2022: women, earth and war - 28th December 2022

2022 began with women in the news. In Afghanistan, women weren't allowed to go to school. But a radio station used its programmes to continue women’s education.

Women in Scotland focused on old laws against women. In the past, many women were killed for being witches. In some countries, this continues today.

Zoe Venditozzi: "There are still people across the world, generally vulnerable, often women or old people that are being accused of witchcraft."

People also wanted to save the environment. Mangrove forests were replanted by the riverside in Kenya. These forests help the local environment. In Liberia, chimpanzees got food and a new home. They were used in scientific experiments. Now, they're back in the forest. In Thailand, sealife got protection. Tourism had killed the sealife in the famous Phi Phi bay. Now, tourists are educated about tourism’s effect on the environment.

Sirithon Thamrongnawasawat: "We show the tourists what is the impact, what is the biodiversity, what is the relationship between your behaviour and the impact to the corals."

Global problems came in February when Russia attacked Ukraine. 7.8 million Ukrainians left their homes to escape the fighting. Russia's war in Ukraine’s also caused food prices in Africa to increase, and oil prices are higher as well. A lot of basic foods in African countries come from Ukraine. The war’s making people go hungry.

Julius Adewale: "Cost of production, it has increased immensely. So, they have to come together and also increase the price of bread by 40 percent to what it was before. A common man, that has not even eaten, you no expect him to buy bread or a loaf of bread for 700."

People found new ways to help the environment. Some focused on wasting less and buying fewer cheap clothes. The number of people who make their own clothes is increasing.

And product designers were also finding clever ways to use waste. London company UpCircle started helping cafes to recycle. It collects used coffee grounds from cafes and is using them in beauty products.

Gemma Curtin: "So, people are looking at the waste that's around them. And designers are thinking, what can we do with that? How can we help the environment by using these materials."

US environmentalist Rob Greenfield wore a suit which he filled with his rubbish. For 30 days, he ate like an average American. He wore all his rubbish to make people think about waste.

A decision by the US Supreme Court changed women’s rights. They used to have legal access to an abortion. Now, some states have made this illegal.

Kamala Harris: "This is the first time in the history of our nation that a constitutional right has been taken from the people of America. And what is that right some might ask. It's the right to privacy."