The Intersection of Gender, Culture and Education: Jamaica: The Next 50 Years!

“The internet is a tool. Social media is a tool. At the end of the day, tools don’t control us. We control them. And we can remake them. It’s up to each of us to decide what we value and then use the tools we’ve been given to advance those values,”- Barack Obama. A significant number of the population stays far away from social media. However, such is the power and influence of social media that one does not necessarily have to be an account holder to feel its impact. Undoubtedly, we live in an era of social media. In fact, the proliferation of social media makes it difficult for many of us to keep abreast. Regardless, of our position on social media, it is clear it is here to stay. Social media refers to the means of interactions among people in which they create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. Social media has enormous traction globally. Additionally, mobile applications make these platforms easily accessible. World Social Media

"Physical inactivity is a silent threat to global health, contributing significantly to the burden of chronic diseases,”- Dr Rüdiger Krech, Director of Health Promotion at WHO. A recent study by researchers from World Health Organization (WHO) together with academic colleagues and published in The Lancet Global Health journal found that nearly one third (31%) of the world’s adult population, 1.8 billion adults, are physically inactive. That is, they do not meet the global recommendations of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. Alarmingly, this is an increase of 5 percentage points between 2010 and 2022. The WHO says if this trend continues, the proportion of adults not meeting recommended levels of physical activity is projected to rise to 35% by 2030. Shockingly, the global estimate of the cost of physical inactivity to public health care systems between 2020 and 2030 is about US$ 300 billion (approximately US$ 27 billion per year) if levels of p

We must all do everything possible to ensure women are at the table, our voices heard and our contributions valued.”- UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed. Historically, diplomacy has been the preserve of men. Nevertheless, it is time to recognize and celebrate the numerous ways in which women are breaking barriers and making a difference in the field of diplomacy. As of 2014, 143 countries guaranteed equality between men and women in their constitutions. Unfortunately, another 52 countries have yet to make this important commitment. Undoubtedly, advocating for increased representation of women in key decision-making positions will greatly shape and implement multilateral agendas. It is for this reason that the international community commemorates the International Day for Women in Diplomacy on June 24. The day is set aside to recognize and celebrate the ways in which women are dismantling barriers and influencing decisions in the field of diplomacy. This year’s theme is Women

The Mayo Clinic states that sickle cell anemia is one of a group of inherited disorders known as sickle cell disease. It affects the shape of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Red blood cells are usually round and flexible, so they move easily through blood vessels. In sickle cell anemia, some red blood cells are shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These sickle cells also become rigid and sticky, which can slow or block blood flow. World Sickle Cell Day is an international awareness day observed annually on June 19th. The day is set aside to alert the global public about sickle cell disease. The theme for this year's observance is "Hope Through Progress: Advancing Sickle Cell Care Globally." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 100,0000 people in the United States of America have sickle cell, and it’s more common among Black people about 1 in every 365 Black newborns in the U.S. have it. The Sickle Cell Unit (S

“What I've realized is that life doesn't count for much unless you're willing to do your small part to leave our children all of our children a better world. Any fool can have a child. That doesn't make you a father. It's the courage to raise a child that makes you a father.”- Barack Obama. Fatherhood, especially black fatherhood oftentimes is not as celebrated as it should. As a result we continue to hear of the arguments surrounding my mother who fathered me. There are specific roles concerning the sexes and frankly speaking mothers cannot father children, likewise fathers cannot mother children. Indeed as a society we need to move the discussion away from these examples of oxymoron. This flawed premise has been around so long and unfortunately has become normalized in many societies. However, the time has come for us to have a serious and honest discussion as this argument must be interrogated and replaced with a sense of responsibility. In fact, there is one m

“The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.”- Mahatma Gandhi. Aging can be a frightening experience. The reality is many of us are unprepared for this phase of our lives. There are both physiological and mental challenges associated with aging. In some instances some older persons require institutional care. This situation can also be quite stressful for older persons given that they are forced to leave the comfort and familiarity of their homes as well as loved ones. Sadly, we live in a society where we no longer respect our elders. Many older persons are viewed as invisible and useless and as such are discriminated against. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the abuse of older people, also known as elder abuse, is a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person. This type of violence constit

