Brazilian Favela Becomes a Living Museum

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Fabiana Frayssinet RIO DE JANEIRO, Apr 20, 2012 (IPS) – The history, daily life and folk artistry as well as spectacular views of this southeastern Brazilian city are all part of a living museum created by community leaders in a favela that is displaying its cultural heritage [...]


Over 165,000 Students On Strike in Quebec Over Planned Tuition Hikes

The Real News Network Students lead tens of thousands in protests against tuition hikes and neoliberal reforms of Quebec government More at The Real News


EL SALVADOR: Giving Young Slum Dwellers a Chance

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Edgardo Ayala SAN SALVADOR, Nov 18, 2011 (IPS) – In a country where hard-line policies have failed to make a dent in soaring levels of violent crime, Salesian priest José María Moratalla has produced good results by offering educational and vocational opportunities to juvenile offenders and young [...]


Turning Education From a Privilege into a Right

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Inaki Borda UNITED NATIONS, Jul 13, 2011 (IPS) – Going to school and receiving an education are opportunities most people usually take for granted. But for 67 million children around the world, such possibilities do not exist. Girls comprise over half of this overwhelming figure. They are [...]


MIDEAST: Palestinians Won’t Learn Israeli Lessons

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Jillian Kestler-D’Amours EAST JERUSALEM, Jul 12, 2011 (IPS) – Widespread strikes across Palestinian civil society could be in store for East Jerusalem at the start of the next school year, as the municipality moves ahead with its current plan to implement an Israeli curriculum in Palestinian schools. [...]


PAKISTAN: Schools Rise From the Rubble

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Ashfaq Yusufzai PESHAWAR, Jun 26, 2011 (IPS) – Violence in the tribal areas of northwest Pakistan has kept students away from school, in some areas for at least two years. Now, officials are trying to make up for lost time by holding classes even under tents or [...]


What’s Really Wrong With the Thiel Fellowships

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy Ian Fletcher In case you missed it, the Thiel Foundation, founded by Peter Thiel of PayPal fame, just announced the first batch of winners for its “20 Under 20” fellowship program to pay students to drop out of college for two years to pursue entrepreneurial ideas. Any number of people [...]


INDIA: Kashmir in Search of Lost Culture

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Athar Parvaiz SRINAGAR, May 28, 2011 (IPS) – While the conflict in Indian Kashmir and the destruction it has caused often makes the news, its impact on culture has hardly gotten any attention. Although the armed conflict is on the ebb, cultural events have yet to stage [...]


PAKISTAN: Women Lose Livelihood Centres to Militants

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Ashfaq Yusufzai PESHAWAR, May 28, 2011 (IPS) – Housewife Shahida Jabeen was devastated when she heard the news that she could no longer take sewing and embroidery classes at the local training centre in her hometown in South Waziristan in north-west Pakistan. "It was like a bombshell [...]


BOLIVIA: The Boomerang Effect for Morales

Global Geopolitics & Political Economy / IPS By Mario Osava GUAYARAMERÍN, Bolivia, Apr 26, 2011 (IPS) – It wasn’t easy to get to the Bolivian city of Riberalta from Brazil. The adventurous journey included potholes on the Brazilian highway, a rickety boat that ferried us across the Mamoré – the border river – and an [...]