Originating from the word albus, meaning white in Latin, albinism is a genetic disorder resulting in a decrease or absence of pigmentation in the hair, eyes, and skin. Albinism is considered a rare condition. Worldwide, it affects only 1 in 20,000 people. In Tanzania, the rate is much higher...

“99 Luftballons” (99 air balloons) is an anti-war protest song by the German band Nena from their 1983 self-titled album. The background of this Nena’s one-hit-wonder is quite unique: we are in Cold War years, during a Rolling Stones concert in June 1982 in West Berlin, Nena’s guitarist Carlo Karges was looking at...

“The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down” is a beautiful ballad by The Band, a famous canadian rock band, composed and recorded in 1969. The lyrics tell of the last days of the American Civil War and the suffering of the (almost) defeated South: in fact, Dixie...

This one is a controversial one: Back Home in Derry, by Irish folk singer, songwriter and guitarist Christy Moore who was named “Ireland’s greatest living musician” in 2007. Controversial because the lyrics were written by Robert Gerard “Bobby” Sands, member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, better known with...

“Blackbird” is a world-famous song by the Beatles from the 1968 double-disc album “The Beatles“, better known as “The White Album“. The song was written by Paul McCartney, though credited to Lennon and McCartney. During live concert“Chaos and creation at Abbey Road“ held at Abbey Road Studios...

That the Chinese were up to something was already obvious looking at the decision to classify the South China Sea as a “core national interest” among others such as Tibet and Taiwan, taken in 2012 by the Communist Party of China (CPC). Some have compared this...

People living with HIV In 2013, there were 35 million people living with HIV. Since the start of the epidemic, around 78 million people have become infected with HIV and 39 million people have died of AIDS-related...

The United States are shaken by raging protests after a grand jury declined to indict Ferguson white officer Darren Wilson on charges for killing an unarmed black 18-year-old, Michael Brown, in an August shooting. Police violence and, in some cases, brutality often related to racial dynamics...

Can just 4 verses compose a meaningful song? Yes. At least according to CSNY, an american folk rock supergroup made up of David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and (occasionally) Neil Young, whose surnames inital compose the acronym of the bands name‏. The song is called...

Thomas Richard “Tom” Paxton is one of the most famous american folk singer and songwriter. Paxton’s songs can be emotionally affective and cover a wide range of topics, from the serious and profound to the lighthearted and comical, at the same time. The one we would like to...

Guns N’ Roses are probably one of the most famous bands in the history of music. Formed in Los Angeles back in 1985 they quickly reached success also thanks to the extraordinary vocals (and eccentricity) of the band’s front-man, Axl Rose, and the iconic guitar solos by...

It all began with the bankruptcy of the city of Detroit, officially filed last year on July 18, the largest of its kind in U.S. history. The city, once known as the capital of automobile industry, suffered, like many other cities in the US and all over the world, the...

In New York, in the renovated hall of the General Assembly, the leaders of the 193 member countries are called to debate on main topics of the global agenda. Is this history in the making? The General Debate of the 69th regular session of the UN...

That social media has revolutionized the way we communicate in every aspect is certainly not news to us. Not only individuals, but also companies, public administrations, newspapers, TV shows and decision makers fell in the vortex of this fast, rich and free way to communicate with...

The Mekong is the largest river in Indochina and one of the largest in Asia. It is is the eleventh longest river in the world (approx. 4880 km), its course runs from the plateau of Tibet until Vietnam. The Mekong is the largest inland freshwater...