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As South Africa prepares to head to the polls, political leaders have been doing a tour of the nation’s mega churches to campaign for votes. South Africa is a deeply religious society and over 85% of the population identifies as Christian. However, 30 years into democracy, the kind of Christianity being practised is changing quite dramatically. Politicians are more likely to focus on indigenous African churches and pentecostal services because, writes Dion Forster, these are the fastest-growing Christian churches. He tells us why.
Cement makes up a huge part of the modern world. It’s used to create the concrete that goes into buildings and other infrastructure. Producing it from limestone uses a lot of energy and emits a lot of carbon dioxide. Civil engineering professor Elsabe Kearsley outlines what’s being done to reduce its environmental impact.
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Dion Forster, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Christianity is evolving. Mainstream churches like the Methodists and the Catholics are losing ground to indigenous and pentecostal groups.
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Elsabe Kearsley, University of Pretoria
A tonne of carbon dioxide is released for every tonne of cement manufactured from limestone.
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Annette Hübschle, University of Cape Town; Meredith Gore, University of Maryland
The COVID-19 pandemic did not deter wildlife traffickers from going about their illegal business. Their methods may offer lessons about resilience in crisis scenarios such as climate emergencies.
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Victoria Melkisedeck Lihiru, The Open University of Tanzania
CCM and Chadema’s commitments to gender equity start and end with the establishment in each party of a women’s wing.
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From our international editions
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Kristine Hoover, Gonzaga University; Yolanda Gallardo, Gonzaga University
It can be easy to mistake feelings like fear and anger as hate. When biases are acted out in harmful ways, however, speaking up can help stop hate from getting worse.
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Carol Opdebeeck, Manchester Metropolitan University
Being arrested, getting a divorce, losing your job – all of these things are associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
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Mark Booth, Newcastle University
If the needs of both parasites and hosts are met by the niche, they can move in. Increasing biodiversity may therefore be a double-edged sword.
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Erin O'Brien, Griffith University
The situation in Gaza undoubtedly requires urgent international attention and a peaceful resolution. Yet it is not the only armed conflict or humanitarian crisis in the world.
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Nikki Crowley, Penn State
Singer Amy Winehouse died from alcohol toxicity in 2011, the same year that the American Society of Addiction Medicine publicly recognized addiction as a brain disorder.
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