Sustainability
Australia’s competition chief claims victory after Facebook standoff
The architect of Australian media reforms being watched around the world claimed victory on Wednesday, even as critics said concessions to the laws forcing Big Tech to pay for news content have given Facebook and Google a get-out clause. The Australian government made late changes to the laws after Facebook last week blocked news content in Australia, escalating a dispute over the proposed legislation and catching international attention. The amended legislation is expected to pass the Senate this week, despite opposition from some minor opposition parties and independent politicians who argue it disadvantages smaller news companies. Rod Sims, the chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), told Reuters the bargaining power imbalance he was tasked with correcting...
NLC: Nigeria’s insecurity, poverty getting out of control
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday held their National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, at the Nigerian Airforce Conference Centre, Abuja, where they lamented the precarious state of insecurity and economic woes in the country. According to President of the NLC Ayuba Wabba, hardly does any day passes by without one negative report of citizens either kidnapped or abducted for payment of ransome. Lamenting the situation, Wabba said our beloved country has never been emmeshed in the grips of insecurity turbulence and crisis as we witness today. He said in the past two years or so, we have witnessed an intense resurgence of terrorism, armed banditry, kidnap-for-ransom, militancy and resource conflicts all over the country. According to him, there is also the challenge of criminals ...
Is Recycled Polyester Better For the Planet? We Consulted the Experts
Ever since starting my sustainable fashion journey, I have been investigating the clothing on my wish list with an eagle eye. The second thing I look at when buying new clothes — after the price, of course — is the fabric a garment is made from. And if the composition says “polyester,” my bank card says “absolutely not.” Polyester is essentially plastic, but is recycled polyester — a popular material used in activewear, loungewear, and puffer jackets — a better alternative? We checked in with sustainability consultancy Eco-Age to get you informed before your next purchase. Virgin polyester is one of the most widely used fabrics in the world because it’s easy to clean, quick to dry, and doesn’t need any land space to be cultivated. However, it’s mad...
Group hails Enugu governor on rural roads
A social group, Ishi-Obere Brothers Club, IBC, in Amufie autonomous community, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu state has applauded Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s effort at ensuring rural access roads in every community in the state. This commendation was made in a statement signed and issued to pressmen in Enugu by the chairman of the group, Pharm. Ernest Odo and financial secretary, Mr Chinedu Adonu respectively. Odo while expressing satisfaction with the construction of Amufie-Ugbaike-Inyi rural road which links the aforementioned communities to Abuja through Obollo Afor-Makurdi expressway said it was a shortcut for those travelling to Abuja. He expressed the view that the road would boost economy of the state, adding that rural roads development is a sure way of attaining rap...
Bishop Kaigama: It’s time to give youths chance in governance
The Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, His Grace Ignatius Kaigama, has said time has come for youths to take active part in governance. Kaigama, who insisted that “it is the right time now to give our youths a chance to express their leadership skills”, tasked authorities to expand the political space to allow more youths involved in decision making. Kaigama particularly advised Nigerian youths to seize the opportunity to bring to an end, decades of recycling political leaders by taking up leadership positions in the country. Speaking Saturday, during the 9th convocation lecture of Veritas University, Abuja,where he is the Chancellor, Kaigama said:”Recent events in our country show that there is the urgent need to expand the political space and allow our youths to be more inv...
5 Ways to Make Your Wardrobe More Sustainable and Ethical (but Still Fashion Forward) in 2021
We’re all familiar with New Year’s resolutions like working out more or drinking less; but in 2021, it may be time to consider a sartorial goal of shopping more ethically when it comes to fashion. In the UK, 30-percent of the clothing in our wardrobes are never worn, according to a report by Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). In addition to that, the coronavirus pandemic hit fast fashion’s supply chain at its most vulnerable point in 2020, exposing how little garment workers are being paid, and how much they are being exploited by brands that are raking in millions. Add that to the fact that the fashion industry contributes to 10-percent of humanity’s carbon emissions and is the second biggest drain on the world’s water supply — it makes you realise ...
