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Overview: The recent "Join UN statement calling for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for all" is a reaffirmation of the commitment to ensuring that sexual and reproductive health and rights are accessible to all. It serves as a call to action for governments and organizations worldwide to prioritize these rights as integral to achieving health equity and improving overall health outcomes.

Why I find this article interesting / important: Its importance can be viewed through several key lenses: human rights advocacy, public health impact,

gender equality, response to global challenges, comprehensive education... The statement reaffirms that Sexual and Reproductive Health is a fundamental Human Right, and every individual deserves access to essential health services without discrimination based on gender, socioeconomic status or geographical location. By framing Sexual and Reproductive Health as a matter of human rights, the statement seeks to dismantle the barriers that prevent marginalized population from receiving necessary care. Access to comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health services is essential for tackling pressing issues such as maternal mortality, unintended pregnancies and the transmission of sexual infections.

The document encourages the importance of empowering women and girls, an promoting policies that advocate equality and challenge the systemic barriers that inhibit women´s agency. This focus on gender equality is what interested me, as it recognizes that the Health and Rights of women are integral to the health of societies as a hole.

The statement also support for comprehensive sexuality education, recognizing its importance in equipping women with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. By promoting education the statement seeks to reduce the stigma surrounding sexual health issues.

What policy actions can be / has been made to deal with the issue: The call for a global collaboration is a key feature of the statement. It urges coordinated efforts among Governments, civil society and International Organizations, advocating for a unified approach to achieving health and development goals. Such collaboration is vital for the effective implementation of policies and programs that can significantly improve the access to Sexual and Reproductive Health care services.

Governments should ensure that all individuals have access to comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health services , and for that allocate funding to strength health infrastructure, as well as, to create Sex Education Institutions, specially in undeserved areas.

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Joint UN statement calling for sexual and reproductive health and rights for all

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Joint statement from WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNAIDS and UN Women published on the occasion of World Population Day, calling for stronger access to sexual and reproductive health care as part of universal health coverage

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Overview: The Assembly of First Nations is creating a national plan aimed at helping homeless First Nations people living off reserve.

Why I find this article interesting: I find this article interesting, as the AFN (Assembly of First Nations) wants to help homeless Indigenous people in urban areas, who have been overlooked in the past. The number of those who live in urban areas/off reserve has increased, as 1 in 15 Indigenous people in Canada experience homelessness, according to the Homeless Hub. In addition, the plan will be carried out by First Nations people, which in my opinion is a practical and productive way to solving Indigenous issues, because they will be able to understand and identify their peoples struggles more than the general population people would.

What policy action can be/has been made to deal with the issue: According to the article: The AFNs strategy called the "Action Plan for First Nations On and Off Reserve", will involve gathering and analyzing data, determining the number of homeless Indigenous people living in urban centres, and identifying service gaps. The AFN has mainly focused on dealing with First Nation’s issues on reserve, however this new strategy/policy will put greater emphasis on solving urban issues. It won't provide immediate assistance for them, although Greg Louie (Ahousaht First Nation Chief Councillor in Vancouver Island) said that assessing numbers, needs and services will lead to better assistance in the future.

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Help on the way for urban Indigenous homeless | CBC News

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The Assembly of First Nations is creating a national action plan that includes helping homeless First Nations people living off reserve.

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How to detoxify the politics of migration - Cillian

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How to detoxify the politics of migration - Cillian

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Overview

This article discusses global migration, emphasising that while images of displaced people evoke fear, particularly in wealthy nations, migration is not as overwhelming as it is perceived. Most migrants move voluntarily and only a small portion reach rich countries. The article argues that migration can benefit both migrant and recipient countries socially and economically if managed well.

I find this article interesting because migration has become an important issue both socially and politically in many countries. There has been a steady increase in anti-migrant rhetoric from hard line right wingers and Neo liberals in recent years in many parts of the world. I found this article very informative because it conveys a balanced perspective on migration. It dispels many of the commonly held misconceptions like the idea refugee's overwhelm wealthy nation and how the vast majority remain in poor regions. It also explains the economic and societal benefits of migration particularly for economies with aging populations.

The article mentions several policy recommendations for managing migration more effectively. The slow bureaucratic system for accepting or denying asylum should be streamlined to insure efficiency and reduce uncertainty. Immigrants should be allowed to work and pay taxes, allowing them to contribute to society. Wealthy countries need to take more responsibility and share the burden fairly and equitably. The article also calls for tighter border security to prevent disorderly migration while ensuring the process remains safe and legal.

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How to detoxify the politics of migration

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Doom-mongers on both the left and the right are wrong

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Climate spend: Government accused of failing to provide supports for fairer ‘climate transition'

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Overview

This article illustrates that the government plan to increase the carbon tax and invest in the funds in energy efficiency as this will move Ireland toward more sustainable housing. The problem is that the funds are directed to home owners who can afford retrofit.

Why I find this article interesting?

Those in fuel poverty or renting will have to pay the increased tax but won't get the benefit of the funds which is not a just transition.

What policy actions can be developed?

The government should find a way to incentivise landlords to retrofit and balance the cost and benefits with the tenants.

Prioritise retrofit for those in fuel poverty and/or social housing.

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Climate spend: Government accused of failing to provide supports for fairer ‘climate transition’

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Budget 2025: €5 billion to go the Government’s new Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund up to 2030

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Over 400 people in Galway are on the waiting list for home care -  Suzanne

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Over 400 people in Galway are on the waiting list for home care -  Suzanne

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Overview

The article exposes the high number of people in the Galway region on the waiting list for home care. Of 410 people, all of whom were assessed and allocated care, 108 are waiting on new home care, and 302 are waiting on an additional service. Delays to service provision are due to the shortage of home carers and the recruitment challenges for the Health Service Executive (HSE) and external providers.

I find this article important as it illustrates one of the fundamental challenges of “Ageing at Home”, particularly in rural Ireland, due to the shortage of home carers. The article provides an insight to the needs of Ireland’s rapidly ageing population of 65+ which is projected to double from 0.78 million in 2022 to 1.3 million in 2040 (CSO 2024a). There are range of consequences for vulnerable older people who do not receive adequate care at home, including: unmet health needs, heightened risk of falls, isolation and inadequate nutrition. Moreover, the article highlights the shortage of home carers in rural areas, the causes can include: demand outstripping supply, housing, poor recruitment and retention practices and low pay that is not commensurate with their duties.

What policy actions can be/has been made to deal with the issue:

The long-awaited Statutory Homecare Scheme, which was first committed by government in 2016, needs to be implemented. This will ensure that people have the right to home supports as they do for residential care under the Fair Deal scheme. The General Scheme was approved by the Oireachtas in 2024, and various aspects are being processed through the legislature, including how the licensing of home care providers and their workers will materialise and the development of National Standards for home care by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA)

In the meantime, as the long-awaited General Scheme is yet to materialise per the Article to help inform policy, an IT system needs to be developed and implemented that captures detailed data per integrated health area.  Real-time, holistic data needs to be accessible as needs and populations change. This will help inform service provision and, where necessary, direct targeted recruitment campaigns and support therein for public and private providers.

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Over 400 people in Galway on waiting list for home care – ‘This is putting families under huge pressure’

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HSE figures have revealed that over 400 people are on the waiting list for home care in Galway.

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Overview: Women’s health research has been globally neglected for decades, necessitating continued and increased investment in this area. Dr. Anita Zaidi, President of the Gates Foundation Gender Equality Division, advocates strongly for this investment, expressing concern over international funding cutbacks. The Gates Foundation has funded numerous projects leading to key advancements in women’s health, such as the development of the one-dose HPV vaccine emerging from a Kenyan study funded by the foundation. Dr. Zaidi specifically acknowledged Ireland’s development funding, exceeding €2.2 billion, commending Ireland’s commitment and leadership in helping women and girls globally.

Why I find this article interesting: I find the topic of women’s health interesting as it has largely been ignored in most research. Historically, women have been dismissed and ignored by the Irish health system. In regard to endometriosis, the Dáil recognised that endometriosis care in Ireland has failed thousands of women for decades. It is obvious that there is a clear need for government support of projects related to women’s health, as well as maternal, newborn, and child health research. Governments must use recent women’s health research to implement targeted policies to enhance women’s healthcare.

What policies have been implemented/should be implemented: At the national level, in recent years the Irish government have established key documents and policies, specifically the ‘Women’s Health Action Plan 2024-2025 Phase 2: Evolution in Women’s Health’ which has invested over €140 million in Women’s Health since 2020. The Irish government established the Women’s Health Taskforce to improve women’s health outcomes and experience of healthcare. Many in Ireland believe this is too little and too late, as women have been suffering for many years duet o an ineffective Irish healthcare system.

Internationally there have been significant investment in research for women’s health, specifically in the European Union. Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe are schemes that have invested over €2 billion in more than 1000 projects focused on women’s health and gender-sensitive healthcare solutions.

Governments must now use this research to implement evidence-based policies to enhance the efficiency of health care for women.

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Women's health has been ignored by researchers, and more studies are needed in wealthy and developing countries to tackle common problems, the Gates Foundation has found.

Dr Anita Zaidi, president of the foundation's Gender Equality Division, has stressed the importance of new research findings to improve the health of women across the world.

She highlighted how young Irish people can now get one HPV vaccine dose for protection against this virus instead of three vaccines, as was previously the case.

The one-jab system followed on from Kenyan research - the KENSHE study - funded by the Gates Foundation, which was established by Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates in 2000 to enhance healthcare and reduce poverty across the world.

Dr Zaidi urged governments to continue investing in research on women's health, even as some nations, including America and the UK, scale back.

"We have made so many advances in women's health, especially in R&D [research and development], so now not to have the funding available to scale them really bothers me," she said.

"From an R&D perspective, it's been one of the most neglected areas in global health. It's neglected not just in global health but also in rich countries.

"Women's health has just been ignored."

Giving birth can carry high risks and she argued this area of healthcare needed more study.

Guidelines for blood loss after pregnancy - post-partum haemorrhage - define 500ml in the first 24 hours as minor blood loss, including in Ireland.

However, the World Health Organization says the evidence base for this is unclear.

The foundation funded a project with 200,000 women to study this area.

From the research came a new type of measuring cloth, costing the equivalent of 40 cents each.

"You put it under the mum, with a calibrated sleeve at the end of it so all the blood is captured in there," said Dr Zaidi.

"And once they used that sheet and a bundled approach it was so impactful. There was a 60% decrease in severe post-partum haemorrhage."

Further improvements have followed.

"The other thing that they realised is the 500ml cut-off is too high, it should be 300ml," she said.

"So now we know we should be treating post-partum haemorrhage when there's more than 300ml blood loss and we have to act quickly. If you could do that, you will save hundreds of thousands of women's lives."

She also described a tiny AI-enabled ultrasound probe which plugs into smartphones.

This allows midwives in remote clinics to check babies efficiently.

"In Sudan, let's say, where one midwife may be taking care of 100 women, this helps you triage who really needs help the most," Dr Zaidi said.

Dr Anita Zaidi: 'Innovations give me optimism, there are so many simple innovations that can be life-changing for people around the world.'

It is estimated to cost about 20 times less than a standard ultrasound and is described as "a game-changer", although wider funding is needed.

Endometriosis, malnutrition, and pre-eclampsia in pregnancy are also concerns.

She noted the 's recent women's health survey drew attention to other gaps.

"Innovations give me optimism, there are so many simple innovations that can be life-changing for people around the world," she said.

The foundation has committed €316m annually from 2023 to 2027 to maternal, newborn, and child health.

Then in May, Bill Gates pledged to give away 99% of his fortune over 20 years, saying the foundation will close in 2045.

Dr Zaidi said: "It's enough time if we plan for it in the right way, and this is why we wanted to give enough notice.

"For the many of the innovations I've been talking about, they can be done in the next 10 to 15 years, but some will need a hand-off."

Projects may need supports from government and private donors and she added: "Who are the people who will step up and say 'the world really needs us'."

Ireland's development aid funding came to over €2.2bn, or 0.57%, of GNP last year. The United Nations target is for countries to reach 0.7% of gross national income.

"[We are] appreciative of the commitment and leadership Ireland is showing for overseas assistance development, helping the poorest around the world and how they put women and girls as a very big priority," Dr Zaidi said.

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'Women's health has just been ignored': Doctor calls for more research into women's health issues

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Dr Anita Zaidi of the Gates Foundation has urged governments to invest in research on women's health

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Schoolyear has started in the south, schools continue to struggle with shortages

Overview: Schools in the South of the Netherlands still face structural staff shortages at the start of the new year. It is not only teachers, but also principals that are in shortage. There are some local initiatives to educate new principals. In Limburg, a province in the South of the Netherlands, 14 school boards have created a training programme for school leaders to educate them and keep them in the region. Since 2023, 18 people have been educated through this programme and ¾ have found work as principal.

Last year, the national government already acknowledged that the shortage will be there the coming years because of demographic factors, like an increase of students and more staff retiring. Next to supporting initiatives of the training programmes for school leaders, the national government also wants to stimulate side-entry (people entering teaching coming from other fields), working more hours and more support for beginning teachers. They also want to increase the salaries and lower the workload. Some parties want a cap of max 21 children per classroom, to make sure the quality of education will improve and the workload for teachers will decrease. Other parties say while it is nice, this is not feasible, due to this shortage of teachers, and that the average class size is already 23 students, so the difference is quite small.

I find this article interesting because education is a topic that is directly relevant to societies all over the world. Education affects everyone, and teacher shortages have huge impacts on the quality of learning for children. Teacher shortages is a significant and ongoing global issue, not only in developing countries, but even in wealthier countries, attracting and keeping qualified teachers remains a challenge that affects the education quality. I personally experienced the effects of the teacher shortage in the Netherlands, as my classes were often quite large. This happened because there weren’t enough teachers, so two different grades had to be merged into a single classroom. According to the Global Report on Teachers by UNESCO (2024), there is a need for 44 million primary and secondary teachers worldwide by 2030 “to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all” (UNESCO, 2024). This is not just a short-term issue, but a structural problem for which long-term solutions and policies should be implemented.

What policies should be/have been implemented to deal with the issue:  The national government of the Netherlands has taken several measures to deal with the teacher shortages. First of all, people transitioning from other professions into teaching can become certified teachers within 2 years (instead of the usual 4-year degree). They can teach while completing the certification if they have relevant work experience. To support them, tailored teacher training programs have been introduced to accommodate their backgrounds and skills. Subsidies are available to support lateral entrants to help cover costs for the study and guidance. While attracting new teachers is important, keeping the existing teachers is equally crucial. Therefore, the government has increased salaries particularly in primary education to stimulate working as a teacher. Furthermore, additional compensation is offered to teachers working in schools facing social challenges, to make these positions more attractive. To lower the workforce, more teacher assistants are hired through funding. To make sure that teachers will stay in the field, there are opportunities for coaching for beginning teachers and further qualifications for teachers to keep developing within the field.

However, a policy component that appears to be missing is the transition path for teaching assistants to certified teacher. In the Netherlands, teaching assistants usually complete a degree of 3 to 4 years. During this degree, they obtain both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, including independently teaching a class. Many teaching assistants also work part-time as a teacher at the school they are doing an internship at, because of the teacher shortage. But, if they would like to obtain a teaching degree to be qualified teachers, they are required to complete all 4 years of the program, even though they have hands-on experience with primary school children. When comparing this to lateral entrants from other professions, like engineers, who are often able to do the two-year accelerated track, it feels arranged unfairly. The teaching assistants would have to repeat much of their training, which might be discouraging for those who might otherwise transition into teaching. A suggestion would therefore be to create a transition path for teaching assistants to certified teacher.

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Schooljaar in zuiden begonnen, scholen blijven worstelen met tekorten

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Eind vorig jaar schreef demissionair staatssecretaris Paul al dat het tekort aan leerkrachten en schoolleiders groot blijft.

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overview:

The High Seas Treaty received its 60th ratification, meaning it will now go into effect in January. It has been in the making since 2000 and is an important step in protecting the world's oceans and reversing the damage to marine life. Protecting international waters/ high seas is challenging because no country controls these waters, and they face multiple difficulties, including overfishing, pollution from the fishing and shipping industries, and climate change. Getting 60 countries to ratify is, therefore, a huge step towards international cooperation around the protection and sustainable use of the oceans.

Why I find this article interesting:

I find this article interesting because the High Seas Treaty, also referred to as the BBNJ agreement, has been in the works for years and getting 60 countries to actually agree and ratify an international treaty is no easy task. The oceans are the largest and least regulated part of our planet, and are crucial to ensure the survival of all organisms on the planet. They play an important part in absorbing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The problem with international treaties is that countries can see them as restrictions on their sovereignty and as something that goes against their own interest. Therefore, even though ratification is a huge step, the actual implementation of the treaty form next year will be just as important.

What policy actions can be/have been made to deal with the issue:

The treaty is the first of its kind, by specifically focusing on biodiversity in the high seas, which are the areas beyond national jurisdiction. While there have been earlier agreements and treaties, such as UNCLOS and UN Fish Stocks Agreement, they have been area-specific. This, however, is the first global comprehensive agreement that addresses all parts of marine biodiversity. It will therefore fill a major governance gap.

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Key oceans treaty crosses critical threshold to come into force

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Sixty states have ratified a global treaty to protect the oceans - it will become law in January.

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Overview: The Irish housing crisis is spiralling out of control. This is a Major issue which has been ongoing within Irish society. Cork property developer Michael O’Flynn has stated that the growing deficit of homes remains unaddressed by the Government, with the current housing problem “spiralling out of control” making it a pressing economic and social issue.

Why I find this article interesting: I found this article to be interesting because it effectively highlights the current housing shortage in Ireland. There is an emphasis on the numbers as they truly highlight how the shortage of homes is far worse than official estimates. The Central Bank highlights how deeply rooted this issue is, as it permeates society and has a profound impact on Irish society.

Policies and actions taken to help tackle this issue:

The government's main actions taken to tackle Ireland’s housing shortage include the publication of the Housing Commission Report in 2024, which set out 83 recommendations, such as introducing a Social Housing Act, strengthening rent regulation, and expanding cost-rental housing. In 2025, the Government established the Housing Activation Office to coordinate and unblock stalled housing projects. Although, this has been criticised for lacking real enforcement powers. Alongside this, the Government’s “Housing for All” plan serves as the national strategy to increase housing supply across social, affordable, and private sectors. Other measures include waiving development levies for builders, adjusting rent regulation, and reducing apartment standards to lower costs and expedite construction. However, these policies are still in their early stages, which makes them challenging as they take time to come into effect, leaving the current situation in a dire condition.

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Michael O’Flynn: Housing crisis is ‘spiralling out of control’

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Cork property developer tells the ieBusiness Podcast we are not going to meet current housing targets and so need ‘an emergency approach’

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Overview

The article begins with a recounting of a story about Fatima, a pregnant woman from Yemen's Eastern al-Masilah district. This area has a high maternal death rate, about 118 women die per 100,000 from pregnancy related causes in Yemen. When Fatima's labour started, she went to the nearby al-Eis health clinic. The baby's heartbeat began to slow down and had not moved down the birth canal. It was essential that Fatima get a caesarean section. The unit's doctor, Reem, contacted the nearest hospital in Sayhut, a 10-minute drive away. The hospital told Reem they were unable to accept Fatima as there was not enough diesel to run the generator. Reem decided to send Fatima in an ambulance to al-Raidah hospital, an hour away. Halfway through the journey, Fatima began to show signs of internal bleeding and passed away, leaving behind two daughters aged five and six. Reem claims that “A shorter transfer time could have saved her life,”.

Through the article, it is explained that Sayhut's emergency obstetric services had been reliant on funding from the US government via the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), which had been suddenly cut by Trump the previous year. This left them with inadequate medicines, staff and fuel needed to treat emergencies. a deputy executive director at UNFPA says the speed and scale of these USAID funding cutbacks were unprecedented. the us government terminated 45 grants to UNFPA, totalling $336m. the us had covered 60% of the UNFPA's humanitarian work in Yemen. it states that nearly 1.5 million women have lost access to life saving services. the US administration has repeatedly denied that their USAID cuts has not resulted in any deaths. "Enshrah Ahmed, UNFPA representative in Yemen, says: “[Fatima’s] entirely preventable death was a direct consequence of funding cuts.'

Why I find this article interesting

i found this article interesting as it reveals the very real consequences of the funding cuts to USAID by the US, specifically how it affects women who rely on this aid for maternal healthcare. this article highlights the tragic stories of women and their families/peers going through a tragic experience completely due to the USAID cutbacks. This Topic is important to highlight currently as it is affecting such large numbers of women, not only in Yemen but, across the world. I think it is important to be aware of these situations not only from a broad policy perspective, but to also be aware of the personal and individual accounts of the consequences of these decisions. the addition of facts about the USAID cuts and the high pregnancy related incidence rates within Yemen show how essential the funding from the US was for these initiatives and women's healthcare/safety. As women’s safety is going down through the many unsafe areas throughout the world, it is a pertinent issue that needs to be in the forefront of thought for policy makers and people.

What policy actions can be/have been made to deal with the issue

Policy actions that can be made to help resolve this issue would be making the process of pulling funding a less immediate action, spreading the decline over a longer period of time so as not to leave these reliant communities in dire need during the period in which they do not receive/receive less funding. In the article it is stated that the scale and speed of these cuts were ‘unprecedented’, showing a need for regulation on this action as it leaves many, like Fatima, vulnerable in emergencies. Of course, a big policy change that should be made would be to provide funding to USAID on a global level, pooling multiple country’s resources together. As in the current state of funding, USAID has been left vulnerable to large dependence on a singular country’s support, the US, leaving themselves open to situations like the ones currently happening. Dividing the funding through many institutions/countries would mean that if an institution/country pulled their funding it would not put USAID in such a dire situation as it would not be such a large portion.

On a national level, this situation does not seem to affect us, though I think it should. Encouraging people in power to incite these policy changes should not have to be a responsibility of the citizens, though I think it is essential in the current state of affairs to show nation-wide support for these causes. As a country in the UN that has been involved in making contributions to global peace and security, it is something that does affect our country whether or not we realise it. Our influence on these discussion and policy making should be used to encourage support for these policy changes.

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Death by aid cuts: how a decision in the US led to the loss of a mother in Yemen

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While the Trump administration claims no one will die over the axing of its overseas development budgets, aid agencies say the action will cost at least 3 million lives. Fatima and her baby were among the first

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Tuvalu-Australian Climate Change Visas - Zara

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Tuvalu-Australian Climate Change Visas - Zara

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Overview:

Rising sea levels and other climate variation caused by climate change pose a distinct threat to low-lying Pacific Island nations. Sitting only 5 metres above sea level, Tuvalu is especially threatened by climate change. Beyond its experience of water scarcity, loss of its ecosystems, and escalating extreme weather events which result in financial instability and cultural losses, 90% of Tuvalu is projected to be underwater by 2100. As such, there is an existential threat of Tuvaluan people becoming stateless.

What policy actions can be/has been made to deal with the issue:

To address this, Australia has offered a world-first climate visa (Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV)) to all Tuvaluan citizens, creating an easier pathway – not requiring a job offer – to obtaining Australian citizenship. Since the PEV applications opened in June, more than a third of the Tuvaluan population has applied.

However, Australia has not made any commitments to reduce its coal exports in efforts to mitigate climate change. As Australia plays a critical role in global greenhouse gas emissions as the biggest coal exporter, a change in climate policy could be extremely impactful on rising-sea levels in the Pacific.

I find this article interesting as:

While they are some of the lowest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pacific Island Nations are arguably the most impacted by climate change. I find this article interesting as it presents Australia’s failures to balance its regional role as a patron to the Pacific Islands with its lacklustre climate change policy. Australia is the world's biggest coal exporter and has approved 7 new coal mine expansions in the past 5 years. While the PEV is essential to the survival of the people of Tuvalu, Australia’s attempt to implement ‘good samaritan’ global social policy while refusing to address its export emissions which directly cause sea-level rise is problematic and hypocritical.

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What You Need to Know About Australia’s World-First Climate Visa

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The visa is part of a bilateral treaty between Australia and Tuvalu “in the face of the existential threat posed by climate change.”

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Overview

This article reports on how Irish women are the fastes growing group seeking treatment. It mentions the reasons for this being it is seen as safer for women to intake cocaine rather than alcohol, which may be relatted to rising domestic violence reports. Finally, through an interview with a now sober mother it reports that breaking down of stigma surrounding addictions and the need for more community-based services.

Why I find this article interesting

I find this article interesting as it highlights how different social issues are interlinked, specifically domestic violence and drug addiction in women. The stigma around addiction and addiction centres being unsafe also hinders many women's attempts to overcome addiction. This highlights the need for community services as well as to take on the National Drug Strategy, as the situation is, evidently, in this article, becoming worse. The article mentions the introduction of a planned detox facility. Highlighting poly-drug use and the need for new strategies to deal with it.

What policy action can be/has been implemented to tackle the issue

As said, on a community level, there is a planned opening of a detox facility. The presence of a facility can normalise people receiving help for their addiction. On a national level there is the continuation of the National Drug Strategy, which hits several points of this article. The Strategy mentions the link between domestic violence and drugs and the increasing social use of it among women. It suggests both community facilities and further funding, which have been implemented.

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Rise in number of women seeking cocaine treatment

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Women represent one of the fastest growing groups seeking treatment for cocaine, according to rehabilitation facility the Rutland Centre.

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Student Accommodation Price Increases - Will

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Student Accommodation Price Increases - Will

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Overview: This Article looks into on-campus rent increases in DCU and outlines the response from the department of Higher Education and their intention of collaborating with the Department of Housing to address the situation.

Why I find this article interesting/Important: This article is important in multiple areas, one of these being in its sharing light into how legislative loopholes can be exploited and how the state responds. Another key point in this article would be how it illustrates the intended outcomes from the state in relation to student accommodation.

