Language used, both by those working or featured in the media and individuals, has a huge but often unseen effect on our unconscious biases. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, (but words can never hurt me)” is traditionally used to brush off insults but, whilst there is of course some benefit to boosting emotional …
Issued by 7/7 Survivor Sajda Mughal OBE Sixteen years ago, on that fateful day in July, I narrowly escaped death. If I had not been running late and had got on at my usual carriage, I would not have been so lucky. As we remember those whose lives were violently taken from them, I …
It is incumbent on minorities to remain civil and calm when pushing back against discrimination rather than on the offensive party to face up to any upset or their own ignorance. As movements for equality have gained traction — be it on the grounds of gender, race, religion, or some other personal characteristic — individuals …
The Capitol riots in the U.S. on 6 January 2021 led to outcries from many well-intentioned citizens from both parties to label the white supremacist extremists that stormed the U.S. Capitol as terrorists. Joe Biden, the President-Elect at the time, echoed these claims dubbing the rioters “domestic terrorists”. Indeed, White people are often not held …
Why freedom of expression has never been an unlimited right to be offensive. The phrase “political correctness gone mad” has become synonymous with “I’m no longer allowed to say what I want”, and is commonly used with some sort of reference to freedom of expression being violated. Applied to a variety of personal characteristics — …
Anti-Asian hate crime has drastically risen since the beginning of the Covid pandemic. Many activists have claimed that this rise in such hate crimes is due to the false yet incredibly widespread belief that Asian people are responsible for spreading the coronavirus. As a result, many from the East Asian community report feeling incredibly unsafe …
Reports of social media abuse have dramatically increased during the pandemic. With social media giants being under more scrutiny than ever before, they have decided to start tackling abuse. This blog will explore the ways they aim to keep us, and our children, safe from abuse online. Covid-19: a rise in social media abuse, …
Internet regulation is needed but the Government must commit to protecting young people online. The internet forms an integral part of people’s lives. In the UK, 99% of 12 to 15–year–olds are online. With social life, entertainment and online shopping all accessed via the internet, being online has become crucial. With the COVID-19 lockdown, even …
Radical change in countering far-right extremism will only be achieved when right-wing politicians take responsibility for their actions. Prior to the turn of the century, the fight against terrorism in the UK was concerned with domestic affairs, specifically related to the actions of the Irish Republican Army. The introduction of the Terrorism Act 2000 marked …
It may be the end of another year, but our work must continue. For many, the New Year marks new beginnings and major changes. In some ways, change can be beneficial, but there must also be consistency in other areas — our work is one of them. As COVID-19 leaves some groups more isolated than …
