perspectives

The stock market in freefall, countries in lockdown and the airline industry seems to be on the brink of collapse - nothing seems to be going right for anyone. However, although it might appear that everyone is harmed by the effects of the Coronavirus, there is one key winner throughout all this panic: the environment.

As cities and countries around the world enact stringent measures to contain the spread of the Coronavirus, th...

There are some events which leave a lasting impact on humankind. They are not restricted to one country but part of a global trend shaping lives for decades to come. This is undoubtedly the case with coronavirus. Described by Daniel Finkelstein in the Times as the new ‘9/11’ moment, the outbreak has transformed our interpretation of the world, how it operates and the consequences of health disasters. The strategy within the UK...

After what has felt like years and years of both the public and Amazon employees begging Jeff Bezos to use his astronomical wealth to aid the fight against global warming, a step has finally been taken by the man himself. On 17th February this year, Bezos announced on his Instagram that he was to establish the Bezos Earth Fund, a $10 billion commitment to preserving the planet. Promised under this pledge is the funding of scie...

Hundreds of attendees met at the World Economic Forum (WEF) last week in Davos, Switzerland. Since its inception in 1971, the conference has increasingly come to be seen as a symbol of capitalism, globalisation, and the world’s elite. The WEF faces something of an image problem as many in the developed and developing worlds turn their backs on the globe in favour of looking inward. In fact, a survey by Trust Barometer revealed...

With Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, announcing they’re jetting off to Canada, stepping down as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and carving out a ‘progressive new role’ within the institution, a new discussion has arisen as to what role the Royal Family should play in modern society. 

The Royal Family is a prestigious institution in the UK that for many emboldens a sense of patriotism and a culture that is distinguishable...

The 2010s may have just departed, but already there are now political ventures to look towards. While 2020 is only just upon us, political events are taking place, within the UK and overseas, that will significantly impact the world for decades to come. The Christmas season allowed some reflection and unwinding. That is now over - there are a whole host of changes on the horizon very shortly that will shape the UK’s future, bo...

Greta Thunberg has been under the spotlight for the past year. She gained immediate popularity after being spotted outside the Swedish Parliament protesting against climate change. The image of a sixteen-year-old girl striking all by herself was so moving that it attracted international media attention right away. In the following months, she headed a protest movement called ‘Fridays for Future’ that united millions of student...

There was always going to be a stigma around poppies. The concept of war seems outdated in an age that prides itself on social consciousness and progress, in a generation which challenges the impact of patriotism. Even conventional values of ‘sacrifice’ and ‘national pride’ are growingly being seen as more harmful to society. Now criticism has captured this red flower. A pocket-size image used to remember ‘sacrifice’ can now b...

Considering that 71% of Britons consider the climate emergency a more pressing issue than Brexit, it would be expected that politicians would be working just as, if not more ardently to protect and stabilise the environment. However, unfortunately this is not the case.

In the last 139 years, every year has been the hottest on record, currently reaching its peak in 2019, with an average increase of 0.8°C each year. Two thirds of...

Prince Andrew is the Queen of England’s second-born son, who is currently trying to defend his relationship with the convicted sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein. By defend, I should correct myself and say he is currently trying to think of any plausible excuse for any questions he is asked. One must think, such a prestigious figure would have been prepared for his interview on Saturday night but nothing could have made him ready for...