A movement known as Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West (the acronym in German is Pegida) has attracted a relatively large following in Germany. According to some polls, as many as 34% of Germans believe that German society is becoming “Islamicized.” The rise of a number of groups opposed to the Muslim presence in Germany is frightening and far more extensive than is fully appreciated. The German government must become more vigilant in addressing this serious problem of xenophobia.
A group of photojournalists has started a blog called The Ebola Diaries. It is an extraordinary account of daily life in Ebola affected areas, and focuses attention on a truly horrific crisis in terms of all the issues that are faced on a daily basis by those infected and the health workers dedicated to addressing the outbreak. The use of social media in this particular way is a great example of how the new technologies can be harnessed to bring attention to issues largely ignored by the media.
There are many things about the process of globalization that are difficult to explain. The incredible popularity of Christmas in China is one such thing. The Chinese Communist Party does not encourage Christmas celebrations, nor does anyone get the day off. Yet the holiday, stripped of any religious connotations, is a big day in China–the second most popular festival of the year (after the Spring Festival). A good part of its popularity stems from the powerful interest of retailers in stimulating consumption and sales.
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