Latest Stories from Jessica
Young volunteers are rebuilding Ukrainian towns with clean-up raves
The small Ukrainian town of Yahidne is being cleared of remnants of Russian invasion and rebuilt by young volunteers to the soundtrack of house and techno music. Since the last days of February, Eastern Ukraine has experienced unrelenting shelling and occupation by Russian soldiers. Even the country’s smallest and least populated towns have not been exempt from this reality. Located in the North East, Yahidne is home to just 300 people,...
Berlin switches off monument lighting to preserve energy
The lights on Berlin’s famous monuments and historic buildings are being shut off in order to save energy amidst Russian energy cuts. Other cities like Hanover are cutting hot water in city-run buildings. If you’re planning to visit Berlin this summer, don’t expect to see its impressive monuments lit up during the evenings. In light of the energy crisis sparked by the war in Ukraine, the city is switching off the...
Spain launches ‘all bodies are beach bodies’ campaign
Launched by the Spanish government’s equality ministry, the campaign slogan reads ‘the summer is ours too’ and features women of varied sizes and skin tones sitting seaside. The body positivity movement has exploded on social media over the last decade, influencing millions and reshaping decisions made in major fashion shows and in marketing campaigns around the globe. First picking up traction in 2012, the goal is to promote the acceptance of...
Saudi Arabia announces plans for a futuristic city named The Line
The future of architecture could forever be changed by the design of a new vertical city in Saudi Arabia. Fresh details about the project pose it as an epicentre of sustainability, productivity, seamless living, and leisure for millions of people. Of all prosperous nations in the world, Saudi Arabia looks the most motivated to position itself as a leader of the future. Abandoning its dependency on revenue from oil reserves is...
Why the response to the monkeypox outbreak is problematic
Monkeypox was just declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation. Why are officials pushing the damaging narrative that it’s only a concern for men in the LGBTQ community? Although we’ve all experienced a heightened awareness towards contagious illnesses over the last few years, it appears that officials and the general public haven’t learned from our recent past. We’re still dealing with an ever-mutating COVID-19, but new strains of...
Plant-based version of nylon fabric is on the horizon
As the fashion industry looks for ways to shrink its environmental footprint, two companies have partnered up to create a sustainable nylon fabric from plant-based materials. Nylon was the fashion industry’s first ever lab-made fabric. Today, it stands as the most environmentally problematic. Nylon first gained popularity during the 1940s, replacing expensive and hard-to-source silk used for ladies’ stockings, a fashion staple at the time. It also came in handy during...
California beach returned to Black owners’ family in landmark move
Los Angeles County Officials have returned the deed of Manhattan Beach to the property owners’ great-grandson almost 100 years after it was stolen in a racially motivated seizure. Bruce’s Beach in California – known to most people today as Manhattan Beach – has a history that most people who visit it today know little about. The beachfront property was owned by an African American couple, Charles and Willa Bruce, who purchased...
Loewe pairs with Spanish designer for plant-covered collection
While it may not be the most practical fashion choice, wearing fabrics that support growing plant life could bring us closer to nature. At Loewe’s Spring 2023 fashion show in Paris, spectators were pleasantly surprised to see models strut down the runway in unique garments covered in greenery. Think sneakers decorated with live chia plants, coats carefully patterned with grass planted in asymmetrical rows, and matching pants covered in wild, growing...
The major changes cities need to withstand a warmer planet
With record breaking heatwaves enveloping cities across the world, identifying adaptive measures to cope with the climate crisis has never looked more vital. As I write to you today, I am surrounded by evidence of unfruitful attempts to stay cool: fans, a water-misting bottle, and cold brew coffee rapidly turned lukewarm. Despite already having drank 3L of water before noon, my skin continues to feel like the bottom of my...
Dubai builds world’s largest vertical farm
The city known for importing almost all of its produce will now grow 2 million pounds of leafy greens each year inside the world’s largest vertical farm. As the world begins to turn its back on oil in favour of green energy, the United Arab Emirates must follow suit or risk falling behind. In 2021, the UAE set out plans to solidify itself as a global hub for sustainable technology...
