2 July 2012

Stories from 2 July 2012

Brazil: The Debate About Natural Childbirth

In Brazil's private sector, over 85% of births are caesarian, even though the World Health Organisation recommends that they not exceed 15% of total births. The high prevalence of this procedure, instead of natural birth, recently sparked a debate and protest in Brazil.

2 July 2012

United States: Crucial Decision on Anti-Immigrant Law

The United States Supreme Court recently issued their ruling in the case Arizona v. United States. The court struck down three of the four provisions of the controversial law SB 1070, but sent back to the lower court for consideration the provision that gives authorities the power to detain people that are suspected of lacking legal documents in Arizona.

2 July 2012

Taiwan: Democracy with a Confucian Face?

Politicians and academics have long debated whether Confucianism is compatible with democratic and civic values. Han Han's recent visit to Taiwan, and his high admiration of culture, freedom and democracy there, have sparked a vigorous debate about how they are related, and what this discussion means for mainland China.

2 July 2012

Ukraine: “Football is Over”

On Facebook, Ukrainian writer Andrei Kurkov comments [ru] on the end of Euro 2012 in Ukraine: “Football is over. Europe has won and will depart tomorrow, leaving Ukraine in its...

2 July 2012