Almost one in three female surgeons have been sexually assaulted
Representing a ‘#MeToo moment’ for the NHS, a recent survey has uncovered a pattern of female trainees being abused by senior male surgeons during the past five years in operating theatres across the UK. Almost a third of female surgeons in the UK have been sexually assaulted by a colleague...
Current in Change
Unpacking the controversy around celebrity charity organisations
Committing to donating a sum of money isn’t the same as donating it directly. Acknowledging this difference can tell us a lot about how celebrities and multinational companies ‘give back’. ‘We’ve committed to donating X amount to X cause,’ is a phrase often used when celebrities and multi-national companies announce...
A new policy could end low-cost flights in the EU
France's Transport Minister has said ‘€10 flights aren’t possible anymore,’ because they do not properly reflect plane travel’s impact on the environment. He plans to propose a new minimum flight price policy to the EU. Europeans may soon be waving goodbye to cheap city breaks if a new proposal aimed...
UN judge urges UK to address slavery reparations
Patrick Robinson has said payment to countries impacted by transatlantic slavery is ‘required by law’. A UN judge sparked national outrage on Tuesday after statements made about UK slavery reparations. Patrick Robinson, a judge at the international court of justice, said the UK can no longer ignore growing calls for...
UN warns that ‘climate breakdown has begun’
According to the World Meteorological Organisation, Earth just had its hottest summer on record, prompting calls for global leaders to ‘turn up the heat now’ on solutions. The summer of 2023, which saw heatwaves, fires, and floods destroy livelihoods across the globe, from North and South America, to Europe, India,...
New research finds air pollution is more deadly than smoking
Life expectancy in at least six countries has fallen drastically due to poor air quality, which now poses more of a risk to citizens than smoking. As the climate crisis rages on, air pollution around the world is worsening. Along with it, so is public health. An updated report conducted...
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 region with a vast and unforgiving terrain where traditional gender roles, limited access to education, and economic disparities pose significant...
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 girl was gang raped by seven men in the city of Palermo, Sicily. The group of offenders, who were between the...
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 of the world’s working age population. This statistic can be understood as 2 billion individuals working 8 hours every day without...
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 Europe are complex, rooted in a quest for a brighter future and a longing for opportunities that seem out of...
