Sweden’s Unique Icehotels

From ice rooms to outdoor experiences, Sweden’s Icehotels provide a unique stay for travelers interested in the outdoors.

Entrance to Icehotel. Markus Bernet. CC BY-SA 2.5

A trip to Sweden may entail many unique experiences, but very little can parallel a stay at Icehotel in Jukkasjarvi. Located in the land region and 200km north of the Arctic Circle, the hotel was established in 1989 as the world’s first ice hotel, with the goal to, “Create life enriching experiences." A unique venue for hospitality, the ice hotel is structurally similar to an igloo. Ice and stagnant air both have very low thermal conductivity, limiting the heat transferred from the outdoors and keeping the structures from melting. The travel group Transun explains that, “The ice structure stops heat being transferred to the surroundings, because the ice and the windless air are both excellent insulators. The buildings depend on sub-freezing temperatures and usually melt in summer, rebuilt again from fresh ice every year.” 

On its site, the Icehotel group writes about the central theme of storytelling it hopes to achieve with its establishments: “Our inspiration is the Arctic and the delicate beauty of crafting something that is ephemeral yet engaging all your senses," creating its edifices with ice taken from the Torne River. With each winter, new artists are given the opportunity to showcase their talents through the Icehotel. The same river is also the source of the crystal-clear ice furniture that adorns both the original Icehotel and the new Icehotel 365, a newer project from the same brand to offer more to travelers all year.

Travel Agency "Discover the World" recommends that, although elements of Icehotel are now open year-round, the best time to visit is, “During the winter months when it is blanketed in snow, the air outside is crisp and cold and the Northern Lights might make an appearance.” For Sweden, this is from December to early April, the months when the original Icehotel is constructed and open. During this time, the Icehotel has between fifteen and twenty standard ice rooms and twelve art suites for guests to stay in. Johan Larsson, the standard ice rooms’ artist, explains that he chose to incorporate an ice bed and decor because, “I wanted to create a feeling of being embraced and protected by the ice—a good night’s sleep for all guests.” The art suites are a step up from the standard rooms. Each suite is designed by an artist who has creative freedom to choose their own themes and styles. Icehotel says that, “The artist, perhaps from Kiruna, Germany, UK, or the US has been picked from over two hundred applicants and invited to make the suite you’ll be sleeping in.” Art suites are kept between 18 and 23 degrees fahrenheit. Because of their icy cold atmosphere, all rooms have special accommodations like thermal sleeping bags, reindeer hides and curtains in place of doors. Guests are given access to Riverside, a heated lobby, for changing rooms, toilets and saunas.

Art Suite in Icehotel. Rob Alter. CC BY 2.0

When planning a stay, guests are offered a choice of warm or cold accommodations. Warm rooms are like a standard hotel room and are located in a separate building. Icehotel recommends that guests spend just one night in the cold while booking a warm room for the rest of their trip, and provides special, insulated sleeping bags for guests to keep warm. The company also encourages appropriate sleepwear—thermal underwear, hats, warm jumpers, etc. Transun notes that, , although sleeping in a room made of ice might sound unpleasant, the right clothing and sleeping bags can keep guests warm as long as the outdoor temperature stays above -13 degrees Fahrenheit. Visitors can still arrange tours if they choose not to spend the night. Icehotel can accommodate up to five people in its largest warm rooms and two people in each of its cold rooms.

Standard Ice Room. Xraijs. CC BY-NC 2.0

Even during the summer months, the Icehotel brand still has much to offer interested travelers. Icehotel 365 was first opened in December 2016 as a year long ice experience. The building is a permanent, 2100 square meter art hall, maintaining interior sub-zero temperatures by relying on cool solar power throughout the year. Its art hall contains a collection of traditional art while the building is also home to deluxe suites, an ice bar and experience rooms that depict Icehotel’s history. Additionally, guests can enjoy Torne River rafting, private fishing tours, a ropes course, mountain hikes, and, of course, the Northern Lights.

Despite being a large tourist attraction, sustainability is central to Icehotel’s methods. The organization writes that, “We borrow the ice from the Torne River to build a new, seasonal Icehotel, which eventually melts and returns back to its origin in the spring. The basic idea of Icehotel is built on the premise of the environmental cycle, and our relation to the water and the ice is central.” The company also works with River Rescuers, an activist group protecting “The untouched waters of Sweden,” and regularly makes donations to WaterAid to assist water health throughout Sweden.

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Aanya Panyadahundi

Aanya is a student at the University of Michigan studying sociology and journalism on a pre-law path. She loves to travel the world whenever she can, always eager to learn more about the different cultures and societies around her. In her free time, she likes to play the violin, ski, and listen to podcasts.

Aboriginal Australians: Ancient Roots and Modern Struggles

Centuries after British Settlement and mass destruction of their culture, Aboriginal Australians continue to be discriminated against by the Australian government. 

Aboriginal Men in 2011. Steve Evans. CC BY 2.0

Aboriginal Australians have experienced systemic disadvantages throughout Australia’s history. Noted as one of the oldest Indigenous communities living outside of Africa, Aboriginal Australians led an advanced lifestyle in precolonial times. According to an article in The Conversation, Indigenous Australians are noted for “establishing complex religions, burying their dead with elaborate rituals, engaging in long-distance trade, making jewelry, and producing magnificent works of art” when Europe was still home to Neanderthals. 

The ancestors of Indigenous Australians migrated to the continent from Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. Numerous studies investigating the Indigenous group conclude that Aborigines have lived in Australia for approximately 65,000 years. Across the country, Aborigines speak more than 250 distinct languages. There are two classifications of Indigenous people in Australia—the Aboriginal peoples and the Torres Strait Islanders. Aboriginal Australians are those whose ancestors lived in mainland Australia before the arrival of European colonists, while Torres Strait Islanders have traditionally lived in an archipelago between the continent and Papua New Guinea to the north. 

Over time, Australia’s Aboriginal presence has fallen to just 3% of the national population due to colonization and legal restrictions. When British Settlement began in 1788, 750,000 to 1.25 million Aboriginal Australians were living in the country at the time. The British brought epidemics, land seizures, and violent conflict, subjecting most Aboriginal Australians to poverty and massacres. According to National Geographic, “[t]hough the term ‘genocide’ remains controversial, people related to the continent’s first inhabitants are widely considered to have been wiped out through violence.” 

From 1910 to 1970, the Australian government created assimilation policies for Aboriginal Australian children, resulting in the Stolen Generations. Successive administrations took Indigenous children away from their families and put them into adoptive families or institutions, forbidding them from speaking their native languages or even keeping their original names.