This response to, what Minister James Lawless describes as, DCU not acting “In the spirit of the law” is interesting as it demonstrates the Department's commitment to students and their families, with this showing to those impacted by DCU’s change that the Department will remain firm and transparent on the intended outcomes of legislative promises when it comes to maintaining the affordability of student accommodation. This can in part be seen with the Department of Higher Education making collaborative efforts with other departments to deliver on this.

What policy action can be developed from this: In terms of the future of policy developments in this area beyond the article's outline of changes scheduled for March 2026 there are a few directions the legislation could go to patch the oversights of the current policy. This could include revaluating the status of student accommodation, allowing for more direct legislation to be made, or it could go the direction of requiring transparency by institutions such as DCU as to how the mandatory service charge is calculated or limiting what amenities are eligible for inclusion in the charge.

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DCU should reconsider on-campus student rent hikes, says Minister

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James Lawless asks university to justify rise in service charges covering utilities on campus

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Uncertainty of Frances' social policy - Justin 

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Uncertainty of Frances' social policy - Justin 

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Overview:

The French government is being pressured by NATO and its allies to increase defence expenditure, and President Macron has vowed to increase defence spending from 2.1% to 3% which is roughly a €30 billion increase over last year, but the Opposition parties in France believe that the state will cut social welfare and other social services to pay for the budget increase. With Frances' previous budget containing around €54 billion in cost cuts however, where the remaining €30 billion comes from remains a mystery

Why do I find this article interesting

I find this article to be interesting as he issue of defence is a very important one, and it should not be ignored, the importance that it plays on both the national and international stage, especially in France, where they are home to many large defence companies, such as Dassault or Airbus. Very few industries provide such high-paying jobs and contribute so much to the nation as a whole. France is a unique country, unlike its European neighbours, which have not had a budget surplus since the 1970s. Yet, it still provides its people with substantial social welfare, offering public education, public healthcare, and a generous social welfare cushion for its residents. However, Frances finances are strained as they are and any time the govt suggests increasing taxes to pay for new expenditure the govt is met with riots and protests all acorss the nation so you can imagine the shock when President Macron announced that he wanted to increase defense spending from 2.1% to 3% which is an increase of around €30 Billion a year something that the french govt does not have lying around. With such an increase in spending on defence, it raises the question of “Where is this money coming from?” and the fear is that France will have to cut some of its social services, which could be very detrimental for many lower-income families who rely so heavily on the state support. Many of the opposition parties in France suggest that the government should tax wealthy individuals or large corporations, but it is unknown how effective these policies would be. It is for this reason and because of how complicated the situation is that I chose this article

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Welfare vs. warfare: France's political parties divided over cash for defense

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Macron's calls for more military spending without tax increases have sparked fears over future cuts to social programs.

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Overview:

From autumn 2026, Sweden will be implementing a mobile ban in schools for students from the ages of 7 to 16. The grading system and teacher training will also be changed as part of a large reform.

I found this article interesting as phones are a big part for our everyday life, both positively and negatively. Removing phones from students raises questions about discipline, safety and freedom. Many countries in Europe are experimenting with mobile phone bans and stricter rules. The Netherlands had found that the students had it easier to concentrate and improve academic results. However there is a chance it will backfire with resentment and breaking the rules for certain students. The ban creates a better learning environment for students as there are fewer distractions, improving focus, and creates a needed classroom discipline. It creates an equal opportunities as there is less digital divide and social media pressure.

It is a big policy shift for the entire nation as it bans mobile phones in schools. It could be viewed as the start of a iterative process on the inclusion or limitation of technological usage in schools. The government may consider expanding the phone ban to upper secondary (gymnasie) schools of school after assessing it’s impact for lower and middle school environments.

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Sweden is to implement a nationwide mobile phone ban in all schools in an attempt to improve security and study conditions for students.

From the next school year, starting in autumn 2026, it will be compulsory for all schools and after-school clubs to collect students' phones and hold them until the end of the day.

The new rule, which will affect children between the ages of seven and 16, is part of a package of proposed measures announced by the government on Tuesday.

As well as the phone ban, proposed changes will cover the curriculum, the grading system and teacher training.

"What we are presenting today is a historic budget investment in schools and the biggest reform agenda in over 30 years," said Sweden's new education and schools minister, Simona Mohamsson.

Simona Mohamsson, Sweden's minister for education and integration, said the government was making a 'historic budget investment in schools'. Photograph: Josefine Stenersen/The Guardian

The budget bill, which the government will submit next week, allocates 95m SEK (£7.52m) for 2026 and 100m SEK the following year to implement the phone ban.

The majority of schools in Sweden already confiscate mobile phones at the start of the school day, but students have found ways to get around the ban such as handing in a fake phone or saying that they have forgotten their phone or that it is broken.

"This should apply to everyone in all of Sweden's classrooms. It applies to every young person in Sweden and is not optional," Mohamsson, who is leader of the Liberals party, has previously said of the ban.

Earlier this year, Denmark said it would ban mobile phones in schools and after-school clubs on the recommendation of a government commission that also found that children under 13 should not have their own smartphone or tablet.

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Norway last year announced a strict minimum age of 15 on social media use as the government accused tech companies of being "pitted against small children's brains".

Recent research in the Netherlands, which in January 2014 issued national guidelines recommending a ban on smartphones in classrooms, with which almost all Dutch schools have complied, has found improvements to the learning environment. The vast majority (75%) of secondary schools surveyed said that children found it easier to concentrate and 28% said results had improved.

France, meanwhile, tightened its ban on mobile phones in middle schools in September.

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Sweden to implement nationwide mobile phone ban in schools

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From autumn 2026 all schools and after-school clubs must collect and hold students' phones until the end of the day

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Overview:

This article discusses one of the most pressing issues that our country faces today, the housing crisis. With people being price out of the housing market, including renters and first time home buyers, the Government is under immense pressure to put an end to this crisis.

I find this article particularly interesting as it touches on many people who are effected by this crisis, including landlords, young families and young adult's who hope to see a future in this country but are posed with the question whether or not they could actually afford to do so. On the most severe end of the spectrum we have homelessness at an all time high with 11754 people living in emergency accommodation in January 2025, this figure is including those 3400 children and single parent families. Young people especially cannot be set with the expectation to one day own a home in this country, most are expecting to rent or even emigrate in order to one day become a home owner.

What Policy actions can be/has been made to deal with this issue?

The government introduced the "housing for all" back in 2021. Which key objective was to build an average of 33000 homes per year starting from the year 2021 to 2035, however this has proven to be difficult for the government to follow through with as figures have fallen short from their initial objective. In 2022 under 30000 housing units were built whilst working with an underspend of 340 million euro in the Department of Housings capital budget. However they have since revised the scheme with aims of 300000 homes to be built by the year 2030. These recent updates show positive and more realistic steps being taken to ensure supply and affordability to he people of Ireland. The are now focusing on different planning reforms, modern construction techniques and ensuring financial viability for developers.

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The housing crisis in Ireland is complicated - whether you're a tenant, a prospective house buyer, a landlord or a homeowner considering selling. Here, we provide a breakdown of the facts and figures around it.
Homelessness
The most striking figure when discussing housing in the State is the number of people who are homeless. That number reached a new record level in January, after rising for the seventh consecutive month - with 11,754 people living in emergency accommodation at the start of this year, according to the most recent monthly figures from the Department of Housing.

That includes 1,609 families, with 3,431 children in homelessness. Fifty-five per cent of them are single parent families. Nearly two-thirds are Irish, 22 per cent are from the European Economic Area or the UK, with the remaining 17 per cent being from outside the EU.
Housing delivery and targets
The State has too few properties to rent. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar earlier this month put the shortage at 250,000. Houses, apartments and duplexes are being built and the pace of construction is increasing. Under Housing for All, the Government pledged to build an average of 33,000 new homes each year from 2021 to 2030.

That plan and estimate was devised before the influx of refugees and asylum seekers, however, meaning the need could now be significantly higher, particularly in the short to medium term.

In all, 29,851 residential units were completed in 2022, of which 9,148 were built in the final three months of the year, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in January.

Of that, 9,166 were apartments, which is up almost 80 per cent compared with 2021. More than 10,000 were houses in housing estates of one form or another.

While the Government reached the target of new builds last year, it did not reach the target number of social housing.

The Department of Housing also was not able to use the full capital spending budget, carrying over €340 million, out of a total of €4 billion, to this year. The failure was blamed on supply issues and a shortage of builders.

For 2023, the Government's target is 9,100 social homes, 5,500 affordable and cost-rental homes and 14,400 private ownership or rental homes. In all, that adds up to 29,000 new builds.

[ LDA gets go-ahead for Balbriggan housing ]
Housing prices
For the last few years a shortage of supply has translated into rapidly rising prices, though there are some signs that the recent rate of property price growth is slowing.

According to the CSO's most recent property price index, prices in the State fell for the first time in almost three years in January. This has been put down to the impact of higher interest rates and other cost-of-living pressures.

The index found that property prices fell on a monthly basis by 0.6 per cent, while the annual price increase fell to 6.1 per cent in January. This was down from 7.7 per cent in December and from a high of 15.1 per cent in February and March last year.

Year-on-year inflation in Dublin fell to just 4.3 per cent in January while on a monthly basis, prices were down by 1.1 per cent. Prices in the capital have been falling - on a monthly basis - since October.

The latest property data show households in the State paid a median price of €305,000 for a home in the 12 months to January. The Dublin region had the highest median price (€430,000) during that period.
Planning laws
Laws were introduced in a bid to speed up the supply of new housing, particularly to ease planning rules.

In 2017, the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) scheme came into effect, which allowed direct planning applications to go to An Bord Pleanála, the planning appeals authority, rather than through local councils.

The laws were heavily criticised, with many projects having faced judicial review actions in the court - and it did not speed up planning

That SHD system has been stood down, replaced by the Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-Scale Residential Development) Act 2021.

The Act, subject to a number of transitional arrangements, seeks to remedy the flaws of past legislation for larger housing developments but, fundamentally, it puts the final call back in the hands of local authorities, not any super planning body.

[ Older people might be 'frightened' by rental plan for nursing home residents, says Minister ]
Supports available for purchasers
The problem remains that there are not enough houses for people to buy.

In light of this, the Government has tried to make it easier for first-time buyers, who are often priced out of the market.

The first is the Help-to-Buy scheme, which offers first-time buyers help with the deposit or help for those who are self-building. Under the scheme, purchasers who are tax compliant and who have a 70 per cent loan-to-value ratio can claim relief of up to a maximum of €30,000.

One of the newest schemes to be introduced is the shared equity scheme, which seeks to bridge the gap between an individual's deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home. Critics say it merely increases the cost of homes.

Under it, State and participating banks pay up to 30 per cent of the cost of a new home in return for a stake in the property.

Separately, the Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for first-time buyers or fresh start applicants and is available nationwide from all local authorities for those on modest or low incomes.

Both new builds and second-hand homes are eligible, though single people must earn less than €70,000 to qualify, while couples must together earn less than €85,000.

Meanwhile, the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme makes local authority-provided homes available at a reduced price for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants, whose combined mortgage and deposit will not cover the market price of the newly built home.

Through the scheme, the local authority will take a percentage equity stake or a share of the ownership in the home, which the purchaser can redeem or buy out, at a time of their choosing.

If the purchaser does not redeem the equity stake while living in the home, the local authority can do so when the property is sold or transferred or after the death of the owner.
Rental prices
Not everybody wants to, or is in a position to, buy a home, however. A large proportion of the Irish population are now reliant on the private rental sector, which has also seen rising prices in recent years.

According to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) rent index for the third quarter of 2022, the most recent figures available, rents in newly registered tenancies increased by 6.7 per cent when compared with the same period in the previous year.

The standardised average rent in new tenancies for houses stood at €1,468 a month, an annual increase of 6.8 per cent, the RTB said. For apartments, the standardised average rent in new tenancies stood at €1,513 a month, a rise of 6.7 per cent on the same time in 2021.

[ Planning permission refused for 1,000 homes in north Dublin ]
Supports available for renters
For many, the increasing costs in the private rental market means that it is simply a challenge to pay rent, food, utilities and live. As a result, there are a number of State schemes available to assist those in that position.

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. It is available in all local authority areas and is administered by the councils, who pay the landlords directly.

Rent supplement is a means-tested payment for certain people living in private rented accommodation who cannot provide for the cost of their accommodation from their own resources.

It is short-term income support for people in the private rented sector, such as an individual affected by domestic violence or someone who has experienced a substantial change in circumstances which occurred after they started renting.

The Government has also recently rolled out a cost-rental scheme, which provides affordable rented accommodation to people on middle incomes.

It is aimed at people who are above the threshold for social housing but have difficulty affording private rented accommodation.
Rental protections
There are laws in place that seek to protect tenants, too. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established in 2004 to regulate the private rental sector.

Its main functions are to maintain a register of private residential tenancies, tenancies of approved housing bodies and student-specific accommodation tenancies, as well as provide a dispute resolution service for tenants and landlords.

There are also rent pressure zones (RPZs), which are designated areas in which annual rent increases are capped in line with the rate of general inflation or 2 per cent a year, whichever is lower.

Research published last year from the Economic and Social Research Institute , however, found that more than a third of landlords applied rent hikes over the allowable limit in RPZs while the legislation was in effect.
Eviction ban
During the Covid-19 pandemic and again during the recent winter period, the Government introduced a temporary moratorium on evictions.

Under this, a landlord is unable to evict its tenants, so long as they are continuing to pay their rent owed.

The ban will expire at the end of March, which has sparked significant controversy among advocacy groups, Opposition politicians and even some Government TDs.

Ministers this week agreed to put in added protections once the ban lifts, such as an extended tenant-in-situ scheme, which is where a council can buy the property from the landlord to allow the tenant to remain in residence.

Government said there would be concerns around the constitutionality of a permanent ban, while extending the ban would see more small to medium landlords leaving the sector.

[ Independent TDs wielded their power over eviction ban - and they will do it again ]
Small landlords
A large proportion of recent eviction notices are because a landlord said they have an intention to sell the property, according to the RTB.

Research published by the board at the end of last year found a quarter of small landlords are likely or very likely to sell their rental properties in the next five years.

Small and medium landlords have been leaving the sector in recent years, with the RTB attributing this shift to accidental landlords, who were in negative equity after the financial crash, returning to a financial situation in which selling was an option.
Institutional landlords
On the other end of the spectrum, there are institutional landlords or private rented sector funds.

Described by a variety of names, including vulture funds or cuckoo funds, they are typically a hedge fund with institutional investors that buy up an entire block of apartments directly from the developer before they ever hit the open market.

According to the CSO, these vulture funds, local authorities and State-backed housing charities bought 13,500 homes last year, meaning one in five purchases of all residential properties is accounted for by these non-household entities.

Ires Reit, one of Ireland's biggest private landlords, has a property portfolio of 3,938 units as of December 31st, at a value of €1.5 billion.

According to Ires Reit's preliminary report for 2022, total revenue grew by 6.5 per cent to €84.9 million for the year. Occupancy rates also rose to 99.4 per cent.

Kennedy Wilson, meanwhile, has 2,530 units, though it has a 50 per cent stake in each scheme, as part of a joint venture with Axa.

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Ireland's housing crisis facts and figures: All you need to know

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Regardless of where you stand in the housing market, here is a comprehensive breakdown of the facts and figures

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Food Stamps & Ending hunger in the Philippines - Fallon

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Food Stamps & Ending hunger in the Philippines - Fallon

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Overview:

President Marcos Jr set up the 'Walang Gutom 2027' food stamp program which aims to end involuntary hunger in the Philippines by 2027, by providing food credits to low income families for nutritious meals. Since launching in 2023 the program has supported around 182,000 families with a goal of 1 million households by 2027. Data from the Philippines statistics authority shows food poor families have dropped from 1 million in 2021 to about 700,000 in 2023. However scaling up remains a challenge. While the initiative is seen as a flagship anti-poverty measure it still faces hurdles in funding the local government coordination.

Why I find this article important:

I found this article very important as it tackles one of the Philippines most pressing social issues, hunger, and shows how government policies attempt to address it through large scale systematic programs. It highlights both the progress made and challenges ahead, offering insight into how political will and funding can shape real outcomes for vulnerable families. The article also matters because it connects large national goals such as ending hunger to everyday realities of poor households, making it relevant to both policy discussions and human welfare.

What policy action can be/ has been made to deal with this issue, according to the article:

According to the article the government has taken steps to strengthen the program's impacts by declaring it a flagship initiative through Executive Order No.44, which mandates closer coordination among agencies and local governments. President Marcos has also directed the Philippine statistics authority to monitor its progress, ensuring accurate data on hunger reduction. These policy actions aim to institutionalize the program, improve accountability and secure long term government support to sustain its rollout expansion. However the food stamp program can be improved through more rigorous monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure that nutritional outcomes are prioritized. As well as this integrating the initiative with interventions such as agricultural development would promote long term food security and reduce the incidence of hunger in the Philippines.

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Ending hunger by 2027: How far has Marcos’ food stamp program come?

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MANILA, Philippines — Can President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. realize his dream legacy of ending hunger in the Philippines by 2027? With the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

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Venezuelan migrants in Ecuador benefit the economy while facing harsh circumstances - Dylan 

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Venezuelan migrants in Ecuador benefit the economy while facing harsh circumstances - Dylan 

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Overview

There are currently 411,000 Venezuelans living in Ecuador that are contributing to the Ecuadorian economy. The households of these Venezuelans pay just over $46 million in tax every year, benefiting the economy of Ecuador hugely. Things like social services have improved, a few being documentation processes, expanded access to formal jobs, social security and financial services and recognised academic degrees. However the majority of these contributors are young, between the age of 18 and 39, the percentage of informal workers is a staggering 70% meaning that only 30% percent of Venezuelans are practicing and are employed in their area of profession and expertise. To also note, most of the women are underpaid and 70% of these women are also working informal jobs.

Why do I find this article interesting?

It's great to recognise the amount that migrants do for countries, statistics show that the Venezuelan migrants are of benefit to the country and their contributions play an important role to the systems within Ecuador. Across the globe, especially in places like the US, we see a lot of people protesting against immigration. It's an inhumane thing, to protest against someone's credibility of being a human in another country. It's great to read an article that highlights the appreciation we must have for those who struggle with not only the process of being in another country, but the struggles that we as the people of the country force upon them. They have a lot to navigate.

What Policy actions can be/ have been made to deal with the issue?

I believe that a better policy for access to equal education for these younger migrants would create a beneficial change. If these migrants were offered equal opportunities for education, then we would see them in the same social spaces as Ecuadorians. This would normalise the social aspect of things, we would see a natural integration happen. There should also be a better policy surrounding the assessment of the migrants academic achievements and expertise, if we had a system that allowed them to do a one year course that re-integrates them with their area of specialization and see how well they do within the countries standards.

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Venezuelan migrants drive economic gains in Ecuador but face persistent vulnerabilities

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Venezuelan migrants in Ecuador contribute an estimated $900 million each year to the country’s economy, yet many remain trapped in informal work and vulnerable conditions, according to a new study by the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM).

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Overview:

This article discusses the rising homelessness figures in Ireland, with the number of children homeless and in emergency accommodation surpassing 5000 for the first time. In the past four years the homeless population in Ireland has nearly doubled. This article also highlights the issue of hidden homeless, stating that the real extent of homeless children may be much higher than the reported 5014.

Why I find this article interesting:

This article is interesting to me as it highlights how the growing issue of homelessness in Ireland is not only a housing issue but also a health issue. By discussing the trauma and suffering experienced by homeless children and families, this article highlights the intersecting issues surrounding the experience of homelessness.

What policy actions have been/ can be taken to deal with this issue:

Currently the government approach involves the rental of emergency accommodation from the private sector by the state. This is both a costly and impermanent solution. Other approaches used are rent pressure zones and tenants’ rights legislation. There is disagreement on the effectiveness of rent pressure zones. While these solutions seek to address what has been seen as a short-term problem with temporary fixes, they largely fail to address the fundamental issue which is lack of housing supply. One policy action which could form a more long-term solution would be significantly increased investment in social housing builds as a prevention of homelessness. This article calls for prioritizing homelessness prevention methods in the 2026 Budget.

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Over 5,000 children recorded as homeless last month

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The number of children who are homeless and living in emergency accommodation has exceeded 5,000 for the first time.

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Ukraine struggles to keep hold of its next generation- Sofiia

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Ukraine struggles to keep hold of its next generation- Sofiia

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Overview

This article (Sept 2025) highlights how Ukraine is grappling with a major demographic and social policy challenge as millions of young people have left since the Russian invasion. Many of these young Ukrainians are pursuing education and work abroad, raising fears of a long-term brain drain that could weaken the country’s recovery and development. In response, the Ukrainian government has introduced initiatives such as expanding education opportunities, scholarships, and job programs aimed at encouraging youth to remain or return. Despite these efforts, ongoing insecurity, limited economic opportunities, and the appeal of better prospects abroad continue to push young people away. This situation underscores the broader policy dilemma of balancing immediate survival in wartime with long-term strategies to secure Ukraine’s future workforce and social stability.

Why I find this article important:

I found this article quite important because it highlights a demographic crisis caused by war.A pressing demographic and social policy challenge in Ukraine, showing how the war is driving millions of young people to leave the country. It shows how the war is not only a security issue but also a social and economic challenge, with young people leaving and potentially not returning. It illustrates the challenges of implementing social policies during wartime, balancing immediate survival needs with long-term societal goals. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for analysing how social policies function under extreme conditions and for considering the broader implications for Ukraine’s recovery and future development.

What policy action can be/has been made to deal with the issue?

To address the issue of youth leaving Ukraine, the government has implemented several policy actions aimed at retaining and encouraging the return of young people. Education and scholarship programs have been expanded to provide greater access to higher education, vocational training, and financial support, making it more attractive for youth to stay in the country.Additionally, the Demographic Development Strategy 2040 sets long-term goals to stabilize the population, support families, and improve living conditions, while targeted housing and social support programs focus on young families, displaced youth, and war-affected regions. Together, these measures represent a combination of immediate and long-term strategies to mitigate the demographic and social challenges facing Ukraine.

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As Russia's war drags on, it's not only territory and soldiers that Ukraine is losing - a whole generation of young people is gradually disappearing.

The school year in Ukraine this year once again began under the threat of Russian mass missile and drone attacks, a now annual reminder of the pressures facing youngsters in the country, and the ever present choice facing many - stay in Ukraine, or leave for a safer country.

"Some young people continue to leave, some will never return. This is a worrying trend," Ukraine's Education Ombudsman Nadiya Leshchyk, told the Kyiv Independent.

There is no complete tracking system for students who leave. Many remain formally enrolled in Ukrainian schools but continue their education remotely from abroad. Still, officials observe that schools often end the school year with significantly fewer students than when they started.

This is part of a much deeper demographic shift. According to Leshchyk, recent data show Ukraine's youth population has dropped sharply - from nearly 9 million in early 2022 to around 6 million by 2024. If the trend continues, the Institute of Demography warns, it could drop below 5 million by 2030.

"In 2023, 66% of young Ukrainians abroad said they wanted to return home," Leshchyk says citing the report "Impact of War on Youth in Ukraine" by the research agency Info Sapiens.

"In 2024, that figure dropped to 32%. Young people are adapting abroad more quickly than older generations."

The safety of abroad

The war remains by far the most pressing reason why young Ukrainians are leaving the country. Safety concerns, forced displacement, and legal restrictions, especially for male students, all play a role. For many, planning a future in Ukraine has become too uncertain.

"We are seeing a general trend that concerns migration overall, and it is directly linked to the war. The first issue, of course, is security," says Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyi at the Education of the New Ukraine conference in May 2025.

For teenage boys, the pressure is even greater. While military service officially begins at 25, men are banned from leaving Ukraine when they turn 18. Fearing future conscription or new restrictions, many parents act early, sending their sons abroad before adulthood.

Ruslan Hourani, a 19-year-old now living in Poland, left Ukraine two years ago at his parents' initiative.

"They didn't want me to become stuck," he says. "They found an agency that helped with the paperwork and sent me to study abroad."

Ruslan admits he hasn't settled in Poland and hopes to return "once the fighting eases."

On Aug. 28, a new law came into force allowing men aged between 18 and 22 to freely leave Ukraine. Experts believe the policy could help those already abroad maintain ties - visiting home and remaining part of society.

"I want to come back under the new law, but I'm afraid I'll lose my ability to leave again. I want to see how it works first," Ruslan says.

Learning for Ukraine

Another pull factor for young people and their families is that education abroad has become more affordable, especially in countries offering support programs for Ukrainians.

"Even before the war, some Ukrainians sought education abroad because of its prestige or the variety of programs. Now there are many opportunities and support schemes for Ukrainian students, so the war has only reinforced that desire," Leshchyk says.

But for some, the war has given them a clear new focus in which to channel what they learn - the future of their country.

Maya Sobolevska, who is graduating from high school this year, said that growing up it "just felt natural" to want to study and then live abroad, but the war changed that.

"I realized I would never fully belong elsewhere. And for the first time, I didn't want to," she told the Kyiv Independent.

"I still want to study abroad, but I want to use that knowledge for Ukraine. Whether it's law, diplomacy, or culture - it's going to be for Ukraine," she says.

Maya's words capture a wider generational shift. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, questions of national identity, collective trauma, and belonging have become central in Ukraine. Young people, in particular, have taken up these themes as they rethink their future.

A 2023 survey by Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University found that the war has strengthened civic identity among students. Most said they are proud of their citizenship, while regional, European, or global affiliations became less important. Researchers concluded that the war has had a decisive impact on how Ukrainian youth see themselves and their future.

Those without any choice at all

Not all young Ukrainians can return. A significant risk concerns those from occupied territories, many of whom are leaving not for Europe but for Russia.

Leshchyk warns that around 600,000 young people remain in occupied areas such as Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea.

"These children are under the influence of Russian propaganda," she says. "They're going to Russia for higher education and becoming part of Russian society.

