The Slave Ship

The Slave Ship: A Human History, by Marcus Rediker. 2008 Reviewed by by jayspencergreen Interview with Marcus Rediker The cover of my edition of Marcus Rediker’s The Slave Ship features a quotation from the Sunday Telegraph describing it as “A truly magnificent book.” Such is my prejudice that I imagine Telegraph readers coming to Rediker’s work not to be educated about the shaping… Read More The Slave Ship

China, Africa and disappearing donkeys: an unexpected crisis offers a clue to perils ahead

The surging export of hides created domestic tensions – and shows how globalisation plays out in unexpected ways What can help to protect women’s health, boost the incomes of impoverished families and thus allow girls to avoid early marriage? What – when it disappears – can set back children’s education, damage mental wellbeing, drive conflict within communities… Read More China, Africa and disappearing donkeys: an unexpected crisis offers a clue to perils ahead

This artist is painstakingly recreating mysterious ancient rock art

academic thought has shifted to see southern African rock art as more often reflecting spiritually and culturally significant images and motifs, according to the British Museum. Some images have been understood to reflect visions seen by shamans when they entered trance-like states to perform communal tasks like healing the sick. “When they painted, they were not just… Read More This artist is painstakingly recreating mysterious ancient rock art

Hannah Arendt’s ghosts: Reflections on the disputable path from Windhoek to Auschwitz

Historians on both sides of the Atlantic are currently engaged in a controversy about the allegedly genocidal nature of western colonialism and its connections with the mass violence unleashed by Nazi Germany between 1939 and 1945. The debate touches upon some of the most “sensitive” issues of twentieth-century history: the violent “dark side” of modern… Read More Hannah Arendt’s ghosts: Reflections on the disputable path from Windhoek to Auschwitz

‘Extinct’ trees found in Tanzania sparks hope for ecosystem recovery

RYAN TRUSCOTT In July 2023, botanist Andrea Bianchi was driving in the Nguru Mountains of eastern Tanzania when the broad pods on a tree growing in a maize field near the road caught his eye. He pulled over and found not one but two Millettia sacleuxii trees, a species scientists had feared was extinct. Thousands of their… Read More ‘Extinct’ trees found in Tanzania sparks hope for ecosystem recovery

An answer to a mystery surrounding these 1,000-year-old trees

Baobabs can live for more than 1,000 years, acting as the keystone species in dry forest environments in Madagascar, a swathe of continental Africa, and northwest Australia. Known as “mother of the forest” and “the tree of life,” nearly every part of the tree can be used by humans and animals, meaning they’re of enormous… Read More An answer to a mystery surrounding these 1,000-year-old trees

The unique life philosophy of Abdi, born in Somalia, living in the Netherlands

When viewers are introduced to Abdiwahab Ali, the main character in the short documentary Neighbour Abdi, his charisma radiates from the screen as he showcases his creative metalwork and spins a series of lively potential titles for a film about his life. But viewers soon learn that his easygoing attitude is hard-earned as he recounts his… Read More The unique life philosophy of Abdi, born in Somalia, living in the Netherlands