In The News

New York Times: Kenyans Say Chinese Investment Brings Racism

Joseph Goldstein October 22, 2018
A 26-year-old Kenyan working for a Chinese motorcycle company in Ruiru recorded a viral video of his Chinese manager airing frustration after a business deal had gone awry, comparing Kenyans to monkies. After the video drew widespread condemnation, Liu was deported back to China. Such incidents are not a rare occurrence. “Today, many younger Kenyans say that racism is a phenomenon they largely...

The Lancet: Mental Health for All – A Global Goal

Helen Franish, Niall Boyce and Richard Horton October 12, 2018
More than 1 billion people – one out of every seven worldwide – suffer from mental or substance-use disorders. The suffering has consequences for entire communities, and treatment varies worldwide. “Human rights violations remain common and people with mental disorders are often marginalised and even abused, with large numbers of people forcefully detained or locked away in institutions,”...

ENS: Indigenous Peoples Own/Manage ¼ of Earth’s Land

Environment News Service August 3, 2018
Indigenous people own or have management rights over at least 25 percent of Earth’s land, which in turn overlaps with 40 percent of all protected lands, according to Stephen Garnett of Charles Darwin University who leads an international mapping research team. The team emphasizes that understanding land ownership is essential for developing and monitoring international conservation and climate...

Brookings: Social Protection Programs and Life Satisfaction

Talajeh Livani and Carol Graham July 24, 2018
Do universal basic income and strong public welfare programs work? Experts in developed and developing countries have mixed reviews. Welfare programs “often come with stigma and disempowerment, in addition to high administrative costs, supporting the case for universal basic income guarantees” write Talejeh Livani and Carol Graham for Brookings. Measuring the effectiveness of social assistance...

New Yorker: Obrador, Trump and the Error of Comparison

Jon Lee Anderson July 4, 2018
Andrés Manuel López Obrador, also known as AMLO, won 53 percent of the vote along with taking the majority of legislature seats. Issues in Mexico include the war on drugs, complacency against the Trump administration and failure to prosecute major criminal cases. By building grassroots support over two decades, López Obrador ended the 88-year-old hold grip on power by two parties, PRI and PAN....

The Economist: The Calculations of Muhammad bin Salman

June 22, 2018
Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman proceeds in stifling political dissent in exchange for the loosening of social restrictions. While the holy month of Ramadan had once been a time for pardons and royal amnesties in Saudi Arabia, the tide has turned. Instead, bin Salman adds to the 2,000 or so political prisoners detained since September. Over the past month, 17 activists were arrested: “Nine...

Paris Innovation Review: 5 Societal Changes Shake Up Business

Farid Baddache June 22, 2018
Governments and consumers have expectations when choosing among products and companies, and five global trends are emerging: Customers increasingly assess the meaning, purposes and consequences of projects, and companies can encourage customer loyalty by demonstrating their products contribute social benefits. In particular, customers expect companies to promote environmental protection and work...