Part 3: Fossil fuel lobbyists driving climate delay
The 5 biggest oil companies spend US$115 million delaying climate policy, annually. Following the United Nations Climate Summit (COP26) in November, the environmental campaign group Global Witness reported that 500 lobbyists had been sent to the event by over 100 fossil fuel companies – more than any single country at...
Current in Change
TikTok users want the world to move past ableist thinking
TikTok users are giving us a first-hand look at what it’s like living in a world largely designed for able-bodied people. Last weekend’s intimate Ted x London Women’s event kicked off with a presentation on ableism. If you’re confused about what this means, the Oxford Dictionary explains the term as ‘discrimination...
UK law change finally ends the divorce ‘blame game’
Prior to a recent change, proof of adultery, desertion, or a five year separation was needed to carry through a divorce in the UK. Now, the revised ‘no-fault’ law means blame no longer has to be apportioned and that marriages can end amicably. When for better or worse goes out...
Why we should talk more about Europe’s rapidly growing forests
With laser-like focus on deforestation in the Amazon, we’ve forgotten to celebrate the growth of forests around us and the job they’re doing to sustain our natural world. The Amazon rainforest tends to make headlines whenever wildfires begin, as entire ecosystems and species are irreversibly destroyed. But more frequently, it’s human-led...
Final IPCC report warns ‘now or never’ to prevent climate disaster
Climate scientists have provided something of a final warning in the latest IPCC report. Efforts to make emissions peak by 2025 must materialise ‘now or never’ to avoid devastating climate impacts. Good afternoon… humanity is running out of time. The third and final section of the IPCC’s comprehensive review of climate...
Edible food packaging is the future of snack time
Using seaweed and algae, several food manufacturers are starting to cut back on single-use plastic waste by making their wrappers fully edible. Ever finish your snack and wish you had a little something more to munch on? What if we told you that soon, you’ll be able to eat the...
How will the Russian invasion of Ukraine affect Africa?
The ongoing war in Ukraine could have significant ramifications in Africa, from damaged educational opportunities to weakened economies as a result of disrupted trade. Russia and Ukraine have both played a critical role in Africa's development. Over the years, Russia has provided trade, aid, military training, and paramilitary security in countries such as Mali. Ukraine, one of the dominant wheat producers in Europe, also exports its agricultural products to Africa. With these...
Burger King to ban ‘forever chemicals’ from its packaging
The fast food consortium in charge of Burger King, Tim Hortons, and Popeyes has announced a global ban on toxic ‘forever chemicals’ from all restaurant packaging by 2025. Those of us who occasionally indulge in fast food ‘dining’ know what we’re getting into, right? Did you know though, that its not just the risk attached to a lack of nutrients or high sodium content we need to be concerned with. It’s...
World’s first octopus farm branded ‘an environmental catastrophe’
A company called Nueva Pescacnova has just invested €65 million to build a gigantic octopus farm in the Spanish port of Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. With all that’s happening in the human realm at the moment, it might be a little difficult to consider why the welfare of an eight-legged sea creature would be something worth lobbying for. However, scientists and environmentalists worldwide are horrified to learn that a...
Online volunteers hunt for evidence of Russian war crimes
In Ukraine, civilian accounts of atrocities carried out by the Russian military continue to emerge. Online volunteers around the globe are now building dossiers of purported ‘war crimes’ for potential convictions once the gunfire ceases. While our present obsession with tech and social media certainly has its drawbacks, it is conducive to creating a stronger feeling of democracy. Wherever unlawful persecution or atrocities are taking place in plain sight, with platforms...
