Organised crime is a hidden yet major contributor to deforestation
When someone mentions deforestation, you probably think of beef production or the wood industry as being most culpable. A key driver that often goes under the radar, however, is organised crime like drug trafficking and illegal logging. Forest Day at COP26 was a relative success, but there’s definitely work to...
Current in Change
Fear, powerlessness, hope at COP26 – hope: how do I find it?
At COP26, Force of Nature went to every corner - the Blue Zone, the Green Zone, the New York Times Climate Hub, the UK Youth Climate Cafe, the trailblazing campaigners in the streets, and everywhere in between - to gauge the emotional climate. A couple weeks ago, we peeled back...
Barbados cuts ties with its colonial past to become a republic
After an effort lasting two decades, Barbados has removed the British monarch as its head of state. It is a symbolic moment which will leave colonial ruling behind for good. Yesterday evening, Barbados replaced the Queen as its head of state and became a republic, cutting its last remaining colonial...
Living with someone on the hunt for a work visa
In the year ending March 2021, there were 37% fewer work-related visas granted than the previous year, reflecting the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. What is it really like for those looking for a work visa? In the journalism sector, which has already dramatically shrunk in the past decade, many...
Scorpions hospitalise over 500 people during major storm in Egypt
Humans aren’t alone in trying to escape extreme weather caused by climate change – even the world’s most dangerous animals must look for refuge. We all know by now that climate change is causing strange and powerful weather events around the globe. Humanity must come up with novel ways to...
What is Giving Tuesday?
Held directly after the consumer rush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this global philanthropic event empowers people to transform their respective communities through direct charitable contributions. Amid the holiday season, it’s not unusual to feel inundated by consumerism, particularly when the start of the shopping period is marked by...
Nurdles are causing as much natural damage as oil spills
Nurdles are probably the worst form of toxic waste you’ve never heard of. Floating in the oceans, billions of these tiny plastic pellets are causing as much damage as oil spills today. We’re at the stage where it feels like humanity is deliberately sabotaging its own planet. Case in point number 100,000: nurdles. By definition, nurdles are technically a form of micro-plastic because they’re small and – you guessed it –...
Exclusive – six climate activists give us the scoop on COP26
If this year’s COP summit taught us anything, it’s that young people are the key to climate justice. For this reason, we asked a collection of changemakers about their expectations, concerns, and takeaways before, during, and after the event. Today’s youth are the least to blame for the climate crisis, given they’ve been around for less than two decades. Without drastic changes, however, they will be the ones left...
Extinction Rebellion sabotages Amazon’s Black Friday shipments
Protestors blocked fifteen Amazon warehouses across the UK, Germany, and The Netherlands ahead of Black Friday. In recent months, the activist group Extinction Rebellion has ramped up their efforts significantly. They’ve regularly taken to city streets, made appearances at COP26, and now, are blockading streets around Amazon warehouses ahead of the busiest shopping weekend of the year – and with good reason. Although snagging a deal on Black Friday feels like a...
Pregnant girls to be allowed back to school after birth in Tanzania
On Wednesday, Tanzania lifted a ban on pregnant students and teenage mothers continuing with their studies that had been in place for 19 years. Speaking in Dodoma, Tanzania’s Education Minister Prof Joyce Ndalichako said the government will allow all students who dropped out of school due to pregnancy related issues and other reasons to resume classes. The Ministry further assured that the affected students could resume school within a two-year...
