Siddhartha Mitter: The Cartography of Bullshit

Max Fisher Cartography of Bullshit

“This week, Fisher proposed to his readers what he titled “A fascinating map of the world’s most and least racially tolerant countries.” The deepest-red, or most racially intolerant, countries were India, Bangladesh and Jordan. Russia and China fell in the middle; much of Africa was left out for lack of data, but South Africa came out light blue (highly tolerant), and Nigeria light red (highly intolerant). Other highly tolerant countries included Pakistan and Belarus.” Continue reading

Michael Guerriero: Ten Cents

© Larry Buchanan / New Yorker

© Larry Buchanan / New Yorker

The Number: Ten Cents
by Michael Guerriero for The New Yorker

It’s often reported that the recession turned Americans into frugal shoppers. Well, here’s a bargain: spending about ten cents more on a piece of clothing produced in Bangladesh could prevent disasters like the horrific collapse, last month, of the Rana Plaza factory, which killed over a thousand people, the deadliest accident in history of the garment industry. Continue reading

Dr. Perween Hasan: David Nalin, “friend from overseas” or smuggler of antiquities?

Mohammad Shahjahan, ‘Smuggling of Antiquities worth one crore’ in Weekly Bichitra ,  November 18, 1977, p 1

Mohammad Shahjahan, ‘Smuggling of Antiquities worth one crore’ in Weekly Bichitra , November 18, 1977, p 1

David Nalin: friend or smuggler of antiquities?
Guest Post by Dr. Perween Hasan

I was surprised and angered to read a report in the daily Prothom Alo (March 30, 2013) entitled ‘ This country is destined to march forward: an interview with David Nalin, a friend from overseas’. Continue reading