The Big Issue 4/4/2022

It’s a familiar feeling after high-level climate talks now. That moment when it becomes clear that the ambitions to halt damage being done to the planet aren’t met by the will of governments around the world. Leaders were again accused of “kicking the can down the road” when the UN convention on biological diversity in Geneva ended last week without any great agreement. One million species are at risk of extinction, with funding to safeguard oceans and natural habitats hard to find. If there is any hope, it is with young campaigners who aren’t blind to the priorities. UK Youth for Nature partnered with artists Sand in Your Eye to highlight the loss of biodiversity in Britain and beyond. On Scarborough beach, a map of the UK was populated with four significant species:…

HOUSEHOLD BILLS What other countries are doing to ease the cost of living crisis Rishi Sunak has been criticised for failing to support the UK’s poorest as inflation rises. Are other governments across the world faring better? FRANCE From this month, households in the UK will see their energy bills rise by as much as 54 per cent as the price cap limiting what suppliers can charge is lifted. In essence, this is because energy companies are passing along the high cost of wholesale gas onto ordinary consumers. Not all countries have passed along these costs to consumers, however. In France, state-owned energy company EDF has been forced to take an €8.4 billion (£7bn) financial hit to cap household bill rises to just four per cent. In December, low-income French households also received a one-off payment…

Bad behaviour very often gets passed with a chorus of awkward laughter and turned cheeks Last week on a night out in Soho, Central London, I was abruptly reminded of my gender when a stranger came within five inches of my face and slid his arm around me. It was an uncomfortable interaction, as it would be for anyone. What made it worse was the men, embarrassed but complicit, who watched the incident unfold. In these situations, the thought process is usually “Oh no” followed by “How can I get him away from me without being harassed further or him getting angry?” But in a flash that thought train came to a stop. My headstrong, supportive, take-no-shit friend told him to “get your fucking hands off her”. They argued. He spat at…

For a project that endeavours to get rough sleepers off the streets of Stoke-on-Trent, 90 Hope Street is suitably named. Hope, or a lack of it, is one of the first things that goes when you arrive on the streets to live. Why believe there is any reason for hope when you are down to ground zero? Why imagine that things could be better when life is reduced to an immediacy? Everything is about the next piece of relief, the next few minutes or hour; at most the next day. Losing hope means that it often becomes incredibly difficult for people who’ve been brought down to the streets to even contemplate a future. It is only when you can introduce the idea that things could improve with support and help that…

Really interesting and intelligent item from @BigIssue – as this piece says “truth is complicated”. But honesty is not@PeterCo16354149 Going for Golda I don’t want to come across as patronising but Golda Rosheuvel’s parting shot in her interview [March 14] is so naive and comes from such a privileged position. From her starting point in her final words “nobody else can tell you where to go” and ending with “you are in control of your journey” is so lacking in understanding. Hasn’t she grasped that millions of people in this country and elsewhere are trapped in situations caused by other people and the majority are so not in control of their journey, unless of course they have lots of money. I ask her to please understand that these uncontrollable situations that people…

He’s only controversial because he doesn’t try and bullshit us. The media should try it... now THAT would be controversial. @NetCitizen0 As long as the conversation is with the opinions formed with evidence, it is good, we can change our views and agree. If it is just opinions, better not have the conversation. @karthi_durai Russell has swung to the right, for the followers, likes and money that come with it. Can’t believe he’s still trying to convince people otherwise. @BitsBonzo Russell is more intelligent than a lot of these fools. He can listen to something he doesn’t agree with without being vitriolic and argue his point with an intellectual response. @Veyseylaaa Nobody ever does – or ever should – agree with everything anyone thinks or says. @KarenWalker2020…