Abortion Rights: Roe v Wade

Abortion Rights: Roe v Wade

Source 

Abortion – should it be legal or illegal? In the United States of America, the Supreme Court made a landmark decision known as Roe v Wade in 1973 that legalized the right to have an abortion. It is part of the Constitution of the United States, meaning that this decision is a “supreme law”, where it will always take priority over other states’ laws that might conflict with this decision. However, on the 24th of June 2022, Roe v Wade was overturned, meaning that each state could now individually create its own abortion laws without interfering with Roe v Wade, which was the “supreme law”. Undoubtedly, many people from different groups will be impacted by this decision, which caused many to react upon the ruling based on their personal beliefs. With approximately 50 years of history, how exactly did Roe v Wade become a landmark decision, and what is the progression over many decades to the point that this law is now overturned?

Echo Buzz: Sri Lanka Situation

Echo Buzz: Sri Lanka Situation

Sri Lanka is still reeling from the consequences of a 25-year-old civil war between the ethnically, linguistically, and religiously different Sinhalese and Tamils. The war, which terminated in 2009, remains an unhealed wound for many whose loved ones went missing, killed, or displaced. Sri Lanka’s president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is also distrusted by many who harbour resentment towards him over accusations of his war crimes during the civil war when he was the defence secretary. However, Sri Lanka’s recent economic crisis has brought the union of previously divided groups under one Sinhalese flag as protests rage on against the government, which is governed by the Rajapaksa brothers, for their ill-advised decisions leading to a mismanagement of Sri Lanka’s economy and the Covid-19 pandemic. Civilians’ anger and disappointment are directed towards the government’s inaction as Sri Lankans have had to endure months of food, fuel, medicine and essential depletion, as well as frequent power outages, with no hope for amelioration in sight.

World Environment Day 2022: Only One Earth

World Environment Day 2022: Only One Earth

(Source: UNEP)

Time is running out… And, yes, that’s a threat. In 2021, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “We have reached a tipping point on the need for climate action. The disruption to our climate and our planet is already worse than we thought, and it is moving fast.” With the Earth falling short of the targets set by the Paris Agreement, he added, “We must urgently secure a breakthrough on adaptation and resilience.”

Multiple Sclerosis Day

Multiple Sclerosis Day

On May 30, the world commemorates World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day. MS is one of the most common central nervous system diseases that affect over 2.8 million individuals worldwide today. And that is why World MS Day brings together people and organisations from all over the world to promote awareness while bringing us closer to a world free of MS. It is a day to celebrate worldwide unity and optimism for the future.

Echo Buzz: The Longest Night (13 May 1969)

Echo Buzz: The Longest Night (13 May 1969)

Bloodshed; a high price to pay for peace and democracy. There are times when anger is righteous and its sole purpose is to push for better change. However, the events of 13th May 1969 prove to be a crude example of an unjust outburst of anger from disgruntled citizens of a multicultural nation trying to achieve harmony. Painted as a taboo, barely touched on in Sejarah (History) textbooks, the events of the darkest day in Malaysian history deserve to be remembered as a lesson in tolerance and respect towards every race in this country.

Echo Buzz: Malaysia’s Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill

Echo Buzz: Malaysia’s Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill

An unwanted gaze, an unpalatable whistle, an unsolicited remark. These seemingly ‘minor’ annoyances are familiar to a large population of Malaysians and can be much more severe than appearances may imply. Though often going unreported and unnoticed, sexual harassment — the act of conducting oneself in an unwelcome and sexual nature towards another to demean their dignity — is much more prominent than expected.

Gabby Petito: The hunt for Justice

Gabby Petito: The hunt for Justice

Pepper spray. Penknife. Wedged keys between white knuckles. Eyes trained low and hurried steps. These are a list of basic things the average woman has memorized close to muscle memory. These are the things women are trained to understand and adopt as a means to survive in a world where violence and assault are about as common as tripping on your own two feet out of crowded spaces. However, it seems that these perpetrators of violence against women extend beyond just creepy strangers on the street. Sometimes danger lurks nearer than one might believe. Or worse, it might just be the least suspected or most trusted ones that end up washing their guilt-stained hands with bleach. Such is the tragic case of the killing of Gabby Petito.

Echo Buzz: The Silent Killer, Diabetes

Echo Buzz: The Silent Killer, Diabetes

“If you eat too much sugar, you’ll get diabetes!” Almost every child has been warned of this at least once when the child tries to indulge in desserts. Without sugarcoating this illness, diabetes was named when they discovered “sweet urine” also known as “diabetes mellitus”. Sugar is addictive but there are also many other causes of diabetes. 

ONzz Malaysian Urban Brands Online: Fashion ft Wardrobe

ONzz Malaysian Urban Brands Online: Fashion ft Wardrobe

Welcome, dear readers, aspiring entrepreneurs and fellow shopaholics. Undoubtedly this pandemic has opened a multiverse of online platforms to catch up with favourite brands and hottest trends. Outlets at one’s fingertips is an understatement for what entrepreneurs have to offer is far more greater than what meets the eye. The same could be said for the instant spur of Malaysian online brands that are garnering attention for both quality and singularity. 

Securing Citizenship: A Matter of Gender

Securing Citizenship: A Matter of Gender

For many families, citizenship for their newly born children is hardly a matter that requires much cause for concern. However, in recent years, many Malaysian families have spoken up about the institutional barrier that they face in attaining what is considered as their children’s birthright: Malaysian citizenship. These barriers that exist in the form of policies have existed for 64 years, and have mainly affected Malaysian mothers with foreign spouses, including those who reside overseas. With most facing injustices like family separation and difficulties accessing residence, education and healthcare for their children, this issue has been largely considered as one of gender discrimination, with Malaysian women’s children being denied citizenship rights that their male counterparts are provided with. Nevertheless, recent events have provided these affected families with the hope that institutional changes will be implemented.