There is no shortage of villains in this Greek tragedy, writes Jonathan Manthorpe, as Greece and Europe brace themselves for the Greek referendum on Sunday. “It hasn’t helped matters that the advent of the euro has been a huge boon for the EU’s industrialized economies,” he adds. Read his new column, The Greek tragedy: a drama with many villains and no heroes (subscription required).
Here’s a good backgrounder on the Greek crisis: Nine things to know about Greece’s IMF debt default, by Andre Broome.
As America celebrates July 4, we highly recommend John Keane on why Alexis de Tocqueville remains a must-read. In his Seeking Orenda column, Tom Reagan ponders the (major) differences between the US and Canada.
On July 1 Nicholas Winton, known as the “British Schindler,” died, aged 106. His passing is a chance to recall his own remarkable rich life — and the rich lives of the 669 children he rescued from the Nazi ovens in World War II.
Before you toss that old phone or laptop, browse this photo-essay about Guiyu in China’s Guangdong province, long amongst the world’s largest electronic waste dumps, by Tyrone Siu of Reuters.
The title of Jim McNiven’s new Thoughtlines column sums it up: Telegraphy, Radio, Utopia and You.
In Arts, Brian Brennan’s Brief Encounter this week features two Irishmen: the Minstrel Boys, Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy (subscription required.) If you haven’t heard of them, you’re not Irish at heart. As another writer summed up, “America had Elvis and Britain had The Beatles. Ireland had Makem and Clancy.”
In case you missed it, recent great reads on F&O include::
Our feature package on the Magna Carta: the “Great Charter” at 800
ProPublica’s Abrahm Lustgarten’s terrific series on the drought afflicting the American West, Killing the Colorado: America’s historic western drought. His stories include:
- End of the Miracle Machines
- Water Rights and the Right to Waste
- How US dollars fund the water crisis
While DSK’s scandals just don’t seem to end, this time, he was acquitted. Read Former IMF head Strauss-Kahn acquitted in French vice trial.
In science, and especially if you’re undergoing medical tests, you’ll want to read Left in the Brain: Potentially Toxic Residue from MRI Drugs, by Jeff Gerth.
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