"Will we be able to return them?"

Ukraine's wider demographic crisis

The outflow of young people is part of a broader demographic crisis that has intensified since Russia's full-scale invasion.

According to the UN Refugee Agency, another 100,000 people left Ukraine in the first months of 2025. The European Commission reports that 4.3 million Ukrainians remain under temporary protection in the EU. That number is expected to remain stable until the end of the year before gradually declining to 3.8 million in 2026.

The demographic picture inside the country is equally challenging: in the first half of 2024, mortality was three times higher than the birth rate, and international rankings place Ukraine almost last in the world for fertility.

What encourages Ukrainians to return, above all, is safety, which is currently impossible to provide. "After security comes housing and jobs. Then, family members who remain in Ukraine, access to healthcare and education," Leshchyk says, citing a 2025 report by Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.

The government is trying to respond. In 2024, it adopted a Demographic Development Strategy through 2040, aimed at encouraging return and maintaining links with Ukrainians who have settled abroad. A new law on dual citizenship, approved in the summer, is also meant to make those ties easier to preserve.

In Leshchyk's view, the impact will be significant if even a small number of young Ukrainians abroad eventually return.

"They've seen how laws are enforced, how education is organized, how daily life functions. If they also receive education there, that's even better," she says.

"When they come back, they can be a driving force for Ukraine's progress toward the European Union."

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Ukraine struggles to keep hold of its next generation

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As Russia's war drags on, it's not only territory and soldiers that Ukraine is losing - a whole generation of young people is gradually disappearing. The school year in Ukraine this year once again began under the threat of Russian mass missile and drone attacks, a now annual reminder of the pressures facing youngsters in the country, and the ever present choice facing many - stay in Ukraine, or leave for a safer country.

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This is the local housing policy in County Mayo Ireland.

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Overview:

In a time that is becoming increasingly volatile and dangerous for queer people, even in the West, this threat is ever present to trans people in particular. This article follows an opinion by the Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Union in a case brought by a Bulgarian trans woman living in Italy in regards to the EU's recognition of an individual's rights to gender expression. Namely, what was brought forth through this case and subsequent decision is that EU member states have the right to determine their process in issuing identifying documents to people who wish to change their gender markers, however they do not have the right to ask for or demand proof of having undergone any surgical procedures to affirm their gender. The Court had already ruled twice in 2020 and in 2022 to uphold matters pertaining to, or adjacent to this issue in Bulgaria; however, this particular case was initially brought forth in 2023 when the Bulgarian Supreme Court adopted a decision that determined that courts have no legal right "...to allow a change to the sex, name and personal identification number of trans people on the civil status register." The Advocate General of the CJEU released his decision on 4th of September 2025 wherein it was upheld that any EU member state has a legal obligation to uphold the values of the EU at large, which does acknowledge one's right to gender expression. The actual decision of this case isn't expected until the beginning of 2026, but it is worth noting that a positive decision would be paramount in this increasingly difficult time for trans people.

Why do I find this article interesting?

We are at a major tipping point right now for queer rights, but especially for trans people in the West. With the increasing slide to the right in many countries that were held to such high esteem for their "progressive values" and rights, we are instead watching these very rights become stripped away in real time for the most vulnerable of people especially. As a queer person myself, I have always had to keep an eye on how places would treat me and my peers all over the world and right now it's scary. However, hope is still to be had as it would seem that with this statement from the Advocate General that there is an intention to uphold and protect the rights of this increasingly vulnerable portion of the greater population. In the end, this can only begin the greater cause of Western countries to continue the pattern of maintaining these rights for everyone.

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ILGA-Europe | Safety, equality and freedom for LGBTI people in Europe & Central Asia

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A new opinion from Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Union says all member states must recognise the lived gender of their citizens, ruling out surgery requirements and stressing that passports and ID cards must match people's identities.

Last week, Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Union Richard de la Tour delivered his Opinion in the case C-43/24 Shipov. The case was brought forward by a Bulgarian trans woman currently living in Italy who was repeatedly denied her requests to legally amend her gender marker and name on her Bulgarian documents by Bulgarian courts.

In a major development, the Advocate General stated that under EU law provisions on freedom of movement and fundamental right to private and family life, member states have an obligation to legally recognise the lived gender of their nationals. While member states can decide how to design such a process, they cannot request evidence of having had surgery. Furthermore, the Advocate General confirmed: identity documents and passports are key for EU nationals to enjoy freedom of movement. Therefore, member states must provide travel documents matching the lived gender identity. In the case of Bulgaria, the change should be entered in the birth certificate, as it is the primary document needed for changing ID documents.

Background

The Opinion follows a lawsuit filed by a Bulgarian trans woman currently living in Italy with her partner. Her requests to legally amend her gender marker and name on her Bulgarian documents have been repeatedly denied by Bulgarian courts over the course of nine years. The mismatch between her gender identity and expression and her gender marker in her official documents leads to discrimination in all areas of life where official documents are required. This includes everyday activities such as going to the doctor and paying for groceries by card, finding employment, enrolling in education, or obtaining housing. It also creates an obstacle to her exercising freedom of movement as she has to show mismatching documents whenever she travels.

The European Court of Human Rights had already ruled in 2020 in the case of Y.T. and again in 2022 in the case of P.H. that Bulgaria is breaching the European Convention on Human Rights by failing to provide quick, transparent and accessible legal gender recognition procedures. Since then, the situation for trans people in Bulgaria has deteriorated significantly.

On 20 February 2023, the Bulgarian Supreme Court adopted a binding interpretative decision. It established that Bulgarian law does not enable the courts to allow a change to the sex, name and personal identification number of trans people on the civil status register. Therefore, this decision introduced a general, automatic and universal de facto ban preventing Bulgarian courts from allowing legal gender recognition. Given this background, the Bulgarian Supreme Court halted the domestic proceedings of the applicant and asked the CJEU whether this ban is compatible with EU law.

The CJEU Advocate General's Opinion

In this case, the CJEU is being asked to decide whether the Bulgarian legal system, which effectively blocks legal gender recognition mainly due to court decisions based on religious and moral beliefs, violates EU law principles of equality and non-discrimination, freedom of movement and the right to private and family life, as guaranteed by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Treaties.

In his Opinion delivered on 4 September 2025, Advocate General Richard de la Tour proposed that the Court should rule in its judgment that EU law requires member states to provide for legal gender recognition of their nationals. The Advocate General made clear that identity cards and passports should record their holder's "lived gender identity", rather than sex assigned at birth, to serve their purpose, i.e. identify the holder. In his view, the mismatch between the applicant's ID documents and her "lived gender identity" in this case does not allow her to effectively exercise her right to move, reside and work across EU member states. Requiring identity cards to show only the sex listed on the birth certificate, rather than the lived gender identity, creates a barrier to free movement rights, especially the right to private and family life guaranteed by the Charter.

The Opinion added that EU law provisions require the changes to be entered in the applicant's birth certificate when a change to identity documents solely depends on such an entry on a primary document.

Further, the Advocate General stated that legal gender recognition cannot be subject to the production of evidence of having undertaken surgery, as this would undermine the right to the integrity of the person and the right to respect for private life referred to in Articles 3 and 7 of the Charter. Unfortunately, the Advocate General suggested that a medical certificate, including a psychiatric diagnosis, may constitute relevant and sufficient evidence to grant legal gender recognition. We are hopeful the Court will move away from this medicalised approach and the requirement of "relevant and sufficient evidence". This would allow for more flexibility, responding better to the individual circumstances, and respect the different approaches member states might choose.

Importantly, the Opinion reminded that the national courts have the competence to interpret EU law, even if it contrasts decisions from a higher domestic court (Supremacy of EU law). De la Tour proposed that the CJEU should rule that the Bulgarian referring court should not wait until the national legislation is amended by legislative or other procedure to grant legal gender recognition to the applicant.

The Advocate General also pointed out that while member states have to provide for a field indicating "gender" in an EU passport, it can be left empty and that EU law does not require identity documents to have a gender marker at all.

Impact

While Advocate General's opinions are not binding, their conclusions are taken into consideration by the CJEU judges and are often indicative of their ruling.

A positive judgment from the CJEU would be of the utmost importance for the protection of trans people still deprived of any possibility of having their gender identity recognised in some EU member states. It would confirm that the absence of any possibility to obtain legal gender recognition in a Member State is incompatible with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Treaties provisions. Currently, Hungary and Bulgaria are de facto banning legal gender recognition in the EU, while efforts for similar restrictions have been considered in other member states.

A judgment in this case is expected at the beginning of 2026.

Welcoming this Opinion, Marie Ludwig, ILGA-Europe's Senior Strategic Litigation Officer said: "After the Mirin, Mousse and Deldits rulings, this Opinion builds on the momentum for the protection of trans people's fundamental rights in the EU. We are hopeful the judgement will follow this Opinion and make clear that the right to free movement can only be effective if member states ensure that trans people have functional identity documents."

Richard Köhler, TGEU's Expert Advisor, said: "TGEU has long championed what today's Opinion confirms: functional identity documents aren't a privilege, they're essential for participating in EU life. By empowering judges to uphold fundamental rights immediately, this Opinion offers hope to trans people facing bans, bureaucratic barriers and border humiliation across Europe. We call upon the Commission to take note and to ensure that, whether by stick or carrot, member states have functional systems in place."

Bilitis, the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, Deystvie, ILGA-Europe and TGEU (Trans Europe and Central Asia) are providing support to the applicant and her lawyers in this case. The applicant was represented by Natasha Dobreva in the domestic procedure and was joined by Alexander Schuster and Denitsa Lyubenova (lawyer at LGBTI organisation Deystvie) as representatives in the CJEU case.
Read the Opinion here.

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Joint Statement: Landmark CJEU opinion demands legal gender recognition across EU | ILGA-Europe

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A new opinion from Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Union says all member states must recognise the lived gender of their citizens.

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Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction target - Hugh C.A

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Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction target - Hugh C.A

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Overview:

The Australian government has set a new goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions 62–70% below 2005 levels by 2035. This target follows advice from the Climate Change Authority. To reach it, the government will spend over $8 billion on projects such as cleaner industries, more renewable energy, electric vehicle charging, and energy-efficient homes. Supporters say the plan is tough but possible. Critics believe it still does not go far enough to fight climate change.

Why I find this article interesting:

I find this article interesting as it displays how important Australia’s new plan to cut pollution by 2035. The government will spend $8 billion on things like clean energy, electric cars, and making homes use less power. This will affect businesses and everyday people. Some say the target is hard but possible, while others think it doesn’t go far enough. The article matters because it shows how Australia is trying to deal with climate change, and why that choice could shape the country’s future economy, politics, and environment.

What policies have been implemented for this intervention:

In this article, the polices that are shown to be implemented are expanding renewable energy projects.

Decarbonising heavy industries. And the national electric vehicle strategy (including more EV charging stations).

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Federal government announces 2035 emissions reduction target - Australian Geographic

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will commit to cutting emissions by between 62% and 70% on 2005 levels by 2035.

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Overview

High property prices and a lack of affordable family homes are preventing families who have lived in Dingle for generations to continue living there.

Several Factors drive this problem:

1 Over 15% of homes are empty, and many town centre properties remain unused due to high renovation costs.

2 Since the pandemic, most house sales are to remote workers outside West Kerry, these groups like holiday home buyers generally have stronger buying power, pricing out locals.

3 lack of affordable housing provision.

4 Major policy and enforcement gaps: Local officiants and counsellors point out that some houses built for primary residence are actually being used as second or third homes, with little enforcement of planning conditions.

4 Lack of opportunity’s in rural areas like Dingle are pushing young people to emigrate to bigger towns or different countries to try to find better salary’s and employment. This further compounds the populations stagnation.

Why i find this article important

As someone from West Kerry, i find this particularly significant and important because it directly shapes the future of this community. This town is not just a tourist destination; it is a place where families, neighbours, and traditions sustain the daily life there. However, rising property prices and the huge growth of holiday homes means the younger people are increasingly unable to live and settle here. This trend risks transforming the town into a seasonal hub from for outsiders rather than a stable, year round community.

It also has wider cultural implications. As part of the ever decreasing Gaeltacht and Irish speaking population, the survival of the Irish language depends on families remaining and passing this on. If no one can afford to live there, there is a risk of weakening this inheritance.

What policies can/ have been developed?

As set out in a campaign by Conradh na Gaeltachta, a national policy for housing planning in the Gaeltacht would be greatly beneficial. Also, i believe more grants should be provided in the budget for rural communities and families living there to be able to purchase a family home. While there is many housing grants available throughout ireland i think funding should again be made available for the Gaeltacht housing scheme to provide support for Irish speakers who would like to build or renovate homes in the Gaeltacht.

There has been some developments. As part of Project Ireland 2040 the government has committed to providing an additional €1 billion over the period 2019 to 2027 for theRural Regeneration and Development Fund. This will provide investments to renew towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000 people.

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Census reveals how locals struggle to buy housing in Dingle town

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Dingle had one of the lowest levels of population increase in West Kerry in the six years between 2016 and 2022, according to the latest Census results, and the reason for the surprisingly slow growth rate appears to be the high cost and lack of availability of family homes in the town. Preliminary Census results released by the Central Statistics Office recorded 1,649 people living in Dingle on Census night in 2022. This was a population increase of just 26 people - or 1.6 per cent – over the six years since the previous Census and it puts Dingle among the slowest growing population centres in Kerry. Dingle isn’t short of houses to accommodate more people, according to the Census which found that there are 1,062 dwellings (houses and apartments) in the town. However, while over 15 per cent of the houses in Dingle are vacant, too few are coming on the market to meet the demand and this is causing prices to rise beyond the reach of local families. Estate agent John Diony O’Connor told The Kerryman that, since the Pandemic, 90 per cent of the houses he sells are to people who have jobs outside of West Kerry but want to move here to work from home. There is also a strong demand for holiday homes, particularly from Americans. The end result is that demand far outstrips supply and house prices in Dingle and across West Kerry are escalating.

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Overview:

This article makes the argument that Ireland can feasibly get rid of consistent poverty by the year 2030. Consistent poverty, which is defined by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as individuals who are both at risk of poverty (their disposable income is below 60% of the median) and experiencing enforced deprivation. The article gets into how Ireland can make this happen through anti poverty measures, and discusses how economic growth alone does not promote wealth equality.

Why I liked this article:

I enjoyed the insight from this article as I believe it gave many great points on how it actually is not a utopian idea for consistent poverty to end within a short time frame in Ireland. It also was very easy to understand the concepts which is always good when trying to dissect an article.

What policies the article discusses to combat this issue:

Ensuring Income Adequacy, for those who are able to work such as providing a liveable wages, and adequate hours. Also for people who do not have the capacity to work such as providing stronger welfare supports.

Target Deprivation and Material Needs: Providing direct support or even replacement services for peoples essential needs such as food, heat and clothing. Also by better targeting of income supports and public services to reduce deprivation.

Political Commitment is one of the essential points this article makes to combat consistent poverty in Ireland. The article discusses developing an all of government anti-poverty strategy which the whole government must be accountable for.

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Overview:

This article discusses how women’s health research is significantly underfunded globally & the impact this has on women’s health. This article looks at how a long history of medical bias alongside social stigma has left women’s healthcare significantly less researched compared to men’s. This article discusses a study carried out by the World Economic Forum found that on average, women spend 25% more of their lives in poorer health than men.

This article focuses specifically on menopause, an area of healthcare especially that is underfunded and under researched, despite affecting a large proportion of the female population.

This article explains that closing this gap would not only improve the quality of life for women globally but would also create new market opportunities and contribute to more than $1 trillion in global GDP.

I find this article interesting because I believe women’s healthcare specially reproductive healthcare is an area that has historically been overlooked.

What policy action can be/has been made to address this issue, if we look at Ireland we can see some improvements in addressing this issue specifically with the area of menopause. Ireland has introduced significant funding towards menopause healthcare services through the Women’s Health Action Plans and Budget 2025. A significant improvement was made by making the Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) free to women across the state since June 2025.

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The Global Impact of Underfunding Women’s Health

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Bias and stigma are to blame for the way women’s health research has fallen behind, according to Monica Christmas, M.D., director of UChicago Medicine’s menopause program and the Center for Women’s Integrated Health and Valentina Sartori, Ph.D., a partner in McKinsey & Company’s Life Sciences Practice, and affiliated leader of the McKinsey Health Institute.

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Homecare waiting lists five times greater outside of Dublin, report shows - Suzanne

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Homecare waiting lists five times greater outside of Dublin, report shows - Suzanne

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https://www.irishtimes.com/health/2025/03/19/homecare-waiting-lists-five-times-greater-outside-of-dublin-report-shows/

Overview

The article provides the latest Irish national figure for homecare waiting lists. There was a 5 per cent reduction in 2024 on December 2023 figures at 5,556. Homecare waiting lists outside Dublin are five times higher than those in the capital. Nationally, there has been a 5 per cent growth in the number of home support to now 58,200. The area with the highest waiting list is CH0 4, the Health Service Executive (HSE) area of Cork and Kerry, with 1,018 or 18 per cent of those are on the national waiting list of 5,556. Some counties outside Dublin saw their waiting lists increase by 30 per cent.

Dublin has the lowest numbers on the waiting lists. There was significant government investment, and the private sector delivers most services, and it is more agile with regard to recruitment and flexibility of service.

I find this article important as it highlights the inequality between rural and urban areas and the availability of homecare, and it potentially also exposes the levels of availability of private sector services outsourced by the HSE. It features the absence of centralised data for the length of time on waiting lists, which in itself is a risk to people on the waiting lists and future projections. One of the HSE areas, CH0 9, Dublin North County/Dublin North City and West is 100 per cent outsourced to the private sector and does not have a waiting list.

What policy actions can be/has been made to deal with the issue: The Government via the Minister for State, Kieran O’Donnell TD has committed to introducing a scheme to give people legal entitlement to homecare in the Government’s term. Considerable planning, including the collation of data, will need to be done to forecast service provision and the possibility of it, country-wide. The Home and Community Care Ireland (HCCI), the representative body for the homecare sector, again notes it is an unregulated industry and that regulations would help reassure service users and the organisations themselves. The long-awaited Statutory Homecare Scheme has been crawling through the government since 2016.

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Homecare waiting lists five times greater outside of Dublin, report shows

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Waiting list figures for 2024 a 5 per cent reduction on December 2023, sector body finds

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Impacts of Climate Migration on Labour Market in Pacific Countries - Zara

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Impacts of Climate Migration on Labour Market in Pacific Countries - Zara

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Overview:

Popular Labour Mobility Schemes offered by Australia and New Zealand to Pacific Nations, alongside Australia's new Climate Visa's offered to Tuvalu are crippling Pacific labour forces and by extension, economic prosperity. There is a significant shortage of Skilled Workers (especially tradespeople in Vanuatu), with over 10% of the total working population lost to seasonal work in ANZ each year. In 2023, 11.5% of working age people in Vanuatu and 11.4% in Tonga and 6.4% in Samoa worked in ANZ. This creates a perception for young people that employment in the Pacific Islands is not a 'long-term' plan, or one which will yield them success. Pacific Island nations are combatting the explosion in the number of workers joining ANZ schemes (doubling to 48,000 between 2019 and 2023) by reviewing their labour mobility policies.

What policy actions can be/has been made to deal with the issue:

To manage the void of available workers on the Island, the Vanuatu Government has pushed visa employment opportunities to Fijians and Filipinos shifting its immigration policy to look for workers internationally. However, this policy is limited by the significant obstacle of the visa only lasting 12 months, with no ability to be renewed or extended - making it less appealing for foreign workers to make the move, or local businesses to invest in their training. As a result of such obstacles, only 200 international workers have applied for the visa to work in Vanuatu. Rather, local employers continue to draw International employees through traditional visa means (which involves lengthy processes of arranging police clearances, paperwork, and a long wait for immigration approval). Thus, this policy mechanism has largely failed, and the visa program has been put under review by Vanuatu's Minister for Internal Affairs.

The Samoan Government has taken a different approach, announcing it wants local communities to help select who is able to take up work in ANZ - to ensure that overqualified skilled workers are not being lost to ANZ jobs through the PALM scheme. Moreover, Samoa also announced an annual cap on labour mobility workers - however, this policy means is somewhat futile as the cap is set at double the number of people currently engaged in the scheme.

The Tongan government has proposed new requirements to gain the PALM visa restricting seasonal work positions to only those currently unemployed, and those who's departure won't contribute to labour shortages for local businesses or governmental departments.

On the opposite side, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade claimed to be giving more support for Pacific nations in determining who’s eligible for the scheme. Meaning that Samoa and Tonga's proposed restrictions count be codified into the PALM visa scheme. The Australian Pacific Ministry has supported skills development in all countries participating in the scheme, to help fill labour market gaps.

I find this article interesting as:

The PEV (Australia) and PALM (New Zealand) mobility schemes are only effective if it balances the wants of the larger countries for additional labour with the needs of the smaller countries for labour to sustain their function. Despite New Zealand's commitment to altering PALM to meet Tonga and Samoa's new restrictions, it is still too early to know how successful these restrictions will be in addressing the critical labour shortages on the Pacific Islands. Pacific Governments are already spread thin by other significant threats of Climate Change and increasing US-China tensions that the longer term strategies and higher level goals required to address labour shortage issues properly may be out of reach.

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For Maurice Masuino, recruiting a new electrician will take an international search.

His Vanuatu business, South Pacific Electrics, lost 10 per cent of its staff to seasonal work in Australia and New Zealand, and electricians are in short supply at home.

Those remaining at the business are feeling the pressure as large projects approach.

"We've managed to shuffle things around, but it's made it really, really difficult for us," Mr Masuino said.

It's one of many trades and occupations listed as facing shortages - including in the country's vital tourism sector - as thousands of ni-Vanuatu leave for popular labour mobility schemes.

For workers, the schemes are a chance to earn higher wages, save money and build homes despite cost of living pressures at home.

But business leaders are calling for urgent fixes to the labour shortages.

Samoa's Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa has raised deep concerns about the mass exodus of Pacific Island workers to Australia and New Zealand.

Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) president Antoine Boudier said some businesses advertising positions locally are encountering silence.

"There is utterly no-one replying to it. And the people replying to those positions may not have the qualifications,"

Vanuatu is looking abroad for a short-term solution, importing its own foreign workers and creating an emergency visa aiming to bring in 1,500 people.

But early results are mixed as businesses look to recruit more staff from overseas.

Elsewhere in the Pacific, Samoa and Tonga plan to prevent labour shortages by gaining more control over which workers join labour mobility schemes.

Experts say the changes could help Pacific Island nations, but that officials could struggle to pursue them as they're inundated with other priorities.

A solution with a dilemma

In Vanuatu, workers have arrived from the Philippines and Fiji, while some businesses are looking to hire from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Mauritius, Mr Boudier said.

But only 200 people have applied for the emergency visa after a year, even though the visa has less red tape.

One problem is the visa only lasts 12 months, and cannot be renewed or extended - making it less appealing for foreign workers considering a move to Vanuatu, he said.

"It has created a little dilemma at that level."

The VCCI said the emergency visa program, which it helped facilitate, is now on hold as the business community waits to speak to the government about a review.

Vanuatu's Minister for Internal Affairs Johnny Koanapo was approached for comment.

Griffith University expert in labour mobility Kirstie Petrou said while Vanuatu's new emergency visa was meant to bring in workers more quickly, employers reported using other options.

"Employers are still preferring to go with that more traditional work visa because they get a longer period for which they can use the particular employee that they've brought into the country," she said.

Mr Masuino hired an electrician from Australia using the emergency visa, and said it offered him a solution even with its flaws and delays.

Bringing in a worker using the visa involved arranging police clearances, paperwork and a long wait for immigration approval.

"It's not a simple two minute process, it's quite a lot of work," he said.

Taking back control

Pacific Island nations have been reviewing their labour mobility policies since an explosion in the number of workers joining the schemes in Australia and New Zealand since COVID.

The amount of visas issued to workers participating in Australia's Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme and New Zealand's Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme nearly doubled to 48,000 between 2019 and 2023.

The percentage of working age people in the schemes hit double digits for Vanuatu (11.5 per cent) and Tonga (11.4 per cent) and reached 6.4 per cent for Samoa in 2023.

More recent numbers suggest that demand for Pacific Islander farm workers is falling in Australia.

In another post-pandemic change, Pacific Island governments have become more willing to voice their concerns about labour mobility schemes, Dr Petrou said.

"Governments were often quite reluctant to speak out if they thought things weren't working for them," she said.

"As numbers have increased, they're much more willing to speak out and say, 'Hang on, we need to look at this issue. We're experiencing this problem. Let's talk about it and see what kind of solution we can come up with'."

One of their concerns is that the schemes now employ more skilled people who already have jobs - even though they were originally meant for unemployed or unskilled people.

And in Tonga and Samoa, labour mobility schemes add to pre-existing migration to New Zealand and Australia, Dr Petrou said.

"When you've got that occurring alongside those other migration streams, it is feeling like a lot of people are leaving, and either not necessarily wanting to come back or not seeing employment in Samoa or Tonga itself as being a long-term plan," she said.

Both countries plan to change the type of workers joining labour mobility schemes.

In Samoa, the government has announced it wants local committees to help select who takes up seasonal work.

Australian National University labour mobility expert Stephen Howes said it was a move aiming to bring more rural workers and unemployed people back into the schemes.

"Trying to emphasise recruitment from rural areas makes a lot of sense for these labour mobility programs,"

Samoa also announced an annual cap on labour mobility workers - although the number is about double the current amount of people joining the schemes.

In Tonga, the government also plans to restrict seasonal work positions to people needing an income, or whose departure won't create labour shortages for businesses and government departments.

As the Pacific tries to re-boot its tourism industry after COVID-19 border closures, local hospitality businesses are suffering staff shortages as they take up job opportunities in Australia.

A New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said it is giving more support for teams in Pacific countries determining who's eligible for the scheme.

