From China to Turkey, the shared cultural heritage and legacy of the Silk Road unites countries in the region to this day.
Read MoreClean Cookware Used to Improve Women’s Health and Combat Climate Change
Millions of women in developing countries lack access to clean cookware. International organizations are working to change that.
Women in India testing a solar cooker. United Nations Development Program. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Although the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995 made groundbreaking strides toward gender equality, one key issue was never addressed: providing households with clean cookstoves. At least 3 billion people across the developing world rely on open fires to cook their food, a task mainly entrusted to women. Cooking on open fires can hold severe environmental and health implications for women and their families.
Modern cookstoves have reduced black carbon emissions by 30-60%
According to the Clean Cooking Alliance, cooking over open fires is the second-largest contributor to global warming aside from carbon dioxide emissions. The burning process releases black carbon, or soot, which lowers the reflective quality of glaciers and sea ice, causing them to melt. Additionally, the demand for wood as fuel results in unsustainable harvesting and deforestation. Studies indicate that at least 30% of the wood used in the developing world is unsustainably harvested, negatively affecting the ecosystem’s health, biodiversity and erosion. The absence of trees prevents carbon dioxide from being absorbed from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, further compounding the effects of global warming.
Cooking on an open fire also exposes women and children to toxic levels of household air pollution, sometimes over 35 times the amount deemed safe by the World Health Organization. Exposure to air pollution can have detrimental effects on one’s health, causing increased risks of childhood pneumonia, lung cancer, strokes and atherosclerosis. In some cases, exposure to high levels of air pollution has led to complications during birth. Health conditions related to smoke inhalation kill over 4 million people each year.
Access to safe cookware in the developing world remains limited, especially in areas torn apart by humanitarian crises. Women often put themselves in dangerous and even life-threatening situations while searching for cooking fuel. Women collecting firewood near refugee camps and conflict zones face increased risks of gender-based violence. Additionally, children accompanying their mothers to find firewood cannot attend school and miss out on available educational opportunities. The time spent gathering firewood further prevents women from seeking valuable opportunities to generate income for their families and children.
Empowering Women Through the Clean Cooking Alliance
Women collecting firewood in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Oxfam International. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Founded in 2010, the Clean Cooking Alliance is an U.N.-backed organization focused on gender equality through cooking. The alliance works with a global team to ensure that 3 billion people gain access to clean cookstoves. Its focus is on increasing consumer demand and supporting local businesses while developing a clean cooking industry in seven countries: Bangladesh, China, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda. Modern cookstoves have reduced black carbon emissions by 30-60% and help to combat climate change. Additionally, having access to cooking equipment can save women up to 300 hours and $200 per year, giving them more free time to spend with their families or economic pursuits. As the Clean Cooking Alliance expands its reach, hopes are high that women and their families will be empowered across the developing world.
To Get Involved:
Check out the Global Cooking Alliance’s initiatives on its website or head to its fundraising page.
Megan Gürer
Megan is a Turkish-American student at Wellesley College in Massachusetts studying Biological Sciences. Passionate about environmental issues and learning about other cultures, she dreams of exploring the globe. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, singing, and composing music.
CATALYST PLANET's 50 BEST BOOKS OF 2023
A wealth of captivating new books flooded the shelves in 2023, enticing readers with diverse narratives and ideas—here are our top picks. These books will take you all over the world, from Malaysia to Argentina, from Palestine to Turkey, and through all of the major social issues of our time.
Fiction
1. Covenant of Water
by Abraham Verghese
Abraham Verghese's "The Covenant of Water" intricately weaves a haunting saga across three generations in Kerala, South India, exploring a family's struggle with a mysterious pattern of drownings from 1900 to 1977. Amidst the omnipresent waters of Kerala, this poignant narrative delves into love, faith and resilience, creating a vivid portrayal of human endurance, medical progress and intergenerational sacrifices in a changing India—a captivating literary masterpiece hailed by Oprah Winfrey as "unputdownable."
2. Our Share of Night
by Mariana Enriquez
In 'Our Share of Night,' a father and son confront a sinister family obsessed with immortality, spanning time and escaping the clutches of a menacing cult across different eras from 1960s London to Argentina's turbulent history. This narrative of family, the supernatural, and queer themes poses the question: Can anyone escape fate, or will love and sacrifice prevail? It's a compelling work by a visionary Latin American storyteller praised as 'mesmerizing' by Dave Eggers.
3. The House of Doors
by Tan Twan Eng
In 1921 Penang, "The House of Doors" follows Lesley Hamlyn and her husband Robert, alongside writer Somerset Maugham and his secretary Gerald. Maugham, dealing with a troubled marriage and seeking inspiration, discovers Lesley's intriguing past involving Dr. Sun Yat Sen. This captivating novel explores race, gender and power dynamics within the British Empire, weaving a tale of complex relationships and hidden truths.
4. Small Mercies
by Dennis Lehane
In Boston's 1974 heatwave, Mary Pat Fennessy's quest for her missing daughter intertwines with the mysterious death of a young Black man. As she delves into dangerous inquiries, she clashes with the Irish mob amid the city's explosive school desegregation turmoil. Dennis Lehane's "Small Mercies" is a gripping thriller exposing criminality, power dynamics and the chilling realities of American racism during this tumultuous period.
5. Straw Dogs of the Universe
by Ye Chun
Straw Dogs of the Universe follows the journey of Sixiang, a young girl sold in America, desperate to reunite with her father, a railroad worker in California, amid the challenges presented by the anti-Chinese movement. This sweeping historical saga spans generations from Chinese villages to the American West, exploring family resilience and the struggle for survival in a country that relies on and rejects its laborers.
6. The Reformatory
by Tananarive Due
In 1950, in Gracetown, Florida, twelve-year-old Robbie Stephens, Jr., is sent to The Reformatory to defend his sister, Gloria. His gift of seeing ghosts turns from solace to a window, revealing the horrors within. As the boys vanish, Robbie learns survival from friends Redbone and Blue while Gloria fights to rescue him. Tananarive Due's haunting historical fiction, "The Reformatory," unravels the hidden truths of the Jim Crow South and the notorious Dozier School for Boys, illuminating long-buried tragedies through Robbie's gripping narrative.
7. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
by James McBride
In 1972 Pottstown, Pennsylvania, the discovery of a skeleton in Chicken Hill, a neighborhood where Jewish immigrants and African Americans lived side by side, unravels long-held secrets. James McBride's "The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store" delves into the intertwined lives of Moshe, who integrated a theater, and Chona, who ran a grocery store, revealing their struggles and the community's resilience against adversity.
8. If I Survive You
by Jonathan Escoffery
In the 1970s, Topper and Sanya fled Kingston, Jamaica's political violence for Miami, only to face exclusion and hardship as Black immigrants. Jonathan Escoffery's "If I Survive You" follows Trelawny, navigating financial turmoil, racism, and family struggles with resilience. Through humor and vibrant storytelling, Escoffery unravels the challenges of being between cultures, offering a profound commentary on survival in a world shaped by capitalism and systemic biases. This debut marks Escoffery as a distinctive voice, chronicling the grim and hopeful aspects of American life.
9. Enter Ghost
by Isabella Hammad
Actress Sonia Nasir returns to Haifa, facing her fractured connection to Palestine. She gets involved in a West Bank Hamlet production, finding camaraderie among Palestinian actors determined to cross barriers. This poignant novel explores diaspora and resistance in present-day Palestine, highlighting the transformative power of artistry amid occupation.
10. What Napoleon Could Not Do
by DK Nnuro
This book follows siblings Jacob and Belinda Nti from Ghana and Wilder, a Texan businessman. Their varied perspectives unravel the American dream—Jacob's visa struggles, Belinda's success in education, and her marriage to Wilder, who confronts racial challenges. This poignant narrative explores their aspirations and experiences, shedding light on the promises and pitfalls of life in the U.S., capturing dashed hopes and realized dreams.
11. Loot
by Tania James
Abbas, a gifted woodcarver, enters Tipu Sultan's service, crafting a grand tiger automaton for the Sultan's sons. As war wreaks havoc across India and Europe, Abbas collaborates with renowned clockmaker Lucien du Leze. When invited to France, Abbas discovers the tiger's disappearance after British forces loot Tipu's palace. His mission changes to retrieving the automaton from an English estate, testing his skills and loyalty amid a backdrop of plundered art.
12. Chain Gang All Stars
By Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
"Chain-Gang All-Stars" follows Loretta Thurwar and Hamara "Hurricane Staxxx" Stacker, stars of CAPE's death matches in a profit-driven private prison program. As fan favorites, they compete for freedom while grappling with their relationship and the brutal nature of the games. Thurwar, on the brink of freedom, wrestles with the ethical toll on her fellow Links. This searing novel examines systemic racism, capitalism, and mass incarceration in America's prison system, offering a poignant reflection on the true meaning of freedom.
13. Kantika
by Rebecca Cohen
This novel paints a vivid portrait of Rebecca Cohen, the spirited daughter of Istanbul's Sephardic elite. Displaced in Barcelona due to financial loss, Rebecca navigates life's joys and hardships, from a failed marriage to motherhood, across Spain, Cuba and New York. Her story delves into identity, exile, and the female experience in work, art and love, emphasizing resilience amid suffering and embracing life's beauty. Elizabeth Graver's lyrical novel celebrates women's strength and determination in seizing their destinies.
14. No One Prayed Over Their Graves
by Khaled Khalifa
The lives of Hanna and Zakariya are altered forever as they return to their village near Aleppo, Syria, to find it devastated by a massive flood. Hanna, once a wealthy libertine, transforms into an ascetic mystic after losing everything, delving into the meaning of life and death. The novel navigates their lives in Aleppine society at the turn of the 20th century, capturing the rich tapestry of friendships, love, and societal changes amidst the city's diverse communities.
15. Crook Manifesto
by Colson Whitehead
In this novel, set from 1971 to 1976, furniture store owner Ray Carney grapples with a chaotic city, the NYPD's clash with the Black Liberation Army, and a return to the criminal world for Jackson 5 tickets. Pepper, Carney's partner, ventures into Blaxploitation shoots, encountering Hollywood stars and criminals while displaying his prowess. Amid Harlem's upheaval in 1976, Carney and Pepper uncover corruption while facing family challenges in a crumbling city.
16. I Will Greet The Sun Again
by Khashayar J. Khabushani
"I Will Greet the Sun Again" traces K's struggle with identity as a young Iranian immigrant in the San Fernando Valley, dealing with feelings for his friend Johnny while navigating his family's expectations. After returning from Iran, K grapples with reconstructing his identity in a changed world. Khashayar J. Khabushani's novel delves into the challenges of being queer and Muslim in America, depicting a tender journey of self-discovery and belonging.
17. Birnam Wood
by Eleanor Catton
A New Zealand landslide isolates Thorndike town, prompting a guerrilla gardening group, Birnam Wood, to seize an abandoned farm for financial stability. However, an enigmatic billionaire, Robert Lemoine, claims the land for an end-times bunker, sparking a clash of ideologies and trust issues. This gripping thriller explores human survival instincts, alliances and the complexities of human nature in a tense narrative.
18. Faraway World
by Patricia Engel
This short story collection portrays Colombian expats in New York City, a Cuban woman seeking her brother's stolen bones and a couple hustling in Miami, each grappling with their pasts. These intimate and panoramic stories capture regret's liminality, the vitality of community and moments of love, offering a compassionate view of human connections.
19. Same Bed Different Dreams
by Soon Sheen
Reimagining a world where the Korean Provisional Government persists, working covertly towards a unified Korea, this novel intertwines narratives and mysterious images. Author Soon Sheen, employed by tech giant GLOAT, discovers an unfinished manuscript linking various personalities, blending reality and fiction. This imaginative tale by the acclaimed author of "Personal Days" offers an alternate reality where a unified Korea feels within reach.
20. Victory City
by Salman Rushdie
"Victory City" narrates the epic tale of Pampa Kampana, a nine-year-old girl in fourteenth-century southern India, chosen by a goddess after a divine encounter. Over 250 years, her life deeply intertwines with the rise and fall of Bisnaga, a magnificent city, sown from magical seeds and eventually ruined by human folly. Pampa strives to empower women in a patriarchal society, yet the city's complexities grow beyond her control. Crafted as an ancient epic, this saga embodies the enduring power of storytelling through love, adventure and myth.
