In her new book “South to America,” author Imani Perry seeks to change how people view the American South and, thus, the country’s history as a whole. Jeffrey Brown spoke with Perry, who traveled through the southern regions of the U.S. and explored the complexities and misperceptions she found along the way.
Category Archives: Culture
Megacities: The Growing Conflicts In Mumbai, India
Mumbai is a city of contrasts. Here, the super-rich and slum dwellers live side by side. As more and more luxury skyscrapers go up, slums are forced to make way for them. Conflicts ensue. So what is life like, in a megacity with 20 million inhabitants?
In Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum, more than a million people live in extremely crowded conditions. But the neighbourhood is dynamic. We meet Mahesh, 27, who was born in the slum and has never left. Today, he runs a recycling plant that employs about 20 people. Dharavi’s shadow economy is said to bring in 800 million euros a year.
However, the future of the neighbourhood is uncertain, as it sits on valuable property — located right in the city centre. With the support of local authorities, real estate magnate Babulal Varma is tearing down slums to build luxury housing for the upper classes. Will Dharavi survive? Mumbai is already one of the most populous cities in the world.
By 2035, the population is projected to rise drastically — to 30 million. The city’s inevitable expansion affects not only the people who live there, but also the forests that surround it. These include the “Sanjay Gandhi National Park”. Now, the leopards living in the park have started to make regular forays into new housing developments, looking for food. They attack stray dogs, as well as humans. As urbanization continues, the conflict between humans and wild animals is sure to become more dire.
Cultural Views: Tattooed Freight Trucks Of Nepal
Throughout Nepal, large freight trucks painted by artists provide special visual entertainment for travelers along the highways and dangerous mountain roads of the Himalayas. These creatively painted scenes and sayings can be clever, witty and even profound – offering food for thought to the viewer. Former Peace Corps volunteer and UC San Diego lecturer emeritus Ron Ranson, along with filmmaker Sudarson Karki, document the Nepali custom of painting trucks with icons of their country, spiritual life, European sports teams and even major movies like “Titanic.”
Cover Preview: Monocle Magazine – February 2022
Travel Books: ‘Geneva: At the Heart of the World’
Situated on Lake Geneva and surrounded by mountains, Geneva is a cosmopolitan gem in the Switzerland landscape. Home to various organizations including the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the Red Cross, Geneva is a city of diplomacy, charity and finance that accommodates both Swiss authenticity and international interests.
However, Geneva is not all business; museums, the finest watchmakers, and chocolate is available to visitors and entertainment in the form of theater, festivals, and biennales are in abundance.
Presented in partnership with GVA2 Association, an organization dedicated to fostering the growth of Geneva, this title invites readers to explore all that Geneva has to offer, from its historical landmarks to its cultural diversity. Anecdotes from prominent figures in the community supplement the stunning imagery of a city on the verge of greatness.
Kyra Dupont is a French journalist and author born in Geneva with two masters in international relations and journalism. She has worked as a reporter for the written press, radio and television in several countries and headed the international news section of the daily newspaper 24 heures in Lausanne.
Preview: The Florentine Magazine – January 2022
Travel, Food & Culture: Lhasa – Capital Of Tibet
Do you know why we Tibetans are so obsessed with eating dried Yak meat, how and when we make the dried yak meat? Today, I will take you to explore about this unique diet culture, and you will see our Yak meat market and more.
Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, lies on the Lhasa River’s north bank in a valley of the Himalayas. Rising atop Red Mountain at an altitude of 3,700m, the red-and-white Potala Palace once served as the winter home of the Dalai Lama. The palace’s rooms, numbering around 1,000, include the Dalai Lama’s living quarters, as well as murals, chapels and tombs.
Tibet, on the lofty Tibetan Plateau on the northern side of the Himalayas, is an autonomous region of China. It’s nicknamed the “Roof of the World” for its towering peaks. It shares Mt. Everest with Nepal. Its capital, Lhasa, is site of hilltop Potala Palace, once the Dalai Lama’s winter home, and Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s spiritual heart, revered for its golden statue of the young Buddha.
Covers: France-Amérique Magazine – January 2022
Front Covers: ‘Romeing Magazine’ – January 2022
Travel Views: Lake Onega & Karelia, Northwest Russia
Have you ever heard of Karelia? This remote region lies in the far north of Europe, on Russia’s border with Finland, and is a travel destination for those in the know. Karelia has centuries old traditions and stunning natural landscapes with vast lakes. We visit Lake Onega, Europe’s second largest lake, taste kalitki, a regional dish, go to the Banya, a traditional “black sauna”, and much more.
The Republic of Karelia is a region in northwest Russia, bordering Finland. Beside Lake Onega, capital city Petrozavodsk is home to cultural artifacts at the National Museum. On an island northeast, Kizhi Museum is an open-air complex of traditional wood buildings. Northwest, Kivach Nature Reserve has pine woods and a waterfall. West of Petrozavodsk, blue-domed Valaam Monastery is on an island in massive Lake Ladoga.
Boomers Daily 