In the final article of her series, Laura Illeris shares what she learned from her month long investigation of religious university students and offers a reflection on religion, diversity, and tolerance among young people in Amsterdam. “Our need to define ourselves and others sometimes leads to boundaries being drawn that make us blind to what we have in common.”
Categorie Archief: International (EN)
Continuing her series, Laura Illeris talks to Muslim students in Amsterdam who share their views on religious pluralism, misconceptions about Islam, and the way Muslims are portrayed in the media. While all the interviewees speak fondly of diversity and acceptance in Amsterdam, the experiences of discrimination cannot be left unmentioned.
Most of us who visit concerts mainly do so to see their favorite acts playing on stage, but do we ever look at our fellow concertgoers? Though this isn’t what we buy our tickets for, RAW’s Anne-Marie Dimanche will show us that there’s great value in looking around more often instead of just listening; we might get a glimpse of the transcending powers of music.
In the third article of her series about faithful students, Laura Illeris shows that Judaism is not only a religion, but also the glue of a people. For young Jews, whether secular, religious, liberal or orthodox, holding on to tradition is what allows them to feel part of something bigger.
In the second article of her series, Laura Illeris introduces us to some of the Christian university students living in Amsterdam. What are their perspective on issues such as the debate on science and religion? And how do they deal with questions and struggles regarding their faith? “Science is for the brain and religion is for the heart.”
Laura Illeris, our newest addition from Denmark, embarks on an investigative series about the role of religion among students in Amsterdam. This will provide a look into the lives of young Christians, Jews, and Muslims who still actively practice their faith and explore what the decline in religious affiliation means for them.
This week on International Wednesday: a photo series on ‘Generation (WH)Y’ by our writer and photographer Didi Strähle from Germany.
This week on International Wednesday: Rosa Stienstra from RAW shows us the world through puddles. While often seen as mere remnants of rainy days, puddles can offer an interesting perspective on their surroundings. With this photo series on #puddlegrams, she aims to capture this phenomenon.
Welcome back! It has now been more than three months since our last edition of International Wednesdays, our weekly series of English articles, written by international students. The past few months haven’t been spent idly, however. Instead, my team and I have been working hard to rebuild and restart the International team.
This week on International Wednesday: located in the working-class neighborhood of la Hafsia is El Warcha, a workshop where the locals can take back the streets one piece of furniture at a time.
The first world is pictured as a place free of pollution, insecurity, and problems. While the Netherlands’ environmental policies are great, Marth Echevarria felt that individuals have become complacent because of this. With this photo series, she hopes to break the clean illusion by capturing the waste of Amsterdam.
This week on International Wednesday: Are you drowning in the last final exams and cannot wait for summer break? Well, who does not? But the real question is, have you made plans for a relaxing or maybe adventurous time-out? If not, do not worry, it’s your lucky day: Here is a top 5 list of the cheapest destinations this summer. Take a look, and make this summer worth it; even with a small budget great things are possible.
This week on International Wednesday: In the centre of the Bible Belt of the United States lies Alabama, a state of sweet tea and even sweeter lemonade, strong conservative views and steady front-porch rocking chairs. And in the middle of it all lives 17-year old Noah Pilcher.
This week on International Wednesday: Following historical events in London and Berlin, recent demonstrations in Georgia raise the question of what it means to be a free human. Club culture has created a platform for the youth to express their freedom and individuality. RAVEolution is much more than dancing and playing music — it is about the fight against the state on progressive values.
This week on International Wednesday: deputy editor-in-chief Max van Geuns talks about his experience dealing with the Gemeente Amsterdam when it comes to applying for kwijtscheldingen – a waiver that is supposed to be available to all citizens who do not have the means to pay their municipal taxes. However, reality begs to differ.
This week on International Wednesday: Iceland. Ranked first out of 144 countries by the World Economic Forum for being the most gender equal, the Icelandic naming tradition looks to be at odds with this. An Icelandic child is at birth by default classified as its father’s son or daughter through its surname. The surname is formed by the fathers first name and the addition of –son or –dóttir, meaning son or daughter respectively. Relic to a patriarchal mindset, there currently is the debate about changing this practice. How can cultural traditions be upheld while embracing modern values?