21. A History of Burning
by Janika Oza
In 1898, an Indian teen named Pirbhai works for the British on the East African Railway, committing a fateful act. Janika Oza's multi-generational epic spans continents and time as Pirbhai's family navigates the repercussions of his deed. Born in Uganda during colonial rule's decline, his granddaughters faced upheaval and fled Idi Amin's sadistic dictatorship in 1972. The family's scattering leads to a global journey, questioning loyalties and defining their place in the world. "A History of Burning" traces an intimate saga of family, complicity, and resilience across generations.
22. The Most Secret Memory of Men
By Mohamed Mbougar Sarr and Lara Vergnaud
Winner of France's highly prestigious Prix Goncourt, "The Most Secret Memory of Men" follows Senegalese writer Diégane Latyr Faye's quest in Paris to uncover the mysterious author of a scandalous 1930s book. It delves into history's tragedies and explores themes of exile, art and cultural convergence between Africa and the West, celebrating the timeless power of literature.
23. Tremor
by Teju Cole
"Tremor" is Teju Cole's riveting exploration of life's complexities through Tunde, a West African photographer in New England. Amidst historical reflections, racial tensions and personal revelations, the novel delves into time's passage and the human capacity for survival and joy. Cole's masterful storytelling in this realistic yet inventive work resonates with literature, music and the profound experience of existence.
24. Age of Vice
by Deepti Kapoor
"Age of Vice" delves into how the Wadia family's opulence is tainted by violence, power and desire in contemporary India. Ajay, Sunny and Neda navigate ambition, corruption and forbidden romance in a gripping tale that spans from villages to the metropolis of New Delhi, revealing greed's consequences.
25. Family Lore
By Elizabeth Acevedo
Flor holds a unique power: foreseeing death dates. When she plans a living wake, her sisters wonder about her intentions and their own hidden truths. As the Marte women gather for the celebration, Elizabeth Acevedo's "Family Lore" unfolds, intertwining past and present in a vibrant tale of sisterhood, legacy, and revelations over three significant days.
26. Let Us Descend
by Jesmyn Ward
"Let Us Descend" is a vivid reimagining of American slavery, following Annis' harrowing journey from the Carolinas to a Louisiana sugar plantation. Jesmyn Ward intricately weaves family, spirituality and resilience themes in this powerful tale of sorrow and redemption set against the haunting backdrop of the American South's landscapes.
27. The Deluge
By Stephen Markley
In a turbulent 21st-century world, "The Deluge" weaves a gripping narrative involving Tony Pietrus, a threatened scientist, and a diverse array of characters. Their interconnected journeys traverse landscapes from California to Wyoming, unveiling a tale of courage, chaos and hope amid an impending ecological crisis and political upheaval. This ambitious novel confronts sacrifices made for humanity's survival, capturing a pivotal moment in time with unparalleled depth
NonFiction
28. King: A Life
by Jonathan Eig
Jonathan Eig's "King: A Life" is an extensively researched and vividly written biography, offering a fresh perspective on Martin Luther King Jr. It delves into his complex relationships, internal struggles, and his pivotal role in reshaping American race relations. This landmark biography captures MLK's brilliance as a strategist and his unwavering commitment to justice, making his message as relevant today as it was in his era.
29. Waiting to be Arrested at Night
by Tahir Hamut Izgil
In "Waiting to Be Arrested at Night," Tahir Hamut Izgil recounts the harrowing ordeal of the Uyghur people in China under the government's brutal crackdown. As a poet and intellectual, Tahir experienced the persecution firsthand, witnessing the disappearance of friends and neighbors into internment camps. His book is a plea for global awareness of the crisis and a tribute to silenced Uyghur voices.
30. The Rediscovery of America
by Ned Blackhawk
This narrative spans five centuries, highlighting how Indigenous history has shaped America. The author unveils pivotal moments where Native nations influenced colonization, the American Revolution, the Civil War and 20th-century activism. Blackhawk's retelling emphasizes Indigenous peoples’ enduring resilience and impact on the United States' history and identity.
31. Cobalt Red
by Siddharth Kara
"Cobalt Red" uncovers the grim truth of cobalt mining in the Congo through personal stories. Siddharth Kara delves into the harsh realities of child labor, militia control and global tech reliance on Congo's cobalt. With a call for global awareness, Kara highlights the urgent need to address this human rights and environmental crisis.
32. The Half-Known Life: In Search of Paradise
by Pico Iyer
One of the world’s greatest travel writers, explores this 3.64 Pico Iyer’s exploration in “Paradise,” which takes readers across diverse landscapes and beliefs, challenging our notions of utopia and peace. From Iran to North Korea and even high up in the Himalayas, he questions the essence of paradise, pondering its existence in the here and now amid life's complexities and suffering. With decades of global experiences, Iyer delivers an original, transformative perspective on finding moments of paradise within our everyday realities
33. How to Say Babylon
by Safiya Sinclair
This memoir recounts the author’s struggle against oppression within a strict Rastafari household, finding her voice through poetry and education. The book delves into her journey of breaking free from cultural constraints to reclaim her autonomy and power.
34. Some People Need Killing
by Patricia Evangelista
This gripping chronicle delves into the Philippines' drug war under Rodrigo Duterte. With meticulous reporting, Evangelista uncovers the brutal killings carried out in the name of law and order, shedding light on the nation's frightening atmosphere and the human impulses behind such violence.
35. The 272: The Families Who Were Enslaved and Sold to Build the American Catholic Church
by Rachel L. Swarns
Unveiling Georgetown University's connection to slavery by tracing the Mahoney family's multigenerational story, this groundbreaking account exposes the Catholic Church's reliance on enslaved labor, sparking a national conversation about reparations and the Church's role in American history.
36. We Were Once a Family
by Roxanna Asgarian
This gripping expose delves into a tragic murder-suicide involving six children adopted by a white couple. "We Were Once a Family" uncovers systemic faults in the foster care system, revealing racial biases and neglect. Asgarian's immersive journalism highlights the lives of the adopted children, their birth families and the failures of a flawed system that continues to endanger vulnerable youths.
37. Liliana’s Invincible Summer
by Cristina Rivera Garza
This poignant memoir, "Liliana's Invincible Summer," chronicles her quest for justice following her sister's tragic murder by an abusive ex-boyfriend. Rivera Garza honors Liliana’s vibrant spirit in luminous prose, tracing her life and final summer of 1990. Through a blend of scholarly insight and personal narrative, she confronts her the loss of her sister, crafting a moving testament to resilience and the ongoing fight against gendered violence.
38. The Great Escape :A True Story of Forced Labor and Immigrant Dreams in America
by Saket Soni
The gripping story of immigrant workers trapped in dire conditions on the Gulf Coast. Their daring escape, march to Washington, DC, and determined hunger strike unfold against the backdrop of their fight for dignity and justice. Saket Soni's narrative reveals the realities of forced labor and the challenges these workers face in their quest for fair treatment and human rights.
39. The Land of Hope and Fear
by Isabel Kershner
This expose delves into the lives of Israel’s diverse citizens, capturing the nation's divisions, aspirations and challenges through vivid narratives and on-the-ground insights.
40. Built from the Fire
by Victor Luckerson
Subtitled "The epic story of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, America’s Black Wall Street," this book unveils the story of a thriving Black community before and after the Tulsa Race Massacre. Through personal accounts and generational experiences, journalist Victor Luckerson narrates the neighborhood's legacy of strength, struggle against racism and its fight for survival in the face of adversity and urban renewal.
41. Fire Weather
by John Vaillant
"Fire Weather" recounts the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire, highlighting its implications in our worsening climate crisis. John Vaillant examines fire's historical impact on societies, intertwining the evolution of North America's oil industry and climate science with the devastating effects of contemporary forest fires. This urgent narrative portrays our world's vulnerability to fire in an era of escalating climate change.
42. Pageboy
by Elliot Page
This poignant memoir navigates the highs and lows of fame, revealing the inner struggle of self-discovery and authenticity. From Juno's success to the suffocating pressures of Hollywood, Page shares a candid journey toward genuine self-empowerment and acceptance in a world constantly trying to define us.
43. The Secret Gate
by Homeira Qaderi
The chronicle of the gripping escape of Afghan author Homeira Qaderi and her son, aided by American diplomat Sam Aronson during the tumultuous Fall of Kabul. Amid the chaos, Sam orchestrated their daring passage through a secret entrance at the airport, navigating danger and gunfire to ensure their safety. This poignant narrative encapsulates bravery and survival against the backdrop of a collapsing Afghanistan.
44. Winnie and Nelson
by John Steinberg
Jonny Steinberg explores the intricate marriage of Nelson and Winnie Mandela, revealing their differing political paths and personal struggles amid the fight against apartheid. Steinberg unravels the complex relationship, offering a compelling narrative about love, political divergence and its impact on South African history.
45. Anansi’s Gold
by Yepoka Yeebo
The author uncovers a captivating saga of post-independence Ghana, detailing a charismatic scammer's audacious plot to exploit the nation's newfound independence. John Ackah Blay-Miezah's intricate deceptions and the chase to find Ghana's missing wealth make for a gripping narrative entwined with Cold War politics, international finance and the quest for truth in history
46. A Fever in the Heartland
by Timothy Egan
Pulitzer and National Book Award-winning author Egan delves into the rise of the Ku Klux Klan during the 1920s. The book focuses on D.C. Stephenson, the charismatic leader behind the Klan's growth, and Madge Oberholtzer, whose testimony became instrumental in its downfall. Egan delivers a gripping narrative that uncovers this dark episode in American history with compelling detail and historical depth.
47. Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet
by Ben Goldfarb
Delving into the significant impact of roads on wildlife and habitats worldwide, Goldfarb explores the harm caused by roads, from animal deaths to habitat destruction, while showcasing innovative solutions like wildlife bridges. The book highlights the urgent need to minimize these environmental impacts for the well-being of all living creatures.
48. Poverty By America
by Matthew Desmond
In his eye-opening book, sociologist Matthew Desmond reveals how the affluent contribute to persistent poverty in the United States. He highlights how the wealthy drive down wages, inflate housing costs and limit financial access for the poor. Desmond calls for a reevaluation of the welfare system and collective action to achieve shared prosperity and real freedom for everyone.
49. American Gun: True Story of AR-15
by Eugene Stoner
"American Gun" explores the AR-15's journey from its creation by Eugene Stoner to its polarizing impact on American society. Authors Cameron McWhirter and Zusha Elinson investigate the rifle's rise in popularity, its adoption by the military and its controversial role in mass shootings and gun debates. They offer a balanced view of America's relationship with the AR-15, examining its allure, devastating effects and the political tensions surrounding its regulation.
50. An Inconvenient Cop
by Edwin Raymond
Edwin Raymond, the highest-ranking whistleblower in NYPD history, unveils the flaws in modern policing. His memoir reveals systemic issues, including racial profiling, moral dilemmas for officers and institutional structures that reward bias. Despite personal and professional struggles, Raymond remains committed to advocating for justice and reform within law enforcement, envisioning a future where police prioritize serving communities over statistics.
Raeann Mason
Raeann is a traveler, digital storyteller, and guide writer, with a degree in Mass Communication & Media from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. She is passionate about a/effective journalism and cultural exchange, and is an advocate of international solidarity and people's liberation. Her work at CATALYST focuses on reshaping the culture of travel and hospitality to be more ethically sound and sustainable.
The Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Photographer Laura Grier adventures among gorillas and lions in Rwanda and Uganda.
There are few places in the world where wild animals are unafraid of humans, and you can view them in their own majesty in the wild without cages, tourist vehicles or controlling their environment. The Gorillas of the Bwindi Impenetrable forest of Rwanda and Uganda are on the top of my list as a place where I have been able to come face-to-face with animals and spend the day with them in their environment. Those moments have been life-changing for me.
I led a group of six women and one man to Rwanda and Uganda on a philanthropic adventure trip; all of the locals affectionately called our one token male “Silverback” since the male Silverbacks gorillas always travel with a harem of female gorillas in the forest.
We started our trip in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, and had a meal in “Heaven”, the restaurant that was made famous by the book “A Thousand Hills to Heaven,” a memoir about one couple and how they healed a Rwandan village, raised a family near the old killing fields, and built this restaurant named Heaven. The authors, Josh and Alissa, newlyweds at the time, were at a party and received a challenge: “Do you think you can really make a difference here in Africa?”
This memoir inspired me to lead this trip and to see if through adventure, we too could all give back and make a positive impact here in Rwanda and Uganda. So it was only fitting to begin our journey right in this spot.
Our first stop was visiting the female artisan weaving collective, Handspun Hope, who are mostly widowed women from the horrific genocide that happened here in the 1990s. Many men were murdered in a two-week period of time, leaving women and children orphaned and widowed and with no way to provide for themselves. This non-profit created a gorgeous, safe oasis for these women to weave and gather together and purchasing these goods helps them to support their families and communities and help lift them out of poverty.
