Mercy Corps and partners are transforming the lives of young girls
In the arid and semi-arid landscapes of Northern Kenya, where challenges like drought, poverty, and limited access to education disproportionately affect young girls, Mercy Corps and partners has taken a bold step towards transforming lives through its Girls Improving Resilience through Livelihoods (GIRL) program. I recently visited Northern Kenya, a...
Current in Change
Should sex offenders face chemical castration as legal punishment?
National outrage has ensued in Italy after the horrific gang rape of a 19-year-old girl which took place in Sicily this summer. One far-right politician has put forward a controversial punishment for sex offenders – chemical castration. TW: This article contains mention of sexual assault. In early July, a 19-year-old...
Understanding the growing movement for paid housework
There is a growing demand for paid housework, and a call to recognise the economic impact of an often overlooked aspect of day-to-day life. 16.4 billion hours per day are spent performing unpaid care labour, as per data from the International Labour Organisation which is based on two-thirds...
Migrant boat capsize leaves near 70 dead
Close to 70 young people are feared dead after a boat carrying mostly Senegalese migrants capsized off the coast of Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean. The migration path across the Atlantic stands out as one of the globe's most perilous routes. The reasons behind the youths' risky voyage to...
The G20 poured $1trn into fossil fuel subsidies last year
After failing to reach a consensus on phasing down fossil fuels last month, it has since been revealed that the G20 poured $1trn into fossil fuel subsidies in 2022. It’s all starting to make sense. Last month, a crunch G20 meeting took place in India in which the world’s wealthiest nations...
Mexico is the latest Latin American country to decriminalise abortion
The Supreme Court’s decision to legalise the procedure across all 32 states follows a growing trend throughout the region, which is renowned for its deeply conservative values. On Wednesday, Mexico’s Supreme Court unanimously ordered that abortion be removed from the federal penal code across all 32 states, in a historic...
How rich nations have trapped poorer countries into fossil fuel use
The campaign group Debt Justice says rich nations have forced poorer countries into moving past fossil fuels as they struggle to pay back national debts. Its members call for debt forgiveness, which will allow the Global South to begin advancing towards sustainable energy. As the global consequences of fossil fuel driven climate change become more evident year on year, many nations are now seriously assessing their options when it comes...
Could India officially be renamed ‘Bharat’?
In preparation to host the G20 summit this weekend, state-issued invitations sent to world leaders have ignited rumours that Modi’s government plans to break with the country’s colonial heritage. This has raised concerns that the Prime Minister is attempting to politicise the national identity. This week, speculations have been growing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist government could try to officially change the name of India to Bharat. Rumours...
EU to crack down on advertisers making false green claims
To protect increasingly climate-conscious consumers from being misled, the proposed directive will ban generic statements including ‘eco,’ ‘environmentally-friendly,’ ‘carbon neutral,’ and ‘natural’ from being made without evidence. More than ever, we’re seeing brands claiming to be sustainability-orientated in an effort to attract climate-conscious consumers. So much so, in fact, that words such as ‘recyclable,’ ‘biodegradable,’ and ‘responsibly sourced’ can be found on almost every piece of packaging their products are cased...
European nations consider adopting siestas to cope with heatwaves
Spain has long been famous for its siestas. In the face of higher global temperatures and increasing heatwaves, other European countries are considering adopting them. Brutal heatwaves have been at the centre of European summer experiences in recent years. As they continue to arrive with increasing intensity, it's time for nations to consider different strategies to cope. One solution that has already proven effective in several countries is the siesta...
