As 2019′s happiest country in the world, Finland is undoubtedly a great place to have children. With lengthy parental leave, hundreds of dollars worth of free baby products in the signature baby box and low-to-no childbirth costs, here’s why it’s better to have a baby in Finland than in the U.S. (CNBC, 14 Feb 2020)… Continue reading Why It’s Cheaper To Have A Baby In Finland Than The U.S. (CNBC, 14 Feb 2020)
Category: Public Policy
REPORT: Many U.S. Hospitals are Closing (CNBC, 6 Feb 2020)
In rural towns across the U.S. hospitals are in crisis. Since 2010, 121 rural hospitals have closed. And, the National Rural Health Association says more than one-third of all rural hospitals in the U.S. are at serious risk of shutting down. But not all hospitals are losing money. A series of mergers and acquisitions that… Continue reading REPORT: Many U.S. Hospitals are Closing (CNBC, 6 Feb 2020)
German shipping companies and the arms trade (10 Jan 2020)
Summary Germany’s secret service, the BND, is heavily involved in the delivery of weapons to crisis areas of the world. As this documentary shows, it has – among other things – played along with arms deals made by German shipping companies. Top secret operations are carried out silently, bypassing the federal authorities by exploiting a… Continue reading German shipping companies and the arms trade (10 Jan 2020)
Colombia: From Cocaine to Cacao (9 Jan 2020)
In Colombia, the cultivation of coca, the main ingredient of cocaine, has nearly tripled over the past five years. As part of the 2016 peace agreement between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the country has embarked on a unique experiment to try to end coca farming and production, but freeing… Continue reading Colombia: From Cocaine to Cacao (9 Jan 2020)
HEALTHCARE – Why Drugs Are So Expensive
Americans today spend more on pharmaceuticals per capita than anyone else in the world, and more than one in five say they have trouble affording their prescription drugs. But they might not know about the alternative pathways to medicine. VICE’s Hamilton Morris explores the world of clandestine chemists, DIY bio hackers, and grey markets to… Continue reading HEALTHCARE – Why Drugs Are So Expensive
Why College Athletes Don’t Get Paid
College sports have become a multi-billion dollar industry, but the NCAA’s regulations prohibit amateur athletes from profiting off their abilities to go pro. But a new lawsuit could completely uped the NCAA and the college athletic business model. VICE News’ Gianna Toboni meets several athletes and coaches living the pay-for-play saga. (VICE News, 29 Dec… Continue reading Why College Athletes Don’t Get Paid
How Germany’s Universal Health-Care System Works (CNBC – 24 Nov 2019)
Germany’s health-care system spends nearly half as much as the United States but still manages to cover 100% of its population through a mix of public and private insurance schemes. There are two different systems that residents can turn to for insurance in Germany: SHI, which stands for Statutory Health Insurance and PHI or Private… Continue reading How Germany’s Universal Health-Care System Works (CNBC – 24 Nov 2019)
Sahar Zand Reporting on Immigration in Denmark for the BBC
Video About Denmark’s efforts to better integrate its migrant population are attracting controversy at home, and abroad. Twenty-nine housing districts, known as ‘migrant ghettos’, are now subject to special measures to tackle crime and unemployment, and encourage greater mixing between migrants and wider Danish society. In the run-up to Denmark’s recent landmark election, Sahar Zand… Continue reading Sahar Zand Reporting on Immigration in Denmark for the BBC
Self-Quiz: Should we have children?
Below is a self-survey with a list of questions and considerations to ask before planning to have children. This survey isn’t intended to provoke a specific answer. Such surveys do exist — trying to convince people that having children is horrible or wonderful. There is, of course, no one universal answer for everyone. Most existing… Continue reading Self-Quiz: Should we have children?
DOCUMENTARY: Planet of the Humans (2019)
About Planet of the Humans dares to say what no one will-that we are losing the battle to stop climate change because we are following leaders who have taken us down the wrong road-selling out the green movement to wealthy interests and corporate America. This film is the wake-up call to the reality we are… Continue reading DOCUMENTARY: Planet of the Humans (2019)
Returning to the Town that Walmart Left Behind
When Walmart moves into rural towns, the impact on local small businesses can be devastating and often results in local stores closing down. Even more devastating is the wasteland left behind when a Walmart pulls out of a community after homogenizing the local economy. Educational preparedness and workforce readiness are hindered. In other words, the… Continue reading Returning to the Town that Walmart Left Behind
Tamar Manasseh on repairing the cracks in our communities with Tikkun Olam
In the NewsHour’s Facebook Watch show, “That Moment When,” the founder of an organization dedicated to preventing senseless killing talks about the importance of building community. With Mothers/Men Against Senseless Killing (MASK), Chicago’s Tamar Manasseh goes to “where bad things are going to happen” and, over barbecue and good conversation, seeks to save lives. (12… Continue reading Tamar Manasseh on repairing the cracks in our communities with Tikkun Olam