The claim, which has the backing of institutional investors with over 12 million shares in the company, is said to be the first case in the world seeking to hold a board of directors liable for failure to properly prepare for the energy transition. Environmental law firm ClientEarth, in its capacity as a shareholder, filed the lawsuit against the British oil major’s board at the high court of England and Wales.

It alleges 11 members of Shell’s board are mismanaging climate risk, breaching company law by failing to implement an energy transition strategy that aligns with the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement. “The shift to a low-carbon economy is not just inevitable, it’s already happening. Yet the Board is persisting with a transition strategy that is fundamentally flawed, leaving the company seriously exposed to the risks that climate change poses to Shell’s future success — despite the Board’s legal duty to manage those risks,” Paul Benson, senior lawyer at ClientEarth, said in a statement. Source: CNBC (link in bio) #renewables #future #greenenergy https://www.instagram.com/p/CqdIkQBreV2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Perhaps most inspiring, the study’s statistical analysis suggests that 1 in 10 of all early deaths might be averted if each of us got up and moved even a little more than many of us currently do. Walking for at least 11 minutes every day could lower your risk of premature death by almost 25 percent, according to the largest study to date of physical activity, disease risk and mortality. Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the ambitious study analyzed health data for more than 30 million people, looking for correlations between how much people move and how long and well they live.
 Its findings show that even small amounts of exercise contribute to substantial improvements in longevity and can lower risks of developing or dying of heart disease and many types of cancer.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge, Queen’s University Belfast wound up with 196 studies, covering more than 30 million people, making this by many measures and a hefty margin, “the largest” study of how exercise contributes to longevity. Source: Washington Post (link in bio) #health #briskwalking #prevention #science https://www.instagram.com/p/CqYBvirr3Qo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Back in the 1990s, only 46 countries had a paid leave policy for fathers, largely high-income nations, per the policy center's data. Now the number is nearly three times as high. Sixty-three percent of countries around the world provide guaranteed paid parental leave for fathers, according to a report from the World Policy Analysis Center. Though support is growing for paternity leave, there's still a stigma attached to men who take time off to care for their children. Yet, studies find numerous benefits for the economy, for fathers, and for their partners. Increasing the uptake of leave by fathers is important because it is thought to enhance gender equality at home, can have positive effects on a child’s development and may reduce the barriers to parenthood. Source: Axios (link in bio) #paternityleave #family #progress #fatherhood https://www.instagram.com/p/CqS3BKsrUBH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Finland first topped the World Happiness Report in 2018. The country has remained at the top of the rankings based on how the people there describe their personal sense of "wellbeing," according to the publication. The happiness score also considers countries' gross domestic product, social support systems, personal freedom and levels of corruption. We believe Finnish happiness stems from a close relationship with nature and our down-to-earth lifestyle," Heli Jimenez, Business Finland's senior director of international marketing said. "It's not some mystical state, but a skill that can be learned and shared." Those selected for the Masterclass of Happiness will work with coaches in four areas: nature and lifestyle, health and balance, design and everyday, and food and wellbeing. The happiness class will be held at the Kuru Resort in the Finnish Lakeland from June 12-15, with participants arriving on June 11 and leaving on June 16. Visit Finland will cover all costs for 10 people. Those interested in applying have until April 2. Applicants, who must be at least 18 years old, will have to complete a social media challenge on Instagram or TikTok in which they post a video "showing us what things make you believe you may secretly be a Finn," according to Visit Finland. Source: CBS News (link in bio) #finland #happiness #travel #goodnews https://www.instagram.com/p/CqLFN5CLeFQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The Scottish Parliament has just voted to pass the new Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill, 20 years after the Scottish Parliament last tried to ban the cruel blood sport of fox hunting in 2002. This new Bill means that many of the loopholes that have allowed it to continue have been closed. Crucially, this Bill also includes a pre-emptive ban on trail hunting which is often seen as a 'smokescreen’, or a loophole, for hunts to continue in England and Wales. This means that trail hunting will not be legal north of the border. Scotland will now have the most robust law anywhere in the UK so far, to prevent the cruelty of chasing and killing wild mammals for sport - and this is something to celebrate. Despite a persistent campaign from those resolute to keep hunting alive in the Scottish countryside, and with encouragement from tens of thousands of people from around the country, the Scottish Government has been determined to end the sport of hunting, a sentiment which has been supported by the Parliament. Source: League.org.uk (link in bio) #fox #scotland #animalrights https://www.instagram.com/p/CqGAVdyLvUl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The groundbreaking vaccine aims to limit the damage to bee colonies caused by foulbrood. The disease, for which there is currently no cure, develops from the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae, which can weaken and destroy colonies. It is the most severe, problematic and challenging of all the diseases that may affect a colony. In some areas of the US, the disease has affected one in four hives. Beekeepers are forced to dismantle and burn any infected colonies and use antibiotics to limit the spread. There are millions of beehives all over the world, and they don’t have a good health care system compared to other animals. Now, a pioneering vaccine hopes to quell the disastrous effects of foulbrood disease. Before you start imagining a tiny syringe being inserted into a bee (which is exactly what I imagined for the illustration), the vaccine which contains dead versions of Paenibacillus larvae, the bacterium that causes American foulbrood — comes in the form of food. The vaccine is incorporated into royal jelly, a sugar feed given to queen bees. Once they ingest it, the vaccine is then deposited in their ovaries, giving developing larvae immunity as they hatch. “Our vaccine is a breakthrough in protecting honeybees,” said Annette Kleiser, chief executive of Dalan Animal Health. “We are ready to change how we care for insects on a global scale.” Source: New York Times (link in bio) #bee #savethebees #science https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp0AwuBrANe/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Advancements in A.I. are beginning to deliver breakthroughs in breast cancer screening by detecting the signs that doctors miss.