Due to the genocide, Rwanda has received a lot of aid and tourism help from around the world. We noticed a marked difference in infrastructure and wealth between Rwanda and Uganda; Uganda is by far the poorer neighbor. So we decided to stay in an eco-lodge on the Ugandan side of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to help support the country’s tourism, and also receive the benefits of the Ugandan side’s lower price tag.
We spent two days hiking out to see the gorillas. Each morning, groups of trackers leave at sunrise to track the various families of gorillas in the forest, and then a couple hours later we leave in groups to follow their trail and hopefully intercept the great apes. Many of these trackers were once poachers, but now tourist dollars flowing in make the gorillas worth more alive than dead—many poachers have switched to the “good side,” helping to protect these giant creatures.
What I loved was learning about these gorilla groups and how they live. They all have names and very human personalities and soap opera-esque drama. They make nests every night on the ground to sleep in, and often you will find them hanging out in the trees above you. When you do finally spot a group of gorillas, they seem very nonchalant about your presence. It doesn’t matter how many hours it took hiking through thick jungle to find them, once discovered the clock starts ticking and you get only an hour to hang out with them before the rules dictate that you have to leave. You can always spend the next day hiking out to find them again, but you will never know how long that will take. They are always on the move.
Nothing really can describe sitting next to a gorilla in the wild and staring into their faces. They are gentle yet powerful creatures, and more akin to us than different. Their forests are protected through tourism dollars, one of the few times I feel like tourism is truly benefiting wildlife, since the Ugandans and Rwandans have a deep respect for these gorilla groups.
After two days of trekking through thick jungles in the cool, misty mountains looking for gorillas, we drove down into the arid savannas of Uganda to visit the Hanging Lions of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is the only place on Earth where you will find prides of Ishasha lions just hanging out in the high limbs of Sycamore Fig trees. This is a very rare sight, because this unique group of only about 35 lions is endangered due to threats of human-wildlife conflict and retaliatory snaring and poisoning. We drove around in safari vehicles and witnessed gorgeous wildlife, including herds of elephants and hippos and, of course, very full, very happy lions in the trees.
Laura Grier
Laura is a dynamic Adventure Photographer, Photo Anthropologist, Travel Writer, and Social Impact Entrepreneur. With a remarkable journey spanning 87 countries and 7 continents, Laura's lens captures both the breathtaking landscapes and the intricate stories of the people she encounters. As a National Geographic artisan catalog photographer, Huffington Post columnist, and founder of Andeana Hats, Laura fuses her love for photography, travel, and social change, leaving an impact on the world.
Generation Z Quits Vaping for the Congo
Rampant child labor in the Congo has ignited an ethical social movement among Generation Z.
Child Mining in Kailo, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Julien Harneis. CC BY 2.0
Many young people have recently decided to quit vaping, not because of health risks like their parents with smoking but to instead protest child labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since gaining its independence in 1960, the DRC has experienced persistent hostilities in its Eastern provinces. In the last six weeks alone, violence in the North Kivu province has displaced more than 450,000 people. The intensification of violence has additionally resulted in devastating impacts on the lives of children, who have been forced into child labor.
Based on statistics from the Bureau of International Labor Affairs in 2022, 17.4% of children aged 5 to 14 in the DRC are working full-time. This includes over 40,000 child laborers toiling in cobalt mines in one province alone, according to UN agencies. The work that the children do is divided into multiple activities, including but not limited to agriculture, industry and services. The categorical worst form of child labor is forced mining. As a country that holds more than 50% of the world’s cobalt reserves, the DRC is a global leader in its production in artisanal mines. However, as a result of the nation’s poverty rates, child labor is common in this sector and deemed a necessity. Impoverished parents who can not afford to send their children to school have them contribute to the household by working. Even with the DRC Child Protection Code of 2009 that provides “free and compulsory primary education,” there is not enough government support and funding to take this financial responsibility off of parents. In 2022, the DRC made minimal advancements in efforts to eliminate child labor in its worst forms, causing Gen Z to take matters into its own hands.
Gen Z, characteristically hooked on vaping, has decided to quit the habit to stand in solidarity with those working in the DRC. The movement initially began on TikTok and has since spread, condemning vapes not for the cost or risks, but for their materials. Vapes have lithium-ion batteries that are made of raw minerals, including cobalt. As demand for vapes and other lithium containing products grows, there will be a greater need for lithium production, exacerbating existing problems for the mining industry and its workers. Already, the conditions for workers in the mines are harsh. Of the 255,000 Congolese citizens mining cobalt, 40,000 are children in the country’s southeast who dig all day in mines with small shovels or their bare hands for searing-hot stones. Children excavate materials in ditches or rivers where they have to haul the metal that they find. This work in a mine can last up to 12 hours each day to earn only between one and two dollars. For an industry that was estimated at USD 15.97 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to grow 6.2% from 2023 to 2030, child laborers are earning significantly less than those industries that they produce cobalt for. Glencore, the largest cobalt-producing company, achieved a total production of 25,320 metric tons in 2021 and is estimated to be worth nearly $68 billion. In 2022, Glencore’s annual revenue amounted to just under $256 billion, the highest of any mining company in the world.
Gen Z has seemed unmoved by the health risks associated with vaping, but have taken up the call for social justice very seriously. A number of users have taken to TikTok to call attention to the humanitarian crisis in the Congo and how the West’s demand for cobalt has resulted in a massive increase in child labor. Whether it has been Gen Zers announcing their own decision to quit vaping or spreading information about the emergency in the hopes of influencing others, the movement has certainly gained traction. Amid concerns about the environment and material waste in landfills, users have reshaped the conversation to show how scrapped product only perpetuates demand. An estimated 150 million vapes are being disposed of in the United States each year, with two-thirds of 15–24 year old users placing them straight into the trash, despite the devices’ reusable batteries. This has contributed to the billions of dollars in funding for unnecessary mining, causing those online to call for collective action to stop and consider the ethical implications of their purchase. Much of the conversation has shifted into the interconnectedness of consumerism and its impact on vulnerable workers.
The government of the DRC has established policies related to child labor, but a lack of regional scope has hindered their effects. The National Sectoral Strategy to Combat Child Labor in Artisanal Mines and Artisanal Mining Sites was developed to eradicate child labor in mines by 2025. Its strategy aims to strengthen laws, promote responsible sourcing and improve child protection measures. Additionally, the Child Labor Monitoring System was launched to identify and remove children from mines. These efforts seek to raise awareness of child labor at its worst form and empower communities to stop these practices. However, the government of the DRC does not currently have policies to address the issue of child labor at a regional level, making it unlikely that the mining sector will be much changed. However, because the internet has emerged as a powerful tool for social change, Gen Z hopes to take advantage of it to boycott human rights abuses. By leveraging social media to create changes in their own behavior, the youth aim to limit the ability of companies to compromise human rights for a profit.
Mira White
Mira is a student at Brown University studying international and public affairs. Passionate about travel and language learning, she is eager to visit each continent to better understand the world and the people across it. In her free time she perfects her French, hoping to someday live in France working as a freelance journalist or in international affairs.
Turkey’s Last Remaining Armenian Village Puts its Culture on Display
Discover the poignant legacy of Turkey's Armenian community at Vakifli, the country's last remaining Armenian village, now home to its inaugural museum, inviting visitors to explore this cultural heritage.
Kurdish, Armenian and Turkish women. Yeucelnabi. CC BY-ND 2.0
Most of Turkey’s Armenian population disappeared following Turkey’s leading role in the 1915 Armenian genocide. Even today, there is only one Armenian village left in the country. While Turkish-Armenians’ rich history has slowly started to wane, many community members have come forward to teach the world of their heritage. The last remaining village is Vakifli, located in Turkey’s southern Hatay province. Home to only about 100 people, it is a popular spot in the summer for those hoping to get in touch with their Armenian roots. Now the village’s first museum has opened, giving visitors more than enough reason to visit Vakifli.
History of the Armenian Genocide
Armenians being deported. Narek781. CC BY-SA 2.0
Long before the term “genocide” was coined after the Nazis’ attempt to eradicate all Jews during World War II, the Turkish-Armenians suffered a similar fate with an estimated 1.5 million deaths. In 1915, the Ottoman Empire was in decline. At the time, over 2 million Armenians lived in Turkey; by 1922 there were fewer than 400,000. Before the Ottoman Empire’s collapse, the Christian Armenians were granted religious freedom but were subjected to higher taxes, lower wages and an overall lower standard of living.
In 1908, the Young Turk movement, mostly made up of junior army officers from the Ottoman Empire, took control of the empire in an attempt to “Turkify” the region. The group was led by a powerful triumvirate who called themselves the “Three Pashas.” During World War I, the Young Turks sided with Germany but were eventually defeated. According to The New York Times, , “Armenians were blamed for siding with the Russians” against the German-led Central Powers and were subsequently massacred under the rule of the “Committee of Union and Progress,” a political party representing the Young Turks. Harsh measures were launched against the Armenians, such as making it legal to arrest Armenians on the “sense” of them being a threat. Abandoned Armenian property was confiscated, mass deportations sent men off to labor camps to be worked to death, and “death marches” led Armenian women and children across the Syrian desert to their own concentration camps. Though the German government was reportedly “disgusted and horrified” by the Turkish government’s actions, the Three Pashas fled to Germany after the Ottoman Empire’s fall in 1918 and were given protection.
To date, the Turkish government still does not acknowledge the events that occurred surrounding the genocide of Turkish-Armenians. Legal action is even used; mentioning the Turkish state’s role in the 1915 Armenian genocide is often met with arrests and prosecution.
Vakifli Village
Musa Dagh, where Turkish-Armenians successfully resisted Ottoman troops. anthiok. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
The small village of Vakifli was established by Armenians who “successfully resisted the Ottoman army’s attacks” in 1915. 4,200 villagers were forced to retreat onto the nearby Musa Dagh (Mount Musa), “holding out for 53 days” before being rescued by Allied warships from Egypt. They were not able to return home until after the end of World War I. Vakifli sits between the Mediterranean Sea and the Syrian border and is a beautiful and unique village with a dialect no Western Armenian can understand. The iconic church that sits in the middle of the village was restored in 1994 and reopened to visitors. Now, with decreased job opportunities and lower standards of living, many of the younger generation have moved to Istanbul, a city holding far greater opportunities. This leaves the older generation to continue to hold on to what remains of the village’s culture. Recently, Vakifli has attempted to diversify its economy by promoting ecotourism and organic farming.
The Launch of Their First Museum
Vakifli church. Nurretingulay. CC BY-SA 3.0
While COVID-19 delayed the official opening of a museum celebrating Turkish-Armenian culture, even now the space is welcoming visitors. Filled with donated items such as audio recordings, photographs, traditional garb and one of the most popular exhibits - the wedding dress - the Vakiflikoy Museum shows visitors “how villagers speak,” along with their beliefs, holidays, food and traditions. Lora Baytar, the museum’s founder, and her husband hope that it gives Turkish-Armenian people a museum where they can preserve their history and culture for all the world to see.
Elizabeth Misnick
Elizabeth is a Professional Writing and Rhetoric major at Baylor University. She grew up in a military family and lived in Europe for almost half her life, traveling and living in different countries. She hopes to continue writing professionally throughout her career and publish her writing in the future.
Meet the Women in Pink Saris Fighting Gender Discrimination in India
Pink sari-wearing and bamboo stick-wielding feminists are fighting against a culture of rape and gender inequality in India.
Sampat Pal Devi, founder of the Gulabi Gang. Iecercle. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
India’s rape crisis was brought to light back in December 2012 when a 23-year-old female student was raped and beaten to death by five men and a teenage boy. Protesters flooded India’s capital of New Delhi and forced authorities to seek the death penalty for the perpetrators. But the crisis lingers as cases of rape and neglect by corrupt government officials still plague India, especially in rural areas.
Approximately 70% of India’s population lives outside of major cities in the rural areas where it is even harder to seek out justice in the name of the law. Uttar Pradesh state is notorious for its high rate of sexual violence against women, even being named the “rape capital of India.” According to the National Crime Records Bureau, crimes against women in Uttar Pradesh increased by 20% from 2016 to 2019.
But there is hope for Uttar Pradesh, and it comes in the form of women wearing hot pink saris and wielding large bamboo staffs called lathis. Sampat Pal Devi is the founder and was the first leader of the Gulabi Gang, which translates to the “Pink Gang.” Their pink saris represent sisterhood and unity as they come together in droves to fight corruption and to ensure the basic rights of women and poor people in rural areas.