"New Zealand's RSE scheme ... is a significant source of income for many Pacific economies, as well as an opportunity for those workers [who are] part of the scheme to learn transferable skills that can be taken back to their home countries," they said.

"Ultimately it is up to Pacific countries to decide whether or not they want to be part of the scheme."

Australia's Pacific Minister Pat Conroy said the government was supporting skills development in countries participating in the scheme, to help them fill labour market gaps.

"We know that the governments and people of the Pacific and Timor-Leste highly value labour mobility and the PALM scheme. But the scheme only works when it truly meets the needs of all parties involved," he said.

"It's ... why we respect that different countries in the region will participate in different ways."

Dr Petrou said it is still too early to know how successful Tonga and Samoa will be in solving labour shortages with their planned changes.

Some government departments are already stretched thin, she said.

"They're trying to process literally thousands of visas for people, they don't always have time to implement those longer term kinds of strategies or higher level goals," Dr Petrou said.

"But we may start seeing some differences in how labour mobility is governed from the Pacific side as they're implemented."

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Vanuatu is importing its own foreign workers as labourers move to Australia and NZ for higher pay

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Pacific Island nations are looking abroad for workers, and taking control of labour mobility schemes at home, as they look to address labour shortages hitting employers. But experts say it's too early to say whether they're succeeding.

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Overview:

The above article from The Guardian May 2025) reports on a new scientific study warning that rising sea levels, driven by accelerating ice melt in Greenland and Antarctica, could force millions of people to migrate inland, even if global warming is limited to 1.5°C. The study predicts a long term sea-level rise of 1 to 2 metres, posing serious risks to coastal cities and low-lying communities, particularly in poorer countries that lack the resources for large-scale protective infrastructure. While reducing emissions can slow the rate of sea-level rise and buy time for adaptation, scientists stress that the land lost to the sea may remain submerged for centuries, making this a long-term and irreversible threat for many populations.

Why I found this article interesting:

As a student, I found this article particularly interesting because it highlights the real and long-term impacts of climate change in a way that feels very relevant to our future. The idea that rising sea levels could force millions of people to leave their homes, even if we manage to limit global warming, shows just how serious the situation is. It’s not just about environmental changes, but also about how societies will have to deal with large-scale migration, economic challenges, and the loss of land that could be permanent. I was most interested by how vulnerable poorer countries will react , and how uneven the effects of climate change can be. It made me think more deeply about the importance of both global cooperation and individual action to reduce emissions, and why our generation needs to stay informed and involved.

Why policies can/have been developed?:

Many current policies addressing climate-induced migration focus on border control and migration management, such as the European Union’s new migration pact and proposals for return hubs to manage rejected asylum seekers. However, these measures often do not tackle the root causes of displacement. To effectively reduce inward migration driven by climate impacts like sea-level rise, experts recommend investing in climate adaptation and resilience in vulnerable regions, such as building climate-resilient infrastructure and enhancing disaster preparedness. Legal frameworks recognizing climate refugees are also crucial to provide protections and rights for displaced individuals. Moreover, strengthening international cooperation and sharing resources and knowledge can help manage migration flows more humanely and efficiently. Lastly, social integration policies that facilitate access to education, healthcare, and employment for migrants can reduce tensions and support community cohesion. Together, these approaches offer a more comprehensive and humane response to the complex challenges posed by climate-driven migration.

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Sea level rise will cause ‘catastrophic inland migration’, scientists warn

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Rising oceans will force millions away from coasts even if global temperature rise remains below 1.5C, analysis finds

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Overview

This article explains how women in India are not being recognised as drug users. Indian women face higher stigma and are less likely to seek help for their addiction. They have fewer women-oriented help centres for helping with their substance misuse. It highlights the different reasons why women use drugs, such as mental health reasons. It points out that drug policy, prevention, and treatment systems are designed around men. This leads to the invisibility of women in the system. It argues that India must provide gender-sensitive rehabilitation services, female counsellors, safe treatment environments, and better data collection to make sure women are not left out of the drug policy framework.

Why I find this article interesting

I find this article interesting as it shows that it is not a unique issue that women find it harder to overcome the stigma of drug abuse to seek help. It also shows a gender bias in social policy. I find it interesting to compare with Ireland, as India is not considered a developed country. Both countries are facing the same issues, and it is interesting to see if they could learn from each other.

What policy action can be/has been implemented to tackle this issue

This article suggests some policy actions that could be taken. The main need is gender-sensitive treatment centres, as women face different stigmas and challenges in drug addiction. A core issue here is that women slip through in national drug data reports and surveys. In order to break family stigma, drug rehabilitation in women’s health and family welfare services could get more women to receive help. Lastly, India could attempt a national drug strategy that Ireland is implementing.

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There is no gender-sensitive infrastructure for drug users in J&K

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Why is Italy making it harder to get citizenship- Yvonne 

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Why is Italy making it harder to get citizenship- Yvonne 

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Overview:

Italy has recently restricted citizenship laws, particularly targeting those claiming it through distant relatives. The foreign affairs Antonio Tajani mentions that the system is outdated and many individuals apply mainly to travel with fewer restrictions. The Italian passport is currently ranked in the world for visa-free travel.

Now, it's restricted just to people who have at least one Italian parent or grandparent. Additionally, they have to engage by paying taxes, voting or renewing their passports or they will risk losing their citizenship.

However, this won’t affect those individuals who made the process before the law adjustment. Also, all the process has to be made in person and not online anymore.

Why did I find this article interesting?

The topic of citizenship has always been interesting to me because I can connect with it, especially with the concept of identity and belonging. Coming from an Italian and Nigerian background, this topic resonates with me and the complexity of identity. Especially, how it's often tied up with the legal system rather than, cultural aspects.

This article it's very insightful because it shows the duality and diversity of policies and how they shape, but sometimes also limit individuals lives.

What policy actions can be made?

Even though the policy reform has been made and created a huge change. There's still a major gap in the policy that needs attention, many children born and raised in Italy by foreign parents must still wait until their 18th birthday to apply for Italian citizenship. A policy change that could be made is to give citizenship automatically when you're born in Italy. Such reform would impact positively many individuals, but also bring fairness and inclusion.

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Why is Italy making it harder to get citizenship?

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A new law will block people from claiming Italian citizenship through their great-grandparents.

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Overview

This article discusses the 2026 Budget which has been criticised by prominent Irish homelessness charities, including Simon Communities of Ireland and Focus Ireland, for failing to recognise homelessness prevention. The new budget has ultimately ignored the issue of homelessness despite the ever-rising record number of homelessness people and families in Ireland.

Why I find this article interesting

I find this article interesting because it highlights how the issue of homelessness is ever exacerbated by repeated inadequate government response. Despite new record numbers of homelessness every month, Budget 2026 is targeted more towards landlords and property developers rather than the growing number of people in urgent need. This is particularly relevant to discuss due to the 25% rise in homelessness since it was last mentioned in a Budget speech in October 2023.

What policy actions have been made

In the 2026 Budget, €2.9 billion has been allocated to both deliver thousands of new build Social Homes and the second-hand acquisitions programme. Additionally, funding for the Department of Housing has increased from just under €8 billion last year to €11.3 billion in 2026. However, despite these positive improvements, there is great skepticism from Irish homelessness charities on how effective these will be in tackling the growing issue of homelessness in Ireland.

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Budget 2026: Homeless are invisible in the budget, organisations say | BreakingNews

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Organisations are disappointed that there are no measures in place for the homeless in Budget 2026

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EU's first affordable housing plan amidst housing crisis - Ella 

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EU's first affordable housing plan amidst housing crisis - Ella 

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Overview:

The article discusses the EU's response to the social and housing crisis happening across Europe in relation to affordable housing. To address this issue, the EU's affordable housing plan would seek to cover the multiple areas in which EU policy has failed, such as short-term accommodation like AirBnB preventing locals from being able to afford property. EU members and MEPs are coming up with various solutions from taxations for non-EU residents, to subsidisation for housing companies, revising budget, or controversial propositions from socialist MEPs such as €300bn in grants and loans for housing and even overhauling EU fiscal rules for higher government spending in this area.

Why I find this article interesting:

I find this article interesting because it is only recently that the EU created a special committee on the housing crisis to address this issue, which Young Europeans have faced most of the brunt of, and as affordable housing has become one of the most pressing issues in our society observing the EU's response and what new policies they will create is essential. According to Eurostat, in the last ten years house prices have raised by an average of 53%, with the highest rates reaching well over +100% in certain countries. Not only is buying property more expensive, so is renting, which the article addresses too. Dan Jørgensen, Danish Social Democrat who is the one tasked with creating the first ever affordable housing plan for the EU, interviewed in the article addresses the failings of the EU and how this has affected society. What I liked particularly was him explaining how housing becoming nothing more than a commodity creates problems within policy which has allowed for the current housing climate to become what it is. Particularly as a young person who moved to Ireland I have had to deal with this issue firsthand and I can imagine so has a number of people in our course and will continue to deal with it unless the EU can finally create policy which will effectively lower rent, housing prices, limit AirBnB and private enterprises from controlling housing markets, which hits communities in touristy cities with limited housing particularly hard, and will make sure the average EU citizens doesn't too much of their income necessary to live on income.

What policies have been/can be created to deal with this issue:

Obviously, the main policy which is being discussed in this article is this upcoming EU affordable housing plan which will be aborded in the coming week, which comes after a large public consultation launched by Dan Jørgensenin 2025 in order to develop this plan. Previous solutions made by the EU regarding this have been: the midterm review to the current budget which €15bn available for housing from €7bn, the 2021 resolution which recognized housing as a fundamental right and which seeks to eradicate homelessness by 2030, the European Commission and the European Investment Bank's plans for €10bn investment in affordable and sustaining housing over the next to coming years, and the recent approval by MEPs of cohesion funding reforms for member states and regions to quickly inject new challenges and priorities which necessary funds, one of them being sustainable and affordable housing.

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The EU executive will propose rules to tackle the "huge problem" of short-term rentals via platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com, as it seeks to confront the "social crisis" of people struggling to afford a home, its first-ever housing commissioner has said.

In an interview with the Guardian and other European newspapers, Dan Jørgensen said it was time for Brussels policymakers to take housing seriously or cede ground to anti-EU populists, who, he said, did not have the answers to the shortage of affordable homes.

Dan Jørgensen cited the urgency of 'the social crisis'. Photograph: Ronald Wittek/EPA

"If we don't, as policymakers, take this problem seriously and acknowledge that this is a social problem and needs action, then ... the anti-EU populists will win," he said, adding that Brussels had so far "failed to deliver" on some of the key elements of the housing crisis.

Jørgensen, a Danish Social Democrat, has been tasked with crafting the EU's first-ever affordable housing plan, which is expected to be made public in December. He said publication had been brought forward from 2026, citing the urgency of "the social crisis".

Brussels has traditionally stayed out of housing policy, but Jørgensen insisted it was a matter for the EU. "The upcoming housing plan will cover areas where it is indeed very clear that [housing] is a European competence and where we have failed to deliver so far ... One of those areas is short-term rentals, where we do need more European rules," he said.

Protesters in Lisbon call for more measures to fight the housing crisis in the city. Photograph: Gonçalo Fonseca/The Observer

Short-term accommodation, rented via Airbnb and other websites, has boomed across European cities in recent years and been blamed for driving up rents, forcing local people out of historic centres, and turning residential neighbourhoods into tourist zones. Jørgensen said short-term rentals were "a huge problem in many cities" but did not name specific websites or detail any proposals.

Concerns about short-term rentals have come against the backdrop of a general increase in rents and mortgages. Between 2010 and 2023, house prices in the EU increased by 48% and rents by 22% at a time when inflation grew 36%, according to the EU statistics agency Eurostat. Some renters and would-be buyers saw much steeper increases: during the same period, rents in Estonia went up by 211%, in Lithuania, 169%, and in Ireland, 98%.

By 2023, nearly 9% of the EU population spent 40% or more of their disposable income on housing, including 29% of the population in Greece, 15% in Denmark and 13% in Germany.

Jørgensen, who is also tasked with reducing energy prices, said the EU's affordable housing plan would address the "financialisation" of housing, because "it is clear that when housing becomes a commodity, something that is used for speculation with no need to take into consideration the rest of the society, then of course that potentially causes problems". He declined to discuss policy details, but said the commission was studying how member states had sought to eliminate or reduce this problem, such as requirements on developers to build a percentage of affordable homes.

Ursula von der Leyen's commission has some radical ideas to draw on, which could test EU law. Spain is planning a 100% tax on the value of properties bought by non-EU residents, while socialist MEPs want the commission to consider a ban on foreign purchases of real estate.

The European Commission, Jørgensen said, was also considering how to better protect tenants' rights, as well as loosening state-aid rules to make it easier for governments to subsidise or confer tax breaks on housing companies.

Von der Leyen, the commission president, created the housing post in 2024 to help secure the votes from the socialists in the European parliament that were necessary for her to clinch a second term.

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Local people express their opposition to tourist rental flats in Barceloneta, Barcelona. Photograph: Pau Barrena/AFP/Getty Images

Socialist MEPs, who have long sought a bigger EU role on housing, were rattled after losing votes in the 2024 European elections when nationalists and far-right parties made gains. Rising prices and the cost of living were found to be the main factors that motivated people in their votes, cited by 42% of respondents in a European parliament survey after the elections.

Last month von der Leyen told MEPs the EU needed "a radical overhaul of the way we tackle this issue" and promised to convene "the first EU housing summit to ensure it is at the top of our agenda".

EU leaders are to discuss housing at a summit next week where they can set out their views on the upcoming strategy. Diplomats have given a guarded welcome to the talks, but stressed that any European angle must consider variation in housing markets across the 27 member states.

So far, socialist MEPs have been making most of the running, but some of their ideas are likely to prove controversial, such as a call for €300bn (£260bn) in EU grants and loans for housing, as well as proposals to overhaul EU fiscal rules to encourage governments to spend more in this area.

Jørgensen declined to name any spending target - "we are talking about very, very big numbers" - but said public money would be needed to incentivise private capital in some cases. EU member states, he said, already had more options to spend EU funds on housing than in the past, citing the midterm review to the current budget that made available €15bn for housing, up from €7bn.

He said it was time for the EU to look at housing with "fresh eyes", drawing a comparison with the Covid pandemic when the health emergency triggered an unprecedented joint procurement of vaccines. "So as it happened with the Covid crisis, when we stand in new situations we need to also redefine the role of the European Union," he said.

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EU executive to propose short-term rental rules to tackle 'social crisis' in housing

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Bloc's first affordable housing plan to cover issues such as tenants' rights, property speculation and tourist lets

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Overview:

This article explores how climate change is increasingly forcing people to leave their homes as rising seas, droughts, floods, and extreme weather make areas uninhabitable. It highlights the scale of the crisis, with projections suggesting that up to 1.2 billion people could be displaced by 2050, yet international law still lacks a clear definition or protection for “climate migrants.” The piece explains the complex mix of environmental “push” factors and social or economic “pull” factors that shape migration patterns, emphasizing that displacement often leads to deep cultural and emotional losses beyond physical relocation. Concern Worldwide’s work focuses on building resilience through community-based approaches—helping vulnerable populations adapt, recover from climate disasters, and maintain their dignity and livelihoods without being forced to migrate.

Why I find this article interesting:

I find it interesting as it connects the global issue of climate change to real human experiences, showing how environmental crises are already reshaping lives and communities. It challenges us to think beyond statistics and see the personal, social, and cultural impacts of climate-driven migration but it also highlights the practical efforts to help people adapt and build resilience. It’s both eye-opening and hopeful, offering insight into one of the most urgent challenges of our time.

Policy frameworks:

The article explains that current policy frameworks offer very limited protection for people displaced by climate change. International laws, like the 1951 Refugee Convention, don’t recognize “climate migrants,” leaving many without legal status or rights. While initiatives such as the Nansen Initiative, the New York Declaration, and the Global Compact for Migration acknowledge the issue, they lack enforcement. As a result, most climate-displaced people, especially those who move within their own countries, receive little formal support or protection, highlighting a major gap in global migration policy.

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Concern Worldwide works with communities on the frontlines of climate change; those who have lost homes, those at risk of displacement, and those adapting to new realities. We hear stories not just about hardship but also about resilience and renewal.

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Budget 2026: Healthcare Funding - Lauren

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Budget 2026: Healthcare Funding - Lauren

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Overview: Ireland’s coalition government has announced a record €27.4 billion health budget for 2026, the largest single-department allocation in Irish history and a 6% increase from 2025. The funding aims to expand healthcare capacity, increase staffing, and accelerate long-waited reforms. Key measures include 220 new hospital beds, 280 community beds, 500 nursing home places, 1.7 million extra home support hours, and expanded mental health services. The government has also committed to multi-annual budgeting to improve long-term planning.

However, Health Minister Jack Chambers has warned that greater spending must be accompanied by reforms in productivity, efficiency, and financial governance to tackle deep-rooted inefficiencies within the HSE. Analysts note that rising pay costs, inflation, and demographic pressures could absorb much of the funding, leaving little for transformative investment. Despite the record allocations, Ireland continues to give the longest hospital waiting lists in the EU and ongoing overcrowding issues.

Why I find the article interesting: This article is particularly interesting as it captures the tension between Ireland’s economic strength and its persistent healthcare inefficiencies. While the record budget reflects strong fiscal capacity and a public commitment to health, it also exposes how systemic governance and structural flaws continue to undermine progress. The governments failure to deliver on their 2024 election promises, such as extending free GP care and reducing childcare fees, highlighting a growing disconnect between political promises and policy outcomes. Their focus on supporting large industries and landlords over essential public services adds to public frustration, especially when access to timely and affordable healthcare remains limited for many people.

Implications: At the local and national level, the increased funding shows the government’s commitment to improving the healthcare system and access to it. The funding, if used correctly, could reduce wait times and ease overcrowding in regional and main hospitals. But the opposition parties in the Dail criticise the government over accountability and governance, suggesting that spending alone will not resolve Ireland’s healthcare crisis.

Looking internationally, Ireland has a robust economy and record health spending, yet it still suffers from the EU’s longest waiting lists. This reinforces perceptions that the challenges are in the systemic inefficiencies and management reform, rather than an underfunding issue. This could affect Ireland’s global reputation as a developed country effectively delivering public services to its citizens.

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Ireland unveils record €27.4bn health budget amid calls for structural reform | Euractiv

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Ireland’s ‘Budget 2026’ health allocation is the largest single departmental budget in the state’s history

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National Housing Crisis - Ireland SPOL28150

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National Housing Crisis - Ireland SPOL28150

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Better mental health education in schools - Kaisa

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Better mental health education in schools - Kaisa

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Overview:

This article calls for systematic and structured inclusion of mental health in Sweden’s school curriculum as they believe it does not sufficiently address student’s mental health need’s appropriately. Mental health is only discussed in certain subjects, like physical education or biology, but very little information is given. There are a lack of guidelines, materials to learn and training for appropriate mental health learning. Teaching about subjects like this have very clear positive effects such as better sleep habits, physical activity, conflict management and better understanding of one’s emotions. They believe that an implementation of this would create a better classroom environment, minimise bullying and improve learning.

Why I find this article interesting:

This is important as mental health issues are increasing globally and needs to be acknowledged. The article mention that only 5 students in upper secondary school had gotten a proper understanding of stress. The article connects educational reform with the mental health challenge. It raises concerns with how schools can focus on academic achievement along with emotional learning.

What policy actions can be/have been made to deal with the issue:

The first policy action that needs to be done is include mental health has a defined learning area in the curriculum, starting in the early grades. From there on there are other needs to be meet, such as providing appropriate training for teachers and relevant materials for the teachers. The school needs to be clear that the subject is for educational purposes rather than therapy, through teachers giving them useful information, while professionals handle the treatment side if needed. It is crucial that there is a standard for the education.

Other countries globally, have strategies nationally to require the curriculum to teach about mental health and coping skills. The UNESCO, European Commission and WHO are advocating for better education about mental health. It views emotional skills as important as mathematics and languages. A better mental health awareness is needed globally, not just in Sweden and these measures can and need to be done in most areas. This debate mirrors a global trend as many countries are recognising that school’s play an important role in promoting well mental health. Sweden is the last country of the Nordic reign to promote mental wellbeing in school.

This international context shows how Sweden’s is not isolated in these issues and needs, a global shift is crucial for the lifelong mental wellbeing for students.

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Sviker elevers psykiska hälsa i reviderad läroplan

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DEBATT. Ett nytt läsår är i gång. Samtidigt som lärare inspirerar klassrum runtom i landet så planerar regeringen en revidering av grundskolans läroplan. Många

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A one man recycling revolution - Kristina 

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A one man recycling revolution - Kristina 

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overview:

The article tells the story of Ian Falconer, who started a recycling company that turns discarded fishing nets into nylon for 3D printing and manufacturing. He saw a problem with the heaps of discarded fishing nets at the harbour near his home in Cornwall, and thought that there must be a better solution than letting it all go to landfills. This was the beginning of his company OrCA. His company developed machinery that could shred, clean and melt fishing nets into nylon beads, which could then be used for 3D printing. As the article and Falconer point out, the problem with discarded fishing nets is much bigger in countries that lack an effective waste management system. Therefore, Falconers next goal is to export his recycling solution to any harbour that wants it.

Why I find this article interesting:

The article is interesting because it demonstrates how local initiatives can help mitigate problems associated with climate change and how local solutions can have a significant global impact. Falconers company shows how a local idea can create a circular economy solution to a global problem. It is beneficial through recycling waste into valuable materials, protecting marine life, while also being financially viable. It also addresses the problem with ghost gear, therefore being a solution to mitigate that.

What policy actions can be/have been made to deal with the issue:

As this is a local initiative, it is an example of how actions can be made into policy by policymakers. Recycling is covered by SDG 12, and can also help with SDG 14 by reducing marine pollution and creating a safer habitat for marine animals. There are also a bunch of policies that can build upon this, such as mandatory collecting systems for end-of-life fishing gear, subsidies and grants for other locals with similar ideas, international cooperation and support for developing countries.

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‘When I pass piles of fishing nets, I see piles of money’: a one man recycling revolution on the Cornish coast

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Determined to find a solution to the discarded plastic nets, Ian Falconer found a way to convert them into filament for 3D printing, for use in products from motorbikes to sunglasses

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International Racial Discrimination

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Global Social Policy Article 2 - Hellen Sichela

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Budget increase for the Defence Force - Justin 

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Budget increase for the Defence Force - Justin 

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Overview:

This article looks at the impact of the budget increase on Irish defence funding and how, in the 2026 budget, there was a massive increase in funding for the Irish defence forces. This increase in funding will be focused on increasing investment in security and cybersecurity to protect the Irish state. It will also be used to purchase new equipment, such as new radar systems, but also to replenish old ammunition stocks, which were given to Ukraine due to the war. The funding will go towards recruiting new soldiers, as our current defence forces have a major deficit of around 2,000 soldiers, which should help improve our defence capabilities and allow us to utilise our full navy.

Rather uniquely, there is a portion of money that has been set aside for legal costs, which will be used to investigate abuse cases within the defence forces, but also to hold tribunal cases.  Finance Minister Jack Chambers has stated that enough funding has been allocated for the hiring of around 400 new defence members.

Why I find this article interesting;

I find this article to be interesting as it looks into one of the most important issues facing our country, as due to the increased hostility between the West and Russia, there has never been a better time to invest and improve our security forces. Ireland is in a quite unique position as it is not a part of NATO and we are a neutral country; however, for these reasons, we’ve underinvested in our defence forces, which has greatly diminished our capabilities when compared to our European allies. However the severity of the situation cannot be underestimated as certain departments such as the navy are ubavle

. Another interesting point about this article is how it explains that the money will be used to improve our radar capabilities, which is currently a major issue for the Irish Defence Forces as they are unable to properly locate new stealth aircraft, and this inability puts Europe on the back foot as Ireland and thus Europe are unable to track any enemy aircraft/ ships along our western seaboard, which comprises the security of Ireland but Europe as a whole.

What policy action can be made

The policy actions that can be made from this is that we increase our spending even more however it raises the question that with this increase in defence spending is that the money could be used in different sectors, such as housing or healthcare, and while it could be more beneficial in the short term, there really is a massive issue when it comes Irelands defence so I believe that we should be priortising spending on it as if we dont improve it not puts irelands security at risk but it also hampers eureopes ability to protect itself.

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The defence budget will jump to a record €1.49 billion next year as the Coalition moves towards a promised 50 per cent increase in military spending by 2028.

The 2026 figure represents an 11 per cent increase for the Department of Defence. The extra funding will cover the purchase of big-ticket items, such as sonar and radar systems, as well as a new uniform for the Defence Forces.

Other projects include replenishing depleted ammunition stocks and acquiring new body armour through a joint purchase with other European Union countries.

A significant amount of money will be spent on increasing Defence Forces personnel, which currently stands at 7,500, well below its establishment strength of 9,500. The Government has committed to increasing the military's size to 11,500 by 2028.

Funding for 2026 will cover 400 new defence members, 50 new civilian roles and 70 additional civil servants to work in "critically important areas such as cyber security", Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers said.

There will also be funding for recruitment campaigns and training and healthcare supports.

A significant proportion of Department of Defence funding will be required for legal costs relating to a tribunal established to examine abuse within the Defence Forces.

The Representative Association for Commissioned Officers (RACO) welcomed the budget increase, saying it appears the Coalition is "on track" to meet its 2028 goals.

However, it said reaching a personnel strength of 11,500 by 2028 will be a "major challenge" requiring improvements in pay and pension arrangements.

The Government has committed to eventually increase defence spending to nearly €2 billion, taking into account inflation, in response to increasing international threats.