Today’s Aborigines still face various hurdles as a result of settlement, one being accessible maternal healthcare.  Edie, an Aboriginal woman interviewed by BBC, explains her recent involvement with a movement called Birthing on Country following the birth of her fourth child and observations about the dearth in Indigenous mother healthcare in Australia. Her colleague and co-director of the Molly Wardahuha Research Centre Yvette Roe explains that the organization is, “a concept with key elements: when we talk about ‘Country,’ we’re talking about ancestral connection to the country where we’re born. We’re talking about 60,000 years of connection to the land and sky.” Lack of proper maternal care for Indigenous mothers results in them being three times more likely to die during childbirth than non-Indigenous mothers, and their babies almost twice as likely to die in the first year. The maternal health crisis reflects general disparities that exist for Australia’s Indigenous population. Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander people face high levels of discrimination, unemployment, poor housing and poor education compared to their counterparts. Concentration in remote locations has also limited access to life-saving services.

Additionally, Aboriginals continue to fight for general recognition and restitution by the Australian government. As the only country in the Commonwealth of Nations country to not make a treaty with its Indigenous population, Australia's Parliament attempted to recognise Aboriginals in its Constitution and create an Indigenous advisory board that would weigh in on national, relevant issues along with Parliament. In the fall of 2023, Australia rejected the referendum. While most of the Indigenous voters were in favor of the referendum, 60% of Australian voters said no. The Aboriginal community took a week of silence and reflection following the decision. In the Queensland Parliament, the "Path to Treaty Act 2023" was legislated with an 88 out of 92 member majority. Truth and Treaty Queensland described it as a, “Historic piece of legislation … the Act provides the legislative framework for the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry and the First Nations Treaty Institute to be established.”

Since the late 1700’s,  Aboriginal Australians have struggled at the hands of foreign settlers. Whether it is maternal healthcare or incorporation into Australia’s Constitution, their rights and needs have been and continue to be disregarded in numerous ways across the country. 

TO GET INVOLVED

Australians are encouraged to get involved with their local Aboriginal communities by attending community events and participating in local Aboriginal tours. Residents can also explore local Aboriginal Land Councils to learn about what actions are currently being taken in their communities. Creativespirits.info explains what land councils do to help Indigenous Australians and has a comprehensive list of Aboriginal land councils in Australia. Activist groups such as Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) and Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney (STICS) are actively working to help remediate the injustices Aboriginals are facing across Australia.

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Aanya Panyadahundi

Aanya is a student at the University of Michigan studying sociology and journalism on a pre-law path. She loves to travel the world whenever she can, always eager to learn more about the different cultures and societies around her. In her free time, she likes to play the violin, ski, and listen to podcasts.

Hiking with Dinosaurs in Argentina

Argentina's Talampaya and Ischigualasto Parks contain between them the most complete continental fossil record of the Triassic Period, and a record of early humanity. 

Valle de la Luna. Rodoluca. CC BY-SA 3.0

In the heart of Argentina, the Ischigualasto and Talampaya Natural Parks are a gateway to a prehistoric world. Situated on the border between the provinces of San Juan and La Rioja, in Argentina's Monte ecoregion, a warm scrub desert along the Eastern Andean foothills, these contiguous parks contain a plethora of geological marvels, ancient history and stunning desert landscapes for visitors to explore. 

Ischigualasto Rock Formations. Rita Willaert. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Ischigualasto and Talampaya stretch over most of the sedimentary basin of the Ischigualasto-Villa Union Triassic, a geologic basin of great scientific importance which formed during the Triassic Period, approximately 250 to 200 million years ago. The basin contains a sequence of six layers of continental fossiliferous sandstone and mudstone sediments deposited by rivers, lakes and swamps, providing the world’s most complete and undisturbed picture of the geological history of the Triassic Period. 

The geological record helps us understand the evolution of vertebrate life and the nature of palaeoenvironments in the Triassic, the era that ushered in the Age of the Dinosaurs. Fossil records of at least 100 species of plants, 56 known genera and many more species of vertebrates, such as fish, amphibians, and a great variety of reptiles and direct mammalian ancestors, including the early dinosaur Eoraptor, have been found in the park. 

Guanacos, Ischigualasto National Park. Rita Willaert. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Radiocarbon dating suggests that humans occupied the area approximately 2,590-950 years ago. At Ischigualasto, six rock art sites have been discovered, along with burial sites, campgrounds and tool-making areas, as well as 1500-year-old petroglyphs (images carved into rock). The petroglyphs depict, among other things, geometric human figures, animals and a radiating sun figure. Animal and human footprints have also been found in the art, mainly puma, rhea and guanaco prints. 

Valle della Luna. Guslight. CC BY-NC 2.0

One of Ischigualasto's main attractions is the Valle della Luna (Valley of the Moon). The valley, located near the provincial capital of San Juan, is famous for its unique and otherworldly landscapes. The valley is composed of rugged badlands of bizarrely shaped multicolored rocks and a floor of barren gray-white volcanic clay. Two hundred and thirty million years ago, the desert was a volcanically active floodplain, crisscrossed by rivers and subjected to seasonal heavy rainfalls. Petrified tree trunks more than 130 feet tall are a record of the ancient vegetation. These days the stark desert vista has sparse vegetation, xeric shrubs, cacti, the occasional tree and several rare species of flora and fauna. 

The Canon de Talampaya (Talampaya Gorge) is Talampaya’s main attraction. The red sandstone walls of the canyon and the surrounding cliffs reach up to 656 feet. The landscape has been deeply eroded by watercourses, a testament to the artistry of nature. These days the area is usually dry, but flash floods powerful enough to move large boulders have been known to strike the area.

Ischigualasto National Park. Benjamin Dumas. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Before Spain began its conquest of South America, the area that now makes up the parks was inhabited by several groups of Indigenous people who lived as semi-nomadic hunters and gatherers, including the Diaguita and Huarpes.

The Ischigualasto and Talampaya Parks are more than just sites of great natural beauty. They are a journey into the history of this planet. Their spectacular geological formations, unparalleled scientific significance and cultural heritage have rightfully earned them a place on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites.

GETTING THERE

Fellow travelers recommend reaching the parks by taking an airplane to Villa Union, the closest neighboring city. From there you can rent a car, and it is about a 40-minute drive to Talampaya. You could also stay in La Rioja, which is about a 2-hour drive from the parks. Rough camping is permitted in the buffer zone at Ischigualasto Park, which has a small visitor center with an interpretive display, four toilets and a single ranger’s residence. Small buffet food services are available at both parks. Walking trails and interpretive signs are scarce. There are full-service facilities, lodging, commerce and medical care in the nearby towns of San Agustin in San Juan Province and Patquja and Villa Union in La Rioja Province. There are agencies in La Rioja and Villa Union that offer guided tours of the park.

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Rebecca Pitcairn

Rebecca studies Italian Language and Literature, Classical Civilizations, and English Writing at the University of Pittsburgh. She hopes to one day attain a PhD in Classical Archeology. She is passionate about feminism and climate justice. She enjoys reading, playing the lyre, and longboarding in her free time. 

Fanning the Flames: Heat Waves Across America Set to Get Worse

An unending barrage of heat waves has pummeled North America in 2024, with climate change the likely culprit.

The sun rises on another 100-degree day in California. Pixabay. CC0

Climate change is an ongoing and severe crisis that is affecting all parts of the globe in different ways. From rising sea levels to increasingly chaotic weather patterns, every part of human society is at risk of some adverse effects.

