What Happened After Poland Banned Abortions?

In a 5-4 decision published late last month, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, holding that pregnant people in the U.S. no longer have a constitutional right to an abortion. In the short time since this historic ruling, Americans have wondered how this may impact the U.S.'s surprisingly abysmal maternal healthcare system. On their website for the U.S., Every Mother Counts notes that "today, a woman is twice as likely to die from complications of pregnancy and birth than her mother was a generation ago." We do not have to look to past generations to see what may occur in the U.S. in the absence of Roe's protections. Instead, we can look at Poland today to see what has happened in the year since the country banned abortions in nearly all circumstances.

HRHPixie CarlisleJuly 8, 2022Poland, Poland Government, Abortion, Women's Rights, LGBTQ+

Refugees in the UK Face an Uncertain Future

In an unexpected move this week, the United Kingdom (UK) was granted permission by a High Court in London to send any asylum seekers to Rwanda. The UK government claims this new process will deter human traffickers and stop migrants from making dangerous treks to the UK. Some human rights groups believe the UK's new policy violates the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, which hinges on the principle of non-refoulement. What is non-refoulement, and how is the United Nations responding to the UK's decision?

7053, HRHPixie CarlisleJune 10, 2022Refugees, Asylum Seekers, United Kingdom, UK Government

"America is a Gun"

In an emotional scene in the 2018 horror movie A Quiet Place, Emily Blunt and John Krasinski talk about how to protect their children from the monsters that have descended on their town. In a moment of exasperation, she asks him, "Who are we if we can't protect them?" U.S. politicians should be asking themselves the same question this week. On May 24, before the U.S. could recover from shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Southern California, an 18-year-old man charged into an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and killed 21 people, primarily children. The surviving children's accounts have been harrowing. Countries like New Zealand and Scotland have proven that we can protect children from gun violence. So, who are we if we continue to choose not to?

7053, HRHPixie CarlisleMay 27, 2022Gun Violence, U.S. Government

Who is Buying Mobile Homes & Evicting Residents?

With help from the U.S. government, investment firms are buying mobile home parks at an alarming rate. They often raise rents on the home or increase the cost of the land on which the home is located. People who cannot afford the new fees are evicted and may not have other affordable options. Housing advocates are deeply concerned about this trend. How can we spread the word?

HRHPixie CarlisleApril 22, 2022Low Wealth Communities, Homelessness

Remembering Rwanda

As grim footage from Bucha, Ukraine was revealed by U.S. news outlets, the world was reminded that this week was also the start of the horrific genocide in Rwanda 28 years ago. On April 7, 1994, Hutu extremists in Rwanda started a campaign of terror, killing Tutsis (an ethnic minority) and their political opponents. Tensions had been building for months, but the world largely ignored the obvious signs of impending disaster. What lessons can we apply now to prevent future atrocities?

HRHPixie CarlisleApril 8, 2022Bold and Bookish, Rwanda, Africa, Genocide

Angelina Jolie's Hope for Yemen

HRHPhoenix RicksMarch 12, 2022Yemen, Human Rights, Children's Rights, War