Latest Stories from Jessica
Companies close offices for paid ‘mental health’ week
Last week, Bumble closed its office to give staff a ‘much needed’ mental health break. Other companies are following suit despite reports that Gen-Z prefers office life to a work from home setting. The founder of Bumble, the women-led dating app which employs 700 people worldwide, announced a fully paid, week long office closure to give staff time to focus on their mental wellbeing. Following the business's rapid economic growth in...
Disney casting for Snow White remake causes social media stir
The film that propelled Disney forward as an animation legend is getting a live action revamp. This time, Snow White is, well, not so white. Rachel Zegler, the actress and singer known for playing Maria in Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story, has been casted for the lead role of Snow White. Born in America of a Colombian mother and Polish father, the colour of Zegler’s skin is being contested...
Beauty brands support LGTBQ+ communities for Pride Month
Pride is different this year, with celebrations cancelled or postponed. Even so, there are plenty of ways to show support by donating to charities or shopping with brands who give back. Time is up for performance activism. As young consumers, we are far more aware of the philosophical values of the companies we choose to purchase from than previous generations. Brands must now align their values with ours, be vocal about...
New tool created for teens to report leaked nudes online
The charity Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has launched a tool for under-18s who are concerned their intimate photos will be shared online. Content can be reported and prevented from being reuploaded. Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has created a tool designed to give children new powers to prevent their private or explicit content from being shared online. By using the ‘Report Remove’ feature on the Childline website, young people can flag content...
Animals to be considered sentient beings by new UK laws
The government now formally recognises animals as sentient beings. New welfare measures will be introduced to halt most live animal exports and ban the import of hunting trophies. The UK was the first nation in the world to pass animal welfare laws, making it illegal to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal. After Brexit, campaigners requested for animals to be formally recognised as sentient beings, since they are no longer protected...
Love Island announces increased mental health support for cast
Mental health is being prioritised in this year’s season of Love Island, as previous participants publicly reveal the pressures of being part of the show. It’s that time again. The nation’s favourite guilty pleasure reality TV show Love Island is back for six nights a week this summer after being cancelled in 2020. The seventh season will usher in major behind-the-scenes changes after receiving scrutiny for the psychological pressures contenders face...
Opinion – Pulitzer Prize shows the power of citizen journalism
Darnella Fraizer was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for documenting the police brutality that resulted in George Floyd’s death. The video initiated global protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Awarding a Pulitzer prize to a regular citizen for capturing a moment that sparked the world into action emphasises the true power of the voice of the people, made possible by modern media. Seventeen-year-old Darnella Frazier’s was honoured for her...
Mapping challenges for the future of sustainable architecture
Green walls and solar panels are no longer considered adequate for making a building ‘green’. Architects suggest the process must start from the inside out. What is sustainable architecture, truly? When someone asks this question, what do you think of? Like most people, my response would probably be something like: buildings designed to incorporate a vast amount of plant life and open space, features that would hopefully neutralise the structure’s carbon...
UN urges leaders to deliver £72 billion for climate change fight
With COP26 just five months away, global leaders have yet to consolidate the funding they pledged for climate change. The money is essential for mapping the next steps towards climate action. We’re all familiar with the saying ‘money makes the world go round.’ As wealthy nations hold out on their promise to donate £72 billion to combat climate change by helping developing countries invest in greener technologies, this statement has never...
New corporate tax laws aim to slash global inequity
World leaders have agreed to start taxing the earnings of tech giants at a minimum of 15 percent annually. What could this increased government income mean for the future? Over the last week, leaders of the G7 countries met in Cornwall to discuss the most pressing global issues of the moment. Climate change, COVID vaccine distribution, and global tax deals were all on the agenda. All were vital conversations, but the...
