Opinion – What I learned from the world’s most militarised zone
Recently, I visited Kashmir, a disputed territory sandwiched between South Asia, India, and Pakistan. From a heavy presence of the Indian armed forces to a city-wide shutdown, here’s what I saw whilst spending a week in one of the most militarised zones in the world. ‘So, michya ye pasand...
Current in Change
A teenager is using fish waste to clean heavy metal pollution
17-year-old Jacqueline Prawira is one of 100 student winners from Schmidt Futures’ young change maker awards. Using natural components derived from fish scales, she developed a bio-solution capable of ridding waterways of heavy metal contamination. All of a sudden, I’m feeling pretty self-conscious about my teenage years. 17-year-old student Jacqueline Prawira...
The River Oden wildlife killer case may have been solved
Mass fish, bird, and mollusc deaths were reported in Germany’s River Oder over the months of July and August. Germany’s Liebniz Institute of Freshwater Ecological and Inland Fisheries think they have figured out what could’ve caused it. Golden algae – scientifically known as Prymnesium parvum’ – is a rare and...
Why cycling has to be the future of travel
Getting people to switch from cars to bikes won’t be an easy feat, but if achieved, it would create positive change for the planet, our health, and overall quality of life. In certain parts of the world, cycling is the norm for the majority of the population. The city of Amsterdam...
Two Gen Z candidates win in Kenyan general election
In Kenya’s recent general elections, two Gen Zers aged 21 and 24 have been voted as Member of County Assembly and County Woman Representative respectively. They will represent issues affecting their constituents in both county and national assemblies. Many Gen Zers were involved in Kenya’s general election this year. Having a...
Forest Green Rovers lead charge on eco-friendly football
Based in Gloucestershire, the Forest Green Rovers have become the world’s greenest football club. Their latest goals are reducing CO2 emitted during travel to and from games and to build a modern stadium made entirely out of timber. It’s unfortunate that most of the things we enjoy emit greenhouse gases...
When will we take women’s football seriously?
Despite the win that England scored last month, the government has refused to give girls equal access to football in school PE lessons. When will we give women the equal chance to bring football home? Though I call myself a feminist, I was guilty of paying far more attention to the men’s Euros in 2021 than this year’s female tournament, only watching a couple of matches this summer. It’s not because...
This eco-friendly pregnancy test is made entirely from paper
Each year, over 12 million plastic pregnancy tests are thrown out in the UK alone. In a bid to reduce waste caused by single-use plastic items, one company has designed an at home test made entirely out of paper. When listing personal care products that generate unnecessary plastic waste, items like toothbrushes, tampons, or flossing sticks might first come to mind. Bamboo toothbrushes, MoonCups, and water picks have helped us reduce...
Electric motorcycles gain traction in Benin
In Benin’s capital city, Cotonou, motorcycle taxi drivers are switching to electric vehicles to reduce air pollution and promote sustainable green urban transport. In Africa, motorcycles are largely the vehicle of choice as they’re quick, convenient, and cheap. More than 250,000 motorcycle taxi drivers reside in Benin’s capital city of Cotonou and this number is rising as more young people move in for employment purposes. Due to low employment opportunities, many of...
Understanding India’s Maoist insurgency
The Maoist insurgency began in the 1960s and is one of India’s biggest internal security issues. These rebels fight against the neglect of tribal people and the rural poor, aiming to eventually establish communist rule using force. Over the last couple of years, they have seized control over certain parts of the country, and the armed forces follow a strategy of severe crackdown in these areas. India’s Maoist movement began...
