The indestructible soccer ball
What do you get when you mix an eager philanthropist with a world-renowned rock star? If this were any other scenario the answer would be Bono. The real answer is a nearly indestructible soccer ball for children in developing countries. It’s the brainchild of Tim Jahnigen, who thought of the idea while watching a film about refugees and soccer. In these communities, balls […]
Rewards for Justice // a collective effort
On Wednesday morning, the Obama administration officially announced that it will be offering up to $5 million in rewards for information leading to the capture of top LRA commanders Joseph Kony, Okot Odhiambo, and Dominic Ongwen. The reward comes with the expansion of the U.S. State Department’s War Crimes Rewards Program – an expansion that was mandated by the passage of […]
UPDATE on the 28 women and children who escaped the LRA last week
As previously reported, the LRA released 28 women and children in Digba, DR Congo on March 21, 2013. According to the LRA Crisis Tracker, the group of 8 women, 13 girls, and 7 boys is the largest group to escape LRA captivity in more than three years. So, what happened next? In this case MONUSCO DDR/RR (the UN […]
Novelist Chinua Achebe dies at 82
Internationally acclaimed Nigerian author Chinua Achebe died this past Thursday in Boston. He was 82. At the age of 28 Achebe penned the African masterpiece Things Fall Apart. The novel told the story of European colonialism from the perspective of Nigerian protagonist Okonkwo, who rises to power only to be challenged by British colonial rule. Since its release […]
The art of recycling
Pakistani sculptor Khalil Chishtee uses a unique medium for his work. Rather than clay, marble, or wood, Chishtee creates his life-like images using the remains of used trash bags, grocery bags, and even sheets. The result of this rare, but thought-provoking art form is a collection of stunningly realistic, three-dimensional images. Each unique sculpture shows a beautifully crafted and […]
Mapping March Madness
March Madness is in full swing and I’m already near the bottom of our office bracket challenge. But if I believe in one thing during this tournament, it’s the underdog. So here’s to hoping things turn around. Michael Bailey, an economist on Facebook’s Data Science team, compiled an analysis of the more than 1 million Facebook user’s […]
Collaborating with the Congo
You probably wouldn’t know it by looking at them, but Pierce Freelon and his colleague Stephen Levitin are both professors at the University of North Carolina. Together they teach Beat Making Lab at the university, where students learn the basic skills needed to create and distribute beats for various genres including hip-hop. In addition to teaching, both men are […]
A conversation with Visible Children’s Grant Oyston
When Grant Oyston sat down to write a response to the Kony 2012 phenomenon he only expected a few dozen of his friends to read it. However like many things online, within a week his blog was read more than 2 million times. Despite his desire, Grant was perceived by many as a credible source in the case against KONY […]
Today is International Day of Happiness
The kingdom of Bhutan – a small country nestled deep in the Himalayan mountains, has a unique approach to economics. While most countries focus extensively on Gross National Product, Bhutanese culture is rooted in Gross National Happiness. In the 1970s the Fourth King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, adopted the idea. The approach seems to be working – in 2006 Business Week […]
Ugandan chess prodigy to play Bill Gates
Phiona Mutesi wasn’t always a jet-setting, child chess prodigy. The 16-year-old grew up in Katwe, a slum in Kampala. Her father died of AIDS when she was three and her sister met the same fate shortly thereafter. For Phiona, finding her next meal and caring for her brothers and sisters while her mother was working […]