Shining a Light on Tanzania's AlbinosAlbinism is a genetic condition characterized by a lack of melanin in the skin, hair and eyes. In Tanzania - which has the largest population of albinos in Africa - it is especially dangerous to be an albino, due to many cultural myths and ignorance about albinos. Albinos are persecuted and often killed for their body parts, which are used in witchcraft potions.
The escalating rate of murder of albinos became so high that the government finally ordered a crackdown on witch doctors in 2008. To increase safety, the government also created some community shelters for albinos to live, albeit apart from their families. Recently, two photojournalists created (separate) photo series about the plight of albinos in Tanzania. The articles below each feature the stories and the very beautiful portraits by these photographers of albinos in Tanzania:
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Village Sign Languages, Vanishing FastIn the early 18th century, deafness was so common in the isolated fishing community on Martha's Vineyard, MA that both deaf and hearing people communicated with each other using a sign language that was unique to the island.
Over time, anthropologists found other communities throughout the world that also created unique village sign languages. But as travel became more common and deaf education became more segregated and standardized, these unique village sign languages - and the clues they held to cultural heritage and identity - began to disappear. Last year, the first collection of studies of village sign languages was published: “Sign Languages in Village Communities,” edited by linguists Ulrike Zeshan and Connie de Vos. It documents examples of sign languages in India, Israel, Jamaica, Turkey, Thailand, Bali, and other countries, and some very interesting examples of how deafness has been assimilated into several cultures. |
Pakistan Goes After Toy Guns to Prevent Kids' Militant Aspirations
From The Atlantic: "Toy guns don't kill people, people kill people.
Nevertheless, campaigners in Pakistan are aiming to get imitation Kalashnikovs and Glocks off the streets, saying they help breed a culture of violence among children." Will these efforts help? Some say that the focus should be on educating about real guns and the social acceptance of violence. |
"If we expose our children to these things from a tender age, it will not be difficult for them to fall into the hands of extremists when they are teenagers... Childhood exposure to toy guns can make them easily adapt to using weapons [when they grow up]." |
In Venezuela, a New Trend: Hair RobberyFrom BBC News: "Venezuelan papers are rife with reports that robbers are picking different kinds of locks these days - locks of hair stolen from women to sell in the country's lucrative beauty business.
The president says its a rumour designed to make young people paranoid. Even if it is, what does it say about the things Venezuelans value most?" |
Finland is the "2nd Happiest Country on Earth." Here's Why.From The Atlantic: "The country has cheaper medical care, smarter children, happier moms, better working conditions, less-anxious unemployed people, and lower student loan rates than we do. And that probably will never change."
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