggling, the proposed merger of Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery stands out as the most significant opportunity for renewed growth in years."
The merger will create Hollywood's largest studio, churning out 30 movies a year, and their analysis finds that if this commitment is fulfilled, it could add almost $1 billion to Hollywood's annual investment in movie production within Los Angeles. As the report notes:
This deal would create a new Hollywood mega-studio with some $69 billion in annual revenue. The combined company would bring together two major film studios, Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros., along with dozens of cable channels and five streaming platforms led by HBO Max. It would also control major sports rights, including NFL and Big Ten football through CBS Sports, as well as leading news outlets like CBS News and CNN. And perhaps most valuable, it would include a vast film library featuring titles such as The Godfather and Titanic, along with major franchises like Transformers, Mission: Impossible, and Harry Potter.
Paramount CEO David Ellison is promising great things will come from bringing all this under one big tent. The combined company will swing for the fences with a heavy production calendar, and a guaranteed 45-day theatrical window for movies, to encourage audiences to see them in the theater rather than just wait for them to show up on streaming. If Ellison succeeds, this would deliver the first sustained increase in major studio output since the 2008 recession.
This could be the change the industry needs. Hollywood, already on the ropes against the streaming industry, suffered the body blows of Covid (which both stalled productions and kept theatergoers at home), then long-term artist strikes, which led to productions being canceled, delayed, or shifted abroad. All of which hit the West Coast economy hard.
So the proposed merger is obviously a big deal for California, as much of the economic impact will be felt there. This should add jobs to the area and provide a significant boost to the city in LA County. More broadly, Ferry suggests that a national impact of this could help the movie theater industry across the US, which represents more than 325,000 jobs nationwide.
However, it is also a global industry. As Ferry explains:
Disney is currently producing the latest Avengers movie in the U.K., partly to reduce production costs. After shooting all eight Harry Potter movies there, Warner Brothers went a step further and purchased the Leavesden studio, signaling their long-term commitment to U.K.-based production.
Paramount and Warner's combined force will be producing content for global audiences, as well as seeking international investors.
Ellison will have an uphill battle to achieve his goals, not least the regulatory and tax situation of California. But if he can get Hollywood back on its feet, this would be a major boost for the Golden State, and moviegoers everywhere.
* * *
Katrina Gulliver is Editorial Director at FEE. She holds a PhD from Cambridge University, and has held faculty positions at universities in Germany, Britain and Australia. She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 2021. Katrina has written for the Wall St Journal, Reason, The American Conservative, National Review and the New Criterion, among others.
* * *
Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/hollywoods-golden-state/
Asia Foundation Co-Convenes Asia Symposium in Wellington on Regional Transition and Cooperation
SAN FRANCISCO, California, May 23 -- The Asia Foundation issued the following news:* * *
The Asia Foundation Co-Convenes Asia Symposium in Wellington on Regional Transition and Cooperation
Wellington, May 21, 2026 - The Asia Foundation partnered with the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whitau Tuhono to convene Asia in Transition: The Middle Power Moment, a full-day symposium examining the forces shaping Asia and the growing role of small and middle powers in advancing regional stability, economic resilience, and cooperation.
More than 150 policymakers, business leaders, researchers, and regional ... Show Full Article SAN FRANCISCO, California, May 23 -- The Asia Foundation issued the following news: * * * The Asia Foundation Co-Convenes Asia Symposium in Wellington on Regional Transition and Cooperation Wellington, May 21, 2026 - The Asia Foundation partnered with the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whitau Tuhono to convene Asia in Transition: The Middle Power Moment, a full-day symposium examining the forces shaping Asia and the growing role of small and middle powers in advancing regional stability, economic resilience, and cooperation. More than 150 policymakers, business leaders, researchers, and regionalpractitioners gathered on May 20 for a series of timely foreign policy conversations focused on regional security, supply chain resilience, technological transformation, climate change, and the geopolitics of aid.
For The Asia Foundation, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to connecting grounded regional knowledge with decision-makers navigating a complex and rapidly changing landscape.
Asia New Zealand Foundation chief executive Suzannah Jessep said the symposium comes at a critical time for New Zealand's relationship with Asia.
"The Asia region is central to New Zealand's future, economically, strategically, and diplomatically. The symposium creates an important opportunity for New Zealand decision-makers to engage directly with experts from across Asia, helping to build the relationships and understanding needed to navigate a complex regional environment."