Devi’s story began when she was a single woman living in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district and witnessed a man savagely beating his wife. She attempted to help, but he beat her as well. She returned a few days later with five other women and beat him with lathis. The story quickly spread throughout the town and more women came to Devi for help. In 2006, after the selection of the pink sari as their uniform, they officially established the Gulabi Gang. Their initial intention was to punish abusive men and combat domestic violence, but it has expanded into a much larger movement of feminism. The Gulabi Gang now fights for socioeconomic, cultural and political equality in order to enhance the basic skills of women to develop confidence and protect themselves from abuse through sustainable livelihoods.
Gulabi Gang resting during a protest. Iecercle. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Fast forward 14 years since its establishment and the Gulabi Gang has grown exponentially. Almost 100,000 women and men have banded together to join what is now a mass movement in northern India. In an interview with Vice News, Devi stated that, “The purpose of the Gulabi Gang was to unite women, because until women unite, we will never get what we believe are our rights.” She spent a great deal of her time intimidating and shaming government officials into making the correct choices and abiding by the law.
Although she made many achievements, Devi was removed from her position as leader of the Gulabi Gang for alleged self-promotion at the cost of the organization’s mission. Her removal caused quite a stir until the group’s assistant commander, Suman Singh Chauhan, was elected as its next leader. Even with the change in leadership, the Gulabi Gang stands strong as the organization continues to emphasize its mission.
The Gulabi Gang not only leads and protects but also teaches women a variety of skills necessary to be independent. Through its website, the group has raised enough money to build a school in an impoverished area. In the school, girls learn how to sew in order to earn money and delay the chance of their parents marrying them off. The group’s leaders teach new members how to defend themselves with lathis in free self-defense courses. Finally, they teach the world that through common sense and compassion one can start a revolution, even when the soldiers are wearing pink.
Yuliana Rocio
Yuliana is currently a Literature/Writing major at the University of California San Diego. Yuliana likes to think of herself as a lover of words and a student of the world. She loves to read, swim, and paint in her free time. She spent her youth as part of a travel-loving family and has grown up seeking adventure. She hopes to develop her writing skills, creating work that reflects her voice and her fierce passion for activism.
Unraveling the Mysteries of Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
Uncover Rapa Nui's mysteries, sustainable allure, and colossal moai on Easter Island.
Some of Rapa Nui’s stone statues (moai) watch as the sun sets behind the island. Antonio Sánchez. Unsplash.
Rapa Nui is a remote Polynesian island located 2,200 miles off the coast of Chile that spans only 63 square miles. The island is also known as Easter Island, a name that comes from Dutch explorers who arrived there on Easter Sunday in 1722. Rapa Nui gets its distinct triangular shape from the lava beds of three extinct volcanoes and is home to just a few thousand permanent residents. Despite this small population, the island has managed to land itself on many travelers’ must-see destination lists. The island is home to hundreds of imperious humanoid statues whose mysterious past have captured the attention of more than 100,000 visitors a year.
Travel Highlights
Like many other island destinations, Rapa Nui has beaches to enjoy in addition to a broad range of places to spend the night. Given the island’s many environmental concerns such as rock erosion and rising sea levels, there has been considerable focus on working toward a sustainable tourist industry. As such, Rapa Nui has several ecolodges that are popular with travelers. There is an abundance of fresh seafood, places to snorkel and opportunities to hike (Rapa Nui is a UNESCO-designated national park, making up 42% of the island). While walking around, visitors may be able to spot some of the wild horses that roam freely across the island; there are remarkably few indigenous plants, however, with only 31 wild flowering plants. The island’s three extinct volcanoes (Rano Kau, Poike, and Terevaka) also offer a chance for a unique exploration experience.
The biggest draw of Rapa Nui is its moai. Most understand these statues as being representations of the ancestors of the Polynesian islanders who discovered the island over 1,000 years ago. Some moai have pukao, which are red ornaments that rest on some statues’ heads, and some moai sit on platforms. An ahu, where a number of these platforms can be found, was the traditional center for ceremonies on Rapa Nui. For visitors, the two most popular locations to see moai are at the Rano Raraku quarry and at the Ahu Tongariki. Although the average height of moai is 13 feet, these impressive sculptures can get as large as 80 tons and 33 feet tall. Archaeologists have determined that moai were originally made of basalt, trachyte and red scoria, but eventually moved to volcanic rock. The method of transportation for these especially large moai has sparked numerous theories and debates, with no plausible way for the statues to be moved from their place of creation to their final resting places with the resources available at the time.
A close-up photo of a giant moai set against the Rapa Nui hillside. Thomas Griggs. Unsplash.
The Mysteries of the Island
Nearly every part of Rapa Nui’s early history has been met with some dispute; even the date of the Polynesians’ arrival has major discrepancies. One archaeological dig determined that humans first made contact with the island around 1200 A.D. This date is contested, however, with others believing that Polynesians found the island as much as 400 years earlier. The inconsistencies in archaeological data and lack of concrete evidence has led to numerous excavations being run and an abundance of people hypothesizing about the island, especially in regards to the Rapa Nui people’s process of moving the moai and how the population declined so quickly. Most of the speculation is about the time before the Dutch first arrived on the island in 1722. While there are nuances to each historian’s hypothesis, there are a few major trends. There are those who believe that the Indigenous Rapa Nui were victims of circumstance and those who believe they were inadvertently the main cause of their own suffering. While the exact truth of the early Rapa Nui history remains unknown, here are some common beliefs:
For those who believe the Rapa Nui people were primarily victims of misfortune, there are mentions of a relatively sizable amount of wood being cut down, mostly to provide for the people and to transport the moai. Once the statues were in place, evidence suggests that additional changes were made in order to ensure they stayed upright. The complete destruction of large trees and foliage, however, can be mostly credited to invasive rats that feasted on the palm trees which once populated the island. As a dwindling Indigenous population continued to live on Rapa Nui, they were eventually confronted by a series of hostile visitors, all of whom contributed to their population becoming decimated. In 1722, the European explorers, beginning with a daylong visit from the Dutch, brought disease and strife to the Rapa Nui people. The continued arrival of European traders, explorers and other foreigners over the following decades contributed to the decline of the Rapa Nui people.
Others adhere more to a story of ecocide. In order to move the moai, the Rapa Nui cut an excessive amount of trees down. Given that there is a considerable amount of charcoal in the island’s soil, some archaeologists have considered the possibility that the Rapa Nui people set fire to grass once they ran out of wood, another potential contributor to ecocide. Without the trees to anchor the soil, the fertile ground got washed away, ultimately leading to a shortage of crops and eventual starvation. Some have speculated about cannibalism, but this theory is less popular. In terms of outside contact, the Rapa Nui people may have had a war with another Polynesian group in 1680 which would have contributed to a population decline as well. Foreign arrivals then brought an additional, crippling blow of disease and violence.
Rapa Nui, from 1722-Present
Once Rapa Nui became known to foreigners, it suffered a similar fate to many other islands in Polynesia. At times, the Europeans destroyed property and forced many natives off of Rapa Nui. There were other hostile visitors as well. Peruvian slave traders came to the island during the 19th century and took many Rapa Nui people away as slaves. Despite the native Rapa Nui population having about 3,000 people in 1860, by 1877 so many people had been taken or killed that their numbers dwindled to just 111 individuals.
Slavers and traders were not the only ones to come to Rapa Nui, and this heightened attention on the island eventually resulted in its current legal connection to Chile. Numerous missionaries came to the island as early as 1864, resulting in a shift toward Christianity for those who remained on Rapa Nui. This change made the island more welcoming in the eyes of many people from the mainland and prompted more interest from outsiders. The island’s annexation to Chile occurred in 1888, but the island was mostly left alone until 1903 when it was leased as a sheep farm for 50 years. During that time, the Chilean government applied an increasing amount of pressure on the Indigenous population such as confining them to one part of the island, Hanga Roa, and considering them the property of the state. By 1965 a governor was appointed to the island by the Chilean government, thus allowing the Rapa Nui people to become Chilean citizens.
In 2010, Rapa Nui’s Indigenous clans began a major push back against the Chilean government, citing many injustices from the past decades including poverty, forced ghettos and land ownership discrepancies. This resulted in extensive discussion, violence and standoffs between the Chilean government and Rapa Nui’s Indigenous clans. In August of 2010, several Rapa Nui natives occupied a resort on the island, saying that their land had been taken unwittingly from them and was becoming developed by the Chilean government. Chilean police then forcibly evicted them from the premises, an action which received backlash from the Indigenous community. While the relationship between the two groups has since de-escalated, the situation is not truly resolved.
Seeing the Mystery for Yourself
Visiting Rapa Nui can be done by booking a 5 ½-hour flight out of Santiago, Chile. About half of the island’s current population considers themselves to be native Rapa Nui, and although some of the original Polynesian language is still present, residents speak Spanish predominantly. Rapa Nui is an island steeped in mystery and isolation, making it an intriguing and far-off destination for travelers looking to learn about Polynesian culture, explore volcanoes, and above all, meet the 887 moai that are scattered across the island.
Phoebe Jacoby
Phoebe is a Media Studies major and Studio Art minor at Vassar College who believes in the importance of sharing stories with others. Phoebe likes to spend her free time reading, drawing, and writing letters. She hopes to continue developing her skills as a writer and create work that will have a positive outward effect.
The Extensive Cuisine of Chinese Muslims
From pita bread to lamb, halal Chinese food’s influences stretch from the Mediterranean to Russia and from China to the Middle East.
Street vendors feed crowds with a doughy treat in Urumqi, the capital of China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. People’s Development Bank. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
China has around 23 million Muslims, predominantly made up of the Hui and the Uyghur ethnic groups. Chinese Islam began in 651 A.D., when Islam was first introduced to the country by Arab traders under the Tang dynasty. A diverse array of religions and cultures were brought to Tang China, including Islam, Judaism and Zoroastrianism. However, Islam was the only religion of these to make a lasting impression on the Chinese population. Chinese Islam expanded to different regions and soon developed its own local traditions and foods. The culinary wealth that sprang from Chinese Islamic heritage progressed into popular street foods and dishes still consumed by Chinese people today.
Hui Cuisine
Hui Muslims mostly occupy areas in the Ningxia autonomous region in China’s northwest. Their cuisine is called “qingzhen cai,” loosely meaning “pure truth” in Mandarin. This reflects the widely associated cleanliness of qingzhen restaurants due to their prohibition on smoking and drinking alcohol. Hui cuisine quickly spread across China due to its unique and much-loved flavors.
Close-up shot of aiwowo. Dozen Dessert. CC BY 2.0.
A decadent Hui dessert that remains popular among street vendors is aiwowo, or “love drops.” These small round buns are made of sweet glutinous rice flour and are dusted with a blend of sesame seeds, sugar and walnut kernel chips. Though aiwowo’s inspiration is from Hui cuisine, the snack has become a popular roadside treat in Beijing.
Lanzhou beef noodles in a hot and earthy broth. Language Teaching. CC BY 2.0.
Another seminal dish of the qingzhen cai tradition is Lanzhou beef noodle soup. Many consider this soup to be the most famous noodle dish in all of China. The base of this hearty dish is an aromatic beef broth boiled with cumin seeds, Sichuan peppercorns, onions, ginger, star anise and cinnamon. The fresh, chewy hand-pulled noodles are placed in the broth on a bed of beef slices and chili oil.
Uyghur Food
Uyghurs first came to China around the 3rd century A.D., and ruled over their own kingdom in the 8th century in present-day northern Mongolia. Today, Uyghur populations are concentrated in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in far northwest China. The Chinese government has recently gained notoriety for setting up large-scale prison camps in Xinjiang, with critics calling it a “genocide” and an attempt to entirely wipe out the Uyghur populace.
Uyghurs tend to draw flavors from Central Asian, Middle Eastern and Chinese cuisines. Both the Hui and the Uyghurs base their dining experience around beef and lamb, avoiding pork due to religious purposes.
However, Uyghur foods draw far more on their Turkish influence: baked goods such as girda naan, similar to bagels, are central to their cuisine.
A vendor prepares lamb kebabs on a coal-fired barbecue for a busy night in Xinjiang. S. Tsui. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
In Xinjiang’s capital of Urumqi, visitors can find local vendors selling mutton kebabs, which are pieces of sheep flavored with cumin, paprika, salt and pepper, placed on a skewer and seared over smoky charcoal.