Photography can be much more than just a way of capturing the world around us. Jasmijn Doorgeest used her camera as a ‘gateway into conversations with locals’ to learn about Vietnam’s culture and people. She tells us a story of temples, mountains, rice fields and windy bus rides but most importantly of the people she met on the way. Experience Vietnam through a series of portraits.
This week on International Wednesday: Madita Strähle spent her summer traveling through Israel and Palestine – an area which we tend to associate with war, conflict and insecurity. But is this really all the Middle East is today? Is it as dangerous as the media want us to believe? Madita captured a few moments right on the spot of locals’ everyday lives and explored the Middle East’s hidden systems.
This week on International Wednesday: How many Albert Heijns does it take to make a neighbourhood perfect? Apparently two is not enough, as the newest addition to Amsterdam Science Park’s supermarket ensemble suggests. What does this new store mean for the Indische Buurt? Who welcomes the new neighbour and who would rather see them leave?
Sexual assault allegations in Hollywood, sports, and media have been dominating the headlines lately. Yet some stories that do not involve as much money and fame are left out of the spotlight. Sexual misconduct has been happening all over the world and Amsterdam Oost is no exception.
This week on International Wednesday: what for Star Wars fans is a day to celebrate the adventures that happened “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,” May 4th holds a widely different story in the Netherlands. We set out to the streets of Amsterdam to ask the internationals living among us their thoughts on the two upcoming monumental days: May 4th (Dodenherdenking) and May 5th (Bevrijdingsdag).
This week in International Wednesdays: what it is like to travel as a young, female photographer through Southern India? In her photo essay, Robin Anne Laird takes us with her in a journey of 7 years ago. Since then, her photographic eye, processing style, and ability to relate to others has dramatically changed. “But my female identity has not.”
International news is paramount to share stories of individuals, communities and societies and bridge these by learning about each other. Red Pers is therefore excited to welcome you to our International Wednesdays, giving you one article every week in English to offer an insight from an international perspective on the global world we live in.
As one of the leading universities in Europe, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) ought to attract students from all ethnicities and nationalities. Why is the university then suffering from a lack of diversity? Stefanos Yowhannes from Norway interviewed Alfie Martis from the Diversity forum. “The UvA lacks social justice and awareness of its colonial past.”
In developing nations, such as Vietnam or Cambodia, it is a common sight to see Westerners ‘volunteering’ in schools or orphanages. A pertinent question thus arises: do the volunteers believe they are creating a positive ripple effect, or are they fore players of a mammoth scaled industry known as voluntourism?
This Saturday, a newly mobilized civil disobedience movement called Code Rood will take action for the climate in the port of Amsterdam. The action takes place on the second anniversary of the Urgenda Climate Case court victory against the Dutch government. Sustainability editor Saga Norrby explains why this ‘red alert’ for the climate is so important.
On June the 8th, British voters went to the polls in a snap election called by Prime Minister Theresa May. Two months before, the polls had the Conservatives on 46 percent of the vote, to Labour’s 26 percent; everyone thought it would be a landslide. Only May’s Conservatives lost seats. Alex Stargazer from Great Britain explains.
Air pollution is often discussed in the media — but comparatively few people know that parts of the Netherlands, especially larger cities like Amsterdam, break emissions targets. Even fewer people understand what these pollutants are and how they can be harmful. Our international editor Alex Stargazer explains.
How is it that a low production teen drama project manages to become a viral hit and build a global following? Norwegian TV-show Skam has certainly cultivated people around the world, but does its glorification of youth in Norway present a fake reality for viewers? International editor Stefanos Yowhannes (from Norway) introduces Skam to Amsterdam.
The panel of this year’s Women-20 Summit Berlin consisted of Angela Merkel, Christine Lagarde and, surprisingly, Ivanka Trump. Her presence drew sharp criticism from not only the public, but also from politicians. Read our international editor Shambhavi Chouhan’s story on Ivanka Trump and her impact on feminism.