Search

Placeholder Content Image

Flight attendant reveals why you should never use the toilet paper on a plane

<p dir="ltr">A flight attendant has revealed the gross reason why you should never use the toilet paper on a plane journey. </p> <p dir="ltr">The seasoned cabin crew member, an American woman named Cheryl, shared the three things she would never do on a plane after seeing what really goes on behind closed doors on an aircraft. </p> <p dir="ltr">Her first tip for any traveller was not to use the toilet paper in a plane bathroom. </p> <p dir="ltr">Sharing her tips in a TikTok video, she wrote, "If you examine the toilet paper, I promise you're going to see water droplets on it, or what you think are water droplets."</p> <p dir="ltr">"I don't think we can trust most men to make it in the toilet on a normal day, let alone flying at 36,000 feet with turbulence."</p> <p dir="ltr">To combat this, the flight attendant recommends bringing a travel pack of tissues in your hand luggage to use instead. </p> <p dir="ltr">She also warned her viewers against wearing shorts on their next flight.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I would never wear shorts on a plane. You're going to freeze to death," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Cheryl pointed out another valid reason to opt for long pants on a flight, stating, "Say we have an evacuation. You have to go down the slide. Your butt cheeks are going to be sizzled off.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Lastly, Cheryl urged travellers to never book less than a three-hour connection between flights.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Delays can happen for a million and one reasons. The likelihood that you're going to miss your connection is pretty high if you're booking shorter than three hours," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Tips

Placeholder Content Image

This bathroom item is dirtier than your toilet seat, according to a microbiologist

<p><strong>Bathrooms and germs </strong></p> <p>Bathrooms are filthy – there’s just no way around it. They’re home to toilets, sinks and showers and tend to be one of the dirtiest places in the home, no matter how often they’re on your cleaning schedule. And because the toilet seat plays host to your derrière, it’s easy to label this as the germiest spot in the bathroom. But research is disproving that notion.</p> <p>Overall, the hard surfaces – such as the toilet seat and floor – are scrubbed down often because they’re the first lines on your bathroom cleaning checklist. And many people focus on cleaning the toilet because nothing screams dirty like a line of biofilm in the toilet bowl. But what about other bathroom-specific items? Dr Charles Gerba, a microbiology professor at the University of Arizona, says that it’s the fabrics in our bathroom that deserve the most attention. Yes, your bathmat is actually dirtier than your toilet seat, followed by towels, including those facecloths (which is why you need to wash your towels often). Here’s what you need to know.</p> <p><strong>Are bathmats really that dirty?</strong></p> <p>“We’ve done a lot of research on the microbiology of homes and, more recently, the bathroom,” says Gerba. The bathmat is problematic for two reasons, he says. First, it gets wet when you’re getting out of the shower, and it stays wet and moist, often in a dark and damp room.</p> <p>The second issue is that many people wear shoes in the bathroom, a huge contributing factor to the dirt, grime and bacteria found on bathmats. “Almost 90% of all shoes have faecal bacteria on them,” Gerba says. “You’re walking in dog poop all the time, and you don’t know it.”</p> <p>Beyond tracking shoes throughout the house and across bathmats, Gerba also pointed out the potential of spray from the toilet to land on bathmats. The Ecological Fluid Dynamics Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder experimented to see how far water droplets were ejected into the air when flushing public restroom toilets. The airborne particles shoot out quickly, reaching as much as 1.5 metres above the toilet within 8 seconds. The droplets were unpredictable and landed on the walls around the toilet, including behind it, and also on the ceiling. Which means that depending on the proximity, spray from a toilet can easily touch down on a plush bathmat.</p> <p>But while some research might suggest closing the toilet seat cover at home before flushing, not everyone agrees with that solution. “When you close the lid, the spray then goes over the top of the toilet seat and hits the walls on the side because you’ve narrowed the opening, which makes the water shoot out at a higher speed,” Gerba says, adding that closing the lid also leads to the toilet seat and underside of the lid getting more contaminated.</p> <p><strong>How to prevent dirty bathmats</strong></p> <p>Whether or not you close the toilet seat, one thing is certain: Keeping your bathmat as dry as possible is important. One of the factors that make bathmats the dirtiest spot in the bathroom is that they sometimes stay damp for hours, depending on how humid your environment is, how many people are showering and how much water splashes on them. Drying off in the shower will keep your bathmat from getting soggy. You can also hang it to dry instead of leaving it on the floor, where it will stay wet longer.</p> <p>Another tip: If you don’t remove your shoes when entering your house, at least take them off before going into the bathroom (and clean your floors often). That way, you’re not tracking outside germs onto a bathmat where they can quickly and easily multiply. “When you get out of the shower, it’s moist,” Gerba says. “Any time we have a fabric, it absorbs water, and things like faecal bacteria will survive longer there than on hard surfaces.”</p> <p><strong>How to wash your bathmat</strong></p> <p>The hard surfaces in bathrooms are satisfying to spray and wipe down, which Gerba recommends doing every few days. But what about bathmats? You should wash your bathmat at least once a week, and not just to keep it fresh and fluffy, but importantly, to remove bacteria.</p> <p>The first step to washing bathmats is to check the care label and follow the instructions on the tag, including which temperature is best for the fabric. Most bathmats can be machine-washed, but be careful with rubber-backed bathmats, which shouldn’t be dried on high heat. In general, quick-drying fabrics, such as microfibre and chenille, can be good options because they dry fast and are easy to launder. Something you can easily wash twice per week is the healthiest option.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/this-bathroom-item-is-dirtier-than-your-toilet-seat-according-to-a-microbiologist" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

Home & Garden

Placeholder Content Image

Why are people putting toilet paper in the fridge?

<p>Recently, people on social media have been advising you to replace that box of bi-carbonate of soda (baking soda) in the back of your fridge with a roll of toilet paper.</p> <p>Does this weird trick work? We asked kitchen and appliance experts to see what the pros had to say!</p> <h4>Why put toilet paper in the fridge?</h4> <p>Ruiz Asri, editor of Honest Food Talks, says toilet paper’s absorbency is behind this hack. “Moisture in the refrigerator often contributes to mildew and unpleasant odour,” Asri says. The toilet paper absorbs excess moisture, along with foul smells. References to toilet paper in the fridge can be found as far back as 2015. But its dedicated use of it as an odour absorber seems to be more recent, with videos appearing on TikTok and Facebook.</p> <p><strong>Does it work?</strong></p> <p>Yes, to a point. While TP will absorb odours, other options are more efficient, take up less space and generate fewer odd looks from houseguests. Amy, from the parenting blog Amy &amp; Rose, has tried the TP technique. She had some fishy smells in the fridge, and her daughter suggested that she try the toilet paper hack. So did it work?</p> <p>“In my experience, somewhat,” she says. But here’s the catch: It’s just a temporary fix.</p> <h4>Alternative fridge odour busters</h4> <p>So if you want something longer lasting that takes up less space, read on for some alternate odour-fighting strategies.</p> <p><strong>Bi-carbonate of soda</strong></p> <p>Bi-carbonate of soda (also known as bi-carb and baking soda) is the go-to solution for many households. It caught on in the 1970s, when one manufacturer promoted it as an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical cleaning. By 1994, a US newspaper reported “more refrigerators are likely to have bi-carb than working light bulbs.”</p> <p>Bi-carb is a base material, which means it neutralises acids. Because most odours are acidic, it can cut off the smell at the source. (Side note: After deodorising a fridge with bi-carb, don’t use the contents of that box for baking. Cooking can reactivate those acids and contaminate your cake.) As the bi-carb interacts with more acids, it becomes less effective. Most people will need to replace it every three months.</p> <p><strong>Black cumin seed oil</strong></p> <p>Corinne Segura, a building biologist practitioner and founder of My Chemical-Free House, has first-hand experience with fridge odours. “When food went bad in my fridge, it left a lingering foul odour,” she says. “I used black cumin seed oil, which has a deodorising effect, to clean up the smell.”</p> <p>Segura credits this to the essential oil’s ability to deodorise methyl mercaptan, a chemical that produces a rotten scent. “I mixed five drops of black cumin essential oil with 1 tablespoon of dish soap and applied it in a thick layer to all the plastic components inside the fridge,” she says. “I let it sit for two hours before washing it off. This worked well to get rid of foul odours in the fridge.”</p> <p><strong>Activated charcoal </strong></p> <p>Activated charcoal captures the particles that cause bad smells, just like toilet paper. It’s available as a powder, in pre-cut filters or as fabric you can cut to size. It functions by collecting the volatile compounds given off by smelly items, reducing odour. Swap out the charcoal every month or so to keep it effective.</p> <p><strong>Vanilla extract</strong></p> <p>For those who prefer a more pleasant scent, especially around their food, Asri offers a particularly sweet recommendation. “Soak a cotton wool ball in vanilla extract and place it in the refrigerator,” he says. “This combats bad odours and leaves your fridge smelling like a bakery.”</p> <p><strong>Crumpled newspaper and charcoal </strong></p> <p>If you want a deep-clean on your fridge or freezer at minimal expense, go with one paper product that’s even cheaper than toilet paper. Fill up a particularly stinky fridge with crushed charcoal and crumpled newspaper (you can buy unprinted newsprint paper).</p> <p>You’ll need to replace the newspaper every day for about a week, but it’s a low-cost way to deal with a foul-smelling situation.</p> <h4>UV light purifier</h4> <p>If you gravitate towards high-tech solutions, consider a fridge with a UV light filter. “Ultraviolet light can destroy bacteria, mould and other pathogens,” says Alexander Hill, a sales rep for UK-based Appliance Depot. “Some fridge purifiers use UV light to sanitise the air and surfaces inside the fridge, thus reducing the source of many odours.”</p> <p>Take that, toilet paper.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/food-home-garden/diy-tips/why-are-people-putting-toilet-paper-in-the-fridge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

