Alex Gallafent
NYC Designers Create ‘Drone-Proof’ Clothing
New York-based designers Adam Harvey and Johanna Bloomfield have created a range of clothing to counter surveillance by thermal imaging. They hope that their pieces of silver-lined outerwear, including a hoodie and a burqa, will draw attention to a growing culture of surveillance at home and abroad.
Amina Cachalia, Veteran of South Africa’s Freedom Struggle, Dies at 82
Amina Cachalia, who’s died in Johannesberg at the age of 82, was a veteran of South Africa’s struggle against apartheid and a close friend to Nelson Mandela for more than sixty years. The World’s Alex Gallafent met her in 2011.
Cécile McLorin Salvant’s American Songbook
Born and raised in Miami, 23-year-old Cécile McLorin Salvant grew into a jazz singer only by leaving the US and heading to France. The singer, whose heritage takes in Haiti, France, and Guadeloupe, has since won acclaim from her peers in the jazz world. In 2010 she won the Thelonious Monk competition in Washington DC.
Working the Oil Fields of Africa
The growing demand for Africa’s natural resources has meant work for experienced energy industry experts, including many from the US and Canada.
Son of Cuban Exiles, Richard Blanco, Recites Inauguration Poem
Maya Angelou was the first African-American to write a poem for a presidential inauguration. She delivered her poem at President Clinton’s ceremony in 1993. On Monday it was the turn of Richard Blanco, the first openly gay poet and the first Cuban-American to receive the honor.
Lance Armstrong, Lying, and Human Nature
In the wake of Lance Armstrong’s televised admission of doping, The World’s Alex Gallafent makes the connection between doping in sport, the banking crisis, and the lies we all tell ourselves.
What Malian Expats Think About US Involvement in the Region
Malians in the US are watching and talking about the events unfolding back home and there is no shortage of opinions, especially when it comes to US involvement.
Stephane Wrembel: ‘Midnight in Paris’, Django, and the Call of the Desert
Stephane Wrembel studied guitar in, among other places, Roma camps outside Paris. He wrote the distinctly Django Reinhardt-like theme for Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris.” But he disdains the term ‘Gypsy Jazz’, and woe betide anyone who says he’s just following in Reinhardt’s footsteps.
One Scandinavian Nation Remembers Johnny Cash’s Prison Concert
Johnny Cash was famous for performing for inmates in US jails, but he also took his prison show on the road, recording a classic live album in front of a group of inmates in Sweden.
How an Earthquake-Affected Haitian Teenager is Rebuilding Life in US
In 2010 we profiled a Haitian teenager who’d arrived in the US in the wake of the major earthquake that devastated her country. Now, on the eve of the earthquake’s 3rd anniversary, The World’s Alex Gallafent speaks with Jardonna Constant again to find out how she’s been building a new life in the United States.
The London Underground is 150 Years Old
The London Underground is celebrating its 150th birthday. The iconic subway system was the first of its kind in the world, and remains a symbol of the British capital.
Delhi Rape Provokes Discussion Among Indian-born Women in the US
The rape and murder of a young woman in India has provoked protests and promises of legislation. But here in the United States it’s also stirring a broader discussion of Indian society and of a woman’s place within it. That’s especially so among Indian immigrants and their children.
A New York Quiz for New Year’s Day
On this New Year’s Day Geo Quiz, follow our clues to find three things in New York City that play off the word “new.”
Remembering Thunderbirds Creator Gerry Anderson
British TV-producer Gerry Anderson died recently. Anderson created a series of shows for kids in the 1960s, including Thunderbirds.
German Couple Take Self-Portrait Every Christmas Eve Documenting Changes in Life and Country
From 1900 until 1945 a married couple in Germany took a self-portrait on Christmas Eve. The series of photographs charts dramatic changes in their life, and in their country.
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