North America has been suffering droughts on the west coast and frequent hurricanes and tornadoes on the east, but the entire continent is united in facing historically high temperatures. Almost the entire month of July has seen a solid string of heat waves, appearing in every corner of the continent. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these heat waves have become far more frequent in the last few years, rising from two waves yearly in the 1960s to around six annually in the 2010s. In addition, heat waves have become more intense over the last few decades, with temperatures in Mexico and Central America brushing 125 degrees Fahrenheit in a historic first. Las Vegas also recently witnessed a record-breaking 115 degree day on July 12th, topping off a seven-day streak of broken records.

And these heat waves are only set to continue. As of the time of writing, heat waves are expected to renew their assault on the west coast, with temperatures projected to reach up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit and effect Washington, Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, Idaho and California. In 2023, Las Vegas never dropped from 100 degrees during the entire month of July, while this year’s forecast suggests that the average will have risen to 103 degrees by the end of the month. In addition, July 20th saw parts of Florida setting daily temperature records at around 97 degrees. This is a solid increase across the board for this time of year, with those same parts of Florida sitting at around a mean temperature of 84.9 degrees last year.

The biggest immediate threats presented by the rising temperatures, however, are wildfires. Hot and dry conditions naturally portend fires, and the already dangerous wildfire seasons in California and Canada have only gotten worse as the heat steadily increases. As of July 21st, several wildfires are raging in Oregon and western Canada, and incoming thunderstorms are predicted to make things substantially more difficult for the firefighters struggling to contain the blazes.

Although official statements stop short of absolute certainty, the vast majority of organizations are pinning the blame for these heat waves squarely on climate change. A series of incidents—the rising frequency and intensity of heat waves across the globe over the last few years, reports from 2022 about sidewalks melting in Europe, and 2023's historically devastating Canadian wildfire season—have raised concerns about the damage climate change can do even in the short term. That 2024's heat waves have been worse are suggestive of what is to come.

According to the Canadian Climate Institute, climate change has been proven to raise the frequency of severe heat waves, as well as slowing them down and causing them to linger over certain areas. Additionally, a statement released by the World Weather Attribution suggests that wildfire risk has become significantly higher as a result of climate change, making 2023’s wildfire season in Quebec close to 50% more intense.

It is becoming increasingly clear how rapidly climate change is altering the planet. Heat waves have been increasing in severity for the past few years, with 2023 setting global heat records and 2024 looking to blow even those historic numbers out of the water. These events are becoming increasingly common as time goes on, and it is possible that global average temperatures will rise five  degrees by 2050, and around 10 degrees by the end of the century. Even the deviations we’re experiencing now are severe, but it looks like the world is going to get even hotter—and fast.

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Ryan Livingston

Ryan is a senior at The College of New Jersey, majoring in English and minoring in marketing. Since a young age, Ryan has been passionate about human rights and environmental action and uses his writing to educate wherever he can. He hopes to pursue a career in professional writing and spread his message even further.

UAE Activists Sentenced on Terrorism Charges

The United Arab Emirates has sentenced 43 activists to life in prison for their alleged participation in terrorist organizations.

Khalidiya, Abu Dhabi. Thomas Galvez. CC BY 2.0

In 2024, the UAE tried 84 defendants for terrorism charges for  "co-operating with al-Islah" and money laundering, individuals human rights groups have determined are activists and not terrorists. Al-Islah is considered to be the Emirati version of the Muslim Brotherhood, a pan-Islamic organization declared a terrorist group by the Emirates. In 2014, the UAE passed Terrorism Law No. 7. The law defines terrorism as, among other things, “stirring panic among a group of people” and “antagonizing the state,” a broad definition that makes it possible for peaceful dissent to be labeled terrorism. “Terrorist organizations” are defined as groups that act to create “direct or indirect terrorist outcome regardless of the … place of establishment of the group or the place where it operates or exists, or the nationality of its members or places.” Along with the passage of the law, the UAE state news agency announced that the cabinet had “approved a list of designated terrorist organizations and groups in implementation of Federal Law No. 7 for 2014.” Muslim organizations that operate legally in the United States and Norway were included on the list.

On July 10, 43 of the defendants were sentenced to life in prison, while 10 received 10 to 15 years in prison. Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, insist that the defendants are innocent and that the UAE is abusing its justice system to punish activists, government critics and democracy advocates for forming an independent advocacy group in 2010. In the UAE, these groups mainly advocate for freedom of expression and assembly, the right to a healthy environment and workers' rights, as well as an end to arbitrary detention, torture and the death penalty. 

The indictment, the charges, the defense lawyers and the defendants' names have all been kept secret by the government. They are known only partially through leaks. One of the known defendants, Ahmed Mansoor, is on the Board of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) and the MENA Division Advisory Committee for Human Rights Watch, and was arrested on charges relating to his human rights activities. Another, Mohammed al-Roken, is a human rights lawyer who was arrested on charges related to his peaceful criticism of the Egyptian and Emirati authorities. Yet another three, Nasser bin Ghaith, Abdulsalam Darwish al-Marzouqi and Sultan Bin Kayed al-Qasimi, are academics.

The mass sentencing marks the UAE’s second-largest trial of this nature. The proceedings and the verdict were criticized for the lack of transparency and fairness, along with various other allegations of violations of justice, including but not limited to torture, solitary confinement, withholding evidence from lawyers and the removal of key witnesses. Joey Shea, a UAE researcher at Human Rights Watch, called the sentencing a “mockery of justice”, saying, “The UAE has dragged scores of its most dedicated human rights defenders and civil society members through a shamelessly unfair trial riddled with due process violations and torture allegations.”

Authorities launched the new mass trial during COP28, the international climate gathering held in Dubai in 2023. The case had been ongoing since 7 December 2023, yet the UAE only acknowledged the trial was taking place a month after human rights groups and journalists first uncovered and reported it. A number of the defendants had already spent ten years behind bars after being convicted in 2013 for their alleged involvement with the Justice and Dignity Committee, a branch of the al-Islah movement. This has sparked protests that the Emirati authorities are violating the principle of double jeopardy, which prohibits trying people twice for the same offense after receiving a final verdict.

The mass trial reflects a broader trend of the UAE using its anti-terrorism laws to stifle dissent and suppress political opposition. Devin Kenney, Amnesty International’s UAE Researcher, said in a statement, “Trying 84 Emiratis at once, including 26 prisoners of conscience and well-known human rights defenders is a scarcely disguised exercise in punishing dissenters…This case should be the nail in the coffin of the UAE’s attempts to disguise its horrendous human rights abuses behind a progressive façade.”

The UAE government, however, has staunchly defended its judicial process, maintaining that the convictions were based on solid evidence of terrorism-related activities. Officials have argued that the country’s stringent laws are necessary to combat extremism and ensure national security. The court ruled that those convicted “have worked to create and replicate violent events in the country, similar to what has occurred in other Arab states—including protests and clashes between the security forces and protesting crowds—that led to deaths and injuries and to the destruction of facilities, as well as the consequent spread of panic and terror among people.”

