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5 Things to Consider Before Falling For an Activist Girl
It is hard to be an activist in a world where everybody expects a girl to be soft and cute at all times. And I can tell because I have been bullied my entire childhood and during my teenage years. I was called “bossy” most of the times, or worse, “boyish girl”. Today, as a grown up, the situation isn't much different. It wasn’t easy for me to put up with all the pressure. But I did. I knew what I had was bigger than their words and the names they were calling me. Frankly, what they thought is going to break me, broke them, and made me stronger. One year ago, I read an article with the title...
The 1.8 Billion Guardians of Earth
While some people deny climate change, our planet is under threat
How housing insecurity impacts your physical and mental health
It’s been said that money can’t buy happiness. While this can be true in many ways, a steady source of income can alleviate many stressors. Living below the poverty line in the United States leaves many families looking for a roof to sleep under each night, ways to put food on the table, and the means to obtain physical and mental healthcare. A recent study done by researchers at Boston Medical Center (BMC) reports that you don’t have to be homeless to experience both adverse physical and mental health outcomes from housing insecurity. The study interviewed more than 22,000 families about...
My Dad Is The Most Inspirational Man In My World
How many times have you ever thought of this question: “Who inspires you?” I know it might seem easy. But trust me, it is not. Especially when your answer should be clear and honest, identifying the person who has impacted your past and will continue to impact your future. I have spent a week already brainstorming who might be that person. I don’t want to give a random answer. I identified several criteria for what makes a person influential. I looked up the characteristics of influential people. According to all the articles I read my person should hold these traits: 1- He must be a leader of...
For the women who fought lions
and if not for yourself, do it for the women that broke the shackles to see you run free into the rose bush and become one. the women that carry the legacy on their backs. of strength and complete dedication to see your little heart beat freely without hesitation. they held back to watch you run free. and broke themselves into pieces to see you become whole. if not for yourself, then for the magicians who from plain air spun you. a block of pure gold. go on and run free, my dear. for they did not do the extraordinary to see you become just mediocre.
Stay gentle, everyone is at war
Society- something that bonds us as well as breaks us...because each and every moment we think about what others think, how they will respond to us. Is it right to stand up for our rights? Why are we afraid to stand up? Why is it so difficult to express our thoughts when they can kill us from inside? Why is this world judging you by who you are? Is it bad to be different? Is this world so cruel that it can't give any equal status to a person? I know, so many questions... For a person who has gone through a lot can't society just accept and respect her/him... That person has the right to stand...
Facing Challenges
Every day we face challenges. Some of them are bigger than others, like getting out of bed compared to having one of the most important exams of the semester. It may even be doing that essay you have been procrastinating on doing. The thing about challenges is that they are not easy to face. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that they can´t be confronted. Yes, it will be hard, but it will also be worth it. We usually think only on the cons and we create excuses, instead of focusing on what would we gain afterwards. We may also believe that we are not capable of confronting the challenge, that we...
16 child petitioners filed a landmark complaint demanding urgent climate action
We all are beautiful
I live in the most advanced city of Pakistan, Lahore. A city famous for its advancements and traditions at the same time. It was a city of great minds and cultures and I very much grew up in the middle of this city, playing with clouds in the sky and building up my imaginary stories all the time. I was always a child with lots of curiosities and queries, as most kids are finding every little thing intriguing and questioning. I was always lurking around to look for things I had never seen. I was known to be a kid with energy of a small puppy, who was never tired of exploring and sniffing. I...
Broken society
The society which you live in is the same society you lack courage in. The people who are by your side always hide, just not be seen by those who backbite behind you. Is it shy, pride? I don't know. And the moment they realize you're progressing, succeeding, they'll start to develop fashion in your dressing. Not knowing all that you've went through has always been so stressing. The society in your community. When you start to cry, no one will stop by not even to try to wipe your tears until it's dried. And then you'll be asked "Were you crying?" Let your answer be "No I wasn't, I was just...
Unveiled truths about Feminism
In the everlasting struggle for human rights, the advocacy of women’s equality is one of the most controversial and complex aspects. The importance of considering the huge ethnic, religious and cultural differentiation and the complexity of the contemporary world is vital, when demanding the realization of these rights. To establish and achieve political, economic, personal and social gender equality means to consider each diversity and to treat that diversity according to the person’s values, without trying to have a cultural or ideological hegemony. So, why when it comes to Muslim women, the...
Humans without humanity
What is this world that is full of cruelty? Where should I live to find people with honesty? Humans on this earth are without humanity. They proclaim in media about freedom and liberty. But in the real world they despise me. Do they hate me because of religion, colour or nationality? Why do they treat me with racism and inequality? Ain't I a human who should live with them equally?
16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women
Syria sees its first major national campaign: 16 Days of Activism is a campaign that was organized by the United Nations Population Fund in Syria. The campaign succeeded in portraying the solidarity and resilience of the Syrian community. After the crisis hit, it was a great challenge for all the partners to run a harmonized program in 8 cities (Damascus, Rural Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Lattakia, Tartous and Swida). However, our goal is to keep spreading the same values we worked on in this campaign. Today, UNFPA along with 7 local partners is celebrating the success of illuminating Syria...
Back to the (ecological) future
Salam: A Global Citizen and a Motivated Supporter
My name is Salam and I am from Syria. Probably not many know where Syria is on the map. However, my aim is not to further explain you the geographical location of my country. My aim is to let those who never heard the word “Syria”, as well as those who heard it already, know how Syrian youth can be a great added value no matter where they are. The exact translation of my name in English is “Peace”. I start to realize how lucky I am to have such a powerful name, especially at a time when the meaning itself is lost in a big dark sea filled with war and inequity. When I turned 18, crises hit. And...
Contrasts
They say the world is a Spectrum, More than infinite shades that fit in between Violet and Red. Mix them all up to get White, Their absence stains Black. But in this world of non binaries and, multiple mixed colors; Don't we find stark contrasts? Like Black and White derived from the spectrum. Like the poor that call slums their home and the privileged living within glass doors. Like politicians that call the Amazon their own, dissecting the planet's very lungs, corrupting it with mines, mills and more. And in contrast the people that fight for their forests to live; Sheltering the flora...
Save mankind from hell
It’s not my cup of tea to dramatize. I might be an opera singer, but I don’t like to dramatize in real life. Actually we should keep our feet on the ground, our heads up high and act with courage and determination to what we think is important. The Sustainable Development Goals Over the past years I am fascinated by the work the United Nations does. Yes, I know, I hear you thinking “but the UN is as well a very expensive, bureaucratic system, what do they actually do?” Well, let me tell you this: the UN are saving mankind from hell. In conflict situations of war, poverty and hunger. But it...
Why The Amazon Matters
Around fifteen million years ago, the South American and Nazca tectonic plates converged into each other due to the weight of the ocean on the Nazca plate. The collision of the two plates caused the creation of the Andes Mountain Range, sitting on the edge of the Chilean border with the Pacific Ocean. The rising of the land there and the linkage of the Brazilian and Guyanese land caused the Amazon River (which had been flowing towards the west at the time) to become a broad, inland sea. With time, this large body of water became a vast freshwater lake. This meant that the marine life had to...