Three Things for March 29
1. Actor wins Oscar for role in “CODA”
On Sunday, March 27, Troy Kotsu, the first deaf male actor to be nominated for an Oscar, won the award for best-supporting actor for his role in the deaf film “CODA.”
According to AP News, “In ‘CODA,’ which stands for child of deaf adult, Kostur plays Frank, whose daughter, Ruby, struggles with being the only member of her family that isn’t deaf and the responsibility she feels for them.”
Kotsur has been acting for over 30 years.
“Much of Kotsur’s career has been spent on the stage. He’s appeared in productions for the National Theatre of the Deaf and Deaf West Theatre in Los Angeles,” reports AP News.
Before Kotsu’s win, his ‘CODA’ costar Marlee Matlin was the first deaf actress to win an Oscar, in 1987.
2. US searches for more lithium sources
The United States is looking for alternative lithium sources as the need for batteries increases.
According to AP News, the push for clean energy has grown, but the process to produce lithium presents challenges for various government regulators, environmentalist groups and indigenous people groups.
"Although lithium reserves are distributed widely across the globe, the U.S. is home to just one active lithium mine, in Nevada," reports AP News. "The element is critical to development of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that are seen as key to reducing climate-changing carbon emissions created by cars and other forms of transportation."
Much of the world's lithium production takes place in various countries outside of the U.S., such as South America, Australia and China. As a result, the U.S. produces only 2% of the world's lithium supply while using about 4% of the reserves.
"Expanding domestic lithium production would involve open pit mining or brine extraction, which involves pumping a mineral-rich brine to the surface and processing it. Opponents including the Sierra Club have raised concerns that the projects could harm sacred Indigenous lands and jeopardize fragile ecosystems and wildlife," reports AP News.
3. Ukrainian refugees reach 4 million
Over 4 million Ukrainian refugees have fled the country since the onset of Russian threats.
Representatives in Ukraine are unsure of the state of the war, and many of the country's citizens who remain in Ukraine have varying reasons for staying in the country during its conflict with Russia.
"Some Ukrainians are sticking it out to fight or help defend their country. Others have left their homes but are staying elsewhere in Ukraine to wait and see how the winds of war will blow," reports AP News. "Still others are elderly or ill and need extra help moving anywhere. And some remain, as one refugee put it, because ‘homeland is homeland.’"
Although the refugee exodus has slowed considerably, the conflict has caused Europe's worst refugee crisis since World War II, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. As a result, various countries such as Poland, Romania and the United States have offered to take in a portion of the fleeing Ukrainians.
"The International Organization for Migration has also estimated that more 6.5 million people in Ukraine have been driven from their homes by the Russian invasion but remain displaced inside the country, suggesting that a large pool of potential refugees still awaits," said AP News.
