Latest Stories from Jamie
Solar powered pods provide sanctuary to homeless in Germany
Solar powered pods are offering rough sleepers an overnight sanctuary, as efforts to ‘start contact’ with the homeless community are boosted in the German city of Ulm. The German city Ulm, located about 75 miles west of Munich, has built a series of state-of-the-art pods for its homeless community to sleep in. Scattered throughout local parks and other areas known to be frequented by the city’s homeless population, the aptly named...
The 9-year-old activist leading a campaign against plastic waste
At just 9 years of age, a British girl is spearheading a campaign to stop unsorted plastic waste being dumped in developing countries. A new year may have just begun, but it’s safe to say we’ve already got a contender for most inspiring story of 2021. If you were to ask, a self-proclaimed activist will usually be able to draw on the exact moment they decided to take a stand for...
Wattpad’s takeover spells big opportunities for aspiring writers
Wattpad - the user-generated publishing app providing big-time opportunities to aspiring writers - is set for a huge year, with a purported $600 million buyout almost doubling its community in size. It’s safe to say seniors at Wattpad aren’t exactly lacking in ambition. In 2020, the self-publishing company outlined its desire to become the ultimate content feeder for streaming services like Hulu and Netflix, and a steady supplier of blockbuster material...
NGOs demand EU ban on destructive fishing method ‘bottom trawling’
‘Bottom trawling’ is destroying delicate marine ecosystems that are ‘protected’ by the EU. Now, a coalition of NGOs is demanding accountability and increased action. A group of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are pressuring the EU to ban the common commercial fishing method known as ‘bottom trawling’. For those unfamiliar, ‘bottom trawling’ involves dragging nets up to 650m wide across the seabed and catching thousands of low dwelling fish in a single voyage....
TikTok to support its Black creators with new incubator program
In lieu of broader efforts to ensure greater diversity and representation on the platform, TikTok has launched its Black Creators program for 2021. With the Black Lives Matter movement reaching a fever pitch of momentum in 2020, the biggest social media platforms are finally understanding the importance of providing all creators with equal opportunities online. It’s with this goal in mind that TikTok is ramping up efforts to further invest in...
Activists attempt to convict French state for lack of climate action
In what could become a historic court case of global significance, eco activists and NGOs in Paris are seeking conviction of the French state for its ‘inadequate’ action to combat climate change. A court in Paris will this week hear a landmark case accusing the French government of taking inadequate action to combat climate change. Brought forth two years ago by four climate NGOs, including Greenpeace France, Oxfam France, Notre...
Netflix is striving for ethnicity and gender equality in 2021
Netflix has revealed its first ‘inclusion report’, a handy roadmap outlining how the company will be improving ethnicity and gender diversity for 2021 and beyond. 2020 was a challenging year for film and theatre. Hollywood productions were being upended and cinemas closed across the board, yet TV subscription services reaped the benefits of a captive lockdown audience and came out on top. By June of last year Netflix had already secured...
How to use Spark AR’s DIY resources for pro Instagram Stories
Facebook’s Spark AR is making digital design more accessible than ever before for aspiring creatives. Get involved and make a buck. Creatives are finally getting a peak behind the curtain in regard to digital design tools on social media, and developing the knack of producing professional quality work is easier than ever before. In this case, we’re looking into the augmented reality features you’ll no doubt have seen on countless Insta...
Facebook’s ‘smart glasses’ bring us closer to wearable AR in 2021
2021 is set to become a breakthrough year for the rollout of smart glasses and Facebook is at the front of the queue with its own wearable tech, though it’s not without a significant catch. Frankly speaking, the future of wearable gadgets and real-world integration with augmented reality is easily top five on the list of most exciting developments in tech right now. It’s also the worst kept secret in...
Parler servers shut down in wake of US Capitol riot
Originally peddled as a social media network for unbridled free speech, Parler has been taken offline by hosts Amazon following the Capitol riots in the US. Parler, the Twitter clone known for peddling unbridled free speech with dangerously loose content moderation tools – depending on which side of the fence you sit – has this week seen its hosting services pulled by Amazon. After less than three turbulent years of...