Home & Garden

Placeholder Content Image

Celine Dion's first public appearance in years since cruel diagnosis

<p>Celine Dion, the iconic Canadian singer, has recently made a triumphant return to the public eye after a few years of battling a rare neurological disorder called Stiff Person Syndrome. This inspiring comeback took place as she attended a hockey game in Las Vegas, watching the match between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Montreal Canadiens alongside her sons, René-Charles, and twins, Eddy and Nelson.</p> <p>After the thrilling game, Dion made her way to the locker room, and her visit was captured in images and a reel shared by the Montreal Canadiens, the team she came to support.</p> <p>In the clip, the embattled singer appeared to be in high spirits as she interacted with players and coaches, expressing her delight at meeting them all.</p> <p>The Montreal Canadiens shared their excitement on social media in what was a heartwarming moment for both Dion and her fans – especially getting to witness her enthusiasm and resilience.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzFTVOwLPUP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzFTVOwLPUP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Canadiens de Montréal (@canadiensmtl)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Stiff Person Syndrome is an extremely rare neurological disorder that primarily affects the nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, this condition manifests in symptoms such as extreme muscle stiffness, rigidity, and painful spasms in the trunk and limbs, significantly impeding mobility.</p> <p>Dion's battle with Stiff Person Syndrome forced her to postpone some tour dates, as the disorder was affecting her ability to sing the way she was accustomed to. In a video clip shared on social media, she addressed her fans and revealed her determination to overcome the challenges posed by this condition.</p> <p>"I'm working hard with my sports medicine therapist every day to build back my strength and my ability to perform again," she shared. "But I have to admit it's been a struggle." Dion's candour about her struggles and her unwavering commitment to her recovery have earned her even more admiration from her fans.</p> <p>Celine Dion's journey with Stiff Person Syndrome has been a testament to her strength and resilience. She has shown that even in the face of a rare and debilitating condition, she refuses to be defeated. Her determination to regain her ability to perform is a source of inspiration to all who face adversity in their lives.</p> <p>It's worth noting that Celine Dion has faced significant personal challenges in the past, most notably the loss of her husband, René Angélil, in 2016 to throat cancer. Despite these difficulties, she has continued to be a shining star in the world of music. Her return to the public eye, following her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome, is a testament to her enduring spirit and the deep connection she has with her fans.</p> <p>As Celine Dion makes her way back into the spotlight, her fans around the world eagerly await her return to the stage, where her powerful voice and indomitable spirit will undoubtedly continue to inspire and uplift us all. Her story serves as a reminder that with determination and a strong support system, even the most formidable challenges can be overcome.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Placeholder Content Image

Body language expert analyses Hugh Jackman's last public outings with his wife

<p>A body language expert has analysed the last public outings of Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness before they <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/hugh-jackman-devastated-after-marriage-split" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced their split</a> after 27 years of marriage. </p> <p>The couple were spotted at both the Met Gala in New York and Wimbledon in the UK earlier this year, seemingly looking like a perfect loved-up couple. </p> <p>However, Aussie body language expert Louise Mahler said there could be more than meets the eye at their public outings. </p> <p>“These are two people so well rehearsed at being with each other. They lean in together, they move in unison,” Mahler told <a href="https://7news.com.au/entertainment" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline"><em>7Life</em>.</a></p> <p>Assessing footage from their joint appearance at the Met Gala in May 2023, Mahler noticed that “at one point in the video Hugh goes to walk away and she briefly pulls him back and he stops with no hesitation”.</p> <p>“There is no giveaway whatsoever... and remember, they are both actors."</p> <p>“They are working as a team and showing total harmony.”</p> <p>However, Mahler went on to assess a specific moment from the Met Gala where the couple were gazing at one another head-on.</p> <p>“I’m going to speculate that he has left her because he’s looking at her quickly,” she said.</p> <p>“He still loves her but he’s moving on."</p> <p>“And what I see from her is, ‘I get that you’re moving on, you b******, but I will allow this’,” Mahler speculated about Furness’ body language.</p> <p>Two months after their Met Gala appearance, the couple attended Wimbledon to sit side by side and watch the game. </p> <p>Mahler acknowledged that they looked “a little cranky” but said that they were concentrated on the game and likely had cameras on them “for a long time”.</p> <p>“I don’t see that they’re pulling away from each other in any way,” she said.</p> <p>“In fact, their arms are touching the full length. This is a couple who have been together for 30 years, they know each other. I would say they still love each other, but they’re deciding to go their separate ways.”</p> <p>The Hollywood couple shocked the world on Saturday when they released a statement confirming their separation after being married for 27 years.</p> <p>“We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,” Jackman and Furness told <em><a href="https://people.com/hugh-jackman-and-deborra-lee-jackman-separate-exclusive-7970286" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">People</a></em>.</p> <p>“Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Relationships

Placeholder Content Image

“It’s the court of public opinion”: Sarah Ferguson condemns Phillip Schofield backlash

<p dir="ltr">Sarah Ferguson has spoken out against the wave of judgement directed at former This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield and the relationship scandal that swept the world. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 63-year-old Duchess of York was chatting to businesswoman Sarah Jane Thomson on her podcast, <em>Tea Talks</em>, when conversation turned to Schofield, and his controversial affair with a man - and co-worker - 30 years younger than him. </p> <p dir="ltr">When news of the affair broke, Schofield stepped down from his 20 year position as the face of This Morning. He later confessed to the Daily Mail that he had lied about the relationship, and <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/i-will-die-sorry-phillip-schofield-breaks-his-silence-on-his-career-ending-affair">informed <em>The Sun </em>that he was “not a groomer”</a>, despite public opinion.</p> <p dir="ltr">Criticism for the disgraced host flooded social media in the wake of the whole ordeal, with the story and its related rumours splashed across publications worldwide, and it was the backlash that Ferguson wanted to address, namely the idea of ‘cancel culture’ at the centre of it all. </p> <p dir="ltr">Thomson prompted the discussion by comparing social media’s take to a “huge game of Chinese whispers”, to which Ferguson responded that “it’s like the court of public opinion.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“And then [that can lead to] massive bullying to the point of extermination of a soul,” she added. “I don’t believe that anybody has that right to judge and exterminate a person’s own beliefs.”</p> <p dir="ltr">From there, Ferguson encouraged listeners not to leap to assumptions, as “we all have failings”. She asked that everyone instead take a moment “or make a cup of tea before you judge another human being without knowing all the facts”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We don’t know the facts,” she pointed out. “We certainly don’t know what people get up to.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Thomson had her own thoughts to share on the matter, noting that “the problem is, when you’re in the public eye, any failing you make is there to be talked about, and the rest of us don’t have that. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We don't have that deep examining of where we've gone wrong, and then it's reflected over and over and over.”</p> <p dir="ltr">And while the two had made their point, Ferguson took a moment to discuss a - in her opinion “spot on” - article by Jeremy Clarkson for the<em> Sunday Times</em>, in which he wrote about the public’s race to condemn Schofield.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve never seen a witch-hunt like it,” he said, “and what baffles me most of all is that, as things stand, no crime has been committed. I don’t know him at all well and have no skin in the game, but it seems to me he is only guilty of being what he said he was: gay.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In the article, Clarkson went on to note that the age gap between Schofield and his partner in the affair was receiving a different degree of attention to heterosexual stars in similar relationship situations - from the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, who frequently dates women significantly younger than himself, and Al Pacino’s 54-year age gap with his pregnant partner.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Phil is no longer the genial host of some morning-time televisual cappuccino froth,” Clarkson surmised. “According to the people's court of social media, he's like his brother, a nonce.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Relationships

