10 humanitarian crises you never heard of
Coverage of the pandemic dominated world headlines in 2020. But did you know that the launch of PlayStation 5 received 26 times more news attention than 10 humanitarian crises combined? Over 230 million people are in desperate need of help but you most likely never heard about it.
Home is where we started
Like Trump claiming yet again he won’t vacate the White House, 2020 is throwing another temper tantrum. And while we may hear in the next few days that’s all it is – a small(ish) outbreak exclusive to the Northern Beaches – we are back to where we started in March. At home.
Contactless preferred
The transition to going cash-free was supercharged this year. “An ATM machine,” we eye-roll, “who even bothers?” But what if spare change was your main source of income? Charities, buskers and beggars angling for gold-coin donations are now missing out on vital support.
Ending child Exploitation
Before you throw a few Christmas-themed boxes of chocolates in your shopping trolley, consider this: 20 years ago, the world’s major chocolate producers pledged to stamp out child exploitation. Today, two million kids in West Africa still work in slave-like conditions. Here’s what brands to get behind this Christmas.
Immigration detention concerns deepen
Asylum seekers are held in detention for longer than ever before and far longer than any comparable country. While Australia gets ready for a Christmas out of lockdown, Kopika and Tharunicaa will be facing the festivities in detention – ironically, on Christmas Island.
Why are more women doing time?
More women in Australia are going to prison than ever before. Over the past 10 years, there’s been a 75% increase in incarceration rates. Are women suddenly committing more serious crimes or have laws and policing practices changed so that minor crimes are more heavily penalised?
Australia after COVID-19
Low case numbers and a vaccine underway mean Australia is taking a collective (but tentative) sigh of relief. Whatever “normal” used to look like, we want it back in 2021. But what about the knock-on effects of this truly diabolical year? Well, some are good, some not so much…
Violence against ambos has to stop
Did you know that a paramedic is assaulted in Victoria every 50 hours? Paramedicine is one of the most dangerous jobs in Australia. Paramedics witness trauma regularly but it is violence committed against them that makes it so dangerous. The profession needs to change, and rapidly. Here’s why.
End the housing crisis
It’s the type of social housing investment the Vocal Minority has been calling for. Victoria’s Big Housing Build project will kick-start the economy post-COVID and go a long way to ending the housing crisis. Now it’s time for the rest of Australia to follow.
New Zealanders report psychological distress
Mental wellbeing of New Zealanders plummeted during the early stages of the pandemic. Lockdown successfully eliminated COVID from the community but it came at a significant psychological cost. Nearly one in three Kiwis reported experiencing moderate to severe psychological distress.
