Latest Stories from Jessica
New documentary goes undercover inside SHEIN’s factories
Available on Channel 4, the documentary reveals that workers making clothing for the fast-fashion giant SHEIN are paid as little as 3p per garment while working 18-hour shifts. Most of us aren’t blind to the fact that the availability of ultra-cheap clothing is impossible without the exploitation of workers who sew them. But this doesn’t make the findings in Channel 4’s new documentary any less shocking. Titled Untold: Inside the Shein Machine,...
Researchers say global oceans need legal protective rights
Following a recent campaign to give rivers, lakes, and forests legal rights, experts now say global oceans must also be afforded legally enforced protection. They argue this is the only way to positively transform our relationship with oceans and prevent total ecosystem collapse. In a new article published in PLOS Biology, experts from the non-profit organisation Earth Law Center argue that humans must foster ‘a higher respect for the Ocean...
Scientists have discovered a new ecosystem in the Indian Ocean
Named ‘The Trapping Zone,’ the newly discovered ecosystem is teeming with activity. It appears to be an oasis for supporting life, located 500m below the surface of the Indian Ocean. It’s not every day that we hear news of an entirely new ecosystem being discovered, but it looks like scientists and ocean lovers have just gotten lucky. While recently exploring the depths of the Indian Ocean, marine biologists aboard the Nekton...
Is the Met Gala’s 2023 theme problematic?
He may have been one of the most talented and influential fashion figureheads of the 21st century, but like most in positions of power, Karl Lagerfeld’s fame wasn’t without controversy. Is the Met Gala wrong to idolise him at next year’s event? Last year, I wrote about the Met Gala and the ways in which it seemed to have lost its allure. From its tone-deaf theme to its oversaturated invite list,...
Opinion – ‘Kim, there are people that are dying’ is a toxic mindset
The popular phrase has become a default when we – or others – complain about trivial things in our lives, but could this thought process be damaging? We live in the era of heightened global awareness, with the ability to know what’s going on in virtually any part of the world at any time. If you have news app notifications on, you know how disconcerting it is to receive a ping...
Wild salmon are dying in massive numbers due to drought
Thousands of salmon have been discovered dead in Canada after the stream they rely on to spawn dried up due to prolonged drought. Biologists worry these events will occur more frequently as the climate crisis worsens. Last week, at least 65,000 salmon were found dead on a creek bed in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The nearby community of Bella Bella say they are preparing for more devastating natural events...
Legal rights must be afforded to the natural world says experts
Leading environmentalists say better protections must be placed on the natural environment in order to prevent the continuation of climate breakdown and biodiversity loss. Ongoing advancements in biotechnology only stand to bolster their argument. It’s about high time we stopped thinking of the human race as a dominating force over the natural world, and instead embrace the fact that we are completely one with it. For too long, the former ideology...
Adidas launches new swim cap line for Black and afro hair
In collaboration with the British company Soul Cap, the global sportswear giant has introduced another inclusive product to its athletic wear collection. This time, it’s a swim cap designed to fit swimmers with long, voluminous, or Black and afro hair. Last year, Adidas launched a marketing campaign that showcased how a one-size-fits-all approach to sports bra design has resulted in women lacking adequate breast support during their fitness routines. Today, the...
Do we really need gender-specific skincare products?
For decades, skincare routines and other beauty regimes have been viewed as rituals carried out solely by women. But as the boundaries of gender become further blurred, gender-neutral skincare products are increasing in popularity. Was the concept of gender-specific skincare ever legit to begin with? Despite the fact that most straight men still recoil when being convinced to get a tidy-up mani-pedi (trust me, I’ve tried), the promotion of...
The Sea Sanctuary takes mental health services offshore
As British mental health services near overcapacity, a Cornwall-based charity is taking therapy out of the office and out to sea. Combining certified counselling methods and marine-based activities, the team is helping people one boatload at a time. A famous quote from the author Isak Dinesen states, ‘The cure for anything is salt water: tears, sweat, or the sea.’ When this was written in 1934, there was little scientific evidence confirming...
