WHO declares Benin and Mali trachoma-free
Trachoma has plagued poor communities across the globe for centuries. This week, the World Health Organization declared both Benin and Mali to have eradicated the disease, joining four other African nations in eliminating the problem fully. The profound consequences of trachoma on communities have been extensively documented. Recently, a collaborative...
Current in Change
BP’s oil spill highlights the human impact of environmental crises
Thirteen years after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, those who helped clean it up are suffering from mental and physical illness. The disruption of their daily lives should disrupt ours, too. In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill unleashed an environmental catastrophe, causing irreparable damage to ecosystems and communities. A...
This year’s G7 summit explained
G7 countries are economic, political heavyweights with the power to tackle urgent global issues. If you look back at past G7 Summit agendas, you’ll see many of the same themes: reducing inequality, promoting women’s equality, and advancing global security among them. This year, the to-do list for the leaders of seven...
Limits on blood donations from gay and bisexual men eased by FDA
The Food and Drug Administration has announced it will not lift its total ban on gay and bisexual men from giving blood donations in the US. The policy, which has been in place for more than 30 years, has been altered after being deemed discriminatory. Each year, around 110 million blood...
Could mushrooms eventually replace polystyrene?
A Ukrainian startup has successfully developed a 100% biodegradable and extremely lightweight packaging alternative made from mycelium roots that fully decomposes in just a month. If you’re familiar with my writing, by now I’m sure you’re well aware of my deep-rooted obsession with all things mycelium. This is pretty understandable, given...
How has Biden approached climate diplomacy?
The election of President Joe Biden brought forth a renewed sense of hope and urgency in the fight against climate change. On April 22, 2021, world leaders were brought together at the Leaders’ Summit on Climate. With a firm commitment to reversing the policies of the previous administration, Biden promised...
Abuse of Vinicius Jr renews calls to address racism in football
Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr was subject to racist abuse during a La Liga tie against Valencia on Sunday. Past and present teammates have since come out in support of the 22-year-old, along with the wider football world. The beautiful game, at times, can be extremely ugly. One of football’s most exciting starlets, Vinicius Jr, was subject to racist abuse during Real Madrid’s Spanish league tie against Valencia at the Mestalla...
Paris’ River Seine will soon be safe to swim in once again
After a century-long ban, Paris authorities have announced that the River Seine will be clean enough to swim in by the end of the year. At least two 2024 Olympic swimming races will be held in the river. How did the city clean up its act? I will never forget the horror of hearing the sound of a huge splash while working during a summer heatwave in Amsterdam. Our offices’ upstairs...
New study reveals that menstrual misinformation is on the rise
According to research published this month by period tracking app Flo Health, there exist prominent gaps in the knowledge women have about their own bodies. While women’s health has undergone a generational culture shift in recent years, prompting more open discourse around historically stigmatised concerns regarding our wombs, it’s still pretty common for those of us who menstruate to feel conditioned to accept that debilitating pain is normal, nay something...
What Uber’s new flight service means for travel
Uber, the ride-hailing giant, recently announced its expansion into the world of flights. While this move may seem like a turning point in travel convenience, it raises concerns about environmental impact. Nearly all of us, especially those living in the UK’s bigger cities, will have had a run-in with Uber. Launched in 2009, the platform was an overhaul in travel, allowing users to move from A to B with an ease...
