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Lost in Paradise: The Chained-Up Mentally Ill of Bali

05.10.2013

by Katrin Kuntz, Der Spiegel, Germany - Not far from the glistening beaches of Bali, mentally ill people are kept in chains or locked up in small shacks. Locals simply don't know what else to do with them. But psychiatrist Luh Ketut Suryani has made it her job to set them free.

Time for Big Green to Go Fossil Free

05.05.2013

by Naomi Klein, The Nation, USA - The movement demanding that public interest institutions divest their holdings from fossil fuels is on a serious roll. At last count, there were active divestment campaigns on 305 campuses and in more than 100 US cities and states. The demand has spread to Canada, Australia, the Netherlands and Britain. And though officially launched just six months ago, the movement can already claim some provisional victories: four US colleges have announced their intention to divest their endowments from fossil fuel stocks and bonds, and in late April ten US cities made similar commitments, including San Francisco (Seattle came on board months ago). But I now realize that an important target is missing from the list: the environmental organizations themselves.

Historian Götz Aly: Victims of Nazi Euthanasia 'Have Been Forgotten'

04.25.2013

by Susanne Beyer, Der Spiegel, Germany - Some 200,000 people who were mentally ill or disabled were killed in Germany during the Nazi era. The cynical name for the extermination program was "euthanasia," which means "beautiful death" in ancient Greek. This horrific past has shaped the way Germany treats the terminally ill and the disabled. Germany's laws on assisted suicide are restrictive, and the country has stricter rules on pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, a form of embryo profiling, than most other European countries.

Rape of 5-Year-Old Indian Girl Sparks New Outrage, Old Questions

04.24.2013

by Krista Mahr, TIME, USA - At a major hospital in New Delhi, the 5-year-old victim of another grotesque rape has been making the first steps in what is sure to be a long recovery after being kidnapped, sexually assaulted and left for dead last week in an apartment one floor beneath her family home. Before last week, the initial outrage over the brutality of the Dec. 16 gang rape of a 23-year-old student, which resulted in her death, had been slowly fading in New Delhi, in spite of the unnervingly steady stream of violent rapes that have continued to be reported by Indian media across the country. In March, the government passed a new, tougher rape law that, among other things, allows for rapes resulting in fatalities to be punishable by death. But many say that the more systemic problems at the root of India’s rising violent crime have not been addressed.

Ending Prostitution 'Central' to Ending AIDS, US Tells Supreme Court

04.24.2013

by Melissa Gira Grant, The Nation, USA - On the steps of the Supreme Court Sunday morning, shortly before arguments began on the constitutionality of compelling aid recipients to oppose prostitution, a dozen or so students in marigold hooded sweatshirts won the color-coordinated insignia game. Outside a photo op or two, the small group of activists with red umbrellas—which signal support for sex workers’ rights—left them folded at their feet. Sex workers, it appeared, would be as nearly invisible outside the Court as they would be in the arguments made within.

Death of a Revolutionary

04.23.2013

by Susan Faludi, The New Yorker, US- Firestone was best known for her writing. Notes from the First Year, a periodical she founded in 1968 (followed, in 1970 and 1971, by the Second Year and the Third Year), generated the fundamental discourse of radical feminism, introducing such concepts as “the personal is political” and “the myth of the vaginal orgasm.” Most of all, Firestone is remembered for “The Dialectic of Sex,” a book that she wrote in a fervor, in a matter of months.

Blood Along the Border: Political Activism and Violence in Juarez, Mexico

04.18.2013

by Dawn Paley, Toward Freedom, USA - Saul Reyes Salazar is a man who understands loss. In January 2010, his sister Josefina was shot in the head, following a botched kidnapping in their hometown of Guadalupe los Bravos, across the border bridge from Tornillo, Texas. She was, at the time, one of the best-known activists in the Juarez Valley, the agricultural region that follows the Rio Grande river east of Ciudad Juarez.

After Boston, One Foot in Front of the Other

04.16.2013

by Chloe Angyal, The Nation, USA - Like most people who were fortunate enough to not have loved ones in harm’s way yesterday, I sat in shock at the news out of Boston. I scrolled through my Twitter feed with the kind of disgust and disbelief, that mingled fear and sadness that has become sickeningly familiar to Americans of late. I didn’t rage and I didn’t cry; I just sat there, reading and watching. And then I heard the news of marathon runners sustaining serious injuries to their lower extremities, the report from Mass General that several amputations had been performed. People losing calves, and feet. Men and women who had just run a marathon, who run every single day, who have honed their bodies into world-class athletic machines, suddenly without feet, or living without a leg. For reasons I can't explain, it was that thought that broke my heart.

