Mostly good news and hopeful initiatives.
Plenty to keep you thinking while I'm OOO for the next week and a half.
Your Monday, Wednesday, and Friday briefing on global affairs, human rights, environment, social innovation, business, culture, and design—offering fresh insights through the lenses of sustainable development, women-centered perspectives, and emerging global trends. The aim? To keep you informed, curious, and always ready with a compelling conversation starter at the dinner table.
In today’s letter: stats on women’s political leadership globally, legislation in Colombia regarding femicide, new regulation on women’s dress in Syria, the largest land-back deal in California’s history, Osaka’s world expo, greenery in Medellín, N/A beer continues to have momentum, and much more.
Last night in London, the winners of the 2025 Women’s Prizes were announced: The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden took home the Fiction Prize, while The Story of a Heart by Dr Rachel Clarke won for Non-Fiction.
The former is a taut, evocative debut set in post-war Netherlands, exploring desire and historical memory; the latter is a deep meditation on organ donation, told through two intertwined family narratives. I’ve read a handful of titles from this year’s longlists, but not these two, though The Safekeep has been hovering near the top of my list since its release. Needless to say, they’ve both just jumped to the front of the queue.
That said, I’m planning to crack open The Basque History of the World by Mark Kurlansky this evening on the plane, as I prepare for next week’s trip to the Basque region of Spain and France. First stop: Madrid this weekend, where I’ll be tracking down works by Spanish women writers who are new to me, going to see the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize exhibit, and watching the sunset over the Temple of Debod, an ancient Nubian temple currently in the centre of the city.
And with that, I’m officially on holiday as of this evening. There won’t be any newsletters while I’m away, but I’ll be back in your inbox on Wednesday, June 25. I’m looking forward to a little pause—and to coming back with fresh energy and a few new ideas I’m excited to share. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this newsletter: what you’ve been enjoying, what you’d like to see more of, or anything you think could be improved. Just hit reply to the email or leave a comment. I always appreciate hearing from you.
Finally, I’d really love for you to consider supporting A Little Gay on the Prairie, a feature-length documentary following queer folks carving out whole, complicated, and joyful lives in rural America. Two of the first stories will feature Bryan Bruland, a gay race car driver, and Ashley Swartz, a trans farmer living in Nebraska. These are the kinds of stories that so rarely get told, and this project feels both timely and profoundly hopeful. They’re about 80% of the way to their fundraising goal—just $2,000 or so left to go—and every little bit helps. You can read more about the film here, including a breakdown of where the funds will go. I’m so excited about this project and want to see it out in the world.
Women’s equal participation in political leadership is crucial, yet progress remains painfully slow. As of mid-2025, just 27 countries have women serving as Heads of State or Government, and women hold less than a quarter of Cabinet positions globally, primarily in portfolios traditionally linked to social issues. Women make up just 27 per cent of national parliamentarians, with only a handful of countries nearing parity—Rwanda being a rare standout at 64 per cent. At the local level, women represent roughly 35 per cent of elected officials, but only two countries have reached gender balance. While legislated quotas have nudged representation upward, the pace suggests gender parity in politics won’t be achieved for decades.
Yet evidence is clear: women’s leadership improves governance, from increased water projects in India to better childcare coverage in Norway. Political women’s caucuses worldwide also drive critical reforms on gender-based violence, parental leave, and electoral fairness, showing that expanding women’s voice in politics is not just a goal but a catalyst for better decision-making.
Femicide (the gender-based killing of women and girls) is a brutal expression of misogyny and power that continues to plague communities worldwide, particularly in Latin America, where rates remain among the highest globally. It is often the tragic endpoint of a pattern of domestic violence, and its impact extends far beyond the immediate act, leaving children, families, and entire communities shattered. Now, new legislation passed by the Colombian Congress seeks to recognise and support minors orphaned by gender-based violence, offering mental health services, financial aid, and legal support. Finally, the law is starting to understand the profound, long-lasting toll femicide has not just on the murdered women but on the children left behind.
Syria’s interim Islamist-led government has introduced new regulations requiring women to wear burkinis or other modest swimwear at public beaches and pools, citing public decency and safety. The directive, issued by the tourism ministry, exempts private venues, high-end hotels, and clubs, but mandates that women cover up when moving between swimming areas and that men wear shirts outside the water. While modest dress is already common in many parts of Syria, the formalisation of such rules has sparked debate. Supporters frame it as a respectful safeguard for conservative families, while critics see it as a troubling shift toward moral policing under a regime that previously pledged inclusivity. The move comes months after Islamist factions overthrew Bashar al-Assad, with new president Ahmed al-Sharaa promising a transitional period that balances Islamic law with guarantees for women’s rights and freedom of expression.