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Record defence budget unveiled with 11% boost to military spending

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Much of increased spend will go towards bolstering Defence Forces personnel

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Ending hunger at a global level - Fallon 

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Ending hunger at a global level - Fallon 

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Overview

The Concern Worldwide’s article ‘How to end world hunger: 10 solutions that work’ explains that global hunger persists not because of food scarcity but due to barriers such as poverty, inequality and conflict. It outlines 10 practical solutions to reduce hunger. The article stresses that addressing hunger requires both immediate relief and long term resilience. Concern Worldwide combines treatment for malnutrition with sustainable solutions like improving maternal health, sanitation and food storage while working alongside governments to integrate these approaches into national policies for lasting changes.

Why I find this article interesting/important

This article is important because it highlights evidence based strategies to combat hunger while acknowledging its complex causes. It demonstrates that ending hunger is not solely about increasing food production but creating equitable access. By combining humanitarian responses with sustainable development, Concern’s approach bridges short term needs and long term solutions. The article also plays a vital advocacy role toward proven interventions that can create systemic change.

What policy action can be/has been made to deal with this issue? According to the article.

This article recommends several key policy actions to address world hunger effectively. Governments should expand social protection systems like cash transfers and food vouchers to ensure food affordability. Health policies should integrate community based malnutrition treatment and maternal nutrition programs. Agricultural reforms must promote climate smart practices and support smaller farmers. Policies should also empower local communities and coordinate cross sector programs. Concern advocates embedding these evidence based solutions into national frameworks for long term impacts.

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How to end world hunger with solutions that work

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We’ve lost progress in the fight against hunger, but these 10 solutions can help undo those setbacks and end hunger for good.

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Wexford Faces the Effects of the Growing Housing Crisis- Clodagh

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Wexford Faces the Effects of the Growing Housing Crisis- Clodagh

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Overview:

A recent statement from Johnny Mythen, a Wexford TD, has said that the housing crisis in County Wexford is expected to worsen. He blamed the government for this, due to their lack of ambition and accusing them of falling short of their promise to deliver affordable housing targets for 2025. His comments follow the Quarter 3 housing report by the Minister of housing, which showed the government failing to reach their target. He noted that the increase in rent and housing is at a rate that people can simply not afford. Warning that is this trajectory continues, the homelessness rates in Wexford are likely to rise. Mythen urges the government to urgently change their approach and ramp up their efforts significantly.

What policies should be/have been implemented to deal with the issue:

Despite the national government publicly acknoledge the housing crisis, and implementing policy and objectives in order to diminish this crisis. Mythen states that not only are the governments goals too small, they are not even being met. Mythen believes that a sinn fein led government would make housing its main priority. A direct investment in building more social housing and affordable housing, not just across Wexford towns but also including rural areas. There also needs to be an end to the sale of public land throughout wexford to private developers.People in wexford, just like all people throughout Ireland who are being priced out of the housing market need to be top priority on the Governments agenda.

Why I liked this Article:

What stood out to me about this article,was its honest and urgent portrayal of the worsening housing crisis in Wexford and the very real impact it is having on families living in Wexford. Johnny Mythen standing up for the people of wexford, with his passionate stance on our government failures. I apprectiate that the article highlighted the real consequences for the community, It was refreshing to see a local TD not only discuss the crisis but also offer a sense of hope for the people, that there is representatives with the housing crisis high on their list of issues to combat.

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Housing crisis in Wexford to get worse warns TD as Government set to miss housing targets

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Wexford Sinn Féin TD Johnny Mythen has warned that the housing crisis across County Wexford is set to continue or get even worse, as the government is on track to miss their social and affordable housing targets this year.

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Inequality in Early Childhood Education and Care - Nynke

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Inequality in Early Childhood Education and Care - Nynke

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Overview: Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to equal opportunities by pledging to tackle poverty by 2050. This comes at a critical moment, as inequalities in access to early childhood education and care (ECEC) are increasing across Europe.

ECEC is an important part of several EU policy frameworks, such as the European Pillar of Social Rights and the European Child Guarantee. They stress the importance of giving every child a fair start in life. However, recent data from Eurofound (2024) and EU SILC show that the children who need ECEC most are often those least likely to access it. In 2024, only 23.6% of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE) attended ECEC, compared to 43.9% of children not at risk. In some countries, such as Germany, France, and Ireland, this gap was more than double. And in Poland and Croatia, participation among disadvantaged children under three was more than four times lower compared to children who were not at risk.

What is even more worrying is that this gap has grown over time. In 2015, the difference between participation rates was 12.1 percentage points, but by 2024, it had risen to 20.3 percentage point gap. So even though access to ECEC has improved overall, inequality within the system has become worse.

Why this article is interesting: I find this article interesting because it highlights how inequality in education begins long before children enter primary school. Early childhood education has a really big impact on later learning outcomes, social development, and also lifelong opportunities. When access to ECEC is unequal, those inequalities tend to persist and also grow over time. The situation in the EU shows that even in wealthy regions with strong education systems, equity is not guaranteed. I believe that this makes it a global issue, that requires long-term investment and policy focus rather than short-term solutions.

What policies have been implemented to deal with the issue: The article mentions that improving access to ECEC depends a lot on supporting the workforce. A motivated and well-trained workforce is necessary to provide high-quality and inclusive early education. However, ECEC workers are often undervalued, with low pay and many working on temporary or part-time contracts. To address this, the EU and national governments have taken several steps. Through the European Social Fund Plus, funding has been made available for workforce support. Efforts are also being made to improve working conditions, provide more professional development opportunities, and offer fairer pay. Also, the article states that policy makers should include ECEC participation indicators in the Social Scoreboard, to better track inequalities and ensure targeted action. Future EU budgets, such as the Multiannual Financial Framework, are also expected to include continued investment in both ECEC infrastructure and the workforce.

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In her State of the Union address in 2025, European Commission President von der Leyen recommitted to the EU ideal of equal opportunity by pledging to tackle poverty by 2050. This promise comes at a crucial time, as inequalities in access to early childhood education and care (ECEC) are increasing.

A closer look at the data reveals a stark reality: the children who stand to gain the most from these services are the very ones being left behind. This analysis-which uses data from Eurofound's 2024 European Working Conditions Survey and EU SILC-examines the gap in ECEC participation and argues that the solution lies in a dedicated and well-supported workforce.

Minding the gap

Early childhood education and care is an important part of several major EU social policy frameworks: the European Pillar of Social Rights the European Child Guarantee the European Education Area; and the revised Barcelona Targets (as part of the EU Care Strategy). All these EU initiatives stress the importance of increasing the participation of children in ECEC.

However, only half as many young children at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE) benefited from ECEC (23.6%) compared to children not at risk (43.9%) in 2024 (Figure 1). The gap in participation rates was more than double in the case of Germany, France, Italy, Ireland and Belgium. In Poland and Croatia participation rates for children who were at risk of poverty or social exclusion were more than four times lower than in the case of children under three who were not at risk.

Data has been labelled as unreliable in the case of children AROPE in the case of Czechia, Denmark, Ireland, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Romania and Slovenia. Data has been labelled as provisional in the case of Lithuania as of data of publication (September 2025). Source: EU-SILC (ilc_caindform25b)

Unfortunately, this gap has gotten wider over the last 10 years: from a 12.1 percentage point difference in 2015 to 20.3 percentage point gap in 2024 (Figure 2).

Change starts with the workforce

It is irrefutable that a well-qualified workforce is key to ensuring accessible, inclusive and high-quality services. However, the ECEC workforce is chronically undervalued.

The people who dedicate themselves to this line of work often demonstrate a strong sense of purpose, good work-life balance, and a commitment to training. Eurofound EWCS data highlights this.

Education workers score significantly higher than all other sectors of the labour market when it comes to the perceived usefulness of their own work (Figure 3).

Added to this, the work-life balance of education workers looks to be in better shape than that of the average across all sectors of the labour market: on average, 20 percentage points higher in 2021. The gap closed in 2024, mostly due to an increase in better work-life balance in all sectors compared to the two education sectors below (Figure 4).

To ensure that this seemingly motivated workforce stands ready to extend ECEC services to all, training is an essential aspect to consider. While only little more than half of pre-primary and primary educators reported receiving paid or on-the-job training in 2024 (Figures 5 and 6), these rates are higher than the average across the labour market. But is it enough to equip them with the tools to identify and support young children most at risk?

As well as perceived satisfaction with one's job and a good work-life balance, the provision of training opportunities is a key determinant to decrease staff turnover, especially in hard-to-reach areas where the lack of personnel may lead to service closure.

Another major factor is, of course, pay. A recent report by Eurofound found that pay levels for ECEC workers in most countries were just above minimum wage level. Added to this, it found high rates of part-time work and temporary contracts-a combination that suggests ECEC workers are undervalued.

Higher wages and secure contracts increase retention, which is crucial for maintaining a stable and experienced workforce. By addressing the fundamental issues of pay and working conditions, policymakers can empower ECEC professionals to deliver the high-quality services needed to close the participation gap and give every child a fair start.

Moving forward

As the data shows, participation rates have increased over time, but inequalities have gotten worse over the last 10 years. This growing gap in participation rates between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their more affluent peers demands a more targeted approach.

While EU-level ECEC policy frameworks are sound, it is important to pay more attention to funding workforce measures that go beyond the basics and instead focus on investing in the very people who shape a child's early development.

We can see from the data that the professionals who dedicate themselves to early childhood education and care have a strong sense of purpose, a largely healthy work-life balance, and a commitment to ongoing training. Yet, they are fundamentally undervalued, with pay levels that barely exceed the minimum wage, and too often working on precarious contracts. This disparity is a key weakness in the ECEC system.

To make the EU's commitment to tackling poverty effective, there must also be a commitment to the ECEC workforce. The upcoming reviews of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the revised Barcelona targets provide a critical opportunity to act. Policymakers should integrate indicators on the use of these services by various groups of children into the Social Scoreboard.

The European Social Fund Plus has been vital in supporting the ECEC workforce. Looking ahead, it's essential that the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028-2034) provides sufficient funding to ensure investments not only in infrastructure, but also in the people who deliver these services.

Ultimately, by valuing those who care for our children, we can build a fairer future for everyone.

This post is sponsored by Eurofound

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Investing in Our Children's Future Starts with Supporting the Workers Who Care for Them

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Despite EU commitments to equality, children at risk of poverty remain severely underrepresented in early childhood education programs.

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Global Social Policy National – SPOL28150 Hellen Sichela

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Overview

This article outlines the current rental market in Amsterdam and how the direction of the Dutch housing model has changed over time from predominantly social housing towards a private rental dependant system and the impact this has had on the accessibility of the market for prospective tenants.

Why I find this article interesting/important

This article analyses how the state of the housing market has been impacted by legislation and how this has had knock-on effects socially in multiple areas. Affordability of housing has caused a shift in the career paths and progression of Amsterdam residents, with them now staying in third level education for longer to combat the effects of the market. This is due to students having additional access to student accommodation as well as there now being the need for the job security and higher income that comes with having this education to be able to afford living costs. This article also addresses how the faults of the market caused by state mismanagement are blamed on migrants. Anti-immigration advocates use the shortage of affordable housing as rhetoric against migrant groups ranging from asylum seekers to international students.

What policy actions can/ have been made with this issue

Some Measures have been put in place such as the limitation of short-term rental contracts and the restriction of rentals for certain homes under a threshold in attempts to reduce the inflation caused by speculative investors allowing for more first time buyers to enter the market and to dissuade additional investors from worsening the issue. While these efforts may help alleviate the issues the housing market faces, additional legislative changes may be required such as the reintroduction of more price caps on certain properties and areas as well as the promotion of long term rental contracts in the private sector through incentives.

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2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded for Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)

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2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded for Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)

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https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-chemistry-87dcb74eb01e3d5ba8efc32832e51ef6

Overview:

Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar Yaghi won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their studies on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), substances with extremely tiny pores that can store gases, liquids, and even water. The frameworks are special because they have immense surface area and dynamic chemistry, which helped them capture carbon dioxide, clean toxins from water, and extract water from air.

MOFs are a leap forward in material science and clearly hold environmental potential, helping to decrease greenhouse gases, industrial pollution, and water scarcity.

Researchers are working on methods of utilizing them at an industrial level for carbon capture, treatment of wastewater, and atmospheric water harvesting, showing just how multifaceted they are.

Why I find this interesting:

Because in the society that we are in today, we constantly see in the news/online the negative effects of climate change, pollution to oceans and various other severe consequences the planet face due to us humans. However these scientists have found a potential way to help reverse the damage we thought was unchangeable. Governments could use these and put them into actions that help achieve climate goals while reducing pollution.

Polices involved:

Pollution polices regarding Industrial emissions and water quality in particular.

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UN Treaty on Older People’s Rights Moves Ahead

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UN Treaty on Older People’s Rights Moves Ahead

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Overview: The UN is moving forward with a new treaty on the rights of older persons, aiming to protect them from discrimination and ensure access to healthcare and social protection. It shows growing international recognition that ageing is not only a national but also a global human rights issue.

Why I find this article interesting:

What policy actions can be/have been made to deal with the issue:

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(Geneva, April 3, 2025) - The United Nations Human Rights Council on April 3, 2025, began an intergovernmental process to draft an international human rights treaty on older people, Human Rights Watch said today. The consensus resolution is an important victory for human rights and multilateralism at a moment of increasing international uncertainty.

Older people around the world experience a wide range of human rights violations on a daily basis. They include violence and mistreatment; age-based discrimination; social, economic, and political exclusion; denial of access to care and support services; inadequate social security; exclusion from climate change responses; and abuses in armed conflict.

"The UN Human Rights Council's decision to pursue an international treaty on the rights of older people is a landmark victory not just for older people, but for everyone," said Bridget Sleap, senior researcher on the rights of older people at Human Rights Watch. "State support for this treaty is an important endorsement of the multilateral human rights system."

Significant protection gaps for older people remain in the current international human rights framework. Years of advocacy by older people and civil society groups, notably the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP), led to this historic UN action. GAROP, a global network of more than 400 civil society organizations, including Human Rights Watch, has campaigned since 2011 to strengthen the rights and voice of older people all over the world.

In 2024, after 14 sessions, a dedicated UN Working Group on Ageing acknowledged existing gaps and highlighted the need to address them including through a new UN treaty, laying the foundation for the Human Rights Council's action.

Older people and civil society organizations have engaged over more than a decade in UN processes, both in New York and Geneva, to gain support for a new international treaty. A group of countries consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Gambia, the Philippines, and Slovenia, listened to older people and civil society, and pushed this initiative forward at the Human Rights Council, the UN's preeminent human rights body.

The first meeting of the intergovernmental working group is scheduled to take place before the end of 2025. The working group, which all UN member countries may join, should now proceed quickly and ensure meaningful participation and engagement from stakeholders, especially older people and their representative organizations from all regions of the world.

"Human rights last a lifetime, and rights in older age should be guaranteed as at any other time in our lives," Sleap said. "Ageism, age discrimination, and violation of older people's rights demand the same degree of attention and protection in the international human rights system as any other rights abuses. The fruits of decades of discussions and advocacy have brought us here, but much work lies ahead."

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UN: Treaty on Older People's Rights Moves Ahead

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"The UN Human Rights Council's decision to pursue an international treaty on the rights of older people is a landmark victory not just for older people, but for everyone," said Bridget Sleap, senior researcher on the rights of older people at Human Rights Watch.

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Updated Strategy for the Benefit of Older Generation until 2030 (Russia)

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Updated Strategy for the Benefit of Older Generation until 2030 (Russia)

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The Russian Government has approved a strategy for the benefit of the older generation until 2030

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The Russian government has approved an updated Strategy for Actions in the interests of Older citizens until 2030, which contains a set of standards for improving people’s quality of life. This was announced on April 14 by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

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Number of children in 'consistent poverty' in Ireland rises by over 45,000 in one year - Jake

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Number of children in 'consistent poverty' in Ireland rises by over 45,000 in one year - Jake

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Overview: This recent article highlights just how evident consistent poverty is in Ireland, showing that the number has increased by over 45,000 in just one year. This data is extremely alarming especially when discusses children who are even more vulnerable when it comes to poverty. The article also discusses enforcing issues that display this problem such as how in 2024, one in five children in the country were experiencing enforced deprivation. The article further discusses how only “one-quarter of households that benefited from social welfare supports had an adequate source of income from these supports.” The article also discusses topics such as ‘food poverty’ which is very alarming.

Why I find this article interesting/important: I find this article interesting/important due to showing such striking data within the topic of consistent poverty in Ireland, I believe this article really got the point across through instead of showing any sort of personal bias, simply providing multiple sources of evidence that align with their point which I think makes the article much more valuable when researching issues such as poverty. I also find this article very valuable due to how recent it was written, which was July 2025. Finding an article so recent that discusses my topic of interest is the best case scenario for when researching. The article also provided information on what the government are aiming to aid with the issue at hand, such as ‘universal hot meals’ in schools essentially extending the hot school meal scheme. However it also makes a really important comment on how this help does not actually get to the root of the issue of consistent poverty, instead it essentially covers it up. The article mentions that the Budget of 2026 needs to focus on “breaking the cycle” to actually see drastic improvements in the process of eliminating consistent poverty and its effects for children in Ireland.

What policy action can be/has been made to deal with the issue according to the article: The article discusses that there has been policy action such as the hot school meal scheme becoming ‘universal’ as well as free school books and free GP care being introduced for children under 8 years old. Although the article makes the important note of how this progress does not eliminate the core issue that is present, so while there is being progress to help those in consistent poverty, the government needs to lay the groundwork to extinguish the issue from becoming a such a major problem in the first place. This could include; lowering grocery prices, increasing social welfare payments for families with children, and aiming to provide adequate housing for families with multiple children.

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Number of children in 'consistent poverty' in Ireland rises by over 45,000 in one year

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The report notes that "holiday hunger" has become an emerging issue for families that depend on free hot school meals.

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Открытием 2024 года в пяти городах России стала реализация проекта по восстановлению внимания, памяти и мышления у людей старше 55 лет "Серебряный возраст - думай, действуй, живи!".

В рамках реализации Президентского гранта в 9 городах нашей страны были открыты группы для людей старше 55 лет по обучению методам ментальной арифметики. Проект уже успешно реализуется более пяти лет на территории Вологодской области. В этом году впервые он вышел далеко за Северо-западный федеральный округ. Новые группы были набраны в Кургане, Муроме, Первоуральске, Орле, Солнечногорске. И уже не в первый раз проект реализуется в Кемерово, Санкт-Петербурге, Вологде и, конечно же, в Череповце.

Напомним, что АНО "Институт Подготовки и переквалификации кадров" реализует проект по нейростимуляции внимания, памяти и мышления уже более 5 лет. За это время в проекте приняло участие около 1000 человек. В этом году в проекте примут участие более 500 жителей нашей страны старше 55 лет. По итогам 2023 года наш проект признан лучшей национальной практикой России в сфере активного долголетия для сохранения ментального здоровья. Именно это помогло ему расширить географию и начать реализацию еще в 5 городах России. "Надеемся, что практика обучения ментальной арифметике людей старшего возраста станет повсеместной, - комментирует руководитель проекта Чернышева Варвара Валерьевна, - и это поможет восстановить внимание, память и мышление у людей старшего возраста в большем количестве городов нашей страны".

Данный проект - комплекс мероприятий, каждое из которых не может быть пропущено и выполняет свою, очень важную задачу:

Первый этап - нейропсихологическая диагностика уровня внимания, памяти и мышления по методике А.Р. Лурия. Лекция по возрастным изменениям внимания, памяти и мышления у людей старше 55 лет.

Второй этап - изучение ментальной арифметики. Счет на абакусе и ментально. Нейрогимнастика.

Третий этап - проведение Турнира по ментальной арифметике.

Четвертый этап - итоговая диагностика измененного состояния ВПФ (внимания, памяти и мышления) подтверждение положительных результатов.

Хотелось бы подробно остановиться на Турнире по ментальной арифметике. Конечно, все участники приходят в проект не за турниром, а просто за тем, чтобы восстановить себя. И само слово "турнир" вызывает у них бурю эмоций и очень сложных чувств. Любое соревнование в старшем возрасте вызывает большое волнение и становится предметом для переживаний. А это дополнительный стресс. И во время подготовки к мероприятию педагоги и ученики учатся ровно дышать, спокойно решать и ориентироваться не на результат, а на процесс. Таким образом, незаметно для себя, участники проекта справляются с еще одной задачей - учатся справляться с эмоциями и волнением, преодолевают страх и возвращают себе уверенность в себе.

"Я не представляла, что могу еще принять участие в соревнованиях. Думала, что все мои лучшие годы уж позади. А тут - первое место, - делится победитель турнира. - Это незабываемые эмоции и огромная поддержка для меня в жизни. Теперь мне снова хочется жить, путешествовать, учиться и радоваться жизни. Жизнь продолжается, я чувствую себя молодой!"

Турнир по ментальной арифметике прошел в последние выходные апреля одновременно во всех городах реализации проекта.

Участникам предлагалось решить 210 примеров на счетах за 25 минут и столько же примеров ментально за 15 минут. Конечно, ментальный счет давался участникам проекта с большим трудом. И им намного легче было бы решить примеры в уме. Однако, мы знаем, что главное задачей ментальной арифметики является формирование новых нейронных связей именно через овладение навыком ментального счета. И устный счет никак не помогает восстановить когнитивные функции. Поэтому участники проекта терпеливо и внимательно решали примеры ментально. Пусть они не успели решить много, это и не удивительно, ведь в старшем возрасте ментальный счет дается с большим трудом, зато примеры были решены честно.

Члены жюри - преподаватели ментальной арифметики из городов реализации проекта выделили работы с наибольшим результатом. Все баллы суммировались. Далее были определены победители и призеры.

Награждение победителей турнира стало одним из самых ярких моментов проекта. Своеобразная минута славы и ситуация успеха была нужна каждой женщине. Ведь они давно уже не выходили на сцену и не слышали в свой адрес бурных оваций. Здесь же, участники щедро поддерживали друг друга. На награждении было море слов благодарности, слез радости и творческих поздравлений. В качестве благодарности участники проекта сочиняли стихи, исполняли вокальные номера, танцевали, создавая друг другу неповторимую атмосферу праздника.

Этот проект не числа и цифры на бумаге, этот проект - реальные истории реальных людей. Их светящиеся глаза, радость от встреч друг с другом, новое ощущение себя и желание жить. Будем продолжать помогать, творить, учить.

Уже осенью 2024 года стартует второй поток проекта "Серебряный возраст - думай, действуй, живи!". А места на него заняты были уже в апреле.

Надеемся на продолжение нашего замечательного проекта и в 2025 году.

Группа проекта "Серебряный возраст - думай, действуй, живи!" во Вконтакте.

Поделиться статьей
в социальных сетях:

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Открытие 2024

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Открытием 2024 года в пяти городах России стала реализация проекта по восстановлению внимания, памяти и мышления у людей старше 55 лет "Серебряный возраст - думай, действуй, живи!".

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What Zurich Teaches Us About Housing Equality- Afnan Alkanzi 

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What Zurich Teaches Us About Housing Equality- Afnan Alkanzi 

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Overview:

The Guardian's article "Could Zurich's housing cooperatives be the solution to Europe's housing crisis? " examines how Zurich's non-profit cooperative model of housing provides affordable, communal living. About one in five Zurich residents live in such cooperatives, where tenants collectively own their buildings and pay cost-based rents rather than market rents. Supported by local government policies such as low-interest loans and municipal land leases, the model prevents speculation and promotes social inclusion.

The article argues that this partnership model can impact housing reform across Europe by putting affordability, resident engagement, and long-term stability over profit-driven development.

Why I find this article interesting:

I found this article interesting because it offers a practical alternative solution to one of the most pressing global social policy challenges. The housing crisis has become a significant issue in both the Irish and global scenes in recent years. Interestingly, rather than focusing only on market failure or government shortfalls, it highlights how cooperative housing in Zurich gives residents direct control over their homes through collective ownership and democratic decision-making. This model challenges traditional assumptions that housing must be profit-driven, showing how social solidarity, shared responsibility, and affordability can coexist. It’s remarkably engaging because it links policy, economics, and community values, illustrating how local governance and citizen participation can yield more sustainable, inclusive housing outcomes.

Globally, Zurich’s model offers lessons for cities facing high rents and inequality. It shows how housing policy can balance market forces with social goals. The article highlights debates about fairness, scale, and state support, urging readers to consider community-led solutions for more equitable and sustainable housing.

What policies should be implemented to tackle the issue:

The United Nations recognises adequate housing as a fundamental human right, central to dignity, security, and equality (Article 25, Universal Declaration of Human Rights). Yet, the global housing crisis reveals that this right remains unrealised for many in Ireland and globally. To advance this goal, governments should adopt policies that treat housing as a social necessity rather than a market commodity. Expanding non-profit and cooperative housing models, as seen in Zurich, can make the right to housing more tangible by ensuring affordability, stability, and community control. States should provide public financing, land access, and legal protections to guarantee that all residents can live in safe, secure, and sustainable homes. Embedding UN housing rights principles—such as accessibility, affordability, and participation—into national housing strategies would help bridge the gap between policy and human need, creating inclusive urban environments that reflect the UN’s vision of housing as a universal right rather than a privilege.

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Could Zurich’s housing cooperatives be the solution to the rest of Europe’s housing crisis? | Peter Apps

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One in every five citizens in the city has bought a share in the company that built and owns their apartment block, says Inside Housing’s Peter Apps

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Poland's president signs off on new zero income tax law for parents with two children- YVONNE 

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Poland's president signs off on new zero income tax law for parents with two children- YVONNE 

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Overview:

The Polish president has introduced a new law, the zero personal income tax which is created for those families with at least two children. This was introduced to reduce family's financial disadvantage and challeges for those earning up to 32,973 euros per year. This is not only for parents, but also for legal guardians and foster parents. However, even though this is a nice incentive it still presents some gaps and inequalities. The ones that benefit the most from this law are the wealthiest citizens, rather than the low-income ones. The article explains it perfectly, if a family earns 2,826 per month, they get a relief of 215, but one that earns less can save only around 17 euros per month.

