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Student Creates App To Help Young People Find Freelance Work

The world of work is changing. Students are increasingly looking for work that allows them to focus on University whilst being able to work in order to supplement their income. Common Sense Plus in market research spoke to a range of students who shared this problem in 2021. Enter Hakim Mohammed

Hakim Mohamed is set to introduce the HyreHub app to the market in the coming weeks, with hopes of helping his young peers to market themselves to employers, secure regular freelance work and bolster their skilled work portfolio. 

There are currently a number of platforms available for freelance professionals, but for students and young people competing in large talent pools with experienced professionals, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd and attract employers. 

This is something Hakim himself found difficult to manage during his studies, with many of his peers who were also seeking freelance work reporting similar challenges. 

Hakim, 23, originally from Essex, entered an app design competition at Coventry University while he was studying aerospace systems engineering and it was that which kickstarted his entrepreneurial journey. He has since teamed up with fellow young entrepreneurs Adam Oyekola and Dami Adebayo to develop the initiative. 

I sat down with Hakim the co-founder of Hyre Hub to find out more

What is Hyre Hub?

HyreHub is a business that improves the student experience by providing an opportunity to make income without using too much social/revision time. We do so by matching talented students who will be future leaders in their profession with businesses and individuals alike who need tasks done. We are conscious about the cost of living and know young people feel a good brunt of this; we want to help eradicate the ‘student struggle’ narrative.

Why did you start Hyre Hub?

The realisation that working a part-time job whilst studying does not make sense. At the end of the day, you work around the business’s needs and wants. Even though you can opt in and out of days, you don’t have full control of your time. This is where we thought freelancing as a student makes the most sense however, we saw how saturated current platforms are with experienced and long-time users making it hard for a younger person/ student to breakthrough.

So, making a freelancing platform where the only sellers are students is the solution to both these problems. It also builds a relationship with students and the surrounding community, which we feel is very important.

Hyre Hub co-founders,

What does the app actually do?

The app allows businesses and individuals to post tasks they need doing on a live marketplace for students to apply to and do. All whilst allowing students to post their given services so businesses and induvial can hire them based on the service they provide.

How was building this app during a lockdown?

Building the app during lockdown wasn’t as hard as we thought as we were lucky enough to acquire funding during that period. As we were indoors a lot it allowed us to truly focus on the app and what we want to bring to the market due to the time we had. Funnily enough, I feel like the lockdown made it easier to build the app especially at the stage we were at during lockdown.

Do you think Lockdown has created the atmosphere for this kind of app?

Hundred per cent, especially where so many people were let off work, particularly students, but bills and things still need to be paid for, showing there is no security working a part-time job. Whereas as a freelancer no one can lay you off and because more people are at home starting businesses, the need for freelance services is at an all-time high, from marketing all the way to designing.

Freelancer: Source: Brooke Cagle

What do you aim to achieve with this app?

Ultimately the goal is to empower more students to start freelancing if they haven’t started already and those that have, we want to give them a platform that is easy and friendly to use allowing them to monetise their talents so they can take be in control of their time all whilst creating an ecosystem through connecting business and the community to these talented students across multiple freelancing disciplines.


It was a pleasure to sit down and speak to Hakim from Hyre Hub. You can find out more about the project HERE

Russia Launching Own Version of Instagram

Russian entrepreneur Alexander Zobov has announced that he is launching a homegrown version of Instagram following parent company Meta’s banning in the country over the Ukraine Invasion

The Russian alternative will be called Rossgram and its launch is scheduled for March 28. The app will be available for Android and IOS users.

“Right now you have the opportunity to become the first users with special privileges. First, access will be open to top bloggers and partners. Regular users will be able to access in April 2022,” says the company’s website.

Rossgram is expected to have all the same functions as Instagram, including photo and video publications, communicating through an in-built messenger, and leaving comments under other people’s posts.

The social media platform will, apparently, offer additional tools of monetization for bloggers through paid content, fundraising, and referral programs.

Karina Nigay, fashion blogger: ‘I’m in a state of resentment and nowhere near a state of acceptance.’ Photograph: Christian Vierig/Getty Images

The company said initial access will be open to “sponsors and investors” and regular users will be able to access the platform from April. 

Alexander Zobov is described on the website as a specialist in digital marketing and the creator of barter network “Web commune”. Rossgram’s second co-founder, Kirill Filimonov, is described as an entrepreneur and the CEO of a tourism company, “The Russian Italy”.   

© rossgram.ru

The initiative has received mixed reviews so far, with some commentators praising the startup, while others have criticized the company for its Russia-centric name, saying that Rossgram has no chances of expanding to the foreign markets.

Russian regulator Roskomnadzor announced its decision to block Meta’s Facebook and Instagram in the territory of the Russian Federation after the General Prosecutor’s office accused the American company of extremism for allowing calls for violence against Russian soldiers on Meta’s platforms.

Meta said the decision was made to protect the right to free speech as “an expression of self-defense in reaction to a military invasion of their country.” The company called it a temporary decision taken in extraordinary and unprecedented circumstances. It clarified the policy this week to say calls for violence were not allowed to be made against “Russians in general.”

Russia launched its military offensive against Ukraine on February 24, with Western countries instantly imposing a raft of unprecedented sanctions and Western companies pulling out of the country in droves.