Each year on June 14th World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is celebrated. The day is set aside to raise awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products to save lives. This year, the World Blood Donor Day slogan is 20 years of celebrating giving: thank you, blood donors! It commemorates the 20th anniversary of World Blood Donor Day and the profound impact of blood donation on the lives of patients and donors. The campaign serves as an opportunity to express gratitude to blood, plasma, and platelet donors in the world for their lifesaving donations. Moreover, it calls for action, motivating more individuals to join the global movement of blood donation. Many of us have had firsthand experiences regarding the need for blood. Perhaps it was a medical/surgical procedure, or an accident. Blood is critical to our survival. The need for blood is universal, but access to blood is not. In many countries, blood services face the challenge of making sufficient blood available while also ens

“The Cold War is over but Cold War thinking survives.”- Joseph Rotblat. Timing is everything. Russia has sent warships to Cuba in the past and the two nations are long-standing allies but the timing of this latest exercise has sent ripples all the way to Washington. The arrival of the Russian warships comes amid growing tensions over Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The operation is being interpreted by some as sabre-rattling by Moscow. This current scenario has many elements of the Cold War era. To say there is a deep sense of distrust between Washington and Moscow would be an understatement. This sense of misgiving between both countries has worsened since Russia invaded Ukraine. The subsequent fallout from the current war has the world on edge especially those North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members’ countries across Europe. A fleet of Russian warships arrived in Cuban waters ahead of planned military exercises in the Caribbean that some see as a pro

“The only way to end child labour is to ensure that all children have access to education and opportunities.” - ILO Director-General (International Labour Organization). Throughout the world, around 218 million children work, many full-time. They do not go to school and have little or no time to play. Many do not receive proper nutrition or care. They are denied the chance to be children. More than half of them are exposed to the worst forms of child labour such as work in hazardous environments, slavery, or other forms of forced labour, illicit activities including drug trafficking and prostitution, as well as involvement in armed conflict. However, not all work done by children should be classified as child labour. Children’s or adolescents’ participation in work that does not affect their health and personal development or interfere with their schooling is generally regarded as being something positive. This includes activities such as helping their parents around the home, assisti

“Play is fundamentally important for learning 21st century skills, such as problem solving, collaboration, and creativity.”- American Academy of Pediatrics. Many children no longer play. In fact, many of us as adults especially those of Afro-Caribbean ancestry tend to undervalue the impact and significance of play concerning our children. Oftentimes, we tell our children to go and 'take up' their books. However, playtime is important. The United Nations indicates that over 390 million children and adolescents aged 5–19 years were overweight in 2022. The prevalence of overweight (including obesity) among children and adolescents aged 5–19 has risen dramatically from just 8% in 1990 to 20% in 2022. The rise has occurred similarly among both boys and girls: in 2022 19% of girls and 21% of boys were overweight. Global obesity has become a public health concern and this is rather concerning. In fact, in some jurisdictions, physical education is not done and students go through an

“We are what we eat not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.”- Derek Rydall. How your food is grown or raised can have a major impact on your mental and emotional health as well as the environment. In 2022, the US fast food industry boasted remarkable revenue of $331.41 billion. Amazingly, the fast food industry has pulled in more than a quarter of a trillion dollars per year! This industry has steadily grown at an impressive rate of about 1.1% for decades. Many of us do not take our nutrition seriously. For the most part to eat a balanced and healthy meal is quite costly. This is especially so for those with families who might be earning minimum wage. The food industry is a multi billion industry. The global fast food market is projected to grow from USD 972.74 billion in 2021 to USD 1,467.04 billion by 2028. Since its founding, McDonalds has grown to over 38,000 restaurants globally that serve close to 68 million customers in 118 countries per day. That represents

“The environment is where we all meet; where all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.”- Lady Bird Johnson. The build up to World Environment Day has been lukewarm to say the least. Not much attention is paid to matters concerning the environment. Unfortunately, we often take the environment for granted. This narrative must be changed. The United Nations (UN) comments that the world is on the brink of a climate catastrophe and current actions and plans to address the crisis are insufficient. Without transformative action starting now and within this decade to reduce greenhouse gas emissions deeply and rapidly in all sectors, the 1.5°C target will be at risk and with it the lives of more than 3 billion people. The UN adds that failure to act leads to intensifying heat waves, droughts, flooding, wildfires, sea-level rise, and famines. Regrettably, this year alone has seen devastating floods in Brazil, Indonesia, Kenya, Tanzania, China, Dubai, Oman, Bahrain, and Qa