Why we should talk more about Europeβs rapidly growing forests
With laser-like focus on deforestation in the Amazon, weβve forgotten to celebrate the growth of forests around us and the job theyβre doing to sustain our natural world. The Amazon rainforest tends to make headlines whenever wildfires begin, as entire ecosystems and species are irreversibly destroyed. But more frequently, itβs human-led...
Current in People
How will the Russian invasion of Ukraine affect Africa?
The ongoing war in Ukraine could have significant ramifications in Africa, from damaged educational opportunities to weakened economies as a result of disrupted trade. Russia and Ukraine have both played a critical role in Africa's development. Over the years, Russia has provided trade, aid, military training, and paramilitary security in countries...
Online volunteers hunt for evidence of Russian war crimes
In Ukraine, civilian accounts of atrocities carried out by the Russian military continue to emerge. Online volunteers around the globe are now building dossiers of purported βwar crimesβ for potential convictions once the gunfire ceases. While our present obsession with tech and social media certainly has its drawbacks, it is...
Heightβs days as a toxic dating trope may be over
The internet has begun to reject this oft-unacknowledged bias thatβs rife on the likes of Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge β choosing instead to ring in a new era, one that celebrates βshort kings.β For as long as Iβm able to remember, women have been the primary target of societal body...
Everything you need to know about trendy Himalayan salt lamps
The proclaimed health benefits of Himalayan salt have led to increased demand for the pink crystals - for food, beauty products, and home wear - but most people know little about where it comes from. When it comes to Himalayan salt lamps, the truth isnβt in the title. The distinctive pink...
Understanding the Nigerian child soldier crisis
WARNING: This article discusses acts of violence and sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised. The Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) is fighting militia groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), who recruit child soldiers in Nigeria. Late last month, a disturbing video was...
Lax US gun laws are massively impacting its island territories
Mainland gun laws are seriously impacting offshore US territories, particularly Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. In both, homicide rates are astronomically high and growing, and the majority of cases are traced back to firearms trafficked from states like Florida and Texas. Despite having relatively strict firearm laws, US territories like Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have far higher gun death rates than any mainland state. How can that...
Polish volunteers risk their lives to rescue animals from Ukraine
Various grassroots organisations have been sending their staff on potentially life-threatening trips across the border to save the pets of those forced to abandon them when fleeing the war zone. Months into RussiaβsΒ slow-movingΒ buildup along the Ukrainian border, Putin announced that he was launching a βspecial military operationβ in Ukraine. This was followed up by reports of explosions around cities,Β including the capital of Kyiv,Β a dramatic escalation thatβs now...
Somalia military court sentences four children to death
Six teenage boys have been sentenced by a military court over involvement with armed groups. Four of them were sentenced to death while two who are aged 16 have been sentenced to 30 and 20 years imprisonment. In October 2020, six teenage boys were arrested by Somali authorities in the north-central city of Galkayo over their involvement with armed groups terrorizing the country. On Friday, the military court sentenced four...
UK launches Homes for Ukraine refugee initiative
More than 130,000 Brits have registered interest in opening their homes to families fleeing the war zone. While the move has been welcomed by many, some are concerned about whether those arriving will get the support they need. Amid intense scrutiny towards the delay in governmental strategies to address the humanitarian crisis brought on by Putinβs merciless attack on Ukraine, thousands of refugees are expected to arrive in the UK...