Roasted lamb from a halal restaurant in Beijing. Ulterior Epicure. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Perhaps the most famous Uyghur-inspired dish is roasted whole lamb. Rubbed with a spicy menagerie of cumin, salt, ginger and pepper, the lamb is coated with a flour and yolk batter and baked in a special oven for an hour. This dish is considered a luxury that deserves only the highest-quality meat.
Pile of nang in Xinjiang. Umami. CC BY 2.0.
Another famous Uyghur staple is nang, which is reminiscent of naan bread: a flat pancake-like bread made of corn flour, wheat flour or sorghum flour. This is a building block of Uyghur cuisine, as it comes in a multitude of flavors and seasonings, from a savory sesame coating to a buttery sweet glaze.
Chinese halal food is embraced all over China today, as it continues to combine influences from around the world into culinary treats. With the expansion of Hui and Uyghur influences into Chinese food culture, the intermingling of various flavors will only broaden the appeal of this special cuisine.
Heather Lim
recently earned her B.A. in Literatures in English from University of California, San Diego. She was editor of the Arts and Culture section of The Triton, a student-run newspaper. She plans on working in art criticism, which combines her love of visual art with her passion for journalism.
The Importance of At-Risk Mangrove Forests
Mangrove forests are an invaluable coastal ecosystem. Over the past several decades, they faced massive destruction, and now they are at risk from climate change.
An aerial view of a mangrove forest. Doug Beckers. CC BY-SA 2.0
Mangrove forests are one of the world’s most crucial ecosystems. They provide a habitat to a diverse range of creatures, help protect coastal areas from potentially harmful storm surges and are instrumental in carbon sequestration. For the past several decades, mangrove forests have been steadily destroyed by industrial development and aquaculture, as well as wood harvesting.
Naturally occurring in tropical and warm temperate areas, mangrove forests—sometimes called mangrove swamps—are groups of trees and shrubs that grow along coastlines. There are around 80 species of mangrove trees, all of which are some of the few coastal plants in the world that can prosper in salt water.
Mangrove forests are recognizable by their complex root systems which rise above the water, as though the trees are on stilts. Their raised roots allow mangrove trees to thrive despite the movement of the ocean, as the coastal areas where they grow are flooded at least twice a day with the coming of high tide. The protection provided by tangles of mangrove roots goes both ways, preventing storm surges from damaging inland areas and preventing pollutants from rivers and streams from entering the ocean environment. The above-ground section of the roots helps to slow tidal surges, allowing sediments to settle and build up on the ocean floor, reducing erosion. The entire root system filters out pollutants, like nitrates and phosphates, flowing from streams and rivers into the ocean.
The roots of a mangrove forest. Ravi Sarma. CC BY 2.0
A 2010 study found that mangroves were disappearing globally at a rate of one to two percent a year, and that between 1980 and 2005, 35 percent of all mangroves were lost. About half of the mangrove forests that do remain are reportedly in poor condition. In the past few decades, mangrove destruction was largely due to human activities. Most mangrove forests grow on public lands, very few of which receive any sort of protection. Coastal development such as the construction of hotels, power plants and marinas as well as aquaculture, agriculture, tourism and logging have been the main culprits behind global mangrove loss.
Today, satellite data suggests that human-caused mangrove loss has greatly declined. Thanks to conservation efforts from activists and governments across the globe, mangrove loss rates have decreased by 73 percent since 2000. This is good news, as the loss of mangroves has numerous negative effects on the environment, such as less protection for coastal areas and the loss of biodiversity. Mangroves are home to a variety of species of fish, especially juveniles, which use the mangroves’ root systems as a safe nursery habitat until they mature and migrate to coral reefs and other ecosystems. Mangroves are also the primary habitat for many seabirds and waterfowl, and even some terrestrial animals.
Yet, mangrove forests are still not safe. They face a new pressing threat, which is still rooted in human activities: climate change.
Scientists predict that, as a result of global warming, global sea levels will rise to unprecedented levels by as early as 2050. By the end of the century, sea levels will have risen at least a foot. Mangrove trees will be unable to withstand such rising sea levels; they are unlikely to be able to adapt to new sea levels within the time frame. As sea levels are rising, the chemistry of the ocean is changing as well, becoming more acidic than creatures in mangrove habitats are accustomed to. The creatures are also unlikely to adapt to a new environment quickly enough to survive, meaning that mass biodiversity loss could occur.
The harm to mangrove forests also has broader effects , as mangrove forests are one of the most important ecosystems in the fight against climate change. Mangrove trees are powerhouses of carbon sequestration, capturing carbon and other greenhouse emissions from the atmosphere and storing them in their root systems and soil for thousands of years. As global warming causes sea levels to rise and mangrove forests are lost, this stored carbon will be released back into the atmosphere, creating a positive feedback loop that further worsens the effects of climate change.
Experts agree that saving mangrove forests is key to combating climate change. In 2017, the World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, The International Union for Conservation of Nature, The Nature Conservancy and Wetlands International partnered to form the Global Mangrove Alliance, which aims to fund monitoring and researching mangrove forests, as well as conservation and restoration initiatives.
To Get Involved:
For more about the Global Mangrove Alliance and how to support its mission, click here.
For information on how to preserve mangrove forests, visit conservation.org.
Rachel Lynch
Rachel is a student at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY currently taking a semester off. She plans to study Writing and Child Development. Rachel loves to travel and is inspired by the places she’s been and everywhere she wants to go. She hopes to educate people on social justice issues and the history and culture of travel destinations through her writing.
Up Helly Aa: A Viking Fire Festival in Scotland’s Shetland Islands
The Shetland Islands come alive each winter with Up Helly Aa, Europe’s largest Viking fire festival celebrating Nordic history and culture."
Read MoreThe Sexism Woven into Language
Subtle sexism in language emerges when the male gender is prescribed as default, contributing to gender inequalities and linguistic biases.
Language Across the World. Emma Howard. CC BY 2.0
Language shapes and reflects the cultural norms and values of its speakers. Unfortunately, many languages around the world include subtle forms of sexism which have historically prescribed the male gender as their default. From grammatical structures to the usage of words that perpetuate unequal dynamics, language can unintentionally serve as a vehicle for sexism.
Most languages around the world fall into three categories: gendered languages—nouns and pronouns have a gender (Spanish—el es pequeno/ella es pequena—he/she is little, French—il est petit/elle est petite—he/she is little), genderless languages—nouns and pronouns do not have a gender (Mandarin—他很小 / 她很小—he/she is little) and natural gender languages—gendered pronouns and genderless nouns (English, he is little/she is little). Of the gendered languages listed, the two share patterns of a masculine grammatical default, mixed-gender groups taking masculine endings and feminine nouns derived from masculine ones. In Spanish and French there is a male default that applies when the gender of a subject is unclear or if a group is mixed-gender. A male friend in French is ami while a female friend is amie. In French, there is no gender neutral pronoun for ‘they’ and the masculine is considered the dominant plural form. Therefore, if there is a group of French girls who are amies; add one male and they become amis. Aside from grammar, some words in French did not have a feminine form until official guardians of the French language approved the feminisation of certain titles to eliminate male linguistic dominance. Insistence on calling female presidents Madame le president was subsequently dropped in an attempt to end the bias putting women at a disadvantage.
Mandarin, unlike some European languages, does not assign gender to its nouns, but some of its written characters ascribe negative stereotypes to women. Chinese characters are made up of phonetic and semantic radicals that are listed together in dictionaries. The Chinese radical for “woman” (女) can be found in characters such as “mother,” (妈) “sister” (姐) and “safety” (安) but is also found in more negative characters including “jealousy,” (妒) “slave” (奴隶) and “rape” (强奸). The contrast between these positive and negative connotations are stark but even those that are positive are representative of gender stereotypes themselves; “safety” (安) is thought to represent a woman under a roof. Conversely, the word for “man” (男) is made by the radicals for “field” (田) and “power” (力). Aside from the makeup of the characters themselves, grammatical word order has been said to favor men, for example, in instances where the word “parents” means literally “father and mother.” Ironically, even the phrase for “gender equality” places the male character before the female one (男女平等).
Globally, some languages are representative of a time where the patriarchy was more powerful. They serve as a reminder that words and grammar can sustain sexism covertly and can also impose particular worldviews on their speakers. Some words have different meanings depending on whether they are used in a masculine or feminine form. Others have no male equivalent for a derogatory female word. For instance in Italian, un passeggiatore is a man who loves to walk. Make this word feminine and the definition drastically changes to have a sexual connotation. Alternatively, in English, there is no male equivalent of a “spinster,” the closest being “bachelor” which tends not to carry the same negative, undesirable connotations.
Negative connotations have made their way into technology as well, with one study finding that Google Translate often assumes that, when translating from other languages into English, the subject is male. Male default has also shown up in translator applications where gender bias shows up most in “fill in gender” translations. One tweet focused on Turkish and its gender-biases when translating to English. Sentences like o bir ascı translated to “she is a cook” while others like o bir muhendis translated to “he is an engineer.” Because Turkish is a gender neutral language it becomes clear that Google Translate filled in genders based on stereotypes and bias. Modern neural network-powered machines derive meaning from the statistical patterns of large texts during training, meaning that if our data is biased, machines will be as well.
Women already face barriers to their participation in society, but now with gendered languages playing a role. One research project examined the grammatical structure of over 4,000 languages spoken by 99% spoken by the world’s population, finding that nearly 40% of people speak a gendered language. From this it was found that grammatical gendered language is associated with roughly a 15% gap in female labor force participation. Consequently, gendered languages have become associated with worse labor market participation for women and regressive gender norms. Recognizing how linguistic sexism is causing quantifiable effects is a crucial step in creating more inclusivity in language and society. Efforts to challenge sexist vernacular have gained momentum in the form of gender-neutral language or inventing female-gendered nouns, as opposed to the old practice of adding suffixes onto male ones. In Spanish, the masculine “o” and feminine “a” endings are being replaced by a gender-neutral “e” to create more inclusion for women and those who identify as non-binary. Similarly, in Russia women are advocating for female-gendered nouns which are not mere add-ons to male nouns. In Russian, “doctor” is vrach but becomes vrachinia in its feminine forms, roughly translated as “doctoress,” housing some sexist undertones.
As to be expected, there has been some backlash over leaving behind current gender structures and deviating from the original languages, but speech is not a stagnant entity. Language, to be inclusive, must evolve and change over time in order to progress and mitigate pervasive forms of gender inequality. Recognizing and challenging these linguistic biases is crucial for dismantling the systematic disadvantages and stereotypes that women face.
Mira White
Mira is a student at Brown University studying international and public affairs. Passionate about travel and language learning, she is eager to visit each continent to better understand the world and the people across it. In her free time she perfects her French, hoping to someday live in France working as a freelance journalist or in international affairs.
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Read More17 Breakfasts Around the World
American breakfast foods, like pancakes and waffles, are not the norm across the globe. Breakfasts differ widely in size and taste across these 17 countries.
Most Americans grow up hearing that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and are familiar with U.S. breakfast staples like pancakes, cereal and eggs. However, breakfast around the world doesn’t look the same as it does in the U.S.
Although elements like breads, cheeses and fruits pop up in breakfasts in many countries, the meal itself widely varies. The type of food served differs around the world, including regional variations within countries. Some nations opt for a sweet breakfast, while others prefer a more savory meal. The size of the breakfast also varies, from Spain and Norway, where breakfast is often just a cup of coffee and a small bite; to the English fry-up, which is a plate loaded with different foods. Here’s what breakfast looks like in 17 different countries.
1. India
Breakfast in India varies widely by region. In the north, one traditional breakfast is paratha, a whole wheat flatbread stuffed with potatoes, spices and herbs. It is usually served with veggie or lentil curry or a yogurt sauce. In the south, a breakfast staple is idiyappam—steamed noodles made from rice flour. Idiyappam can be sweet or savory and is typically served with either cardamom-spiced coconut milk, vegetable korma, or a curry. In western India, Khaman Dhokla—savory cakes made from chickpea flour—are a popular way to start the day. Other breakfast items in India include rice dishes like pongal and poha, and breads such as roti and poori.
2. Japan
A typical Japanese breakfast is not just one item but a spread of foods that make up a well-rounded meal, one that could also be eaten as lunch or dinner. Japanese breakfasts usually include steamed rice, miso soup, some sort of protein like eggs or grilled fish and a number of side dishes such as nori (dried seaweed), natto (fermented soybeans) and tsukemono (Japanese pickles), as well as other small vegetable plates.