Critics argue that the country’s use of anti-terrorism laws to quash political dissent is part of a wider pattern of repression. They point to other cases where activists, journalists and opposition figures have been detained and sentenced under similar charges, calling for greater scrutiny of the UAE’s legal practices and human rights record. The recent trial is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for human rights and justice in the UAE and the broader Arab world. The international community’s response to this case will likely shape the future of human rights advocacy in the region and beyond, as activists continue to call for greater transparency, accountability and fairness in the UAE’s judicial system.

TO GET INVOLVED

Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center: Emirates Detainees Advocacy Centre (EDAC) is a non-profit organization founded in 2021 by a group of human rights activists to support detainees of conscience in the UAE and shed light on their cases. Their website contains important information on cases in the UAE.

Amnesty International: Amnesty International is a global organization whose mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of these rights. Their website provides information on their projects and how to join their organization.

Human Rights Watch: Human Rights Watch (HRW) is an organization that investigates and reports on abuses happening in all corners of the world. They work to protect the most at risk, from vulnerable minorities and civilians in wartime to refugees and children in need. They direct their advocacy toward governments, armed groups and businesses, pushing them to change or enforce their laws, policies and practices. HRW's website provides information on their projects and how to join the organization.

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Rebecca Pitcairn

Rebecca studies Italian Language and Literature, Classical Civilizations, and English Writing at the University of Pittsburgh. She hopes to one day attain a PhD in Classical Archeology. She is passionate about feminism and climate justice. She enjoys reading, playing the lyre, and longboarding in her free time. 

6 of August's Hottest Music Festivals

From the U.S. to Hungary, music festivals have blossomed over recent decades and now attract millions of people from around the world every year.

Music festival performance. Veld Music Festival. CC BY-SA 2.0

Since the origins of music festivals sprung up in ancient Greece in 582 BC, these lively events have evolved from local music and sports competitions to globally renowned happenings. During August, many people flock to these festivals to experience remarkable performances accompanied by the summer weather.

Boomtown Festival, England

Performers at the 2006 Boomtown Festival, UK. Dimi15. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

With over 50 venues, a dozen main stages and thousands of performers, the Boomtown Festival located near Winchester in the United Kingdom brings eight city districts to life from August 7 to 11, 2024. The lineup is often kept a mystery until right before the festival, but the Boomtown Festival generally incorporates all kinds of genres into the lineup, from folk music to EDM.

Festival-goers are encouraged to camp overnight. Every ticket provides access to the Campsite Villages located throughout the festival. For eco-conscious attendees, the Boomtown Festival offers upgraded Green Transport Citizen Entry Tickets at a discounted rate for those who arrive via public transport.

Burning Man, U.S.

Burning Man, 2013. Chayna Girling. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

From August 25 to September 2, 2024, tens of thousands of people will come together in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert for the notorious Burning Man music festival. The theme for Burning Man 2024 is "Curiouser & Curiouser," inviting participants to explore their curiosities and wonders. The lineup has not yet been released, but Burning Man is known to host artists from many different genres.

Burning Man evolved from a spontaneous event on a San Francisco beach in 1986, when Larry Harvey and Jerry James drew a crowd to burn a wooden man in celebration of the Summer Solstice. Since then, Burning Man has become an official event that has attracted as many as 75,000 people. Ticket prices range greatly, from $225 tickets for low-income participants who qualify for the Ticket Aid Program, to $2,500 for early-bird FOMO Tickets. The Main Sale tickets cost $575 in addition to a $150 vehicle pass.

Creamfields, England

2005 Creamfields music festival, UK. Edith Adasme. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

From August 22 to 25, 2024, Creamfields will return to Daresbury, UK, for another electrifying multi-day music festival. Since its origins as a weekly house music night called Cream, the event has transformed from a cozy club night into an iconic music festival that attracts thousands of attendees each day. 

With each stage dedicated to a different genre, Creamfields attracts lovers of all kinds of music. Dozens of artists will perform throughout the festival, from blk. to Calvin Harris. For an elevated festival experience, Creamfields offers a range of ticket options to suit different preferences and budgets. The ticket costs range from Standard Day Tickets, which cost about $100, to four-day Gold Tickets that cost about $550. 

Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scotland

Edinburgh Fringe 2011, Scotland. Anriro96. CC BY-NC 2.0

The 2024 Edinburgh Fringe Festival will bring 14 venues to life throughout Edinburgh from August 2 to 26. The origins of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival date back to 1947, when eight theater groups performed on the fringes of the Edinburgh International Festival. Since then, the Edinburgh Fringe has drawn millions of people.

Edinburgh Fringe features thousands of shows, from comedy to music. With many free shows, festival-goers can attend the Edinburgh Fringe Festival regardless of financial status. For those on a budget or with limited travel ability, there are some virtual events that festival-goers can attend as well. 

Lollapalooza, U.S.

Cage the Elephant crowdsurfing at Lollapalooza. Henrique Oli. Wikimedia. CC 3.0

Lollapalooza returns to Chicago’s Grant Park from August 1 to 4, 2024, featuring a star-studded lineup with headliners like SZA, Megan Thee Stallion, The Killers, Blink-182 and Skrillex. Lollapalooza began as a traveling festival in 1991 when founder Perry Farrell envisioned it as a grand farewell for Jane’s Addiction. 

Since then, the festival has found its home in Chicago’s Grant Park, growing from a two-day event into a four-day extravaganza that attracts 100,000 attendees daily. With international outposts in cities like Santiago, São Paulo, Berlin and Mumbai, Lollapalooza’s impact has transcended borders. Ticket prices range from $155 for general admission to $4,500 for platinum two-day tickets. 

Sziget Festival, Hungary

A performance at the Sziget Festival, Hungary. Opethpainter. CC BY 2.0

From August 7 to 12, 2024, the Sziget Festival will transform Budapest into a musical paradise. At the Sziget Festival, festival-goers can witness world-renowned performances by artists like Halsey, Janelle Monáe, Sam Smith, Fred Again, Liam Gallagher, Martin Garrix, Skrillex, Stormzy, Louis Tomlinson and RAYE.

Tickets are available for purchase directly from the website. The ticket prices range from less than a dollar to about $2.50. Families are welcome, and children under 11 can enter free with a child wristband. Basic camping is included with the tickets, allowing festival-goers to set up a tent in any free camping area.

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Madison Paulus

Madison is a student at George Washington University studying international affairs, journalism, mass communication, and Arabic. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Madison grew up in a creative, open-minded environment. With passions for human rights and social justice, Madison uses her writing skills to educate and advocate. In the future, Madison hopes to pursue a career in science communication or travel journalism.

Big Brother is Watching: China’s Social Credit System

The nuanced nature of China’s social credit system has sparked global debate.