So far, the technology is showing an impressive ability to spot cancer at least as well as human radiologists, according to early results and radiologists, in what is one of the most tangible signs to date of how A.I. can improve public health. Hungary, which has a robust breast cancer screening program, is one of the largest testing grounds for the technology on real patients. At five hospitals and clinics that perform more than 35,000 screenings a year, A.I. systems were rolled out starting in 2021 and now help to check for signs of cancer that a radiologist may have overlooked. Clinics and hospitals in the United States, Britain and the European Union are also beginning to test or provide data to help develop the systems. Source: New York Times (link in bio) #cancer #prevention #artificialintelligence #ai https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpu1Z-NO6y3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The number of Belgians who commute to work by bicycle has increased dramatically over the past few years, a recent study by Belgium's FPS Mobility has found.

All employees who cycle to work will soon be entitled to a bicycle compensation of €0.27 per km of their commute from 1 May 2023, Previously, the compensation was €0.24 per km. In Belgium, 571,000 employees already receive a mileage allowance. A few km commute to work could equate to over a thousand € a year, tax-free, straight into your pocket. 

The bicycle allowance in Belgium is given to employees who regularly commute to work using this mode of transportation. Interested individuals can send a signed declaration to their employees to claim the allowance. It should state that they use a bicycle to and from the office and the distance they travel.

Apart from the positive impact to employees' health and the environment, reducing the number of cars on the road ease congestion. Source: Brussel Times (link in bio) #bike #health #belgium #environment https://www.instagram.com/p/CpnMKkNL2TI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

This is a historic day for conservation and a sign that in a divided world, protecting nature and people can triumph over geopolitics.

Nations have reached a historic agreement to protect the world's oceans following 10 years of negotiations. The High Seas Treaty aims to place 30% of the seas into protected areas by 2030, to safeguard and recuperate marine nature. The negotiations had been held up for years over disagreements on funding and fishing rights. The last international agreement on ocean protection was signed 40 years ago in 1982 - the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. These new protected areas, established in the treaty, will put limits on how much fishing can take place, the routes of shipping lanes and exploration activities like deep sea mining - when minerals are taken from a sea bed 200m or more below the surface. Source: BBC (link in bio) #ocean #conservation #marinelife https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpc5r8jrrpL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The trial, which ran for six months from June last year, required firms to reduce their working hours for all employees by 20 per cent without any reduction in wages. The study revealed a significant decrease in rates of stress and illness among the approximately 2,900 staff who participated in the shorter working week. The number of sick days taken during the trial dropped by around two thirds, and 39 per cent of employees reported being less stressed compared to the start of the trial.

There was a decrease in anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and burnout, while balancing care responsibilities became easier for more staff. The report also noted a 57 per cent decrease in the number of staff leaving participating companies compared to the same period the previous year, despite the “great resignation” period. Source: The National News (link in bio) #uk #4dayworkweek #anxiety https://www.instagram.com/p/CpNVg2EOadG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Spain has just passed a law allowing those with especially painful periods to take paid "menstrual leave" from work, in a European first. The law gives the right to a three-day “menstrual” leave of absence - with the possibility of extending it to five days - for those with disabling periods, which can cause severe cramps, nausea, dizziness and even vomiting. The law states that the new policy will help combat the stereotypes and myths that still surround periods and hinder women's lives. Source: Euro News (link in bio) #spain #period #healthcare https://www.instagram.com/p/CpAjhGQLebR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

