Culture
Native Americans hold National Day of Mourning on Thanksgiving in solidarity with Indigenous struggles around the globe
For more than half a century, groups of Native Americans have been gathering on Thanksgiving to mark a National Day of Mourning at a historic site in Massachusetts. They honor their ancestors who were subject to atrocities by settlers in the 17th century. Over the years, they have also been a voice for other oppressed Indigenous groups around the world.
Germany’s culture war over animal welfare
Germany’s dachshund clubs say a new animal protection law could effectively outlaw their beloved sausage dog, whose long body and short legs can cause painful spine problems. Farmers are outraged with proposals in the law for how they should raise their livestock. Now, a culture war is brewing in Germany’s cities and hinterlands, with dachshunds, cows and their humans as unlikely standard-bearers.
The rocky road to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the biggest performing arts festival in the world, and it has catapulted the work of some artists to the West End, Broadway and television. But the road to the festival is also littered with stories of career-ending performances, mental health distress and financial ruin.
Meet Barcelona’s pigeon super-feeders
Barcelona, Spain, has a major pigeon problem, like a lot of cities. But the heart of the problem, government officials say, are the super-feeders: some 350 local residents who don’t just toss a few breadcrumbs from a quaint park bench, but distribute bags of food that attract massive flocks of birds.