3. Germany
Like in Japan, breakfast in Germany is usually a spread of items. To American eyes, a German breakfast might look a bit like a charcuterie board—sliced meats and cheeses are breakfast staples, as well as sausages, brots (bread) and rolls served with butter or jam, and fruits and vegetables. Bavaria, a state in the southeast of Germany, has its own unique breakfast offering: a sausage called weisswurst. Weisswurst, or white sausage, is made from a mix of veal and back bacon, seasoned with parsley, onion and a number of other spices. Weisswurst was invented in Bavaria, and a typical “Bavarian Breakfast” is weisswurst served with pretzels and beer.
4. Cambodia
One of Cambodia’s most popular breakfasts is kuy teav, a Chinese-inspired hot noodle soup with rice vermicelli noodles, bean-sprouts, dried onion, carrot, parsnip and fresh vegetables. Lime, chili sauce, fish sauce, or soy sauce are also common add-ins in kuy teav, which can be made with meat options such as fish balls, chicken, or pork. Kuy teav is often enjoyed with a cup of coffee in the morning. Other typical breakfasts in Cambodia include bai sach chrouk (rice with pork) and bobor kreung (rice porridge).
6. Egypt
Fava beans are an essential element of two popular Eyptian breakfasts: ful medames and taameya. Ful medames is a simple dish made of stewed fava beans mashed with lemon, cumin and garlic, often served with toasted pita and a tomato-cucumber salad. Taameya are sometimes called Egyptian falafel; while they are similar to falafel, taameya are made from fava beans rather than chickpeas.
7. Greece
In Greece, as well as other Mediterranean countries, breakfast consists of a series of small dishes: savory pies such as spanakopita (made from spinach, feta and phyllo dough), yogurt with fruit and honey, various cheeses and fresh vegetables. A key element of a Greek breakfast is bread, with one of the most popular being eliopsomo—bread with kalamata olives baked into it. Eliopsomo is often paired with feta cheese and olive oil.
8. Morocco
A typical Moroccan breakfast is bessara, which can take the form of either a soup or a porridge made from split peas or fava beans and seasoned with garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, cumin and paprika. The thicker version of the dish is often used as a dip and accompanied by a loaf of Moroccan bread, or khobz.
9. Bolivia
Marraqueta refers to both a crunchy, oval-shaped bread roll popular in Latin America and a common Bolivian breakfast. The breakfast features a marraqueta roll as the main element. For a quick meal, the roll is served with a slice of cheese or grilled meat and accompanied by a cup of coffee. For a more filling breakfast, usually eaten on the weekend, a marraqueta roll is served with chairo, a thick soup frequently made with lamb and vegetables, or fricasé, a spicy pork stew.
10. Norway
Breakfast in Norway is a much lighter affair compared to some other countries. Lunch and dinner in Norway are both eaten relatively early; lunch is often at 11am and dinner at 4 or 5pm, which is the reason for the small breakfast. A typical Norweigan breakfast is brunost, a brown goat’s-milk cheese that tastes subtly of caramel. At breakfast, brunost is eaten spread on toast. Another popular breakfast is smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, which is also sometimes served on toast.
11. Lebanon
Manakish (or Manakeesh) are sometimes called Lebanese pizza, and are a go-to breakfast in Lebanon. Manakish are crispy flatbreads which can be topped with almost anything. A few common toppings include za’atar, a Middle-Eastern spice blend; cheese; onion and tomato; and kishk, a popular dairy product made from wheat and fermented milk or yogurt. Manakish are usually about the size of a personal pizza and are eaten folded in half, like a sandwich.
12. Philippines
A favored breakfast item in the Philippines is a torta, which is similar to an omelet. Filipino tortas are filled with ground meat and vegetables—frequently potatoes or eggplant—and usually served over rice. The name torta comes from the Spanish word for cake and is evidence of the heavy Spanish influence in the Philippines.
13. Singapore
Singapore’s kaya toast is a sweet breakfast option. The dish consists of thick slices of butter and kaya spread— =a jam made from coconut milk, eggs and sugar—sandwiched between two pieces of toast. Kaya toast is frequently served with two soft-boiled eggs which serve as a savory counterpart to the toast’s sweetness.
14. Spain
Spain has a unique meal schedule, with people often eating five times a day: breakfast, tapas, lunch, an afternoon snack and a late dinner usually after 9pm. Breakfast is the smallest meal of the day and typically includes café con leche and toast with jam or cheese. Sometimes they also eat breakfast pastries like magdalenas, a lemon-flavored cupcake, or torrijas, a Spanish bread pudding similar to french toast.
15. United Kingdom
The traditional English breakfast, known as a fry-up or a Full English, appears all over the United Kingdom, with a few variations. A Full English contains meat—typically sausage and bacon—baked beans, tomatoes, a piece or two of toast and two or three over-easy eggs. The meal is usually accompanied by a cup of hot tea or coffee. There are also regional variations of the dish. For example, Northern Ireland’s Ulster Fry comes with soda bread, and the Welsh Breakfast comes with laverbread, a cake made of seaweed and oatmeal.
16. El Salvador
A classic breakfast in El Salvador includes eggs (often scrambled, though they can be prepared any way), refried beans, cheese and/or sour cream, bread or tortillas and fried plantains, as well as coffee or juice.
17. Ukraine
Ukranian varenyky, also called pierogies, are sometimes compared to dumplings or ravioli. They are made of dough shaped into half-moons and often stuffed with a variety of fillings, from fruits and vegetables to meats and cheeses. However, not all varenyky are filled, and the ones that aren’t are considered a breakfast staple. Known as linyvi varenyky (lazy varenyky), these crescents of unfilled dough are boiled and then topped with sour cream, butter, or fruit.
Rachel is a student at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY currently taking a semester off. She plans to study Writing and Child Development. Rachel loves to travel and is inspired by the places she’s been and everywhere she wants to go. She hopes to educate people on social justice issues and the history and culture of travel destinations through her writing.
The Ethics of Kelp Farming in Alaska
From food, medicine, climate mitigation and preserving Indigenous traditions, kelp is the shape shifting superhero a polluted world needs.
Kelp with sardines. National Ocean Service. CC By 2.0.
Ethereal and elusive, an unconventional forest grows in the ocean—not full of trees, but of kelp. These captivating, yet occasionally uninviting, greenish tendrils are classified as a type of brown algae that grow as coastal seaweeds; they are typically found in colder waters. In a way, the ethereal kelp borders on the mystical and magical. Kelp is a shapeshifter; a veritable phenomenon that can morph into a variety of forms. Kelp can be used as biofuel, an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels derived from renewable biological materials. This multi-talented algae can also be used to make utensils, soap and clothing as well as food—all manner of products people use in their daily lives.
Beyond biofuel, food and everyday household items, the production and usage of kelp is a key debate amongst climate scientists and environmentalists alike. Farming kelp could be a solution in mitigating negative effects of climate change; it could also bolster coastal locations’ economies and positively affect the livelihoods of communities living in and around these shores. But, on the other hand, farming kelp is also fraught with bureaucratic convolutions and, in the long run, could potentially backfire and end up re-polluting oceans. In short, the implications of kelp farming are complex; they are enigmatic and double-edged, much like the kelp itself.
Alaskan Company Barnacle Foods’ Kelp Products. Josephine S. CC By 2.0.
The Eyak People of Alaska—and particularly one Dune Lankard—understand kelp farming. Lankard is the co-founder of The Eyak Preservation Council as well as the President and Founder of Native Conservancy, both of which are groups that support Alaska Native peoples’ efforts in preserving and conserving land and biodiversity on the Alaskan Coastline. People in Alaska and beyond have begun to farm kelp because of commercial, food security and climate change mitigation possibilities. And, because of its optimal climatic conditions, Alaska has become a hotspot for kelp farming.
But why is kelp—this mysterious, gangly sept of seaweed—so valuable and beneficial for the environment? For humans consuming kelp, the benefits lie within its nutritional content: kelp contains calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamin C and potassium. But, perhaps more importantly, people like Dune Lankard and fellow Alaskan kelp farmers are more concerned with kelp’s ability to mitigate climate change. Kelp’s primary ability to mitigate climate change comes from its ability to sequester carbon dioxide. You may have heard of carbon dioxide because it is a greenhouse gas. But, what you might not know, is that carbon dioxide from the atmosphere can also enter the ocean, resulting in a mechanism called ocean acidification.
pH reference scale — Ocean Acidification lowers pH. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. CC by 2.0.
As more carbon dioxide enters the ocean and gets absorbed, the pH of the ocean itself decreases, meaning the ocean becomes more acidic. But, this is where Kelp the superhero rushes in and saves the marine phyla. Kelp require carbon to grow because of photosynthesis—they absorb sunlight as well as carbon dioxide to produce the sugar and oxygen they need to live—and, through their uptake of carbon, they leave oceans less acidic and marine organisms more happy. Additionally, when kelp float out to sea and die, sinking deep beneath the surface of the water, their carbon sinks into the depths along with them.
Perhaps it makes sense that kelp, with its bewitching appearance, could be responsible for such intricate—almost magical—climate processes. While there are over 500 species of seaweed in Alaska, the three most-commonly grown species are bull kelp, sugar kelp and ribbon kelp. Bull kelp is strong, almost proud-looking—its thick stalk beholds a sense of authority in the water. Sugar kelp, on the other hand, is more delicately enchanting—its slightly-curled, yellow blades are like rays of sunlight spattering the sea. Ribbon kelp, with its thick spine and greenish appearance, are more reminiscent of a looming forest, or the shifting of willows in the wind.
Bull kelp bulb. James St. John. CC By 2.0.
These kelp, however, represent more than just their life cycle, climate mitigation abilities and appearance. Historically, the Eyak people—located on the Copper River Delta near Cordova, Alaska—have long used kelp for food, medicine and even tools. But, through colonialism and imperialism, some of these traditions were disrupted over decades. Today, however, the Eyak and other Indigenous peoples’ kelp farming has allowed them to reclaim these traditions. Additionally, there are immense economic benefits for any employees involved in kelp farming. The fall-to-spring growth cycle of kelp, as well as the need for regular visitation and observation of kelp farms, offer both seasonal and year-round employment opportunities. The increasing amount of kelp farms subsequently increases the number of job opportunities in Alaska, bolstering the state’s economy. Although mariculture in Alaska is currently a $1.5 million dollar industry, newly awarded $45 million in grants could potentially grow it to more than $1.85 billion in 10 years.
Kelp farming and consumption, however, is not all sunshine and rainbows. One of the most difficult aspects of kelp farming is getting started in the first place—a kelp farm requires a permit. Most states require multi-step permit application through boards of aquaculture as well as departments of fish, wildlife and game. Luckily, on average Alaska has a lower permit processing time than most states. Beyond the bureaucratic complexities of even getting started, there are also questions being raised by environmental and climate scientists about the future of kelp farming. Although—as is outlined above—kelp farming is believed to help ocean acidification through carbon sequestration, some scientists are questioning the ability for kelp to continue to sequester carbon as ocean temperatures warm as a result of climate change.
While people should be mindful of the ambiguous future of kelp farming, for now it is safe to say that the more immediate outcomes of farming are helping kelp maintain a positive reputation. Kelp—delicate and mysteriously distant—is, in actuality, an aid toward a variety of more tangible, positive outcomes. Kelp is food. Kelp is medicine. Kelp can even represent community and prosperity. Of course, kelp can also be a huge factor in sequestering carbon in a post-industrial society. But, for many people, these scientific processes can feel overwhelming or unimportant simply because they seem intangible. This is why the effects of kelp that people can really see and feel—the sense of community, the positive economic impacts and the reclamation of tradition—are something to celebrate. Despite its unconventionality and elusivity, kelp can be a superhero.
Carina Cole
Carina Cole is a Media Studies student with a Correlate in Creative Writing at Vassar College. She is an avid journalist and occasional flash fiction writer. Her passion for writing overlaps with environmentalism, feminism, social justice, and a desire to travel beyond the United States. When she’s not writing, you can find her meticulously curating playlists or picking up a paintbrush.
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Read More4 Simple Ways to Go Vegetarian
Adopt an affordable eco-friendly diet by choosing budget-friendly vegetarian options, reducing high-polluting meat and dairy, and supporting sustainable food activism.
Fresh Produce. Paul Collins. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Embracing a vegetarian diet is a task many now find themselves considering, not only for its numerous health benefits, but also for the lifestyle’s tangible positive impact on the environment. While vegetarianism sounds fantastic in theory, many are dissuaded by concerns of affordability and the perceived difficulty of finding recipes that are tasty and not overly time consuming. People considering vegetarian diets are also frequently plagued by nagging questions about nutrition: How on Earth to get enough protein and ensure that my diet includes enough vital nutrients?
