Stories about Ideas from September, 2015
Text-to-Speech Software Teaches How to Pronounce Words in Quechua on Social Media
Hinantin is a project aiming to develop Quechua-related software that spreads the indigenous language online through various social networks.
China's State-Owned Enterprise Reform Is Missing the Point, Economists Argue
China is launching a reform of its state-owned enterprises, but economists argue the plan is too conservative and won't help address the issues of pervasive corruption and market dominance.
Latin American Authors ‘Help’ to Rescue Andean Indigenous Languages
Works by Latin American writers, including Mario Vargas Llosa and Gabriel García Márquez, will now be available in Quechua, an Andean indigenous language, thanks to a government initiative in Cusco.
Unlivable Conditions in Macedonian Student Dorms Worsen
The Student Plenum, a grassroots movement fighting for the rights of university students in Macedonia, published new photos of the unlivable conditions that students in Macedonia's capital of Skopje live in. The movement has steadily been following the situation in the state-owned student dorms and has called on the state...
Fake Weddings Set a Trend in Argentina
Nowadays, fewer and fewer couples are getting married in many parts of the world, and a group of Argentinian entrepreneurs has introduced "fake weddings" to fill the vacuum.
A Year Away From Syria
What happens to a Syrian activist and her ideals when she takes refuge outside her war-torn country?
Russian Activists Fight Municipal Corruption with ‘Mortal Kombat’-Style Website
Russian anti-corruption activists are pitching battles in courts and online against corrupt municipal officials, 'Mortal Kombat'-style.
Malian Web Activists Finance Academic Support for Timbuktu Students
In Timbuktu, Malian activists are putting together a project that aims to help 200 students, of whom around 50 are girls, prepare for their end-of-year exams.
Why Some Consider ‘Brand Jamaica’ a Problematic Idea
"It’s a matter of some irony that despite this history of inhumane servitude...Jamaica would develop in the 21st century into a country that fetishizes brands and branding."
Buy a Pen, Save a Life: A Syrian Father Inspires a Fundraising Cause
The #BuyPens campaign is a collaborative effort to help a Syrian refugee father, recently photographed selling a handful of pens in Beirut, Lebanon.
Are Term Limits and Mandatory Political Changeover Really in the Interest of African Nations?
In countries with few leading figures capable of securing the role of head of state, constitutionally mandated political changeover can be a real constraint on the political process.
Tech Communities in Francophone Africa Rise to the Challenge of Their Anglophone Counterparts
French-speaking Africa has been remarkably absent from the flurry of media coverage on "Silicon Savannah." But the emergence of promising new projects in tech innovation mean that may soon change.
Meet the ‘Loa’ Podcast Network: What Vietnam's Mainstream Media Has Been Missing
"Loa seeks to explore the ideas and stories that shape Vietnam today. We amplify the voices you often don't hear and broadcast the perspectives you haven’t heard."