The Kremlin know they need to win the digital war

As well as the troops we have seen on the ground in Ukraine, there is also a digital war raging as Russia attempts to take control of the narrative around the invasion of Ukraine.

An investigation by VICE News uncovered a coordinated campaign to pay Russian TikTok influencers to post videos pushing pro-Kremlin narratives about the war in Ukraine.

Numerous campaigns have been coordinated in a secret Telegram channel that directs these influencers on what to say, where to capture videos, what hashtags to use, and when exactly to post the video.

These campaigns were launched at the beginning of the invasion and have involved a number of the highest-profile influencers on TikTok, some of whom have over a million followers.

A growing number of millennials and Genz Russians are getting their information online and not from Russian controlled media. It’s increasingly difficult to influence what these young people think with such wide media consumption. This ban of Instagram and the launch on Rossgram is a move in the direction of more autocracy and centralised control.

Jussie Smollett Is Acting Like A Victim… Again

Last week, United States actor Jussie Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in prison after being found guilty of lying to the police about being a victim of a racist and homophobic hate crime.

The 150 days is part of a total of 30 months on probation, and the actor must repay $120,106 to the Chicago Police to cover their investigation costs.

In January 2019, the former star of the show Empire hired two acquaintances who were brothers named Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo. Smollett paid $3,500 to the two men and staged an assault against him in Chicago. According to the actor, the two men were Donald Trump supporters and were all masked up. When the incident occurred, it had caused widespread concern through a country that still experiences racial and sexual discrimination. The actor had at the time received support from those in political and cultural arenas, but after finding out that this incident had been staged, this support has turned into criticism. Chicago Judge James Linn said that Smollett had craved attention and had a streak that was “profoundly arrogant and selfish and narcissistic.”

After Judge James Linn sentenced Jussie Smollett for fabricating a hate crime, Jussie Smollett repeatedly said, “I am not suicidal,” and insisted on his innocence. Courtesy of CBS Chicago

Despite receiving his jail sentence, Smollett still believes in his innocence. He has gone to the extent of saying that he was sentenced to jail because he was black. Smollett’s lawyers are trying to find ways to get the actor out of prison early and have asked for more leniency. After spending a few nights in jail, reports say that the actor is worried he will catch covid and is concerned about his mental health. The actor’s family has issued an emergency motion in the appellate court, claiming he should never have been convicted.

Empire Actor Jussie Smollett is in a ‘psych ward’ at the Cook County Jail, said his family, who want him released on bond. Courtesy of ABC 7 Chicago.

Jussie Smollett is known for three things: an actor, a singer and now a meme.

Notwithstanding it being reported that the actor’s health is at risk, which should be of concern, the way the former Empire star has behaved during and after his trial, is outright ridiculous.

Hiring two people to stage a hate crime is not only a complete disrespect to actual victims of hate-related attacks but also a big waste of time to the police and me writing this piece.

This case shows that celebrities like Jussie think they live in a video game where you can do whatever you want and have no consequences for their actions. However, this is the real world, and when you commit a crime like wasting police time, you will face the hammer of the law. But even when Jussie is facing jail time, he thinks he should be treated differently from everyone else because of his so-called popularity in a cringe-worthy television show called Empire. He is trying to use covid and various other excuses as a get out of jail card, like what you find playing Monopoly. And what doesn’t help is that his family and those close around him support his soap opera. But what Jussie and his supporters don’t realise is that he is acting like a victim. 

He is throwing his toys out of his pram whilst using his “acting skills” to try and fool us and have us feeling sorry for him.

Thankfully, the judges assessing this case weren’t fooled by this and have made the right decision. 

What was going through Jussie’s head is still beyond all of us, and we may never know why he would be so stupid in trying to fake a hate crime.  

Who is Supreme Court Nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson?

Throughout Joe Biden’s campaign, he promised to appoint the first African American U.S. Supreme Court Judge. Justice Stephen Breyer’s announced his retirement early this year, which gave Biden an open opportunity to fulfill a campaign promise. Last month, President Biden nominated a candidate to fill Justice Breyer’s seat in the U.S. Supreme Court. Her name is Ketanji Brown Jackson, and here are her credentials.

Born in Washington D.C. and raised in Miami by public school teachers, Jackson’s success was uncertain. But looking back on her childhood, it was clear to see her planting the seeds for future success.

“My parents set out to teach me that, unlike the many impenetrable barriers that they had to face, my path was clear,” recalled Jackson. “If I worked hard and believed in myself, I could do anything or be anything I wanted to be.”

Ketanji Brown Jackson and Stephen Rosenthal as high school seniors

According to the White House, she stood out as a high achiever throughout her childhood years. As a speech and debate star, she was elected “mayor” of Palmetto Junior High and Miami Palmetto Senior High School student body president. Jackson always had a history of being called into leadership positions. However, like many Black women, Judge Jackson still faced naysayers. 

When Judge Jackson told her high school guidance counselor that she wanted to attend Harvard University, the counselor warned that Jackson should not set her “sights so high.”

Fortunately, comments like those did not deter Judge Jackson. She ultimately graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, then attended Harvard Law School, where she graduated cum laude and served as Editor in Chief of the Harvard Law Review.