Placeholder Content Image

“I like looking in the mirror”: Justine Bateman on ageing in the public eye

<p> Justine Bateman has gotten candid while discussing the reality of ageing in the public eye, and her experience with negative opinion on her surgery-free complexion. </p> <p>The actress turned director - and sister of actor Jason Bateman - was chatting to <em>60 Minutes</em> when she confessed she didn’t know anyone was that interested in her looks until she happened to be googling herself for her book and encountered a popular autofill suggestion. </p> <p>“I needed to google something, and I googled my name Justine Bateman, and an autocomplete came up which said ‘looks old’,” she explained, before adding that it’d taken her aback. </p> <p>After browsing the pictures that the search provided - those Justine believed the internet considered “evidence” - she couldn’t see what it was that they were talking about. Her face was a natural face, not an ‘old’ one. </p> <p>And Justine had one very clear message for anyone who had any different to say - to her, or to anyone else embracing the ageing process - when she said, “I just don’t give a sh*t. I think I look rad, I think my face represents who I am, and I like it.”</p> <p>That isn’t to say Justine has never considered what cosmetic intervention may do for her, with the 57-year-old admitting that she has wondered how she might look - though she’s never followed up on it, too happy with how she’s evolving to risk losing any part of herself. </p> <p>“You can certainly look in the mirror and you can go ‘oh, well, if I just had like a lower face lift, I would get rid of this skin that catches the light, and then I could have that operation where you go in to the eyelid - or you know - take some of the skin out, and this that’s hanging over now over the eyelid, you can get that removed’. Sure, you can do all of that,” she explained. </p> <p>“But even then I would just be like ‘okay, so now I look like this’, and then I would erase … I feel like I would erase not only all my authority that I have now, but also I like feeling that I’m a different person now, than I was when I was 20.</p> <p>“I like looking in the mirror and seeing that evidence.”</p> <p>Many took the opportunity to thank Justine for her words, and her stance during the interview, with some even opening up about their own experiences while commenting on her social media. </p> <p>“It was a powerful share. Ageing in a culture of anti-aging isn’t particularly easy, but it’s heartening to hear from other women who recognise that our worth is not determined by our appearance,” said one. “We’re objectified in our teens and twenties, only to be discarded by society by the time we reach our forties for the ‘crime’ of ageing. Aka staying alive. It’s patriarchal BS and we deserve better. Thank you for your voice.”</p> <p>“Thank you Justine. I just wish your interview segments were longer,” wrote another. “I appreciate you so much for speaking out about this issue and know you will be helping so many women navigate all of the distractions. So much oppressive ageism [is] wrapped up in teaching women to hate and fix their ageing bodies.”</p> <p>“Those lines, wrinkles and grey hairs are details to a rich and storied existence,” someone else declared, “wear them like badges of honour.”</p> <p>And as Justine herself put it, “forget about your face! That is what I’m saying. Get rid of the fear that your face being wrinkled is going to ruin a bunch of opportunities for you.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram, Getty, Vimeo, 60 Minutes</em></p>

Beauty & Style

Placeholder Content Image

How on-demand buses can transform travel and daily life for people with disabilities

<p>People with disabilities arguably stand to gain the most from good public transport, but are continually excluded by transport systems that still aren’t adapted to their needs as the law requires. <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/ee5ee3c2-152d-4b5f-9901-71d483b47f03/aihw-dis-72.pdf.aspx?inline=true">One in six people</a> aged 15 and over with disability have difficulty using some or all forms of public transport. One in seven are not able to use public transport at all. </p> <p>Under the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2018C00125">Disability Discrimination Act 1992</a>, Australia’s public transport systems were expected to be fully compliant with the 2002 <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/transport-accessibility">Transport Standards</a> by December 31 2022. Not only have many of our bus, train and tram systems <a href="https://www.disabilitysupportguide.com.au/talking-disability/public-transport-remains-inaccessible-as-20-year-targets-are-not-met">failed to meet these targets</a>, but the standards themselves are outdated. The standards are <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/transport-accessibility/2022-review-transport-standards">under review</a> and public consultation has begun.</p> <p>For buses, the standards <a href="https://www.mcw.com.au/why-public-transport-operators-must-review-their-vehicles-in-2022/">largely focus on the vehicles themselves</a>: low-floor buses, wheelchair ramps, priority seating, handrails and enough room to manoeuvre. But just because a vehicle is accessible doesn’t necessarily mean a bus journey is accessible. </p> <p>There are difficulties getting to and from the bus, limited frequency of accessible services, <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17450101.2022.2126794">poor driver training, passenger conflict</a>, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/gusalexiou/2021/02/17/for-disabled-people-inclusive-transportation-is-about-much-more-than-lifts-and-ramps/?sh=322fc9c62b08">travel anxiety</a> and a lack of <a href="https://www.inclusivecitymaker.com/transport-accessibility-intellectual-disability/">planning for diversity</a>. In all these ways, bus travel excludes people with disabilities. </p> <div data-id="17"> </div> <p>Infrastructure alone cannot overcomes these issues. <a href="https://translink.com.au/travel-with-us/on-demand">On-demand transport</a>, which enables users to travel between any two points within a service zone whenever they want, offers potential solutions to some of these issues. It’s already <a href="https://sifted.eu/articles/viavan-on-demand-transport/">operating</a> in <a href="https://ringandride.org/">cities</a><a href="https://www.bcgomi.com/">overseas</a> and is being <a href="https://theconversation.com/1-million-rides-and-counting-on-demand-services-bring-public-transport-to-the-suburbs-132355">trialled in Australia</a>.</p> <h2>Accessible vehicles are just the start</h2> <p>Making vehicles accessible is really only the tip of the iceberg. Focusing only on infrastructure misses two key points: </p> <ol> <li> <p>our public transport journeys begin before we board the service and continue after we’ve left it</p> </li> <li> <p>accessibility means providing people with quality transport experiences, not just access to resources.</p> </li> </ol> <p>Let’s imagine a typical suburban bus journey. It is industry accepted that passengers are <a href="https://australasiantransportresearchforum.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2013_rose_mulley_tsai_hensher.pdf">generally willing to walk about 400 metres</a> to a bus stop. That is based, of course, on the assumption that passengers are able-bodied. Long distances, steep hills, neglected pathways, few kerb cuts and poorly designed bus shelters all hinder individuals with disabilities from getting to the bus in the first place. </p> <p>This issue resurfaced in the 2020 report <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/ee5ee3c2-152d-4b5f-9901-71d483b47f03/aihw-dis-72.pdf.aspx?inline=true">People with Disability in Australia</a>, by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. More than one in four respondents with disabilities said getting “to and from stops” was a major obstacle to using public transport. </p> <p>But other barriers to making services inclusive are even more difficult to see. People with disabilities are forced to plan extensively when to travel, how to travel, who to travel with and what resources they need to complete the journey. Even the best-laid plans involve <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/gusalexiou/2021/02/17/for-disabled-people-inclusive-transportation-is-about-much-more-than-lifts-and-ramps/?sh=322fc9c62b08">added emotional energy or “travel anxiety”</a>.</p> <h2>What solutions are there?</h2> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/1-million-rides-and-counting-on-demand-services-bring-public-transport-to-the-suburbs-132355">On-demand transport</a> offers potential solutions to some of these issues. Its key feature is flexibility: users can travel between any two points within a service zone, whenever they want. </p> <p>This flexibility can be harnessed to design more inclusive bus services. Without a fixed route or timetable, on-demand services can pick up passengers at their home and drop them directly at their destination. This door-to-door service eliminates the stressful journey to and from a bus stop and their destinations. </p> <p>And with services available on demand, users can plan their travel to complement their daily activities instead of the availability of transport dictating their daily activities. </p> <p>The technology behind on-demand transport also helps reduce the need for customers to consistently restate their mobility needs. Once a customer creates a profile, extra boarding and alighting time is automatically applied to all future bookings. This eliminates the exhaustive process of added planning, and enables drivers to deliver a better experience for all of their passengers.</p> <h2>Examples of on-demand services</h2> <p>Cities around the globe are already using on-demand services to overcome transport disadvantage for people with disabilities. </p> <p>BCGo is one such service in Calhoun County, Michigan. A recent yet-to-be-published survey of BCGo users shows 51% of respondents face mobility challenges that affect their ability to travel. </p> <p>Some 30% have “conditions which make it difficult to walk more than 200 feet” (61m). That means the industry’s assumed walkable distance (400m) is 6.5 times the distance that’s realistically possible for many users of the service.</p> <p>Ring &amp; Ride West Midlands is the UK’s largest on-demand project. It operates across seven zones with over 80 vehicles. </p> <p>The service, recently digitised using <a href="https://www.liftango.com/">Liftango</a>’s technology, is designed to provide low-cost, accessible transport. It can be used for commuting, visiting friends, shopping and leisure activities. </p> <p>Ring &amp; Ride serves as an example of how on-demand service can provide sustainable and equitable transport at scale. It’s completing over 12,000 trips per month.</p> <h2>A call to action for Australian governments</h2> <p>Government policy needs to address not only inadequate bus infrastructure, but those invisible barriers that continue to exclude many people from bus travel. We need a cognitive shift to recognise accessibility is about creating quality experiences from door to destination for everyone. </p> <p>This needs to be paired with a willingness to explore solutions like on-demand transport. Transport authorities worldwide are already embracing these solutions. We cannot continue to rely on the community transport sector to absorb the responsibility of providing transport for people with disabilities, particularly as <a href="https://theconversation.com/eight-simple-changes-to-our-neighbourhoods-can-help-us-age-well-83962">our populations age</a>. </p> <p>Now is the time to have your say. The Transport Standards are <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/transport-accessibility/2022-review-transport-standards">open for public consultation</a> until June 2023.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-on-demand-buses-can-transform-travel-and-daily-life-for-people-with-disabilities-199988" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Travel Tips