Fortunately, with proper planning and a few simple strategies, the switch to a plant-based diet can be both nutritious and budget-friendly. Switching from meat to plant-based options requires a holistic approach that prioritizes health, satisfaction and sustainability — both financially and mentally.
1. Embrace Plant-Based Proteins
Protein is a crucial component of any diet and gives us the energy we need to thrive and last throughout the day. Finding delicious alternatives to meat is something that can be rather daunting, but with these tips and suggestions of non-meat alternatives, the essential quest to get enough protein will not be too difficult. Legumes such as lentils, beans and chickpeas, are excellent options as they are not only rich in protein but also cost-effective. Buying these protein-packed staples in bulk can significantly reduce their per-unit price. Tofu and tempeh are other affordable plant-based proteins, often available at reasonable prices in local grocery stores. By incorporating these options into your diet, you can maintain a balanced nutritional profile without spending obscene amounts of money. More and more major grocery chains are beginning to offer vegan meat alternatives such as Beyond Meat, Impossible Food and Tofurky brands. While these choices satiate meat cravings, they tend to be more expensive and less accessible than nonproprietary high-protein plant products.
Legumes and Fresh Produce. Web4camguy. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
2. Choosing Seasonal and Local Produce
Eating based on seasonal offerings of vegetables and other ingredients is not only better for the environment, it is also less expensive. The exportation of produce from far away places across the globe causes a significant increase in carbon emissions, while in-season crops tend to be cheaper and more abundant. Additionally, buying from local farmers' markets or joining community-supported agriculture programs can provide access to fresh, affordable and often organic produce. Frozen fruits and vegetables are also excellent options, as they retain their nutritional value and are typically less expensive than fresh options. By making use of seasonal and local produce, you can create delicious, cost-effective meals. Discovering farmer’s markets can be a fun weekend activity and help you discover locally sourced foods. Buying produce and food items directly from farmers is not only good for your diet; it supports small businesses that have a lighter impact on the Earth.
Fresh Vegetable Produce Options. Eltpics. CC BY-NC 2.0
3. Meal Planning and Cooking in Batches
One of the keys to affordability is effective meal planning. Try creating a weekly or monthly meal plan and make a shopping list accordingly, focusing on versatile ingredients that can be used in multiple recipes. This approach prevents impulse buying and reduces food waste. Batch cooking is another beneficial strategy. By preparing large quantities of meals and freezing individual portions, you can save both time and money. Utilizing leftovers creatively is key. For example, try adding new seasoning or ingredients to spice up what’s left in the fridge.
Dairy free milk alternatives. CC0
4. Snack Ideas and Non-dairy Replacements
Try making your own plant-based milk, such as almond, cashew, or oat milk, which is significantly cheaper than store-bought varieties. Similarly, you can prepare homemade veggie burgers, falafels, or energy bars using basic ingredients like beans, grains and spices. These items are affordable and will keep you satiated throughout the day. You would be surprised just how many foods are actually vegetarian — as long as you get used to double-checking food labels, you should be good to go.
Transitioning to a vegetarian lifestyle does not have to strain your wallet. By following these tips, you can affordably embrace a plant-based diet while enjoying its numerous benefits. By supporting local farmers, you also invest in sustainability of the food system in your region, strengthening the fabric of your community. It is important to cultivate a heightened awareness of the origins of our food and its effect on the planet, as this leads to progress toward a more mindful and responsible lifestyle. As long as we strive for a better understanding of where our food is sourced and its larger impact, we can work toward preserving.
Avery Patterson
A rising junior at Vassar College in New York State, Avery is a Media Studies and French double major. She is an avid reader, writer, and traveler. She loves to immerse herself in new cultures and is an avid explorer who loves being in nature. She is passionate about climate and social justice and hopes to use her love of writing as a catalyst for positive change.
Protests for Palestine and Israel Take Off Around the World
Countries across the world have taken to protest in response to the Israel-Hamas War.
Protest for Palestine in Melbourne. Matt Hrkac. CC BY 2.0
On October 7, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip that killed more than 1,200 people. Since the assault Israel has responded with a ground invasion that has resulted in the death of more than 11,000 people in the exclave. In light of the growing humanitarian crises in Israel and Palestine, protests supporting either side in the conflict erupted globally.
In the Middle East, and particularly Egypt, pro-Palestinian rallies have broken out, expressing solidarity with the population of Gaza over the hostilities. A mass protest on October 20 resulted in the prosecution and detainment of at least 100 people at al-Azhar Mosque in Central Cairo. On October 29, thousands gathered in Islamabad, which became the largest pro-Palestine rally in Pakistan since the beginning of the war in October. Protests denouncing Israel’s aerial bombardment in Gaza have ramped up around the Middle East, particularly in Jordan. On October 13, riot police dispersed hundreds of protestors attempting to reach a border zone within the West Bank. Jordanian anti-riot police clashed with protesters again on October 18 after demonstrators planned to march to the Israeli embassy and were torching property along the way. In Africa, Israel has substantial support from the Ivory Coast and Kenya, but public sympathies have predominantly tilted toward the Palestinians.
Reactions to the war have varied across Europe. In Paris, hundreds gathered on October 12 to express solidarity with Palestinians and call for a ceasefire from Israeli strikes in Gaza. This demonstration resulted in police using tear gas and water cannons to control crowds. Across France there were around 40 other demonstrations, including one in Lyon with an estimated turnout of 5,000 people, according to French police who, again, used force to control the protest. Conversely, thousands marched in support of Israel. On October 9, a crowd gathered at Place du Trocadero for a march that rallied 20,000 people at an Eiffel Tower lit to resemble the flag of Israel.
London has also experienced thousands of pro-Palestine protests. On October 21, nearly 100,000 protestors took to the streets of Central London to call for an end to Israel’s bombing of Gaza. Hundreds more gathered in Trafalgar Square on November 5 for a sit-in that brought Oxford Circus to a standstill. On November 11, hundreds of thousands of people gathered for what became the largest pro-Palestine protest in British history. Demonstrators also expressed support for Israel in Trafalgar Square in response to the pro-Palestine demonstration a day before. The rally filled Central London Square and included posters of those who are missing, calling for the release of hostages taken by Hamas in the initial attack.
Palestine Solidarity Protestors in Trafalgar Square, London. Alisdare Hickson. CC BY 2.0
Similar to Europe, in the United States there has been widespread support for the Palestinian cause. A November 4 protest in Washington D.C. drew supporters from around the country with 300,000 people in attendance, making this the largest pro-Palestine mobilization in U.S. history. Other cities across the country have also demonstrated support for Palestine: hundreds marched in Boston on October 16, over 1,000 people attended a demonstration in Chicago on October 18 and a peaceful march on November 7 in New York City. Tens of thousands of demonstrators have crowded city streets to demand a ceasefire in Gaza, including Jewish advocacy groups. On October 27, thousands of Jews gathered in Grand Central Station to denounce the violence against Palestinians. The gathering was organized by the Jewish Voice for Peace organization, which held a second protest on November 6 at the Statue of Liberty, attended by hundreds. The group has been involved with cities across the country and has mobilized demand for a ceasefire in many other places: JVP-Philly, JVP-Seattle, JVP-BayArea and JVP-Triangle (Durham NC). In concentrated efforts, universities across the country have held protests. At Harvard University, more than 1,000 students rallied in Harvard Yard in support of Gaza on October 15. In Providence, around 500 Brown University students walked out of class on October 25 to support Palestine and a second walkout was held on November 8. On the evening of the 8th, a peaceful sit-in of about 20 Jewish students took place in Brown’s University Hall.
Jewish Allies for Palestine in NYC. Pamela Drew. CC BY 2.0
Comparable to other global responses to the conflict, Asia has also experienced an influx of pro-Palestine support. In Indonesia and Malaysia, protests against Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip have erupted. In Jakarta, thousands gathered at the National Monument on November 5 to express solidarity and support with Gaza. In Kuala Lumpur, 15,000 people gathered on October 15 to condemn Israel’s attacks, including prominent politicians such as former prime ministers Muhyidden Yassin and Mahathir Mohamad. Much of Southeast Asia has been swept by solidarity for Palestinians, including Singapore, and in response to the ban on public rallies, activists have mobilized online to demonstrate their support. In New Delhi, two Muslim scholars used a WhatsApp display photo reading ‘I stand with Palestine’ to extend their support. Online mobilization has perhaps created a way to reach a broader audience. In India, pro-Israel rallies have been permitted; however, there has been a crackdown on Palestinian solidarity demonstrations.
In Latin and South America, protests have spread across most countries in support of the Palestinian cause, including Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Venezuela. On November 4, pro-Palestine supporters gathered on Avenida Paulista in Sao Paulo for a demonstration. They held rolled clothes stained with red paint to represent children who have been lost to the violence. Outraged by the conflict, thousands gathered on October 25 at the outskirts of Santiago de Chile for a concert expressing solidarity with Palestinians. Support for Israel in South America in the form of protests or demonstrations appears to be minor; however, it may just be overwhelmed by the abundance of support for Palestine.
In Australia, pro-Palestine rallies in Sydney have called for the government to drop its support for Israel. On October 5, 20,000 people participated in a pro-Palestine rally that came after the one in Washington D.C., calling for a ceasefire of the hostilities. Protests in Australia have continued to be primarily pro-Palestine, with 15,000 marching through Sydney on October 21 and other rallies held in Perth, Hobart and Brisbane. On November 7, a pro-Palestine protest of about 100 people blocked a busy intersection in Melbourne. The police subsequently used pepper spray on the activists and dragged them from the intersection in an attempt to get traffic moving again. Hundreds of people showed up to a protest the following day, preventing trucks from entering the operating area of an Israeli shipping line.
Melbourne Rally for Palestine. Matt Hrkac. CC BY 2.0
Even in the midst of polarized opinions, Jewish peace activists in the United States called for a ceasefire in Gaza and justice for Palestinians. 10,000 people, including Jews, marched on Capitol Hill on October 18, calling on the U.S. government to stop providing aid to Israel and acknowledging the conflict as a “sobering reminder” of Jewish history. Stark reminders of Jewish people lost to or missing in the conflict have taken shape in the form of “kidnapped” posters or empty Shabbat tables, representing the plight of the Israeli psyche and spreading awareness of those being held hostage. These kidnapped posters have subsequently been torn down by anti-Israel activists, quickly become its own form of protest, often characterized as antisemitic. An empty Shabbat table installation was created in Times Square to raise awareness for the 224 hostages being held by Hamas. An estimated 290,000 people gathered on November 14 in D.C. to demonstrate the solidarity of the Jewish community and in response to critics of the Israeli military.
Globally, people are demanding peace and justice through action. In spite of challenges towards a sustainable solution, global protests embody the collective hope for Israelis and Palestinians to coexist in peace and security.
TO FIND OUT WHERE TO JOIN PROTESTS
Jewish Voice for Peace - As the largest anti-Zionist organization in the world, this group identifies themselves as a political home for Jews on the left and a Jewish community with solidarity for the Palestinian cause.
Palestine Solidarity Campaign - PSC is the biggest organization in the UK, dedicated to securing Palestinian rights and freedom for everyone in the region.
National Students for Justice in Palestine - The group supports over two hundred Palestine solidarity organizations on college campuses in the U.S. and Canada, promoting an agenda for Palestinian liberation.
ANSWER Coalition - As an acronym that stands for Act Now To Stop War and End Racism, the coalition has mobilized anti-war and peace movements for the people of Palestine.
Palestinian Feminist Collective - PFC is a group of Palestinian and Arab feminists committed to Palestinian liberation by addressing gendered and sexual violence.
Rabbis for Ceasefire - A group of Rabbis who have called for ceasefire to genocidal violence, calling on American representatives to demand immediate action.
Israeli-American Council - The IAC’s mission is to build a united community of Israeli-Americans to strengthen the Jewish identity. It is the United States’s largest Israeli-American organization.
The Jewish Federations of North America - Made up of 146 federations across North America, the group's mission is to protect and enhance the well-being of Jewish people through contributions to Jewish communities and Israel.
Mira White
Mira is a student at Brown University studying international and public affairs. Passionate about travel and language learning, she is eager to visit each continent to better understand the world and the people across it. In her free time she perfects her French, hoping to someday live in France working as a freelance journalist or in international affairs.
Travel Green in Warsaw
How Poland’s largest city is leading the sustainability revolution.
Vistula Boulevards at sunset. Photo courtesy of City of Warsaw
As I meandered through the storied streets of Warsaw, I was struck by the city's unwavering commitment to eco-friendly, sustainable tourism. In a world where the travel industry grapples with the challenges of preserving our planet while meeting the demands of curious visitors, Warsaw emerges as a shining beacon of hope. This Polish capital stands as a remarkable example, blending environmental responsibility seamlessly with the needs of travelers.