After college, Jackson threw herself into her work. She served as a law clerk from 1996 to 1998, spent a year in private practice at Washington, D.C., and then clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer of the U.S. Supreme Court. She worked for both private and public organizations until 2009 when President Barack Obama nominated her to vice-chair of the United States Sentencing Commission.

As vice-chair, Jackson gained notoriety by reducing the guideline range for crack cocaine offenses and enacting the “drugs minus two” amendment, which implemented a two offense-level reduction for all drug crimes.

Her excellent work on the Sentencing Commission caught the attention of lawmakers, who quickly nominated and confirmed her as a judge for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. During her time on the District Court, Jackson wrote multiple decisions adverse to the positions of the Trump administration, solidifying her position as a defender of liberal values. 

U.S. Appeals Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson smiles as she accepts U.S. President Joe Biden’s nomination to be a U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice and the first Black woman to serve on the Court while appearing with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 25, 2022. REUTERS/Leah Millis

Her experience came full circle when she was nominated on February 25, 2022, to fill a vacancy in the Supreme Court. 

Brown is the first African-American woman nominated to fill any Supreme Court vacancy. If confirmed, Jackson would become the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. She would also be the first federal public defender to sit on the Court and the first justice since Thurgood Marshall to have represented criminal defendants.

Do Russians Support Putin’s Ambition?

Much of the world is in horror over the invasion of Ukraine by Russia as the critiques behind such a move are piling onto the Kremlin.  

Through sanctions, condemnations and even the removal of Russia from a video game, the country is facing the full force of ramifications.

But through such critiques and consequences, is the world blending the ambitions of a few to a nation of people?

This is especially as we find out that not everyone in Russia has the same ambitions as the Kremlin.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy has appealed for Russians to challenge their government and voice opposition to the invasion of Ukraine. Courtesy of The Guardian

Is history repeating itself?

War is an unfortunate reoccurrence, and we can name a few wars on top of our heads. Through such human tragedy, there is an element that doesn’t spring to our minds: the repercussions to those that match the background of the aggressors of a particular conflict. Take World War Two as an example. 600,000 undocumented Italian immigrants in the United States were deemed “enemy aliens” because of the actions of a fascist called Benito Mussolini. These citizens were detained, relocated, stripped of their property, or placed under curfew because of their nationality during this time.

Fast forward to the 21st century, and 9/11 shocks the world. Yet again, the background of the aggressors faced hordes of backlash. From 2000 to 2001, hate crimes against Muslims rose 1617%, according to the FBI, which marked the highest number of Islamophobic hate crimes in the United States. 20 and a few years later, there is still this hateful sentiment towards Muslims across the west, some of which is used as a political tool by the far-right. Then, we had the Israel-Palestine conflict and a flare-up in May 2021. British Jews recorded a stagging 2,255 antisemitic incidents in the United Kingdom in that year, the highest tally in Europe. 871 of those incidents happened in May and June, which coincided with the flare-up.

And with the current news cycle flying around about this Ukraine-Russia conflict, there is a risk that history may be repeating itself. The Czech Republic, Latvia, and Japan have already stopped issuing visas to Russian citizens, with Belgium’s Minister of Immigration Sammy Mahdi indicating that “at the moment, Russians are not welcome here.” American lawmaker Eric Swalwell suggested on CNN that closing the Russian Embassy and kicking Russian students out of the United States “should be on the table.” Because of these actions and comments, we are at risk of intermingling the Kremlin and ordinary Russians, particularly when it is not clear if Russians support the invasion of Ukraine.    

“Frankly, I think closing their embassy in the United States, kicking every Russian student out of the United States … should … be on the table. … Vladimir Putin needs to know every day that he is in Ukraine, there are more severe options that could come.”

Eric Swalwell during an appearance on CNN.

Do Russians support Putin?

Professor Nikita Savin from HSE University in Moscow has said that about 70% of Russians approve of sending troops to Ukraine, according to some polls in the country.

Yet, she continued to say that “there are a lot of reasons why we should not trust these results.”

Russians are not silent – we are being silenced.

Natalia, a 52-year-old teacher in St Petersburg. Source: The Guardian

It’s better that it’s over quickly; Ukrainians brought this upon themselves; it’s better that it happens there than here; it was inevitable that the West would provoke a large conflict.”

A person writing to Jeremy Morris on Facebook. Source: Opendemocracy

One could include the “social desirability” effect, whereby people want to fit in with the majority opinion. Another reason why there is an uneasiness to trust such results is due to the many anti-war protests in Russia. Over 1000 people were detained in a recent anti-war protest, indicating that the polling results might not match what is going on in the streets of Russia. Not only that, but some Russians are feeling unfairly punished for the actions of Putin. But the most substantial reason is reports of people fearing punishment if they indicate anti-war views in the country through polling or other means. In a Guardian callout asking for Russian views of the situation, those that contacted the outlet expressed concern. Natalia, a 52-year-old teacher in St Petersburg, believe that Russians live in “fear of imprisonment, which nowadays, has become a sad reality.”

Russian civilians are divided on the invasion of Ukraine as anti-war protests break out in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Courtesy of Sky News

We must separate the Kremlin and Russians

Russians are already feeling the international sanctions as their lives have been disrupted. Financial services like Apple Pay and Google Pay have been cut off for these citizens, the rouble has collapsed, and mass queues have been seen outside of ATMs in Russia. But what we must hope is that these financial consequences don’t evolve into something a lot darker, which has already been seen before. As history has pointed out, sentiments that started off towards governments have transferred to ordinary citizens, seen by spikes in hate crimes.

