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Pope Francis goes to Washington – but speaks past the politicians

  • Written by The Conversation
imageThe Pope in Congress: receptive audience?Tony Gentile/Reuters

Pope Francis this week made an historic presentation to the Joint Sessions of the US Congress. And in so doing, he took his message straight to the American people: “Today I would like not only to address you, but through you the entire people of the United States.”

Indeed, a...

Read more: Pope Francis goes to Washington – but speaks past the politicians

In too many ways, America's poorest communities are just like prison

  • Written by The Conversation
imagePope Francis will visit this Philadelphia prison on September 27 2015. Mark Makela/REUTERS

Pope Francis is going to prison.

After visiting with incarcerated individuals in a correctional facility in Philadelphia, he might offer us a simple suggestion: treat prisoners better.

But this advice hides an inconvenient truth.

The conditions experienced by...

Read more: In too many ways, America's poorest communities are just like prison

The risk of UN's Sustainable Development Goals: too many goals, too little focus

  • Written by The Conversation
imageNow comes the hard part. lukeredmond/flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

As the world’s leaders gather at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in New York City this week, they face a busy agenda. Among their many tasks is the adoption of new global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) guiding actions toward 2030 – a major and much-needed...

Read more: The risk of UN's Sustainable Development Goals: too many goals, too little focus

To cut costs, college students are buying less food and even going hungry

  • Written by The Conversation
imageOn the list of students' struggles are basic necessities – food.Tulane Public Relations, CC BY-NC

Studies have long shown that a college student’s odds of achieving financial security and a better quality of life improve when he or she earns a degree.

But what are some of the obstacles that prevent degree attainment?

At the Wisconsin HOPE...

Read more: To cut costs, college students are buying less food and even going hungry

Hungry? Food choices are often influenced by forces out of your control

  • Written by The Conversation
imageFast, cheap and easily available. David Gray/Reuters

Following a healthy diet can be hard. From deciding when and what to eat to how much food you actually put on your plate, the average person makes over 200 food-related decisions each day, most of which are automatic. These automatic choices – dubbed “mindless eating” by some...

Read more: Hungry? Food choices are often influenced by forces out of your control

Rise of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin begs question: what is money?

  • Written by The Conversation
imageIf bitcoins exist only in computers, do they really exist? Bitcoins via www.shutterstock.com

When you begin to delve into the question of what money really is, you must be prepared for some metaphysics. Money, currencies and other such media of exchange differ markedly in their backgrounds and means of operation, and have changed quite recently...

Read more: Rise of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin begs question: what is money?

Clinton stance on XL Pipeline reflects muscle of climate activists

  • Written by The Conversation
imageHearing it from supporters: attendee at Clinton rally in New Hampshire expresses opposition to Keystone pipeline.Brian Synder/Reuters

Hilary Clinton this week announced her opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline. She also revealed a plan to improve the country’s energy infrastructure and proposed partnership with Canada and Mexico to reduce...

Read more: Clinton stance on XL Pipeline reflects muscle of climate activists

Vaping as a 'gateway' to smoking is still more hype than hazard

  • Written by The Conversation
imageVaping.Neil Hall/Reuters

As e-cigarettes become more popular, there has been a push to understand whether they are a “gateway” to regular, combustible cigarettes.

Two recent studies on e-cigarettes as gateways to smoking in teens and young adults have made headlines. And opponents of e-cigarettes have welcomed any crude signal of...

Read more: Vaping as a 'gateway' to smoking is still more hype than hazard

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