Society
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Of cobblers, colonialism, and choices
Growing up in South Africa, I was told my British colonial ancestors were a fundamentally decent lot. Researching a novel has taught me the ... -
“People want to be rich overnight”: Nigeria logging abounds despite ban
In Cross River state, home to much of Nigeria’s remaining forest, locals and officials accuse the state government of profiting from illegal logging. As ... -
The unaccountability of Liberia’s polluting miners
The government’s reports and fines have not yet been sufficient to stop communities suffering from poisoned rivers. Last May in Grand Cape Mount County, ... -
Lagos is unique but not in the way people think
The aspects of Lagos that are often vilified are exceptional only in their scale. When I say I’m travelling to Lagos, people only familiar ... -
Why 30×30 would be the worst possible outcome of COP15
The plan to turn 30% of the earth into Protected Areas is based on a deeply unscientific and racist logic. On my first field ... -
“The scare is real”: Prominent Ugandans fear poisoning
More than 1,800 people have died of poisoning here since 2009. Now, school principals and MPs fear accepting food or drinks as threats rise. ... -
“I did it all on a phone”: The hotline changing health outcomes in Malawi
Health care in Malawi faces many challenges. A free national hotline is helping address one of them. It is mid-morning in Area 23, a ... -
What did COP27 achieve (and fail to achieve)?
The climate negotiations made progress on loss and damage, but failed to address the central challenge of reducing carbon emissions. There were high expectations ...