Japan’s acute labour shortage is forcing a rethink of a decades-old social welfare system designed to encourage married women to prioritise homemaking over careers. Under proposed reforms expected to pass imminently, part-time workers earning below a certain threshold, primarily women, will be required to contribute to pension and health insurance schemes, narrowing exemptions that many argue have long discouraged women from working longer hours or advancing professionally. Introduced in 1986 amid Japan’s economic boom, the dependent spouse system reflects outdated gender roles, yet conservative lawmakers remain divided on the extent of reform. Business groups and unions alike call for its abolition, pointing to the scheme’s role in suppressing wage growth and limiting female labour participation amid a rapidly ageing population and historic workforce shortages. However, critics warn the changes may prompt part-timers to cut hours to avoid fees, underscoring the need for broader cultural shifts in employer attitudes toward women’s work if Japan is to unlock its full economic potential.
In Maharashtra’s Beed district, the heart of India’s sugar cane belt, outrage is mounting over the continued rise in hysterectomies among female labourers—many under 40—who say they are being “pushed” into surgery to meet the brutal demands of the harvest. Earning less than £4 a day and fined for missed work, many women see surgery as the only way to keep their jobs. A 2019 survey found 36% of women in the district had undergone the procedure, compared to a national average of 3%.
Chicago’s urban girls face a web of systemic challenges (ranging from food insecurity and housing instability to community violence, social isolation, and limited educational resources) that stifle their potential. The Coalition on Urban Girls proposes a dedicated Quality of Life Plan (QLP) to reverse this trajectory through community-driven investment in safety, education, leadership, and wellness. Framed by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, their excellent white paper highlights urgent disparities and offers a roadmap to support girls’ self-actualisation, with a focus on equity, mentorship, and civic engagement. One thing that stood out was that the burden of parental caregiving disproportionately affects Black and Latina girls, with 4 in 10 older girls contributing to the family and finances.
“Investing in girls is a strategic investment in the future of our neighborhoods, families, and city. Research shows that when girls are empowered with education, safety, and mentorship, they not only succeed but also elevate those around them. Strong, supported girls become women who contribute to their communities, help raise healthy families, and foster safer, more cohesive neighborhoods. The return on investment is generational: studies have shown that improving the well-being of a girl often leads to better educational outcomes, reduced poverty levels, and improved economic stability for entire families. This is particularly vital in Chicago, where many urban girls reside in single-female-headed households facing economic hardship.” - Coalition on Urban Girls Chicago
In the largest land-back deal in California’s history, the Yurok Tribe has regained control of 73 square miles of ancestral territory along the Klamath River. Completed in partnership with Western Rivers Conservancy, the $56 million transfer designates 15,000 acres as the Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary, with the remainder becoming the Yurok Community Forest. The move marks a significant stride in both ecological conservation and cultural restoration. Funded through a blend of loans, carbon credits, and federal tax incentives, the acquisition protects the land from development. It places it firmly under Indigenous stewardship—part of a growing national movement to return land to tribal nations.
In a bid to accelerate aviation’s green transition, the EU is offering subsidies for over 200 million litres of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), around 15% of global SAF output, to encourage airlines to swap kerosene for cleaner alternatives. Funded by the sale of 20 million carbon permits, the scheme offers up to €6 per litre for e-fuels and €0.50 for biofuels, aiming to bridge the steep price gap that makes SAF three to five times more expensive than jet fuel. Though SAF currently comprises just 0.3% of global supply, the EU’s rising mandates—2% by 2025, 6% by 2030—signal a clear policy direction, even as airlines warn that costs and underinvestment may hinder progress.
I don’t think I knew that World Fairs still happened?! Or I did not put it together that World Expos = World Fairs. Last year, my sister and I saw a pavilion in Mexico City that was from a World Fair, and we both agreed that we (the world) should do that kind of thing again, but apparently, we still are! They occur every five years, with this year’s in Osaka, Japan, unfolding on an artificial island with a $66 billion price tag. It aims to project a vision of global cooperation under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” Yet, compared to the bold optimism of its 1970 predecessor (remembered for avant-garde architecture and Japan’s postwar confidence), it is a bit more subdued. Expo historian (cool job) Charles Pappas argues that while modern fairs often lack the visual drama of earlier spectacles, their long-term value remains. Paris, which hosted seven expos between 1855 and 1937, used them to reshape its streets, promote innovators like Vuitton and Eiffel, and even define entire design movements.
