BBC News - The Senegal tech hub run by women for women

BBC News - The Senegal tech hub run by women for women: "Coudy Binta De's eyes light up when she talks about how she first became fascinated with computers.

The 24-year-old says that as a young girl she went to visit her mother in work at one of the Senegalese government's first computer departments."



'via Blog this'

17 Things To Read If You're Trying To See All Sides Of The Israel-Gaza Conflict

17 Things To Read If You're Trying To See All Sides Of The Israel-Gaza Conflict: "Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza began observing a 72-hour cease-fire on Tuesday after nearly a month of fighting. But the complicated history and context of the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict can make it difficult to form a coherent opinion on the current offensive.

One thing is undeniable, regardless of one's political views, nationality or cultural or religious affiliation: The death and destruction is catastrophic and ever-mounting. But in response to the violence that has claimed more than 1,800 Palestinian lives -- the majority of them civilians -- and killed nearly 70 Israeli soldiers and civilians, a common assumption is that one must choose a side, and that blame can be assigned exclusively to one party or the other. Such an approach to the conflict tends to be selective and overly simplistic, so we've compiled a variety of editorials and voices to get a better sense of the situation. Here's what you need to know:"



'via Blog this'

10 Everyday Sexisms and What Do You Do About Them | Soraya Chemaly

10 Everyday Sexisms and What Do You Do About Them | Soraya Chemaly: "Chivalry, otherwise know as benevolent sexism, is part of our "manners." A man who opens a door for you and doesn't mind if you do the same for him is one thing. But, one who categorically refuses your offer speaks to a much bigger problem. Benevolent sexism, the kind that is passed off as "protective" and "gentlemanly," is a core characteristic of how masculinity (and by binary contrast, femininity) are constructed in conservative cultures. Studies have shown that the more entitled people are, the more likely they are to hold sexist beliefs -- which says an awful lot about #WomenAgainstFeminism. It's defined as "the negative consequences of attitudes that idealize women as pure, moral, pedestal-worthy objects of men's adoration, protection, and provision." A lot of this starts in childhood and comes under the mantle of teaching girls and boys to be "ladies" and "gentleman" instead of just civil and kind human beings who care for one another equally. In other words, what many people think of as chivalry, gentlemanly and "real man" behavior. The negative effects on women are well documented, particularly in the workplace."



'via Blog this'

The Pope's 10 tips for happiness (Opinion) - CNN.com

The Pope's 10 tips for happiness (Opinion) - CNN.com: "(CNN) -- Just when I thought my amazement with Pope Francis had run its course, he did it again. In a long interview with an old friend who was writing for an Argentine magazine, the pope put forward a 10-point plan for happiness. From where I sit, it seems, well, pretty damn good if not perfect. Here are Pope Francis' tips for a happy life and my comments on them:"



'via Blog this'

Million-dollar home sales hit record in Bay Area - San Jose Mercury News

Million-dollar home sales hit record in Bay Area - San Jose Mercury News: "There was a time when a million-dollar home was something families drove by on a Sunday outing to get a glimpse of how rich folks lived. But now they're more common than Starbucks, at least around here."



'via Blog this'

This Peace Corps Couple Turned A Volunteer Project In Africa Into Their Life's Mission

This Peace Corps Couple Turned A Volunteer Project In Africa Into Their Life's Mission: "Many aid organizations take a top-down approach, and Flatt and Hellmann saw how that model often missed the strengths and the long-term needs of the local people. Upon their return to the U.S., the couple chose to earn master’s degrees in sustainable development from the School for International Training in southern Vermont, in an effort to find a better way to help."



'via Blog this'

Aquaculture — an untapped food security solution