George Monbiot: In 2008, we bailed out the banks. In 2021, we need to bail out the planet

COVID-19 is not a random event. It is a symptom of a global economic system that is destroying the living planet and killing off our magnificent wildlife. COVID-19 might be the first pandemic many of us have experienced. But unless we change course, it will almost certainly not be the last. So before we spend… Read More George Monbiot: In 2008, we bailed out the banks. In 2021, we need to bail out the planet

Soutik Biswas: Coronavirus update: India is facing a 'severe, intensive' second wave

“The virus seems to have become more transmissible in the second wave. We are admitting entire families who are infected. We are also seeing a lot of young people, aged below 40, getting sick,” says Dr Kalantri. India’s tally of recorded coronavirus cases exceeds 12 million, the third-highest in the world behind the US and… Read More Soutik Biswas: Coronavirus update: India is facing a 'severe, intensive' second wave

Oxfam report: 10 Billionaires Made Enough Money During The Pandemic To Vaccinate The Entire World

The coronavirus recession is over, if you ask the billionaires of the world. According to a report released Monday by Oxfam, the top 1,000 billionaires collectively lost about 30% of their wealth when COVID-19 restrictions stalled global economies in March. By the end of November, they’d made it all back. For the world’s richest, it… Read More Oxfam report: 10 Billionaires Made Enough Money During The Pandemic To Vaccinate The Entire World

The weather has a bigger impact on COVID spread than social distancing, study concludes

A lot of the blame for COVID-19’s “second wave” has been pointed at people not following safety guidelines put out by health experts and government officials. A new report however, says don’t blame people, blame the weather. Researchers from the University of Nicosia in Cyprus find hot weather and wind have a bigger impact on… Read More The weather has a bigger impact on COVID spread than social distancing, study concludes

Covaxin, Covishield not for everyone — manufacturers list who should avoid the Covid vaccines

The indigenous Covaxin cannot be administered on those who are immune-compromised or are on a medication, a factsheet released by manufacturer Bharat Biotech said. According to the factsheet, released Monday, those who should be exempted from the list of beneficiaries include individuals with a history of allergies, who have a fever, bleeding disorder or are… Read More Covaxin, Covishield not for everyone — manufacturers list who should avoid the Covid vaccines

Tansy Hoskins – "They left us starving": How the fashion industry abandoned its workers

In 2019 the fashion industry generated $2.5trn in global revenues, making it one of the largest industries in the world. But when COVID-19 struck in 2020, it virtually collapsed. Exports of raw materials from China began to slow in January last year, and subsequent lockdowns around the world meant shoppers stayed at home, retailers shuttered stores, and… Read More Tansy Hoskins – "They left us starving": How the fashion industry abandoned its workers

Subir Sinha: COVID has blurred the lines between waged, coerced and trafficked labour in India

Numerous news outlets and activist groups in India have reported an increase in trafficking, bonded labour, and slave-like working conditions in the past weeks. The two main stories were the rescue of young boys from a basement bangle factory in Rajasthan and Gujarat and the rescue of young girls from sex work and domestic servitude. Instead of seeing increases in trafficked… Read More Subir Sinha: COVID has blurred the lines between waged, coerced and trafficked labour in India

Chinese journalist who documented Wuhan coronavirus outbreak jailed for 4 years

An independent Chinese journalist who reported from Wuhan at the height of the initial coronavirus outbreak has been jailed for four years by a Shanghai court, her lawyer said Monday. Zhang Zhan, 37, was found guilty of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” according to one of her defense lawyers Zhang Keke, who attended her hearing. The… Read More Chinese journalist who documented Wuhan coronavirus outbreak jailed for 4 years

Austin Ratner & Nisarg Gandhi: Psychoanalysis in combatting mass non-adherence to medical advice

The USA’s failure to contain COVID-19 has been spectacular from every angle. Looked at as a case of mass non-adherence to medical advice, however, it’s unique in modern history. Never before have so many citizens had so much access to information and simultaneously protested public health recommendations with such full-throated denial of the medical facts.… Read More Austin Ratner & Nisarg Gandhi: Psychoanalysis in combatting mass non-adherence to medical advice