Six Books for the Booker

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 22 November 2023 > What's On

The Booker Prize shortlist 2023 contains books by two Irish, two American, a Canadian and a British author exploring identity, family dynamics and societal collapse. All of them have been shortlisted for the first time, and two of the books are debut novels. The winner of the U.K.’s most prestigious literary prize will be announced … Continue reading “Six Books for the Booker”

Teens Sue Montana Over Climate Change

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 04 September 2023 > In the News

The first of a series of lawsuits by young U.S. citizens against state and federal governments over climate change has come to trial. Held v. Montana was the subject of a two-week court case in June. Sixteen young Montanans accused their state of  violating their constitutional rights to a “clean and healthful environment”; to seek … Continue reading “Teens Sue Montana Over Climate Change”

Tartan Day

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 04 April 2023 > Celebrate

6 April every year is celebrated by people of Scottish origins around this world as Tartan Day. And a new exhibition at the Victoria and Albert museum in Dundee examines this long-lived fabric that was considered so dangerous that it was illegal to wear it in the 18th century is now a visual reminder of … Continue reading “Tartan Day”

Short List for the 2022 Booker Prize

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 21 September 2022 > What's On

The winner of the U.K.’s most prestigious literary prize, the Booker, will be announced on 15 October. The six authors on shortlist in the running for the prize are from the U.K., Ireland, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and the U.S.A. Their books are overwhelmingly inspired by real historical events, from a terrible lynching in America to … Continue reading “Short List for the 2022 Booker Prize”

A Native American View of Thanksgiving

Posted by Speakeasy News > Sunday 21 November 2021 > Celebrate

Today, there is growing awareness that the “Thanksgiving story” told to young schoolchildren in the U.S.A., which provides much of the traditional imagery of the holiday, is just that: a story. Many Native Americans denounce the hypocrisy of portraying this origin story of the nation as a peaceful and cooperative meeting of peoples, when in … Continue reading “A Native American View of Thanksgiving”

Sur la piste des Sioux : the origins of “American Indian” iconography 

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 18 November 2021 > What's On

The exhibition “Sur la piste des Sioux” which opened at the Musée des Confluences in Lyon, takes us back to the origins of the limited and blinkered representation of the “American Indian” in Europe and France, and challenges many clichés .   Since 1990, November is Native American Heritage Month, here is the good time to … Continue reading “Sur la piste des Sioux : the origins of “American Indian” iconography “

Trick or Treat to Do Good

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 27 October 2021 > Celebrate

Halloween is an important fundraiser for UNICEF U.S.A. Trick or Treat for UNICEF was started in 1947 and 31 October was declared UNICEF Day by President Lyndon B. Johnson 20 years later. It allows kids “put some meaning in their Halloweening” by collecting money for the United Nations Childrens’ Fund.  The campaign was started by … Continue reading “Trick or Treat to Do Good”

Halloween with Unicef Videos

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 19 October 2021 > Webpicks

Halloween is a popular celebration with pupils, and it can be a great way to introduce some English-speaking culture. In the U.S.A., a major Halloween tradition is Trick or Treat for Unicef, a  fundraising campaign for the United Nations children’s fund. Unicef has lots of teaching resources about the campaign. This is Unicef U.S.A.’s main … Continue reading “Halloween with Unicef Videos”