She added that partnering with The Asia Foundation brings deep regional insight and expands the networks and perspectives available to New Zealand audiences.
"Partnering on this symposium reflects our commitment to connecting on-the-ground knowledge with decision-makers who need it most," said Thomas Parks, vice president for strategic partnerships at The Asia Foundation. "We see this symposium as part of a longer-term effort to strengthen dialogue, relationships, and regional understanding between New Zealand and Asia."
From supply chain resilience and regional security to governance, economic transition, and geopolitics, these are issues The Asia Foundation's country offices and regional teams engage with every day through research, dialogue, partnerships, and policy-focused programming.
Anthea Mulakala, senior director at The Asia Foundation, shared regional perspectives on governance, development, and shifting geopolitical dynamics across Asia and the Pacific. Kathline Tolosa, director for governance and resilience in The Asia Foundation Philippines, discussed community resilience, democratic governance, and the importance of locally grounded approaches in responding to regional uncertainty. Todd Wassel, country representative in Thailand, contributed insights on regional cooperation, political transitions, and evolving economic and strategic relationships across Southeast Asia.
The event underscores The Asia Foundation's longstanding role as a bridge between local insight, regional expertise, and practical policy engagement across Asia and the Pacific.
* * *
Original text here: https://asiafoundation.org/the-asia-foundation-co-convenes-asia-symposium-in-wellington/
Reason Foundation Issues Commentary: Disaster Recovery Should Not Be Complicated by Politics
LOS ANGELES, California, May 23 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary by senior policy analyst Christina Mojica:* * *
Disaster recovery should not be complicated by politics
The distribution of federal disaster aid has drawn renewed scrutiny as approval rates have varied sharply across states. Since President Donald Trump returned to office, about 23% of aid requests from Democratic-led states were approved, compared to nearly 89% for Republican-led states. In some cases, requests were denied even when federal officials agreed the damage deserved help.
Under the current ... Show Full Article LOS ANGELES, California, May 23 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary by senior policy analyst Christina Mojica: * * * Disaster recovery should not be complicated by politics The distribution of federal disaster aid has drawn renewed scrutiny as approval rates have varied sharply across states. Since President Donald Trump returned to office, about 23% of aid requests from Democratic-led states were approved, compared to nearly 89% for Republican-led states. In some cases, requests were denied even when federal officials agreed the damage deserved help. Under the currentsystem, the Executive Branch has broad authority to approve or deny disaster aid requests. That means the final decision over whether communities receive support is not governed by fixed rules or timelines, but by discretionary judgment at the federal level. The problem is not any one political outcome. The problem is a system that leaves decisions that should be as data-driven as possible vulnerable to political discretion.
Concerns about political influence over disaster aid decisions are not new. Economists and policy analysts have long documented how political incentives shape the allocation of disaster aid. A 2020 review found that federal disaster spending often followed electoral considerations more than actual need, a pattern visible from New Deal programs to modern Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declarations.
No matter the reason for these differences in how disaster aid is approved across states, the system produces the same result: recovery becomes slower, less consistent, and harder to plan. That lack of consistency affects recovery at every stage, especially in housing, where rebuilding depends not only on federal decisions, but on how quickly systems at every level can respond.
Housing recovery is usually the slowest and most fragile part of disaster response. Delays or unclear federal decisions slow down rebuilding at every step. Local governments can't start repairs without clarity regarding funding. Insurance companies respond to prolonged uncertainty by raising premiums, tightening coverage, or delaying payouts, and people who lost their homes compete for limited housing, which pushes rents higher. Lower-income families feel these pressures the most, often for years.
The FEMA was created in 1979 to help coordinate disaster response. The idea was simple: big disasters can overwhelm states, so the federal government steps in to help. But over time, the process for declaring disasters has become less predictable. There are no binding timelines for these decisions, and no requirement that presidential determinations follow FEMA's recommendations. The process ultimately depends on judgment at the federal level. This setup leads to uneven results, no matter who is in office.
Disaster recovery is not handled through a single, straightforward process. It moves through multiple agencies, programs, and funding streams, each with its own requirements and timelines. This complexity makes coordination harder and delays aid reaching communities, a problem researchers have pointed out for years.
