kosherkowboy

Hey guys, big fan of your work. I've been following some of your developments with REDD through my friend Zander.

As for me, I'm an economic historian and I've seen a pretty similar procession of development around the world. Start by exploiting natural resources, industrialization happens with textiles and then heavy industry, and so on. Is there a way to capitalize on the liberal global market in such a way as to bypass the early stages of natural resource exploitation and instead utilize the human capital of the Congolese?

As a caveat, I know we have to be realistic when talking about Congolese human capital, what with the wars, lack of education, infrastructure, etc. Essentially, what would it take to incorporate the most remote and impoverished area of the world into the global market in a way to skip the harsh exploitation/enslavement of people and their resources?

Sorry that was so longwinded, but I'd love to hear your thoughts. Especially on the political economy of such underdeveloped regions.

I've always thought that Vice correspondents have one of the most interesting jobs in the world. As a soon to be graduating college student, what can I do to try and work for you guys? What did you do to get to where you are today?

I just read the horrifying book "Uninhabitable Earth" by David Wallace Wells (super highly recommended to anyone who wants to know what to expect in the next 50+ years). One of the things that stuck out to me were the effects that air pollution has beyond global warming and lung cancer. Things like reduced cognitive function and increased rates of birth defects. Could you speak to some of the more unknown side effects of air pollution beyond lung cancer and asthma?

Thank you for your work!!