People walking through crowded streets in Shanghai. Rawpixel. CC0 1.0

Amid social and political turmoil, many are fascinated by order, hierarchy and control. One of China’s long-term goals is technological self-reliance, reflected in the country’s controversial social credit system. Millions of citizens are defined by and reduced to a numeric value, which is generated as their daily interactions and purchases are closely monitored. The system was predominantly economic—similar to a FICO score—until 2004, when President Jian Zemin expanded the system by adding a social aspect. The current social credit system was formally introduced in 2014, and by 2022, 80% of China’s cities, counties and regions had instituted some version of it.

The social credit system varies geographically. Some citizens receive a numeric score between zero and 1,000, while others are marked by a letter score from A to Z. The system is divided into four categories: business, social, government, and judicial. It operates punitively, rewarding citizens for good behavior and punishing them for bad behavior. A drop in one's score can come from traffic violations, littering and gossiping, while good deeds like donating to charity and assisting the elderly can increase it. The more points accrued, the more preferential treatment one receives, including discounts and travel perks. However, if a citizen's score is too low, they can be prevented from traveling or landing work. In 2019, millions of Chinese citizens were banned from buying plane tickets due to low social credit scores. China’s social credit system has been compared to the Black Mirror episode "Nosedive," which depicts dystopian society in which one’s worth is defined in relation to their portrayal on social media.

Surveillance equipment. Rawpixel. CC0 1.0

The government claims that the social credit system was instituted to “build trust” amongst citizens. However, the lack of privacy and blacklist perpetuated by the system has sparked global concern. Even by criticizing the government, your social credit score is lowered, and in some cities, the government pays citizens to report good or bad behavior. Recent studies suggest that the portrayal of China’s social credit system in the media is exaggerated. According to the MIT Technology Review, the system primarily functions as a comprehensive record of data, documenting companies’ financial histories. It is therefore less important as a single score than as a record.

The social credit system is only one aspect of government surveillance in China. The country’s firewall limits internet searches, and there are at least 200 million surveillance cameras installed that can use facial recognition software. China’s government operates without rule of law, leading to the abuse of power. Surveillance capitalism ultimately poses a threat to individual autonomy and democratic governance. The question remains as to how far it will spread in the coming years.

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Agnes Volland

Agnes is a student at UC Berkeley majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies and minoring in Creative Writing, with a research focus on road trip culture in America. She currently writes for BARE Magazine and Caravan Travel & Style Magazine. She is working on a novel that follows two sisters as they road trip down Highway 40, from California to Oklahoma. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in journalism, publishing, or research.

2024 Paris Olympics: Challenges, Protests and Controversies

From transportation and public safety concerns in Paris to discontent in Tahiti, the 2024 Paris Olympic Games are riddled with contention.

The Eiffel Tower with the logo of the Olympic Games. Ibex73. CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

As the countdown to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris reaches its final days, anticipation is building among the estimated 15 million visitors set to descend upon the city. However, this year’s games are not without their share of controversies. Unrest and protests have begun to surface, not just from within the borders of France but also among the vast number of international travelers and athletes. These contentious issues are casting a shadow over the upcoming Games, adding a layer of uncertainty and complexity to an event traditionally associated with unity and the celebration of athleticism.

Security Concerns, Congested Transportation, Unhoused Parisians

The opening ceremony, scheduled to take place in the open air along the historic Seine River, has raised a number of security concerns. These concerns are particularly acute because of the memory of the terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015. Furthermore, ongoing geopolitical unrest, notably the war between Gaza and Israel and Russia’s continued aggression towards Ukraine, adds to the apprehension. In anticipation of potential protests, the French government has reduced the number of tickets for the public from 600,000 to 300,000 and plans to deploy around 45,000 French police and security forces. During the opening ceremony, an additional 35,000 security agents are expected to be on duty alongside the military to safeguard against security threats. The recent stabbing of a French counter-terrorism soldier over a week before the games are set to begin has only increased tensions.

Along with security concerns come concerns over the expected additional congestion of the city’s already packed public transport system. Many Parisians believe the transportation is largely underprepared for the influx of tourists as they already deal with poor frequency of trains, overcrowding, and general uncleanliness. Those who are financially able are electing to leave the city for the period of the games, while others will be forced to turn to alternative modes of transport and access such as biking, walking or telecommuting. Those who are unable to consider alternative transportation will have to endure long commutes with few alternatives. In response to criticism over transportation concerns, the French president of the Ile-de-France region, Valérie Pécresse, made a statement to worried citizens, "Don't be afraid to walk a little, it's good for your health". 

The Olympics have also brought the plight of the city’s unhoused population to the forefront. The Olympic Village has been constructed in one of Paris’s most impoverished suburbs, an area where thousands of individuals reside in street encampments, shelters and derelict buildings. In a controversial move, the French government transported thousands of these unhoused individuals on buses to other French cities such as Marseille and Lyon. They were removed from the city under the pretext of promising housing elsewhere, only to find themselves living on unfamiliar streets far from their original homes. This action has drawn widespread criticism as it is in no way a permanent solution, but rather a means to conceal the city’s homelessness issue and present a more idyllic image of Paris. While the government denies any connection between this relocation and the Olympics, an email obtained by the New York Times and initially reported by L’Equipe reveals a government housing official stating the objective to “identify people on the street in sites near Olympic venues” and relocate them prior to the Games.

Water Sport Events

The Seine River, the chosen venue for the opening ceremony, will also host the triathlon and marathon swimming events. This decision has ignited controversy, as many Parisians view the river as polluted and unsafe. Swimming in the Seine has been illegal for over a century. In an effort to clean the river, Paris has invested $1.5 billion in infrastructure to prevent bacteria-laden wastewater from entering the river. Despite the clean up, experts are still uncertain if the river’s E. coli levels will be safe for swimming in time for the events, and no backup plan has been announced. In a show of confidence, President Emmanuel Macron and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo have vowed to swim in the river themselves to demonstrate its safety. Just this past Saturday, French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra took the plunge into the river.

In an unusual display of public anger, a distinctive form of protest seemed to be in the works for several weeks. Known colloquially as the ‘poop protest’, it called for citizens to deposit their waste into the Seine on June 23, 2024, strategically timed to coincide with the President’s original planned swim. Remarkably, an unidentified engineer had developed a website that calculates the exact moment for the waste drop-off, ensuring it aligns with the President’s swim based on the individual’s distance from the river. This protest concept was not merely a reflection of skepticism regarding the cleanliness of the Seine, but also a broader expression of French dissatisfaction with the President’s recent election gambit and the anticipated disruptions the Olympic Games are expected to bring to the city. The protestors seem to have been more bark than bite, however, because after Macron canceled his originally planned dip Oudéa-Castéra's swim took place nearly without incident; the Sports Minister slipped while getting in the water.

Meanwhile, in French Polynesia, Tahiti is set to host this year’s Olympic surfing events. Tahiti is a well-known destination for surfing competitions, and has been so for many years. The International Surfing Association (ISA) voiced its opposition to the construction of a new aluminum judges’ tower for the 2024 Olympics in Tahiti, amid concerns from locals and environmentalists about potential damage to the local coral reef. Despite the continued use of a wooden tower at Teahupo’o, one of the world’s most famous surf breaks, for the past 20 years, Olympic organizers and government leaders greenlit construction on a new tower due to safety concerns. The ISA had proposed more environmentally friendly solutions, such as building the tower on land and using digital cameras on the wooden tower, but these were rejected in favor of the new structure.