Federal decisions are only one piece of the recovery process. Those decisions are further constrained by local rules that determine how quickly housing can be rebuilt. Even when funding or emergency authority exists, zoning restrictions, permitting requirements, historic review, shoreline rules, infrastructure assessments, and limits on temporary or replacement housing can prevent damaged units from coming back online. Delayed federal decisions can stall funding while local approvals can slow construction, and insurance uncertainty can delay investment. Each layer extends the timeline, and together they determine how much housing is restored and how quickly.
Puerto Rico demonstrated a different version of the same problem after Hurricane Maria. Although Congress approved billions in disaster recovery funding, disbursement was delayed for years by administrative and bureaucratic obstacles, sparking national controversy and multiple federal investigations. The consequences extended far beyond infrastructure. Housing reconstruction moved slowly, and many residents were unable to access assistance. Strict documentation requirements, including proof of homeownership, led to widespread denials of FEMA aid in a context where informal housing arrangements are common. As a result, some residents were forced to abandon damaged homes altogether. The effects were long-lasting, contributing to displacement and persistent housing vacancy across parts of the island.
Maui faced a different set of constraints, driven more by state and local rules than federal decisions, but the result was the same. In 2023, wildfires forced thousands of people out of their homes on the island of Maui, including in the town of Lahaina, where housing was already scarce. Recovery depended on both funding and how quickly the recovery process could move homes through approvals and back into construction. More than a year later, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii reported that few buildings had been rebuilt and many Lahaina residents were still waiting, slowed down by state and county approvals, unclear guidance, and permit issues. The report listed several hurdles, including historic reviews, infrastructure checks, shoreline rules, and limits on temporary housing. Maui County did make some changes, such as setting up an emergency permitting office and relaxing some rules, but many obstacles stayed in place. The slow recovery showed the limits of the recovery process as much as the damage itself. Housing reconstruction stalled, and roughly 90% of Lahaina burn-area residents were still displaced more than a year after the fires.
In Puerto Rico and Maui, recovery slowed because too many layers of approval could not keep up with the need to rebuild. The recovery process is structured in a way that produces these delays.
Large disasters often exceed what states can handle on their own, and federal support plays an important role in recovery. But that role should not extend to controlling the timing and distribution of aid through discretionary decisions. The federal government can provide funding, coordination, and technical support without acting as the central gatekeeper of recovery. Clear rules and set thresholds would make recovery more predictable and consistent, instead of leaving critical decisions to discretion. Those thresholds could be tied to measurable factors such as housing loss, displacement, and the extent of infrastructure damage, rather than left to case-by-case judgment.
A more resilient system would also rely less heavily on post-disaster federal intervention in the first place. States that face recurring disasters should maintain stronger reserves and planning systems before emergencies occur, rather than depending primarily on federal approval after the fact. Private insurance markets also play an important role in recovery, particularly when pricing and coverage better reflect long-term risk. A system that places all recovery responsibility on federal disaster aid encourages risks and creates delays that become even more damaging when housing supply is already limited.
A better system would make those rules operational. States would keep stronger disaster reserves so recovery could start right away. Federal help would kick in automatically when damage passes certain limits. Timelines for action would be set ahead of time. Housing recovery would be a top priority, with faster permits and pre-approved rebuilding plans that don't require waiting for federal approval.
Housing recovery needs certainty and speed. The first weeks and months after a disaster determine whether a community can recover. If that time is spent waiting for federal approval, the long-term effects go far beyond the original damage.
The real problem is how the system is set up, not any one decision. Disaster recovery should follow clear, predictable rules instead of relying on individual judgment. Communities recover faster when decisions are made closer to the ground.
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Christina Mojica is a senior policy analyst at Reason Foundation.
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Original text here: https://reason.org/commentary/disaster-recovery-should-not-be-complicated-by-politics/
David Suzuki's 90th birthday benefit concert helps protect nature
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 23 -- The David Suzuki Foundation posted the following news release:* * *
David Suzuki's 90th birthday benefit concert helps protect nature
*
Event brought musicians, celebrities, activists and Indigenous leaders together to bolster the environmental movement Suzuki has championed for decades
VANCOUVER | TRADITIONAL, UNCEDED TERRITORIES OF THE xwm@thkw@y@m (MUSQUEAM), Skwxwu7mesh (SQUAMISH) AND s@lilw@tal (TSLEIL-WAUTUTH) FIRST NATIONS, May 23, 2026 - The benefit concert, Legacy: A Celebration of David Suzuki at 90, in concert with Vancity on Friday, May ... Show Full Article VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 23 -- The David Suzuki Foundation posted the following news release: * * * David Suzuki's 90th birthday benefit concert helps protect nature * Event brought musicians, celebrities, activists and Indigenous leaders together to bolster the environmental movement Suzuki has championed for decades VANCOUVER | TRADITIONAL, UNCEDED TERRITORIES OF THE xwm@thkw@y@m (MUSQUEAM), Skwxwu7mesh (SQUAMISH) AND s@lilw@tal (TSLEIL-WAUTUTH) FIRST NATIONS, May 23, 2026 - The benefit concert, Legacy: A Celebration of David Suzuki at 90, in concert with Vancity on Friday, May22 at Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre and streamed live online fulfilled David Suzuki's birthday wish for people to come together, renew their commitment to nature and unite to protect the planet. Presented in partnership with Vancity, it honoured Suzuki's milestone 90th birthday and his lifelong dedication to the planet.
