Innovations in people power are changing how government decisions are made, from Brazil to Kenya, Switzerland and Taiwan.

This story was first published at The Correspondent here: https://thecorrespondent.com/521/democracy-isnt-working-five-ideas-that-are-already-helping-to-fix-the-problem/68953409074-cce461a9

Voice-over/producer: Eleanor Caudill

Executive producer: Jacco Prantl

When it comes to negative experiences in childhood, the body seems to keep score. But even small changes can positively affect health in later life.

This story was first published on The Correspondent here: https://thecorrespondent.com/170/trauma-can-be-inherited-we-need-to-understand-what-were-passing-on/22499192980-d9ba47c5

Voice-over/producer: Emi Paternostro

Executive producer: Jacco Prantl

If you have questions, please email: [email protected]

We live in a society where it’s easier to get a Michelin-star meal delivered to our doorstep than it is to get a medical mask that protects our nurses and doctors. And it’s designed that way. But we can change it for the better, just as we can change ourselves.

This piece was first published on The Correspondent: https://thecorrespondent.com/683/our-world-is-built-for-profit-lets-build-one-that-protects-us-instead/90393816502-1ff6d3c9

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Voice-over/producer: Abhijit Shylanath

Executive producer: Jacco Prantl

If you have questions, please email: [email protected]

Keep a distance from each other. Work from home. Or rely on a social safety net. The measures against the coronavirus pandemic are made by and for those parts of the world that can afford to retreat in individualism. But for millions of people in cities like Lagos, Nigeria, there’s no such thing as socially distancing yourself.

This story was first published on The Correspondent here: https://thecorrespondent.com/378/why-social-distancing-wont-work-for-us/50027617332-261bb46a

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Voice-over/producer: Jumoké Fashola

Executive producer: Jacco Prantl

If you have questions, please email: [email protected]

The longest year of the 21st century is about to end; New Year resolutions ahoy. It's that time again when we embrace self-care, and a booming self-care industry serenades us with its baubles. But the seemingly fun, empowering idea of self-care has an ugly underside: it is weaponised against those who are most vulnerable and have the least access to resources.

This story was published on The Correspondent here: https://thecorrespondent.com/820/the-time-has-come-to-take-the-self-out-of-self-care/108525519080-eaedd328

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Voice-over/producer: Eleanor Caudill

Executive producer: Jacco Prantl

If you have questions, please email: [email protected]

It’s in your smartphone, you brush your teeth with it and it’s even in your mattress. Plastic is everywhere – and it’s not going anywhere soon. But as important as the material is, we treat it carelessly because we’ve been taught that it’s worthless. We can start to change that.

This story was published on The Correspondent here: https://thecorrespondent.com/809/plastic-is-a-brilliant-material-but-our-relationship-with-it-is-trash/107069688946-7585b361

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Voice-over/producer: Jumoké Fashola

Executive producer: Jacco Prantl

If you have questions, please email: [email protected]

Progress is a measure of things being different, not necessarily better. And talking about it as an achievement can actually make it more difficult to spur real forward movement. If we want to understand our society’s progress, we need to change the way we speak about it.

This story was also published on The Correspondent here: https://thecorrespondent.com/720/why-the-world-can-get-worse-by-constantly-saying-its-getting-better/95290699680-8e501010

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Voice-over/producer: Emi Paternostro

Executive producer: Jacco Prantl

If you have questions, please email: [email protected]

Mainstream economics still thinks growth is essential, but this blind belief in GDP is just enriching the rich and killing the planet. We don’t need more growth to improve people’s lives. By working less, buying and producing less, and investing in public services, we can improve quality of life – and fight the climate crisis.

This story was first published on The Correspondent here: https://thecorrespondent.com/357/outgrowing-growth-why-quality-of-life-not-gdp-should-be-our-measure-of-success/413218170519-b4d036a5

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Voice-over/producer: Abhijit Shylanath

Executive producer: Jacco Prantl

If you have questions, please email: [email protected]

The grief caused by death is similar to the pain of distance, but our photographs can help bridge the gap to our loved ones. The pictures we carry with us are a defiant refusal to believe that all our good times are behind us.

This story was published on The Correspondent here: https://thecorrespondent.com/484/trapping-ghosts-photographs-dont-lock-us-to-loss-they-remind-us-to-live/578221852516-10b276d0

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Voice-over/producer: Jumoké Fashola

Executive producer: Jacco Prantl

If you have questions, please email: [email protected]

2020 has been a trying year for parents, with close to a million school kids affected by lockdowns and school closures. Parents have struggled to arrange a schedule for schooling and playtime. The good news: play doesn’t need to be planned – and it shouldn’t be.

This story was published on The Correspondent here: https://thecorrespondent.com/812/dear-parents-stop-organising-your-kids-playtime/107493788556-054898e8

Want to support journalism that looks deeper than the headlines to show you how the world really works? The Correspondent is an online platform for unbreaking news. Set your own membership fee and join us today to get access to our full catalogue of articles and podcasts: thecorrespondent.com/join

Voice-over/producer: Eleanor Caudill

Executive producer: Jacco Prantl

If you have questions, please email: [email protected]