Chinlone: Myanmar's Enduring National Game Fights for Survival Amidst Conflict

2025-06-05
Chinlone: Myanmar's Enduring National Game Fights for Survival Amidst Conflict

Chinlone, Myanmar's national sport, a centuries-old tradition blending sport and art, faces an uncertain future. The game, involving intricate footwork and head maneuvers, has seen participation decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 military coup, and subsequent civil unrest. The scarcity of premium rattan, essential for crafting the chinlone balls, further exacerbates the challenges. Despite the hardships, players and artisans persevere, continuing to practice and create the balls, determined to preserve this unique cultural heritage.

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Remembering Matilda: The Last Survivor of the Transatlantic Slave Trade

2025-01-16
Remembering Matilda: The Last Survivor of the Transatlantic Slave Trade

This article recounts the life of Matilda McCrear, the last known survivor of the Clotilda, the final ship to transport enslaved Africans to America. Kidnapped from West Africa in 1859, Matilda endured the horrors of slavery and the injustices of Reconstruction. Despite her unsuccessful legal claim for compensation, her story powerfully illuminates the brutality of this dark chapter in history and the enduring struggle for racial equality.

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100 Billion Pixels on the Moon: A Permanent Record of Humanity

2025-01-16
100 Billion Pixels on the Moon: A Permanent Record of Humanity

An international project called 'Sanctuary on the Moon' aims to create a lunar time capsule containing 100 billion pixels of information, offering a detailed guide to our civilization. Backed by NASA, UNESCO, and the French government, the project seeks to leave a lasting legacy for future humanity. The capsule consists of 24 sapphire discs, each engraved with information on specific aspects of human knowledge, including the human genome. The project focuses on preserving information in a way that will be easily decipherable by future humans, even millions of years from now, ensuring the survival of crucial knowledge and artistic achievements.

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