DW Documentary (February 25, 2023) – Otgo is the youngest child of a nomadic family in the Gobi desert. They make their living breeding cattle. Otgo loves their life, in harmony with nature and old traditions. Yet she dreams of becoming a dancer at the opera house in Ulan Bator.
In Mongolia, it is becoming increasingly common for the younger generation to leave traditional life behind. Otgo’s dream would take her far from her family’s yurt. She wants to become a dancer and later, a dance teacher. Her parents leave it up to her to decide how she wants to shape her life. They agree to support her, if she embarks on her great endeavor. In the meantime, Otgo has become an almost indispensable help to the family.
She gets up early in the morning to water the camels with her father, and it fills her with pride that she can help her family. The breathtaking landscape of the Gobi Desert and the strong bonds between the different nomadic families do not make it easy for Otgo to follow her dream. Otgo’s story paints a portrait of her world and of the men and women who have long passed on their culture from generation to generation, through the eyes of a child.
Bormes-les-Mimosas (February 2023) is a small village in the Var clinging to the side of a hill, a sort of flowery balcony over an intense blue Mediterranean. Lower down, Le Lavandou and its beaches, the fort of Brégançon not far from the open sea then the sunny coasts of the Côte d’Azur.
This French commune is located on the edge of the Mediterranean and in the southern part of the Moorish massif. Like any locality in the region, the climate is Mediterranean with high heat in July. The tourist attractions of this city are many. The most important of these is the old castle which is located on a hill. Then comes St. Francis Square where you can see a statue of St. Francis de Paul, a famous monk who lived there in the fifteenth century.
World Economic Forum (February 25, 2023) – This week’s top stories of the week include:
0:15This zero-emission truck drives itself – The truck is made by Swedish firm Einride. It says autonomous trucks could succeed where self-driving cars, so far, haven’t because freight trucks follow specific routes. Unlike car drivers, who often want freedom and spontaneity and specific, predictable routes require less complex autonomous technology. “But for a lot of transport, it’s actually the exact opposite. You don’t want it to be spontaneous. You don’t want it to suddenly be in another part of the country than it’s expected to be. [Trucks] need predictability. And they need to make sure that it actually arrives on time.”
2:48Plastic-eating enzymes help recycle clothing – Scientists at the University of Portsmouth have identified more than 70 plastic-eating enzymes. This could divert millions of tonnes of textiles from landfill.
3:59Why the ‘nowhere office’ is the future of work – This author thinks work will no longer be defined by a fixed time and place and that the culture of office presenteeism is over. The pandemic has changed people’s work habits forever. Many workers now see flexibility as a right, not a privilege. 40% of workers say they wouldn’t take a job without remote or hybrid options. Hobsbawm says we should be campaigning for new ways to value and pay for work, based around set outcomes rather than fixed hours as part of a momentous culture shift she calls ‘the great re-evaluation’.
7:04Spain approves menstrual leave – It’s the first ‘menstrual leave’ law in Europe. People can take up to 3 days of leave a month paid for by the state if they suffer from cramps, nausea, dizziness or vomiting. In extreme cases, it can even be extended to 5 days. The sick leave will require a doctor’s note and will not cover those in mild discomfort. Similar laws exist in South Korea, Japan, Zambia and Indonesia
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