FEAST OR FAMINE

In May 2014 the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) commissioned a report on threats to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef along the coast of Queensland, such as pollution, water quality, and coastal development. UNESCO is the global organization that monitors significant cultural heritage sites. The report by its World Heritage Committee (WHC) was critical of the government’s handling of key threats to the reef, especially port development. It said it would list the Great Barrier Reef as a “World Heritage in Danger” site. UNESCO maintained that the reef, the world’s largest coral structure of more than 2,600 kilometres (1,680 miles), and one of the “natural wonders of the world” was deteriorating, and that it would make a decision in May 2015 about its heritage listing. The listing would mean considerable restrictions regarding development along the coast. Australia’s national government and the Queensland state government indicated that...

Much has been discussed in the media about FIFA – its presidential election and the outcome of the arrests of several officials on corruption charges, and the future of the organization. Online BBC News had a headline on May 28, 2015, that stated “Russia cries foul: Fifa arrests ‘a conspiracy’ say Moscow.”   What does “cries foul” mean? The Dictionary.Cambridge.org defines “cry foul” as “to say that something that has happened is unfair or illegal.” The article says “As the rest of the world debates the exposure of corruption at the heart of Fifa, all the talk swirling in Russia is of a conspiracy.” It explains that President Vladimir Putin views the pressure on Mr. Joseph Sep Blatter, president of FIFA, as “punishment for continuing to support Russia as host for the 2018 World Cup.” Therefore Russia does believe that something is unfair. The scorecard for the BBC News  headline is 100%: Russia is “crying foul” – the article has...

The International Committee of Mathematical Games is holding its 16 th Culture and Mathematical Games Fair from May 28-31, 2015 at the Place Saint-Sulpice in the 6 th arrondissemet of Paris. The focus this year is on mathematics and light (Mathematiques et Lumiere) in the context of UNESCO’s Year of Light. The games, in the open air, are for the public of every age. As every year, the 16 e Salon Culture & Jeux Mathematiques 2015 features games, competitions, animations, books, and booths showcasing various mathematical associations and societies. Examples of the activities include: geometry puzzles, optical illusions, board games, origami (paper folding), travel mathematics, art and mathematics, psychology of colours, scientific calculators, magic tricks, logic games, Esperanto, mathematics and astronomy, stories from the Inuksuk (inuit) Association, Rubik’s cubes, a Paris Diderot University workshop on mathematical research, mathematics and construction, cryptographic ...

On Friday May 22, 2015, the Eiffel Tower in Paris closed for seven hours due to staff protests about the increasing pickpockets at the tourist site. Not only do the pickpockets target tourists to steal their money, but they also threaten and assault staff working at the tower. SETE, the firm in charge of operating the 126-year-old monument, came to an agreement with its workers to re-open. The Eiffel Tower has about seven million tourists a year, and with summer, the tourists increase – and so do the pickpockets. Pickpockets (tricksters and thieves) typically work in groups of 3-4, but can be in groups of up to 30. They have been in the area for many years. The thieves used to hang around at the base of the tower, but now they blend in with the crowds and pretend they are tourists. They even pay for their tickets to access the levels of the Eiffel Tower. One or more of them distract tourists while one steals from their bag or pockets. To distract tourists, the pickpocket...