Author: maavn

“This is a crime against our planet.”

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Indeed. Three words that immediately popped into my head after glancing at this disturbing photo were fetid, macabre, and surreal. It is both sad and infuriating, yet another depressing example of ecocide. The oversized teddy bear is Brown of LINE (chat app) fame. Maybe a child or someone's girlfriend got tired of him. What better … Continue reading “This is a crime against our planet.”

Highly Recommended:  “I Have Arrived, I Am Home – Documentary About Thích Nhất Hạnh”

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From Plum Village: Made specially for the first anniversary of the passing of Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh, "I Have Arrived, I Am Home" is a new documentary from filmmaker Max Pugh (A Cloud Never Dies, Walk With Me). The film includes footage and commentary on Thich Nhat Hanh's return to his native Vietnam, where … Continue reading Highly Recommended:  “I Have Arrived, I Am Home – Documentary About Thích Nhất Hạnh”

The 21 Circles of Privilege

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I recently came across this comprehensive image of various sources of privilege on LinkedIn. It was created by Dr. Poornima Luthra, Teaching Associate Professor at the Copenhagen Business School, and author of Diversifying Diversity: Your guide to being an active ally of inclusion in the workplace and The Art of Active Allyship. To get an … Continue reading The 21 Circles of Privilege

A Fulbright University Vietnam (FUV) Student Speaks Out

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I recently received an intriguing message via LinkedIn from a Vietnamese undergraduate enrolled at FUV (Tagline: Creating the next generation of change-makers in Vietnam for a rapidly evolving world) in HCMC. Here's the unedited back-and-forth between the student and me, which he gave me permission to share on an unattributed basis. I appreciated his candor … Continue reading A Fulbright University Vietnam (FUV) Student Speaks Out

Number of US-Bound Vietnamese Students Continues to Climb

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Here are the latest Vietnam-related stats from the February 2023 SEVIS update. (You can also access these data for other countries using the interactive map.) This is a follow-up to my 10 January 2023 post with information about the November 2022 update. These are mid-year stats, which are usually not as dramatic and consequential as those for the new … Continue reading Number of US-Bound Vietnamese Students Continues to Climb

Isn’t it time to shut down the fake credentials industry?

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Source: Same Day Diplomas Below are a famous Alexis de Tocqueville quote to kick off my latest University World News essay and the first three paragraphs. (My original title was Fake Education Credentials: Wink, Nod, Buy & Sell, which was probably changed for legal reasons.) If you're intrigued, read the article in its entirety. In … Continue reading Isn’t it time to shut down the fake credentials industry?

Militancy for an Existential Cause: Environmental Protection in Vietnam

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Photo taken at the Golf Valley lagoon, which drains into Xuan Huong Lake. Credit: Paul Olivier Here's my latest essay for CounterPunch. Check out the first two paragraphs and follow the preceding link if you wish to read the article in its entirety. While most people use Facebook, the third most popular website in Vietnam, … Continue reading Militancy for an Existential Cause: Environmental Protection in Vietnam

Vietnam-Related “Firsts”: A Retrospective

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Image courtesy of Scientific Editing I was recently thinking about my Vietnam-related work, which began in earnest in 1996 with the establishment of a short-term study abroad program for US students. (Before Vietnam, my focus - beyond the borders of the US - had been Germany, where I studied, taught, and conducted Ph.D. and US … Continue reading Vietnam-Related “Firsts”: A Retrospective