The Arab Spring was a pro-democracy movement and a series of uprisings that broke the mould in Middle Eastern history, but its momentum didn’t last long before the region reversed into its autocratic and divided state. In both North Africa and the Middle East, by 2010, protestors fought for deep regime changes, for cultural freedom, and for democracy in their nations. First Tunisia and Egypt and then by domino effect, Yemen, Bahrain, Syria and many others followed motivated by the short-term successes they saw in neighboring nations.

“For how long will English constituencies and English hon. Members tolerate not just 71 Scots, 36 Welsh and a number of Ulstermen but at least 119 hon. Members from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland exercising an important, and probably often decisive, effect on English politics while they themselves have no say in the same matters in Scotland, Wales and Ireland?”

Abortion has been particularly relevant in the US over the past few months. A specific example of this is the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. One of ACB’s main views, earning her support or condemnation, is her pro-abortion perspective, and there is possibility of a new ruling regarding abortion procedures as healthcare or a criminal act. It is believed now, in retrospect, that Trump used her nomination as a form of reeling in evangelist and traditionalist voters. This is not the first time that a candidate has used abortion as a pivotal point of their campaign. In fact, this hyper-involvement of abortion in policy started a few decades before the Trumpian era.

As a Black person myself, I have heard phrases that undermine black oppression and belittle our feelings as a minority group. They say, “But slavery happened over 400 years ago”, or “but the UK is one of the least racist countries.” That is correct but should not be a sentence used to invalidate the fact that racism still occurs towards Black people and is something that hinders them in today’s society.

In 2014, whilst studying international relations at Goldsmiths, University of London, Laura Coryton started the ‘Stop Taxing Periods. Period.’ The campaign, a global movement aiming to make menstrual products exempt from VAT.