Foreign Policy September - October 2016

Malaria claims the lives of 460,000 Africans each year. Fortunately, an invention from Japan-based Sumitomo Chemical has made a big difference in stopping the mosquitoes that spread malaria. It is one of many success stories from Japanese companies that are committed to working hand-in-hand with local Africans to save lives, develop physical infrastructure and human capital, and create sustainable economic growth for a vibrant Africa. Sumitomo Chemical developed a technology that embeds insecticide directly in the fiber of mosquito nets. It is so effective at preventing malaria that it has earned a seal of approval from the World Health Organization. Unlike other mosquito nets, Sumitomo’s Olyset Net doesn’t easily fray into holes, and uses insecticide technology that repels and kills mosquitos for up to five years. These mosquito nets are also…

Teaching a man to fish is much harder but ultimately more rewarding than giving him one. When it comes to Japan’s impact in Africa, this philosophy is applied everywhere: the roads and bridges it builds, the businesses it helps create, and the children it educates. That’s why Japan was one of the first countries to make a long-term commitment to development in Africa. In light of a “brain drain” of top talent and skills from many African countries—more than 15 million Africans have left the continent since 1980 according to the World Bank—one-off aid packages just aren’t enough. The guiding principles behind Japan’s approach are that Africa is more than a place to set up commerce and that Africans deserve more than short-term help. The country wants to be a real…

BENJAMIN GRANT “I know I have succeeded when I show someone a final composition and they excitedly ask me, ‘What is that?’ By stitching together numerous high-resolution satellite images to form one single view, I elevate my audience from their usual line of sight and allow them to see our Earth like never before. The overviews—what I call my images—primarily focus on places where humans have altered the natural landscape, so they offer an unexpected perspective of our impact on the planet. The flatness of the Earth when seen from this great distance, combined with my emphasis on cropping, crispness, and color, gives my work an abstract feel. Yet each captured moment is indeed real, and as viewers try to understand what they are seeing, they may also begin to…

Launched in 2013, Russia Direct provides expert analysis on Russia at a time in history when such insight is most needed. By engaging a diverse group of stakeholders in the U.S.-Russia relationship from both sides, Russia Direct provides unique intelligence not found anywhere else. Recently, Russia Direct Editor-in-Chief Pavel Koshkin answered frequently asked questions — including questions about our efforts to ensure editorial balance. WHAT’S YOUR EDITORIAL VISION AND HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN THE RIGHT BALANCE? Our guiding principle is to showcase contrasting opinions —sometimes, extremely divergent ones — so our readers can reach their own conclusions. We avoid imposing any agenda. We bring both Russian and foreign experts together and create a space for them to debate issues, express views and develop arguments. This approach incorporates multiple formats including analytical articles,…

The Underworld Venezuela is in the middle of an economic collapse. With hyperinflation projected to reach 480 percent by the end of this year, severe food shortages and riots have shaken the nation. Conditions in prisons are particularly desperate. According to human rights groups, 50,000 people live in complexes designed for less than half that number. Where conditions languish, though, prisoners sometimes claim authority. Since 2014, Venezuelan photographer Oscar B. Castillo has been documenting life in a convict-controlled detention facility in San Juan de los Morros. Gang members, not guards, enforce de facto rules. A church, pictured here in 2015, is a prison within a prison, where men go for stealing or not paying debts. The culture can be violent, yet Castillo’s project shows inmates leading dynamic lives. “Despite being enclosed in an…

The Abortion Doctor Germán Cardoso 1 Cell phone Women can call me at any time. Some have called during emergencies, often when they are hemorrhaging from a miscarriage and don’t know what to do. I always try to convince them to hang up the phone and get to the nearest hospital even if they are ashamed. 2 Syringe I administer local anesthesia presurgery through a syringe to numb the pain, but patients remain conscious during the procedure. Many women are anxious, so I try to talk to them the whole time, to calm and distract them. 3 Gloves These are a basic sanitary measure for a clean clinic. Underground clinics, which can be in garages, are gross. The problem is bigger, though; some women come in after trying an unsanitary DIY technique, such…