For over a decade, Syria has been a battleground for competing interests, both domestic and foreign, with its people bearing the brunt of immense suffering. Bashar al-Assad, once seen by supporters as a stabilizing force, has now been deposed after years of civil war, economic collapse, and unrelenting pressure from inside and outside the country.… Continue reading Syria at a Crossroads: The Deposing of Bashar al-Assad and the Vision for a Free Future
The women-led uprising in Iran, which captured global attention a few years ago, remains a significant force for change in the region. Despite a decrease in international media coverage, the movement continues to impact not only Iran but also the broader Middle East, shaping perceptions and inspiring future generations. The Roots of the Uprising The… Continue reading The women-led uprising in Iran: a continuing struggle for change
Fashion has a notorious environmental footprint, accounting for up to 10% of global carbon dioxide output. This is exacerbated by a fast fashion business model which encourages the frequent purchase of low-priced and non-durable items. Around 30% of online purchases are subsequently returned, much of which goes to landfill. In 2020, an estimated 2.6 million tonnes of returns were disposed of… Continue reading Fast fashion: why your online returns may end up in landfill – and what can be done about it
‘New UK chief inspector of constabulary, Andy Cooke, has also reportedly suggested that police should use “discretion” over whether to charge those who steal so they can eat.‘ If you ask someone whether it’s okay to steal, chances are most people would say no. This absolutist approach – stealing is wrong, no matter what –… Continue reading Is it wrong to steal from large corporations? A philosopher debates the ethics
Prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s coalition disapproves of LGBTQ+ couples raising children together and says the country’s laws do not allow children to have two mothers. Without warning, Michela Leidi was officially cancelled as the mother of her daughter on the infant’s birth certificate in January. ‘I cried for ten days when I opened the letter, it… Continue reading The children of LGBTQ+ parents are being stripped of their birth certificates in Italy
In the spring of 2024, residents of the south Devon harbour town of Brixham kept falling ill. Their symptoms – including “awful stomach complaints, bad diarrhoea and severe headaches” – went on for weeks. A retired GP who ventured to the pub after finally recovering from the illness recalled that, when someone asked those present to “raise… Continue reading Britain’s ‘broken’ water system: a history of death, denial and stomach aches
Labour’s shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has said that a Labour government would not raises taxes on wealth, capital gains or higher incomes. She does not, she said, see “the way to prosperity as being through taxation.” Britain is asset rich. National wealth – a mix of property, business, financial and state assets – stands at… Continue reading Poverty in Britain is firmly linked to the country’s mountain of private wealth – Labour must address this growing inequality
As the impact of climate change on communities increases, researchers are concerned about growing inequalities. The most recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stresses the importance of one aspect that is too often neglected by local action on climate change: considering the question of inequalities. Studies show that the people, communities… Continue reading The fight against the climate crisis must not increase inequalities
The UK government is facing growing pressure to honor its election promises to ban harmful bee-killing pesticides, as ministers consider granting another year of emergency use for neonicotinoids in 2025. Despite a pledge from Labour leader Keir Starmer to ban these chemicals, the government is leaning toward approving the use of thiamethoxam, a pesticide linked… Continue reading UK government considers bee-killing pesticide approval, despite election promises
Our planet is getting hotter at an alarming rate. Climate change is one of the most serious global issues today. Its consequences affect every single human being on Earth. So it seems perfectly logical that scientific publications about global warming are written in the global language: English. And yet, it is precisely because it is written in English, that climate… Continue reading How language barriers influence global climate literacy
