American fans are becoming more accepting of athletes speaking out about mental health
It’s estimated that a third of elite athletes suffer from depression or other mental health issues, but many fear they will be rejected by fans, peers and sponsors if they speak about their problems.
In a 2022 study, researchers analyzed social media posts in response to tennis star Naomi Osaka’s decision to withdraw from the 2021 French Open for mental health reasons. They found that 51% of posts supported her decision, with only 19% negative. And a more recent study found that fans viewed players who took time off to deal with mental health issues just as favorably as those who took time off due to physical injuries.
Why I wrote this
A look at our progress shows a growing recognition that everyone, from athletes to people with disabilities, deserves inclusion. Sports fans support their stars in focusing on their mental health. And formal venues, from ballet stages to classical music halls, are becoming less formal to accommodate larger audiences.
The stories shared by elite athletes “have helped raise public awareness that respected athletes are just as susceptible to mental illness as anyone else,” writes Professor Dae Hee Kwak of the University of Michigan. (You can read more about Olympians calling for broader public discussion and support for athletes’ mental health here.)
Naomi Osaka will play on Centre Court at Wimbledon on July 3, 2024.
Source: The Conversation, McLean Hospital
To protect animals for food, the UK Parliament banned the export of live animals.
Live animals destined for slaughter are often transported long distances, enduring stress, overcrowding and dehydration. European Union regulations prevented Britain from passing a total ban. The law, enacted by former Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s government, does not cover Northern Ireland under the country’s post-Brexit trade deal.
By 2012, only one UK port allowed live exports, but the new law was the culmination of nearly 50 years of campaigning. In 1995, activists blocked sea and air routes to stop the exports, and violent protests rocked the small English town of Brightlingsea for 10 months. Nearly 40 million animals have been exported from the UK since 1960.
Australia this year began a four-year phase-out of live sheep exports by sea.
Sources: Agence France-Presse, Humane Society of the United States, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Solar power generation, which is less dependent on public works, is expanding in Africa
Around 600 million people on the continent, almost all of them in sub-Saharan Africa, have no electricity.
Engineer Mark Munyua inspects roof panels at a company in Nairobi, Kenya, on September 1, 2023.
But in 2023, Africa will add a record-breaking 3.7 gigawatts of solar power. South Africa, notorious for rolling blackouts, or “load shedding,” is leading the new effort, increasing its solar capacity from 2.8 gigawatts to 7.8 gigawatts in two years. The solar boom is driven in part by the continuing falling cost of solar panels and the expansion of “mini-grids” owned by private companies.
Mini-grids also create jobs: In Kenya, such systems employ six times as many people as the largest power companies, and in Nigeria, they create almost as many jobs as the oil and gas industry. In April, the World Bank and African Development Bank announced a project to expand electricity access to 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
Source: The Economist, African Solar Industry Association
Thai authorities are using satellite and drone data to help farmers determine the safest times to burn fields.
As a compromise between strict fire bans and the blazes that sometimes make Chiang Mai the world’s most polluted city, local authorities are encouraging the use of systems aimed at controlling the environment without endangering livelihoods.
This need for balance led to the creation of FireD, an app that lets farmers submit burn requests. It determines on a case-by-case basis whether a fire will have a disproportionate impact on pollution levels, based on local air quality. In the most recent burning season, the number of days with dangerous levels of particulate matter fell by 24%.
Some farmers don’t have access to the internet, so they must apply in writing instead of using a specially designed app. Some avoid the system because it doesn’t offer enough schedule flexibility. But local leaders are focused on increasing communication to encourage adoption by farmers. FireD received 14,000 burn applications for 2024.
Source: Grist
Arts organizations are hosting sensory-friendly shows to boost attendance
From Les Grands Ballets Canadiens to Queensland Ballet to Philadelphia Ballet, ballet companies are featuring modified performances and relaxed theater rules for children with neurodevelopmental disorders and those who prefer a more “relaxed” format. Theaters are turning down the volume, dimming the lights rather than going completely dark, and allowing audience members to move around if they want. Les Grands Ballets is offering “quiet zones” where audience members can go if they feel overwhelmed.
The ROCO Music Ensemble will be performing a concert at St. John the Divine Church in Houston.
Houston’s ROCO (River Oaks Chamber Orchestra) values multigenerational access and innovation in classical music. They offer childcare services for select performances, allowing parents to bring their children to some of the shows. “We are committed to making ‘people first’ decisions,” says Alecia Lawyer, the orchestra’s artistic director. “The people who create art and the people who experience it are at the heart of our vision.”
Sources: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, ArtsHub, Queensland Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens