From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:59 PM

Hebron is a city divided: a Palestinian majority lives in close quarters with a small community of Jewish settlers. Tension between the two groups, heightened by the presence of Israeli security forces, often escalates into violence among neighbors. A human rights organization called B’Tselem is...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:59 PM

One mile long and 600 feet high, the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is a project of epic proportions — and controversy. The dam, completed in 2008, created a vast reservoir extending 370 miles, about the distance from Los Angeles to San Francisco. It brings drinking water to northern Chin...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:58 PM

Experienced teachers are often hard to find. The Bodh School does so by recruiting local women and training them to be "mother teachers," or specialized preschool instructors.

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:58 PM

In 247 BCE, Emperor Qin Shi Huang had 700,000 workers construct a tomb lined with thousands of life-sized terracotta warriors and horses, whose purpose was to help protect the emperor in his afterlife. It took them over 38 years to construct the burial place. To protect the secrecy and safety of...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:58 PM

According to Jack Johnson, one of the best ways to write a song is to just talk about what happened during your day. In this clip, he sings 'The Sharing Song' with the students of Sunset Beach Elementary School and tells the story behind the lyrics.

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:58 PM

Being a child with special needs is difficult. Being a parent of that child contains even more unique challenges, most of which we cannot imagine. At House of Wheels in Jerusalem, parents are given a much-needed weekend to rest and relax while the kids are at the center, engaging in social activ...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:56 PM

The Aarti Festival is held on the banks of the Ganga in Rishikesh. People gather to celebrate the holy river through various religious rituals, accompanied by songs and prayer.

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:56 PM

Many theories abound about why zebras have stripes. One is that they serve as camouflage from the lion, its greatest predator. To a human, the black-and-white stripes seem to stand out against the golden grasses of the savanna. But to a lion — which is color-blind — a zebra lying in the grass is...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:56 PM

Many Indian musicians close their eyes when singing spiritual songs, so as not to be distracted by their audience and to be able to draw all of their senses inward.

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:35 PM

At EARTH University’s model farm, effective microorganism technology, also called 'EM,' is used to deal with livestock waste and increase soil quality. Natural bacteria and yeasts decompose cow manure into rich organic fertilizer, making chemical fertilizers unnecessary. The microorgan...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:35 PM

At the Kiran Centre in Varanasi, music classes for differently-abled people serve to unlock their talents. Students not only discover a new form of artistic and emotional expression, but many turn their new skills into a way to support themselves.

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:35 PM

Catch a glimpse of life in rural Tibet. Villagers engage in daily tasks, children scramble between doorways. Colorful prayer flags dot the mountainous landscape; their messages of hope are carried across the countryside with the winds. Their colors (yellow, green, red, white, and blue) represent...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:35 PM

Rural schools, where the vast majority of children in China receive their primary education, are often below the standards of their urban counterparts. About 80% of rural schoolchildren don’t get past middle school, and many face difficult life prospects as they become teenage farmers and migran...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:35 PM

The spirit of Hawaii comes alive in this film about AccesSurf, an organization dedicated to giving everyone the chance to experience the magnificence of the ocean. By providing therapeutic instruction and making Hawaii’s beautiful beaches accessible to anyone, regardless of disability, AccesSurf...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:35 PM

What is a real "Eskimo kiss"? It’s more than just rubbing noses. Watch and learn the technique behind a true Inuit kiss.

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:34 PM

Gray langur monkeys are a common sight in India, be it in a tree in the jungle or on a rooftop in a crowded city. They have very little fear of humans. In fact, they’ve been known to steal food — among other things — right out of people's hands!

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:34 PM

Wild mountain gorillas lead a peaceful life, spending their days eating, sleeping, and playing. Large silverbacks, the same ones depicted as violent in movies like King Kong and Congo, patiently allow baby gorillas to climb all over them, and unless they are threatened, do not show aggression to...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:32 PM

Calligraphy is regarded as the most abstract and sublime form of art in Chinese culture. Many people practice calligraphy in China’s public spaces, using large brushes to create ephemeral works of art right on the sidewalk.

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:32 PM

Playing the pipa, a long, pear-shaped wooden instrument, requires extreme hand coordination. "Pi" is to push the fingers of the right hand from right to left, and "pa" is to pull the thumb of the right hand from left to right. It is said that one cannot play the pipa without an open heart and op...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:32 PM

At the Kumu Kahua Theatre in Honolulu, the magic of Hawaii is kept alive through plays written by and about the people of the islands. With performances like Da Mayah, Mainland Education and the Noh musical drama Kalua`iko`olau, the community theatre is a key addition to the city’s cultural offe...