The controversy escalated from the first peaceful protest in October, with over 200,000 people signing an online petition against the tower and prominent surfers lending their support. An incident where a barge being used in the construction got stuck on the offshore reef further fueled local anger. Despite apologies from the president of French Polynesia, Moetai Brotherson, and assurances from Barbara Martins-Nio, general manager of the 2024 Paris Olympic committee based in Tahiti, that the barge incident was a mistake, the new tower was still deemed necessary for the competition. However, many locals, including the mayor of Taiarapu Ouest, stood by the belief that building the tower outweighed the costs. The protests failed, and the tower has since been completed.

As the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris approach, they carry the weight of numerous controversies and the hopes of millions of spectators, eager to participate in a global event of this magnitude for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. From security concerns and transportation issues to the treatment of the city’s unhoused population and environmental concerns, these Games are a testament to the complex interplay of sports, politics and society. Despite the controversies, the essence of the Olympics remains—unity, athleticism and global camaraderie. As the world tunes in, these Games will be a reminder of our shared love for sport and competition, and the collective challenges we need to address.

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Julz Vargas

Julz is a student at Wellesley College studying Anthropology and Spanish. She grew up in Los Angeles, CA, and has studied all around the world in places such as Costa Rica, Greece, Iceland, and Spain. She is passionate about employing writing as a tool to explore human connection and diversity. Julz aspires to foster cross-cultural connections through community-based research, amplifying inclusive and diverse media about global cultures, foods, and people, to encourage individuals to engage more wholly with the world.

Italian Women Take Action Against Femicide

A family tragedy turns into a political movement in Italy, a country that saw over 100 femicides in 2023.

Statement for the femicide of Giulia Cecchetin and for all women victims of femicide. "Instead of protecting your daughter, educate your son." Anna Massini. CC BY-SA 4.0

Giulia Cecchettin was 22 years old and only days away from attaining her college degree when her life was brutally ended by her ex-boyfriend, Filippo Turetta. Turetta was enraged that Cecchettin had decided to end their romantic relationship. He had been controlling while the two were together, to the extent that he had installed a spy app on Cecchettin’s phone to monitor her movements. On November 11th, 2023, Cecchettin disappeared after going to buy her graduation outfit with Turetta. After a search that lasted a week, her body was found wrapped in black plastic bags and covered in more than twenty stab wounds. A week later, Turetta was arrested near Leipzig, Germany. He was extradited to Italy to face trial for the murder and is now serving time in prison. 

The murder gained international coverage thanks in part to the efforts of Giulia’s sister, Elena Cecchettin, who turned her family tragedy into a political movement. The day that Turetta was extradited from Germany, Elena posted a letter on social media. In the letter, Elena condemned the culture of violence against women that pervades Italy. “Turetta is often referred to as a monster, but he is not a monster,” she says in the letter. "A monster is an exception, a person outside society. The ‘monsters’ are not sick, they are healthy children of patriarchy, of rape culture. Don't take a minute's silence for Giulia, burn everything for Giulia.”

Poster for Giulia Cecchettin in Naples, "For you we will burn everything." Rebecca Pitcairn.

A video of Elena reading her statement received millions of views. Elisa Ercoli, director of Differenza Donna, a women’s rights organization, told BBC that the killing was "the last straw, after a string of high-profile cases of femicides,” and that “Italy is a deeply patriarchal country.” Until 1981 honor killings were punished less stringently than other murders, and only in 1996 did rape start to be considered a crime against the person assaulted rather than a crime against “public morality.” As of 2024, only 58 percent of Italian women own a bank account, and in 2022, 44,669 women left their jobs due to the challenge of reconciling working and family life. According to statistics, a woman is murdered in a femicide every 72 hours. Giulia Cecchettin’s murder was the 105th of 120 femicides that occurred in Italy in 2023. 

After Giulia’s murder, women took to the streets and the piazzas of Italy in massive numbers to defend their right to live and to create awareness about Italy’s epidemic of violence against women. More than 500,000 people attended a protest in Rome by the Non Una Di Meno, (Not One Less) women’s rights movement, which hosted marches all across Italy in 2023. Students at the University of Padua (where Giulia studied), when asked to hold a minute of silence in Giulia’s honor, instead spent the minute making noise, clapping, reading poetry and singing.

Protest Organized by Non Una di Meno, Firenze, "Neither God, nor husband, nor master." Valentina Ceccatelli. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Feminists and student collectives in other cities organized torchlight walks and “angry walks” in response to the moments of silence requested by schools in a culture where insidious silence already envelops the topic of violence against women. Non Una di Meno led students from multiple universities and hundreds of thousands of protestors across Italy in a “moment of noise” for Giulia on November 25, 2023, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Many women, inspired by Elena Cecchettin, adopted the poem “Si manana me toca, quiero ser la ultima” (“If it's my turn tomorrow, I want to be the last”) by Peruvian poet and activist Cristina Torres Cáceres. The poem was written in 2011 to honor women and the victims of violence in Latin America after the murder of Mara Castilla. “If tomorrow it’s me, if I don’t come back tomorrow, mother, destroy everything./If it’s my turn tomorrow, I want to be the last,” Castilla wrote.

Thousands attended Giulia’s funeral, which was broadcast live on television. In a eulogy delivered by Giulia’s father, Gino Cecchettin, he called for men to stand against patriarchy. “We should be the first to show ourselves as agents of change against sexual violence,” he said as he addressed the crowd, “Let us speak to other men we know, let us challenge the culture that tends to play down violence by men who appear to be normal.” As Giulia’s coffin was taken out of the church, members of the crowd shook their keys in a symbolic call for violence against women to not be tolerated in silence.

TO GET INVOLVED

Non Una di Meno: This organization’s website has information about demonstrations and campaigns against violence against women that are currently active in Italy. 

Differenza Donna: This organization provides legal assistance, a hotline and shelter for victims of gendered violence. Their website includes a link to donate to their fight to protect women. 

Centro Antiviolenza Artemesia: A shelter for victims of domestic abuse that accepts donations and volunteers.

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Rebecca Pitcairn

Rebecca studies Italian Language and Literature, Classical Civilizations, and English Writing at the University of Pittsburgh. She hopes to one day attain a PhD in Classical Archeology. She is passionate about feminism and climate justice. She enjoys reading, playing the lyre, and longboarding in her free time. 

Become an Artist-in-Residence at a National Park

Writers, painters and musicians can receive a stipend to create in some of the most majestic landscapes in the US.

