Moira Lavelle

The World

Moira Lavelle is an independent reporter based in based in Athens, Greece. She covers migration, borders, gender and language. 

A refugee woman is pictured at the Souda Refugee Camp in Chios island, Greece, June 10, 2017.

Refugees caught in the middle of Greek-Turkish political standoff

Even before Turkey opened its borders for refugees and asylum-seekers to leave for Europe, the Greek island of Chios was an epicenter of tension over EU policies that made several Greek islands de facto holding sites for some 42,000 refugees and migrants. Erdoğan’s move only exacerbated those tensions. And refugees are caught in the middle. 

Refugees caught in the middle of Greek-Turkish political standoff
A man wears a blue shirt and glasses in an office

Greece’s new asylum law ‘poses continuous traps’ for refugees

Greece’s new asylum law ‘poses continuous traps’ for refugees
Marchers stand behind a large white banner as they move through a street

A year after an LGBTQ activist’s murder in Greece, his memory lives on in ‘our politics and our action,’ protesters say

A year after an LGBTQ activist’s murder in Greece, his memory lives on in ‘our politics and our action,’ protesters say
Pokemon means opportunity for these businessmen

In ailing Greece, trying to turn Pokémon Go into profit

In ailing Greece, trying to turn Pokémon Go into profit
citrus

Why asking for a lime isn't so easy in Spanish-speaking countries

Why asking for a lime isn't so easy in Spanish-speaking countries
Concerned Student 1950, led by University of Missouri graduate student Jonathan Butler, second from right, speaks following the announcement that University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe would resign.

Update: What do the students want?

Occidental College is among the latest of a growing number of schools protesting.

Update: What do the students want?
Women wave flags outside the AKP headquarters in Ankara, Turkey. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu described the outcome of a general election which swept his AKP back to a parliamentary majority on Sunday as a victory for democracy.

Update: Ruling AKP regains majority in Turkey. Here's what that means.

"It's like a powder keg. Turkey has never been so divided along two ideological cleavages."

Update: Ruling AKP regains majority in Turkey. Here's what that means.
protest

Bahrain activist sentenced to year in prison for ripping up photo of the king

Zainab Al-Khawaja: "I believe tearing up pictures of a criminal dictator is a legitimate method of peaceful resistance."

Bahrain activist sentenced to year in prison for ripping up photo of the king
hurricane

8 hurricanes that almost packed the punch of Patricia

A look at powerful hurricanes that struck land in the eastern Pacific, western Atlantic and the US Gulf Coast.

8 hurricanes that almost packed the punch of Patricia
library

Banned young adult novel finally back on shelves

"The controversy I feel was very unfair from the beginning. Had the book not won the premier book award in New Zealand in its particular year I think it would have passed without mention."

Banned young adult novel finally back on shelves
Calden

A tiny town in the middle of Germany has taken in hundreds of refugees

Calden, Germany has a population of about 3,000. The refugee camp houses somewhere between 1,200 and 1,800 people depending on the day, sometimes more than half the population of the town.

A tiny town in the middle of Germany has taken in hundreds of refugees
face

The science is in: beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder

Much of what inspires our idea of what is attractive is our own environment and personal history, like the memory of a first boyfriend or girlfriend.

The science is in: beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder
pope argentina

Trans rights are changing in the Catholic world, and Argentina is leading the pack

Though often with many caveats and provisions, in the past few years several historically roman catholic countries have also passed laws to protect trans citizens.

Trans rights are changing in the Catholic world, and Argentina is leading the pack
philly

Philadelphia preps for pope madness

Essentially all of center city will be on lockdown for the two-day visit of Francis this weekend.

Philadelphia preps for pope madness
female marine

Marine Corps commander says others' expectations, not women's ability, are the problem

A new report from the US Marine Corps concluded that all-male combat units performed better on 69 percent, compared to mixed-gender units, of more than 100 tasks that were studied. But only a summary of the report was released, and many military personnel are raising questions about the methodology.

Marine Corps commander says others' expectations, not women's ability, are the problem