I find this article important

I found this article on TikTok, and I found it to be an innovative law and even though it doesn't cover everyone, it is still an incentive that I think other countries should try to implement or it should be kept in consideration. The fewer burned and boundaries we remove from families the more positive growth we can see in the economy and socially. Having laws of this type can also increase the birth rate, making citizens more inclined to create families and the feeling of being supported by the government.

What policy actions can be/have been made to deal with the issue:

A policy action that can be made to deal with the issue is to try to ensure and support those families that need it the most. By trying to prioritise the low-income households and provide direct financial assistance. This will promote financial stability, social equality and long-term benefit.

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Polish president signs zero income tax law for parents with two kids

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The bill, presented by Karol Nawrocki in August, removes the income tax obligation on families earning up to 140,000 zloty (€32,973) a year.

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St Patrick was an immigrant – and Ireland’s economy continues to benefit from them

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St Patrick was an immigrant – and Ireland’s economy continues to benefit from them

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Overview

While there’s talks of anti-immigration and xenophobia rising in Europe and Ireland, these people tend to ignore or misunderstand the significant economic contribution made by inward migration. The article talks about the potential role that culture has played in Ireland's better understanding for immigrants struggles and having a better acceptance to immigrants integrating to Ireland. The economy has shown to improve as more than 60% of our working-class immigrants are previous graduates, meaning they are well educated. Ireland has a huge IT sector, where 40% of the people within the sector are immigrants with an average salary of €90,000 per annum. Ireland's tax revenue growth has sped up because of the increase of immigrants coming into Ireland, Immigration has also helped Ireland's rapid ageing issue. Ireland is doing better when it comes to benefiting from immigration than other European countries. Our healthcare and health services are backed by immigrants, as 40% of doctors in Ireland are immigrants and 30% of health service workers in Ireland are also immigrants. The article compares Ireland to the rest of the EU stating; the EU’s population would have fell by 3% without immigration and instead increased by 1.6%. There is some issues with integration, as a third of the immigrants coming into the EU left school early and may struggle to acquire the local language and therefore struggle to find work. Ireland has a striving economy and with the 22% of people born outside of Ireland aiding that growth.

Why do I find this article interesting?

The article highlights the importance of immigrants and the very real need for them to continue to come to Ireland. Besides the humanistic values that we hold in accepting people fleeing countries that are experiencing trauma, we can also recognise a statistical benefit from accepting immigrants, they keep the healthcare systems stable, as 40% of our doctors our immigrants and without them we would be struggling. There's also a common misconception the immigrants are poorly educated, however the article highlights that 60% of the working-class immigrants are previous graduates meaning they have adequate education, we have a high rate of well-educated immigrants in Ireland. The article also mentions Ireland's cultural background, and that being a potential reason why the Irish are more accepting of immigrants as we understand their struggles because of our own history, It's possible that because of that understanding, that we have allowed for a better environment for immigrants to be in Ireland. However, I am not happy with our integration process, I think we need to do a better job at helping the integration of these people coming in, with things like language classes and helping make job applications. We need to have a better system of integration to help the one third of immigrants from low educated backgrounds.

What Policy actions can be/ have been made to deal with the issue?

While our immigration policies allow for the stability of our healthcare system as 40% of doctors in Ireland are immigrants, that is only a highlighted benefit for our country. We need to create a policy that helps immigrants with recovery from trauma and one third of immigrants in Ireland struggle with finding work as they left school early, our integration policies need to do better at helping overcome education and language barriers so that immigrants coming in can make better economic contributions. We need better access of education in Ireland to immigrants, a policy that ensures that immigrants get basic education regardless of status. I think because 22% of our population is born outside Ireland we should help that 22% to sustain a good life. We cannot ignore the implantation gaps as there are people coming from poor conditions arriving in Ireland only to end up in similar conditions, we have an obligation to help people with their struggles when it comes to integrating.

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In elections in Germany, the Netherlands, France and Austria over the last year, immigration has figured prominently. Right-wing parties, campaigning for very tough migration curbs have attracted a significant share of the vote. In contrast, migration was not a prominent issue in November's election in Ireland, and no single-issue anti-immigrant candidates were elected. Why?

For generations, Ireland was a country of emigrants, and most of us have close relatives living abroad. Our patron, St Patrick, was an immigrant. So culture may play a part. Our immigration also looks quite different from elsewhere in Europe.

The share of our immigrants who are graduates is roughly double that elsewhere in the EU - more than 60 per cent of our working-age immigrants, whereas for the EU as a whole it's a third. This difference has a number of implications. Immigrants to Ireland find well-paid employment easily. More than 40 per cent of those working in our IT sector are immigrants, where average pay is almost €90,000. They are more likely to speak the local language here, English. They find it easier to integrate with the local population, especially when they have an Irish partner. About one in every seven children born here in the last two decades have had one parent born elsewhere, and one Irish-born parent.

Graduate immigration to Ireland has been an engine of growth in our economy. Without them, growth would have been slower and tax revenue - key to supporting our rapidly ageing population - would have been lower. Immigration has helped rebalance the generations, to a greater extent than elsewhere. In practical terms, immigrants also do a lot of the caring - 30 per cent of our health service workforce has come from abroad, up from about 20 per cent a decade ago.

[ Almost 40% of doctors working in Ireland last year had qualified overseas, says medical council ]

In other EU countries, immigration has also contributed to growth, but to a lesser extent. Denmark, Sweden, France, Spain and the Netherlands are among the countries attracting sizeable numbers of graduate incomers.

Inward population movement has played an important role in sustaining the EU economy, through an influx of people of working age. Without immigration, the population of the EU would have fallen by 3 per cent in the last 10 years. Instead it rose by 1.6 per cent. Without this inflow of working-age adults, the dependency ratio would have risen, leaving each worker supporting more children and retirees.

The growth in anti-immigrant sentiment across the EU tends to ignore or misunderstand the significant economic contribution made by inward migration, particularly in countries that would otherwise see their populations shrink.

But while immigration is mostly a positive economic story, about a third of those entering Europe had left school early. That group faces more difficulties finding work, and they are more likely to live in already poor neighbourhoods. Proficiency in the language of the host country is also more likely to be a problem. All these factors make it harder to integrate into local society. Germany, Italy and Spain have a higher share of poorly-educated newcomers. It is very important for their host countries to try to remedy the education and language barriers that inhibit successful integration, and enable these groups to make a significant economic contribution in their new homes.

As well as people from outside its external borders, the European Union, with free movement of labour, also experiences considerable internal population movement. Close to a third of migrants in EU countries have come from another member state. As we experienced ourselves, there was a lot of movement westward after the accession in 2004 of former Eastern Bloc countries. Over the last 20 years, four of the newer member states (Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia and Lithuania) each lost at least an eighth of their population through emigration. Not surprisingly, the pre-2004 EU members thus have a higher share of migrants per head of population than the newer member states - 16 per cent in the "old" EU as against 6 per cent in newer member states. Ireland's thriving economy puts us near the top of the list, with 22 per cent of our population born elsewhere.

We know ourselves the debilitating effect of a sustained outflow, particularly when better-educated and more enterprising young people opt to leave. Improved economic conditions in Latvia and Lithuania have reduced emigration in recent years - not so for Romania and Bulgaria. In Poland, improved economic conditions have encouraged some of the post-2004 wave of emigrants to return home, adding to economic success.

That's been the story of our own emigrant "homing pigeons", whose time abroad has built experience, skills and contacts. When they return to live and work in Ireland, they earn a 10th more than those who never left.

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St Patrick was an immigrant - and Ireland's economy continues to benefit from them

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The growth in anti-immigrant sentiment in the EU tends to ignore the significant economic contribution made by inward migration

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Digitalisation of State and Sovereignty in Tuvalu

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Digitalisation of State and Sovereignty in Tuvalu

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Overview:

Small island states, faced with the loss of their physical landmass, are grappling in a very real way with the question of how to preserve their sovereignty and culture in the face of climate change. Due to rising sea levels, the island of Tuvalu may not be inhabitable for much longer - with land including critical infrastructure projected to sit below the level of the current high tide by 2050. Faced with this existential threat, Tuvaluan authorities are attempting to preserve their statehood by building a digital copy of the country - a virtual-reality ‘replica’ to preserve the nation's culture - as well as act as a digital assurance of the legal rights of Tuvalu’s 11,000 citizens.

What policy actions can be/has been made to deal with the issue:

The Tuvaluan government announced the digital project as part of its wider ‘Future Now’ Project in 2022, during a speech by the Tuvaluan Foreign Minister Simon Kofe at COP27. This policy was largely an international diplomatic effort which focussed on a pragmatic solution to the threat to Tuvaluan culture. The policy attempts to digitalise all Islands and facilities in Tuvalu, as well as seeks to create digital passports, stored on the blockchain, to allow the government to continue to function remotely. Current international law is ill-suited to countries facing loss of territory or habitability due to climate change – it requires that a sovereign nation-state must have both a clearly defined territory and a permanent population. The recent policy of creating a digital state aids Tuvalu in bypassing this first criteria and assuring its statehood. As the first of its kind, the policy hopes to provide a new model of statehood, better adapted to the needs and capacities of a modern, warming and increasingly online world. This new conceptualisation of statehood has been enshrined in Tuvalu’s constitution and is being increasingly recognised by other nations – largely those in similar predicaments caused by climate-change.

Despite the notion of a capitulation to climate change implied by Tuvalu’s policy of digitalisation,  the Tuvaluan Government continues to spend millions on land reclamation through coastal adaptation projects. Such projects include strips of flood-free land which have been added to the islands of Funaguti and Fogafale, providing space for housing, infrastructure and other essential services, as well as new protective barriers holding back the tides from reaching homes, schools, hospitals, farmland and other cultural assets on the islands of Nanumaga and Nanumea.The Tuvaluan Government describes this dual policy approach as sensible in “planning for multiple scenarios – both best-case and worst-case”.

I find this article interesting as:

The focus of the social policy issue on the land not only as an asset, but as the basis of dignity and culture of the group was very interesting to me. In allowing Tuvaluan citizens to submit their most valued possessions and highlight the most sentimental lands, the digital archive maintains Tuvaluan sovereignty as something beyond its legal definition. I find this policy interesting as it represents a shift from the ‘we are not drowning, we are fighting’ mantra that has previously shaped the rhetoric of Pacific Islands towards climate change, towards a capitulation to the loss of their lands.

I am interested by the critiques of this policy – that digitalisation is ironic by representing the same kind of resource-intensive approach which causes climate change in the first place; and whether this policy is a legitimate measure to address the issue of rising sea levels or simply a public-relations exercise designed to grab international attention and persuade richer nations to reduce their emissions in order to protect the islands.

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Facing erasure due to climate change, the Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu is digitally backing up everything from its houses to its trees as it endeavors to save whatever it can.
Faced with such an existential threat, what do you do? Build sea walls? Try to reclaim some land from the sea? Move away altogether? These are all solutions that have been attempted by other small island nations facing similar problems, and indeed by the Tuvaluans themselves.

But Tuvalu is going one step further in its attempt to preserve its land and statehood. As the physical reality of the nation slips beneath the ocean, the government is building a digital copy of the count r y, backing up everything from its houses to its beaches to its trees. It hopes this virtual replica will preserve the nation's beauty and culture - as well as the legal rights of its 11,000 citizens - for generations to come.

The initiative was first announced in 2022 by Tuvalu's minister for foreign affairs, Simon Kofe, via a video speech played at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, as part of the government's wider Future Now (or Te Ataeao Nei in Tuvaluan) project, which is focusing on both international diplomacy and pragmatic adaptation to climate change.

In the clip, which looks more like a sequel to The Matrix than an official government speech, Kofe at first appears to stand on a beach, complete with white sand and rustling palms. But as the camera zooms out, revealing more of the scenery, the image starts to glitch. Rocks and sand shift unnaturally, and a seabird flies across the black abyss of the background.

"Our land, our ocean, our culture are the most precious assets of our people - and to keep them safe from harm, no matter what happens in the physical world, we'll move them to the cloud," says Kofe in the video.

Much of Tuvalu's land, including many homes and its critical infrastructure, will sit below the level of the current high tide by 2050 (Credit: Alamy)

As well as creating a virtual copy of the islands, the Digital Nation project will seek to back up the nation's cultural heritage. Citizens have been invited to submit their most valued possessions and memories - sentimental items, grandfathers' stories, and festival dances, for instance - for digitisation, creating an archive "designed to carry the very soul of Tuvalu", according to an update from Kofe in 2023.

But Kofe has also made it clear there is a strongly practical element to the project. Small island states, faced with the loss of their physical landmass, are grappling in a very real way with the question of how to preserve their sovereignty.

Current international law is ill-suited to countries facing loss of territory or habitability due to climate change: it requires that a sovereign nation-state must have both a clearly defined territory and a permanent population - two characteristics that are no longer a guaranteed feature of Tuvalu's future.

So as well as securing the nation's boundaries within the metaverse, the Tuvalu government is seeking to create digital passports, stored on the blockchain, to allow the government to continue to function. These passports include everything from holding elections and referendums, to registering births, deaths and marriages.

Ultimately, Tuvalu hopes that the project could provide a new model of statehood, better adapted to the needs and capacities of a modern, warming and increasingly online world.

At its heart, though, the proposal acknowledges that change is coming to the islands, and that many will inevitably leave as life becomes harder and opportunities fewer.

International law requires that sovereign nations have a clearly defined territory and permanent population - neither of which are guaranteed in Tuvalu's future (Credit: Alamy)

This arguably represents a shift from the "we are not drowning, we are fighting" mantra that has shaped the rhetoric of Pacific Island nations to date.

But not everyone agrees that it is time to give up on the islands.

"The concept for the creation of a digital nation of Tuvalu in the metaverse implies that Tuvalu will disappear because of sea level rise and that we should make a digital copy of it," said former prime minister Enele Sopoaga, now the leader of the opposition, in a 2023 media statement responding to the proposals. "There is no basis of such proposition in international law, and there is absolutely no reason to believe that Tuvalu will disappear even with sea level rise."

Speaking in September at a UN General Assembly plenary about the existential threats from sea-level rise, Tuvaluan climate activist Grace Malie told delegates that Tuvalu and other ocean states will "not go quietly into the rising sea" but will "continue the fight" for their land, culture and future.

"It's more than just our homes at stake," she said of Tuvaluans. "It's our dignity, our culture, our heritage. It is not something we can pack into suitcases and take with us. We have done the least to cause the crisis, but we are paying the highest price."

Others, however, point out that the construction of a digital twin for Tuvalu does not mean giving up on efforts to save its islands themselves. They argue that efforts to physically protect the islands can sit alongside those to preserve its memory within the metaverse.

"The Digital Nation programme does not represent an acceptance of the loss of the nation as a physical entity," says Taukiei Kitara, a Tuvaluan research fellow at Griffith University in Australia and co-author of a recent paper about the Digital Nation initiative. He points out that the project is just one of many in Tuvalu's fight against climate change and has the advantage of being driven by Tuvaluans themselves.

"Planning for multiple scenarios - both best-case and worst-case and in between - is sensible when it comes to risk management, and this is the approach of Tuvalu's current government, and indeed successive previous Tuvalu governments," adds Kitara.

In a move to the digital, the Tuvaluan government is now mapping every aspect of the islands using Lidar technology (Credit: Alamy)

Leaving aside the question of whether or not the government should prepare for a future beyond the islands, some have suggested that the Digital Nation plan is simply impractical in a nation that remains comparatively disconnected from the digital world. They argue that it is little more than a PR exercise, designed to grab international attention and persuade richer nations to reduce their emissions - something which is key to the survival of the physical islands themselves.

But the effort that the Tuvaluan government is putting into mapping its islands and boosting connectivity suggests that this project is more than just a means of applying diplomatic pressure.

In March and April 2024, Place, a global non-profit organisation which supports open access mapping and other geographical data, began mapping the physical features of Funafuti, Tuvalu's capital, using drones and 360-degree cameras to record both aerial and street-level imagery.

This raw data can be used to create a Google Earth or Street View-style image, but with the super high resolution required for capturing the details of the narrow islands, which are just tens of metres wide in places. When it comes to their finer details, the accuracy of satellite imagery is not fine enough to cut it.

"We drove all of the island, then we switched to mopeds for the bike baths, and then we switched to tiny GoPros for all of the walking paths," says Frank Pichel, who oversees field operations at Place. "I think we have covered about 80 or 90km (50 or 56 miles), and really covered as much as we could."

Far from being a PR exercise, he points out that creating a "digital twin" in this way has various real-world applications, including helping the nation adapt to and mitigate climate change in practical ways. By recording the size and angle of rooftops, for instance, it can model the capacity for solar panels in the future. Scans of water storage tanks, meanwhile, can help estimate the availability of drinking water on the island.

It is an approach that is not unique to places like Tuvalu, even if the cultural dimension and the urgency of climate change add an extra dimension to the task, says Pichel.

"If you look at advanced economies, they are looking to go this way, even if they're not calling it a digital twin. London wants a 'digital twin' of subterranean cabling to make sure they're not hitting wires or old sewer lines. So it is something that has existed in spatial data management for a long time and is perhaps growing a bit under a new label."

The next step for Tuvalu would be to map the remainder of the islands, then work on filling any remaining gaps, says Pichel.

Due to the remoteness of the islands, which lie in a chain covering some 420 miles (676km), this in itself will be a difficult and time-consuming endeavour. Nonetheless, the Place team hopes to return and capture more data every two years, reflecting the fact that the islands themselves are in constant flux due to the impacts of climate change.

As the seas rise, building a digital replica may help Tuvalu save more than it otherwise would. The islands' physical future may be uncertain, but its digital journey has only just begun.

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Tuvalu: The disappearing island nation recreating itself in the metaverse

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Facing erasure due to climate change, the Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu is digitally backing up everything from its houses to its trees as it endeavors to save whatever it can.

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International Housing Crisis - Across Europe - SPOL 28150

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International Housing Crisis - Across Europe - SPOL 28150

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UN Treaty on Older People’s Rights Moves Ahead

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UN Treaty on Older People’s Rights Moves Ahead

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Overview
In April 2025, the United Nations took an important step toward creating the first international treaty focused exclusively on the rights of older people. Supported by countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Slovenia, and Portugal, as well as by organisations like Human Rights Watch and HelpAge International, this initiative seeks to make governments legally responsible for protecting older citizens from discrimination, neglect, and abuse. The proposed treaty emphasises that ageing should be viewed as a human rights issue rather than only a social or demographic matter. It would require governments to guarantee access to healthcare, social protection, housing, and public participation, ensuring that dignity and inclusion are protected in later life. However, some governments argue that existing human rights frameworks already cover older persons, while others insist that explicit protection is necessary. This debate is now taking place in UN forums in New York and Geneva. If adopted, the treaty could set a global standard for how societies treat older generations and hold states accountable when they fail to protect them. Although implementing such a treaty will be complex, especially in countries with limited resources, the initiative itself represents significant progress and shows growing recognition that ageing and dignity are universal concerns.

Why I find this article interesting
I find this article particularly meaningful because it draws attention to an issue that has long been overlooked at the international level. Until now, there have been few large-scale initiatives focusing solely on the elderly population. The idea of establishing global standards for protecting older people’s rights is inspiring, as it aims not only to improve their material well-being but also to address psycho-emotional needs and combat ageism. I think it is crucial that the topic of ageing is finally gaining the same level of political and moral importance as other human rights debates.

What policy action can be/has been implemented to tackle this issue
Following the UN Human Rights Council’s 2025 decision, an intergovernmental working group was created to begin drafting the convention. This represents the first concrete step toward international legal protection for older persons. To advance this initiative, more countries should be encouraged to join and actively contribute to the treaty process. Governments should also review their national legislation to identify gaps in the protection of older citizens and align domestic law with the emerging international standards. Beyond legal frameworks, countries could invest in social infrastructure, such as accessible healthcare systems, inclusive digital services, and monitoring mechanisms that ensure older people’s participation in policymaking.

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(Geneva, April 3, 2025) - The United Nations Human Rights Council on April 3, 2025, began an intergovernmental process to draft an international human rights treaty on older people, Human Rights Watch said today. The consensus resolution is an important victory for human rights and multilateralism at a moment of increasing international uncertainty.

Older people around the world experience a wide range of human rights violations on a daily basis. They include violence and mistreatment; age-based discrimination; social, economic, and political exclusion; denial of access to care and support services; inadequate social security; exclusion from climate change responses; and abuses in armed conflict.

"The UN Human Rights Council's decision to pursue an international treaty on the rights of older people is a landmark victory not just for older people, but for everyone," said Bridget Sleap, senior researcher on the rights of older people at Human Rights Watch. "State support for this treaty is an important endorsement of the multilateral human rights system."

Significant protection gaps for older people remain in the current international human rights framework. Years of advocacy by older people and civil society groups, notably the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP), led to this historic UN action. GAROP, a global network of more than 400 civil society organizations, including Human Rights Watch, has campaigned since 2011 to strengthen the rights and voice of older people all over the world.

In 2024, after 14 sessions, a dedicated UN Working Group on Ageing acknowledged existing gaps and highlighted the need to address them including through a new UN treaty, laying the foundation for the Human Rights Council's action.

Older people and civil society organizations have engaged over more than a decade in UN processes, both in New York and Geneva, to gain support for a new international treaty. A group of countries consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Gambia, the Philippines, and Slovenia, listened to older people and civil society, and pushed this initiative forward at the Human Rights Council, the UN's preeminent human rights body.

The first meeting of the intergovernmental working group is scheduled to take place before the end of 2025. The working group, which all UN member countries may join, should now proceed quickly and ensure meaningful participation and engagement from stakeholders, especially older people and their representative organizations from all regions of the world.

"Human rights last a lifetime, and rights in older age should be guaranteed as at any other time in our lives," Sleap said. "Ageism, age discrimination, and violation of older people's rights demand the same degree of attention and protection in the international human rights system as any other rights abuses. The fruits of decades of discussions and advocacy have brought us here, but much work lies ahead."

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UN: Treaty on Older People's Rights Moves Ahead

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"The UN Human Rights Council's decision to pursue an international treaty on the rights of older people is a landmark victory not just for older people, but for everyone," said Bridget Sleap, senior researcher on the rights of older people at Human Rights Watch.

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Updated Strategy for the Benefit of Older Generation until 2030 (Russia)

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Updated Strategy for the Benefit of Older Generation until 2030 (Russia)

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Overview
In April 2025, the Russian government approved an updated national Strategy for the Benefit of Older Generation until 2030. The policy aims to strengthen healthcare, improve digital accessibility, expand social participation, and create employment opportunities for elderly citizens. It also includes plans to develop long-term care systems and reduce age discrimination in the labour market.

The challenge lies in translating these strategic goals into real improvements for older people’s everyday lives, especially given that many pensioners continue to live below the poverty line and face difficulties accessing modern digital services.

Why I find this article interesting
I find this article interesting because it is important to compare how well official strategies reflect the reality of ageing in Russia. Although the government often highlights its efforts to improve the living standards of older citizens, many pensioners still face economic hardship and social isolation. It is striking to see this contrast between policy language and lived experience.

What policy action can be/has been implemented to tackle this issue
Some steps have already been taken, such as developing regional programmes that promote active ageing, volunteering, and retraining for people over 55.

However, to make the strategy effective, further actions are necessary. Independent social surveys should be carried out regularly to understand the real living conditions, health status, and digital accessibility of older Russians. Corruption and inefficiency in social service delivery must be addressed to ensure that funding reaches those who need it most.

Finally, closing the digital gap is essential: with only about 13 percent of people over 60 in Russia actively using the internet, digital training and simpler online services could dramatically increase older citizens’ participation and autonomy.

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The Russian Government has approved a strategy for the benefit of the older generation until 2030

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The Russian government has approved an updated Strategy for Actions in the interests of Older citizens until 2030, which contains a set of standards for improving people’s quality of life. This was announced on April 14 by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

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Overview
The “Silver Age” project in Saint Petersburg is a local initiative designed to improve the quality of life and social inclusion of elderly citizens. It promotes active ageing through volunteering, cultural participation, retraining, and social adaptation programmes. The project is run by the city government in cooperation with social service centres and local NGOs. It provides opportunities for older people to engage in educational and cultural activities, visit museums, and remain active members of their communities. While the programme’s goals sound promising, in practice it faces several limitations. Many of the museums included in the scheme are far from central areas, and access to free tickets is possible only through the “Gosuslugi” online portal, which many pensioners do not use. For many people struggling with low incomes and high utility costs, such cultural offers may also seem secondary to basic needs like healthcare or housing.

Why I find this article interesting
I find this example relevant because I am from Saint Petersburg, and both my grandmothers fall within the target group of this programme. This personal connection makes it easier to see the gap between how well the project is described on paper and how it actually works. While the idea of cultural inclusion is admirable, it does not always consider the practical barriers older people face (such as poor digital literacy, transport difficulties, or financial constraints). For me, it is a reminder that effective social policy should start with real needs rather than symbolic initiatives.

What policy action can be/has been implemented to tackle this issue
The “Silver Age” programme has already created some infrastructure for social participation, including city-wide volunteer networks and a social service hotline. However, to make it inclusive, many improvements should be implemented. First, cultural and educational opportunities should be offered through both online and offline channels, ensuring participation for those without internet access.

The city could also expand free transport options and organise events closer to where older residents live. Local authorities should prioritise economic and health-related support to guarantee that older people’s basic needs are met before promoting cultural activities.

Finally, regular feedback from participants should be collected to adapt the programme to real conditions and make it genuinely beneficial for Saint Petersburg’s ageing population.

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Окно в Петербург

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Администрация

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Сертификат на билеты в музей для граждан «серебряного возраста» можно оформить уже с 1 марта

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Главное в программе Единой карты петербуржца по этой акции. Где и как оформить сертификат «Серебряного возраста». Какие музеи участвуют в программе «Серебряный возраст» и их список.

