For the first time, women hold all of a country’s top political roles after Trinidad & Tobago elections

For the first time, an entire country’s top political roles are held by women after Trinidad & Tobago’s recent elections​

Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s election victory means that she will become prime minister for the second time since 2010. Pennelope Beckles-Robinson will be sworn in as the opposition leader. Once they are sworn in by President Christine Kangaloo, the Caribbean island will, for the first time in history, have three women occupying the top constitutional offices simultaneously, making it the first country in modern history to have all top political positions filled by women.

Brazilian judge orders seizure of illegally cleared lands in the Amazon

Justice Flávio Dino of the Brazilian Supreme Court has directed the government to seize private lands where forests have been illegally razed. By one estimate, more than half of the forest lost in the Brazilian Amazon has been on private lands. The ruling also calls for halting the process known as regularization, by which land grabbers are granted title to stolen lands, even when they have illegally destroyed forest on those lands. The decision, which may be appealed, further requires the government to seek compensation from landowners who have destroyed forest.

Australia sees nearly 40% decline in plastic pollution along major city coastlines since 2013

A new study suggests that Australia has effectively implemented plastic pollution policies, including container deposit schemes and bans on single-use plastics. The study, based on 1,907 surveys conducted across six metropolitan regions, suggests that such policies, combined with local clean-up campaigns and public education, are reducing the volume of plastic entering the environment. Australia has pledged to phase out problematic and unnecessary plastics by 2025 and recycle or reuse all of its plastic waste by 2040.

​Psilocybe fungi are an effective treatment for repeated concussions, new study suggests

A new study from Boston's Northeastern University has found that "magic mushrooms" could be an effective treatment for concussions because of their brain-healing properties. Rats given the medicinal fungi post-head injury showed reduced edema and “dramatic hyperconnectivity” in parts of the brain that are pathways for dopamine. The researchers said that the hyperconnected dopaminergic pathways could indicate neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to reorganize itself in response to injury.

Paris residents vote to make 500 more streets pedestrian

Parisians voted to pedestrianize a further 500 of the city's streets, giving fresh momentum to efforts by the French capital's left-leaning town hall to curb car usage and improve air quality. The referendum will eliminate 10,000 more parking spots in Paris, adding to the 10,000 removed since 2020. The 500 additional streets to be pedestrianized will bring the total number of these so-called "green lungs" to nearly 700, just over one-tenth of the capital's streets.

​Kubaba of Sumeria becomes humanity’s first female ruler (~2500 B.C.E.)

The Sumerian King List is unsurprisingly filled with the names of men: Alulim, Hadanish, Zizi, and many others. But alongside its male monarchs, the world’s first known civilization also produced a woman who is often considered the first female monarch: Kubaba, who brewed and sold beer in the ancient city of Kish in Mesopotamia. However, some scholars question Kubaba's historicity, and it is quite possible that there were earlier female rulers we have no record of.

More than one-third of the world’s nations are led by female heads of state for the first time in history (2039 C.E.)

For the first time ever, more than 50 nations worldwide are led by female heads of state simultaneously. This inspires and empowers women and girls around the world to dream big and step up into leadership roles and other roles usually not encouraged for them. As a result, the broader global community reaps the benefits of female leadership, running more effectively and equitably, and cultivating heightened empathy, collaboration, and creativity.

Offer flexible funding directly to feminist activists

From Global Fund for Women: Women, girls, and historically marginalized people are creating revolutionary change in their communities. They are overcoming incredible challenges to ensure equal opportunity for people of all genders. We fuel movements to end civil wars, advance women's rights, and secure laws giving new protection to millions of people. Donate.​

This week’s calendar

GET S*** DONE Work Group​ every weekday, 10:45am-12pm PT (online)
Bellingham Men’s Circle​ on Monday, May 5, 6-8pm PT (in-person)

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