Woman painting outdoors. Caroline Veronez. Unsplash

There is a long-running debate over whether to preserve the natural beauty of western landscapes or exploit them. The Artist-in-Residence program many national parks are now offering serves as a compromise, honoring these landscapes and giving back to the parks once inhabited by native tribes. This program provides writers, painters, musicians and other artists the chance to refine their art in some of the country’s most scenic landscapes. Selected artists live in the park and receive a stipend, as well as coverage for food and travel expenses. The stipends can reach up to $5,000, with half of it usually given at the start of the program and half at the end. The program lengths vary, but typically last between two to four weeks. These residencies are inclusive, welcoming artists of all backgrounds and ages (although only legal adults may submit applications). Each artist's primary task is to create art inspired by their natural surroundings and—upon completion of their residency—donate a piece of their work to the park.

Mount Rainier National Park. Lily M. Tang. CC BY-NC-ND 3.0

Artist-in-Residence programs welcome unique projects. Felix, a musician, served as the 2021 Artist-in-Residence at Canaveral National Seashore. His project, Listeners, was a collaborative sonic experience, capturing the park’s soundscape through contributions from people who live, work and visit there. Casey, a food writer, served as the 2022 Artist-in-Residence at Acadia National Park. She released a recipe book, Maine Ingredients: Recipes Inspired by Acadia National Park, crafting dishes using local ingredients and traditional regional cuisine.

These programs give artists the chance to immerse themselves in natural landscapes, gaining insight into the indigenous peoples who occupied western landscapes before us and learning about how their legacies live on today. While some view national parks as a byproduct of white settlement, the Artist-in-Residence program forces us to consider how we can shift the narrative, redirect the focus back onto their original inhabitants. The submission window for applicants is open during the summer, so act now! Keep in mind acceptance rates vary based on the park’s popularity. Check out NPAR openings here.

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Agnes Moser Volland

Agnes is a student at UC Berkeley majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies and minoring in Creative Writing, with a research focus on road trip culture in America. She currently writes for BARE Magazine and Caravan Travel & Style Magazine. She is working on a novel that follows two sisters as they road trip down Highway 40, from California to Oklahoma. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in journalism, publishing, or research.

Hunger War: Sudan is Starving

Constant violence is keeping humanitarian aid from entering Sudan.

Refugees from South Sudan. Jill Craig. CC 0

The civil war in Sudan has only sped up after entering its second year. After fighting broke out between the two warring factions in Khartoum in April of 2023, the conflict has spread to all corners of the country as the official Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) vie for control of the nation.

The rest of the country has been forced to either flee their homeland or suffer through increasingly dire conditions. Chad, South Sudan, and Ethiopia have taken in roughly 1.8 million refugees, but tens of millions of people are still trapped within Sudan, enduring acute food insecurity and outright starvation amid intensely destructive violence.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has stated that almost nine in ten people living in Sudan are trapped in “relentless violence,” which is fueling unprecedented levels of food insecurity. This crisis has been declared the largest hunger crisis in history, as most of the citizens facing starvation are stuck in completely inaccessible areas as a result of the ongoing conflict.

Several nations have attempted to send humanitarian aid to Sudan and to the countries to which refugees have fled. However, the fighting that is keeping citizens trapped in the country is also effectively barring supplies from entering Sudan.

This often takes the form of direct military assaults on citizens and local responders, suggesting that the RSF and SAF are both using starvation as a weapon against each other. In addition, many attempted aid drops have been looted and destroyed by the warring armies.

As of July 2024, over 26 million people in Sudan are facing food insecurity, with an additional 9 million having been driven out of the country by the war. These refugees have triggered smaller but no less serious hunger crises in neighboring Egypt, Chad, South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Currently, over $2.2 billion has been allocated to humanitarian aid and recovery, with roughly $1 billion coming from the United States. However, as the crisis stretches on into 2024, donations have begun to dry up. Estimates suggest that around $200 million is still needed to counteract the rampant starvation, and even that does not account for the total value of all looted and destroyed supplies.

How You Can Help

Humanitarian aid organizations across the country are constantly accepting donations to send to the Sudanese citizens. Groups such as World Food Programme USA and Save the Children aim to provide food, health supplies, and other necessary resources to those trapped in the middle of the war. On an international scale, Doctors Without Borders and the UN Refugee Agency are providing humanitarian aid to Sudanese displaced people and refugees in the surrounding nations

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Ryan Livingston

Ryan is a senior at The College of New Jersey, majoring in English and minoring in marketing. Since a young age, Ryan has been passionate about human rights and environmental action and uses his writing to educate wherever he can. He hopes to pursue a career in professional writing and spread his message even further.

Gambia's Controversial Bid to Reverse FGM Ban

In 2015, female genital mutilation was made a criminal offense in Gambia, but in March of 2024, a bill was introduced to overturn the ban.

Jaha Dukureh, Gambian Anti-FGM Activist, Speaks at UNHQ. Ryan Brown. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Female genital mutilation, or FGM, refers to the practice of partially or completely removing the external female genitalia for non-medical and often religious reasons. In addition to psychological trauma, the procedure can cause a variety of medical issues for the victim, including bleeding, problems with urination, cysts, infections, complications in childbirth, and shock or death. According to the World Health Organization, as of 2024 more than 230 million women have undergone FGM. It is most often practiced on girls between infancy and age 15. Data collected by UNICEF in 2024 reveals a 15% increase in the number of survivors compared to data released eight years ago.

Gambia has one of the highest rates of FGM worldwide. Around 46% of girls age 14 and younger and 73% of girls and women between ages 15 and 49 have undergone FGM in the country, according to UNICEF. In 2015, Gambia passed the Women’s (Amendment) Act, which criminalized FGM. The law did little to end the practice, however. Only two case of FGM have been prosecuted since the law was passed, and the first conviction for performing FGM was not made until August of 2023. 

Calls to overturn the ban on FGM began in earnest after the 2023 conviction, in which three women were indited. Many supporters of the practice were outraged by the womens’ fate. One of Gambia’s most vocal religious leaders, Islamic cleric Imam Abdoulie Fatty, who believes that FGM is prescribed by Islam, raised funds to pay the womens’ fines. From that point on the movement began to gain traction. 

A bill proposing to overturn the ban was officially introduced to Gambia’s parliament in March of 2024. Of the 58 members of Gambia’s parliament, 4 legislators voted to preserve the ban, 42 legislators voted to legalize FGM and one abstained. Although it passed by a majority, the bill still needs to be approved by a final committee before it becomes law. Notably, only five of Gambia's parliamentary seats are currently held by women. 

Activists fear that the bill represents a threat to more than just the ban on FGM; it is representative of a broader struggle for gender equality in Gambia. The widespread support that the bill has received suggests that many Gambians still hold deeply patriarchal values, a revelation that could embolden religious conservatives to take advantage of the moment to set back other steps that have been taken towards gender equality. It could also inspire other countries in Africa, especially Muslim-majority West African countries like Kenya or Guinea, to repeal their bans on FGM, says Satang Nabaneh, a human rights law professor at the University of Dayton. “There has been an uptick in [attempts to reverse] anti-FGM laws within the continent,” she told TIME, “and what happens in the Gambia will be a signal to other West African countries or conservative actors to roll back women’s sexual and reproductive rights, as well as to allow for gender-based violence.”