According to The Office for National Statistics, there are estimates of around 73,000 Russians here in the United Kingdom living as residents.

Many of them are worried that this anti-kremlin sentiment will transfer to them, despite wanting to live their lives in peace.   

Let’s hope people have learnt their history and don’t repeat the past mistakes that we have seen when catastrophe strikes.

Whilst our thoughts are with the Ukrainians, there may come a time when we will need to include ordinary Russians in these thoughts as well.

The Conflict In Ukraine is Exposing Football’s Hypocrisy

Arsenal Football Club has come under fire for their pro-Ukraine, anti-war stance (along with the rest of the Premier League) despite previously stating that they ‘do not get involved in politics.’

In response to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Premier League clubs had one-minute applauses before all fixtures during Matchweek 28. Arsenal was no exception in their game against Watford away at Vicarage Road, which they won 3-2.

However, Arsenal has been accused of hypocrisy for this, as this situation has been compared to a previous political issue, which the club distanced itself from.

Former Gunners midfielder Mesut Ozil, a German with Turkish origins, and who is a Muslim, made comments about the alleged persecution of Uighur Muslims in China in 2019. Arsenal distanced themselves from his comments, saying, in a statement, “Arsenal is always apolitical as an organisation.”

Ozil’s comments prompted him to be removed from the Chinese edition of the Pro Evolution Soccer 2020 video game, and the state broadcaster refused to show Arsenal’s next match against Manchester City.

Arsenal signed Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid in 2013
David Ramos/Getty Images

Many have suggested a link between his comments and the manner in which Ozil left the club, as he rapidly fell out of favour with the club’s hierarchy and subsequent managers. For a period of time, the World Cup-winning midfielder was not even registered for either Premier League or Europa League squads.

The German eventually departed for Turkish club Fenerbaché in 2021.

Are we really surprised?

The anger towards Arsenal is justified but expected. It is a testament to society’s moral compass that we are still outraged by injustice and hypocrisy, and other aspects of the political arena often intertwine with the sport.

Sportswashing is a very real thing, with countries with multiple human rights violations often using sport as a way to improve the image of their country. The general public gets so caught up in the spectacle of sport that they overlook – or simply don’t care about – the metaphorical skeletons in the closets.

Chelsea fans voiced their support for their owner and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, who has decided to sell the club due to his ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Qatar, which is due to host the World Cup this year, has been accused of rampant human rights violations, with workers allegedly exposed to forced labour, unpaid wages and excessive working hours.

Dr. David Wearing discusses ‘sports washing’ on Sky News. Video credit: Sky News

The Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, recently bought Newcastle United from billionaire Mike Ashley. Amongst concerns regarding online piracy, human rights campaign group Amnesty International pointed to its human rights record, calling the takeover “an extremely bitter blow for human rights defenders.”

Hatice Cengiz, the fiancée of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered by the Saudi regime, was also against the takeover.

These are just a few examples of countries that have committed obscene crimes and used financial investment to persuade Western countries to look the other way, and China is no exception.

The unofficial ‘deal’ is simple; human rights-violating countries invest significant funds into the sport, with the clubs willing to not criticise their corrupt paymasters.

Chinese state broadcaster iQIYI owns the exclusive rights to the Premier League, reportedly estimated to be worth £30 million a season until at least 2025. Therefore, it is no surprise that Arsenal distanced themselves from Ozil’s comments, as they have commercial interests with China.

Sports correspondent Rob Harris highlights the hypocrisy in Arsenal’s public support of Ukraine.

Some would argue that the ongoing conflict has the capacity to affect Arsenal and England directly, as the invasion is taking place in Europe, prompting more urgent responses.

On the other hand, many would argue that Arsenal is somewhat protected from any repercussions of Russian retaliation to this, as world governments have issued tough sanctions on Russia due to their ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

To an extent, this is true. Trade and other forms of commerce have affected the West’s relationship with Russia. Many products and services have been suspended indefinitely, pending further updates on the situation.

However, it would be interesting to ascertain whether or not Arsenal would have a similar public stance if the Russia/Ukraine situation were not so widely publicised and condemned. We may never know.

By claiming to be apolitical and then openly supporting a country, Arsenal have shot themselves in the foot. It’s clear to see this is not about morality and staying away from politics, but rather about trying to protect their financial interests.

Therefore Arsenal are to be condemned for their blatant hypocrisy and rightly called out for it, but one would be hard-pressed to find another club who wouldn’t behave in a similar manner in these circumstances.

What Is Actually Going On With Russia and Ukraine? // Common Sense Pod 66

M.T. takes questions from listeners of #CommonSensePodcast on the topic of Russia and Ukraine. The conflict has rightly dominated news cycles over the last few days, however, many may still be curious about the different moving parts and motivations.

Topics

  • Is this the second cold war?
  • The treatment of black people in Ukraine
  • Why is President Putin doing this?
  • Racism in the media
  • How is this going to end?
  • What happens next

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What Does Redemption Look Like For Celebrities

Podcaster Joe Rogan has apologised after recently resurfaced tweets that showed him using racial slurs has had him come under fire.

Amidst the controversy surrounding his podcast and alleged coronavirus misinformation, Rogan has been shown to have used the ‘n-word’ to describe black people, in a video recorded almost fifteen years ago.