Medellín has long topped my travel list, and these photos only give me more reason to want to visit. Over the past decade, Colombia’s second city has embarked on an ambitious renaturalisation drive, reintroducing native plants, recycled materials, and innovative urban design to reshape its landscape. The initiative (part climate strategy, part civic revival) has yielded a network of “green corridors” featuring bike lanes, pocket parks and leafy walkways that have helped lower local temperatures by nearly 3C.
In a pretty significant step, France’s Senate has approved a revised bill targeting the environmental toll of fast fashion, with measures that could ban advertising by ultra-fast fashion giants like Shein and Temu. The law distinguishes between "ultra" and "classic" fast fashion, imposing stricter limits on non-European platforms while easing restrictions on brands such as Zara and Kiabi—a move environmental groups have criticised as lenient. The bill proposes escalating environmental penalties for non-compliant companies, potentially reaching €10 per garment by 2030. One minister calls fast fashion a “triple threat” to ecology, industry, and consumer habits, with 35 garments discarded every second in France. Framed as a way to curb overconsumption and protect struggling domestic retailers, the legislation still requires alignment between the Senate and the lower house, as well as approval from the European Commission.
Kenya, the world’s third-largest tea producer, has ordered its factories to suspend ties with the Rainforest Alliance, citing unsustainable certification costs that burden smallholder farmers rather than being absorbed by consumers or buyers. While the green frog seal of the sustainable certification has become a staple on UK supermarket shelves, Kenyan officials argue that the financial and administrative strain far outweighs the benefits, especially when tea workers still struggle to meet basic needs. With certification fees reaching thousands of dollars annually per factory, the government is now exploring a localised, lower-cost alternative. This is yet another example of the growing tensions in global supply chains, where Western demand for ethical labels often clashes with on-the-ground economic realities.
The nonprofit sector is at a crossroads, as legacy funding models give way to a faster, more digitally driven landscape. The old playbook—relying on government grants and institutional donors—has faltered in the face of political unpredictability and evolving audience expectations. But within this disruption lies opportunity: nonprofits that lean into mobile-first engagement, data-informed storytelling, and subscription revenue are not just adapting, they’re redefining resilience. The future belongs to mission-driven organisations built on meaningful relationships, not bureaucratic dependencies.
As traditional alcohol sales wane, non-alcoholic beer continues with its momentum, growing 9% globally in 2024 and on track to eclipse ale as the second-largest beer category behind lagers. Once niche, the sector now appeals to a generation leaning into mindful drinking, with U.S. demand up 175% since 2019. Despite some lingering social stigma, especially among young men, brands like Heineken 0.0 are reporting double-digit growth!! This makes me so happy. Have y’all sipped Athletic Brewing? They have seen crazy growth over the past couple of years.
Finally, an activewear collection that is (99%) not made from polyester! PANGAIA has released its new 365 Seamless Activewear collection, featuring regen™ BIO Max, a bio-based elastane developed from agricultural feedstocks, and EVO® Nylon from castor beans. The fabric is then finished with peppermint oil to reduce odour and the need for washing. This brand is at the forefront of innovative materials, thanks to its primary focus on materials science and then fashion. I need to try something from the line.
Jenny Saville has spent her career painting the human body—especially women’s bodies—with an honesty and intensity that’s both tender and unflinching. Her recent show, Gaze, at the Albertina in Vienna, pushed this even further, exploring how our sense of self is constantly shifting in the digital age. In works like her Fates series, bodies blur and multiply, limbs appear and disappear. It is less about distortion than about capturing how it feels to live in a body today. This month, the National Portrait Gallery in London is giving her a long-overdue solo show, The Anatomy of Painting—a chance to see just how powerfully she’s redefined what figurative painting can do.
Noticing missed creative connections, journalist and actor Valerie Vande Panne launched Fry Bread, a digital platform linking Native artists with grants, mentorship and exhibition spaces across the U.S. Designed as both a discovery hub and storytelling outlet, Fry Bread aims to amplify contemporary Native art beyond clichés, support authenticity throughout the industry, and connect creators and collectors alike through a growing network of resources, interviews and opportunities—huge fan of this initiative.
Lorde is on the cover of Rolling Stone and gives a candid interview about the struggles she has faced over the past few years and the journey behind her new album. Scheduled for release June 27!
“Unlike Solar Power and Melodrama, Lorde didn’t start writing this new music with an album title or concept in mind. Her goal was physicality, creating sounds that were percussive and prioritized rhythm. She wanted the music to work on the body before the brain.”
Also in Rolling Stone, an interview with Joan Baez, who says America under Trump 'feels like torn fabric'. She has released a new album covering her favourite songs by her favourite songwriters. I, along with the rest of the world, have not stopped listening to her since watching A Complete Unknown.
Thank you for reading! Please share with an interesting and interested person in your life. xxx