Zahra Ayubi, Dartmouth College | – As a scholar of Islamic ethics, I’m often asked, “What does Islam say about abortion?” – a question that has become even more salient since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed 50 years of constitutional protection for the right to get an abortion in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health […]
From caravans to markets, the hajj Pilgrimage has always included a commercial Component
By Noorzehra Zaidi, University of Maryland, Baltimore County | – In early June 2022, Saudi Arabia announced a hajj “lottery” for Western pilgrims that made it mandatory for people from Europe, the Americas and Australia to apply for visas through a random draw through the Saudi government-backed website. This new website also offered customized and […]
Abortion decision cherry-picks history – when the US Constitution was ratified, women had much more autonomy over abortion decisions than during 19th century
Maurizio Valsania, Università di Torino | – Justice Samuel Alito appears spellbound by the 19th century. In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the decision Alito wrote overruling 50 years of constitutional protection for women’s right to get an abortion, he deploys arguments that are based on several historical precedents. He uses the phrase “history […]
What are bail funds? Two social policy experts explain
By Cynthia A. Golembeski, The New School; and Matthew Bakko, University of Michigan | When someone charged with a crime is eligible for release but cannot afford cash bail, they typically will remain in jail until they are sentenced or released – unless someone makes a payment on their behalf. One option is to enlist […]
As Biden sends more Troops to Eastern Europe, how do US Commitments now Compare to those of the Cold War?
By Christoph Bluth, University of Bradford | – (The Conversation) – US president Joe Biden is beefing up the US military presence in eastern Europe as a reaction to the Ukraine war. Biden plans to redeploy troops from Germany to Poland and Romania and send more destroyers to strengthen Nato’s naval presence on its southern […]
Why MCU’s Ms. Marvel matters so much to Muslim, South Asian Fans
By Safiyya Hosein, Toronto Metropolitan University | – (The Conversation) – The Disney+ TV show featuring Ms. Marvel, also known as Kamala Khan — the first Muslim superheroine of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), launched June 8 — and the internet has been alight with discussions about the lovable titular character. The comic book series, […]
The clean energy revolution isn’t just a techno-fix– it’s about capturing hearts and minds
By Bjorn Sturmberg, Australian National University; Hedda Ransan-Cooper, Australian National University; Johannes Hendriks, Australian National University; Pierrick Chalaye, Australian National University | – The Black Summer bushfires devastated parts of the Eurobodalla region in New South Wales. Then earlier this year, the area was hit by floods. As climate change threatens to bring more severe […]
Climate Crisis: even temporarily overshooting an Extra 3.6°F (2°C) would cause permanent Damage to Earth’s Species
By Joanne Bentley, University of Cape Town; Alex Pigot, UCL; Andreas L. S. Meyer, University of Cape Town, and Christopher Trisos, University of Cape Town | – The history of climate change is one of people slowly coming to terms with the truth. None but a small minority still question whether it’s real and caused […]
The Supreme Court has curtailed EPA’s power to regulate Carbon Pollution – and sent a Warning to other Regulators
By Patrick Parenteau, Vermont Law School | – In a highly anticipated but not unexpected 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled on June 30, 2022, that the Obama adminstration’s Clean Power Plan exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s authority under the Clean Air Act. The ruling doesn’t take away the EPA’s power to regulate carbon […]