Placeholder Content Image

"I'm lovin' it": McDonald's face public outcry over unfortunately placed ad

<p>McDonald's has faced the wrath of angry locals in Cornwall, UK, after a poorly placed advertisement was called out for being "tasteless". </p> <p>The advertisement in question was for the fast food franchise's new McCrispy burger, which was placed in a prime position on the side of a bus stop. </p> <p>However, what the company didn't realise was that the sign right next to it pointed to Penmount Crematorium across the road, in an unfortunate yet humorous coincidence.</p> <p>Local media outlet <a href="https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/mcdonalds-remove-tasteless-sign-opposite-8133444" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>CornwallLive</em></a> was the first to report on the poorly placed ad, and asked local residents if they thought the sign should stay or go. </p> <p>"Fell off the chair laughing," one commenter who saw the picture online said. </p> <p>"I'm lovin' it," wrote another, in reference to the popular McDonald's slogan.</p> <p>"I only recently lost 2 loved ones &amp; to be honest if I'd seen that sign near the crematorium I would have smiled. I don't find it offensive at all," said another.</p> <p>"My parents are in this crematorium. My old man had a brilliant sense of humour, so I'm sure he would have chuckled at this!" another added.</p> <p>One concerned local said, "I think how funny it is will probably depend on how long ago you followed the crematorium sign wearing a black tie."</p> <p>One woman, who's mother-in-law was cremated at the crematorium, said, "Although I can see the funny side, it is tasteless and I'm sure some grieving family members won't like to see it when visiting Penmount for the funeral and cremation of a loved one."</p> <p>Cornwall Council, who are in charge of both the crematorium and the bus shelter, have yet to comment on the matter, while McDonald's are taking the concerns about the ad seriously. </p> <p>A spokesperson told <em>CornwallLive</em>, "We were unaware of the road sign in the vicinity of this bus stop. However, in light of the concerns raised by CornwallLive, we have asked for our advertisement to be removed."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Twitter</em></p>

Caring

Placeholder Content Image

Banksy: who should foot the bill to protect his work in public spaces?

<p>When a mural by artist Banksy <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46617742">appeared on a garage wall</a> in Port Talbot, the building’s owner, Ian Lewis, had no idea just <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46771722">how many people</a> would want to get a good look at it. The mural has attracted <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46759349">thousands of visitors</a> and Lewis has been keen to <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46617742">protect it</a>, by employing guards, and building a see-through covering over the work.</p> <p>But should there even be security on a piece of graffiti? After all, <a href="https://hyperallergic.com/38778/occupying-the-walls-graffiti-as-political-protest/">the essence of graffiti</a> is that it is temporary and subject to the possibility of being covered over with the next slogan or image. It has long been one of the means by which people can <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2017/may/17/writing-wall-political-graffiti-banksy-brexit-trump-in-pictures">make their views known</a> in a very public way without official sanction. It is a form of protest that visually takes up public space and asks for no endorsement and often no individual credit.</p> <p>The list of graffiti artists who have gained recognition in the contemporary art world is not a long one. Shepherd Fairey, who <a href="https://www.artic.edu/artworks/229396/barack-obama-hope-poster">designed the Obama “Hope” poster</a>, and <a href="https://www.theartstory.org/artist-basquiat-jean-michel.htm">Jean Michel Basquiat</a> are two of the most well known. Banksy himself has been quoted as saying that he never craved commercial success and that it’s actually <a href="https://www.villagevoice.com/2013/10/09/village-voice-exclusive-an-interview-with-banksy-street-art-cult-hero-international-man-of-mystery/">a mark of failure for a graffiti artist</a>. </p> <p>A lofty sentiment, but whether he wants it or not, the popularity of Banksy’s work is phenomenal. The pared down stencil style coupled with often highly astute political commentary and visual puns is easy to read. It is enough to satisfy even those for whom art should consist of a “proper picture of something”.</p> <p>It also lends itself very well to reproduction and copying. I actually have a mug emblazoned with Banksy style rats sitting on my desk as I write. This is what happens when an iconoclast becomes an icon. What started out as a practice that deliberately subverted the concept of art as an exclusive, costly investment, has now become just as commodified as the latest piece by <a href="https://www.theartstory.org/artist-hirst-damien.htm">Damien Hirst</a>.</p> <h2>Banksy’s bankability</h2> <p>I’m personally on the fence about some of Banksy’s more recent work. I’m completely on board with the political nature of the imagery and most definitely share a lot of his ideological sentiments, but there is a degree to which he is becoming a parody of himself. For example, while it’s easy to appreciate the point he was making with the recently auctioned self-destructing drawing “<a href="https://theconversation.com/banksy-i-was-in-the-room-when-his-painting-shredded-and-enhanced-his-brand-104660">Love is in the Bin</a>”, no one could convince me that he was unaware of the effect that the action would have on his bankability.</p> <p>Given he knows the impact his work can have, was it selfish of Banksy to impose this latest piece on the unsuspecting garage owner? Or was it an act of extreme philanthropy, bestowing on Port Talbot a gift that can be used either to benefit the individual or the community? He must have known that Lewis would be plagued with attention, and the inevitability of this imposed cultural responsibility must surely have at least crossed Banksy’s mind. </p> <p>Public art comes in many diverse forms, from the monumental statues commemorating historical figures, to the temporary and often illegal murals created by contemporary graffiti artists. My own practice is informed by an ethos of inclusion that places the nearby community at the centre of decisions about how it is created, themed and managed.</p> <p>Because of that philosophical background, I do find Banksy’s imposition of his work without regard for its effect on the local community to be irritatingly entitled. However, the <a href="https://www.theartstory.org/artist-banksy-artworks.htm">issues he highlights</a> such as the <a href="https://theartstack.com/artist/banksy/i-remember-when-all-this-was-trees">capitalist obsession with growth</a> over sustainability, and <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/banksy-port-talbot-graffiti-wales-michael-sheen-steel-pollution-environment-a8692821.html">industrial air pollution</a> are relevant and important to a much wider community, so I appreciate that by using his fame to draw attention to them he is carrying out a form of community service.</p> <p>The Welsh government <a href="https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/banksy-collector-willing-pay-six-15656998">has since confirmed</a> it will be taking over security for the Port Talbot artwork, and is discussing the future of the piece. Whether by design or because he just isn’t interested in how the work is used, it’s part of Banksy’s artistic practice to leave the work to the mercy of others when it’s complete. However, it could be argued that he could have used <a href="https://www.artspace.com/magazine/art_101/close_look/how-does-banksy-make-money-or-a-lesson-in-art-market-economics-55352">some of his own money</a> to help protect the work, and mitigate against any grief <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46810787">he’s caused the garage owner</a>.</p> <p>I’d personally like to see the work sold, and the proceeds used to address some of the social and political issues that Banksy highlights with his work. It worked for Dennis Stinchcombe who, when a mural entitled Mobile Lovers appeared on the doorway of his Bristol youth club in 2014, sold the work and used the funds <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46810787">to save the struggling organisation</a>. </p> <p>Whatever happens now, one thing is certain: Banksy certainly knows how to get his work in the news.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/banksy-who-should-foot-the-bill-to-protect-his-work-in-public-spaces-109831" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Art

