Laughter plays a crucial role in every culture across the world. But it’s not clear why laughter exists. While it is evidently an inherently social phenomenon – people are up to 30 times more likely to laugh in a group than when alone – laughter’s function as a form of communication remains mysterious. Read more...
In an environment where everyone knows but no one speaks, volume is a measure of courage.
Berta Cáceres had a loud voice, and even louder actions.
The all too familiar arc of prominent activists in Central America sadly mirrors that of Icarus; too much ambition, or worse, success, in making your society a better one will likely result in the proverbial sun cutting short your journey. Read more...
Like millions of others, I have spent a good chunk of time since the turn of the year gripped by Netflix’s devourable documentary series Making a Murderer. This is one of those rare television shows that has transcended both its format and its genre to become the source of many water-cooler moments, heated debates and insane theories. Read more...
I was very impressed by the COP21 ads in the Parisian metro last week. In big bold white letters the placards proclaimed:
THE PLANET IS IN OUR HANDS
WE CANNOT TELL OUR CHILDREN THAT WE DIDN’T KNOW
WELCOME TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE COME TO DEFEND OUR PLANET
Since wrapping up the climate talks last weekend, the COP21 agreements have been hailed a historical success by politicians from around the globe. Read more...
There’s one thing in particular that is plaguing my mind about the anti-racism movement and I think it’s important to talk about it. For those of you who have read my White Feminists Can be Intersectional Feminists Too piece, this is a follow-up, or amendment if you like, on something I touched upon: mixed race identities. Read more...
What a surprise - the Tory government lied about their intentions concerning climate change. After David Cameron hugged huskies, pledging to run the ‘greenest government ever’, and George Osborne told climate campaigners “If I become chancellor, the treasury will become a green ally, not a foe” [1] it seems they have stopped caring again and started going about their usual conservative business. Read more...
Travelling the world, why bother? Everyone has either done it, is doing it or wants to do it at some point. Why? Bored with our jobs, our relationships (or lack of), the weather, or our friends? And so uprooting ourselves to a land far, far away - a land and a people that don’t know us and our insecurities - seems like the right solution. Read more...
Given Russia’s involvement in Crimea in recent months, when news of Russia’s ISIS airstrikes apparently being solely targeted at rebel forces and committing civilian casualties reached my retina, I was naturally a little apprehensive. Were relations between Russia and the West going to break down irreparably? Read more...
“There is increasing evidence that a small but significant number of people, almost all of whom are British citizens, reject our values,” says Home Secretary Theresa May as she lays out the rationale behind her counter-extremism strategy in the lead up to the May elections. Read more...
I follow fashion, I own items of clothing that I have never worn and I’ve been known to buy something that I only ‘kinda like’ in a sale if the reduction is good enough (see point 2). I also care about social issues both here and abroad and would like to consider myself a conscious consumer. Read more...