Everyday Sexism Creator Laura Bates on Helping Women Speak Out

04.12.2013

by Anna Klassen, The Daily Beast, USA - As Hillary Clinton campaigned for the Democratic nomination in 2008, a group of men could be heard in the audience shouting, “Iron my shirt!” Rush Limbaugh asked his listeners of Clinton’s possible presidency, “Will Americans want to watch a woman get older before their eyes on a daily basis?” Everyday Sexism is a free-for-all platform where women and girls can detail instances of sexism in their lives in a public but anonymous space. Laura Bates, the 26-year-old London-based founder, created the site nearly a year ago, after attempting to speak up about the sexism she faced and getting a maddening response.

Bloody Compact Discs: Thatcher's Detractors Came From All Classes

04.08.2013

by Olga Khazan, Atlantic, USA - Margaret Thatcher died of a stroke this morning at the age of 87, but not everyone is mourning. Though she was revered by many, some Britons are marking the death of a woman who ushered in an era of austerity, privatization, and union-busting with a hint of "good riddance."

Spain Leads the EU in GM Crops, But No One Knows Where They Are

04.08.2013

by Inés Benítez, Tierramérica, Brazil - Based on the number of trials conducted and the area of land planted, Spain accounts for 42 percent of all field trials of genetically modified crops in the EU, according to figures from the European Commission Joint Research Centre.

Imprisoned, Tortured, Killed: Human Trafficking Thrives on Sinai Peninsula

03.29.2013

by Nicola Abé in North Sinai, Der Spiegel, Germany - The Sinai Peninsula has become a prison and grave for thousands of African refugees. They are kidnapped, imprisoned and tortured to death even after their families have paid hefty ransoms. But Egypt refuses to act. Since the revolution that upended power structures in Egypt, the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula has slipped further out of the country's political control. It has become a lawless region and a hotbed of criminals and terrorists. Groups of young men armed with AK-47s loiter in the streets. The business of human trafficking is booming, and the murder rate has skyrocketed.

What China’s ‘One-Child Policy’ Really Looks Like — A View from the Grassroots

03.18.2013

by Kim Wall, Tea Leaf Nation, China/US - Earlier this week, China’s leadership announced the merging of the Family Planning Commission, which oversees the implementation of the policy, with the Health Ministry, drawing speculation as to whether the Chinese family planning policy will be relaxed further or dropped completely in the near future. Yet what would an end to the long-standing policy, also called the “one-child policy,” mean for China’s citizens?

Is the ‘China Dream’ Really a ‘Strong Military Dream’?

03.11.2013

by Rachel Wang, Tea Leaf Nation, China/USA - On March 3, an article entitled “Focusing and Building up a ‘Strong Military’ Dream” appeared on the front page of the PLA Daily. At first glance, the article appeared to be a typical propaganda piece, appropriate to publish during China’s Two Sessions, the meeting of China’s congress. The article was replete with slogans like, “Obeying the Party is the soul of a stronger military,” and “Working hard and efficiently is an important sign of solid work.”

Teju Cole on the "Empathy Gap" and Tweeting Drone Strikes

03.07.2013

by Sarah Zhang, Mother Jones, USA - "Killing a bunch of people in Sudan and Yemen and Pakistan, it's like, "Who cares—we don't know them." But the current discussion is framed as "When can the President kill an American citizen?" Now in my mind, killing a non-American citizen without due process is just as criminal as killing an American citizen without due process—but whatever gets us to the table to discuss this thing, we're going to take it."

A Call For Secular Bangladesh

03.04.2013

by Veena Sikri, Tehelka, India - Something remarkable is happening in Bangladesh. For over two weeks now thousands of youngsters have been protesting at the Shahbagh Square around the university area in Dhaka, demanding that war criminals of 1971 be given capital punishment. Interestingly, it is the post-1971 generation that is at the heart of the protests.

You’ve Come a Long Way, Feminism (But You’re Not There Yet)

03.04.2013

by Ruth Rosen, Yes!, USA - I always knew this was the longest revolution, one that would take a century or more to unfold. It’s upended most of our lives, and significantly improved so many of them. Nothing will ever be the same. Yet there’s still such a long way to go. I doubt I’ll see full gender equality in my lifetime.

Ignorance That Kills

02.14.2013

by Inna Hudaya, Inside Indonesia, Australia - Many Indonesian women face great difficulties in accessing safe terminations of unwanted pregnancies.