NHIS: Sokoto received N518 million Health Intervention Fund
Nasir Sambo, the Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) said the Buhari administration has disbursed N518 million to Sokoto State Government in 2020 as National Healthcare Intervention Fund aimed at enhancing the lives of vulnerable persons in the society. Speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the official commencement of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), Mr. Sambo said the federal government remained committed to attainment of mandatory Universal Health Coverage (UHC) toward ensuring improved healthcare to citizens. He stressed that the federal authorities was committed to achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The executive secretary noted that the National Health Act enshrined one percent from accrued consolidated national revenue f...
20 Sustainable Brands Our Editors Champion Every Day of the Year
Sustainable fashion can be confusing. Is it vegan? Ethically produced? Environmentally friendly? Fair-trade? Is it a catch-all term for anything that relates to fashion that isn’t fast? The short answer is that it can be all those things. The long answer is that it’s much more complicated than that. Sustainable fashion pertains to the sourcing, production and distribution of the garment. The lifespan of a piece of clothing must be looked at from start to finish. It means understanding that organic cotton is better than regular cotton, as it doesn’t use pesticides or harmful chemicals that are bad for the skin. Also, manmade fabrics (such as polyester) are damaging to the environment, as they’re often made from plastic and are nonbiodegradable. While leather can be eco-friendly, it can stil...
Qatar to host FIFA Club World Cup 2020 across three venues
Qatar will host the FIFA Club World Cup 2020 from February 1 to 11, 2021, after it was postponed earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Six continental confederations, as well as the host nation’s league champions, will compete in the tournament, which will be held across three FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums — Ahmad Bin Ali, Khalifa International and Education City. The Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, inaugurated just last week on December 18, will stage the opening match between Qatari champions Al Duhail and Auckland City of New Zealand on February 1, and the final will be played at Education City Stadium on February 11. Joining the two teams will be European champions and German side FC Bayern Munich, CONCACAF champions Tigres UANL from Mexico, Al Ahly SC, Egyptian side and winners ...
NAICOM: Don’t shun insurance despite inflation, harsh business environment
File Photo As businesses and individuals adopt cost reduction measures in response to rising inflation and the harsh business environment, the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, has charged Nigerians to avoid the tendency to shun insurance of their assets. Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Sunday Thomas, who gave the charge noted that despite the biting inflation in the country, even as people reduce the cost of expenses, this is not the best of time to reduce insurance consumption. Thomas stated this at a webinar organised by Coronation Insurance Plc in partnership with Access Bank Plc, with the theme: “Managing Business Risks at a Time of Uncertainty.” Thomas, who was represented by Mr. Taiwo Adeoye, Technical Adviser to the Commissioner for Insurance, noted that sometimes the gain in ...
Pope commits Vatican to net zero carbon emissions by 2050
Pope Francis urged countries on Saturday to work towards net zero carbon emissions and committed Vatican City – the world’s smallest state – to reaching the target by 2050. Francis, who has championed environmental causes since his election in 2013, told a U.N. climate summit the 108-acre (44-hectare) city-state surrounded by Rome would be doing its bit to fight climate change. “The current pandemic and climate change, which are not only environmentally relevant, but also ethically, socially, economically and politically, affect, above all, the lives of the poorest and most fragile,” he said in a video message to the summit. “In addition to adopting some measures that cannot be postponed any longer, a strategy is needed to reduce net emissions to zero,” Francis said. He committed the Vatic...
Burberry Is Donating Leftover Fabrics to Fashion Students Across the Country
Burberry continues its commitment to sustainable practices and young creatives by launching ReBurberry Fabric in partnership with the British Fashion Council (BFC). The initiative plans to donate leftover Burberry fabrics to fashion students across the country who need a bit of extra help after a rough year. ReBurberry Fabric is a part of the BFC’s Positive Fashion and Colleges Council initiative, with help from fashion journalists Charlie Porter and Sarah Mower. Fabric donations will be facilitated by the BFC with plans to be made available to the remainder of the fashion industry — in an effort to inspire other brands and colleges to support future talent in sustainable ways. “One of the BFC’s priorities is to encourage the industry to move towards a circular fashion ec...
