Editor’s Note: this article is a standalone submission written by a guest contributor for The Youth Journal, and has not been edited from its original form. One way to eliminate inequity is through the alleviation of poverty. Poverty alleviation programmes have become widespread in almost all countries. These programmes are particularly popular in developing countries which have a fairly large percentage of their population living below the poverty line. Since it has become a symbol of good governance, it is of paramount importance that we bring it under an analytical scrutiny and exami ..read more

Canada has been dealing with the COVID-19 epidemic for nearly four months now. Our first recorded case of infection occurred on January 15, 2020. As of April 4, 2020 Canada has 13,912 confirmed cases, with 231 deaths and 2,595 recoveries. This is a trying time, but we will get through it together. We need to act collectively, and so far, we have been doing pretty well. Most of us understand that COVID-19 is a threat to all of us, and the only way to protect ourselves is to cooperate with others. For those of us who need a reminder, here are some things we definitely should not do: Be xe ..read more

As the cold weather sets in, shelters fill up and more people are inclined to help the homeless. Though Premier Doug Ford has ceased homelessness enumeration reports, it is suspected that the number of homeless people in Ontario has continued to grow. Yet, within this crisis, there is a far bleaker one that is not being discussed: disability and homelessness. The two are not typically thought to intersect, but the Conservative era is making it an increasingly unassailable. Right-wing ideologies already fail the homeless; they are not suited to understand the particular vulnerabilities and chal ..read more

As Canada approaches the mid-way point of the summer, seasonal reality TV programming is well underway. Most prominently, the introduction of the hit reality series “Love Island” to  Canadians started on July 9, which originally was created in the U.K., but whose overwhelming success prompted international copies in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Australia, Norway, and Sweden.  Reality TV continues to be commonly accepted as potentially vapid and non-educational, but still nothing more than harmless entertainment, and maybe something quick to watch after work. However, what the majority of its ..read more

Rival factions and criminal groups fight for control over the poorest areas of Buenaventura. For decades, Colombia’s main Pacific port, an imperative gateway to the commerce of the Pacific, is plagued with a perpetual terrorism brought upon by waring gangs. Acting as a major route for drug trafficking, parts of the city exist under a governance of dual responsibility, piloted by gangs, as well as the Colombian government; areas where private investors are planning large infrastructure projects, forcing the city into a state of uncertainty regarding its violent disposition and its opposing pote ..read more

Reproductive autonomy has paid a farewell in several U.S. states. Following Alabama’s near-total ban on the procedure along with five states having passed the heartbeat bill, one’s freedom to obtain safe abortion in parts the U.S. has been significantly undermined, and is also a great loss for survivors and non-survivors of sexual assault. North of the “Southern Horror” however, the Final Report of the National Inquiry of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was finally published, calling it out for what it truly is: a genocide. Included in the 1200-page document were multiple ..read more

Treasury note yields are important economic indicators that are often overlooked during times of economic expansion. Treasury notes are important to the economy because, in contrast with equities, they have little risk – they are backed by the US economy. When investors believe economic contraction is on the horizon, they will be more interested in buying treasury notes that shield them from the potential of a stock market collapse, which drives up the demand for bonds and hence drives down their interest rate. In recent weeks, US Treasury and global government bond yields have been dropping s ..read more

Since the point of contact, Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited (Indigenous term encompassing LGBTQ+ identities) have been instrumental in solidifying settler colonialism in North America. Such is especially true in the Canadian context. Historically, Indigenous two-spirited people and women were removed from positions of stability and power by colonial legislation that enforced patriarchy and European gender roles. One example is the Indian Act (1876), which claims that an Indigenous man can marry a White woman and claim Indigenous status, but an Indigenous woman who marries a White man ..read more

Over the past few years, the perception of wellness has shifted from a focus on physical health to a holistic approach that includes both psychological and physical well-being. Notably, the term “self-care” has been widely used. It is important to note that wellness carries different meanings to not only different cultures, but even individuals within the same community. In other words, wellness and self-care are based on your own definition and best practices. The topic of wellness is on the rise, too, evidenced by how millennials are investing in wellness-related aspects of their life mor ..read more

On May 22, 2019, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has finally released the official results of the 2019 General Election, proclaiming newly elected senators who are hoped to refine the bills and legislatures circling the Philippine Republic. Supporters coming from different political factions have expressed victory with their senatorial bets stand triumphantly and opposing groups grieving with dismay as their candidates wallow in despondence as they concede their defeat. Twelve newly elected senators, also known as the “Magic 12”, won the 2019 Philippine Senatorial Elections, accumu ..read more