Review of 2022 (part 1)

As 2022 began, the fight for women's rights was prominent. Afghanistan saw pushback against the ban on women’s education. A radio station for women provided education and a voice for women over the airwaves.

Meanwhile in Scotland, justice finally came for women convicted and murdered as witches centuries ago. The campaign drew attention to how this practice still exists in some societies today.

Zoe Venditozzi: "There are still people across the world, generally vulnerable, often women or old people that are being accused of witchcraft."

Environmental action in Africa and Asia saw people resetting conditions in their local surroundings. Communities in Kenya restored coastal river ecosystems by planting mangroves, combatting decades of land degradation and deforestation. Meanwhile, chimps In Liberia who’d undergone years of research experiments were placed into the care of volunteers. Although returned to their natural habitat, they require daily feeding.

In Thailand, marine life returned to Phi Phi bay. Visitors to the famed location now learn of the impact of mass tourism, which all but destroyed the bay’s ecosystem.

Sirithon Thamrongnawasawat: "We show the tourists what is the impact, what is the biodiversity, what is the relationship between your behaviour and the impact to the corals."

In February, Russian forces began an invasion of Ukraine, resulting in 7.8 million Ukrainians fleeing to neighbouring countries as refugees. Beyond the refugee crisis in Europe, the war’s also caused hunger in Africa. The continent, which depends on imports of wheat from Ukraine and Russia, saw prices skyrocket. Sanctions on Russian exports also pushed up oil prices, leaving the world’s poorest at greater risk of malnutrition and starvation.

Julius Adewale: "Cost of production, it has increased immensely. So, they have to come together and also increase the price of bread by 40 percent to what it was before. A common man, that has not even eaten, you no expect him to buy bread or a loaf of bread for 700."

2022 saw growing efforts for zero waste commerce in the fashion, beauty and art and design industries. Sewing came back into fashion as people opted out of the consumer trend for fast fashion. A London based zero waste startup called UpCircle served cafes with used coffee grounds to dispose of. The company recycles this used ground coffee in all-natural beauty products. The art and design industry’s also been doing its part, exploring opportunities for upcycling waste material.

Gemma Curtin: "So, people are looking at the waste that's around them. And designers are thinking, what can we do with that? How can we help the environment by using these materials?"

In a zero waste protest, US environmental activist Rob Greenfield walked city streets for 30 days, consuming the diet of an average American. He displayed the waste this generates in a specially designed trash suit which achieved his aim of broadening individuals’ awareness of the waste they produce.

The US Supreme Court reversed its landmark 1973 judgement that guaranteed women the right to an abortion. Protests across the country saw people demand rights for women.

Kamala Harris: "This is the first time in the history of our nation that a constitutional right has been taken from the people of America. And what is that right some might ask. It's the right to privacy." Weniger anzeigen