Latest Stories from Flo
SailGP announces new plastic-free sportswear
What does the launch mean for the future of sustainable fashion? And, more importantly, do consumers want it? Ask anyone, and they’ll probably tell you that sustainability is fashion’s new black. Eco-consciousness – authentic or not – has become the trendiest accessory of late, and brands are hitching a ride on the sustainability train anyway they can. But amongst all the green-washing and false information, the fashion industry has also been...
Is free-speech under threat in UK universities?
Newly appointed university free-speech tsar Arif Ahmed certainly thinks so. Conversations around free-speech, particularly in our education systems, can often feel like a minefield. The growing concern around ‘culture wars’ and ‘cancel culture’ in recent years has only exacerbated this fact, with many expressing fears of academic freedom in UK universities. Government figures have shared beliefs that many figures in higher education, whether students, teachers, or other members of staff, are being...
Opinion – Turning Hitler’s birthplace into a police station is too on the nose
As work begins on the controversial project, Austria’s Ministry of the Interior is facing criticism from both locals and the global online community. When Austria announced its decision to turn Adolf Hitler’s birthplace into a police station, their Ministry of the Interior was met with bemusement and criticism. At the centre of the conversation was a debate about the symbolic implications of such a move. Those spearheading the project said...
Do we need a #MeToo movement for men?
A new Panorama investigation looked into accusations of sexual assault against male employees by former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO. Following the grim exposure of Russell Brand’s alleged sexual abuse by Channel 4 Dispatches, the BBC teased – for the first time in Panorama’s recent history – an exclusive episode. Its focus was kept secret from initial announcement until the time of air. Given the Brand allegations, a rumour mill quickly got to work...
Greenland’s Indigenous women deserve more than financial compensation
A group of women in Greenland say Danish doctors involuntarily sterilised them with intrauterine devices. Indigenous women across the globe have a traumatic historical relationship with genocide. Attempts to wipe-out indigenous populations have been pervasive across the West and beyond, but they appear in many forms, some more overtly insidious than others. From ‘residential schools’ to social and financial isolation, Indigenous people have and continue to face both casual and...
Lego’s new braille bricks are a step toward more inclusive toys
Bricks with studs corresponding to braille numbers and letters have been designed to help blind and visually-impaired children learn through play. Since 2020, Lego have been quietly distributing a groundbreaking toy – free of charge – to select schools and services catering for visually-impaired children. The brand’s braille bricks were designed with the usual Lego studs, only these ones correspond to braille letters and numbers. The product has been helping young children with...
Opinion – SSC Napoli proves social media is a powerful weapon
Despite an empty apology from the football club, Osimhen’s racist treatment on TikTok has already done irreversible damage. Victor Osimhen may be the first footballer to sue his own club over social media mistreatment. The 24-year-old threatened legal action against SSC Napoli last week, after the club shared videos mocking Osimhen to their TikTok channel. The tone of the content was undeniably racist, and all videos have since been deleted. But the...
Canada’s blunder is a lesson in the importance of historical literacy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has apologised after the government accidentally honoured a Nazi. ‘Deepest apologies.’ Those were the words of a Canadian parliamentary official following a major gaffe by the country’s political leaders. At a House of Commons meeting last week – attended by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – members of parliament were seen honouring an individual who served in a Nazi unit during World War II. The...
A young Black gymnast was denied a medal in Ireland
The snub has sparked outrage on social media, and placed Gymnastics Ireland under the spotlight. Last week, a video went viral for all the wrong reasons. Taken in March 2022, the clip shows a line of children at a Gymstart event in Dublin. Each of them is awarded a medal, except for the one Black girl pictured. Since the footage re-emerged, it’s been watched by millions on social media. The incident...
The Manchester Museum is returning over 170 Aboriginal artefacts
The decision marks a breakthrough in Britain’s imperialist museological history. But is it as positive as it seems? In a world increasingly conscious of its colonial legacy, the Manchester Museum has made the rather groundbreaking decision to return hundreds of Aboriginal artefacts to their rightful homes. The Aboriginal Anindilyakwa community of Australia’s Northern Territory celebrated the return of 174 cultural heritage items as part of a repatriation project organised with the...