Benedict’s Painful Legacy

02.12.2013

by Elizabeth Drescher, Religion Dispatches, USA - Catholics on the margins reflect on the past eight years.

The Implications of Embryo Screening

02.11.2013

by Kerstin Kullmann, Der Spiegel, Germany - A controversial procedure that lets would-be parents test embryos for certain genetic defects will soon be allowed in special cases in Germany. What does this mean for society?

You Are Where You Live

02.06.2013

by Susan Griffin, Yes!, USA - How the sky, rain, geography, and cultures of our place shape us.

German Schools Struggle with Wave of Immigrants

02.01.2013

by Katja Irle, Der Spiegel, Germany - Germany is experiencing a well-documented boom in immigrants from countries hard-hit by the euro crisis. Less visible, however, are their children. They rarely have any knowledge of German, and schools are struggling to meet their needs.

Sing the Body Unelectric

01.31.2013

by Lucy Ellmann, Aeon, UK - Electricity is a tyranny of buzzing and chirping demands. Here's to wrinkled clothes, typewriters and life off-grid.

It's Time to Remove Racism from Children's Books

01.28.2013

by Dialika Neufeld, Der Spiegel, Germany - There are also children for whom constantly being labeled a "nigger" is more painful than it was for me in my own childhood. That alone is enough reason why publishers should revise their children's books and parents should stop claiming the whole thing "isn't so bad."

Woodland Heists: Rising Energy Costs Drive Up Forest Thievery

01.17.2013

by Renuka Rayasam, Der Spiegel, Germany - With energy costs escalating, more Germans are turning to wood burning stoves for heat. That, though, has also led to a rise in tree theft in the country's forests. Woodsmen have become more watchful.

Vivid Cinematic Essay Examines Hannah Arendt

01.14.2013

by Elke Schmitter, Der Spiegel, Germany - Her theory of the "banality of evil" made Hannah Arendt both famous and controversial. Now German filmmaker Margarethe von Trotta has given the philosopher an outstanding cinematic portrait.

Evictions Become Focus of Spanish Crisis

01.07.2013

by Helene Zuber, Der Spiegel, Germany - After a record number in 2012, evictions in Spain have become the symbol of a crisis that shows no signs of improving. Next year isn't likely to be any better, but with more attention now being paid to those losing their homes, relief in the form of legal reform may soon be on the way.

9 Stories That Will Change Your World in 2013

01.04.2013

by Sarah van Gelder, Yes!, USA - While the Earth didn’t end on December 21, 2012, the year’s end was marked by a new awareness of the urgency of the climate crisis. Americans are becoming increasingly aware of the preciousness and fragility of life on Earth. That and other cultural shifts are setting the stage for significant change in the year ahead ... An archetypically feminine approach (to respond to a crisis with “tend and befriend” responses that look out for the best interests of all) could come to balance out the “fight or flight” responses that frequently dominate political discourse. Having record numbers of women elected to Congress in 2012 can’t hurt.

Why Did It Need an Incident So Unspeakably Brutal to Trigger Our Outrage?

12.21.2012

by Shoma Chaudhury, Tehelka, India - Rape is almost culturally sanctioned in India, made possible by crude, unthinking conversations in every strata of society. Conversations that look at crime against women through the prism of women’s responsibility: were they adequately dressed, were they accompanied by a male protector, were they of sterling ‘character’, were they cautious enough.

Poland: Kids Are So Last Century

12.21.2012

by Martyna Bunda, Polityka, Poland - Poles are staying in education longer and putting off having children – sometimes for too long. The country already has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world and if current trends continue, it may well top the global childlessness ranking in the not too distant future

The Woes of an American Drone Operator

12.20.2012

by Nicola Abé, Der Spiegel, Germany - A soldier sets out to graduate at the top of his class. He succeeds, and he becomes a drone pilot working with a special unit of the United States Air Force in New Mexico. He kills dozens of people. But then, one day, he realizes that he can't do it anymore.

No More Newtowns: What Will It Take?

12.18.2012

by Monika Bauerlein and Clara Jeffery, Mother Jones, USA - What, after Columbine, Virginia Tech, Aurora, the Sikh temple shooting, and so many others, what would it take for the nation to grapple with the fact that our gun policy is the equivalent of leaving your gun cabinet unlocked with a "Murderers Help Yourself" sign on it?

Young French Losing Hope as Prospects Fade

12.17.2012

by Julia Amalia Heyer, Der Spiegel, Germany - As in other struggling European economies, the youth of France face dire prospects. Some 26 percent are unemployed, and almost as many live in poverty. Though the problem has been there for decades, ambitious political programs have improved little.