"Friends old and new lit up the stage and the hearts of everyone in the room, making it an inspiring evening to remember," David Suzuki Foundation executive director Pierre Iachetti said. "It was a rallying cry for environmental action and a celebration of all those who have joined Suzuki on his journey."
A welcome by xwm@thkw@y@m (Musqueam Indian Band), Skwxwu7mesh Uxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and s@lilw@tal (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) hosts kicked off the evening. Broadcaster and producer George Stroumboulopoulos was emcee.
David Suzuki, Tara Cullis, Jane Fonda and Al Gore recited the Foundation's Declaration of Interdependence. These speakers, along with Rick Hansen, Janelle Lapointe, Sophie Lui and Suzanne Simard, punctuated moments between musical performances by Bruce Cockburn, Chantal Kreviazuk, Sarah McLachlan, Danny Michel, William Prince, Sam Roberts Band, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Tanya Tagaq Trio, Uzume Taiko, Tia Wood and special guest Neil Young.
The event highlighted themes central to David Suzuki's core philosophy -that all life is interconnected, that what humans do to the planet and all living creatures we do to ourselves, that despite our foresight, we've ignored and then crossed critical planetary boundaries and that to leave behind a better world, we must heed the warnings and embrace the leadership of Indigenous Peoples who have lived in reciprocity with and responsibility to nature since time immemorial.
For his decades-long allyship with Indigenous Peoples, Suzuki was honoured on stage by Haida Nation, Gitg'at, Hailzaqv (Heiltsuk Nation) and 'Namgis First Nation leaders.
All proceeds from the event will support the David Suzuki Foundation's work protecting nature, curbing climate change and creating resilient communities. Projects include:
* Protecting and restoring nature through nature-based solutions, Indigenous-led conservation and grassroots rewilding projects.
* Accelerating climate solutions, such as a cross-Canada east-west renewable electricity grid that will create excellent jobs, save households money and slash greenhouse gas emissions.
* Inspiring cities to prioritize energy-efficient homes and buildings, affordable transit and accessible green spaces.
To support David's legacy, donate to the David Suzuki Foundation: https://dsfdn.org/legacydonation
Special thanks to event partners Vancity, Roots, Nature's Path, Global BC, Pink Buffalo, Real Estate Foundation of BC, ChopValue, Modo, Vancouver Art Gallery, Maison de Camille.
David Suzuki, grandfather, David Suzuki Foundation co-founder, activist, scientist, broadcaster and author said:
"I'm honoured to get all this attention. But what's most important to me -now more than ever -is safeguarding Earth. What I've always wanted -every day, not just in celebration of my birthday -is for people everywhere to act together on the understanding that we are one with nature."
Tara Cullis, David Suzuki Foundation co-founder and president said:
"People wonder what keeps David going. His deep love for the living world. His fierce commitment to truth. His profound faith that together people can change the world for the better. Having community come together to protect the planet that gives us everything -this was the greatest gift David could receive on this milestone birthday."
Pierre Iachetti, David Suzuki Foundation executive director said:
"For decades, David Suzuki has been warning the world about the impacts of climate change, promoting solutions and standing up for Earth. It's because of David's unfaltering, inspiring leadership and laser-focused calls to action that the David Suzuki Foundation can bring together such a large, like-minded community. I'm excited to keep building on David's legacy and help chart bold paths toward ecological resilience and social justice."
Wellington Holbrook, Vancity president and CEO said:
"Vancity was built on the belief that values matter and that a better future is possible. Partnering with the David Suzuki Foundation is a natural extension of our shared values. As we celebrate David Suzuki's 90th birthday, we're proud to partner in a legacy that creates hope, inspires optimism, and calls all of us to act for a sustainable and equitable world."