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UN World Drug Report 2025 Special Points of Interest - Lilymay

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UN World Drug Report 2025 Special Points of Interest - Lilymay

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Overview

The UN World Drug Report “Special Points of Interest Section” shows the challenges and responses to different issues surrounding drug use and trade. In the 2025 publication, it uses data collected and analysed from 2023. The report has helpful infographics showing the data at the start and throughout. The first set of infographics that show how women are impacted by the drug trade are helpful when comparing them to previous years' reports. This issue analyses the challenges and responses to three areas: Geopolitics and organised crime, socio-economic vulnerability, and public mental health. It also accounts for “drug-by-drug” developments over the year. The report highlights in the last two challenges the comparisons in how men and women are affected by drug use and the differences in support that they need.

Why I find this article interesting

This article is interesting due to how it highlights the differences in how drugs impact women and men, and when comparing it to the previous year’s data. Firstly, compared to the 2024 report, there was a slight decrease of a few percentage points in the number of women in treatment in Oceania, Europe, and Asia, while a 3% increase was observed in both America and Africa. There is also a decrease in opiate and cocaine use and an increase in “ecstasy” and amphetamines, when compared to last year’s report. The report says that women initiate drug use later on in life, are more prone to having drug use disorders and contracting HIV and hepatitis C. When looking at amphetamines, women in treatment face more severe symptoms and typically have higher adverse childhood experiences. In terms of finding treatment, women are less likely to seek treatment and face more barriers to treatment due to stigma and fear of losing custody of their children.

What policy action can be/has been implemented to tackle this issue?

The UN suggests that enhancing sensitivity to issues like the stigma and fears women face within the judicial system and focusing on more serious cases may help in reducing the fear and stigma women face. It also highlights trauma-informed treatment care needed. This particularly helps women due to the high amount of adverse childhood experiences in those facing treatment for amphetamine misuse. These are all informed and valid policy actions that have been seen to help in community level cases.

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Overview

The article “Better World Tondo Food Bank Feeds Children and Empowers Women Like Elizabeth in the Philippines” by Rise Against Hunger highlights a community based initiative located in Tondo, one of the poorest districts in Metro Manila. The project, known as the “Good Food Grocer,” was established in 2019 at the Better World Tondo community center. It operates as a food bank that provides community members access to fresh produce, shelf-stable groceries, and hot meals for children. The initiative goes beyond food distribution, it engages volunteer mothers, such as Elizabeth, who prepare meals for over 400 primary school students and participate in livelihood programs like mushroom cultivation and chip production. These efforts not only address hunger but also create sustainable sources of income for families within the community.

Why i find this article interesting/important

The initiative is critical because food insecurity remains a severe issue in the Philippines, affecting nearly 45% of the population. By offering regular meals, the program helps improve children’s nutrition, school attendance, and academic focus directly linking food security to educational outcomes. Moreover, the project empowers women through hands-on participation and income-generating activities, which provide financial stability and self-confidence. Families also benefit economically by saving money that would otherwise be spent on food, allowing them to allocate resources to other essentials such as education and utilities. Importantly, the food bank promotes sustainability and long-term development, emphasizing community-led solutions rather than one-time relief efforts.

What policy action can be/has been made to deal with this issue? According to the article.

While the article focuses primarily on the program’s local impact, it also points toward larger policy implications. The Good Food Grocer represents the first initiative of its kind in the Philippines, illustrating a model that could inform future government or NGO-led strategies. The program fills a crucial gap left by limited government school-feeding efforts, which typically run for only a few months each year. Expanding such food-bank models through public-private partnerships could help address ongoing food insecurity nationwide. Additionally, policies that integrate nutrition, education, and livelihood programs could enhance community resilience. The food bank’s system of collecting surplus food and redistributing it also highlights the need for national legislation supporting food-rescue and food-waste reduction. Overall, the project demonstrates how coordinated efforts among NGOs, communities, and government agencies can effectively combat hunger while empowering vulnerable populations.

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Rise Against Hunger is working to end hunger in remote, last-mile communities around the world - including in the Philippines. Almost 45% of the Philippines' population faces food insecurity, and Rise Against Hunger is addressing this critical issue, serving more than 1.73 million people in the country each year. With our impact partners, International Care Ministries and Convoy of Hope, and international office Rise Against Hunger Philippines, we support both immediate nutritional needs and locally led, long-term solutions through a variety of programs . Over the next few months, we're sharing stories of real impact from these programs - like the food bank at Better World Tondo community center. In the heart of Tondo, one of the poorest districts in metro Manila, real change is happening at Better World Tondo. Watch the video below to hear more and keep reading to learn how Better World Tondo is impacting the community, empowering women and supporting children's education and nutrition. Started in 2019, Better World Tondo is part of Rise Against Hunger Philippines' Good Food Grocer, the first-ever food bank in the country. According to Leni Rose Renton, the program lead at Rise Against Hunger Philippines, "Food banking is a development program, which aims to address hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity... We call it the Good Food Grocer because we believe that good food is for all."

The food bank operates a grocery store experience that enables community members to collect fresh produce, shelf-stable food, and other items to take home. This enables the community members to not only nourish their families, but also to save money that they can use to address other needs. "Instead of buying the food that they will eat or the grocery items for the month, it is saved for other needs of the family, like the education of the children, the utilities and other needs," Leni explained.

Better World Tondo also provides hot lunches to over 400 primary school students. The children come from nearby schools to receive the meals each day. Many families in Tondo face food insecurity, but government school feeding programs only last three months, leaving a gap. The food bank fills this gap, supporting children's nutritional needs throughout the school year. This also supports their education as it enables the children to better focus on their studies. The students' hot lunches are all prepared by mothers, like Elizabeth, who serve as volunteer cooks.

Elizabeth, mother and volunteer cook

Elizabeth, age 52, has volunteered at Better World Tondo for four years, starting when her son was a recipient of the food bank's meals. He has moved to secondary school and graduated from the feeding program, but Elizabeth continues to volunteer, saying, "I am happy because we can help through cooking for those people in the areas we went." Elizabeth does more than prepare meals, too. In 2023, the volunteer cooks were empowered to start a mushroom livelihood program, with Elizabeth helping to lead the locally led initiative. Check out the video below to hear firsthand from Elizabeth about the program! The mothers grow mushrooms at Better World Tondo and use the harvest to make mushroom chips. They then package and sell the chips to visitors and nearby schools. They divide the income among themselves, with Elizabeth and the others using the money to support their families. "In this past two months, [we have earned] approximately 20 or 18,000, 18,000 pesos [from selling mushrooms]," Elizabeth said.

The work to end hunger starts with a meal, but it doesn't end there. At Better World Tondo, it leads to empowerment, nutrition, education and more. This impact is just some of the positive change happening in the Philippines and around the world as Rise Against Hunger works to end global hunger. Support solutions to end hunger by donating today !

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Better World Tondo Food Bank Feeds Children And Empowers Women in the Philippines - Rise Against Hunger

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Rise Against Hunger is working to end hunger in remote, last-mile communities around the world - including in the Philippines. Almost 45% of the Philippines' population faces food insecurity, and Rise Against Hunger is addressing this critical issue, serving more than 1.73 million people in the country each year.

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Overview

This article outlines the new Health Service Executive (HSE) audit that took place in Ireland after the home-birth service was moved from community operations to acute operations and now works within the 19 maternity services nationwide. The HSE sought to “establish the “adequacy and effectiveness of governance and risk management” of the home-birth service”. They examined Cork University Maternity Hospital, Rotunda Maternity hospital, and the Coombe Maternity Hospital and reviewed 30 midwifery notes in relation to home-births during the period of March 1st 2023 to February 29th 2024. The results were that home-births pose a “ris to patient safety” as there is no agreed on maximum safe travel time to the nearest maternity hospital or self-employed community midwife. They deemed that there is "no national governance structure in place” due to the reorganisation of the HSE and as a result the acute operations no longer have oversight. Acute operations had previously recommended that all women should reside within 30 minutes or less blue light distance to the nearest maternity service. Current legislation outlines that a consultant for home births should be registered to a specialist division register (SDR) of the Irish Medical Council to be eligible for consultant posts. For “the most exceptional circumstances” a doctor that is not registered under this can become the consultant if all other avenues to find a suitable candidate have been seen through. The number of consultant doctors not registered to the SDR has increased over the years, only going down last year. This is another cause of concern for the audit, claiming that this may increase risks of patient care and future juniors staff’s training going forward

Why I find this article interesting

I find this article interesting as it outlines the declining options for Irish women in regards to their birthing experiences. It highlights the oversights of the HSE and maternity hospitals in the governance of programmes and systems about the safety of regulations on specifically home-births. Irish women’s reproductive health has been a slow moving process in our history and this problem is something that should be highlighted more to the general public so that they are aware of the shortcomings as a result of our government and policy.

What policy actions can be/have been made to deal with the issue

Policy actions such as the implementation of more registered consultants stationed around Ireland in a border manner rather than the healthcare bubbles that are appearing today for the service would be integral to allow Irish women to continue having a choice and autonomy over their bodies. Without structured oversight from the HSE and other governing bodies, the state of the home-birth system will not improve and women will be left again without options. Locally, an incentive led by the community to bring in more registered consultants and midwives in the area should curb the healthcare deserts that women experience, especially in rural areas. Nationally, implementation of policy protecting women’s choices in regards to their birthing experience and implementing them safely is essential for female reproductive health and autonomy within Ireland.

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Home-birth system is a ‘risk to patient safety’, audit finds

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No agreed maximum safe travel time to nearest maternity unit or self-employed community midwife, report shows

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pregnant women being mistreated while in ICE custody - Emily

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pregnant women being mistreated while in ICE custody - Emily

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Overview

This article explains how pregnant women being held by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are getting inadequate care and medical neglect. The article refers mainly to the experience of 6 women in two detention centres in Basile, Louisiana and Lumpkin, Georgia. As per ICE policy, it is a general rule that it is prohibited and should not take pregnant, nursing, or postpartum individuals into their custody. Despite this, it has become clear that this is still happening even after officers were informed of the women's pregnancy. The pregnant women reported cases of being shackled and held in restraints, being put into solitary confinement, denied prenatal vitamins and standard prenatal care, medical neglect leading to infection post miscarriage, and medical care without informed consent. Two women in the article report being injected with substances they were not informed about. A major issue appears to be food portions given, as they claim they were not substantial and left them feeling “hungry and malnourished”. A few different women also report experiencing miscarriages within ICE custody. Despite this, in statements given to the guardian Tricia Mclaughlin, the assistant secretary of the homeland security department denies these claims. She states that pregnant women are “subject to elevated oversight” and that they “receive regular prenatal visit, mental health support and accommodations aligned with community standards of care”

Why I find this article interesting

I find this article interesting as it shows the issues surrounding women’s reproductive rights in the U.S. while in ICE custody. It shows the corruption being perpetrated by employees of ICE in regards to ignoring women’s health and safety as they are detained.

What policy actions can be/have been made to deal with the issue

Locally, a more rigorous oversight of ICE facilities and implementing health-care inspections should be carried out to ensure better protection of pregnant and post-partum women. Partnering with local health-care providers to make regular visits and provide suitable prenatal care would also ensure no women receives substandard care while in ICE custody should also be performed. Nationally, the end to the detention of pregnant women should be the default standard and ensured through better management of the services. Mandating reports of the status of their detainees, especially those in vulnerable positions and requiring outside independent contractors to do inspections of the reported conditions will ensure a higher level of care for the detainees and responsibility for ICE agents.

Globally, though it is a U.S. specific issue, it highlights issues of migration and human rights. Enforcement from other countries that the U.S. cannot allow mistreatment of individuals and ensure their standards of care are more in line with global human rights treaties

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Pregnant women report medical neglect in ICE detention, rights groups say

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Women report miscarriages, delayed care, being shackled and being held in solitary confinement, letter says

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Changes in the Danish school system - Kaisa

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Changes in the Danish school system - Kaisa

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Overview

Denmark has now suggested a draft of a law to support teachers being able to step in in situations of student misbehaviour. Many teachers are finding it more difficult to manage and de-escalate situations, and are unsure of what the guidelines are when students are disturbing. This draft proposes that the teacher may intervene when: a student breaks things, hurts or dangers someone, in cases of bullying, or interrupts the lesson to an extreme extent. The law describes different interventions from physical guidance, preventative assistance and in extreme cases, a use of force.

Why I found this interesting:

This is interesting as it highlights a large problem in schools not only in Denmark, but worldwide. A classroom must be calm and safe, however students must also have respect and appropriate protection, which makes finding a balance quite difficult. It raises questions of how schools handle demanding situations in an ethical manner while taking into consideration the rights, respect and authority. I find the legal and ethical considerations into this topic to be very interesting as it raises questions on what “force” is considered to be, and how it could be used and the risk of misuse.

What policy actions can be/have been made to deal with the issue:

There has already been serval policy actions made, such as clarifying the rules and defining the types of interventions. However, something that could be improved is that the intervention methods in the need specifying and a clearer definitions. Schools could implement a training for teachers regarding de-escalation and safe intervention techniques. Additional strategies that would be beneficial to implement is more support staff, and support students from an earlier age with emotional or behavioural challenges. These actions could create a calmer and safe classroom environment, while having the students interest at the focus. This is not central to Denmark, but something that could be applied on a global level. Fostering a positive school culture is crucial for students to do well. Smaller class sizes and a large support staff could be beneficial to lessen conflicts within classrooms. A ethical monitoring system could be useful as well, if used correctly and insuring the students privacy and respect.

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Denmark to expand teachers’ use of force in schools - NordiskPost

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Denmark drafts law to expand teachers’ use of force in primary schools, with safeguards, reporting and clearer grounds for intervention.

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Overview:

The article discusses how academic freedom is increasingly under pressure worldwide, not only in authoritarian regimes, but also in democratic counties. This issue was the focus of an international conference in Londen that was organised by Educational International (EI) and the University and College Union (UCU). Participants included acdemics, union leaders and experts from different countries such as Kenya, the Philippines, Norway and the United States. They came together to discuss how to defend academic freedom more effectively.

The Deputy General Secretary of EI, Haldis Horst, explained that academic freedom is not just about protecting individual scholars, but also about safeguarding the role of higher education in society. Universities need the freedom to question power, produce new knowledge and contribute to public debate. Yet, this freedom is affected by political pressure, job insecurity, funding cuts, and increased market influence over education. Holst argued that attacks on academic freedom are often part of a broader attempt to control knowledge and limit critical thinking. Therefore, defending academic freedom is also about defending the role of education in society.

Why this article is interesting: I think that this article is relevant, because it shows that education is not only about teaching content, but also the ability to think critically and question existing structures. If academic freedom is restricted, education risks to become a tool for control rather than a space for learning and exploring. I think that education is more than just preparing people for the labour market, that it should also encourage critical thinking, social awareness and involvement in the world. I think, if teachers are not allowed to speak openly and cannot challenge things or contribute new knowledge without fear, it has a huge effect on the goal of education, and it will weaken the education system. Protecting academic freedom is therefore really important.

What policies should be/have been implemented to deal with the issue:

The article outlines several strategies and policy directions to defend and strengthen academic freedom. First of all, EI wants countries to apply the UN Principles for Academic Freedom. These guidelines were created with UN experts, scholars and civil society actors. Secondly, the 1997 UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel will be amended and updated. This means that there will be clearer and stronger language to affirm academic freedom as a fundamental right for all academics. Furthermore, the article stresses that education unions are essential. So that when researchers are silenced or punished, these unions can raise these cases internationally and create public pressure. In addition, according to the participants, education should be kept as a public good, and not privatising higher education, since this can shift the educational goals from social development and critical thinking to no academic freedom and prioritizing profit. Last but not least, the article argues for stronger labour rights, stable contracts and legal protection for academics to ensure they can work in a free, safe and secure environment.

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Building collective power to defend academic freedom

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Academic freedom faces systematic assault worldwide. From arrests and imprisonment in authoritarian states to witch-hunts and curriculum censorship in democracies, the fundamental right to pursue knowledge freely is under threat across all contexts.

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https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2025/11/03/the-climate-action-that-matters-is-in-the-global-south-argues-an-architect-of-the-paris-agreement

Overview:

The article argues that meaningful climate progress is now being driven from the Global South, where technological innovation, cheaper clean energy, and market economics are outpacing political ambition. But it warns: without scaled-up, equitable climate financing and faster institutional support, the world risks leaving the most vulnerable behind.

Why I found this article interesting:

I found this article interesting because it reframes climate action through a global-equity lens, highlighting how the future of decarbonisation increasingly depends on countries that have contributed least to the problem. Its focus on innovation, affordability and the economic momentum emerging in the Global South offers a refreshing counterbalance to pessimistic climate narratives. It also raises important questions about justice, finance and global responsibility, making it a compelling piece for anyone thinking about climate change as a social and developmental issue.

What policy actions have been or can be taken to address this ?

Policy actions to address these issues include scaling up concessional climate finance for mitigation and adaptation, supporting just-transition programs, and expanding technology-transfer partnerships that help the Global South adopt clean energy rapidly. Strengthening social protection systems, improving governance capacity, and reforming multilateral development banks to deliver faster, fairer funding are also key. Additionally, coordinated global carbon-market mechanisms and resilient infrastructure investments can ensure vulnerable countries benefit from sustainable growth while contributing meaningfully to global climate goals.

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NSW Australia’s Energy Saving Project - Hugh CA

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NSW Australia’s Energy Saving Project - Hugh CA

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https://www.maitland.nsw.gov.au/news/power-hungry-facilities-set-to-undergo-energy-saving-upgrades-starting-in-2026?

Overview:

Maitland City Council was granted approximately $960,000 from the federal Community Energy Upgrades Fund to reduce energy consumption at two significant council sites: the indoor aquatic centre and the regional art gallery. The entire project value will be $1.9 million, with the rest being provided by the council. The upgrades include changing gas boilers for large electric heat-pumps, adding rooftop and car-park solar panels, and installing battery storage to better manage power use.

Work will start in April 2026 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027. When the upgrades are complete, they are projected to save the council almost $110,000 annually in energy bills and cut carbon emissions by over 330 tonnes of CO₂ every year. According to the council management, the project is both environmentally positive and financially sensible. This post also informs that Maitland has already achieved its target of reducing council-operation-related emissions by 50% by 2030, thanks to a new renewable-energy contract.

Why I find this article interesting:

I find this article interesting because it shows how local governments are taking real, practical steps toward cutting emissions, not just talking about climate goals. Maitland Council is investing in heat-pump technology, solar panels, and battery storage-concrete upgrades that make a clear difference. It also underlines how councils can save money while helping the environment, proving that sustainability doesn't have to be expensive. The fact that these upgrades reduce more than 300,000 kg of emissions each year shows the scale of impact local actions can make. Overall, it's a strong example of meaningful climate action happening at community level.

Policies and actions discussed:

Replace old gas boilers with new electric heat pump systems at the aquatic centre and the art gallery.

Installing rooftop solar panels and car-park solar structures to achieve on-site renewable energy generation.

Adding battery-storage systems to store excess solar power and manage energy use more efficiently.

Using funding provided by the federal Community Energy Upgrades Fund to support these sustainability upgrades.

This will lower emissions and energy costs while moving council facilities towards cleaner, more electrified operations.

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EU Leaders agree for huge rise in defence spending - Justin 

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EU Leaders agree for huge rise in defence spending - Justin 

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‘Watershed moment’: EU leaders agree plan for huge rise in defence spending

Overview:

This Article looks at how, in a recent EU summit, all the European leaders came together to discuss plans of increasing defence spending across the continent due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. This invasion has led many in Europe to reevaluate their defence policy, and many states want to increase their defence spending, with the EU creating a new €800Billion plan, which will allow Europe to rearm and procure new military equipment, such as radar or new fighter jets. The article also examines how the US is cutting back its ties with Ukraine in an effort to make Ukraine more willing to come to the negotiation table with russia to end this war however this is all going on without the EU, this had led europe to a place where it believes that it needs to be in a capable place where the continent can defend itself without relying on the US to help which has now resulted in the EU creating around €150 billion in loans to eu member states which can be used to help finance the military or aid for Ukraine. This article also addresses the issue of how some countries, such as Spain and Italy, are struggling to meet the NATO 2% of GDP defence spending requirement, which is one of the areas where the EU can step in and help, as there are currently stringent laws and regulations around budget deficits. Overall, this article examines all key issue surrounding European defence and how these issues are being solved by Europe.

Why I find this article interesting;

I found this article to be interesting as it looked at such important issues facing our world right now as it has been decades since a war took place on the european continent and now that one is happening, it has forced european nations to reavaluate their defence strategies such as how Finland and Sweden recently joined NATO as a way to proetect themselves against a Russian Aggressor. This fear of what russia could do next has forced many countries to increase their defence spending and one of the ways they are increasing spending is through new EU loans which is oen of the areas  this article investigates as many of these eu nantions are already debt burdened so if they have to increase defence spending than this money has to come from somewhere which means that some other social services will have to be cut. Its this trade off that i find to be very interesting as both of these sectors are important

What policy action can be made?

Many different policy actions can be taken, one of them could be to cut subsidies that  go toward certain industries as these may be better spent on local defence companies, this would not only lead to some defence contractors increasing production on their products but it would also help other countries as then they would be able to buy local or buy european which is one the key targets that  the EU want to achieve. Another area would be the removal around all the different rules and regulation that the eu has put in place to stop national govts from borrowing too and while this is done to ensure financial stability, i do believe that if the EU was to make an exception for defence spending then we would see more countries reach the desired nato requirment of 2% GDP spending. This would allow France and Italy for example to increase their defence spending which would benefit their economies since defence is such an important  industry in France. The most important poicy action is the one that will be sacrificed in order to increase defence spending as Govts have to be very careful when cutting funding on social services as they should only cut the least important services which affect the least amount of people as it would not be benefical for the govt to cut a sector that has a big impact on the economy such as education. So it is this balancing act which really intrigues me and especially when it is on a EU level it becomes fascinating due to the complexity of the Union.

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‘Watershed moment’: EU leaders agree plan for huge rise in defence spending

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Leaders endorse Ursula von der Leyen proposal as French president calls Vladimir Putin ‘an imperialist who seeks to rewrite history’

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EU mulls copying US with end to aid for global health funds - Lauren

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EU mulls copying US with end to aid for global health funds - Lauren

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Overview: The article highlights a major shift in global financing, as the European Commission considers phasing out support for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Fund by 2030. An internal briefing suggests the EU should “focus funds where the EU can truly shape governance”, mirroring cuts already made by the United States. Although the EU is one of the world’s largest development aid contributors overseas, the Commission argues its political influence does not match its financial weight. The proposal aligns with the EU’s next long-term budget (2028-2034), which aims to prioritize national interests, crowd in private investment, and take a more strategic approach to global influence.

This potential defunding comes at a time when global commitment to development assistance is declining. Major donors, including the US, Germany, France, Belgium, the UK, and the European Commission itself, have scaled back their contributions to overseas development aid. Gavi and the Global Fund, which together have saved more than 90 million lives, remain critical for vaccination access, HIV prevention, and the fight against tuberculosis and malaria. While the Commission confirms discussions with member states about reforming financing models, it has not committed to maintaining current funding levels.

Why I find the article interesting: This article is interesting because it shows the pattern of how global health funding faces an increasingly unstable future as major donors prioritize geopolitical strategy over humanitarian impact. The EU’s potential shift reflects a broader rise in nationalist policymaking since COVID-19 and reveals how major powers influence one another’s aid agendas.

Implications: A reduction in EU overseas development aid would have severe consequences. By stepping back from predictable, long-term funding, the EU risks deepening global health inequalities and undermining essential services that millions rely on. Countries dependent on Gavi and the Global Fund may struggle to sustain vaccination programmes and disease prevention efforts. This would reverse decades of progress and places vulnerable populations at heightened risk.

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EXCLUSIVE: EU mulls copying US with end to aid for global health funds | Euractiv

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Massive cuts to aid funding would align the EU with Donald Trump’s global health strategy

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overview:

The article goes through the Norwegian government's new regulations for the Oslo fjord. They have decided to introduce zero-fishing zones as a measure to try and revive the increasingly degraded ecosystem. The decision comes after years of contemplation on how to best restore the fjord and the local fish stocks. The ban will enter into force 1st of January 2026, with partial restrictions that already started in October. This is part of a broader restoration plan by the government, and they highlight that it is not designed to punish fishermen. The local reactions along the fjord are, however, mixed.

Why I find this article interesting

I find this article interesting because it shows a clear shift in the Norwegian government's policy. Even though the fjord has restrictions from before, these have only banned fishing of certain fish stocks for periods of time. Deciding that a full fishing ban would go into place shows the severity of the environmental challenge. It also shows that the government are actually doing something, and not just discussing different policies that might help the fjord. The Oslo fjord has been degrading for years, so everyone knew that actions had to be taken. It is therefore very interesting that they finally decided to do something.

What policy actions can be/have been made to deal with the issue

The policies discussed in the article were made and implemented by the Norwegian government. They include three large zero-fishing zones in the Oslo fjord, where neither commercial nor recreational fishing will be allowed. There will also be restrictions on gear traps and persons per boat for recreational fishers outside of these zones. For commercial fishers, there will also be more restrictions on gear. It is also pointed out that this is just one part of the plan, and that tackling pollution, runoff from agriculture, plastic cleanup etc, will also be incorporated with their own policies.

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Innfører forbud: – Kroken på døra for oss her ute

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Oslofjorden er i svært dårlig stand. Nå innfører regjeringen fiskeforbud i flere områder.

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United Nations looks for a solution to end the global housing crisis.

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United Nations looks for a solution to end the global housing crisis.

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Overview: According to the UN Habitat, 2.8 billion people lack adequate housing. Including 1.12 billion people living in slums and 300 million people experiencing absolute homelessness.

