Activism
First Person: How I escaped civil war in Sierra Leone to become a CEO & Afrobeat star
Refugee Stories — Yasmin Kadi fled Sierra Leone with her family during the outbreak of the Blood Diamond Civil War. Seeking refuge in the UK, Yasmin has gone on to become a cult Afrobeat musician, musical theatre actress, and CEO of her own record label: Refugee Records. As part of our Refugee Stories series, Yasmin speaks of her experiences.
Written by: Elizabeth Sulis Gear
First Person: I fled Iran, fearing death, in search of religious freedom
Refugee Stories — Majid Golshani fled Iran following his conversion to the Bahá’í faith, which could be punishable by death. Settling in the UK, Majid's life remains in flux, legally unable to work but desperate for a sense of purpose. As part of our Refugee Stories series, Majid talks of his continued hopes for a better life.
Written by: Elizabeth Sulis Gear
My terrifying five-year journey to escape the North Korean famine
Refugee Stories — Yona Kim fled the North Korean famine in 1997, escaping a country where abuses are "without parallel in the contemporary world." As part of our Refugee Stories series, Yona talks of her incredible journey to safety in the UK, and her dream to now help those still suffering in her home country.
Written by: Elizabeth Sulis Gear
The Nobel Prize-winning academic who fled Nazi Germany as a child
Refugee Stories — January 27 marks Holocaust Memorial Day, a time to remember the atrocities of the past and ensure the same horror is never replicated. As part of our Refugee Stories series, Leslie Brent speaks of being one of the first Jews to flee Nazi Germany, coming to England as a refugee at the age of 13. He would go on to become a Nobel Prize-winning academic.
Written by: Elizabeth Sulis Gear
How anti-abortion propaganda is shaping a dangerous media narrative
But there might be hope... — The indictment of anti-abortionist activists responsible for a lengthy, ill-founded investigation into Planned Parenthood could mean a corner has been turned. But it will take a lot to completely trample the rampant propaganda machine already in action.
Written by: Adam White
In Pictures: Coming of age as a Sudanese refugee in Australia
Embracing a new life, preserving your heritage — Coming of age is hard, no matter how or where it happens. But for thousands of young people from South Sudan, growing up in Australia has been tantamount to a fresh start – an opportunity to forge new friendships, ambitions and identities.
Written by: Shannon Jensen
The student debt crisis is real: but artists are fighting back
Overturning financial oppression — UK student grants were abolished by the Tory government this week. We talk to the artist behind the ‘Day After Debt’ project to find out how art can challenge a culture of debt.
Written by: Joshua Gabert-Doyon
The A-list celebrities and their terrorist, dictator and druglord superfans
Iron fisted obsessions — Mexico's most-wanted drug kingpin El Chapo blew his cover flirting with a telenovela starlet. But he joins a long list of murderous psychopaths - from Osama bin Laden to Kim Jong Il - with an embarrassing celebrity obsession.
Written by: Adam White
Photographers come together to free imprisoned Egyptian photojournalist
#FreeShawkan — Photographers are sharing pictures of themselves on social media in support of Mahmoud Abou Zeid, jailed for covering a protest against Egypt’s military government.
Written by: Alex King
How government-backed, billion-dollar lotteries exploit those most in need
Big money, bigger crisis — Some call it the "stupidity tax", others a waste of time. For many poor, addicted Americans, the lottery is a matter of necessity, even while it's costing them billions of dollars each year.
Written by: Adam White
