Research says tobacco companies hooked the US onto junk food
Research carried out by the University of Kansas has revealed that tobacco companies were a key influence in the commercial explosion of junk food between 1988 and 2001. Responsible for roughly eight million cigarette-related deaths a year, and the recent mainstream pivot to the abomination that is the single-use vape,...
Current in Change
Why are protests taking place around the world this weekend?
All weekend long, tens of thousands of people will be taking to city streets to protest for an end to the use of fossil fuels. In dozens of countries and hundreds of cities worldwide, tens of thousands of people are readying to take to the streets to protest for an...
One in seven adults are reportedly addicted to ultra-processed foods
An analysis of 281 studies from 36 different countries, published in the BMJ, states that the way some people consume UPFs ‘meets the criteria for diagnosis of substance use disorder.’
Did you know that, given the option, most rats will choose sugar instead of cocaine?
This is according to an
Exclusive – How Wawa Gatheru is closing the climate movement gaps
In 2021, the environmental justice activist founded Black Girl Environmentalist to centre Black girls, women, and gender-expansive people in the climate movement while shifting inequitable power structures that create barriers to access. We spoke to her about what this involves. Wanjiku (Wawa) Gatheru has made it her mission to guarantee...
UK ministers set to ban single-use vapes over child addiction fears
UK ministers are reportedly poised to announce a nationwide ban on single-use vapes in the coming week. With their considerable ecological impact considered in discussions, the chief concern is that children are becoming addicted. Your local off license is about to become a lot less colourful in the coming weeks,...
Biden cancels Trump-approved oil and gas leases in the Arctic
In a massive win for the planet, the Biden administration has confirmed the cancellation of seven controversial oil and gas leases in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, citing the need to conserve nature and protect Indigenous rights. This week, the Biden administration confirmed its intent to cancel seven controversial oil...
Shouting at kids increases their risk of mental health issues by 50%
New research claims that shouting can be as damaging to children’s development as sexual and physical abuse. It warns that young people exposed to hostile parenting early on are more likely to self-hr, use drugs, and commit crimes. According to a recent study published in Science Direct, shouting at, denigrating, or verbally threatening children can be as damaging to their development as sexual or physical abuse. For this reason, the authors...
Africa’s first Climate Summit 2023 resolutions, criticisms, and challenges
The just concluded Africa Climate Summit, a significant gathering of leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders, unfolded for 3 days against the backdrop of pressing environmental challenges. Governments, organisations, and heads of African states deliberated on crucial resolutions to address climate change, carbon credits, and various environmental issues, amid a backdrop of criticism from young activists. The inaugural Africa Climate Summit, which concluded on Wednesday at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in...
Is it surprising that Gen Z is giving up on higher education?
Surveys conducted last year reveal that only half of Gen Z say they are interested in pursuing a four-year degree after finishing high school. Looking at the big picture, is this truly surprising? Imagine you’ve just graduated from university, one of the biggest accomplishments of your life so far. Now drowning in financial debt, you’ve never been more motivated to get a job. Yet, every prospective job interviewer only wants to...
The first-hand reality of trying to get justice for rape
One of the primary purposes of the English legal system is to ensure justice is served to those who break the law, including cases involving rape and sexual assault. But for many, the justice system is failing. After five years of trying to bury what happened to her, Ciara decided to report that she was raped. ‘It had got to the point in my story where my private, personal, professional...
