How distant is suffering?

Both pictures are from Syria. The first picture above is from this Al Jazeera article from 23rd November 2011. The second image below is from this BBC article on the 20th of November 2011. While both images use the same mode to portray "distant others", how distant are you from the first image compared to the second?

Ken Robinson on creativity in education

This TED talk is from a while ago, but I thought it was interesting in lieu of our seminar conversation on globalization recently.



Considering that the process of education is becoming increasingly standardized, what does that say about globalization? Do schools that account for a cosmopolitan approach - that is, infusing modules on religion, global economics and ethics - have the potential to encourage creativity?