Stories about Ideas from April, 2015
How a Youth Collective Is Changing the Brazilian Amazon Community of Cabelo Seco
"The community still faces weaknesses, fights and disputes, a lot of worries at home and in the streets, but we try to overcome all that."
In Finland's ‘Open Prisons,’ Inmates Have the Keys
How did Finland move from having the highest incarceration rate in Europe to having one of its lowest? Part of the answer lies in its open prisons.
France Launchs National Campaign to Curb Racist and Anti-Semitic Acts
On April 17, the French government unveiled a national campaign to combat racism and anti-Semitism in France. The objective of the campaign is to fight all prejudices, raise awareness and get citizens engaged in the conversation. One hundred euros will be allocated over three years to educate and promote cultural diversity. The...
He Stole, Was Caught, Asked for Forgiveness and Was Forgiven
He had probably thought it would be easy to steal some shampoo from the owner of a store in Peru, but things went bad for this thief. The man and his accomplice entered a store in the Peruvian city of Huancayo, saying they were buying some liquor, and when the owner was distracted, they...
How Do Madagascar's People Get By on So Little? With Lots of Ingenuity
"Ady Gasy", a documentary by rising filmmaker Lova Nantenaina, portrays the resourcefulness of Madagascar's people to overcome their daily struggles.
The Cherán Indigenous Community's Remarkable Road to Self-Rule in Mexico
This is the first in a series of posts about the Cherán community, which took on organized crime, established self-government and uses citizen media to strengthen and preserve its traditions.
Japan’s ‘Compassionate Pugilist’ Gives Training and Hope to Poor Filipino Boxers
There are thousands of amateur Filipino boxers who wanted to be like world champion Manny Pacquiao but many of them remain poor and lack proper training.
Boy’s T-Shirt Pokes Fun at Ecuadorian President
When Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa agreed to take a photo with a boy, he probably didn't imagine it would go viral — and he would end up being the butt of the joke. The boy was wearing a T-shirt printed with the phrase “I’m with stupid” and an arrow that...
Mexican Beauty Pageant Contestant’s Baffling ‘Chimpanzee’ Answer
It's well known that every aspiring beauty queen must answer a difficult question in the interview portion of the contest. Also well known are some of the answers that contestants have given, answers that earned them more publicity than their good looks ever did. The most recent of those answers was given...
How Not to Write About Smartphones and Spain
In defense of Spain's right to be portrayed accurately—and as smartphone-addicted as everybody else.
Who the Hell Keeps Leaking Kremlin Correspondence?
Russia's mysterious data-leaking group Anonymous International strikes again, releasing thousands of private messages allegedly belonging to the official who helped shape the Putin Administration's domestic policy from 2012 to 2014.
In Bangladesh, a Mobile App Provides a Platform Where Women Can Feel Free to Talk
Maya provides a platform where women can freely speak about their emotional, medical, legal, and social needs anonymously, without being judged.
Photographer Shows How it Feels to Ride in Singapore's Crowded Trains
"The camera gave me a chance to see what my eye would have missed – a collective portrait of Singapore, always in transit."
Is Blackface in Japan a Form of Racism or Respect?
Japanese bands RATS & STAR and Momoiro Clover Z recently appeared in blackface on TV. Removed from its American context, some argue blackface in Japan isn't intended to be racist.
