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World-renowned clergy Archbishop Desmond Tutu celebrates his 86th birthday on Saturday. Philosopher Thaddeus Metz says the occasion is an ideal opportunity to reflect on the anti-apartheid cleric’s contribution to South African society and global thought, especially his philosophy of Ubuntu, which advocates the oneness of humanity and the need for people to value each another.
The link between climate change and conflict is a complex one. It’s believed that changing weather patterns may lead to conflict but this link is exaggerated and oversimplified. In the case of Somalia, where famine and food crises have been common since the 1990’s, Hakim Abdi believes that good governance is critical to dealing with these issues.
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Archbishop Tutu teaches that punishing wrongdoers, with an eye for an eye, is unjustified.
Filckr/UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre
Thaddeus Metz, University of Johannesburg
Archbishop Bishop Desmond Tutu is well known for having invoked an ubuntu ethic to evaluate South African society, and he can take substantial credit for having made the term familiar.
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Environment + Energy
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Hakim Abdi, Lund University
It's wrong to blame climate change for famine and conflict. These can either be prevented, or the impact minimised, if institutions and mechanisms of good governance are in place.
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Robert Scholes, University of the Witwatersrand
South Africa's Karoo region potentially holds shale gas that could transform the energy economy of the country. But given the uncertainties around exploration what's the next logical step?
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Science + Technology
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Dorothy Ngila, Stellenbosch University; Nelius Boshoff, Stellenbosch University
Academies simply don't know how they're doing when it comes to the representation of women compared to their counterparts within the science-policy environment.
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From our international editions
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Todd Landman, University of Nottingham
Trump's America is marked by the clash of intransigent, bitter opinions. And it's not just about gun control.
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Alfonso Valero, Nottingham Trent University
Here are the EU's options.
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Henry J. Thompson, Colorado State University
Physical activity is considered an important way to lower risk for breast cancer. But what if your ability to be fit is influenced by genes you inherit? Would that raise your risk? In rats, it did.
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Carrie Pitzulo, Colorado State University
Hefner's iconic Playmates, a scholar argues, need to be understood within their historical context, when men and especially women were expected to uphold strict standards of sexual propriety.
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