Articles

From synthetic fibres to lethal dioxins, some sanitary products are a lot less innocent than those glossy television ads would have women believe. Pat Thomas reports. Increased absorbency. Odour neutralising. Improved leak protection. Women’s reproductive lives have always been seen as a series of problems to be solved, and the world of tampon marketing is […]

Only a year ago I would have said that the day of the protest was largely dead. It seemed that people were too overwhelmed or scared or bored or depressed to take action. That in failing to say ‘no’ to the things that destroy our world they were also failing to say ‘yes’ to the […]

To understand the way climate change is going to affect our health and wellbeing, maybe we need to start looking at the smaller picture, argues Pat thomas Earlier this year, a team of British scientists announced that they had found the key to halting the spread of malaria, a disease that kills more than a […]

Want to make sex more sensual and fun? Having difficulty conceiving? Don’t reach for a lubricant to boost your love life, says Pat Thomas, it could harm your health and fertility. Globally we spend around $1.32 billion a year on personal lubricants, and the market is growing.There are literally hundreds of lubricants on the shelves. […]

The media backlash is just beginning. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, global warming is morphing into ‘global boring’ and the potential consequences of such cavalier wordplay are immeasurable. As the reality hits home that we have to stop doing things the ‘normal’ way and abandon our sense of superiority to the rest of the living planet, a […]

Don’t hit the bottle, warns Pat Thomas, else you’ll do more than swallow marketing hype. Without water, we die. Irish hunger strikers lived for around 60 days without food, but would have died within four days if they hadn’t drunk half a litre of liquid a day. We instinctively know we need water, and after […]

Around 15 million Britons endure this three-season affliction. Pat Thomas looks at causes, treatments and drug-free tactics. While most of us may think that the hayfever season ends when summer does, there are, in fact, several hayfever seasons, and for a large proportion of the population each one brings new torment. In spring, tree pollens […]

I’m not a group person. This was made plain from a very early age, when I was kicked out of Brownies for organising a very vocal protest against arbitrary age restrictions on camping trips. The troop leader called my mother in and solemnly suggested that another after-school activity might suit me better. Start as you […]

Wondering how to deal with cuts, grazes and lacerations? Forget everything you’ve been told and keep it moist, says Pat Thomas Your skin is your body’s biggest organ and plays a large role in keeping you healthy. It helps to regulate body temperature and acts as a barrier, keeping body fluids in and bacteria out. […]

It was a classic Ecologist story. A multinational company breaking the law, dumping toxic waste onto the land, threatening the ecosystem and the well-being of those living in the area. We welcomed Douglas Gowan and his evidence, welcomed the chance to cross swords with Monsanto again. We welcomed the opportunity to take on a story […]