- 30 -
Event images and videos: https://dsfdn.org/PressKit
For more information, please contact: dsf@ninepointagency.com.
* Note: David Suzuki and Pierre Iachetti are available for select interviews on request.
The David Suzuki Foundation is a Canadian environmental non-profit organization, founded in 1990. We operate in English and French, with offices in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. We aim to collaborate with many different people in Canada, including Indigenous leadership and communities, all governments, businesses and individuals to find solutions to create a sustainable Canada through scientific research, traditional ecological knowledge, innovative policy and legal solutions, communications and public engagement. Our mission is to protect nature's diversity and the wellbeing of all life, now and for the future. We envision a world where we all act every day on the understanding that we are interdependent with nature and each other.
Vancity is a values-based financial co-operative serving the needs of its 588,000 member-owners and their communities, with offices and more than 60 branches located in Metro Vancouver and Squamish, the Fraser Valley, the Sunshine Coast, the Vancouver and Gulf Islands and Alert Bay, within the territories of the Coast Salish and Kwakwaka'wakw Peoples. With $41 billion in assets plus assets under administration, Vancity is Canada's largest credit union. Vancity uses its assets to help improve the financial wellbeing of its members while helping to develop healthy communities that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.
David Suzuki is a grandfather, scientist, former host of CBC's The Nature of Things, emeritus professor at the University of British Columbia and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Through radio, television and more than 55 books, he has communicated about humanity's collective impact on the natural world, which now threatens the future of human life. Among his many accolades, Suzuki has been conferred with more than 30 honorary degrees from universities in Canada, the United States and Australia. He has been honoured with adoptions and names from eight Indigenous nations in Canada and Australia.
Bruce Cockburn has enjoyed an illustrious career shaped by politics, spirituality and musical diversity. His remarkable journey has seen him embrace folk, jazz, rock and worldbeat styles while earning high praise as a prolific, inspired songwriter and accomplished guitarist. He remains deeply respected for his activism and humanist song lyrics that thread throughout his career. On all his albums, Cockburn has deftly captured the joy, pain, fear and faith of human experience in song. Cockburn has won 13 Juno Awards, an induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, a Governor General's Performing Arts Award and has been made an Officer of the Order of Canada, among many other accolades. He has 22 gold and platinum records including a six-times platinum record for his Christmas album. Cockburn continues to tour internationally.
Tara Cullis is an award-winning author, activist and president of the David Suzuki Foundation. She has been a key player in environmental movements in the Amazon, Southeast Asia, Japan and British Columbia. She co-founded the David Suzuki Foundation with David Suzuki "to collaborate with people in Canada from all walks of life, to conserve our environment and to find solutions that will create a sustainable Canada through science-based research, education and policy work."
Jane Fonda is a two-time Academy Award-winning actor, producer, author, activist and fitness guru. Her career has spanned over 50 years, accumulating a body of film work that includes more than 50 films and significant contributions to political causes such as women's rights, Indigenous rights and environmental protection. She is a seven-time Golden Globe winner and was honoured with the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2021. She accepted the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival. In April 2024, Fonda accepted the TIME magazine Earth Award. She also received the SAG Life Achievement Award in February 2025.
Al Gore, former vice-president of the United States, is the founder and chairman of The Climate Reality Project, a non-profit devoted to solving the climate crisis, a founding partner and chairman of Generation Investment Management and a co-founder of Climate TRACE. He is also a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, a member of the World Economic Forum's board of trustees and a past member of the board of directors at Apple.
Rick Hansen, C.C., O.B.C., six-time Paralympic medallist, is a Canadian icon best known as the "Man In Motion" for undertaking an epic 26-month, 40,000-kilometre journey around the world in his wheelchair. He is the founder of the Rick Hansen Foundation, an organization committed to inspire, create and deliver innovative solutions that accelerate a global movement to remove barriers to inclusion for people with disabilities.
