No matter which side of the argument you fall on; abortion remains a hotly debated issue that often involves intense emotion, discomfort and (sometimes deliberate) misinformation. Here in the U.S.; after a recently leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that could strike down abortion access, the topic of reproductive rights is front and centre.
While abortion is still currently legalized in the U.S.; a recently leaked Supreme Court draft opinion written by Justice Alito has revealed that the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that settled abortion as a constitutionally protected right was voted down in February of this year.
About a week ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin embarked on his invasion campaign to bombard, overtake and control neighbouring Ukraine. Aiming to strategically seize the country through bombing assaults that focused on the capital city (Kyiv); the Russians, assuming it would be a quick and easy offensive unexpectedly encountered bold, courageous and resilient resistance from the Ukrainian people.
As desperate scenes coming from Kabul Airport play out on the news and social media; terrified Afghan civilians are still trying to find refuge from the Taliban after they seized sweeping control over Afghanistan when U.S. troops began withdrawing from the country after a two-decade war.
The search to discover the truth about Indigenous children who never made it home from Indian Residential Schools in Canada continues. As more unmarked graves of their young relatives are discovered, First Nation communities are at the forefront of pushing for accountability and justice.
If you’re learning about Indian Residential Schools in the U.S. and Canada for the first time; it’s critical you're cognizant of the fact that these systems of colonial violence deliberately inflicted intergenerational trauma on Indigenous communities. Navigating our own lack of knowledge about this type of government-backed, church-led atrocity should not be placed on the shoulders of those who bear its scars.
The significance of what happened three days ago, the attempted overthrow of the United States government by extremist Trump loyalists, was witnessed by the world in real-time. A violent band of domestic terrorists stormed the Capitol and, seemingly, were allowed to do so without meeting the immediate militarized policing that's rolled out anytime Indigenous, Black and Brown Americans peacefully protest to protect their lives.
If you can understand the universally-held science — and good manners — behind covering your mouth when you cough, then you can understand how wearing a mask in public, to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, is an act of commonsense goodwill that could, potentially, save someone’s life.
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