To Hell with the Dictatorship of the Majority

12.11.2012

by Hanin Ghaddar, Now, Lebanon - Do we really think that we have achieved democracy by toppling some dictators here and there? I realized that moment that we still have a long way to go before we understand the real meaning of democracy.

Ontario First Nation Wins Cleaner Forest after 10 Years of Logging Blockade

12.06.2012

by Anna Willow, Yes!, USA - On December 3, 2002, members of the Grassy Narrows First Nation blockaded the road used to haul logs out of the area. Ten years later, their persistence has paid off in the form of cleaner water and a healthier forest in which to live.

Patients Misused as Guinea Pigs in East Germany

12.06.2012

by Nicola Kuhrt, Der Spiegel, Germany - Prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall, East Germany sold patients as unwitting guinea pigs in drug trials conducted on behalf of Western pharmaceutical companies, according to a TV documentary.

Canada’s Most Unwanted

12.05.2012

by Jasmine Budak, The Walrus, Canada - With rising infertility rates and the availability of foreign infants declining, some 30,000 children in government care have a better shot at finding a family.

New Futuro Narrows the Education Gap for Latino Students

12.03.2012

by Kathryn Hawkins, The Atlantic, USA - A Chicago startup is partnering with community groups and companies to make college goals more accessible to Latino youths in the United States.

She Who Dies with the Most 'Likes' Wins?

11.30.2012

by Jessica Valenti, The Nation, USA - Women adjust their behavior to be likable and as a result have less power in the world. And this desire to be liked and accepted goes beyond the boardroom—it’s an issue that comes up for women in their personal lives as well, especially as they become more opinionated and outspoken.

To Change Our Direction, It’s Time to Follow Nature’s Lead

11.27.2012

by Sarah van Gelder, Yes!, USA - It takes humility to recognize that what we’ve called progress isn’t always for the better. Sometimes nature’s original idea was a better one.

Staying Stuck

11.26.2012

by Frieda Sinanu and Antje Missbach, Inside Indonesia, Australia - Asylum seekers from the Middle East and troubled parts of Asia can languish for years in difficult circumstances in Indonesia.

I Didn’t Come Back to Jerusalem To Be in a War

11.22.2012

by Dahlia Lithwick, Slate, USA - What it’s like to be in Israel as the conflict escalates.

The Problems with Policing Sexism on Twitter

11.21.2012

by Kavitha Rao, The Atlantic, USA - India has started arresting men who abuse women on the social network. Is this a triumph against misogyny or a threat to free speech?

The Life of Greece's One Percent

11.16.2012

by Julia Amalia Heyer, Der Spiegel, Germany - The Greek economy has been tanking for years now as the country struggles to balance its budget by imposing deep austerity measures. But the country's richest residents haven't noticed. Many aren't taxed at all, and some of those that are prefer to dodge their obligation to the state instead.

The Art of Presence

11.15.2012

by Amal Ghandour, Aeon, UK - Despite so many threats to their freedom, Arab women continue to stage a thousand small revolutions in their everyday lives.

Pussy Prophets & Nuns on Buses: Will Feminist Politics Get More Holy & Foolish?

11.14.2012

by Beatrice Marovich, Religion Dispatches, USA - To the extent that Pussy Riot continues to infect, inflect, or influence feminist politics, I think it’s worth pointing out how novel and unprecedented this strange hybrid blend of feminism and religion really is.

The Poor Will Be the First over the Fiscal Cliff

11.14.2012

by Bryce Covert, The Nation, USA - The bottom 20 percent of Americans will see their taxes go up by an average of $209, reducing their after-tax income by nearly 2 percent. The top 40 percent, however, will only see their after-tax income dinged by .1 percent. That’s a lot of money to come from those already struggling to make ends meet.

Another ‘Year of the Woman’? Not So Fast

11.08.2012

by Ann Friedman, New York Magazine, USA - I’m not thrilled to label this “our year” when women are nowhere near achieving parity. The “Year of the Woman” narrative just goes to show that we’re still labeling women’s marginal electoral successes as outliers — more wishful thinking than watershed moment.

Women Voters Usher in a Female Congressional Wave

11.07.2012

by Bryce Covert, Forbes, USA - The percentage of women in office may still be small, but it’s edging up, in large part thanks to their fellow women at the polls.

The Steady Drone

11.07.2012

by Mariana Baabar, Outlook, India - Obama or Romney, it is apparent that Washington won’t certainly change its polices towards Islamabad—whether on conditional aid, the use of drones or action against militants.