In The News

Arts and Bards, Political Branch

Jed Yoong January 8, 2009
Art is an individual’s reaction to the world around him or her, criticizing flaws or reflecting a vision of what could be. As such, art is subversive and can make political leaders and managers uncomfortable.With that in mind, the rise of opposition politics and activism in Malaysia also spurs the art community, writes Jed Yoong for the Asia Sentinel. A play that describes an interrogation that...

Atheist Bus Ad Campaign Provokes Bitterness in Barcelona

Giles Tremlett January 7, 2009
In an age where ideas travel the globe in an instant, atheists in Barcelona have copied a UK ad campaign by posting ads on buses to present a possibility that God does not exist and urge the public to “stop worrying.” Spain is a traditionally Catholic nation, where the church receives some government funding. Some critics of the ad campaign blame the socialist government, with one leader calling...

Doctor Freed After Court Forbids Forced Marriage

Ian Johnston December 17, 2008
A judge in Bangladesh intervened on behalf of a National Health Service physician held by her parents in Bangladesh and expected her to marry a man of their choosing. “Her lawyers said the case set a precedent in Bangladesh and it is also one of the first cases where legal action was taken in the UK since the Forced Marriages Act became law last month,” reports Ian Johnston for the Independent....

India Calling

Anand Giridharadas December 2, 2008
Immigrants tend to flow from poorer nations to wealthier ones, but on second thought, perhaps attitudes are more attractive than wealth. Indians moved to the West, escaping India’s constraints in the 1970s. But India’s economy has since enjoyed ample growth and its politicians matured, enacting policies that focused on privatization, liberalization and globalization. In recent years, the...

When Nobody Understands

November 13, 2008
Most of the languages spoken around the world, up to 90 percent, could disappear by the end of the century, and debate ensues on what to do: Language conservationists pose a range of arguments, including “multilingual children do better academically,” but policymakers find that educating children in a dominant language, such as English, Mandarin or Spanish is more practical than a regional tongue...

Globalization Battle Plays Out in French Cheese Industry

Matthew Saltmarsh October 24, 2008
A great product can’t help but inspire others to follow suit. But as copies emerge, quality often declines, and such is the case with great cheeses produced and aged in France, according to traditional cheesemakers. Matthew Saltmarsh profiles Philippe Alléosse in Paris, who worries “industrial processes – from sourcing through production and distribution – are squeezing small farmers and...

Music: True Agent of Globalization

Alan Paul October 21, 2008
Many bands are cobbled together by people who share a simple desire to perform. Alan Paul describes his experiences with a blues band consisting of Chinese and American players. “We believe that with music, there is one people,” Paul announces, after stepping on stage for a Beijing music festival. Audiences respond to traditional songs, laden with meaning, from one land or the other. “To me, this...