Latest Stories from Jessica
‘Mount Recyclemore’ sculpted from e-waste ahead of G7 summit
A giant sculpture made from electronic waste has been constructed across the water from a hotel in Cornwall, where this year’s G7 summit is being hosted. The artwork depicts the faces of the world’s seven most powerful democratic leaders and aims to draw attention to e-waste that is generated by devices not recycled or resold each year. According to a report published by the UN, 53.6 million tonnes of electronic...
Wildlife trafficking increases on Facebook despite ban
Social media platforms are being utilised by dealers in the wildlife trade to connect with potential buyers. Despite Facebook imposing a ban on animal trafficking, the practice has increased online. Like many businesses that were forced to develop a stronger online market presence due to the global pandemic, dealers in the illegal exotic animal and animal product trade have taken to social media to make sales. Ivory from the tusks of...
Wealthy countries hoard vaccines while poorer nations go without first dose
The world’s most wealthy countries are offering outrageous incentives to encourage citizens to get vaccinated. Meanwhile, citizens in poorer nations have yet to receive a single dose. For many, a widely available vaccine seemed like the light at the end of the tunnel, a way out of lengthy lockdowns and a tool that would stop rising death tolls and ultimately lead to the closure of the pandemic. However, the race for pharmaceutical companies...
Michaela Coel wins two BAFTA awards for ‘I May Destroy You’
The ground-breaking television series received double recognition in the BAFTA’s most diverse set of winners yet. After being controversially snubbed at the Golden Globe Awards, Michaela Coel collected two BAFTA awards for Best Actress and Best Mini-Series for the complex, important, and multi-dimensional series that is I May Destroy You. The twelve-part series was inspired by Coel’s own experience as a Black female creative dealing with the aftermath of her sexual...
Wigs are booming despite a steep ethical price tag
The desire for authentic human hair wigs is growing rapidly thanks to pop culture, but the flashing lights of the red carpet are blinding consumers to the dark secrets of the hair trade. Outside of the Black community, wig-wearing among white women was almost exclusively reserved for fancy dress parties, religious practices, or as a solution for hair loss. Wigs previously held connotations of beauty deception, masking your identity, or false...
Naomi Osaka withdraws from French Open citing mental health reasons
The mental health of athletes has been a neglected topic for a long time. Gen-Z champion tennis player Naomi Osaka is sparking the conversation in professional sport. On Monday, Gen-Z tennis star Naomi Osaka announced her withdrawal from the French Open due to mental health reasons. The decision comes after she was fined $15,000 for skipping an obligatory post-match press conference due to anxiety. She was also threatened with disqualification...
Instagram launches ‘hide likes’ feature
The option for users to hide the number of 'likes' on their posts and timeline is now live on Instagram. The company’s CEO calls it an effort to make the platform a ‘safer place on the internet.’ After months of randomised user-testing on the ‘no-likes’ feature, anyone with an Instagram account can now hide the number of likes on their posts (as well as others on the timeline) by turning...
Opinion – why sex ed serves as an avenue for social change
Governments and schools now consider sex-ed lessons to be a vital opportunity for furthering greater inclusivity and increasing self-confidence in younger generations. When breaking down sexual education to some of its basic elements: establishing consent, respecting differences, setting boundaries, and regularly checking in with your personal health, it’s clear that these are useful skills in all areas of adult life, not just physical intimacy. It wasn’t until the end of 2020,...
Indigenous communities on the front line in climate change fight
Climate change is affecting all of us whether we feel it in our day-to-day or not. However, Indigenous peoples who depend on local ecosystems are speaking out more than ever. Indigenous people known as Aboriginals - or First Nations in Australia - are people who have lived in harmony with their surrounding natural environments for thousands of years. Despite these groups making up just 5% of global populations, they manage...
Why does isolated conflict lead to a rise in global hate crimes? Israel-Palestine explored
Leaders around the world have expressed their concern about a rise in xenophobia and racism after the recent resurgence of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. The eleven-day battle between Israeli and Palestinian armies has come to a close, with both sides declaring ceasefire from the 21st of May. At least 230 Palestinians and 12 Israelis were killed in the attacks, making this period the deadliest resurgence of the conflict in recent years. Though the...