He has since apologised for the tweets and promised to learn from his mistakes, but many do not think that is enough. Many have called for him to have his contract with Spotify terminated, and even prosecuted for hate speech.

Others think it’s part of a smear campaign to assassinate Rogan’s character and use it as an excuse to exclude him from public life and social media, in regards to his podcast series ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’, which has seen viewership equal and even surpass mainstream media networks and television channels.

They point out that the timing of the resurfaced video is suspicious.

Google defines redemption as ‘the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.’ Like Joe Rogan, other public figures have been put under fire for various sins. It’s understandable how and why people are angry (irrespective of the timing of certain actions), but even so, we should put things in context and perspective.

West Ham defender Kurt Zouma recently came under fire for filming himself kicking his cat. His actions have been rightly condemned and he will have to face the consequences. However, we should look at the bigger picture here; society’s unwillingness to forgive and redeem certain public figures is, for the most part, quite disturbing.

To punish someone for a crime or offence and to give them a second chance to redeem themselves are not mutually exclusive; the two can coexist, and when given the opportunity, can go on to do amazing things.

Robert Downey Jr. walks out of interview when questioned about his past. Video credit: Channel 4 News

Actor Robert Downey Jr. at one point found himself behind bars for drug offences. Having his wife leave him, being addicted to drugs and being in and out of rehab centres for years, he was finally rehabilitated and went on to play the Marvel Comic character Tony Stark/Iron Man. Due to this role, he has become one of Hollywood’s most highly paid stars.

Golf legend Tiger Woods was at the top of his game during the 90s but fell from grace in the eyes of the public due to his multiple infidelities. He fell to world number 58 in 2011 before ascending back to the number one spot in 2014. In 2019 he won the Masters, his first major championship in eleven years, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from then-President Donald Trump.

Had these two characters not been given the chance to redeem themselves, they would not be remembered in the same way as they are today. So the question is, what is it that they did – or didn’t do – that makes them more redeemable than Zouma or Rogan? Why are people calling for Zouma and Rogan to be effectively made social pariahs and for the right to earn a living to be taken away, but not for Woods and Downey?

What makes a person more redeemable than somebody else? Is there a hierarchy of sins or crimes? Does light animal cruelty or alleged Covid misinformation trump drug addiction and infidelity? Who decides what redemption is, and what does it look like?

Many would argue that it depends on the nature of the crime, and this is true to a certain extent. With a few particular crimes, there is a stigma that comes attached with it and for good reason. Sexual assault/rape and crimes against children seem to be the main two that come to mind. Even being merely accused of such a crime will irreparably damage a person’s reputation, innocent or guilty.

Joe Rogan and broadcaster Maajid Nawaz speak about the World Economic Forum.

However, for the most part, there isn’t that much that separates the public from public figures. Public figures are human beings and as such are prone to the same weaknesses and temptations as all human beings. Money, sex, drugs, alcoholism and other pleasurable things are appealing to the common man, so why not the public figure?

Why do we hold them to higher standards? Why do we put them on pedestals and assume they are morally superior to the general public? Are we that foolish? Many of us, if put in similar situations as some of these aforementioned characters, would act in similar ways.

One could be defied to find a man who wasn’t at least tempted by being able to date – and bed – any woman he wanted, due to his sheer wealth and status. One could also be defied to find a person who isn’t prone to seek out unhealthy and destructive devices through which to channel their inner struggles if given the choice.

It would be interesting to find out what happens when a person who joins the mob finds themselves on the other side of the firing line. Chrissy Teigen, model and wife of singer John Legend, was known for being ‘America’s sweetheart’; only to discover that she was actually a bully in the past, encouraging many celebrities to actively take their own lives.

Under her own brand of ‘justice’, she should never be allowed back into the public sphere, right? If racial slurs from fifteen years ago represent Rogan’s character today, then tweets from Teigen eleven years ago, urging people to commit suicide, should also represent Tiegen’s character today, logically.

So what does redemption look like? It looks like society giving public figures the chance to prove their worth and redeeming qualities. It also means to think rationally and put things into perspective and find out if any crimes were actually committed.

Chrissy Teigen exposed for the bully she was. Video credit: news.com.au

It’s a tricky question to answer, but what is for certain is that it must start with a societal change and a willingness to forgive and give people second chances. However, due to society’s seemingly unquenchable thirst for social justice and ‘cancelling’, it is a world that we are unlikely to experience, unfortunately.

Zouma’s actions against his cat were reprehensible, but the reaction to it by the British public was unwarranted and disproportional and is more of a reflection of the British public’s zoophilic moral compass than Zouma’s character.

Rogan made the mistake of challenging traditional journalism and getting more viewership than lots of mainstream media channels simply by being open, honest and transparent. He has apologised for the racial slurs he used. Many feel that he should be punished, but why now and not before (a conversation for another day)?

Society needs to be more forgiving and understanding. There needs to be the same eagerness and willingness to rehabilitate and forgive as there is to punish and chastise. Of course, punishments are an inevitable consequence of actions, but the chance to do better must be given also.

Failure to do so will have a devastating impact on society at large going forward.