Placeholder Content Image

"Put it up properly!" PM criticised for public flag blunder

<p dir="ltr">Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has come under fire after the Aboriginal flag was hung upside down on the first day of the Jobs and Skills Summit at Parliament House - made worse by the fact that no one in attendance seemed to notice the error either.</p> <p dir="ltr">The incorrectly-hung Indigenous flag was in the background displayed alongside the Australia and Torres Strait Islander flags as Mr Albanese addressed the 140 government and business leaders and was spotted in various selfies and photos taken on the day.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6a78ef78-7fff-2c33-67d8-b5d595a52513">When correctly flown, the black half of the flag, <a href="https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/aboriginal-flag" target="_blank" rel="noopener">representing</a> First Nations Australians, is meant to be at the top, with the red half, signifying the earth, at the bottom.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Loved joining this powerhouse of women speakers on the opening panel at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/jobssummit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#jobssummit</a>. Equity for women can’t wait ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/SenKatyG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenKatyG</a>⁩ ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/sammostyn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sammostyn</a>⁩ ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/emmafulu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@emmafulu</a> ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/June_Oscar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@June_Oscar</a>⁩⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/leonora_risse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@leonora_risse</a>⁩<br />⁩ <a href="https://t.co/eVd6kDATfJ">pic.twitter.com/eVd6kDATfJ</a></p> <p>— Michele O'Neil (@MicheleONeilAU) <a href="https://twitter.com/MicheleONeilAU/status/1565152042347180034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">It hung upside down until delegates left for the lunch break and was correctly displayed when they returned.</p> <p dir="ltr">Prominent Indigenous leaders called out the faux pas, including Coalition Senator Jacinta Price and Warren Mundine, a business leader and former Labor Party president.</p> <p dir="ltr">Senator Price, who has previously criticised Mr Albanese’s flying of the flag as empty symbolism, said it was ironic that the government went out of its way to show symbolic respect for Indigenous Australians, yet still made such an error.</p> <p dir="ltr">“With all the virtuous expression of respect for Aboriginal Australians... and all the carry on with strategically placing the flag prominently to express this deep virtue you’d think that this Albanese Government could actually hang it the right way up?” she said.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ac92a209-7fff-5a3a-fd3d-4d50441b5373"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Especially at such a significant and groundbreaking event such as the job summit.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/albo-flag1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Various speakers were photographed in front of the incorrectly-hung Indigenous flag, which was corrected during the event’s lunch break. Images: @AlboMP (Twitter)</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Mundine said he was shocked when the saw the flag on TV, describing the mistake as “ignorant” and “pathetic”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“How ignorant and pathetic is it that our national flag is treated this way… put it up properly!” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Parliamentary Services Department, which was responsible for the error, later said the flag being upside down was the result of “an unfortunate human error”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The incorrect mounting of the Aboriginal flag was due to an unfortunate human error. Once the error was identified, it was immediately corrected,” it said.</p> <p dir="ltr">While a flag flying upside down can signal that someone is in distress in the US and is sometimes used by protestors at rallies, the act is banned under all circumstances by the Australian flag protocols.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Albanese has been displaying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags in parliament and at government events since becoming PM following the May election, with Indigenous MPs and leaders praising it as a long-overdue acknowledgement of First Nations culture and Australia’s history before British colonisation. </p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-34d56c2f-7fff-7b7e-e9a5-06a678a4de7f"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: @AlboMP (Twitter)</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Bargain rental is “spacious” but missing key features

<p dir="ltr">A studio apartment up for rent in Birmingham, England, for less than $850 a month isn’t unusual just for its cheap price - it’s missing some crucial amenities.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4a26e5d2-7fff-aad2-4edd-6e98fbb2a687"><a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126124685#/?channel=RES_LET" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listed on Rightmove</a> for £425 ($NZ 810) a month, the studio’s shower is located in an unlikely spot, directly opposite the bed.</span></p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/cheap-uk-flat1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The prime location of the shower in relation to the bed could be a perk for some, but it's clear screen makes for a lack of privacy. Image: RightMove</em></p> <p dir="ltr">To make matters worse, the shower is encased in a clear cubicle, with no toilet in sight.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2202e8a0-7fff-c3ac-076b-a476d3d72403"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The kitchen, located on the other side of the room, seems to consist of sink and cabinet underneath, a fridge, an oven, and another cabinet above a tile splashback.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/cheap-uk-flat2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The rental's kitchen boasts an oven, two cabinets, a fridge, a sink and a bench (plus an overflowing bin). Image: RightMove</em></p> <p dir="ltr">The apartment, described as “spacious” and “part-furnished”, also includes a single mattress crammed in one corner, with a lounge chair stationed right next to the oven.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though it is just a single room, the listing agent described it as a “great home for single working professionals”.</p> <p dir="ltr">It comes just months after a similar apartment in Australia sparked outrage, with many slamming the renovated rental as “real-life satire”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Like its British counterpart, the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/property/real-estate/greedy-and-despicable-rental-renovation-causes-outrage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Adelaide studio apartment</a> featured a bathroom with a clear casing - though it does come with a toilet and a shred of privacy in the form of selective frosted glass - but differed in its hefty price amid the city’s worsening rental crisis.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-9957ed18-7fff-dbe9-5d8b-a2177f94a35f"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: RightMove</em></p>

Real Estate

Placeholder Content Image

Poxy McPoxface, TRUMP-22, Mpox: Public called on to rename monkeypox virus

<p>The World Health Organisation has called on the expertise of the public to help them rename the monkeypox virus after claiming the name is "misleading".</p> <p>Names for viruses are usually chosen by a committee behind closed doors, but the WHO has decided to open up the process to allow submissions from all over the world. </p> <p>Names such as Poxy McPoxface, TRUMP-22 or Mpox have been put forward so far, prompting the WHO to say they will choosing a serious name. </p> <p>WHO spokesperson Fadela Chaib said, "I am sure we will not come up with a ridiculous name."</p> <p>Dozens of submissions have now been made from a range of contributors including academics, doctors, and a gay community activist.</p> <p>One more technical submission came from Harvard Medical School emergency physician Jeremy Faust, who said the virus should simply be called OPOXID-22.</p> <p>Another proposal, TRUMP-22, appeared to be refer to former US President Donald Trump who used the controversial term "Chinese virus" for the new coronavirus, although its author said it stood for "Toxic Rash of Unrecognized Mysterious Provenance of 2022".</p> <p>Pressure is growing for a new name for the disease, largely because critics say it is misleading, since the virus did not originate in monkeys. </p> <p>A group of leading scientists wrote a position paper in June calling for a name that was "neutral, non-discriminatory and non-stigmatizing" amid fears the name can be used in a racist way.</p> <p>"It's very important we find a new name for monkeypox because this is best practice not to create any offence to an ethical group, a region, a country, an animal etc," Miss Chaib said.</p> <p>"The WHO is very concerned by this issue and we want to find a name that is not stigmatising," she added without giving a timeline of when the new name may be decided. </p> <p>Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 and named after the first animal to show symptoms.</p> <p>The WHO declared the current outbreak a public health emergency in July having reported more than 32,000 cases from over 80 countries.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

Placeholder Content Image

The downside of digital transformation: why organisations must allow for those who can’t or won’t move online

