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Not long after Donald J. Trump had secured a second go at being president, a group of dreamers set their sights on building a new world, far from this polluted planet and its troubles. This cohort was not destined for Mars, but to a space within themselves – a digital utopia just for the like-minded. Bluesky is a microblogging site for idealists, devoted to protecting them against the raging reality of divergent opinion in a democratic system. The pilgrims took with them their in-house journal, The Guardian , which left Elon Musk’s X with the flounce of a friendless man leaving a party to which he hadn’t been invited. Henceforth, the trust-funded worldwide webzine will dedicate itself to nurturing the delicate biosphere of an alternative reality. Defectors from Elon Musk’s X are taking up with Bluesky. Credit: NurPhoto via Getty Images Three million users have joined Bluesky over the past week, according to the platform, and they have been busy tending to their new world. In this environment, misinformation and disinformation are not alone the enemy; malinformation – information that does not accord with the idealists’ worldview – is the apple from the tree of knowledge, from which the Devil bid Eve to sup. Curious interlopers from the Other Place – the increasingly uncensored X – have experimented by pushing the boundaries of the sayable on Bluesky. To their delight , reasonably mainstream opinions attract the ire of the moderators, and are soft-censored as “intolerance”. Posts labelled thus are not visible in the app until a user clicks on “show”. This functionality is a clue to what the spotless mind can experience on Bluesky. Only the opposite of malinformation – “euinformation”, eu being the obverse prefix – is welcome here. Euinformation is well-meaning information; not really information so much as a curation of comforting progressive axioms. Meanwhile, in the real world, way over here in Australia, I’m never quite sure which way the discussion is going to go when someone raises the re-election of Donald Trump. Given space to speak, tradies volunteer that it’s not a surprise to them that Trump won. Hairdressers venture that it might be a good thing. Even in trendy urban enclaves, the anti-Trump clucking is not as secure as in 2016. The top three concerns in the US election were democracy (presumably whether it would be honoured), the economy and migration. But the cultural effect of focusing on those essentials is wide-reaching. On reflection, it seems everyone knew that they or other people privately had less and less patience with the vanity projects of the boardroom, while the economy constricted the lives of salary men and women. Acronyms have been crumbling. Many companies have slunk away from the ESG (environmental, social and governance) trend as it has emerged that many were just faking it. Australian companies have become more wary about the claims they make in this area after corporate watchdog ASIC announced it was cracking down on greenwashing – the “practice of misrepresenting the extent to which a financial product or investment strategy is environmentally friendly, sustainable or ethical”. In August this year, the world’s largest investment firm, BlackRock , which has $US10 trillion ($15.4 trillion) under management, reported that it had dramatically reduced its support for shareholder proposals addressing environmental and social issues. Another acronym, DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion), is also under fire. Over 200 US colleges have backtracked on their DEI programs, as suggestions swirl that race-based admissions programs have disadvantaged some ethnic groups, including Asian Americans. The grandmama of corporate DEI, White Fragility author Robin DiAngelo, was accused of appropriating passages and ideas in her PhD dissertation from minority scholars without attribution. DiAngelo has become wealthy lecturing corporate teams around the Anglosphere on DEI, leaving them with a tangle of rules and terminology so confusing that their main use is to be weaponised in internal disputes. DEI scepticism and exhaustion have reached Australia too, with some consultants reporting that companies are scaling back, or at the very least rebranding, these departments. Australia, of course, also had the Voice referendum to remind us that permission for social change has to be sought once core concerns are covered. The arc of history does not bend inexorably towards the preoccupations of student newspaper alumni and their kin over at Human Resources. Conservatives used to insist that politics is downstream of culture; in fact, if Australia’s choice of Scott Morrison in 2019 didn’t get them over the line, America’s choice of Donald Trump this year should finally persuade them that this adage isn’t complete. Culture is downstream of economics. The party perceived to be capable of managing things so you can live a good life has first dibs on defining the mainstream culture. But you won’t hear that over at Bluesky, where the butterfly logo symbolises a new type of white flight from unpleasant ideas. As the progressive influx gains pace, the Bluesky Trust & Safety team received 42,000 reports of “harmful content” in a single day , compared with 360,000 for the whole of 2023. You can block your ears and block your enemies in a digital utopia, but Trump’s election has already changed the culture of the US, and Australia too. Parnell Palme McGuinness is managing director at campaigns firm Agenda C. She has done work for the Liberal Party and the German Greens. