All published articles in this category.
Vakhsh River, Tajikistan. Photo: Wikimedia
Of: Jonathan Wirth's and Tessa Stockburger
Water has often been a central topic in the relations between the five former Soviet Republics - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The current construction of Rogun Dam on the Vakhsh River in Tajikistan illustrates how the demand for water can become the source of various conflicts.
Algae blooms occur when the water is polluted with excessive nutrients. Photo: F. Lamiot / Flickr.
Of: Carolina Yang
Agriculture today feeds off the world's dwindling freshwater resources, yet is a major polluter to the oceans. Dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is the toxic cultivation from industrial agriculture, choking much of the marine life. The integrated effort in food production and diet could allow the ocean to breathe again.
Mujib Dam, holds 35 million cubic meters of water. It primarily supplies Amman, helping to ease a very stressed national water supply. Photo: Leonardo / Flickr.
Of: Siobhán Coskeran
While Jordan's population is increasing, its water resources are more scarce than ever. Jordan is one of the most water-poor countries in the world. Geographical disadvantages are partly to blame; its climate is one of the driest in the world, receiving just 200 millimeters of rainfall per year. Added to this, climate change is reducing […]
June 17, 2019, English, Magazine, News article
Extracting sand for building material affects ecosystems and causes islands to erode and disappear. Photo: USACE NY, Flickr.
Of: Aida Esmailzadeh Davani and Erika Alm
Selling sand in the desert is an old proverb to describe a skilled salesman. However, the definition may need to be reevaluated. Sand used in construction is becoming a rare and precious resource and the high demand is causing problems for ecosystems and humans alike.
Some 150 years after President Lincoln “freed” the American slaves, it is estimated that over 30 million people still live in slavery. Photo: Shealah Craighead / The White House.
Thursday, January 1st 1863 was a bright and crispy day in Washington DC The sky was clear and the wind biting and dry, making the great magnolia trees sway back and forth on the White House south lawn. That morning, Abraham Lincoln got out of bed exceptionally early. He had so much to do, but […]
April 10, 2019, Publishing, English, Magazine
Builders at Work. There are close to one million migrant workers in Qatar, mainly from South Asia. The majority work in construction. Photo: WBUR Boston's NPR News Station, Flickr.
Of: Åsa Setterquist and Hanna Geschewski
Many were shocked when FIFA announced their choice for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. It is not only a wildcard in international football, but also notorious for the unworthy treatment of its many migrant workers. With only three years left until the first kick-off, not much seems to have improved.
Factory worker making clothes. Photo: Fancycrave, Unsplash.
Of: Vittorio Capici and Woo Seong Kim
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is one of the most ambitious transnational development projects ever implemented. However, many EU analysts and policymakers fear the changes that BRI will bring to the European labor markets. This article will bring you to Prato, a key center for the Italian textile industry, where the Chinese immigrant workers have been hired under inhumane conditions for 40 years and where the Chinese government decided to invest once again.
Kyrgyzstan has been accused by the United Nations of failing to protect victims and adequately prosecute perpetrators of bride-kidnapping. Photo: Gazvbubu Babayarova.
Of: Iryna Sharypina and Tessa Stockburger
In Kyrgyzstan, a girl is kidnapped every 40 minutes and forced into a marriage with her kidnapper. Now as #MeToo has spread around the globe, Kyrgyz women and girls are speaking out to end this practice.
Bacha bazi, or "boy play" in Dari, is a practice that is synonymous with the sexual exploitation of boys. Photo: US Embassy Kabul, Flickr.
Of: Alexandra Håkansson and Lisa Elamson
In 2017 the Afghan government introduced a new Criminal Code explicitly addressing the under-reported issue of bacha bazi. The practice involves older men taking advantage of young boys in vulnerable situations and has increased since the fall of the Taliban regime. Although introducing new laws banning bacha bazi is a welcome move, the issue extends far beyond national laws.
A cramped, narrow lane in Kamathipura, Mumbai. Photo: Jaideep Vaidya, Flickr
Of: Johanna Caminati Engström and Jonathan Wirth's
In India, addressing sex trafficking remains a challenge. A study from 2013 found that four in five female sex workers in the country have been trafficked and forced into the industry. But what happens afterwards? What are the challenges for organizations that try to support sex workers who have been trafficked? Olga González, who has recently worked in one of Asia's largest and oldest red light areas in Mumbai, answered our questions.