Opinion – we have a lot to learn about identity from Lady Gaga
The pop icon has demonstrated what it really means to be a trans ally. When Lady Gaga first rose to fame in the early 2000s, a persistent rumour began making the rounds: that the ‘Born This Way’ singer was secretly a man. Or a hermaphrodite, depending on who you asked...
Current in Change
Sweden says children under 2 should have zero screen time
Swedish health authorities have issued new recommendations to restrict screen time for young people. Sweden has made a firm statement in the ongoing debate over children and screens: for kids under two, there should be no screen time. At all. Health authorities have issued new recommendations for parents regarding screen time...
How gender norms influence women’s food choices
With societal expectations and cultural conditioning still fundamentally guiding women’s eating habits, it’s time we addressed the often-overlooked issue of gendered appetites. In kitchens and dining rooms across the globe, an unseen force shapes the way that women interact with food. From portion size to preference, gender norms have long...
Could one startup’s moonshot plan to save melting sea ice work?
Concerns are mounting over the Antarctic Ice Sheet – also known as the Doomsday Glacier – as studies show it is melting at its fastest rate ever. Scientists say pumping seawater over the ice sheets could help preserve this vital landscape. Antarctica is a place many humans will never visit,...
Ethiopia bans the import of gasoline and diesel vehicles
Ethiopia has made a bold and unprecedented move by becoming the first country to ban the import of gasoline and diesel vehicles. The country is pushing for a rapid transition to electric vehicles (EVs), signaling a profound shift in its environmental and energy policies. Ethiopia’s decision to eliminate gasoline and...
England & Wales to enforce ‘buffer zones’ around abortion clinics
The decision aims to tackle cases of harassment outside clinics across the country. For years, anti-abortion protesters in England and Wales have employed tactics ranging from the passive-aggressive to the blatantly invasive in an effort to sway women from terminating pregnancies. Come the end of October, however, this may no longer...
The implications of Australia’s social media ban for young people
TikTok, Instagram, Twitch and Steam are some of the platforms to be banned for young people in Australia by the Albanese government. The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, announced in mid-September that social media will be banned for minors. There will be an age verification trial conducted, as the first steps later in the year. This doesn’t come as a shock to the Australian youth, as there has been a ban...
Starlink access approved for areas hit by Hurricane Helene
Elon Musk’s gaggle of internet satellites is currently providing connectivity to areas affected by Hurricane Helene. This is what the tech tycoon had always envisioned for Starlink. You can argue whether Elon Musk’s Starlink project is borne of altruism or primarily of self-gain, but there’s no denying the project’s original MO is now being achieved. Hurricane Helene finally subsided after six long days, but the category 4 weather event has left...
Controversial topics reintroduced to India’s medical curriculum
In a surprising U-turn, India’s National Medical Commission has revised the medical curriculum, reintroducing controversial topics related to sexuality and gender. This decision has sparked a debate on education, LGBTQ+ rights, and the intersection of law and medicine in the country. India’s apex medical education regulator, the National Medical Commission (NMC), has recently made headlines with its decision to revise the forensic medical curriculum for undergraduate students. Raising eyebrows among progressive...
Are we adapting radically enough to climate change?
According to a new study comparing how sensitive societies are to extreme weather now versus 50 years ago, humanity may be no better prepared for the impacts of climate change today than in the 1970s. Considering that hundreds of the world’s leading climate scientists expect our planet to breach the internationally agreed 1.5C threshold by 2027 and temperatures to rise to at least 2.5C above pre-industrial levels this century, you’d assume we’d...