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter .The Captain Planet Foundation, in collaboration with YFM, hosted a pivotal Planeteer Alliance and Tide Turners plastic policy training session on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at the Airport West Hotel in Accra. The training was designed to equip young individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to become effective environmental stewards, focusing on the development and implementation of policies to manage plastic waste and drive environmental conservation efforts. Bringing together a diverse group of young environmental advocates, the event provided strategic insights into designing impactful plastic waste policies. Participants engaged in interactive group sessions and experiential learning methods aimed at empowering them to take the lead in shaping Ghana’s environmental future. The training underscored the importance of creating sustainable solutions that address the growing challenge of plastic pollution. Leesa Carter-Jones, President and CEO of the Captain Planet Foundation, spoke at the event, highlighting the potential of the participants. “What’s truly exciting is the potential of these young environmental advocates. Our training is not just about teaching skills—it’s about igniting a movement. We’re seeing young people who aren’t just learning, but actively creating solutions that can transform environmental conservation in Ghana and beyond,” Carter-Jones said. The training was led by young Planeteer Alliance leaders who had participated in previous sessions. Ipato Kenta from Kenya and Toluwalase Abiona from Nigeria facilitated the sessions in Ghana, bringing their experience and expertise to the training. Latoya Henry, COO of the Captain Planet Foundation, also supported the event, bridging generational perspectives with her extensive background in environmental advocacy. Toluwalase Abiona expressed his admiration for the creativity of the participants. “What impressed me most was the creativity of the participants. During our group sessions, we saw young people developing technological solutions to environmental challenges. It’s clear that Ghana’s youth are not just aware of environmental issues; they are ready to solve them with ingenuity and passion,” Abiona said. Dr. Timothy Karikari, a Board Member of the Captain Planet Foundation and Leader of the Ghana Planeteers Movement, emphasized the importance of investing in the next generation of environmental leaders. “We stand at a critical juncture where environmental challenges demand innovative solutions and passionate commitment. By investing in these 50 young leaders, we are protecting our future. Each participant here today carries the potential to influence their community, challenge existing practices, and inspire a nationwide conversation about sustainable living.” Dr. Karikari also noted that while Planeteer Alliance is for individuals aged 25 and below, those above 25 with a passion for environmental change can join the Ghana Planeteers Movement as a support group to mentor the younger participants. Ahead of the training, the Captain Planet Foundation and YFM organized a significant beach clean-up initiative at Akoma Village in Accra on Friday, December 13, 2024. The event, supported by Ecozoil Limited, a leading waste management service in Ghana, saw a coalition of volunteers, including local community members, students, and environmental enthusiasts, coming together to remove plastic waste, discarded fishing nets, and other debris from the beach. Other notable leaders who contributed to the event included Lakeisha Sesay, an award-winning public sector strategist and Board Member of the Captain Planet Foundation; Tracy Kyei, Founding Member of the Ghana Planeteers Movement and Marketing Manager at Samsung Ghana; Princess Sekyere, an international communications consultant and founding member of the Ghana Planeteers Movement; Professor Daniel Nukpezah from the Institute of Environment and Sanitation Studies at the University of Ghana; and Anna Sakyibea Bekai, Senior Programme Officer at the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation. The Captain Planet Foundation remains committed to its mission of inspiring and educating young people globally, turning environmental awareness into tangible action. Established by Ted Turner and Barbara Pyle, the foundation is dedicated to environmental education and empowering youth to become leaders in environmental conservation. Through its innovative programs and global partnerships, the foundation strives to create a sustainable future for the planet.How to get started with Bluesky
Throughout the year, in our Women, Money, and Mindset columns , we have tackled some of life’s most pressing financial challenges. Every month, we have delved into a financial issue that touches the lives of our readers, offering, each week, a distinct insight from the differing viewpoints of a Certified Financial Planner, an attorney, a CPA, and an executive business coach. From navigating the financial markets and business strategies to estate planning and tools to cut taxes, our goal has always been to provide clear, practical, actionable advice to take to your trusted professionals so you take the next steps to grow your wealth and increase your financial security. In this final installment of the year, the issue is giving, and the topic this week is Charitable Gift Annuities. It is a strategy that can address multiple financial and tax planning issues while supporting the causes that matter most to you. Unlike giving away cash or assets and not receiving anything in return, with a CGA, if you donate to a 501(c)(3) qualified charity, in return, you receive two powerful benefits. First, you can qualify for an immediate tax deduction for part of the contribution. Second, you receive a dependable, fixed income from the charity for the rest of your life. The minimum