Just why is Europe always brought to a halt by weekly strikes? If you have spent time in mainland Europe in recent years, and particularly if you have been a Year Abroad student, you will have noticed that there is one event that causes the greatest inconvenience, often on a weekly basis. Strikes. In Britain, […]
Foreign Correspondent
Cyril Ramaphosa – South Africa’s Redemption?
Whilst the rest of the world has merely watched Zuma resign and be replaced with ANC favourite Ramaphosa, what news outlets, BBC, CNN and Aljazeera lack is recognition of the brevity and implications of his resignation. This was a day that South Africa, who since Mandela’s term has suffered successive corrupt and ineffective presidents, thought […]
Endless Sex Scandals in Norwegian Politics: Can the People in Power be Trusted?
The #metoo campaign’s effect on the Norwegian politics has shown no mercy. Several politicians are being replaced after serious cases regarding sexual harassment. Here is a brief of the most severe cases. 1. The Political Deputy Leader and the Young Women… The #metoo campaign had been around for quite some time before it started presenting […]
The CDU and Who: Is The Search For a German Coalition Over?
On the same day it was announced in December that Brexit talks were ready to move into the second phase, German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed her party allies at a Brussels summit and spoke of Europe needing a strong German government, more than ever before. Seven months since the Merkel-led Christian Democratic Union (CDU) failed […]
The Paris Agreement – where is it now?
There’s no doubt that climate change is a hot topic now, and hearing about the recent COP23 environmental conference in Bonn, Germany, got me thinking. There’s also a lot going around on social media too, warning of the dangers that the effects of climate change are having on the environment, animals and humans too. What […]
Where inmates make the rules: Bolivia’s bizzare San Pedro Prison
Some may call it a city within a city, where drugs and other sellable items are passed through tiny bars from the outside world, where there are businesses, children and a unique democratic system. Passing this prison, it seems secure, normal even, like any other prison in any other country. La Paz’s Plaza de San Pedro […]
The Women’s March on Washington: Take Two
This past weekend marked two important anniversaries for the United States of America; one year of Donald Trump in office, and one year since the largest organisation of protesters in US history under the historic Women’s March on Washington. And how did America celebrate? A shutdown of Congress after the legislators failed to negotiate extending […]
Understanding America’s Obesity Crisis: Are Citizens Victims or Perpetrators?
After making the jump across the pond and living in Virginia, America for five months, what became increasingly apparent is the profound difference to Britain (and anywhere else I’d ever been) in average weight. Previously, I’d only ever seen rare quadruple XL sizes on Jacamo adverts and so believed it myth, nay; legend, that such […]
New Zealand’s Youngest Female Prime Minister Sets a Precedent
She discovered she was prime minister the same way we all did: perched on the edge of her couch with a pie in the microwave. Jecinda Ardern is now the world’s youngest female political leader. At 37, Ardern is a progressive social democrat giving kiwis their flight back. Back in September’s general election, Labour won […]
Embrace the ‘C’ Student: An Interview with Kaene Disepo
This month I was fortunate enough to attend TEDxUniMannheim, in Germany. The theme ‘Out of the Ordinary’ gave wide scope to the nine speakers who ranged from polished Oxford professors to, German spiritual rappers and long-haired hippie travellers. However, the message of ‘Embracing the ‘C’ Student’ from motivational speaker, student and businessman, Kaene Disepo, truly […]