海角大神

Life after trauma is not always what people assume. 鈥淪omehow when we survive, many people actually find that they have gained clarity and have a purpose,鈥� one Las Vegas shooting survivor says.

A by-election in聽Peterborough, England, is of limited import in itself. But it shows the current state of British politics in microcosm: the rise of the Brexit Party, frustration with the establishment, and a loss of trust in democracy.

In a globalized world, we鈥檝e come to expect sushi in Argentina, K-pop in the U.K. But sharing bits of culture across borders can also raise tough questions about authenticity, fairness, and ownership.

Follow the U.S. admissions scandal and you鈥檇 think college is all about status. But to appreciate its true value, talk to Afghans getting a door- and perspective-opening American education in Kabul.

The challenge of climate change can feel overwhelming because it is so big in scale.聽A new Smithsonian exhibition aims to provide a sense of agency by acquainting visitors with the concept of deep time.

In global rankings of the least-corrupt countries, much of Europe has long stood out, especially in the Nordic nations. They have strong institutions and rule of law. Yet recent scandals in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Austria have triggered a rethink of what really deters corruption. Punishment alone, concluded a Transparency International report last year, can seldom motivate people to be proactive in preventing corruption.

To detect corruption, the report states, people who know about it must take action and cooperate with authorities. Yet such people who 鈥渇ace a sanctions-only approach may be inclined to refuse such cooperation. In such situations, actors may fear disproportionate punishment, and prefer to cover up problems.鈥�

An alternative approach, now being adopted in many institutions, is to appeal to people鈥檚 integrity, reinforcing the idea that each individual鈥檚 conscience can make a difference. Many workplaces, for example, hand out 鈥渋ntegrity awards鈥� to employees who have lifted up ethical norms and behavior.

New data from the Nordic Business Ethics Network backs up this approach. In a survey of employees in Finland, Norway, and Sweden, more than 90% said an ethical working place with transparent and fair practices is more important than a salary increase or a promotion. Yes, earning more money matters less than working in a moral environment. The survey鈥檚 authors say honest dialogue, respect, and a speak-up culture are key to encouraging people to act out of integrity.

One of Europe鈥檚 best examples of a rapid shift in thinking about corruption took place in Spain in 2013. After a scandal hit the ruling People鈥檚 Party, a social movement known as Indignados began to demand reforms in politics and government. To many voters, the issue of corruption is now as important as the economy.

This collective moral awakening, writes Spanish researcher Elisa Elliott Alonso, marked a sea change in how Spaniards think about corruption. 鈥淭he previous acceptance of corruption as a despicable but inevitable part of politics morphed into the view that corruption represents a serious moral degeneration of the whole political system.鈥�

Rules, codes of conducts, and punishment are indeed not enough to curb corruption. Individual integrity must be nurtured. Or, as the Nordic Business Ethics Network puts it, 鈥淲hen considering the issues of right and wrong, we should more often look in the mirror rather than in a lawbook.鈥