Chantal Kreviazuk made her critically acclaimed full-length debut, Under These Rocks and Stones, in 1997. Since then, the Winnipeg-born and internationally celebrated three-times Juno Award and Grammy winning singer-songwriter and musician, classically trained pianist, actor, movie producer, philanthropist, humanitarian and proud wife and mother of three has recorded 10 albums, including a live album, a holiday album and a collaboration with her husband and Our Lady Peace frontman Raine Maida. A prolific songwriter, Kreviazuk has written global smashes for the likes of Drake, Gwen Stefani, Pitbull, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Carrie Underwood, Avril Lavigne, Shakira, Kelly Clarkson and Kendrick Lamar. Equally committed to helping those in need, Kreviazuk was awarded the Order of Canada in 2014 along with Maida, for their efforts to raise awareness and support for human and animal rights, mental health, education and the environment. Kreviazuk has been an ambassador to War Child for more than two decades and one of the organization's founding artists.
Janelle Lapointe is a climate justice and Indigenous rights organizer from Stellat'en First Nation. She is of mixed Black, Dakelh and French (Quebecois) ancestry. Currently, she is a senior adviser at the David Suzuki Foundation and a guest on Treaty 13 territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Huron-Wendat peoples, as well as the Mississaugas of the Credit. Janelle was previously a regular contributor on CBC Vancouver's The Early Edition climate panel and is a member of the Indigenous Climate Adaptation Working Group, board member of Common Horizon and Sacred Earth Solar, council member of SevenGen Energy and an instructor of Simon Fraser University's Foundations in Climate Action course. She leans on her lived experience growing up on a small reserve in northern British Columbia to ensure that intersectionality is at the forefront of environmental narratives, to build power and help others see their stake in fighting back against the status quo.
Sarah McLachlan is one of the most celebrated singer-songwriters in entertainment with over 40 million albums sold worldwide. She has received three Grammy Awards and 12 Juno Awards over her career and has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriter's Hall of Fame. Sarah's music embodies the art of songwriting on its most personal level, and her indelible vocals resonate with people everywhere. Her songs have had a profound influence: "Angel," "Building A Mystery," "Fallen," "I Will Remember You," "Adia," "Sweet Surrender," "World On Fire," "Possession" and countless others are an inspiration to music lovers around the globe.
Danny Michel is a Canadian songwriter and producer who has built a decades-long career on curiosity and creative risk-taking. Blending rock, pop, folk, world and even classical influences, his "musical ADD" has earned him a devoted fan base, multiple Juno and Polaris Prize nominations, CBC's Heart of Gold award and CFMA honours, including Producer of the Year and the Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries Award. Beyond music, he founded the DM Ocean Academy Fund to support a non-profit high school in Belize and has performed at milestone celebrations for Jane Goodall and David Suzuki, as well as toured with Stuart McLean's Vinyl Cafe.
William Prince is a songwriter shaped by powerful legacies of family and craft. His perspective is both singular and resonant. His fifth LP, Further From the Country, is a striking work of reflection and ambition, marked by clarity, humanity and emotional depth. The distance travelled on this new album is generational, aspirational and deeply personal. Expansive and declarative, the record finds Prince meeting the challenge of writing enduring songs for an age of uncertainty. A two-time Juno Award winner, Prince continues to build an exceptional body of work, earning the John Prine Songwriter Fellowship and an Americana Honors & Awards nomination. From the Newport Folk Festival to sold-out performances at Massey Hall, from NPR's Tiny Desk to tours with The War and Treaty and Yola, he has appeared on some of music's most storied stages. In June 2025, Nipissing University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) recognizing his contributions to music, storytelling and cultural bridge-building.
Sam Roberts Band is an award-winning rock act with over 125 million career streams to date. They maintain their tradition of delivering chart-topping singles, consistently surpassing expectations with their music. Originating from Montreal, the double-platinum-selling band is known for their radio hits since their debut album We Were Born In A Flame, which included hit singles "Brother Down," "Don't Walk Away Eileen," "Hard Road" and "Where Have All The Good People Gone?" Sam Roberts Band continues to release critically acclaimed and fan-loved albums, touring constantly throughout Canada and the world. The band is a perennial favourite and continues to bring new fans into the fold. Their legacy of hit singles is now etched into the Canadian music landscape. Songs such as "We're All In This Together," "Bridge to Nowhere," "Them Kids" and "Picture of Love" continue to be heard on the airwaves, rock and lifestyle playlists and at unforgettable shows.
Suzanne Simard is a professor of forest ecology at the University of British Columbia and leads the Mother Tree Project and Program. Her research -showing that forests are cooperative, connected networks -has revolutionized forest ecology. Her TED Talk has reached millions, and her bestselling book Finding the Mother Tree continues to capture global interest. Named one of TIME 's 100 most influential people in the world in 2024, she champions regenerative forestry rooted in Indigenous knowledge.
