In conversation with #HerGameToo co-founder Lucy Ford
Despite a slight technical hitch 10 minutes in, I was fortunate enough to talk with Lucy Ford, mega-fan of Bristol Rovers FC and co-founder of #HerGameToo, an online campaign tackling sexism in football. (Content warning: mention of abuse, rape, threats, discrimination.) Lucy is one of 12 female football fans who...
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Maya Angelou becomes the first Black woman to appear on a US quarter
The legendary writer and activist passed away in 2014 and is now being paid tribute by having her image depicted on America’s brand new 25 cent coins. How can one begin to describe the late Maya Angelou? One might start with her accomplishments as an inspiring poet and novelist, whose books...
Preventing pandemics would cost 5% of the damage they inflict
Every year, the world loses approximately $500bn due to economic fallouts spurred by zoonotic diseases. The cost of preventing them in the future, according to a recent report, could be just $20bn. Though Covid-19 has obviously taken a huge toll on the world, claiming more than 5 million lives and...
WWF report calls for an urgent plan to decarbonise farming
British farmers must reduce their production of meat and dairy by a third in the next decade if scientific advice on limiting greenhouse gas emissions is to be met. A major report by the World Wide Fund for Nature has said that farming needs to be at the forefront...
Sudan’s prime minister resigns amid mass protests over military dictatorship
January 1st 2022 marked 66 years of Sudan’s independence. The following day, prime minister Abdalla Hamdok resigned - leaving the military in full control. On Sunday 2nd January, prime minister Abdalla Hamdok announced his resignation as the head of the civilian government. In an evening televised address, Mr. Hamdok said, ‘I...
What could a global tax on those with $5m wealth pay for?
Globally, there are 3.6 million people that have accumulated more than $5m in wealth – more than 2,600 of them being billionaires. If there were an annual tax on these individuals, here’s what it could pay for. How’s vaccinating the entire planet, for starters? Global wealth distribution is up there...
UK football is facing calls to tackle gender-based violence
Two of the sport’s most powerful bodies have received an open letter urging them to take action after numerous high-profile players have been arrested for domestic and sexual abuse. In January, Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood was arrested on suspicion of rape, sexual assault, and making threats to kill after allegations against him went viral on social media. Alarmingly, his case is only the latest to emerge, and a...
An extra $3.5 trillion a year is the price tag for a net zero transition
Grandiose ambitions of transitioning to net zero economies within the next decade are nothing without serious real-life investment. Now, thanks to a recent report from McKinsey & Company, we know roughly what that sum equates to. Unfortunately, decarbonising entire industries isn’t quite as simple as offering up renewable alternatives and flicking a switch. While us, the people, can make conscious decisions to limit our own impact on the planet, sadly we’re...
Chemical pollution reportedly passes safe limit for humanity
A study on Earth’s cocktail of chemicals suggests pollution levels are threatening the stability of ecosystems on which life physically depends. Fear mongering really isn’t our thing, but we would be remiss not to bring you the unfiltered facts. Though it can’t be verified officially, researchers have reason to believe humanity has now likely breached planetary boundaries of chemical damage – the point at which natural ecosystems stop functioning as they...
BSL to become a legally recognised language in the UK
The UK government has backed a bill to make BSL a legally recognised language, a move that the British Deaf Association says will give deaf people equal access to education and public services. A bill that would make British Sign Language (BSL) a legally recognised language in the UK and help deaf people play a more prominent role in society has received government backing. The proposed law was...