How To Create Your Own Luck w/ Dr Christian Busch // Common Sense Pod 65

M.T. is joined by Dr Christian Busch, the Director of the Global Economy Program at New York University. In this episode, they talk about creating your own luck as you navigate through life and much more

Christian teaches on purpose-driven leadership, entrepreneurship, emerging markets, and (social) innovation at NYU and at the London School of Economics. He served as Inaugural Deputy Director at the LSE’s Innovation Center and is the co-founder of Sandbox Network, a global community of young innovators, as well as of Leaders on Purpose, an organization convening leading CEOs. Christian’s bestselling book, The Serendipity Mindset (Penguin Random House), has been highlighted as a “wise, exciting, and life-changing book”

Topics

  • How to become a polymath
  • Joe Rogan and Spotify
  • What is the serendipity mindset
  • What lockdown taught us
  • How to turn random events into life-changing ones
  • Living in New York – New York vs London
  • The importance of fighting for survival

Intro song: ‘YAH’ by SAMSON: https://open.spotify.com/track/58BsL3… Like what you watched? Click here to join our community for free – https://csnetwork.substack.com/

Do You know How To Spot Fake News Online? // Let’s Talk About it

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Episode Two: Fake News – What is it and how do we counter or think more critically This episode explores fake news, covering the origin of the term and how it’s used today in popular culture. In this episode, we explore how fake news spreads and how you can stop it. In our digital age, it’s becoming harder to tell the difference so this skill is very important.

– What is the C.R.A.P Method?

– When was the last time you saw fake news and how did you know it was fake news?

– What can we all do collectively to combat the spreading of fake news on social media?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section

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We are an independent news outlet. We were founded by 500+ ordinary people who saw a problem with the mainstream media and did something about it. This means we are not solely driven by profit margins or vested interests. We are a platform kept alive by our community who we exist to serve. In a digital age, where the news cycles moves at dizzying speeds, news has become noise. The Common Sense Network is a platform our readers visit to discover stories that matter. To discover stories from across the political spectrum, local stories, stories that hold power to account, that uncover wrongdoing, that empower the forgotten and the unheard. We are on a mission to build the broadest coalition of diverse commentators in the UK. Our articles are well researched, well written and straight-talking. We remain committed to providing multiple perspectives on issues because we believe, there are two sides to every story….

The Conflict Between Russia and Ukraine Explained

Summary

  • Russian troops are in northern districts of the capital Kyiv, Ukraine says, and video shows armoured vehicles advancing
  • The government calls on citizens to make Molotov cocktails and defend the city
  • The interior ministry also says 18,000 machine guns have been given to volunteers
  • Russian forces have taken control of Hostomel airfield near Kyiv, Russian Ministry of Defence says
  • At least 194 Ukrainians, including 57 civilians, have been killed across country, says the UK
  • Ukraine’s defence ministry says more than 1,000 Russian troops have been killed
  • On an island in the Black Sea, 13 border guards refused to surrender to a Russian warship and were massacred
  • Russia is stripped of Champions League final, which moves from St Petersburg to Paris

The tumultuous relationship between Russia and Ukraine did not arise overnight. Tensions between the two countries have been swelling for almost eight years. Despite various sanctions from Western countries, President Putin decided to attack Ukraine anyway. Recently Russia’s president Vladimir Putin addressed his nation to reinforce the attacks on Ukraine were necessary to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine. Amid his speech, Putin threatened other countries not to interfere with the conflict in Ukraine, stating “it [would] lead to consequences you have never seen in history .” Russia’s attack leaves the world anxious and confused as Russia gets deeper and deeper into Ukraine territory. Here is the conflict explained.

Why is There A Conflict?

President Vladimir Putan and President Volodymyr Zelensky


Although tensions between Russia and Ukraine have always been present, the pressures took a turn for the worse in January of 2021 when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged US President Joe Biden to let Ukraine join NATO. In turn, this action angered Russia and Putin retaliated by sending troops near the Ukraine border for “training exercises” in spring last year. While Russia increased their troops near the Ukraine border, President Biden and other EU allies warned Russia of possible severe sanctions if they do not remove their forces.

Russia’s Attack


Russia has denied that the goal was to invade Ukraine; however, the attack and invasion in Ukraine were all but inevitable. Russia has supplied military hardware to Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine to undermine Ukraine’s government and sovereignty. After the invasion and annexation of Crimea, Russia showed its power by increasing military troops along the border.

Doing this sent a warning, not only to Ukraine but to the rest of the world. Earlier this week, Russia had carried out missile strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and border guards and set explosions that civilians could hear in various cities. Russian troops attacked Ukraine from Belarus. Troops also confirmed they had taken out military infrastructure at Ukrainian airbases and degraded their air defences. President Zelenskyy implemented martial law, and people are beginning to flee to safety.

What Does Putin Want?

Cartoon explaining conflict


To put it plainly, Putin does not want Ukraine a part of NATO. The fact that Ukraine inquired about joining forces with the West aggravated Moscow. Putin does not want to see NATO or the EU expand. Even though Ukraine is no imminent prospect to become a member of either body, Putin wants to ensure that the inclusion is off the table entirely.

While the conflict is primarily about the future of Ukraine, it is also about giving Russia a global stage to demonstrate its power. President Putin has not shied away from expressing his frustration with the dissolution of the Soviet Union and has always wanted to rebuild Russia’s power base and influence on the global stage.