<p>We hear the phrase “digital transformation” a lot these days. It’s often used to describe the process of replacing functions and services that were once done face-to-face by human beings with online interactions that are faster, more convenient and <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/%7E/media/mckinsey/industries/public%20and%20social%20sector/our%20insights/transforming%20government%20through%20digitization/digital-by-default-a-guide-to-transforming-government-final.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“empower” the user</a>.</p> <p>But does digital transformation really deliver on those promises? Or does the seemingly relentless digitalisation of life actually reinforce existing social divides and inequities?</p> <p>Take banking, for example. Where customers once made transactions with tellers at local branches, now they’re encouraged to do it all online. As branches close it leaves many, <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/123302983/asb-set-to-close-another-23-branches-as-customers-move-online" target="_blank" rel="noopener">especially older people</a>, struggling with what was once an easy, everyday task.</p> <p>Or consider the now common call centre experience involving an electronic voice, menu options, <a href="https://theconversation.com/sorry-i-dont-understand-that-the-trouble-with-chatbots-and-how-to-use-them-better-171665" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chatbots</a> and a “user journey” aimed at pushing customers online.</p> <p>As organisations and government agencies in Aotearoa New Zealand and elsewhere grapple with the call to become more “digital”, we have been examining the consequences for those who find the process difficult or marginalising.</p> <p>Since 2021 we’ve been working with the <a href="https://www.cab.org.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Citizens Advice Bureau</a> (CAB) and talking with public and private sector organisations that use digital channels to deliver services. Our findings suggest there is much still to be done to find the right balance between the digital and non-digital.</p> <p><strong>The ‘problematic’ non-user</strong></p> <p>The dominant view now suggests the pursuit of a digitally enabled society will allow everyone to lead a “frictionless” life. As the government’s own policy document, <a href="https://www.digital.govt.nz/dmsdocument/193%7Etowards-a-digital-strategy-for-aotearoa/html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Towards a Digital Strategy for Aotearoa</a>, states:</p> <blockquote> <p>Digital tools and services can enable us to learn new skills, transact with ease, and to receive health and well-being support at a time that suits us and without the need to travel from our homes.</p> </blockquote> <p>Of course, we’re already experiencing this new world. Many public and private services increasingly are available digitally <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2014/jan/07/new-zealand-uk-digital-revolution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">by default</a>. Non-digital alternatives are becoming restricted or even disappearing.</p> <p>There are two underlying assumptions to the view that everyone can or should interact digitally.</p> <p>First, it implies that those who can’t access digital services (or prefer non-digital options) are problematic or deficient in some way – and that this can be overcome simply through greater provision of technology, training or “nudging” non-users to get on board.</p> <p>Second, it assumes digital inclusion – through increasing the provision of digital services – will automatically increase social inclusion.</p> <p>Neither assumption is necessarily true.</p> <p><strong>‘Digital enforcement’</strong></p> <p>The CAB (which has mainly face-to-face branches throughout New Zealand) has documented a significant increase in the number of people who struggle to access government services because the digital channel was the default or only option.</p> <p>The bureau argues that <a href="https://inclusioncampaign.cab.org.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">access to public services is a human right</a> and, by implication, the move to digital public services that aren’t universally accessible deprives some people of that right.</p> <p>In earlier research, we refer to this form of deprivation as “<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/isj.12306" target="_blank" rel="noopener">digital enforcement</a>” – defined as a process of dispossession that reduces choices for individuals.</p> <p>Through our current research we find the reality of a digitally enabled society is, in fact, far from perfect and frictionless. Our preliminary findings point to the need to better understand the outcomes of digital transformation at a more nuanced, individual level.</p> <p>Reasons vary as to why a significant number of people find accessing and navigating online services difficult. And it’s often an intersection of multiple causes related to finance, education, culture, language, trust or well-being.</p> <p>Even when given access to digital technology and skills, the complexity of many online requirements and the chaotic life situations some people experience limit their ability to engage with digital services in a productive and meaningful way.</p> <p><strong>The human factor</strong></p> <p>The resulting sense of disenfranchisement and loss of control is regrettable, but it isn’t inevitable. Some organisations are now looking for alternatives to a single-minded focus on transferring services online.</p> <p>They’re not completely removing call centre or client support staff, but instead using digital technology to improve <a href="https://deloitte.wsj.com/articles/at-contact-energy-digital-powers-human-centric-cx-01643821371" target="_blank" rel="noopener">human-centred service delivery</a>.</p> <p>Other organisations are considering partnerships with intermediaries who can work with individuals who find engaging with digital services difficult. The Ministry of Health, for example, is supporting a community-based Māori health and social services provider to establish a <a href="https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/digital-health/digital-enablement/digital-enablement-stories/digital-health-hub-supports-taranaki-whanau-access-services-closer-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">digital health hub</a> to improve local access to health care.</p> <p>Our research is continuing, but we can already see evidence – from the CAB itself and other large organisations – of the benefits of moving away from an uncritical focus on digital transformation.</p> <p>By doing so, the goal is to move beyond a divide between those who are digitally included and excluded, and instead to encourage social inclusion in the digital age. That way, organisations can still move forward technologically – but not at the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/23/the-guardian-view-on-digital-exclusion-online-must-not-be-the-only-option">expense of the humans</a> they serve.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/186905/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/angsana-a-techatassanasoontorn-1292067" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Angsana A. Techatassanasoontorn</a>, Associate Professor of Information Systems, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/auckland-university-of-technology-1137" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Auckland University of Technology</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/antonio-diaz-andrade-1361842" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antonio Diaz Andrade</a>, Professor of Business Information Systems, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/auckland-university-of-technology-1137" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Auckland University of Technology</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bill-doolin-1361879" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bill Doolin</a>, Professor of Technology and Organisation, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/auckland-university-of-technology-1137" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Auckland University of Technology</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/harminder-singh-1361833" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Harminder Singh</a>, Associate Professor of Business Information Systems, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/auckland-university-of-technology-1137" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Auckland University of Technology</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-downside-of-digital-transformation-why-organisations-must-allow-for-those-who-cant-or-wont-move-online-186905" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Technology

Placeholder Content Image

A “toilet with a view” is the latest popular bathroom trend

<p dir="ltr">The bathroom, often considered a sacred and private space, is the subject of a divisive new trend that does away with the one thing ensuring this security: doors.</p> <p dir="ltr">Instead, open plan ensuites are the latest trend that can even include a view to the great outdoors.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Open plan bathrooms are on the rise for a few reasons,” Tim Bennett, the founder, architect and engineer at Tim Bennetton Architects, says.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Society has been more exposed to ‘resort-style’ living where spaces feel more generous than they used to be.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We have all allowed ourselves that touch more luxury - where the bathroom is not purely functional.”</p> <p dir="ltr">According to Bennett, one popular layout includes opening up one wall to a view or courtyard to create a space that feels open “while still being private and intimate”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We did this with one of the first houses we designed back in 2008, so it’s certainly a trend that’s been around for a while but is quickly gaining popularity, and it makes sense,” he explains.</p> <p dir="ltr">But when it comes to the key issue - the privacy of using the toilet - Bennett notes that it’s “the only real issue that needs to be discussed”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Some people are quite uncomfortable with an open plan toilet. But others are fine with it,” he says.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You could argue that a toilet with a view adds to ‘the experience’, but on the other hand, many people like the extra level of privacy and separation that a separate compartment provides to the toilet.”</p> <p dir="ltr">If you are considering this trend but find that privacy is a top priority, there are a few things you can do to achieve both.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8a8098de-7fff-998b-6302-86fdcf13172a"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Flexibility is the key - allow sliding doors so that the ensuite or bathroom can be separated off if desired, or decorate screens or blinds,” Tim says.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

Placeholder Content Image

Japan's former PM shot during public campaign speech

<p><em><strong>UPDATE: </strong></em>Japan's current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has confirmed Shinzo's condition is critical, as doctors are "doing everything they can" to keep him alive.</p> <p><em><strong>EARLIER...</strong></em></p> <p>Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been shot following an attack at a campaign event in Nara.</p> <p>Abe, 67, was reported to be unconscious and unresponsive just after 11:30 am Tokyo time and has allegedly entered a state of cardiac arrested.</p> <p>According to various reports from the event, Abe had collapsed after gun shots were heard, while people at the scene started to perform CPR. Local media sources have also stated that he was bleeding profusely from the neck at the time he collapsed, prompting him to be rushed to hospital.</p> <p>The alleged gunman who made no attempt to run away was then apprehended by police, who confiscated his weapon. The man is believed to be in his 40s.</p> <p>In the past few weeks, Abe had been campaigning on behalf of the Liberal Democratic Party ahead of the House of Councillors election on July 10th.</p> <p>Not only was Shinzo Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, but he was also the most influential Japanese political figure of his generation. He held office in 2006 for one year and again from 2012 to 2020, when he was forced to step down due to a debilitating health condition.</p> <p>Australian PM Anthony Albanese has taken to Twitter shocked about the news, keeping Abe’s family and the people of Japan in his thoughts.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Shocking news from Japan that former PM Shinzo Abe has been shot - our thoughts are with his family and the people of Japan at this time</p> <p>— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlboMP/status/1545263750818988032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>There have been no official reports stating Shinzo has gone into heart failure, with an update on his condition yet to be confirmed.</p> <p>More to come.</p> <p><em>Image: ABC News / NHK Japan</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Bringing art into public spaces can improve the social fabric of a city

