English for slow business

    READING. Three women.       Tamanna lives in Afghanistan, the only country in the world where half of the population — that is, women — cannot work, study, or even sing. When one of the few options available to women, working for an NGO, became impossible due to the lack of international funding, her life came to a standstill.     Hamada lives with HIV in Nigeria, where the stigma surrounding the illness condemned her to ostracism. When, in 2025, the United States dismantled USAID and decided to halt the antiretroviral program that allowed her to access her treatment, fear overwhelmed her. Carmen Elena is a Colombian woman who fights to offer a refuge to mothers protecting their children from armed groups. Her husband and brother were killed, and she now lives far from home with other women who have been affected by gender‑based violence and guerrilla attacks.  

        “Good Hair: Perceptions of Racism” is a short film about racism and discrimination based on Black people’s natural hair , especially in schools and workplaces. The story shows how some institutions expect people—especially Black women—to change their natural hair (afros, curls, braids) to fit what is considered “professional” or “acceptable.” Main ideas in the film Society often treats Eurocentric features (straight hair, white beauty standards) as “normal” or “professional.” Black people may be judged or restricted because of their hairstyles. These rules can limit identity, self-expression, and cultural pride . The film encourages viewers to question hidden racism in everyday policies and attitudes . In short, the film asks:   Why should someone have to change their natural hair to be accepted? 1. Pre-watching activities Activity 1: Think Write these questions on the board: What does “professional appearance” mean? Who decides wha...

    Greenwashing is a marketing or PR tactic where a company falsely promotes its products, policies, or overall image as environmentally friendly to appear more sustainable than it actually is. 🌱 In simple terms: It’s when a company pretends to be “green” without making real environmental improvements .   How Greenwashing Works Companies may use environmental language, imagery, or claims that sound good but don’t reflect real environmental benefits . Common tactics include: Vague claims : Words like “eco-friendly,” “natural,” or “green” without proof. Misleading labels : Fake certifications or labels that look official. Hidden trade-offs : Highlighting one small green feature while ignoring larger environmental harm. No evidence : Claims with no data, studies, or verification. Irrelevant claims : Saying something like “CFC-free” even though CFCs are already banned. Simple Example A clothing brand advertises a “sustainable collection” made with 10%...

    ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.   Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become one of the most transformative forces of the 21st century. The question of whether it has come “for the good” or “for the bad” does not have a simple answer. Like previous technological revolutions, AI carries both enormous promise and serious risks. It can improve healthcare, accelerate scientific discovery, optimize transportation, and help address climate change. At the same time, it raises concerns about unemployment, surveillance, inequality, and even human identity. The Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari argues that AI may create a “useless class” of people whose jobs are replaced by algorithms and automation. He warns that data could become the most powerful resource in history, concentrated in the hands of a few corporations or governments. For Harari, the greatest danger is not robots rebelling against humans, but humans losing control over their own decisions as algorithms learn to predic...