The Vistula River: A Tranquil Retreat Amidst Urban Life
Vistula River beachfront. Photo courtesy of Lukasz Kopec City of Warsaw
Steps away from the bustling cityscape, I discovered a rarity not found in most urban settings—a soft golden sandy beach on the right bank of the Vistula River. The meticulously maintained sandy beaches beckoned me to take off my shoes and savor the sand between my toes. What a wonderful oasis for locals and travelers to unwind amid nature's embrace. Whether you're soaking up the sun, strolling along the riverbank or indulging in water sports, the city is preserving the river's ecosystem, ensuring harmony with the natural habitat.
Warsaw's Green Oasis: Nature Amidst the City
University of Warsaw Library Rooftop Garden. Photo Courtesy of Sharon Kurtz
Warsaw has dedicated almost a quarter of its urban landscape to lush green spaces, offering residents and visitors respite from the city's energetic pulse. The University of Warsaw Library's Rooftop Garden is a hidden treasure among these green gems. It is a haven of tranquility and a living laboratory, fostering biodiversity and environmental research.
Lazienki Park, the city's most famous green area, marries culture, nature and history. It hosts free open-air Chopin concerts during the summer, a not-to-be-missed experience for classical music enthusiasts. The park's rich history and majestic palace on the water create a fairytale-like ambiance.
Lazienki Park Chopin Sculpture. Photo courtesy of Sharon Kurtz
Wilanow Park, in the city center, boasts magnificent gardens surrounding the Wilanow Palace, a glimpse into Poland's royal past. Nearby, the Saxon Garden, Warsaw’s oldest, holds echoes of its exclusive heritage. The garden's peaceful aura and the nearby Tomb of the Unknown Soldier created a space for me to rest on a shady bench and people-watch after a long day of sightseeing.
Fresh and Sustainable: Warsaw's Green Markets
Bio Bazar Market Vendor. Photo courtesy of Sharon Kurtz
Warsaw's commitment to sustainability extends to its thriving green markets, which actively promote eco-conscious practices and foster a vibrant connection between local farmers and consumers. Among these markets BioBazar, nestled within the historic Norblin Factory Complex, is a glowing testament to the city's dedication to sustainability.
BioBazar is more than a market; it's a living example of Warsaw's conservation-minded approach to shopping. Visitors can explore a bounty of locally sourced, organic, and environmentally friendly products here. The market emphasizes fair trade principles, ensuring that farmers receive a reasonable price for their goods, thus supporting local agriculture and strengthening the community.
Local farms sell their products directly to consumers, offering an array of delights that vary with the changing seasons. From organic meats and cheeses sourced from nearby farms to a delightful array of homemade baked goods, including beloved treats like Paczki (Polish doughnuts) and Pierogi (stuffed dumplings), to an assortment of soups, pickles and relishes, these markets encapsulate the essence of seasonal, locally sourced and earth-friendly living.
Lowickie market stall selling fresh eggs. Photo courtesy of Sharon Kurtz
By prioritizing seasonal products and the direct exchange between producers and consumers, Warsaw's green markets minimize the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation, ensuring that every item on the market's shelves is delectable and eco-friendly. The result is a thriving culinary and cultural experience that nourishes the body and nurtures the planet.
Repurposing Warsaw: An Architectural Renaissance
Noblin Factory Complex repurposed equipment bench. Photo courtesy of Sharon Kurtz
Warsaw's commitment to repurposing its architectural heritage is another testament to its sustainable and culturally rich ethos. It's not just about breathing new life into old structures; it's celebrating history and creativity.
In the heart of Warsaw, the Norblin Factory is a prime example of this dedication to repurposing. What was once an industrial complex has undergone a transformative journey, emerging as a multi-use center that seamlessly integrates residential, commercial and cultural spaces. The factory's original metal equipment and carts have been artfully preserved and repurposed, providing a fascinating blend of industrial history and contemporary art. I enjoyed witnessing metal carts turned into benches and old machinery adorning the space as art, bridging the gap between the past and the present.
In Warsaw's gritty and bohemian Praga District, the Neon Museum resides in an old weapons facility known as the Soho Factory. This unassuming structure, with its worn-out exterior, hides an enchanting secret. The factory's dull bricks are the backdrop for a captivating array of neon signs from the Cold War era. The Neon Museum is more than a repository of signs; it's a guardian of history, safeguarding the luminous artistry of a bygone era.
Neon Museum in the Praga District. Photo courtesy of Filip Kwiatkowski City of Warsaw
These neon signs, many of which were once symbols of a divided world, now coexist as cultural artifacts and artistic relics, reminding us of the past while illuminating the present. It's a tribute to the resilience of Warsaw's spirit and its creative vision of repurposing that brings the city's rich history to life.
Bee-Friendly Capital: Nurturing Pollinators in Warsaw
Educational Apiary Program in Wilanow. Photo courtesy of City of Warsaw
Warsaw is leading the way in protecting and embracing pollinators, particularly bees. The educational apiary program in Wilanow provides a chemical-free sanctuary where bees thrive, contributing to a healthy ecosystem.
Bee hives in city parks and on iconic buildings like the Palace of Culture and Science educate residents and raise awareness about the importance of these pollinators, enhancing a healthy ecosystem.
By ensuring the bees' well-being and producing pure honey, Warsaw again showcases its commitment to sustainability. This honey is a sweet testament to the city's eco-conscious efforts, offering residents and visitors a taste of their dedication—and Warsaw honey makes a delicious souvenir!
Hike and Bike Trails: Fun and Green Exploration
Vistula Riverfront Hike and Bike Path. Photo courtesy of City of Warsaw
Warsaw's network of hiking and cycling trails winds through parks and green areas and along the Vistula River, offering a chance to explore the city's natural beauty while reducing one's carbon footprint. The abundance of trails encourages alternative transportation, making Warsaw a greener and healthier city. Bike-sharing programs promote low-impact travel, providing convenient and efficient access to these trails.
Bike sharing station in the city center. Photo courtesy of Sharon Kurtz
Art, Culture, and the Environment: Warsaw's Eco-Friendly Fusion
Street art and murals are everywhere. Photo courtesy of Sharon Kurtz
The city's vibrant art and cultural resurgence seamlessly intertwine with its renewable approach to tourism, enriching the natural beauty that draws visitors worldwide. I loved the dynamic street art everywhere. The city's art galleries and public installations celebrate local talent and champion sustainability in the arts, fostering a sense of community and profound cultural pride.
Cultural festivals further enhance Warsaw's artistic landscape, weaving a diverse tapestry of experiences for locals and travelers alike. Events like the Warsaw Summer Jazz Days and the Warsaw Film Festival attract international visitors, blending artistic expression with environmentally conscious practices.
Why you should visit
Green spaces are gems in Warsaw. Photo Courtesy of Sharon Kurtz
Whether you are a nature lover, a history enthusiast or simply seeking an adventure, Warsaw is a great place to visit, with myriad examples of its eco-friendly passion intertwined with its rich past and natural beauty.
Sharon Kurtz
Sharon Kurtz, an accomplished travel writer and award-winning photographer based in Austin, Texas, is dedicated to exploring the world and sharing her adventures through compelling storytelling. She intricately weaves together her love for travel and food, immersing readers in diverse cultures and flavors both at home and across the globe. Showcasing the beauty and attractions of each destination, she delves deep into local culture, traditions, and hidden gems, revealing the extraordinary in every place. Enjoy more of Sharon’s writing on her website, or follow her on Instagram.
Peaks, Prayers, and Paragliding in Nepal
Although Nepal is a small, landlocked country in the Himalayan mountain chain, its majesty, stunning landscapes that sprawl on endlessly and spiritually diverse culture outshine most places I have visited.
Laura Grier
Travelers and adventure seekers from around the world risk their lives flocking to Nepal for a chance to summit our planet’s most famous peak, Mount Everest. Everest's vertex, soaring to an impressive 29,029 feet, stands as the highest point on Earth. Located in the realm more commonly traversed by jetliners than humans, it represents an awe-inspiring summit beyond the reach of ordinary explorers. But there is so much more to this tiny, mountainous country wedged between India and China, which has maintained its own unique culture and vibe despite the behemoths on either side.
With its enchanting blend of sacred temples, revered cows, Buddhist monks, endangered animal sanctuaries and extreme sports like paragliding to get your adrenaline pumping, Nepal will captivate you. There is something for everyone, and you may even come across a rare Yeti sighting! In celebration of the country’s unique thrills and delights, I wanted to share some fun facts I learned about Nepal while I was there leading a philanthropic photography workshop.
The current year is 2080…
This year, 2080, is particularly significant in the Nepali calendar because it marks the beginning of a new century (21st century) in the Nepal Sambat system. This unique calendar system is based on lunar cycles and has been used in Nepal for millennia. In fact, April 13th is when they celebrate New Year’s Eve!
Nepal has maintained ZERO poaching of its endangered animals, including elephants, rhinos and tigers, for the past 12 years.
Nepal has become the world’s gold standard in the fight against poaching and received international accolades for recording zero poaching of rhinos in 2011, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020. The Nepalese government has ensured local communities benefit financially from the country’s parks and ecotourism. The government gives local communities 50 cents of every tourist dollar, making the wildlife more valuable alive than dead.
Mount Everest actually has two other names, Sagarmatha and Chomolungma.
The Royal Geographic Society pronounced the official name "Mount Everest" in 1865, named after Sir George Everest, the Surveyor General, but he did not want the peak named after him, believing it important to use local names. The Nepali word for Everest is Sagarmatha, meaning “forehead of the sky.” Sherpas (which is actually the name of an ethnic group in Eastern Nepal, not just a word for someone who lugs your gear) call it Chomolungma, meaning “Goddess Mother of the World.”
Pokhara is called the “Gateway to the Himalayas” and the starting point of many of the most famous trekking expeditions, but what will grab your attention is the constant swooping of dozens of colorful paragliders filling the skies above you. It is one of the top paragliding locations worldwide, having all the right ingredients: stable thermals, convenient take-off and landing zones, the safety of a large lake for emergency landings and incredible mountain views.
I had a total “James Bond experience when I stayed at the Waterfront Hotel there, jumping off a cliff, gliding around for half an hour doing corkscrew tricks surrounded by hawks, then landing right next to the pool of my hotel, where I took off my parachute and went directly to a lounge chair for a cocktail — no big deal!
Nepal is the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha, The founder of Buddhism.
Buddha’s exact birthplace is preserved in Lumbini, Nepal, inside the Maya Devi temple, and because of this, Lumbini in Nepal is the holiest pilgrimage site for Buddhists worldwide.
Boudhanath Stupa is the largest and holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet.
I spent the day with hundreds of monks chanting, playing instruments, wearing ornate headdresses and praying around the stupa’s base. If you are lucky, on certain holy days you can watch the monks elaborately decorate the stupa and participate in the Kora Buddhist prayers by walking clockwise around it, spinning the hundreds of prayer wheels as you go from right to left.
Visit The Hindu City of the Dead.
Death is part of Life at Pashupatinath Temple, The Hindu City of the Dead. This is one of the most sacred Hindu temples dedicated to god Shiva and located on both banks of Bagmati River in Kathmandu. Every year this temple attracts hundreds of elderly followers of Hinduism who seek shelter for the last several weeks of their lives, to meet death, be cremated on the banks of the river, and travel their last journey with the waters of the sacred river Bagmati, which later meets the holy river Ganges. Hinduists from every corner of Nepal and India are arriving here to die or bring their dead.
It is believed that those who die in Pashupatinath Temple are reborn as a human, regardless of their karma. All around the banks of the river you can find brightly painted Sadhus, or holymen who are trying to acquire liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth by meditating and astrologers that can predict the exact day of your death or just read your palm if you prefer not to know. This place is huge, like a city within a city and has been in existence since 400 AD. There is a powerful energy there and at any given time while you are there visiting, you will get the chance to see at least one open air cremation and watch how they prepare the bodies for the cycle of death and rebirth.
Laura Grier
Laura is a dynamic Adventure Photographer, Photo Anthropologist, Travel Writer, and Social Impact Entrepreneur. With a remarkable journey spanning 87 countries and 7 continents, Laura's lens captures both the breathtaking landscapes and the intricate stories of the people she encounters. As a National Geographic artisan catalog photographer, Huffington Post columnist, and founder of Andeana Hats, Laura fuses her love for photography, travel, and social change, leaving an impact on the world.