Antônio Sampaio

"Escudo de las Américas”: ¿una mano dura antidrogas de Trump sin contar con México ni Colombia? Donald Trump anunció este sábado 7 de marzo la creación del “Escudo de las Américas”, una coalición militar regional destinada a combatir a los carteles del narcotráfico. La iniciativa reúne a una doc...

Yo comento para @es.france24.com el aspecto político del "Escudo de las Américas” lanzado por Estados Unidos contra el crimen organizado en América Latina.

www.france24.com/es/am%C3%A9r...

The installation of military assets in urban areas places civilian housing and infrastructure at the frontline of armed conflict. Armed forces should consider the long-term damage and grievances that housing destruction causes.

A climate of insecurity: Climate change and organized crime in cities This report examines the intersection of climate change and organized crime in cities. The relationship between these issues is a critical area for policy and programming in governments and multilater...

In a new report, I examine the ways in which climate change is increasing organised crime in cities. I cover three areas:

- Human trafficking in rural-to-urban migration;
- Water scarcity and mafias;
- Land grab, illegal construction and corruption

globalinitiative.net/analysis/a-c...

Got my hands on the physical version of this important book - a must-read for everyone trying to understand the vulnerability of urban communities to long-term patterns of violence. @stanleycenter.org

Stephen Miller Asserts U.S. Has Right to Take Greenland

My goodness.

Words of Stephen Miller, influential Trump adviser:
“We live in a world, in the real world, Jake, that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power (…)These are the iron laws of the world since the beginning of time.”

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/u...

Interesting that in The Atlantic interview Trump says the ‘Donroe’ doctrine - kidnap threat against heads of state that displease him - is not restricted to Western hemisphere.

It applies to any country that he decides it should.

If Trump’s claim that Venezuelan VP has been talking to US about handing in power to a steering group of sorts led by Trump, this would be (I believe) unprecedented in world history: an overnight special ops mission resulting in the takeover of a country without boots on the ground.

So that’s interesting. Trump said Rubio had a conversation with Delcy Rodrigues and that she is willing to cooperate with this steering group he’s putting together.

And many congrats to @stanleycenter.org and @peaceinourcities.org for the fantastic thought leadership on this idea and its many policy implications.

My chapter explores exclusionary boundaries - how invisible borders in cities become activated when conflict escalates, turning into a matter of life or death for communities. link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...

Identity-Based Mass Violence in Urban Contexts This open access edited book brings together research and creative contributions to explore a new concept of identity-based mass violence in urban contexts

It's wonderful to see this groundbreaking edited volume out - and the digital version is FREE! The book introduces identity-based urban violence - types of violence that disproportionately affect certain groups concetrated in urban areas.
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...

I had the honour of contributing to this incredible volume by the Inter-American Development Bank on Amazonian cities.

Gabriel Funari and I describe how urbanisation is affecting security in the Amazon, and point to potential policy solutions.
publications.iadb.org/en/cities-am...

There is growing concern about climate change intensifying security risks, especially crime.

But in current global context security policies need to do + w/ - resources.

Challenging issues at #BCSC Berlin Climate and Security Conference.

Thousands trapped in El Fasher siege on ‘edge of survival’, says report The city – the Sudanese army’s last stronghold in the west of the country – has withstood more than 500 days of attacks by paramilitary RSF

Siege of El Fasher city in Sudan: 'More than 90% reported their homes had been destroyed, damaged or looted before they fled'. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

The shocking truth about the photograph of the ‘ordinary’ Nazi and its chilling message for us today — The Independent It is the picture which showed the true horror of the second-world war – a man blithely shooting Jewish prisoners and watching them fall into a mass grave. His identity has finally been revealed and i...

This story and this picture are so important for us to understand violence. The boundaries between us vs them can turn even ‘ordinary’ ppl into murderers.

apple.news/AM-NKeTpzQvK...

Had the pleasure of contributing to Monocle Radio, commenting on the top stories today w/ @andrewmueller.bsky.social @burcuozcelik.bsky.social. Particularly important discussion on the impact of urban warfare on Gaza.

Strong local institutions and governance are key to preventing violence and organized crime in cities Armed violence in our communities is a pervasive problem that has damaged public trust in institutions in countries ranging from El Salvador to Sweden. The impact of violence on people’s lives and on ...

My views on how the practice of violence prevention can better adapt to contexts affected by organised crime: globalinitiative.net/analysis/loc...

Really interesting study of how criminal governance can emerge in a UK city: www.nature.com/articles/s44...

The shifting battlefield: technology, tactics, and the risk of blurring lines in warfare - Humanitarian Law & Policy Blog The accelerating integration of emerging technologies into armed conflict is transforming not only the tools of war, but its tactics, geography, participants and impact. Technological developments – f...

The increasing occurrence urban warfare is one aspect of a broader trend: the blurring between warfare and civilian life. @2eatsoup.bsky.social writes a great think piece for @icrc.org on how the use of technology is allowing these two spheres to come even closer: blogs.icrc.org/law-and-poli...

It’s Friday and even before I finish work I got a treat: this dog sitting next to me in a cafe came to say hi several times. Why can’t life (and humans!) be as simple as dogs?

Gazans Once Escaped To Rafah. Now Israel Is Razing It. In the last few weeks, Israel has demolished extensive areas of Gaza’s southernmost city, Rafah.

Excavators are an integral part of current military activities in Gaza - the role of urban destruction for control of cities in current urban war is high (also seen in Syria by Assad regime).
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Full Pedestrianisation of Strand Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?

As a @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social PGR student, I am supporting this:
chng.it/SCV27VmhPJ

Trump’s first 100 days supercharged a global ‘freefall of rights’, says Amnesty World now in era of repressive regimes’ impunity, climate inaction and unchecked corporate power, says report

A grim picture.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Fears of Boko Haram comeback stir in Nigerian birthplace of Maiduguri Threat from jihadists had widely been perceived to be extinguished, but recent clashes suggest otherwise

The problem is not so much attacks on Maiduguri, but the insecurity of the myriad small and medium towns around it. They are all connected, and attacks in one sector or major road affect all of them. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Paramilitary Fighters Flee Sudan’s Capital, a Major Shift in Civil War In dramatic scenes that appear to mark a turning point in nearly two years of civil war, Sudan’s military is driving fighters of its rival, the Rapid Support Forces, out of Khartoum.

Khartoum residents speak of widespread fear, looting and rape during RSF forces' presence in the city, which is one of Africa's largest and has just been recovered by Sadanese military. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/w...

Not another war, please.
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/w...

Wonderful rainbow on my way home today. London does have its weather wonders.

Water and climate: Rising risks for urban populations | WASH Matters Water extremes put cities at risk. This report highlights how the cities facing the worst climate impacts are often those with the highest social vulnerability

Link to the report just launched by @wateraid.bsky.social washmatters.wateraid.org/publications...

Flood and drought risk increasing in cities, according to study WaterAid worked with the University of Bristol and Cardiff University on the climate hazard research.

Cities are at the forefront of climate risks and disasters in the current climate crisis: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Cities & Illicit Economies | GI-TOC Organized crime and illicit economies have a profound impact on urban governance and the security of the increasing share of the global population living in cities.

I’m also happy to see States of Fragility has cited our GI-TOC reports examining organised crime activities linked to urbanisation, including infiltration into transport hubs, housing and land crimes and territorial control.

globalinitiative.net/initiatives/...