<p>You don’t need to look far to see the impact of art in public spaces. Art can connect us to place and record history as it unfolds. </p> <p>Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, stories on the <a href="https://www.publicartarchive.org/public-art-covid19/">importance of public art</a> are being <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/01/travel/coronavirus-street-art.html">told globally</a>. And this isn’t new. Times of crisis have often inspired some of the most influential artistic movements. </p> <p>Displaying visual symbols of resistance publicly, like the face of George Floyd, can connect <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2020/06/george-floyd-global-murals/">social movements across the world</a>. And in Canada, the display of statues like Egerton Ryerson have been <a href="https://theconversation.com/egerton-ryerson-racist-philosophy-of-residential-schools-also-shaped-public-education-143039">deemed unacceptable</a> as we reckon with our ongoing colonial history.</p> <p>Public art <a href="https://www.routledge.com/The-Everyday-Practice-of-Public-Art-Art-Space-and-Social-Inclusion/Cartiere-Zebracki/p/book/9781138829213">can be defined</a> as art that is available to the general public outside of museums and galleries; publicly funded; and related to the interests or concerns of, and used by a public community.</p> <p>Public art is referred to by some as <a href="https://www.deeproot.com/blog/blog-entries/creative-placemaking-using-the-arts-as-a-tool-for-community-development">creative placemaking</a>: a process of artistic creation and collaboration that helps to shape the surrounding built, natural and social environments.</p> <p>For French philosopher <a href="https://www.versobooks.com/books/1029-the-emancipated-spectator">Jacques Rancière</a>, art is disruptive. Done right, he says, it can make the spectator rethink their understanding of politics and society by calling to attention previously hidden inequalities. </p> <p>For many, the power of public art rests in its ability to turn artistic practice into a <a href="https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/art-of-social-practice-is-changing-the-world-one-row-house-at-a-time-2415/">social practice</a>. It challenges the viewer to confront social issues that affect the very place they stand.</p> <h2>Art in times of crisis</h2> <p>COVID-19 is just one example of a period of shared adversity when our connection to the arts has flourished. <a href="https://time.com/5827561/1918-flu-art/">The Dadaists’ commentary on the 1918 flu</a> reflected an intense and collectively frustrated desire for meaning in a world filled with chaos.</p> <p>During the Great Depression, the arts became increasingly experimental. In the United States, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal saw the largest public art <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/1934-the-art-of-the-new-deal-132242698/">funding initiative</a>the country had seen. A few decades later, in the 1980s, provinces and municipalities in Canada followed suit and began <a href="https://canadianart.ca/features/art-in-condoland/">significantly investing in public art</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/the-soundtrack-of-the-sixties-demanded-respect-justice-and-equality-105640">Protest music</a> during the civil rights movement and Vietnam War expressed anger, despair and hope. Gay artists and writers <a href="https://www.cairn.info/revue-etudes-anglaises-2008-3-page-350.htm">during the AIDS crisis memorialized a collective grief</a> that was being either ignored or vilified. The art from both eras came at an immense cost, and has been profoundly culturally and socially influential. </p> <p>Today, the pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated inequalities that were already present.</p> <p>But there has also been engagement and social solidarity: from <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/05/23/19-black-canadians-on-what-has-changed-one-year-since-george-floyds-murder-and-what-next-steps-we-need-to-take.html">Black Lives Matter</a>, to the Indigenous <a href="https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/what-were-seeing-in-2020-is-idle-no-more-2-0/">Land Back movement</a> and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/we-are-not-the-virus/id1530051155">support for unhoused people</a>.</p> <p>Those who have the privilege not to pay attention are finding this option less viable. This engagement arguably comes with its own <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-solidarity-during-coronavirus-and-always-its-more-than-were-all-in-this-together-135002">set of problems</a>, but it is a momentum that can be built upon to imagine and do the work needed to create better futures for society. </p> <p>Artists are well positioned to do this creative imagining. </p> <h2>Art beyond the gallery</h2> <p>As we each search for meaning throughout our intensely local and geographically limited lives during the pandemic, public art finds, creates and shares the beauty, joy and solidarity that can be found in public spaces.</p> <p>Galleries are often isolated from the communities in geographical proximity. They have often been <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00043249.2017.1367190">places of exclusion</a>, and have historically served to uphold a dominant, European <a href="https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/des/article/view/20250">settler-centred narrative</a>. They have played a role in perpetuating colonial and racist attitudes towards Indigenous communities, their art and histories. </p> <p>Indigenous artists have long been <a href="https://www.rebeccabelmore.com/artifact-671b/">challenging these narratives</a>. Mainstream art is catching on, and there has been an unprecedented level of Indigenous <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00043249.2017.1367191">representation and leadership</a> within gallery spaces in recent decades.</p> <p>This leadership should shape public art in Canada. Public spaces, like art galleries, have also <a href="https://theconversation.com/6-ways-to-approach-urban-green-spaces-in-the-push-for-racial-justice-and-health-equity-160227">privileged some</a> more than others. Bringing art outside of the gallery space is not a catch-all solution. What matters more is how it’s done. </p> <h2>Toronto’s year of public art</h2> <p>In Toronto, the municipal government has announced that its “<a href="https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/public-art/year-of-public-art/">Year of Public Art</a>” will begin in the fall with a total budget of $4.5 million in 2021. This is the inauguration of a 10-year public art plan. It responds to calls for an improved public art strategy, with a greater commitment to equity in the location of installations, the level of engagement with communities and the artists who create works.</p> <p>Toronto has promised a strong commitment to Indigenous self-determination, leadership and placemaking within its public art strategy.</p> <p>The city’s public art installations have <a href="http://www.theartfulcity.org/home/2017/3/9/50-years-of-public-art-in-toronto-where-do-we-go-from-here">increased in the past 50 years</a>, with over 700 installations added between 1967 and 2015. </p> <p>Toronto’s <a href="https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/official-plan-guidelines/design-guidelines/percent-for-public-art-inventory/">Percent for Public Art program</a>, a commonly used strategy in cities in North America and Europe, encourages developers to donate one per cent of their gross construction costs towards public art in their development’s direct vicinity. </p> <p>The program is <a href="https://www2.ocadu.ca/sites/www2.ocadu.ca/files/project/Pt1%20-%20Redefining%20Public%20Art%20Toronto%202017.pdf">voluntary</a> though. And because most development is happening in the downtown core, this is where public art has been concentrated, meaning neighbourhoods with less development have received less investment in public art. </p> <p>Nonetheless, the city is home to a multiplicity of adept communities and talented artists who continue to use public art to build community capacity and foster social inclusion. </p> <p>Listening to artists of diverse backgrounds and elevating communities to participate meaningfully will support important conversations that determine our collective future. And that makes the investment in public art worthwhile for us all.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/bringing-art-into-public-spaces-can-improve-the-social-fabric-of-a-city-162991" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</em></p>

Art

Placeholder Content Image

Kate and Will's rare moment of public affection goes viral

<p>A rare moment of affection between Prince William and Kate Middleton has gone viral online. </p> <p>The video, which was taken during the royal couple's engagements in the Caribbean earlier this year, shows Kate and William walking to an event holding hands. </p> <p>The poster of the video seemingly didn't know who they were as the caption read, "This couple staying in the Bahamas had 35 security guards."</p> <p>In the video, the poster says, "How you doin'? You look beautiful!"</p> <p>William and Kate greet him and she tells him to "have a wonderful evening", with the poster responding, "You have a great night as well!"</p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 610px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7080676871557401899&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40mrjimmyrex%2Fvideo%2F7080676871557401899&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2Ff0d5a614679a4d289b02430d13bfebc2_1648598556%7Etplv-tiktok-play.jpeg%3Fx-expires%3D1653354000%26x-signature%3D%252Fx3RLK0HQY0pRKlM8J0hdT%252FtEkc%253D&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;">The comments quickly pointed out that the TikToker had just run into the famous couple, with one user writing, "Casually runs into the royal family."</p> <p>"Awww they rarely hold hands in public," another said, while a third agreed, "Lovely to see them holding hands."</p> <p>Others were surprised, with one user writing, "OMG they are actually holding hands!"</p> <p>"So interesting to see them holding hands, I've never seen them do that," someone else said.</p> <p>"Yes they do that, but not in front of cameras since they are on duty," one user pointed out.</p> <p>Others just marvelled at the pair, with many jealous that poster actually managed to spot them while on holiday.</p> <p>"They are a really great, sweet couple," someone else added.</p> <p>"Our future king and queen," one fan wrote.</p> <p>"OMG... that would be a dream come true to see them while on holidays," another said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p> </div>

Relationships

Placeholder Content Image

Giving ex-prisoners public housing cuts crime and re-incarceration – and saves money