Western Response

President Joe Biden speaks about the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the East Room of the White House. (AP Photo)


Along with other allies, President Biden has implemented more sanctions to weaken the Russian military. These sanctions include isolating Moscow from the world financial system and driving the country to a potential recession. President Zelensky has sent an outcry or other nations to help protect Ukrainian citizens and help fight against Russian troops.

The US Department of Defense has deployed around 1000 troops to Ukraine. There are many speculations on whether Russia’s invasion will cause another Cold or World War. Western Nations and allies have commented on Russia’s actions, but none of these nations has stated whether they are moving further than issuing sanctions at this time. While there are still many uncertainties about the future of this conflict, one thing that is for sure is the turmoil between the two countries will not be over any time soon.

Are We Really Saying Animals Are Worth More Than Human Beings?

West Ham United defender Kurt Zouma has come under fire after a video was leaked on Twitter of him and his brother abusing his pet cat.

The 27-year-old France international was seen kicking and slapping his cat, which was met by widespread criticism and condemnation by the public and animal rights charities. Despite releasing an apology, the RSPCA seized Zouma’s cats in February and several sponsors of West Ham have suspended their partnership with the club until a satisfactory resolution is found.

West Ham fined him £250,000 and donated the wages to animal charities.

Manager David Moyes was also criticised for selecting Zouma to play in their Premier League fixture against Watford, saying ‘the matter was being dealt with internally.’

He has also called for forgiveness, saying in a press conference, “….the boy [Zouma] is so ­remorseful – he’s really ­disappointed with his ­actions.”

“So we have a duty of care – even the mental health side of things – we’re trying to make sure we give him every opportunity, that we give him support as well. He knows he has made a mistake and his family know they have made a mistake about the whole situation.”

“He’s so disappointed with himself and his actions.”

Ian Wright labels Kurt Zouma "a coward" following attack on cat - Mirror  Online
Ian Wright labels Kurt Zouma “a coward” following attack on cat (Source: MIRROR)

Despite the backlash against Zouma growing, many have questioned whether or not the reaction has been proportional or fair, and have compared it with human injustices – mainly racism.

West Ham and Jamaica forward Michail Antonio questioned the public’s reaction to Zouma’s actions, saying, “I’m not condoning a thing that he’s done. I don’t agree with what he’s done, at all. But there are people that have been convicted in court for racism and have then played football afterwards.”

“They got punished, an eight-game punishment or something like that, but people are now calling for people to be sacked and to lose their livelihood.”

“I’ve just got to ask this question to everyone out there: is what he’s done worse than what the people convicted of racism have done?”

It is a testament to Britain’s unhealthy zoophilic moral compass that the nation actually finds itself debating whether or not Zouma’s actions deserve similar or worse punishments to their human counterparts.

At best, it shows an over-eagerness to protect animals (in itself a laudable cause) that has been hijacked by extremist opportunists. At worst, it highlights the elevated status of the animal – on par with human beings – in the British psyche, leading many to question the morals and ethics therein.

To be clear: Zouma’s actions should be – and have been – condemned. There is absolutely no excuse for kicking, slapping and otherwise hurting a defenceless animal. One can be defied to find a person who wholeheartedly supports Zouma’s abuse of his cats, and he will (and has) face the consequences, both financially and socially.

Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan weighs in on Zouma’s continued appearance for West Ham. Video credit: talkSPORT

This situation also highlights football’s tricky and uneasy relationship with money and morals. Many would point out that Manchester United are legally obliged to pay forward Mason Greenwood his full salary due to the lack of formal criminal charges despite alleged evidence; a conversation for another day.

Instead, what one should consider is whether or not the British public indeed has a moral issue in regards to where animals fit in the moral and ethical hierarchy; and make no mistake about it, there IS a hierarchy.

It is widely accepted that human beings take precedence over animal life. When faced with a stark choice between an animal and a human, the average person would choose the human every time. It is a moral and philosophical premise that governs our set of ethics and practices in relation to legislation and policy.

Some would argue that human beings are ‘just another species’, meaning our lives are the same as humans. Others would argue due to fact that human beings are sentient, having a higher level of consciousness and our rationality to name but a few is what puts us in a category above animals.

Animals do not possess the empathy, sympathy, language and another equal capacity for communication and shared emotions as human beings do. We are simply on another playing field.

Marci Phonix highlights the injustice of the ‘no blacks, no dogs, no Irish’ culture. Video credit: RT

History shows us that, when a group of people is marginalised, they have often been categorised as animals in order to degrade them – an act in itself that demonstrates the perception and acceptance of the animal as an inferior being in the hierarchy of life.

It was only in the last century that unapologetic signs which read ‘No blacks, No dogs, No Irish’ were commonplace in England, being hung proudly outside properties available for rent in the post-War period.

To compare and categorise a human being in the same level as an animal is to create a ‘food chain’, whereby some human beings are seen as less valuable than other human beings – in a similar way to how animals are seen as less valuable than human beings – which is what makes it so immoral.

We have also seen other countries demonstrate what happens when a human being is in immediate danger of being potentially harmed by an animal. In 2016, in Cincinnati Zoo, a three-year-old boy climbed into the gorilla enclosure where he was grabbed and dragged around by a male, silverback gorilla known as Harambe.

