Why Europe’s new tethered bottle caps are a necessary evil
Have you been scratched on the face while sipping from a plastic bottle with an attached cap? A significant change has swept across Europe’s beverage industry this summer. Since early July, all plastic drink bottles sold within the European Union are required to feature caps that remain tethered to the...
Current in Change
Has swimming in the Seine made Olympic athletes sick?
The billion dollar project to beautify the Parisian river has been dogged with controversy and complications from the start. But the latest bout of illnesses among Olympic triathletes might be the tipping point. You’d be hard pressed to talk about this year’s Olympics without mentioning the river Seine. Since Paris...
Have anti-racist protests created hope for the UK?
Following the radical far-right riots across the UK, which have targeted immigrant communities and led to a breakout in mass violence, anti-racist protests have united people to combat the eruption of islamophobia and racism. The 7th of August saw large crowds of anti-racist protesters gathered across the UK to...
Study claims UK girls more anxious about climate change than boys
A report led by a team from the University College London claims that when it comes to fears about climate change, girls are far more concerned than boys – in UK schools, that is. Just how early does existential concern about humanity’s ecological doom begin, I wonder. Though my generation was...
Will European nations start enforcing caps on tourism?
Protestors in Spain have been calling for their government to address overtourism, primarily due to concerns about housing affordability for locals. With the housing crisis not an isolated issue, could more EU nations follow suit? Travelling is fun. But visiting an iconic national landmark and being surrounded by backpack wearing,...
India’s 2024 budget highlights gaps in LGBTQ+ welfare
Despite improvements in some areas, the per capita spending on the transgender community remains alarmingly low. This has raised concerns about the government’s commitment to their rights. In a country with a population of 1.4 billion people and counting – where diversity and inclusion are often celebrated – the 2024...
Stray dogs in Türkiye face a grim future under new law
The new stray animals law passed in Türkiye puts the lives and freedoms of stray dogs at risk. The biggest giveaway that you’re in Türkiye without being explicitly told is the stray dogs and cats. Or at least, it used to be. Today, stray cats and dogs hold a significant place in the modern urban life of Türkiye. It’s quite common to see them waiting for the traffic light to cross...
Mattel’s Barbie makes another major move for inclusivity
The brand just introduced the first blind or visually impaired Barbie doll, and the internet is loving it. Representation matters, and Mattel – a brand who has long championed this belief – isn’t slowing down in their quest to make every person feel seen. The iconic toy company has once again proven its dedication to inclusivity with its latest release: a Barbie doll that is blind and/or visually impaired. Though often criticised for...
What is happening in Bangladesh?
Escalating clashes between police and anti-government protestors have resulted in more than two hundred deaths across the country, as initially peaceful student demonstrations transformed into a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience aimed at unseating autocratic Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In 1971, the Bangladesh Liberation War – which saw a guerrilla resistance movement formed by Bengali military, paramilitary, and civilians fighting for the country’s independence from Pakistan – was won. Almost four...
Biden administration plans to accelerate landfill methane cuts
Given the major concern of methane emissions from landfills, the Biden administration has proposed updates to reduce the nation’s high and often underestimated emissions from these sites. Methane emissions from landfills significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), municipal solid waste landfills are the nation's third-largest source of human-related methane emissions. In late March, a published study revealed that US...
