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The Breakdown: Can Youth Activism Save Species From Extinction?

Plus, students protest an anti-gay fraternity and Syrian refugees boost the economy.

Getty Images: Spencer Platt / Staff

The Breakdown is DoSomething's current events newsletter, where you can read the news and change the news. Want headlines and action in your inbox? Subscribe to The Breakdown.

The One Big Thing

Human-Caused Climate Change Threatens Millions of Animal and Plant Species With Extinction

A new United Nations report shows that up to one million species are currently threatened with global extinction because of humans. The terrifying report reminds us what we already know: When it comes to curbing climate change, it’s now or never. “It’s not too late,” says John Wiens, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, “there’s a 10- or 20-year window in which we can still do something.” That’s why youth climate activists are taking the lead, and we’re seeing the effects already. Cities are working to pass their own Green New Deals, presidential candidates are committing to debating this issue, and legislation is in the works.

TAKE ACTION

Join the movement by getting involved with the Youth Climate Strike.

(Pop) Culture Shock

Did 13 Reasons Why Increase Suicide? It’s Complicated

A study last week showed an increase in youth suicides around the same time that the controversial Netflix show 13 Reasons Why came out. The show was a major hit, but criticized for its treatment of bullying and mental health issues. Still, researchers caution us to jump to conclusions, saying the study didn’t prove the show lead caused any suicides. While the things we watch and consume do affect our mental health, let’s not forget that environmental, genetic, social, and other factors play into depression and suicide. In other words, it’s complicated. Read this guide on how to help someone with depression.

The Good News Is...

Facebook and Instagram Ban Hateful Influencers

Last Thursday, Facebook announced that it would remove influencers who spread far-right extremism, white supremacist rhetoric, anti-Semitism, and other extremism from both Facebook and Instagram. Largely seen as a response to the Christchurch shooting, in which the terrorist livestreamed his attack on the mosques in New Zealand, the move by the social media giant is in the pursuit of stopping the larger trend of extremist views on their platforms that exacerbate attacks. Removing hateful content from these platforms is crucial to stopping the spread of hateful messages, preventing radicalization, and even helping law enforcement prevent real-life violence.

TAKE ACTION

Flag extremist and hateful content online to stop hate and prevent violence against religious communities.

That's What He Said

“Back home, I liked to fix things with my hands. It was a hobby for me. And I thought: ‘Why not make that my job?’”

-Alan Ramadan, a Syrian refugee training to be an industrial mechanic, now living in Germany and contributing to the positive economic change refugees have brought to the country.

Quick Hitters

Why aren’t more people talking about… the fact that nearly half of college students surveyed in a new report are going hungry?

Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom… a new study presents a possible end to any and all future cases of AIDS.

My heroes today are… the 100 Swarthmore College students who took over a fraternity in protest of its anti-gay and racist behavior.

I’m obsessed with… this promposal at an early screening of The Sun Is Also a Star with Yara Shahidi and Charles Melton’s help.

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