For the boy’s safety, Harambe was shot and killed, with zoo officials feeling they had no choice but to take the decision. American zookeeper Jack Hanna defended their actions, saying that tranquillisers could take a longer time to affect Harambe due to his sheer size, which could have aggravated him even further.

Had the child died, the zoo would have been faced with much more serious legal consequences.

News reports about Harambe the gorilla. Video credit: ABC News

What does this all have to do with Zouma? It’s quite simple really. The British public has overreacted to Zouma’s actions. Whilst they must be condemned without question, one must also put them into a wider context in regards to the value of animal life compared to human life.

It’s about perspective. There is an objective standard of morality to be adhered to, here. As much as it is commendable to despise animal cruelty in all its forms, to have similar levels of outrage to human crimes is, quite frankly, offensive.

Therefore, to see this level of outrage from the British public towards Zouma is unacceptable, unwarranted and indefensible. Not all crimes are the same, especially one where it concerns animals (with the exception of a few particularly bad cases).

People have called for him to lose his job, to be prosecuted and jailed indefinitely, compared him to serial killers and even wished death upon him. When comparing the crimes to the punishment, it seems disproportionate.

Ex-Liverpool and Rangers midfielder Graeme Souness has ‘no sympathy’ for Zouma.

Sure, punish him. Fine him. Make him take animal cruelty classes and maybe even community service, but the public shaming of Zouma simply must end.

Are animals worth more than human beings? No, they are not. Are animals worth the same as human beings? Again, no they are not. To treat them as if they are is not to promote animals to a higher status, but to relegate human beings to a lower one, as animals do not have the same capacity as human beings on multiple levels.

The British public urgently needs to rethink its views of animals and where they fit in a hierarchal structure, otherwise, we run the risk of degrading humans rather than ‘elevating’ animals. Animals matter, but humans matter more.

It’s sad that this needs to be pointed out.

The NFL Is More Satisfied With Printing End Racism T-shirts Than Actually Ending Racism

Brian Flores, the former head coach of the Miami Dolphins, filed a lawsuit earlier this month against the National Football League (NFL) and its teams for racial discrimination in hiring practices. Flores’s lawsuit, which coincides with Black History Month, reignited the national conversation surrounding race and the importance of representation.


Flores stated that he was interviewed for head coaching jobs under false pretenses. The lawsuit says that ‘the NFL remains rife with racism, particularly when hiring and retaining black Head Coaches, Coordinators, and General Managers.’

Flores said: “In making the decision to file that class action complaint today, I understand that I may be risking coaching the game that I love, and that has done so much for my family and me.” He continues, “My sincere hope is that by standing up to systemic racism in the NFL, others will join me to ensure that positive change is made for generations to come.”

The NFL has had a long, unpleasant history of not hiring ethnic minorities for prominent positions. In 1921, Fritz Pollard became the first African American to be hired by the NFL. However, it took 68 years before another black man could lead a team.

A breakdown of how black representation in the NFL

The lawsuit parallels the controversies over Colin Kaepernick and the protests he began as an NFL quarterback in 2016 to draw attention to racial injustices against African Americans. Since Kaepernick, the NFL has had to face protests from more players and calls for better representation. Despite their many statements against discrimination and promises to diversify head coaching jobs through the implementation of the Rooney Rule, the NFL only has one black man in a head coaching position.

Acknowledging the lack of representation at the top level, finding a solution to combat that, and implementing that solution to create a lasting change, separates many of those protesting for “Black Lives Matter” a year and a half ago. The key to the issue of systematic racism is simple –hire more black people. The problem of underrepresentation in the sports industry is laughable considering the amount of contribution made by many black athletes worldwide—representation matters. Having diverse experiences and perspectives within a team or in a boardroom enhances governance; it allows everyone, regardless of background, shape, size, and orientation, to feel seen.

“Until society represents everyone, the questions will always be: ‘where do I belong?’, ‘do I belong?” -Aisha Thomas.

However, despite many promises of change, the NFL and corporations like it cannot put their words into action. Owners and higher management are more satisfied with printing slogans like “It Takes All Of Us To End Racism” and “End Racism” across T-shirts than actually doing something about ending racism.

Mario Williams, a civil rights lawyer in Atlanta, said in response to whether the NFL would settle the lawsuit outside of court: “Seventy percent Black players, one head coach, 32 rich white owners. That’s a farce. And the NFL doesn’t want to deal with this because he has the truth on his side – that billionaire white owners that typically are older, coming out of a different generation, which is essentially operating a plantation.”

Limiting the number of black people in places of influence means restraining their dreams and aspirations. Society must see a diverse range of people in all areas to beat systemic racism. The truth is, the NFL could hire more black people as head coaches – they don’t want to.

Mike Was Told His Surname Is Not ‘Very British’ // Lets Talk About It

Episode One: British Identity and Nationalism This episode is exploring what has happened to nationalism since Brexit and the COVID19. Is the nation-state back? How are people using these world events to drive division and how can we overcome it.

This episode is about community and whether COVID has led to the rediscovering of community. We want to discuss how we can mobilise the community in dealing with hateful extremism.

In watching the episode here are some helpful things to think about..let us know your thoughts in the comment section

  • What does the British flag mean to you?
  • If you could add three things into a time capsule that would describe ‘who you are,’ would a British flag be one of them, if not why not?
  • Is there a way healthy way to channel nationalist sentiments?

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