When a patient experiencing food insecurity and an illness like diabetes comes to a clinic at Boston’s Mass General Brigham, they might leave with a prescription for fruit and vegetables. Around a week later, they’ll get a debit card in the mail that they can use to buy the produce at local grocery stores. The card, called Fresh Connect, can automatically recognize fruit and vegetables when someone checks out at a store. It’s designed as a tool to help prevent and treat disease, and to help people who struggle to afford healthy food. “The reason healthcare needs to get in the game, driving billions of dollars of avoidable costs, is simply because people don’t have the money in the bank to afford all the foods that they need,” says Josh Trautwein, cofounder and CEO of About Fresh, the Boston-based nonprofit that created the debit card. At a store, shoppers bring a full cart of groceries to check out, swipe the Fresh Connect card, and it automatically covers the cost of produce before they pay the rest of the bill; the amount available varies by provider, but is often around $100 a month. Source: Fast Company (link in bio) #healthcare #food #freshfood #goodnews https://www.instagram.com/p/Co43JJhLiBk/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Japan has one of the highest total numbers as well as density of hospitals in the world. In Japan, the term “hospitals” generally refers to health care facilities with more than 20 beds for patient admissions. Most Japanese citizens have public health insurance which covers a minimum of 70 percent of medical costs. Citizens pay between 10 and 30 percent of the medical fees depending on their income with the government subsidizing the remaining costs for low-income households. Hospitals in Japan fundamentally operate as non-profit organizations and are normally owned and managed by physicians. The Japanese government oversees and strictly regulates medical fees to keep treatments affordable for the public. Non-profit doesn’t mean no income (or profit). It just means all available monies are returned to the institution for infrastructure, operating expenses, salaries, improvements, equipment and facilities, not skimmed off to pay ever-increasing shareholder premiums while the hospital infrastructure is nickel and dimed into obsolescence to pay those shareholders. Source: Statista (link in bio) #japan #healthcare #goodnews https://www.instagram.com/p/CoxIaVyrbwd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Australia has become the first country to recognise psychedelics as medicines, after the Therapeutic Goods Administration took researchers by surprise and approved the psychedelic substances in magic mushrooms and MDMA for use by people with certain mental health conditions. MDMA and psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, will be considered schedule 8 drugs - meaning they’re approved for controlled use when prescribed by a psychiatrist - from July this year after the TGA acknowledged there were few other options for patients with specific treatment-resistant mental illnesses.

The changes will allow MDMA to be used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. The TGA’s decision said it considered several thousands of written public submissions in making its call, and that the benefits to patients paired with tight controls outweighed the risks.

Source: WA Today (link in bio) #australia #mentalhealth #plant https://www.instagram.com/p/Com0vZJLrRb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

For a growing number of European citizens, coming of age now has the added perk of hundreds of euros to spend on culture—be that highbrow opera performances or action-packed comic books. Earlier this month, Germany became the latest European country to announce a culture pass for youth to spend on books, theater trips, music, museums, and movies. All young people in Germany turning 18 in 2023—which is estimated to be around 750,000 people—will be eligible for the €200 ($208) pass. The Kulturpass has twin aims: to encourage young adults to experience live culture and drop stay-at-home pandemic habits; and give a financial boost to the arts scene, which has yet to recover from repeated lockdowns.

“My hope is that the KulturPass will make young people go out and experience culture, see how diverse and inspiring it is,” says Germany’s Culture Minister Claudia Roth, who championed the initiative. “They can see a pop concert, go to a museum, or watch a play. All of that is culture.” In March 2022, Spain announced its own €400 ($415) Youth Cultural Bonus for 18-year-olds to spend within a year on events and physical media. Similar to the German initiative, the vouchers aim to inject life back into the creative industries that have suffered under years of funding cuts and then the pandemic. Source: Time (link in bio) #culture #germany #music #movies #books https://www.instagram.com/p/CofF605LKhn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

In the village, it is mandatory to plant 111 saplings every time a girl is born. The Piplantri community ensures these trees survive, attaining fruition as the girls grow up. The initiative is tackling two major social issues - empowerment of girl child and afforestation. It has helped the village increase its green cover, and they have been doing this for 15 years. This brand of eco-feminism is a great way for the villagers to understand and appreciate the importance of both girls and trees. Which is why simply planting the saplings is not enough. The family has to look after the trees as they would of their daughters. Not just that, at the time of the birth of a girl child, Rs 10,000 from the girl’s parents and Rs 31,000 from donors and Bhamashahs are collected and put in a fixed deposit (FD) account. Over the last six years, people in the village have managed to plant over a quarter million trees on the village's grazing commons- including neem, sheesham, mango, Amla among others. On an average 60 girls are born here every year, according to the village's former sarpanch Shyam Sundar Paliwal, who was instrumental in starting this initiative in the memory of his daughter Kiran, who died years ago. Source: India Times (link in bio)

#india #women #nature https://www.instagram.com/p/CoZ77mSrg6R/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The $5 bill previously hosted the likeness of Queen Elizabeth II, but the central bank announced it would not be replacing her image with King Charles III. Instead it plans to highlight Indigenous culture and design on the notes.

The new $5 will have a design on the front side that honors “the culture and history of the First Australians,” and the back side will “continue to feature the Australian parliament,” according to the bank’s statement.

Australia’s Indigenous population, often called First Nations people, is comprised of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, who are “descendants of the world’s oldest continuous culture who have occupied the continent for 65,000 years. “This is a massive win for the grassroots, First Nations people who have been fighting to decolonise this country,” tweeted Greens Sen. Lidia Thorpe, who is a DjabWurrung Gunnai Gunditjmara woman. Source: CNBC (link in bio) #australia #indigenous #firstnation https://www.instagram.com/p/CoUyKMELhRh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=