What policy actions can be/has been made to deal with this issue:

The UN -Habitats upcoming strategic plan for 2026-2029 promotes policies centred on 3 major impact areas, inclusive prosperity, preparedness, recovery and climate sustainability, each will address a core weakness in current urban development. Under inclusive prosperity the plan promotes policies that expand access to adequate affordable housing and secure land rights. This includes supporting countries in creating national housing strategies, improving urban planning systems, and strengthening local governments so they can manage rapid urban growth more effectively. The second pillar, preparedness, recognises conflicts, natural disasters and climate driven events harm people in informal housing, this strategy is calling for policies to make cities more reliant. The third focus is climate sustainability, supporting cities to reduce their emissions.

Why i found this article interesting:

I found this article interesting because it reveals just how massive and urgent the global housing crisis really is, something that often goes unnoticed in everyday news. The billions of people lacking basic shelter, land security, water, and sanitation is shocking, and it highlights how deeply this issue affects health, safety, and economic opportunity. The article connected global statistics, human impact, and international policy in a way that made the issue feel both important and urgent.

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This includes more than 1.12 billion people living in slums or informal settlements. An additional 300 million face absolute homelessness, lacking any form of stable shelter, UN-Habitat estimates.

Living without

The crisis is particularly acute in rapidly urbanising regions such as Africa and the Asia-Pacific. As cities grow, housing development and infrastructure fail to keep pace, leading to a dramatic increase in informal and inadequate living conditions.

In Africa, 62 per cent of urban dwellings are informal. In the Asia-Pacific region, over 500 million people lack access to basic water services, and more than a billion live without adequate sanitation.

As climate change intensifies, those without formal, quality housing and services face growing risks from extreme heat, severe weather events, and water scarcity.

Finding sustainable solutions to the housing crisis is central to advancing global sustainable development. Quality housing is not only a basic human right - it also drives job creation, boosts national income, saves lives, and lays the foundation for better health, education, and economic mobility.

UN-Habitat response

To address this crisis, on Thursday, delegates gathered under the UN's roof in Nairobi to resume the second session of the UN-Habitat Assembly. Through discussion, collaboration and policy planning, the major summit aims to address this pressing and deeply intertwined issue.

"This Assembly represents the highest global platform for normative discussions on sustainable urbanisation and human settlements. It is a moment of collective reflection, renewed political will and forging consensus for the future we seek for our cities and communities," said UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach in her opening remarks.

Strategic plan

A key focus of the Assembly is the adoption of UN-Habitat's Strategic Plan for 2026-2029. The plan will prioritise adequate housing, access to land and basic services and the transformation of informal settlements.

It outlines three main impact areas: (1) inclusive prosperity, (2) preparedness, recovery, and reconstruction and (3) climate sustainability. These pillars are designed to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

The plan also emphasises strengthening collaboration with other UN agencies to achieve shared objectives.

The Assembly will continue through 30 May, with a final decision on the strategic plan expected at the close of the session.

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UN searches for solutions to global housing crisis

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The UN's urban development agency estimates that an astonishing 2.8 billion people worldwide lack access to adequate housing, secure land, and basic water and sanitation services - that's around 40 per cent of the global population.

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EU to provide support to countries hit by Carbon Border Levy  -  LAURA

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EU to provide support to countries hit by Carbon Border Levy  -  LAURA

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October 16, 2025

Source: Reuters

Content: The European Union plans to provide development funding through the Global Europe programme to support countries, especially developing ones, that will be affected by the CBAM mechanism.

Political relevance: This is a foreign and climate policy measure with a climate justice dimension: the EU aims to offset the impact of its carbon-pricing mechanism on imports from less wealthy countries by offering technical and financial support for decarbonization.

Overview

The European Union has announced it will provide development funding to countries negatively affected by its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), according to a Reuters report. The CBAM, which will begin imposing CO₂ tariffs as early as next year on imports such as steel and cement, has drawn criticism from developing economies including Brazil, India, and South Africa, who argue that it penalizes less wealthy nations.

To address these concerns, the EU plans to use part of its proposed “Global Europe” development programme, a €200 billion fund within its 2028–2034 budget, to help these countries decarbonize, adapt to climate change, and carry out regulatory reforms. EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen made clear that the EU will not reverse its climate measures, but is open to offering both financial and technical assistance to support clean industries abroad, such as renewable energy and green hydrogen production, which could also benefit EU import interests.

The EU also plans to deepen its energy diplomacy with businesses and steer clean-tech investments globally, partly to counter China’s dominance in green technology manufacturing.

Why It Matters

This initiative is significant for several reasons:

1. Climate Diplomacy & Equity: By offering development aid, the EU acknowledges that its own climate policy (CBAM) could disproportionately impact developing countries. This is a rare example of combining climate ambition with a sense of global fairness.

2. Incentivizing Green Transition: The funding supports decarbonisation in affected countries, helping them shift from high-carbon industries to clean energy. This not only reduces emissions but also lowers the cost burden those countries face under CBAM.

3. Strengthening Partnerships: The move could build stronger economic and regulatory ties between the EU and developing nations, reinforcing both climate goals and geopolitical alliances.

4. Strategic Investment: By promoting renewable power and hydrogen production in other regions, the EU is securing future supply chains for green technologies, reducing dependence on China and aligning trade with its environmental goals.

5. Policy Signaling: It signals that the EU is serious about its CBAM, but also willing to mitigate negative side-effects, which could make the policy more politically robust and globally acceptable.

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EU plans support for countries affected by carbon border levy

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The European Union will offer development funding to countries affected by the bloc’s carbon border tariff, the European Commission said on Thursday, as it attempts to soothe developing economies’ concerns over the policy.

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The National Registry for Forest Carbon Credits Is Established  -  LAURA (translated)

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The National Registry for Forest Carbon Credits Is Established  -  LAURA (translated)

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October 20, 2025

Source: Rinnovabili.it

Content: On 17 October 2025, an interministerial decree was signed establishing the National Registry of Forest Carbon Credits, managed by CREA (the Council for Agricultural Research and Economics).

Key details: Forest projects must last at least 20 years; carbon credits (1 credit = 1 ton of CO₂ absorbed) can be transferred after at least 5 years.

Relevance: This is an Italian public policy that promotes carbon farming and CO₂ absorption through forest management, creating a transparent voluntary market for carbon credits.

Overview

The article from Rinnovabili.it reports that Italy has formally created a National Registry for Voluntary Forest Carbon Credits through an interministerial decree signed on 17 October 2025. The registry will be managed by CREA, the national agricultural research and economics council, which will oversee the certification, monitoring, and transparency of all forest-related carbon-sequestration projects. According to the article, each project must last at least twenty years to guarantee long-term carbon storage, and carbon credits, each representing one tonne of CO₂ removed, may be sold only after five years from project registration. Verification responsibilities will be assigned to accredited third-party bodies that must follow IPCC guidelines and ensure that every project delivers additional environmental benefits beyond what current legislation requires. The registry will also be digital, publicly accessible, and georeferenced, preventing double counting and increasing the integrity of the Italian voluntary carbon market. Eligible activities range from sustainable forest management and reforestation to agroforestry practices and the creation of long-lived wood products. The article also notes that at least 20% of the revenue from credit sales must be reinvested in the preservation and enhancement of forest ecosystems and in local community initiatives. For now, the registry focuses exclusively on forest-based credits, although an agricultural section is expected in the future.

Why It Matters

The creation of Italy’s National Registry for Forest Carbon Credits is significant because it strengthens the credibility and transparency of the country’s voluntary carbon market at a moment when carbon-offset schemes are under increasing scrutiny. By requiring long-term project commitments and robust third-party verification, Italy is attempting to ensure that the credits represent real, measurable, and durable carbon sequestration. This initiative also opens a new economic pathway for forest owners and rural communities, who can benefit financially from sustainable forest management while contributing to national climate goals. At the same time, the registry supports climate mitigation efforts, since certified reforestation and forest-management projects help remove CO₂ from the atmosphere and improve ecosystem resilience. The obligation to reinvest part of the revenues locally further strengthens its role as a tool for social and environmental development. Finally, the measure aligns Italy with broader European climate strategies, integrating forest carbon credits into a more coherent and accountable national framework.

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Crediti di carbonio forestali: nasce il registro nazionale

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Il registro dei crediti di carbonio forestali sarà operativo entro il 2026 per un mercato nazionale trasparente e sostenibile.

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Establishment of the Forest Carbon Credit Registry in Piedmont  -  LAURA (translated)

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Establishment of the Forest Carbon Credit Registry in Piedmont  -  LAURA (translated)

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October 24, 2025

Source: VercelliOggi / Confagricoltura Piemonte

Content: The national registry (mentioned above) is seen as an important opportunity for the Piedmontese forest sector as well. According to Confagricoltura Piemonte, the Piedmont model, with its local expertise in forest management, can play a central role in the carbon-credit market.

Local impacts: The registry will also allow forest owners in Piedmont to generate CO₂ credits, enhancing the region’s forest heritage both environmentally and economically.

Overview

According to VercelliOggi, Confagricoltura Piemonte has celebrated the establishment of Italy’s forest carbon-credit registry, with the nation becoming the first in the European Union to launch such a tool. The registry, created under an interministerial decree by the Ministers of Agriculture and the Environment, aims to certify long-term CO₂ absorption through sustainable forest management. Confagricoltura Piemonte’s regional president, Enrico Allasia, emphasized that while the guidelines are now in place, there is still a lot of work ahead, particularly in training personnel across the wood-sector supply chain and digitizing processes to properly calculate and upload credits into the system. Under the rules for the registry, forest-based carbon-sequestration projects must last at least 20 years, and credits, each representing one ton of CO₂ removed, can only be sold after five years. Projects also need to deliver additional environmental benefits beyond legal requirements and ensure long-term carbon storage. Eligible activities include sustainable forest management, reforestation with native species, wood arboriculture, agroforestry, and the use of long-lived wood products (at least 35 years); purely compensatory projects or simple abandonment of land are excluded.

Allasia also highlighted some challenges: Italy’s forest ownership is highly fragmented—much more than in other countries, which complicates effective participation. He pointed out the need to increase forest management planning (currently covering only about 10 % of Italian forests) and to ensure that the labor costs associated with improving forest quality are recognized.

Why It Matters

This development is politically and environmentally significant because it offers a concrete mechanism to monetize carbon sequestration in forests, turning sustainable forest management into a financially attractive activity. By giving forest owners, and especially small or fragmented owners in regions like Piedmont, the opportunity to generate verified CO₂ credits, the policy links climate mitigation with rural economic development. The registry’s long-term requirements (20-year projects) and strong certification criteria (additionality, permanence, environmental sustainability) also help ensure that the carbon stored is real, lasting, and beneficial for biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Moreover, because Italy is the first EU country to adopt this kind of national forest carbon credit registry, the move could set an example for other member states and help drive a broader European market for voluntary forest carbon credits. For Piedmont, in particular, it leverages local expertise in forestry and wood production, potentially strengthening its role in the emerging carbon finance ecosystem. At the same time, the initiative underscores the need for capacity-building, digital infrastructure, and better management planning to make the system work fairly and effectively.

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VercelliOggi.it - il primo quotidiano on line della provincia di Vercelli

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CONFAGRICOLTURA PIEMONTE – Varato il Registro dei crediti di carbonio forestali

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Un decreto firmato dai ministri Lollobrigida e Pichetto ha istituito il Registro dei crediti di carbonio forestali. L’Italia è il primo paese della Ue a varare questo tipo di strumento che, nell’ottica di una gestione forestale sostenibile, consente il mercato dei crediti. Allasia, “Era atteso da anni da tutto il mondo forestale. Fissate le linee […]

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Hundreds attend anti-racism protest outside the Dáil following brutal attack in Tallaght - Dylan

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Hundreds attend anti-racism protest outside the Dáil following brutal attack in Tallaght - Dylan

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Overview

In Tallaght, an Indian national was attacked through racist violence, unprovoked. In response hundreds of people protested outside the Dail. Members of Ireland's immigrant communities organised a demonstration, demanding urgent action from the government. The victim had only arrived in Ireland weeks before the attack. Significant support from the Indian community was shown at a Tallaght vigil. Kavi Raj, another Indian national living in Tallaght explained that these types of attacks need to be held accountable on a government level. Fear is being put into immigrant communities as Kavi Raj said, “We live in Tallaght – we are afraid to walk outside”. Dublin West TD Ruth Coppinger mentioned at the protest how the cases are not “isolated” and are also underreported. She highlighted the urgent need for community based, anti-racist networks and policies that alleviate the social tensions, like the anti-immigrant sentiment. Ruth Coppinger addressed the repetition that places like Tallaght are seeing attacks commonly on people of colour. The Gardai stated they did not want people to repost the media footage until their investigation is satisfied.

Why do I find this article interesting?

I find the article interesting because it highlights the problems that Ireland has on local levels of protection for people recently arriving in the country. For someone like an Indian international who hasn’t had enough time to adjust to their new diasporic environment, these cases of attacks and racism are frightening, there needs to be some kind of safeguarding bill or policy to watch over immigrants and help for protection reasons. Everyone deserves safety, but as situations like these increase migrant communities will continue to feel unsafe. The people who are committing the crimes of racist attacks are likely coming from lower class backgrounds so there is a need of educational access to those who are discriminating on openness to integration. Ruth Coppinger highlighted the repetition of these attacks, addressing the increase in anti-immigration sentiments, which interests me because of Irelands historical ties to immigration and our general common understanding of what these immigrants are experiencing. We know as a country what its like to need to struggle and seek opportunities elsewhere to protect ourselves and family.

What Policy actions can be/ have been made to deal with the issue?

There is both a child and adult safeguarding bill currently in place to protect people from harm and continue child protection; Children’s first Act 2015 and Adult Safeguarding Bill 2024. However, there is nothing in place to protect immigrants who are still integrating into the country with safeguarding, there is a lack of safety measures around keeping immigrants out of harm's way.

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Organised by members of Ireland's migrant community, the protest called attention to a growing sense of fear and vulnerability among immigrants, and demanded urgent action from the government.

The victim, an Indian man in his 40s, had arrived in Ireland weeks before the incident, and was attacked at Parkhill Lawns in the Kilnamanagh area around 6pm on Saturday, July 19. Gardaí have confirmed they are currently investigating the assault.

A vigil was also held in Tallaght last night, drawing significant support from the Indian community.

Ajay Shaji, attending the protest as a member of Migrant Nurses Ireland, described the incident as "shocking" and deeply traumatic for the wider migrant community.

"The migrant community was under stress and really shocked at the news," he said.

"I don't know how traumatic it must be for him. He was here for [just weeks] and had to go through something like

that. There are no words to explain it."

Kavi Raj, an Indian national living in Tallaght, called the incident "horrifying" and explained that attacks like this need to be addressed at government level.

"We live in Tallaght - we are afraid to walk outside," he said.

"Immigrants and Irish people can live side by side, hand in hand," Kavi said.

Shinith Ak, who has lived in Kilkenny since 2009, said the attack left him "ashamed."

"One of my family members was attacked, and when I told my hometown back in India, they said, 'Come back - you're not safe there.'"

Rofayda Mohamed, a mother who also attended the protest, expressed her growing fear for her children.

"The hate is rising. I was horrified, shocked, actually - that this can happen on our streets" she said.

"I'm afraid for my children, to go out, to play. This is not acceptable."

Speaking at the protest, Dublin West TD Ruth Coppinger called the attack "repulsive".

"These attacks are not isolated. They're under-reported and under-investigated," she said.

"We keep hearing stories from the migrant community, from people of colour in Ireland, about attacks like this."

Ms Coppinger stressed the need for community-based, anti-racist networks and policies that address the root causes of social tension - including the housing crisis.

Gardaí have appealed to the public not to share or repost social media footage related to the attack, as their investigation continues.

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'I'm afraid for my children' - Hundreds attend anti-racism protest outside the Dáil following brutal attack in Tallaght

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Hundreds gathered outside the Dáil today in solidarity against racist violence, following a brutal, unprovoked attack on an Indian national in Tallaght last week.

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Kyiv will not force Ukrainian refugees to come back home — but it hopes they will- Sofiia

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Kyiv will not force Ukrainian refugees to come back home — but it hopes they will- Sofiia

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Overview

This article (June 2025) examines Ukraine’s approach to its displaced population, particularly the millions of refugees who fled the country following the Russian invasion. The government has stated that it will not forcibly compel Ukrainians to return home, but it hopes to encourage their return through incentives and support programs. This reflects a broader effort to balance humanitarian considerations with national interests, as the government seeks to maintain ties with its citizens abroad while preparing for long-term reconstruction and social stability. The article highlights the challenges of engaging a population that has adapted to life abroad, particularly in terms of education, employment, and social integration.

Why I find this article interesting

I find this article interesting because it underscores the complex social and demographic consequences of war. While much attention is often given to immediate security or economic impacts, this piece shows how conflict can reshape population patterns and social policy priorities. It illustrates the difficulties governments face in encouraging citizens to return after displacement, especially when economic and personal prospects are better elsewhere. This provides valuable insight into the long-term social challenges Ukraine faces, complementing the discussion on brain drain and youth migration.

Policy action to address the issue

To manage the return of refugees and retain engagement with Ukrainians abroad, the government has pursued a mix of supportive measures. These include financial assistance, access to housing, and programs designed to facilitate reintegration into education and the workforce. Combined with broader demographic strategies, such as the Demographic Development Strategy 2040, these initiatives aim to create conditions that make returning or staying in Ukraine more attractive. While voluntary return remains central, these policies reflect a strategic attempt to balance humanitarian principles with long-term national recovery and development goals.

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Kyiv not to force Ukrainian refugees to return — but hopes they will

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As Russia’s war against Ukraine drags on into its fourth year, many Ukrainian refugees have integrated and settled in Europe. Kyiv is seeking ways to motivate them to return home.

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Demographic Crisis in Ukraine: Estimates from the Institute of Demography and Solutions to the Problems. - Sofiia

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Demographic Crisis in Ukraine: Estimates from the Institute of Demography and Solutions to the Problems. - Sofiia

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Overview:

The article (September 2025) draws attention to a dramatic demographic decline in Ukraine over the past three decades. According to the Institute’s estimates, Ukraine’s population dropped from 52.2 million in 1993 to about 42 million in 2022 — a 20 % decline over 30 years. As of early 2025, only around 31.5 million people live in government‑controlled territory, signalling an effective loss of roughly 10 million people, largely attributed to the war. The expert quoted in the article, the institute’s deputy‑director, points out that deaths still significantly outnumber births: in the first half of 2025, there were 249,000 deaths and only 86,800 births — a ratio of roughly 2.9 to 1. Moreover, the age and sex structure of the population has become skewed: the population is ageing, and there is a notable gap in life expectancy between men and women — especially high mortality among working‑age men. In addition to war‑related deaths and displacement, migration plays a central role: many working‑age people have left in search of safety, education or better opportunities abroad, which further depletes the demographic base of the country.

Why I find this article important:

This article is significant because it highlights Ukraine’s deep and long-term demographic challenges, which predate the war but have been accelerated by it. The sharp drop in births and high mortality shows the problem is not just emigration but a systemic decline in fertility and aging population, affecting the workforce and economic recovery. It also demonstrates that simple measures, like one-off birth payments, are insufficient — long-term, structural policies are needed to sustain families and society.

What policy actions can be/ have been made to deal with the issue:

Experts recommend multipronged strategies: sustained family support including housing and loans, flexible work and childcare solutions, and incentives for parents. A single measure alone won’t suffice; comprehensive social, economic, and housing policies are required to rebuild demographic sustainability. Ukraine may not return to pre-1990 population levels, so policies should also focus on adapting to a smaller, more productive population. The Demographic Development Strategy 2040 provides a framework for these long-term goals.

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Demographic Crisis in Ukraine: Estimates from the Institute of Demography and Solutions to the Problems

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УНН Slider ✎ Over 30 years, Ukraine’s population has decreased by 20%, from 52.2 million in 1993 to 42 million in 2022. As of early 2025,
approximately 31.5 millio…

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UN searches for solutions to global housing crisis - Afnan Alkanzi

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UN searches for solutions to global housing crisis - Afnan Alkanzi

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Overview:

This article traces the dimensions of the global housing crisis, where over a billion people are living in slums or informal settlements, with millions more facing conditions of absolute homelessness. Rapid urbanisation, especially in Africa and the Asia-Pacific regions, has resulted in inadequate housing, poor sanitation, and limited access to basic services. Climate change further increases the risks for people living under unstable living conditions. In response to these challenges, the UN-Habitat Assembly in Nairobi is engaged in the development of its 2026–2029 Strategic Plan, centered on adequate housing, access to land, basic services, and the transformation of informal settlements in order for sustainable urban development to be achieved.

Why I find this article interesting:

What interests me most in this article is the fact that it indicates the housing crisis as a global phenomenon that is affecting billions of people across different parts of the world. It is telling that inadequate housing, lack of basic services, and climate change impacts are not problems but certainly challenges faced worldwide. It's interesting to see that the UN-Habitat Assembly is working on international, long-term solutions, recognising the need for global cooperation to improve living conditions and support sustainable development.

What policies actions can be/have been made to deal with the issue:

Policy responses have highlighted UN-Habitat's 2026-2029 Strategic Plan, which will enhance access to adequate housing, upgrade informal settlements, and improve basic services such as water and sanitation. Governments and UN agencies continue to work together to strengthen global cooperation and financing for housing projects while promoting climate-resilient infrastructure to protect vulnerable communities in high-risk areas from disasters.

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This includes more than 1.12 billion people living in slums or informal settlements. An additional 300 million face absolute homelessness, lacking any form of stable shelter, UN-Habitat estimates.

Living without

The crisis is particularly acute in rapidly urbanising regions such as Africa and the Asia-Pacific. As cities grow, housing development and infrastructure fail to keep pace, leading to a dramatic increase in informal and inadequate living conditions.

In Africa, 62 per cent of urban dwellings are informal. In the Asia-Pacific region, over 500 million people lack access to basic water services, and more than a billion live without adequate sanitation.

As climate change intensifies, those without formal, quality housing and services face growing risks from extreme heat, severe weather events, and water scarcity.

Finding sustainable solutions to the housing crisis is central to advancing global sustainable development. Quality housing is not only a basic human right - it also drives job creation, boosts national income, saves lives, and lays the foundation for better health, education, and economic mobility.

UN-Habitat response

To address this crisis, on Thursday, delegates gathered under the UN's roof in Nairobi to resume the second session of the UN-Habitat Assembly. Through discussion, collaboration and policy planning, the major summit aims to address this pressing and deeply intertwined issue.

"This Assembly represents the highest global platform for normative discussions on sustainable urbanisation and human settlements. It is a moment of collective reflection, renewed political will and forging consensus for the future we seek for our cities and communities," said UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach in her opening remarks.

Strategic plan

A key focus of the Assembly is the adoption of UN-Habitat's Strategic Plan for 2026-2029. The plan will prioritise adequate housing, access to land and basic services and the transformation of informal settlements.

It outlines three main impact areas: (1) inclusive prosperity, (2) preparedness, recovery, and reconstruction and (3) climate sustainability. These pillars are designed to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

The plan also emphasises strengthening collaboration with other UN agencies to achieve shared objectives.

The Assembly will continue through 30 May, with a final decision on the strategic plan expected at the close of the session.

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UN searches for solutions to global housing crisis

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The UN's urban development agency estimates that an astonishing 2.8 billion people worldwide lack access to adequate housing, secure land, and basic water and sanitation services - that's around 40 per cent of the global population.

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To feel Irish from today, I’m so proud’: thousands receive citizenship- YVONNE 

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To feel Irish from today, I’m so proud’: thousands receive citizenship- YVONNE 

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OVERVIEW:

The Irish Times article covers the stories of many migrants who have successfully integrated into Irish society and the citizenship ceremony. Many come from different countries and cultures around the world, but all have one thing in common, is the connection and active participation in the Irish society. This piece of news highlights the personal stories and how multicultural Ireland is transforming.

I FIND THIS ARTICLE INTERESTING:

I always had an interest in integration and the melting pot of cultures. These ceremonies are something that doesn’t happen back home in Italy, I find the celebration of this moment, should not be done just in Ireland, but all over the world. Definitely, it makes the moment memorable and has a huge impact on the Irish culture and communities.

POLICY ACTIONS THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED:

The ceremonies shouldn’t be the end of this journey, but just the beginning. Trying to develop a course, that brings further integration through sport, art, music and many more activities is needed to be actively engaged and part of the Irish community. Also, economic development is needed, more promotion to education, training and development of these individuals is essential as well. For the to be fully involved in the labour market and make everyone's skills balanced and equal. Especially, when many certificates from other countries are not always recognised.

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A new system to speed up citizenship applications is working, but that means newer applicants are effectively jumping the queue - Yvonne 

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A new system to speed up citizenship applications is working, but that means newer applicants are effectively jumping the queue - Yvonne 

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OVERVIEW:

The piece of article explains the delay and challeges of old citizenship process, compared with the new proces with the introduction of the four digital system from Department of Justice. The piece of article describes the frostrating feeling that citizen espress,also the untrust that they have towards the system. The article higlight the stress and unfairness that the process cause on people.

WHY I FIND THIS ARTICLE INTRESTING:

I find it intresting because it shows the challeges in the system, ven when there’s the introduction to upgrade the system. This, still create a gap to inequality. The aricle express the feeling of the people that deal withthis system first hand, which makes me understand this issue better.

WHAT POLICY ACTION CAN BE/HAS BEEN MADE TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE:

A policy that can be make is the more attetion to deal with old process pending or be more transparent with the deadline on the process. This would leave the feeling of burden and anxiety on the indivdual.

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A new system to speed up citizenship applications is working, but that means newer applicants are effectively jumping the queue - Dublin Inquirer

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Ashfaq Afridi applied in 2021 and is still waiting. Meanwhile, he’s watching people who applied much more recently, under the new system, get decisions.