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On the death of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
Society, Politics & Law

On the death of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

...history should judge them harshly but Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was magnanimous as he and South Africa emerged into freedom, peace and reconciliation. There are many challenges to overcome; post-apartheid South Africa was not forged in conditions of Mandela’s choosing and painful compromises were made. It is still a long walk to freedom but Nelson Mandela is surely a...
Why is East Africa experiencing such a terrible drought?
Nature & Environment

Why is East Africa experiencing such a terrible drought?

...history show us that pastoral communities have become less mobile. Livestock farmers are settling down and becoming increasingly reliant on irrigation and crop growing, which makes them more sensitive to drought. Competing demands to conserve land for wildlife add to the problems. There are a few things East Africans can do to ease the impact of climate change, especially...
Helen Cammock and the art of storytelling
Languages

Helen Cammock and the art of storytelling

...histories which are entwined together in the fabric of our culture. One of the techniques she uses is the ventriloquising of other people’s words. In the video installation The Singing Will Never be Done, for instance, she recites the text of Enoch Powell’s infamous anti-immigration speech, the ‘Rivers of Blood’, from the late 1960s. With this simple act of...
The emergence of breaking as an Olympic sport
Health, Sports & Psychology

The emergence of breaking as an Olympic sport

...processes in the development of modern boxing’, Sport in society, 9(4), pp. 542–58. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/17430430600768785. Van Gestel, J. (2018) Norbert Elias and the analysis of history and sport: systematizing figurational sociology. London; New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group (Routledge studies in social and political thought, 134)....
Year of the Snake: Chinese Lunar New Year
Languages

Year of the Snake: Chinese Lunar New Year

...at any time, and they provide digital badges for completion. For further information, please visit the short courses page. The Online Confucius Institute at The Open University holds regular free online public talks in Chinese history, culture and society as well as regular online book club sessions on Modern Chinese Literature. Keep an eye on the Upcoming events page....
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About us

...history to renewable energy, and everything in between. Many of our free courses are adapted parts of OU modules, and all courses enable you to earn a statement of participation. Some even let you earn a free digital badge. You can use your badge or statement of participation to share your achievement with others. Please remember, though, that they do not carry any formal...
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The US Presedential Election 2016: The first GOP debate
Society, Politics & Law

The US Presedential Election 2016: The first GOP debate

...history could repeat itself, only this time at the Republicans’ expense. Trump’s threat to run as an independent is thus ultimately more important than anything else that happened last night. Anthony Gaughan is an Associate Professor of Law at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. His academic specialties include election law, national security law, and legal and...
Fast Reactors and Thorium
Science, Maths & Technology

Fast Reactors and Thorium

...history of commercial nuclear electricity generation. Indeed the world’s first reactor was a small 25 kW (thermal power) research reactor, which was built in 1946 at Los Alamos in New Mexico USA and named ‘Clementine’. Despite their long history, fast reactors have so far failed to break through to commercial success. There are some important technical differences...