Feeling hot? Youre not the only one. As heat waves become more frequent and severe, those living in poverty are disproportionately affected. People with lower incomes face a 40% higher exposure to heat waves than those with higher incomes. Here are six ways that heat waves can make inequality worse. 1. Increased mortality rates Older people, those with health problems, and the very young are especially vulnerable to heat-related illness and death. These groups are also more likely to live in...
You might have seen reports we‘re headed for a ’tripledemic‘ this winter. But what is it? It’s the combination of COVID, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, that threatens to overwhelm hospitals over the coming months. Why might this happen? Let‘s look at four reasons behind this. 1. COVID cases are rising  Although COVID cases are currently low, they‘re rising in parts of the US. China, the UK, France, and Germany have seen an increase in people being admitted to...
This year, Mandela Day got us thinking about some other change-makers and activists. Here are eight people who have made a real difference in our world. Nelson Mandela One of the most famous activists on our list, Nelson Mandela, needs little introduction. Born Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela on 18 July 1918, in Mvezo, South Africa, Mandela was a crucial figure in the anti-apartheid movement. The ruling government imprisoned him from 1962 to 1990 for his role in the anti-apartheid struggle. In 1994,...
So… is the pandemic over? It seems like it is — mask mandates have lifted, social distance eased, and plenty of people are fully vaccinated. However, the evidence does not support this view. Let’s look at 5 reasons the pandemic is not over. 1. Cases are rising around the world  The most obvious reason: COVID-19 cases are rising, notably in Europe and China. The new European wave comes as restrictions such as wearing face masks indoors are lifting. Meanwhile, China recently...
It‘s in all our interests to end the pandemic and the economic crisis it continues to drive. We have the means to do this, so what are the issues standing between us and finally ending the pandemic? 1. Wealthy countries are still hoarding vaccines despite nearly meeting the global vaccination target Did you know? New analysis from ONE shows that twice as many people in wealthier countries have received a booster shot as people in low-income countries got their first vaccine...
At the start of the COVID-19 crisis, wealthy countries ripped up the economic rulebook to support their people and economies through the crisis but the response globally and support for other countries who didn‘t have the same luxury has been a little more lacklustre. This hampered many low-income countries’ abilities to respond to the pandemic, particularly against the backdrop of a growing economic crisis, unsustainable debts, and a liquidity crisis. It’s now been over 18 months since the start of...
Are you the geography expert that you think you are? Think you can name all of the world‘s capital cities? Or locate all of the greatest waterfalls? Take a quiz journey around the world and find out how much you know…  Take the quiz Why are we focusing on these countries? All of the correct answers are places that currently can‘t afford to pay their debts and are struggling to deal with the economic consequences of COVID-19. While rich countries have spent...
The world has been experiencing a global learning crisis: 90% of children in low-income countries could not read and understand a simple story by their 10th birthday. And then COVID-19 hit and made things worse. At the peak of the pandemic 1.6 billion children were pushed out of school, and 8 out of 10 children surveyed in 46 countries said that they learned very little or not at all since the pandemic began. What did we do? We kicked off our...
As world leaders gather virtually and in person at the start of today‘s Global Education Summit, ONE is urging them to not waste this crucial opportunity to make a dent in the global learning crisis. The Lost Potential Tracker shows that every day, over 193,000 10-year-olds do not gain basic literacy skills. That‘s 70 million children — or more than half of the world’s 10-year-olds — potentially affected by the end of 2021. By 2030, the crisis could affect...
Think back to when you were 10. Imagine if you had not been able to read and understand a simple story at that age. Where do you think you would be today? Age 10 is the age at which children should be switching from learning to read to reading to learn. This critical milestone sets children up for a lifetime of learning. It increases their ability to earn, innovate, improve their own opportunities, and contribute to their societies, including becoming...