Stories about Ideas from June, 2013
Composer's Ode to Turkish Protesters
German musician Davide Martello performed live during the protests in Istanbul's Taksim Square. This track is dedicated to the Soldiers of Light, the victims of this insane violence by the turkish government. Composed during the protests in Istanbul two weeks ago… live in the crowds on Taksim Square. That's how...
PHOTOS: Budapest's Unique Brand of Urban Art
The capital city of Hungary, already famous for its history, art and architecture, seems to be breeding its own brand of urban art these days. Photos and commentary under hashtags such as #streetart related to Budapest are popping up daily on social networks like Twitter and Instagram, in particular as the summer tourism season gets rolling.
The Bahamas: Intellectual Property & Reparations
The amount of traditional knowledge that is stolen from our region on a daily basis is staggering. Blogworld suggests that there is a link between that knowledge and required compensation for “the slaves and their ancestors [who] have never been paid for the generations of their labour.”
The Beauty Of Mount Everest At Night
Elia Saikaly's short movie catches the majestic beauty of Mount Everest at night in time-lapse. He shares in his blog the experience of climbing to the summit of Mount Everest for the second time.
Counseling Service for Mental Health In India
Ugich Konitari introduces iCALL (initiating Concern for All), a counseling service for Indians via email and telephone. At this social venture of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, qualified psychologists are waiting to listen talk, and give people helpful information, guidance and encouragement.
Cuba: Another Brick in the Wall?
The whole process is managed and legitimated by a whole army of high-level psychologists and pedagogues in the name of the common Good. Erasmo Calzadilla blogs at Havana Times about the state of education in Cuba: “Till recently, school and repression were for me synonymous.”
Iranians in Canada Cast Symbolic Votes Days Before Election
Iranians in Canada cannot vote in Iran's presidential election this week, but thanks to an initiative by a group of Iranian expatriates they were at least able to cast a symbolic ballot.
Bangladesh's Capital City Dhaka Gets Its First Bus Map
Commuters who take the bus Bangladesh's capital city of Dhaka, home to 15 million people and very heavy traffic, can for the first time look at a map to plan their route, thanks to a crowdfunded and crowdsourced project by US social-venture group Urban Launchpad and Bangladeshi advocacy organization Kewkradong.
Jamaica: Children as Artists
The National Gallery of Jamaica Blog is excited about an upcoming exhibition of children's art, which will highlight “the children’s unique responses to questions about their curiosities and the diverse urges of their developing imaginations.”
“Give-a-Tree.rf”—Russia's Collective Reforestation Project
In a recent interview with Evgeny Voropai of Social Technologies Greenhouse, Sergey Skorobogadov, head of "Podari-Derevo.rf" (Give-a-Tree.rf) explained how a socially-conscious project can bring a profit and how quantitative indicators can stimulate activity in people.
Female Rapper to Speak at TEDxSão Tomé
Marlene Bandeira, or as she is better known Nely Strong [pt], has been added to the TEDxSão Tomé [en] speaker line up. Rapper, she uses local slangs to portray São Tomé and Príncipe [en] society in her lyrics. Recently, Nely released the song ‘Mordomia’ – a hit in the islands...
Syrian Creativity: Radio SouriaLi Broadcasts over the Internet
Syrians continue to devise creative and innovative solutions to the daily obstacles they face, despite extreme repression. Radio SouriaLi, formed by a group of young Syrians from diverse backgrounds, is one of the many projects and initiatives emerging from the need for expression and the attempt to reach out to all Syrians, regardless of their ethnic, intellectual and religious backgrounds.
The Kindest Peruvian Has Been Found
Marisol Rodríguez Gamero, a 23-year old Law School student, won the contest "The kindest Peruvian" organized by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of that country, to encourage Peruvians to relate to positive values and attitudes, highlighting their kindness towards tourists.
Serbian High-School Students Trade Prom for Charity
The students of Pirot High School wore plain T-shirts to their graduating prom and gave the money they would have spent on dresses and suits to three children with disabilities in their community instead. Danica Radisic reports.
VIDEO: Brazilian Toddler's Vegetarian Wisdom Goes Viral
In a viral video, a three-year old Brazilian boy resists his mother's appeal to eat his octopus gnocchi for lunch, arguing that he doesn't like to eat meat because "when we eat animals, they die," and that he likes to see the animals "on their feet, happy."
Is the Russian Opposition Playing a Losing Hand?
Blogger, professional poker player, and municipal deputy Maxim Katz has left the Coordinating Council of the Russian Opposition. Has the Russian opposition's e-democracy experiment failed?