Gambian President Adama Barrow said in June that his government would abide by the ban, though he faces increasing pressure from traditionalists as a parliamentary commission considers the new bill. "While awaiting its outcome, government remains committed to enforcing the prohibition of FGM in The Gambia," Barrow said in a statement, although he has yet to suggest a plan for preventing the ban from being overturned if the bill is passed.

GET INVOLVED 

The Five Foundation: The Five Foundation was established to combat FGM. They have launched multiple projects aimed at supporting women all across Africa who have been affected by FGM. 

Safe Hands for Girls: This organization is dedicated to ending FGM and child marriage in Africa. Their website offers a link for donations and information on their various initiatives.

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Rebecca Pitcairn

Rebecca studies Italian Language and Literature, Classical Civilizations, and English Writing at the University of Pittsburgh. She hopes to one day attain a PhD in Classical Archeology. She is passionate about feminism and climate justice. She enjoys reading, playing the lyre, and longboarding in her free time. 

Dirty Water: The Frantic Rush to Clean the Seine Before the 2024 Olympics

Officials of the French government are trying to clean the Seine, which has been deemed unswimmable for a century, in time for the 2024 Summer Olympics swim competition.

Pont Alexandre III on the River Seine, Billy Wilson, CC BY-NC 2.0

With the 2024 Olympics set for Paris, the French government has faced backlash for its efforts to quickly clean the Seine, the main river that runs through Paris. The Seine is approximately 13 kilometers long and, in Paris, accompanied by 37 bridges. The staple has promoted water travel and inspired classic French songs such as, “Sous le Pont Mirabeau” and “Sous les Ponts de Paris.” The Seine also has a long history of supplying water to Parisians. In Medieval Paris, citizens and street vendors would collect water from the Seine before they had access to running water. In 1802, Napoleon constructed the Canal St Martin connecting the Seine to the Bassin de La Villette with the goal of supplying water via public fountains throughout the city. The River Seine was in wide use, with people engaging in walks along its banks and recreational swimming, until a decree was passed in 1923 that banned such activities due to pollution and waste runoff. News Writer Olivia Craighead explains that, “The city is old as hell, and as such, sometimes sewage ends up in the Seine.” While people are still allowed to visit its banks, the River Seine has been closed to swimmers since the decree. Until the announcement of the 2024 Olympics.

Since the 2008 Olympics, there have been two open water swimming events: the triathlon and the 10k marathon swim. Pierre Rabadan, the deputy mayor in charge of sports, Olympics, and Paralympics, has said that, “Our objective is an Olympic legacy.” In 2015, Paris introduced the "Plan Baignade" (“Swimming Plan” in English), a plan to make the river swimmable for the Olympics and regular citizens by 2024. As a result, the government has invested upwards of $1.5 billion to make their plan a reality. Despite their efforts, test results from the week of June 10 reveal that E. coli levels in the river are over twice the maximum allowed in water for Olympic events. Marc Guillame, a top government official for Paris, says that these recent readings “are not in line with the standards we will have in the summer.” With the Seine, most bacteria is killed with sunlight and warm temperatures, both of which Paris has seen very little of at this point in the summer. Instead, it has endured heavy rain and cloudy conditions. Phillippe Leclercq, an 18 year old living on a houseboat on the River Seine, notes that, “When it’s good, it’s a nice green color, lately it’s just been brown.”

To ease concerns citizens and athletes have about the River Seines’ cleanliness, President Emmanuel Macron and Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo have pledged to be the first swimmers. Originally scheduled to take a dip on June 23, the two have moved their swim back to July 14. Hidalgo stresses that this was not due to the condition of the water, but the current weather and political atmosphere: “Yes, I will swim in the River Seine, not now because the weather is not so well in Paris, but also because we have an election. It is not possible to organize the jump to the river during the election.”

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Aanya Panyadahundi

Aanya is a student at the University of Michigan studying sociology and journalism on a pre-law path. She loves to travel the world whenever she can, always eager to learn more about the different cultures and societies around her. In her free time, she likes to play the violin, ski, and listen to podcasts

Afghanistan is Starving: The Ongoing Food Crisis Under Taliban Rule

Millions of Afghan children will suffer crisis-level hunger by the end of 2024.

Arid landscape in Afghanistan. Unsplash. CC0

Afghanistan has had no shortage of crises so far this year. Frequent flooding in the north and west in May and severe drought in January have triggered a monumental inflow of humanitarian aid, but despite the world’s best efforts, it appears that the fallout from these events will be seriously damaging for the already impoverished and oppressed citizens for the rest of the year.

Studies by Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, an independent global hunger monitoring organization, suggest that around 12.4 million Afghan citizens will be faced with food insecurity between June and October of 2024. Of those affected, just over half are children. In addition, 2.4 million citizens will experience starvation at emergency levels; this categorization is just above outright famine.

A variety of causes have been listed for the crisis. Back in May, flooding devastated many northern towns, affecting 60,000 citizens and reducing farmland to fields of mud. Based on weather patterns, these floods are expected to continue throughout the year, preventing any recovery of the farmland and causing a major decrease in domestic food production.

Additionally, an unexpectedly warm and dry winter has led to a lasting drought across the southern and western parts of the country. Although rainfall has increased somewhat in recent months, the arrival of the La Nina weather pattern in the fall is expected to bring even more dry, warm days. Although some farmland is recovering thanks to the brief respite provided by El Nino, much of the land is about to be confronted with a second round of drought conditions, further cutting down food production.

The most prominent cause of food insecurity, however, is the ever-present and ever-controversial Taliban government. Local currency has taken an alarming plunge while food prices, thanks to scarcity caused by the aforementioned environmental catastrophes, continue to soar. The Taliban’s apparent lack of concern for Afghanistan’s economy suggests that there will be no serious action towards rectifying the crash. Economic aid from foreign countries helps somewhat to avert the biggest fallout from the crisis, but the problem is virtually unfixable without changes in the regime's policies.

Regardless of how it began, the food crisis in Afghanistan is only getting worse—and fast. The country is alarmingly unequipped to pull itself out of poverty and hunger; action by charities and foreign governments is helping, but more is needed to prevent the looming threat of starvation. Hundreds of thousands of families are actively struggling to find their next meals, and millions of children will soon be forced to endure near-famine levels of food insecurity.

How You Can Help

Organizations such as the World Food Programme and UN Crisis Relief are actively supplying food to communities most impacted by the crisis. Estimates show that around $600 million are needed to ease the burden across the entire country. Other groups, such as UNICEF, are specifically aiming to feed and protect the millions of starving children and their families. There is no way to fix Afghanistan’s economic and political crises from the outside, but these organizations have already helped to feed and house countless citizens facing down these disasters head-on.

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Ryan Livingston

Ryan is a senior at The College of New Jersey, majoring in English and minoring in marketing. Since a young age, Ryan has been passionate about human rights and environmental action and uses his writing to educate wherever he can. He hopes to pursue a career in professional writing and spread his message even further.