<p>“Going home” is a classic metaphor for exiting prison. But most people exiting prison in Australia either expect to be homeless, or don’t know where they will be staying when released.</p> <p>Our <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/361">recent research for AHURI</a> (the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute) shows post-release housing assistance is a potentially powerful lever in arresting the imprisonment–homelessness cycle.</p> <p>We found ex-prisoners who get public housing have significantly better criminal justice outcomes than those who receive private rental assistance only. </p> <p>The benefit, in dollars terms, of public housing outweighs the cost.</p> <h2>The imprisonment-homelessness connection</h2> <p>There is strong evidence linking imprisonment and homelessness. Post-release homelessness and unstable housing is a <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/46">predictor of reincarceration</a>. And prior imprisonment is a <a href="https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/2202865/Scutella_et_al_Journeys_Home_Research_Report_W6.pdf">known predictor of homelessness</a>. It is a vicious cycle.</p> <p>People in prison often contend with: </p> <ul> <li>mental health conditions (40%)</li> <li>cognitive disability (33%)</li> <li>problematic alcohol or other drug use (up to 66%) and </li> <li>past homelessness (33%). </li> </ul> <p>People with such complex support needs are often deemed “too difficult” for community-based support services and so end up entangled in the criminal justice system.</p> <p>Also, prisons are themselves places of stress and suffering. So people leaving prison a high-needs group for housing assistance and support. </p> <p>There are about 43,000 people in <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/crime-and-justice/prisoners-australia/latest-release">prison in Australia</a>. Over the year there will be even more prison releases (because some people exit and enter multiple times).</p> <p>According to the <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/prisoners/health-australia-prisoners-2018/summary">latest published data</a>:</p> <ul> <li>only 46% of releasees expect to go to their own home (owned or rented) on release</li> <li>more expect to be in short-term or emergency accommodation (44%) or sleeping rough (2%), or </li> <li>they don’t know where they will stay. </li> </ul> <p>Ex-prisoners are the fastest growing client group for Australia’s <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/homelessness-and-homelessness-services">Specialist Homelessness Services</a>. </p> <p>Over the past decade, <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/crime-and-justice/prisoners-australia/latest-release">imprisonment rates in Australia</a> have been rising. </p> <p>Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/research/ongoing/report-on-government-services/2021/housing-and-homelessness/housing">funding for social housing</a> – public housing provided by state governments, and the community housing provided by non-profit community organisations – has been declining in real terms.</p> <p>We must turn both those trends around.</p> <h2>The difference public housing makes</h2> <p>In our research, we investigated the effect of public housing on post-release pathways. We analysed data about a sample of people with complex support needs who had been in prison in NSW. </p> <p>The de-identified data show peoples’ contacts before and after prison with various NSW government agencies, including criminal justice institutions and DCJ Housing, the state public housing provider.</p> <p>We compared 623 people who received a public housing tenancy at some point after prison with a similar number of people who were eligible for public housing but received private rental assistance only (such as bond money).</p> <p>On a range of measures, the public housing group had better criminal justice outcomes. </p> <p>The charts below compare the number of police incidents for each group. </p> <p>The first chart shows recorded police incidents for the private rental assistance group, which gradually rose over the period for which we have data.</p> <p>The second chart shows police incidents for the public housing group: they also had a rising trend, until they received public housing (year 0 on the x-axis), after which police incidents went down 8.9% per year.</p> <p>For the housed group: </p> <ul> <li>court appearances were down 7.6% per year</li> <li>proven offences (being found guilty of something at trial) were down 7.6% per year</li> <li>time in custody was down 11.2% per year</li> <li>time on supervised orders (court orders served in the community, including parole) initially increased, then went down 7.8% per year</li> <li>justice costs per person, following an initial decrease of A$4,996, went down a further $2,040 per year per person.</li> </ul> <p>When we put a dollar value on these benefits, providing a public housing tenancy is less costly than paying Rent Assistance in private rental (net benefit $5,000) or assisting through Specialist Homelessness Services (net benefit $35,000).</p> <p>Unfortunately, public housing is in very short supply. </p> <p>For our public housing group, the average time between release and public housing was five years. Others are never housed. </p> <h2>Post-release pathways are fraught</h2> <p>We interviewed corrections officers, reintegration support workers, housing workers, and people who had been in prison, across three states. </p> <p>They were unanimous: there is a dearth of housing options for people exiting prison. </p> <p>A Tasmanian ex-prisoner, who lived in a roof-top tent on his car on release, said, "You basically get kicked out the door and kicked in the guts and they say, ‘Go do whatever you need to do, see ya’."</p> <p>Planning for release is often last-minute. A NSW reintegration support worker told us, "It’s not coordinated. We’ll get a prison ringing up on the day of release saying, ‘Can you pick this woman up?’ on the day of release, when they knew it was coming months in advance. There’s no planning."</p> <p>A housing worker in Victoria described those next steps as a series of unstable, short-term arrangements, beset by pitfalls, "They could easily be waiting a couple of years, realistically. And for them that’s a long time, and so far off in the distance it’s difficult to conceive of. And a long time in which for things could go wrong in their lives – to be homeless or back in prison, all sorts of things … What they do in the meantime: they couch surf, stay with family, stay in motels, stay in cars/stolen cars, stay with friends, sleep rough, all those things."</p> <p>A Tasmanian corrections officer told us, "People want to come back to custody because they’ve then got a roof over their head. They don’t have to worry; they’re getting fed, they can stay warm."</p> <h2>It’s not just about housing support</h2> <p>Community sector organisations specialising in supporting people in contact with the criminal justice system, such as the <a href="https://www.crcnsw.org.au/">Community Restorative Centre (CRC)</a> in NSW, do extraordinary work providing services and support that aim to break entrenched cycles of disadvantage and imprisonment.</p> <p>However, this sector’s funding has been turbulent, marked by short-term programs.</p> <p>In <a href="https://www.crcnsw.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CRC-AOD-Evaluation-final-report-1Dec21.pdf">another project</a> by some members of this research team, we saw the difference CRC made to 275 of its clients over a number of years. This evaluation found supported clients had 63% fewer custody episodes than a comparison group – a net cost saving to government of $10-16 million. </p> <p>These support services would be even more effective if clients had more stable housing. As it is, specialist alcohol and other drug case workers are often spending their time dealing with clients’ housing crises.</p> <p>Secure, affordable public housing is an anchor for people exiting prison as they work to build lives outside of the criminal justice system.</p> <p>It is also a stable base from which to receive and engage with support services. It pays to invest in both.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/giving-ex-prisoners-public-housing-cuts-crime-and-re-incarceration-and-saves-money-180027" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Real Estate

Placeholder Content Image

The pandemic’s gardening boom shows how gardens can cultivate public health

<p>As lockdowns went into effect in the spring of 2020 to slow the spread of the coronavirus, reports emerged of a <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/culture/article/A-comeback-for-victory-gardens-amid-Bay-Area-15177272.php">global gardening boom</a>, with plants, flowers, vegetables and herbs sprouting in backyards and on balconies around the world.</p> <p>The data backs up the narrative: An analysis of Google Trends and infection statistics found that during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, country-by-country interest in gardening, from Italy to India, <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/11/26/opinion/covid-inspired-gardening-was-worldwide-phenomenon/">tended to peak just as infections peaked</a>.</p> <p>Why did so many people find themselves being pulled toward the earth in a time of crisis? And what sort of effect did gardening have on them?</p> <p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127483">In a new study</a> conducted with a team of environmental and public health scholars, we highlight the extent to which gardening became a coping mechanism during the early days of the pandemic.</p> <p>Even as restrictions related to COVID-19 have eased, we see some real lessons for the way gardening can continue to play a role in people’s lives.</p> <h2>Dirt, sweat, tranquility</h2> <p>To conduct our study, we used an online questionnaire to survey more than 3,700 respondents who primarily lived in the U.S., Germany and Australia. The group included experienced gardeners and those who were new to the pursuit.</p> <p>More than half of those we surveyed said they felt isolated, anxious and depressed during the early days of the pandemic. Yet more than 75% also found immense value in gardening during that same period. Whether done <a href="https://doi.org/10.3733/ucanr.6720">in cities or out in the country</a>, gardening was almost universally described as a way to either relax, socialize, connect with nature or stay active.</p> <p>More than half of the respondents reported a significant increase in the amount of time they were able to spend gardening. Other respondents found some value in growing their own food, but few felt financially compelled to do so. </p> <p>Instead, most respondents saw gardening as a way to connect with their community and get some exercise.</p> <p>People with more personal difficulties due to COVID-19, like the inability to work or struggling with child care, were more likely to spend more time gardening in their spare time than they had in the past.</p> <h2>The garden as a refuge</h2> <p>In our analysis of written responses to the survey, most gardeners seemed to either experience a heightened sense of joy and reassurance or feel more attuned to the natural world. This seemed to have positive therapeutic and psychological benefits, regardless of age or location.</p> <p>To many people, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wss.2021.100055">gardening became a sort of safe space – a haven from daily worries</a>. One German gardener started seeing their garden as a sanctuary where even “birds felt louder.” </p> <p>“Gardening has been my salvation,” a respondent from the U.S. noted. “I’m very grateful I can surround myself with beauty as a buffer to the depressing news COVID brings each day.”</p> <p>Another German gardener wrote that their garden became their “little safe universe in a very uncertain and somewhat dangerous time. … We have learned to appreciate the so far very high value of ‘own land, own refuge’ even more.”</p> <h2>A green prescription</h2> <p>As life returns to normal, work ramps up and obligations mount, I wonder how many pandemic gardens are already being neglected.</p> <p>Will a hobby born out of unique circumstances recede into the background?</p> <p>I hope not. Gardening shouldn’t be something that’s only taken up in times of crises. If anything, the pandemic showed how gardens serve a public health need – that they’re not only places of beauty or sources of food, but also conduits for healing. </p> <p>In fact, several countries like New Zealand, Canada and some in Europe now allow “<a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/02/green-prescriptions-health-wellbeing/">green prescriptions</a>” to be issued as alternatives to medication. These are directives from doctors to spend a certain amount of time outdoors each day or month – an acknowledgment of the very real health benefits, from lowered stress to better sleep and improved memory, that venturing into nature can offer.</p> <p>I also think of the people who never had a chance to garden in the first place during the pandemic. Not everyone has a backyard or can afford gardening tools. Improving access to home gardens, urban green spaces and <a href="https://theconversation.com/not-all-community-gardens-are-environmental-equals-10485">community gardens</a>could be an important way to boost well-being and health.</p> <p>Making seeding, planting, pruning and harvesting part of your daily routine seems to open up more opportunities, too.</p> <p>“I never previously had the time to commit to a garden,” one first-time gardener told us, “but [I’ve] found such satisfaction and happiness in watching things grow. It has been a catalyst for making other positive changes in my life.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-pandemics-gardening-boom-shows-how-gardens-can-cultivate-public-health-181426" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</em></p>

Home & Garden

Over 60

© Copyright 2024 OverSixty.All Rights Reserved.