Snotty Nose Rez Kids tore into the music scene with an unmistakable talent and an unforgettable name. Showing off their lyrical prowess and natural storytelling ability, Yung Trybez and Young D jumpstarted the band with back-to-back albums in 2017. Their follow up albums, Trapline, Life After God and Im Good, HBU? have solidified their career with greater industry recognition, collecting 13 Western Canadian Music Awards, a Prism Prize award, two Juno nominations and four appearances on the Polaris Prize shortlist. The band has taken their high voltage live show to the road, performing hundreds of shows across six countries. SNRK has gone on to dominate hip-hop music, most recently achieving their biggest milestone, signing to Sony Music. SNRK are blazing their own path, weaving together a musical fabric of hard-hitting lyricism, revealing stories about the struggles they and their people have encountered, empowering protest songs for the frontlines and a humour that keeps even the heaviest of topics something you can vibe to.
George Stroumboulopoulos is a globally renowned storyteller, broadcaster and producer, synonymous with music, television, film and the creative arts in Canada. For more than three decades, he has shaped the national conversation through iconic prime-time news and late-night programs, including CBC's The Hour and George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, his interview series on CNN and as anchor of Hockey Night in Canada. He also fronted and produced The Strombo Show on Apple Music, further cementing his reputation as one of the most trusted and influential voices in contemporary culture.
Tanya Tagaq Trio comprises Tanya Tagaq, Jean Martin and Jeffrey Zeigler. Tanya Tagaq is an internationally celebrated artist from Ikaluktutiak (Cambridge Bay, Nunavut). She is an improvisational singer, avant-garde composer and bestselling author. A member of the Order of Canada, Polaris Music Prize and Juno Award winner, and recipient of multiple honorary doctorates, Tagaq is an original disruptor and a world-changing figure at the forefront of seismic social, political and environmental change. Jean Martin is a drummer, multi-instrumentalist and producer based in Toronto, but with a network of collaborators that extends throughout Canada and internationally. He was nominated in 2004 as 'Best Drummer' at the National Jazz Awards and received the 2004 Freddy Stone Award for excellence in contemporary music in Canada. As a producer, Jean is best known as the Artistic Director of Barnyard Records. Cellist and multidisciplinary artist Jeffrey Zeigler has a body of work that spans genres, themes, and formats, from solo to opera to chamber and interdisciplinary collaborations. As a member of the internationally-renowned Kronos Quartet from 2005-2013, he is the recipient of the Avery Fisher Prize, the Polar Music Prize, the President's Merit Award from NARAS (who present the GRAMMY(tm) Awards), the Richard Bogomolny National Service Award from Chamber Music America, and The Asia Society's Cultural Achievement Award.
Tia Wood followed her heart from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation rez in central Alberta to the bright lights of Los Angeles to make her musical dreams come true. Her powerful, soulful voice carries the spirit of her peoples' songs that have echoed from her homelands since time immemorial. Growing up in Treaty 6 territory in a home rich with music and culture, Wood began singing as soon as she could talk, inspired by her parents, siblings and dual Plains Cree and Coast Salish heritage. Her father, Earl Wood, co-founded and was a member of the renowned powwow group Northern Cree, while her mother Cynthia Jim and sister Fawn Wood are also accomplished musicians. These early influences shaped Wood's artistic path and continue to inform her work today. Her debut songs, including "Losing Game," "Dirt Roads," "Sky High," "Catch and Release" and "Sugar and Cream," are as eclectic and rich as the young adult experience. With sonically rich vocals and deeply personal storytelling, Tia Wood is carving out a distinctive voice in today's music landscape.
Uzume Taiko has developed a reputation as one of Canada's most dynamic performing ensembles. Their repertoire includes a variety of drum-playing styles, exciting rhythms and powerful beats that the audience feels. They create new cross-cultural taiko music by combining the festival drumming style from Japan with contributions from various musicians and artists. Uzume Taiko has performed in all corners of Canada, from the Arctic to both coasts and many points in between. The group has toured their evening concerts, festival and youth shows across North America, the United Kingdom and Europe. The troupe leads taiko drum workshops in schools and communities for people of all ages, for health and wellness.
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Original text here: https://davidsuzuki.org/press/david-suzukis-90th-birthday-benefit-concert-helps-protect-nature/