Category Archives: Culture

Fracking in the EU Just Around the Corner

Posted on July 9, 2014 | Leave a comment

Sixteen percent of the natural gas supply used by the EU comes from pipelines that pass through Ukraine from Russia. In 2009, when Russia and Ukraine couldn’t come to an agreement over pricing, Russia turned off the tap, demonstrating how vulnerable that supply of natural gas is to the EU. To offset the energy instability brought on by the Ukrainian tensions, the EU is considering adoption of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Read more about it by clicking the link below.

European Union to Consider Fracking

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Posted in Culture, Environment

Tagged energy crisis, EU, fracking, fracking in the EU, Ukraine

Gender-Based Discrimination Caused by Apple?

Posted on July 8, 2014 | Leave a comment

Is the apple in the garden of Eden responsible for gender-based discimination? Was it actually an apple? This opinion article explores the role of the apple in gender politics with slight detours through the Hero’s Journey and social norms based on Judeo-Christian ethics.

Apple Responsible for Gender-Based Discrimination?

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Posted in Culture, Gender Issues

Tagged forbidden fruit, garden of eden, gender, gender politics, gender-based discrimination, religion. creation story

Modern Artists’ Vagina-Based Art Is Platform for Social Awareness

Posted on June 27, 2014 | Leave a comment

The recent kidnappings and probable selling into sexual slavery of Nigerian school girls, the gender (and ethnic) rantings of now-dead Elliot Rodgers, and the ubiquitous misogyny that characterizes Internet comment sites is evidence that the perception of women’s value of women around the globe is compromised.

The article below demonstrates how three modern artists are using sculpture and performance art to explore the delicate relationship between female sexual identity and gender-based violence. Links at the end of the embedded article provide videos of interviews with the artists.

Sculpture and Art Explore Vagina Taboos [Video]

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Posted in Culture, Gender Issues

Tagged vagina, vagina art, vagina sculpture

Syphilis Is Back on the Rise and Is Still Deadly

Posted on June 16, 2014 | Leave a comment

Syphilis is back on the rise and is still deadly. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that 90 percent of people who are infected with the disease live in developing countries. In the United States, the incidence of the disease is on the rise. Of the newly reported cases in 2012, three quarters of infections are found in men who have sex with men (MSM). The highest rates of increase occurred in the 20-29 year old MSM demographic.

The following article is posted on Guardian Liberty Voice and provides more information about the disease and why diagnosis and treatment are critical to prevent the spread of HIV as well as syphilis.

Syphilis: Back on the Rise and Still Deadly

Below is an interactive Google map showing the 30 U.S. cities with the largest per 100,000 people rates of syphilis. Clicking on red markers will reveal the specific county and comparisons between 2011 and 2012 for both men and women. Also included are year-to-year changes in the rate of infection per male and female.