Danielle Levy

The small Austrian village of Krumbach has commissioned architects from several countries to build 11 avant-garde bus stops. The local cultural commission conceived of the project also eliminating any star architect. No compensation for these select few, instead a week’s vacation in the area. Krumbach volunteers and donated materials are also part of the project. The firms participating are from Chile, Belgium, Norway, Russia, China, Japan, and Spain. Apparently all eager, within 4 weeks those contacted had agreed. Some have already travelled to the village being impressed by the local materials, traditional craftsmanship and buildings rich with details. For its part Krumback is looking forward to “inspiration and new ways of seeing”. While it wouldn’t be easy to import the idea in a culture of bottom line such as ours, the idea can be adapted. Cities can very much benefit from the same inspiration and new ways of seeing that architects are often the catalyst for.

Taking Responsibility Jesse Griffiths is a chef in Austin, Texas. He used to have a supper club, Dai Due, has worked in France and at several renowned restaurants and has a popular stand at Austin’s farmer’s market. Now, he’s mostly come to be known for the hunting classes he leads. He takes a maximum of 25 hunting, shooting and butchering deer in the Texas countryside. He doesn’t target the outdoor types, but those who regularly eat hamburgers. “ People who eat meat should see what happens to animals before it ends up on their table,” he says, “every time they consume an animal, they should make sure, they’re comfortable with it.” Eric Barton, who wrote the BBC article about Jesse Griffiths offers a comment, “This begs a question for the rest of us: If diners are being asked to think more about the source of their food, why stop at the dinner table?”

Migrant workers will send home $414 billion by the end of 2013, a %6.3 increase over last year and a figure that is expected to go as high as $700 billion by 2016. To the nations which receive the remittances, they are often in excess of the foreign aid given to them. What’s even more remarkable than this amount, are the obstacles the migrant workers have to surmount. Banks charge up to %9 for the transactions, and beneficiaries sometimes have to pay additional fees. In some areas international banks are closing the accounts of many transfer operators for fear of money laundering or financing of terrorism. From the workers side, they may be illegal and have to deal with the hardships of their status, frequently brave perilous voyages to a country where they hope to find work, face smugglers and other dangers, and if they make it may be subject to recruitment, visas, passport or residency permit fees. One can only imagine the privations and sacrifices of workers who are so often ill treated, underpaid and live in substandard conditions so that they may help their families abroad. How many of us would be willing to do what they do, much less do it over long periods? Still too many look down on migrant workers, when the reality challenges us to reevaluate our stereotypes and ideas about them.