contribution is usually only $5,000, so it is an accessible planning tool for most people. Before diving into more specifics, let’s see how a CGA can help with some specific financial and tax planning concerns you might have: —You want to give more to your house of worship or favorite charity but are concerned about not having enough income in the future. With a CGA, you can receive guaranteed income for life. —You need a last-minute tax deduction and have maxed out on your IRA or 401k plan contribution for the year. A CGA can act as an alternate retirement plan if you itemize deductions on your return. —You are interested in giving away more to charity but do not want the complications of setting up a charitable trust or naming a trustee. A CGA can be set up in days directly with the charity at no cost to you. —You intend to leave some or all of your estate to charity and would like to have all of your estate planning finalized now. CGAs are especially helpful if you would like to leave your estate to several charities because you can set up annuities with each charity. —You have adequate income now or are not yet retired, but you are concerned about costs later in life, like long-term care. You can receive a larger monthly payment later if you choose a deferred annuity and start the payments at a later date. —If you are concerned about paying capital gains taxes on assets you want to sell, you can avoid or defer taxes if you contribute the asset to the CGA. —If you would prefer your church or favorite charity to have access to some of your contribution now, a CGA is preferable to a charitable remainder trust or bequest that funds after you have died. —If you want to secure the financial future of your spouse, child, or another loved one, CGAs can be set up for the lives of two individuals. This could be especially helpful if you have a child in their 50s or older, and you are concerned about them not having enough guaranteed retirement income. —If you keep most of your funds in the bank but would like to earn a higher return, the charity invests your CGA funds (and generally considered safe) with usually a fixed rate of return that is higher than you would receive on a CD. —You would like to avoid paying taxes on a required minimum distribution, so you are planning on doing a Qualified Charitable Rollover (QCR). New rules will allow you to fund your CGA with a one-time $53,000 QCR. The QCR amount to your CGA will not be included as income on your return, but you can still receive the monthly income benefit from the CGA, and you can defer income further if you choose a deferred CGA. As you can see, a charitable gift annuity checks many financial and tax planning boxes, and it is easy and cost-effective to set up. Now to the specifics. First, you set up the CGA and donate the asset to the charity. The gift is set aside and invested by the charity. You (and also your spouse or other person if you choose a two-person annuity) will receive fixed monthly or quarterly payments for the rest of your lives. The charity can utilize the remaining funds after your death. How much is the tax deduction? The income tax deduction is equal to the amount of the contribution minus the present value of the payments that will be made to the donors during their lives. The charity will handle these calculations for you. How much income will you receive? Current suggested annuity rates range from 4.6-10.1% for those 50 and older, dependent primarily on your age. (In other words, you would receive $4,600 to $10,100 a year on a $100,000 contribution.) For recommended rates and how they are calculated, go to acga-web.org/current-gift-annuity-rates . The amount you would receive is generally fixed and will never fluctuate or adjust for inflation. But it’s also secured by the charity’s entire assets and will continue regardless of how the investments of the annuity perform. Here is an example. Dennis, 75, and Mary, 73, fund a $50,000 charitable gift annuity with appreciated stock that they originally bought for $20,000. They are eligible for an income tax charitable deduction of $17,584. They will then receive a payment rate of 6%, or $3,000 each year for the remainder of their lives. If you contact your church or charity, they will provide you with information regarding the minimum age, contribution requirements, and rates for their annuities. As you can see, a charitable gift annuity is more than just a financial tool-it’s a way to make a lasting difference while providing for yourself and your loved ones. As you plan for the year ahead, I hope this inspires you to take the next step. Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year filled with peace and purpose! Michelle C. Herting is a CPA, accredited in business valuations, and an accredited estate planner specializing in succession planning and estate, gift, and trust taxes. She is also the past president of the Charitable Gift Planners of Inland Southern California.Mog Coin surges 20%, nearing all-time high amid speculative market trends. Memecoin market is driven by community support and social media influence. Mog Coin (MOG), a cryptocurrency that has gained attention within the meme coin space, is currently trading at $0.000002841, marking an impressive 20% surge in the past 24 hours. This significant uptick has drawn interest from traders, as the coin nears its all-time high (ATH) of $0.00000298, reached just six days ago. The recent surge in Mog Coin's price highlights its potential for volatility within the cryptocurrency market. Meme coins, such as Mog Coin, have often been influenced by market sentiment, social media buzz, and community-driven enthusiasm. As retail investors continue to... Janani
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