Miscellaneous
Give bees a chance
Reports of catastrophic declines in the bee population have scientists buzzing. Is it mites? GM crops? Mobile phones? Habitat loss? Here's what the plight of the humble bee says about our own relationship to nature. Pat Thomas | Jan/Feb 2008 issue Reports of catastrophic declines in the bee Read More...
God saw that everything was fine
German Benedictine monk Anselm Grun on silence, consumerism, the senses - and the need to see yourself as you really are. Tijn Touber| Jan/Feb 2008 issue It is dead quiet in the monastery chapel. Of course, it’s still early: just past five in the morning. But not too early for the monks of the Read More...
We don't need no supervision
Kids may find it harder to grow up if adults over-regulate their lives. Tim Gill| Jan/Feb 2008 issue There’s a widespread belief that children grow up faster today. In fact, though they may adopt adult cultures and attitudes, their daily lives are far more controlled and overseen than a couple of Read More...
Strengthening the weakest link
How investors can help forge safer, more transparent supply chains. Amy Domini| Jan/Feb 2008 issue Over the course of several weeks last spring, pet owners in the U.S. noticed their cats and dogs were falling sick. A toy poodle named Jasmine died of kidney failure in Easton, Maryland. A cat named Read More...
The meanings of life
Four noble truths of connectedness. David Servan-Schreiber | Jan/Feb 2008 issue When I was 15, a church sermon left its mark on me. The priest began with the question, “Where should we seek God?” Years later, I found my own answer. I believe what for centuries has been called “finding God” Read More...
We should start eating insects
Why Arnold van Huis would like us to eat cricket pies, fried grasshoppers and mealworm quiche. Marco Visscher | Jan/Feb 2008 issue Cricket pies, fried grasshoppers and mealworm quiche: Welcome to the new culinary delights. Or so hopes Arnold van Huis, an entomology professor in Wageningen, the Read More...
Justice for peace
Karen Tse makes a strong case against torture Nynke Sietsma| December 2006 issue Karen Tse couldn’t be more clear about her dream: She wants to eliminate torture in the world. It certainly doesn’t sound simple, but Tse says it could be. “We just have to make a decision as a global community Read More...
The chance for new beginnings
Nineteen eighty-six Nobel Peace Prize-winner Desmond Tutu talks to Ode about the necessity for forgiveness. Lekha Singh | December 2006 issue The Most Reverend Desmond Mpilo Tutu stands out as a man of conviction and compassion. Raised and educated under the racist South African government, as a Read More...
The world champ of poverty fighters
Throughout the 11 years Ode has been in print, the name Muhammad Yunus has often cropped up, and microcredit has been a recurring theme. Yet it took us until last year to track him down in Bangladesh for an extensive interview. Now that Yunus will receive the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10 in Read More...
The aim of the game
A peace-loving mom discovers the value of healthy competition Elbrich Fennema | December 2006 issue Because my 15-year-old son is an only child, I’ve always made a special effort to teach him co-operation and sharing—things I thought came naturally when you have brothers and sisters. So I was Read More...